We are happy to welcome a new blog series from The Maker City featuring some of the Knoxville area’s outstanding makers – artists, crafters and custom builders. This month’s post introduces three area glassmakers.
Kris Mahoney of Glass Botanicals
How did you get started as a glassmaker?
I started making stained glass mosaics after taking a class here in Knoxville about 10 years ago. The class taught me the basics.
What do you make, and how do you do that?
I am most motivated to create large mosaic glass botanicals and have found that vintage doors are an excellent surface. They look great used functionally or propped against a wall on the porch. I also sell wall hangings and have been experimenting lately with glass on glass windows and old metal buckets/pans. I use various types of adhesives to attach the glass and then grout it, much like one would grout a tiled floor. My mosaics take up to 50 hours to complete because I like using very tiny pieces of glass. The designs are created as I go.
Where are your products for sale?
I currently have items for sale at Resurrected Relics in Maryville and I sell out of my home in Knoxville. See more at my website.
Jo Marie Brotheron of JoBro Glass
How did you get started as a glassmaker?
I started in stained glass at a local large glass firm. I designed sandblast carvings, stained glass, etched custom mirrors and glass furniture for 25 years.
What do you make, and how do you do that?
My focus is on sculptural glasswork, designing jewelry pieces and glass marbles. My love of glass emerged from melting glass pieces to use in stained glass and from creating sculptural pieces using vats of molten glass. As I progressed into 'hot glass,' I never looked back. I am 63, and my passion for glass is never ending.
Where are your products for sale?
You can find my work at The Southern Market in Knoxville. I do art fairs quite often because I truly want to promote Knoxville and our regional community of artisans. See more at my website.
Adrienne Diffin and Golda Houser of Simply Social Mosaics
How did you get started as a glassmaker?
From Adrienne: I’ve been a crafter in different kinds of media since I was very young. Fountain City Stained Glass gave me classes and inspired me to make more glass art. I’m most inspired by bringing broken pieces of glass back to life in beautiful mosaic projects. I also love sharing my passion for stained glass in class parties and workshops. My mom, Golda Houser, also is a stained glass artist and works with me at Simply Social Mosaics. It takes us both to make windows and larger projects.
What do you make, and how do you do that?
We make stained glass home décor, including mosaic backsplashes, garden statues, light boxes and more using the grout method and glass on glass. We also make stained glass windows using the copper foil method.
Where are your products for sale?
Golda’s Boutique, 3629 Western Ave., and on Etsy. Learn more at my website.
For more on The Maker City woodworkers, please click here.
For more on where to find goods by artisans of The Maker City, please click here.
