It’s like a door opening when one stumbles into a new hobby, it’s exciting not knowing where the new venture will lead. Whether your efforts in trying something new will create your legacy leaving lasting impressions on family and friends. If you advance the techniques enough to create something truly ethereal and reach the mastery level, would you teach others around you?
Whether you’re interested in learning a new hobby like Meghan, or are interested in starting a small collection in stained glass artwork, this article explains what makes Meghan’s Glass Creations unique.
Meghan Murphy started out on a whim, she took the challenge when her mother talked about a winter themed stained glass piece being a great gift idea for christmas decorations in 2017. Meghan began to take interest the following year, “I researched stained glass and found classes and decided to give it a try”. Soon after the pandemic began, she felt like it was a sign to create a home studio. “I quickly was making too much to keep, so I started my pages to sell to friends and family. And yes, I did make that winter scene for my mother the following year. It hangs in her front window year round.”
People of all walks of life have been drawn to either try making stained glass or purchase a piece that speaks to them, those especially tuned to nature or have a playful inner child are most emphatic to enjoy the craft.
Many family and friends of Meghan’s have supported her efforts when it gradually turned into a part time business. Meghan’s a down to earth, nurturing spirit with a love for children. She enjoys teaching kindergarten in Simcoe County, Ontario and in her spare time creating the beautiful nature inspired stained glass brings her peace.
She’s even found a way to make the hobby more sustainable, “I collect scraps from other glass hobbyists to help reduce waste and keep this beautiful glass out of the landfill. I pick through and take out many pieces I can make use of, then pack up the remaining scraps to sell by the pound. Most of these go to high school art teachers who use it to introduce students to glass through mosaics.
Lately I have been turning many of these scraps into my latest favourite creation – scrappy birds. My rule with these is I use the scrap as it is, with no additional cutting or shaping. I turn it until I see a little character. And in the end these guys are so full of character and sass! As I say, they are great little companions and secret keepers.”
Meghan gained a supportive, friendship and mentor in Emilie Shipman-Wight, owner of Feather and Fibres. By sharing the stained glass passion she was able to guide Meghan into business, “she encouraged me to join her for a market, and we have been doing them together ever since! We each operate under our own business, but put our glass on display together at markets and at The Arts Market in Toronto. We promote and support each other and work to each of our strengths when selling together. We are very close friends and find it easy to work together and build each other up.”
The newest venture in their craft has been to lean into hosting workshops. She has done much attendance at markets and would like to focus more on running workshops and in-house client relationships. “For me, the most rewarding aspect is being able to merge my two passions – teaching and glass.” So far she has held workshops at Oshawa Parkwood Estates and is looking to host more for residents in the Simcoe region. So far sessions are booking up and some even sold out this year.
“There is definitely a lot of interest and excitement when workshops are mentioned. At our first workshop several participants had previously purchased pieces from us (and likely will continue to in the future). Our workshop gave them a taste of the process, and a better understanding of the complexities and skill required to make the pieces we do!”
Meghan is attentive when it comes to client relationships, “I very much enjoy custom commissions, especially larger pieces. The large piece with a tree [in this article] is my most recent and biggest commission yet. The client found me at a market and later contacted me requesting a Muskoka scene. I drew up 3 different options and worked with her to choose glass and design that would be best in her space.” Shifting her focus to in house operations simplifies business as she only has so much time in between teaching, “My hope is to offer more workshops and larger commission pieces.
I am always looking for my next big project to work on over the summer or winter holidays. During school breaks I try to make a lot of pieces so I have a good stock for fall and winter (Nov-Dec is my peak season”. Most clients are folks that found Meghan through social media, markets, friends and family and has been successful in delivering products to clients, “I have shipped as far as the UK to an old friend. Small pieces can be packaged well and shipped at additional cost.”
Meghan is intent on mastering different techniques in stained glass making. Her favourite part of the process is soldering. Meghan describes the process of working with stained glass to be calming and centering herself in the present, “I call it my art therapy, it takes my mind off other things. It also makes me feel empowered, when I think of the details of it – I am literally pulling apart glass and melting metals.”
She is very knowledgeable in her craft and it’s angelic to have a relationship with oneself to be so intricate and nurturing with her practice. She hopes to try glass blowing eventually, another popular glass art form. For now, she wants to create a fun environment to learn how to work with stained glass, “My focus is in creating and sharing the joy. I make pieces that speak to me, and get fulfilment from teaching and sharing it with others. Teaching is a reminder of how much I’ve grown in the art.”
Check out Meghan’s Glass Creations online to book a workshop session.
Author: Kayla Stephens, Content Writer, Toronto, Canada. If you have any stories or comments, kindly email: – kstephens755@gmail.com
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