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Esther, Marimar and Marycarmen

"Hi! We're a group of women who got together with a common interest – working with fused glass. It all began 16 years ago, when Esther's husband was working in an exhibition in Europe. He saw the designs and techniques involved in fuse glass and he thought it would be something Esther might be interested in. He encouraged her to take up this art form and she in turn convinced her daughter, Marimar, to join her. Marimar then invited me – Marycarmen. Together we gave life to this project!

"We set up our own little workshop where we learned to fuse, mold, bend, and stretch glass. It was all very new to us – even the location, because we were now working next to a dairy farm surrounded by cows and rolling fields.

"We learned this art form little by little, to the point where each one has now specialized in a specific area. Our small venture has started to grow and we've had to buy more equipment, as well as offer jobs to people in the community.

"Glass is a noble material - it is solid, transparent and fragile. We work with lead-free glass. As you know, glass is obtained from the fusion of sand, and we preserve the color that results from the different types of sands used.

"Our process begins with glass sheets, and we use diamond-point cutters to cut the shapes by hand – we do not use machines. After cleaning and polishing the piece, we set it on top of another sheet of glass and place them inside the kiln. We may leave the piece inside for up to 12 hours, depending on the shape and width of the product.

"We've had to deal with different challenges. To start with, there is the issue of color, because people expect to see transparent glass objects, or in hues of red or blue, like in blown glass. Other people think our items are modern art. Nonetheless, we believe our products blend functionality and beauty, thus creating everyday art that bears a sense of style and uniqueness.

"Our products are more than glass objects though; they are exclusive articles that complement or even enhance the interior décor of a house. They are ornamental tools that serve a practical function in an innovative and esthetic way.

"No two pieces are identical, thanks to our creativity and experience. Everyone at the workshop works together as a team creating hand-crafted items that are veritable works of art. Our aim is to please the most demanding of customers by offering brilliant solutions and luminous accents for interior design."