Today we’d like to introduce you to Diane Fisher.
Hi Diane, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born and raised in Jersey City, NJ. My husband’s company transferred us to Harrisburg, Pa. I remarried in Pennsylvania, and my new husband and I moved to Ocean City, MD, where we started a property management company. Our focus was on weekly vacation rentals. To cut expenses we moved to Ocean City. Since our business was seasonal, we usually tried to get away in the winter. That led to a vacation in San Diego, CA. We started looking for an investment property with the intent to manage it long-distance from Ocean City. We found a beautiful Home that was just too nice to be a rental and decided to move into it. Managing long distance proved manageable, so we spent eleven wonderful years there. Everything was getting pretty expensive in San Diego, and we decided to sell and move East to The Villages, Florida.
In The Villages, I was able to learn what became a new passion, fused glass. I have always been creative, utilizing many different mediums, but have never been focused. I love glass. I did try stained glass, but didn’t feel fulfilled doing it. Now I know why. It seems that I like to play outside of the lines! I have so much freedom expressing myself through fused glass.
Now I create beautiful art as well as very unique plates, platters, bowls, lanterns, vases, and stunning jewelry to name a few.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There have been many ups and downs. We have managed to stay afloat, but being in business for yourself is tough. All responsibility falls on the owner. We had to wear many hats, especially with the property management. State and Federal responsibilities have to be adhered to. Personnel can bring numerous problems just because of who wants a cleaning or maintenance job. The turnover was difficult to handle. Right now, I am trying to establish a business with my glass. I do have a website, but I’m trying to manage it on my own, and I’m not entirely sure how to do it. I would have to say that the main problem in trying to do this now is a lack of finances to get the help I need to make the necessary changes in advertising my products.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Fused glass is my medium. I have learned the ins and outs of using melting glass to form all kinds of wonderful and sometimes exotic creations. I create on a flat surface with compatible glasses of different colors. Each color comes in a 12 x 12″ sheet. I cut the glass into shapes and combine them in a design of my own. Some shapes are created with the use of a wet saw and a grinder. The next step is to fuse the piece in a glass kiln, melting it all together. I can achieve different textures depending on the kiln settings. Once the piece is fused, I may choose to give it a shape to create a vase or bowl. This is done with the help of molds. I can slump a flat piece into shape by laying the glass on top of the mold and firing it in the kiln for the glass to melt and take the form of the mold. Another way to give a shape is to use a cone shape, laying the glass on top so that the glass melts into lovely folds for a wonderful and unique vase. I’m most proud of my ability to take risks and challenge myself. I like to mix textures. Glass with wood, metal, beads, or wire give interest to a piece. I also like to use sea glass in some of my jewelry. I’m hooked. My passion grows. I don’t seem to run out of ideas, and every piece is individual. I deliberately try not to duplicate
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
It’s about being willing to take a risk. It’s about seeing an opportunity to change something, feeling the fear and doing it anyway.
Pricing:
- $10 to $350
Contact Info:
