1988 was the year I started my love affair with glass! After a leadlight course I created lots of windows and lamps for my home and then moved on to neighbours, friends and serious commissions.

When I met and married my lovely husband in 1998, he built a studio for me on the ground level of the three story Queenslander he was building in the leafy suburb of The Gap in Brisbane, Australia. I made 43 matching windows for our home plus a skylight and several light fittings.

I started teaching leadlighting there and one of my first students was a man who's doctor had told him to do a creative course to releave his work stress. His stress became mine as he systematically broke my glass when my back was turned! I said to my husband that if I didn't do something with this glass I would be going bankrupt.

I was one of the first to do glass mosaics in Brisbane utilising all those bits. The students loved it and I started teaching them and in 2000 I wrote a mosaic book, Mosaic Creations, A Guide for Beginners and Beyond.

It was a glass fusing and slumping course that captured my inner being and although I still do all of the above, church windows included, I absolutely love to open my kiln in the morning and feel my heart tug as I look down on the latest treasure I've created!

My work is still my hobby but my special interest is in mosaic portraiture. I took a course in Ravenna, Italy in the mid 2000's and my wish is to have a bit more time to indulge in realistic glass portraits....one day! We have now moved to a bigger and better home/studio in Brisbane and I now include etching to my repertoire.

Although we have a blended family of five we have only one daughter left at home and I'm a grandma now! Life's forever changing and I think it flows through to my work and creative process.

I hope you enjoy strolling through my shop.

Donna xx