How did you start your shop? How does it all work?
My journey began in Burbank, California. I spent my allowance on tubes of seed beads from the hobby shop. I strung ‘love beads’ and set up a jewelry stand on the sidewalk. I also learned to sew—I liked the idea of wearing something that no one else had.

Later on I moved to Flagstaff, Arizona. I was intrigued by the Native American beadwork that I saw in the store windows, and I taught myself the basic techniques from a library book. The beading became like meditation to me, and I’ve been hooked now, for over 20 years!

I have sold my jewelry in small shows and stores, and my western style bead and leather jewelry was featured in a fashion show at Northern Arizona University in the late 1980’s.

In the early 1990’s I found myself back in Laramie, Wyoming where I had attended college years before. I met my wonderful husband, Perry, who is a Wyoming native, cabinet maker, and artist.

When I first saw a dichroic glass stone at a bead show I became excited about the possibilities of combining the glass with beads. I bought a kiln, a book, and after lots of experimentation and mistakes, Godyssey Glass was born.
The name? My gorgeous daughter Shealyn was trying on my jewelry for some photos and the word godyssey came into my head. Goddess and Odyssey together--or a woman's journey. Well, this is mine.

I consider myself a multi-media artist so the combinations of fused glass, glass beads, stained glass, leather, dichroic glass and wire make my pieces unique.

I live in Laramie, Wyoming with my husband, Perry. Our four children are grown. My son Zachary has his own business in Laramie, Zach of All Trades, My daughter Shealyn, is a surgical nurse, also in Laramie, my daughter Chelsea is a river guide and artist in Flagstaff, Arizona, and my youngest daughter, Meggan, teaches third grade in Idaho Falls, Idaho.

When I am not in my studio, I enjoy going to the nearby mountains with my husband and our dogs. I love living in Wyoming.

If any of you are interested, Dichroic glass is glass containing multiple micro-layers of metals or oxides. The main characteristic of dichroic glass is that it has a particular transmitted color and a completely different reflected color, as wavelengths of light either pass through or are reflected. This causes an array of color to be displayed. The colors shift depending on the angle of view.
Dichroic glass dates back to at least the 4th century AD. More recently dichroic coated glass was used in the laser industry as a product of interference, filter technology and vacuum deposition. It is still used in laser and photographic applications, and in theatrical film projectors such as IMAX.
I use dichroic glass in my jewelry along with regular fused glass to give depth and interest to my stones.
I do all the wire-wrapping, gluing, soldering and beadwork myself to create a finished piece of jewelry. This makes every piece Handmade in Wyoming!