A Light That Endures: Madeleine’s Story

At glassybaby, we hear many stories about the ways we bring warmth and comfort into people’s lives. But sometimes, a story arrives that stops us in our tracks—one of resilience, hope, and the quiet strength of something that endures.

Madeleine first discovered glassybaby in Seattle around 2000. She collected them for years, treasuring the way their soft glow brought beauty to everyday moments. When she and her husband moved to Pacific Palisades, her collection grew, filling their home with light and color.

For her husband’s birthday, Madeleine arranged many of her glassybaby pieces throughout their backyard dining space. As the evening settled in, the flickering candlelight bathed their celebration in warmth. It was so magical, they decided to leave them outside.

Then, the unthinkable happened.

You've seen the images—the towering flames swallowing entire neighborhoods, the smoke turning day into night, the relentless winds driving embers miles ahead. The LA fires tore through communities with unimaginable force, homes reduced to ash. Firefighters fought on the front lines, battling relentless flames, but against winds reaching 100 miles per hour, the blaze showed no mercy

When the smoke cleared, Madeleine and her husband returned to devastation. Their neighborhood was barely recognizable— and yet, in the middle of it all, something astonishing stood untouched.

Her glassybaby collection had survived.

“They withstood an inferno,” she wrote to us. “A hundred-mile-per-hour winds, neighboring homes in flames. And yet, there they were.”

 

Amid such profound loss, this small survival felt like a message: even in destruction, light remains.

But the story didn’t end there.

When we first read Madeleine’s message, we were deeply moved by her story. We reached out to let her know that her words had reached us—and in that conversation, she shared even more about what her community was going through.

 

Her daughter’s high school had burned down. Families were suddenly displaced. Children who relied on school for meals had lost not just their classrooms, but the support networks they depended on. Amidst her own family’s upheaval, Madeleine was thinking about others—what could be done, who needed help the most.

That’s when she told us about Westside Food Bank. Her neighbor, who lost her home in the fire, has long been passionate about their work, ensuring people facing hardship have access to food. Even as Madeleine and her family navigated their own uncertain next steps, she made the connection, knowing this was something she could do to help.

 

Inspired by her generosity and resilience, we knew we had to act. This weekend, proceeds from our Second Sale will support Westside Food Bank, Pasadena Humane, Cancer Support Community Greater San Gabriel Valley, and Helen Woodward Animal Center—organizations making a real difference for people and animals in need.

From a backyard celebration to the heart of a firestorm to an act of kindness that will ripple outward, Madeleine’s story is a testament to strength, compassion, and the light we can share—even in the darkest moments.

We are honored to be part of it.