Sharing Light: Heartfelt Testimonials from glassybaby Customers

 

As we navigate the complexities of life, it's the small, meaningful moments that often bring us the most comfort and joy. For many, glassybaby has become a source of inspiration, comfort, and connection. In this blog, we'll delve into the moving stories of customers who have experienced the beauty and impact of glassybaby's unique hand-blown glass creations.

The Power of Light and Color

glassybaby's vibrant votive candle holders and drinkware have a way of bringing light into our lives, both literally and figuratively. The brand's commitment to creating beautiful, handmade products that are as meaningful as they are beautiful has resonated with customers from all walks of life.

"I was going through a tough time, and a friend gave me a glassybaby as a gift," says one customer. "It was like a little piece of hope in a dark time. I lit the candle every night, and it reminded me that there was still beauty in the world."

This sentiment is echoed by Lee Rhodes, the founder of glassybaby, who shares her own story of how the brand came to be. "It changed how I felt at the end of every day, having this colorful, bright, dancing light," she says in an interview with Microsoft News.

The Impact of glassybaby on Customers

glassybaby's customers are not just buying products; they're becoming part of a community that values hope, healing, and giving back. The brand's commitment to donating a portion of its proceeds to various charities has created a ripple effect of kindness that resonates with customers.

"I love that glassybaby gives back to the community," says another customer. "It makes me feel good to know that my purchase is supporting a good cause."

This sense of community is palpable in the stories shared by glassybaby customers. From the woman who found comfort in a glassybaby during a difficult time to the couple who uses their glassybaby as a symbol of their love, each story is a testament to the power of light and color to bring people together.

Honoring Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

glassybaby's commitment to giving back is particularly evident in its support of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month with their partnership with B+. In September, the brand donates a portion of its proceeds to support children and families affected by cancer.

"We're proud to support this important cause," says Lee Rhodes. "We believe that every child deserves to grow up with hope and joy, and we're committed to doing our part to make that happen."

Learn more about glassybaby's efforts to support Childhood Cancer Awareness Month on their blog.

The Stories of glassybaby

Glassybaby's customers are not just customers; they're part of a larger story of hope and healing. The brand's commitment to sharing these stories has created a sense of community and connection among its customers.

"It began with a light of hope," says Lee Rhodes in the glassybaby video. "And then that light spread, one candle at a time, from person to person, until it became a big, beautiful thing."

This sense of community is evident in the stories shared by glassybaby customers. From the woman who found comfort in a glassybaby during a difficult time to the couple who uses their glassybaby as a symbol of their love, each story is a testament to the power of light and color to bring people together.

Behind the Scenes: The Craftsmanship of glassybaby

glassybaby's products are not just beautiful; they're also handmade with love and care. The brand's commitment to craftsmanship is evident in every detail, from the vibrant colors to the delicate shapes.

"I've been working at glassybaby for 16 years," says Isaac Swanson, the production manager at glassybaby. "I love being able to practice the craft every day and seeing the impact that our products have on our customers."

Learn more about the craftsmanship of glassybaby in this interview transcription.

Conclusion

glassybaby is more than just a brand; it's a symbol of hope and unity. The brand's commitment to creating beautiful, handmade products that are as meaningful as they are beautiful has resonated with customers from all walks of life.

Whether you're looking for a way to bring light into your life or simply want to support a brand that gives back, glassybaby is a choice that will leave you feeling good. So why not share some light today?

“The light of hope is a powerful thing. It can bring people together, comfort those in need, and inspire us to be our best selves.” — Lee Rhodes, Founder of glassybaby

 

 

Figure 1: A glassybaby votive candle holder, symbolizing the light and hope that the brand brings to its customers.

FAQ:

Q: What is glassybaby?

A: Glassybaby is a brand that creates handmade, vibrant glass votive candle holders and drinkware.

Q: What is the story behind glassybaby?

A: Glassybaby was founded by Lee Rhodes, who was inspired by the beauty and comfort of a candle during a difficult time in her life.

Q: How does glassybaby give back?

A: Glassybaby donates a portion of its proceeds to various charities, including those that support children and families affected by cancer.

Q: What is the significance of the glassybaby color palette?

A: The glassybaby color palette is designed to evoke emotions and create a sense of comfort and joy.

Q: Can I purchase glassybaby products online?

A: Yes, glassybaby products are available for purchase on the brand's website and in select stores.

 

INTERVIEW 1

(...)

Hi, I'm Isaac Swanson. I'm the production manager here at Glassy Baby in Seattle.(...) And I've been here around 16 years in Bloem Glass. I'm about 15.

(...)

Yeah, and I just really, really appreciate(...) being able to practice the craft pretty much every day and what Glassy's week does to provide that. My favorite thing about Glass Bloem is probably the immediate response you get and that you can't be distracted from what you're doing in any great way. You have to stay very focused on what you're doing and just having that moment to concentrate on that is just addictive and hard to get away from.(...) The hardest part about Glass Bloem is staying patient

(...)

in learning that you can't just get to the next step right away, that there's a lot of trial and error and broken glass(...) that comes with it. Something that can cover really good Glass Bloem probably takes, I want to say, a good 10 years like any craft.(...) Some people pick it up a little bit quicker. And it also depends on what you're doing with it too. But yeah, it's a good 10 years before you really feel like you can start to make anything and 10 more years to feel like nothing matters and we can do whatever we want.

(...)

Having a hot shop and having a place to practice the craft like we do at Glassy Baby is really

(...)

in great American tradition of producing glass like we do. And Glassy Baby is just a really great combination of that kind of history and then the more modern studio glass movement. People in Seattle that come here,(...) inspired by all the artwork here,

(...)

and having that place where they can then practice that craft every day is huge. You get to touch it and use it. And a lot of other jobs that are glass-related, you wouldn't get to do it as much. You wouldn't get to actually get your hands on the hot glass. And that's kind of one of the things that Glassy Baby really provides and I have always appreciated and loved about it is that you're not waiting for the person you're working for to be done. You actually get to take part in it and practice every single day.

(...)

Yeah, and that's just-- it's a boon.(...) And then get paid too.

 

 

INTERVIEW 2

So my favorite glassy baby, I actually brought it today with me. This is a James Carmel.

(...)

And the reason I love this particular one, even though I have many, because you can't have enough James,(...) um, this was the one that I used at my bedside after my dad died and he was a huge fan of Lake Erie sunsets. I'm from Pennsylvania and the night after he died, my sister and I went to the lake and it was the most tremendous sunset. And when I got home and I went to glossy baby, I found this glossy baby that looked exactly like the sunset the night after my dad died. And I had this on my bedside for months after he died and I used an Eevee light upside down. So it was kind of low light and I left it on all night, every night for months while I healed from his death. And now it's on my windowsill with all my earth tones and I'm a big fan of earth tones and, um, that's why this one I would call my favorite. I think glassy babies are so much more than a little glass cup that happens to be really pretty to look at. I feel like in my life, in my experience, glassy babies create a mood. They create a vibe. They create a space for people to gather around. Everyone wants to be around the table with the glassy babies on it lit up. Um, I think about how it just gives a joy to communing and to being together. And I think for me, that's how I feel glassy babies do a lot of work besides just being a pretty piece of glass that someone made with their hands.

 

 

 

INTERVIEW 3

My name is Danny and I was born in California.(...) My favorite glossy baby is Miracle.(...) Miracle, I feel like is it's beautiful. It can be for any kind of celebration, any big life event, and it's just, it's beautiful. The first time a glossy baby had emotional impact on me was when my husband

(...)

celebrated 10 years sober. I had gotten him a dad glossy baby and that was very emotional because it was a very come together journey that it was beautiful. So that was my most emotional moment.(...) Yeah, so glossy baby is absolutely amazing in so many ways. The amount that they give back, the different nonprofits,(...) the community as a whole, the friendships turn into family.(...) It's an amazing community and I am so grateful to be there.(...) So glossy baby has affected my relationships with family and friends in so many ways.(...) They just become part of the conversation, part of the table setting, part of the gift giving.(...) It's just my go-to for absolutely everything and everyone.

 

 

INTERVIEW 4

I'm Nancy Anderson and I was born in Dallas, Texas. Oh my gosh, my favorite glassy baby. It's like asking who your favorite child is.

(...)

Well, it just so happens my favorite glassy baby is survivor.

(...)

Two years ago, I went in for a plant surgery which went very sideways and I ended up with septic shock(...) and I was given a 10% chance to live and I was in the hospital in a coma on a ventilator for four months and I was able to recover.

(...)

And then my glassy baby family and all my friends rallied around to help me get better over these past two years. And so for the past two years, survivor has been loved every day, 24 seven and been an inspiration for me to remember how precious life is and just the team of people it's taken to get me better and to be so grateful.

(...)

It's grateful to be alive.

(...)

First thing that comes to mind is just the work that glassy baby is doing for the world and all the amazing charities and grants that are being given through glassy baby. And every time I buy one for a friend or participate some way in a glassy baby purchase, I know that that's meaningful and changing the world. So other than being beautiful, I know that there is some tangible work that is being done because of glassy baby.(...) Now, as far as me, a glassy baby is just a vessel for everything. Do you need to put your toothbrush in on it? Do you need to put candies in it for people at the door?

(...)

I've got a drinker, I've got it, flowers.

(...)

It's really a magical, I've got them laid out in my house as just,

(...)

first as beautiful things, but they're also, every one of them is a personality. So I feel like they're alive and contributing to the world just by being.

(...)

Just thank you for asking and letting me share it with you. And it really, in my whole, my life and the lives of my family and friend, my father's 90th birthday, we gathered all, we had 90 glassy babies and he was so cute, my father, he's passed away. But that night when we had the babies all lined out, he came into the dining room and he goes, "Ah, I see you have the candelabra out."

(...)

(Laughing)

 

 

INTERVIEW 5

My name's Casey, and I was born here in Seattle.(...) My favorite glassy baby. There are so many. Where do I start? I think I'm gonna go with my first glassy baby ever, which was actually a Hudson.

(...)

And just something about it spoke to me the minute I saw it, and you never forget your first. The first time glassy baby started to affect me emotionally was really the first time I even became aware of glassy baby. And I went into a store, and everything was just so beautifully laid out, and all these beautiful glass votives lit up, and something magical just happens. The glassy baby I'm holding right now is called Inner Circle. And the reason why I've chosen this to be my color story is because this was given to me by one of my bosses.(...) And I inherited him about a year ago to support him. And one day we went out to lunch, and we just started talking, and he wanted to know a little bit about me, and he quickly learned about my obsession with glass.

(...)

And a few weeks later, he came up to me, and he seemed intrigued himself, and he wanted to actually go to a store. So he asked me if I would take him to a glassy baby store. And so we went to downtown, and he beeline it right back to the hot shop, and started talking with the glassblowers. And about 20 minutes later, he comes to find me, and he's just shaking his head, and he says, "Yeah, I get it."

(...)

And about two or three weeks later, a brown box shows up on my porch at home, and inside is this beautiful inner circle. If you haven't read the circle card that goes with Inner Circle, it's perfect. And it was just so perfect, especially for this situation.(...) And the message that was sent to me that I received was that, "Yeah, you're cool, I'm cool. "This is gonna work out great, "and I'm so happy that you're in my inner circle." And so it really meant a lot to me. So this is the poem on the circle card. They say, "Love all, trust few. "I know all of my secrets are safe with you. "So you're in my inner circle, "because even though you're not always right, "you'll always tell the truth."

(...)

And that is the message that I received, loud and clear, and it makes this so special to me.

(...)

But this one is so perfect.

(...)

And this is like one of the magical things, too. When you pick up a glassy baby, and the message on the poem resonates so strongly with you,(...) it's like the bow on the box.

 

 

 

INTERVIEW 6

My name is Cynthia Donahoe and I was actually born on the east coast in Newburn, North Carolina. My favorite glassy baby would be Living Color.(...) Living in the Pacific Northwest for 20 years now, we tend to get a little bit of rain every now and then. And Living Color does bring out all the things that you maybe do not see in the four seasons because we get a lot of rain 90% of the time here in Washington except for the summer.(...) So I get to take my 118 glassy babies and mix all my colors and they all go great with my Living Color.

(...)

I would say it's a little bit of sunshine in the winter.(...) I would say it's a little bit of fall in the fall and it's a little bit of

(...)

a little bit of effervescence in the spring. It just brings everything together.(...) Glassy baby was kind of a two-fold for me because I had opportunity in 2014 to actually go to Venice and go to the island of Murano and watch the artesian glass blowers blow glass.(...) And I was fortunate enough to be able to buy a very large and distinctive piece of glass that gave me a lot of appreciation for the glass blowers.(...) And then I actually came back and didn't know a lot about glassy baby and I stumbled onto it on a pop-up shop show. And I walked up and saw this one little piece of glass that was the same color as the glass that I had bought in Venice. And I picked it up and looked on the bottom and had no idea that they were actually named. And it was named Kindness and then I learned the story and it just seemed to fit. And so from then on everyone came with a name. Everyone came with a story. And then I started collecting them and then they became my story to tell. I used to in my home have a lot of very distinctive things for the holiday seasons.

(...)

Craft-wise and I pared all of that down and then just really went to color.

(...)

And so I have so many now till I pair those colors. So I bring out the fall colors. I bring out the Christmas colors. I bring out the spring colors. And those things make me feel good because when I look at those colors it reminds me of a time or a place or a friend. And so that just resonates.(...) And I'm very grateful to have those little things in my life. You know last year my daughter moved to Minnesota and I always thought my daughter would stay here in the Pacific Northwest and raise my very first grandchild here and I would have the opportunity to see her every single day.

(...)

And unfortunately that didn't happen and I've had to let her go and now she's three.

(...)

And so there was one thing that I've always said to my granddaughter is I will love you to the moon and back. And so before she left I went and bought my little baby girl pink glassy baby. And I had it etched with her name and on the back of it had the moon and the stars and it says I will love you to the moon and back.

(...)

So that's what makes it special.

 

 

 

INTERVIEW 7

Pam Schneider, I was born in Knoxville, Tennessee. My favorite glassy babies, plural because there's two, is fireworks.

(...)

Both my kids bought me a fireworks for my birthday because my birthday is July 4th.

(...)

So actually, I had three of them. I took one back to buy a love, a red love to go with it, but fireworks. First time, a glassy baby actually came into my life. My daughter bought me a strength in 2005 when I was recovering from breast cancer.

(...)

And it's the older ones, pre-trisk, a heavy,(...) heavy, heavy. I could use it for a weapon. It is so heavy, but it's one of my favorites, and it's always displayed.(...) I think glassy baby means a lot to a lot of different people. I give them as gifts. A good friend of mine, both her mother and father, have passed, and I've bought her the mother. The mom and the dad, glassy baby, and she keeps them lit when she thinks of her parents.

(...)

I have several.

(...)

I have strength. I have survivor.

(...)

My husband has bought me BFF,(...) a boar, love. They all mean a lot. And I display all of my glassy babies.(...) My husband says that they've taken over the house

(...)

because I refuse to put them away.

(...)

I try and buy a glassy baby that would mean something.(...) A friend recently moved far away. Probably will never see her again. She's a little bit older. And I bought her begin again. I think that was the name of it. And she said that means a lot to her.

(...)

And I buy a lot of the moms or the dads for those that have lost their parents.

(...)

And I'd like to get a brother. I have a brother and kind of just dawned on me. I've never had a brother glassy baby. So that's on my wish list.

 

 

 

INTERVIEW 8

Taylor Johnson in Massachusetts.(...) My favorite glassy baby is called Seafoam.

(...)

And we struggled--

(...)

(Inaudible) It's emotional. We struggled quite a long time to have our daughter.

(...)

And when she was born, her name's Waverly. My very first gift to her was a Seafoam glassy baby.

(...)

And we brought her home, and I brought her into her new room.

(...)

And I sat on the rocker, and I gave her her very first glassy baby.(...) Now she's a big collector, and she's seven. And they're all over her room.

(...)

My first glassy baby, we were going through a lot of fertility issues. My job was eliminated after 14 years, a job I loved. It was literally everything went wrong in May of 2009. And there was a knock on the door, and there was a box. It was this beautiful little box. And I opened it, and someone gave me a glassy baby. And I didn't really know what it was. I just knew it was magical.(...) And I lit it, and I sat there. And I thought, it's going to be better. And I know that sounds really silly, because it was a glassy baby, but someone cared enough.(...) And I realized that it's going to be fine.

(...)

And if it's not fine, then it's not the end of the story. And that's really my very first glassy baby. It means a lot to me.

(...)

I love glassy baby. I've given hundreds and hundreds away across the United States. I think I've sprinkled glassy baby everywhere.

(...)

But part of it is, it's not just about me and my love for something beautiful. It's what glassy baby does. And Lee's story touched me so much. And our family has been touched with breast cancer. And I love the fact that it's about giving back, that it's not just something beautiful. It's artisans who work on this, which is incredible. And then the fact that all of these nonprofits can benefit from this. I've never known another company who does something like this. And it's incredibly touching to me that of the hundreds, I hate to say, maybe thousands of glassy baby that I've bought since 2009, the amount that I've been able to give back makes me feel pretty good about what I've bought and about the work that Lee and her company and her family do.

 

 

INTERVIEW 9

Oh boy, I don't really have a favorite. I have a lot of them.

(...)

I'd say my favorite is the last one I bought because that's the one I keep out most of the time. The disco ball, I just bought it today and it's absolutely stunning. The emotional impact, I guess, was there's been a lot of them but the most important one to me is I had surgery and I was going by myself away from home and a very good friend of mine bought healing light for me and gave it to me right before I left for the surgery. So that was really cool.

(...)

Glassy Baby does a lot for me.(...) I live by myself and my kids are grown and gone and I just enjoy decorating with them. I change them up all the time. I have them all over my house. My kids think I'm nuts but I don't care because I love them and I burn two or three every night and I just move them all around and do displays, color displays for different holidays and occasions and they're just fun. They're just fun to have around.(...) I think my favorite gift that I gave a Glassy Baby was one called Survivor and it was actually a fundraiser one and it was for(...) people who had lost someone to suicide and it's very beautiful and I bought it for myself because I had lost someone to suicide but then a friend of mine had that experience and so I decided to give it to them and then fortunately I was able to find another one for myself.

 

 

 

INTERVIEW 10

My name is Chelsea and I was born in Phoenix, Arizona. My favorite glassy baby is Lucky Penny.

(...)

I kind of have a story that goes with it. When I was going through IVF treatment,

(...)

we went and we got our first glassy baby, which was fertile.

(...)

And then when we got it, I loved it, it was beautiful. We went and had our transfer done in Seattle and then went home

(...)

and I ended up having a miscarriage.

(...)

And so when my husband and I decided to go through our second treatment procedure,(...) I was feeling really defeated down.

(...)

And I found a Lucky Penny on the ground the day we decided to go through it again.

(...)

And then every day leading up to our transfer, I found a Lucky Penny on the ground and my husband surprised me by taking me to glassy baby the morning of our transfer. And I walked in and I saw Lucky Penny on the shelf. And I think the employees probably thought I was crazy because I just gasped. It felt like it was meant to be.

(...)

And so now our Lucky Penny at home holds all of the Lucky Pennies that I found leading up to the treatment. And now our baby is four years old and we all find Lucky Pennies and we just put them in our Lucky Penny glassy baby.

(...)

A glassy baby for me can bring just comfort,

(...)

lighting that candle, just seeing it glow, just brings so much peace in our home.

(...)

The names of the glassy baby are special. You're able to find truly what is meaningful to anyone.

 

 

 

INTERVIEW 11

Hello, my name is Rebecca and I was born in Neumannster, Germany. And my name is Jareen and I was born in Seattle, Washington. We know each other from college. We met in college, in the dorm. I started with glassy baby, where I was diagnosed with breast cancer 17 years ago. And I went to a program, I believe it was called Beauty and Cancer. It was at the University of Washington and they provided wigs and hot, you know, they do makeup(...) and also gave us a glassy baby, a beautiful yellow glassy baby. And my best friend here came with me almost to everything I needed to go to during that time. And so she received the glassy baby too. And they're yellow, so that kind of represents sunshine and hope and happiness.(...) That was my first glassy baby. And my third one. Yeah, I have so many favorite glassy babies.(...) My favorites are anything in the pink range. I like the greens. I like the blues. Almost anything. They're all beautiful. And my favorite is a simple white one. And Rebecca got it for me when my favorite can't pass me.

(...)

And I still light it for her. Her birthday was just a couple days ago and I lit it for her all day long and whenever I really think about her, I like that simple white glassy baby.

(...)

My favorite glassy baby that I have given as a gift was also a white one to a little girl. Well, she's not small. She's not little, but she's like my little sister. And it was when her mother died of cancer.(...) And it was a beautiful white one.(...) And my favorite one that I gave away is called Earth. I remember that one which I gave to Rebecca for Christmas last year because she was contemplating several different glassy babies to buy. And I last year and I thought I think she bought three or four. She just couldn't spend any more. I saw. I'm gonna give her that last one thing I wish she wanted for Christmas.

(...)

What makes a glassy baby special is the light that glows through it.(...) It makes,(...) it's very meditative. It goes deep into your being.(...) It keeps it,(...) it is, it takes away

(...)

things that you may not want to be thinking right at the time that you may have to go back to. But for the moment you can enjoy just the light and the pleasure of that. We have been dear dear friends.(...) It seems like our entire adult lives.(...) And she was 18. I was 19.

(...)

She's like my old person. Way before we could afford glassy baby.

(...)

But I think when we go to each other's homes, which is very frequently,

(...)

we both can see Rebecca arranges her coffee table in different colored glassy babies. She even has a Seahawks one. So when we go to her fun day, fun day,(...) we know that we are going to be surrounded by blue and green glassy babies. You just never know what exactly which is going to find. Although by Thanksgiving, they'll turn into fall colors by Christmas. It turns into Christmas colors.(...) Mine are more neutral.

(...)

Not a safari, that's Savannah in Kenya,(...) which we had an opportunity to go to the Serengeti a few years ago. And that's my favorite one to like because it picks up the range of colors that you see.

 

 

 

INTERVIEW 12

My name is Megan Biddle and I was born in Maple Valley, Washington. I'm really drawn to the ocean so on base for the colors but I also did a fundraiser not too long ago(...) for the Scleroderma Research Foundation called DoDrop and it's a swirl base with kind of like a lucky and safe color in a swirl and it's beautiful and it reminds me of not only the ocean but the colors of the foundation and something that's really important to me. Yeah the Scleroderma Research Foundation works to raise awareness for Scleroderma. There's about 300,000 of us in the U.S. that have this disease. It's an autoimmune disease that affects connective tissue

(...)

and so basically it can vary in severity but the most severe can die within about 10 years because it's calcifying the internal organs.(...) Personally and a lot of people(...) the rest of us the rest of the 200,000 deal with skin thickening and tightening, joint tightening,

(...)

some GERD-like symptoms, gastrointestinal,

(...)

but it's a lifelong disorder there's no cure if you've ever heard of Bob Saget. He was a big spokesperson for the Scleroderma Research Foundation. He brought on a lot of awareness for it. I did do a fundraiser with Glassy Baby and we raised about $8,000 for Scleroderma Research Foundation. I would say that Glassy Baby had an emotional impact on me when I started to realize the impact that it could have beyond this beautiful vessel that was sitting at home.

(...)

I wasn't aware that each one was being donated for. In fact the first time I received one I was like oh this is very pretty. I will take off this sticker and toss it in the garbage and I'll put it on the shelf and I didn't realize that each one had a meaning, had a valuable purpose behind it and once I realized that I started to invest a lot more in researching Glassy Baby and investing in Glassy Baby. Besides my own,(...) the one that I designed I gave that one to my mother but also Daffodil. I really like that one. My mother's favorite flower is a Daffodil and(...) she has end stage COPD and so it's just a brilliant reminder of her favorite color and her favorite flower and everything that has to do with her. It's just a constant visual reminder of her that she can look at for now and then when she passes them I can have it as well.

 

 

 

 

INTERVIEW 13

My name is Alicia and I was born in Pasadena, California. I've been collecting for almost a decade and I have about 250 glassy babies.(...) And it all started when my friend, my good friend gave me a blue one and a green one, one year at Go Hawks and that started my collection. I appreciate each glassy baby, the uniqueness and color and the color that it brings into my life.

(...)

And each one brings joy for different reasons.(...) I set up more seasonal displays. So I have it very like fall autumn with all of the oranges and the browns. And then I have some of my Halloween ones mixed in, which I love like the Halloween ghost and the cat, the black cat. I actually giving glassy babies as gift is one of my favorite things to do because I look for the message on the card and something that I wanna say to my friend or to my child's teacher and to express how I'm feeling. I don't have a particular favorite. I do like, I think about all the ones that have been given to me by my family and my friends and ones I purchased for myself. And I love the uniqueness of each and every one of them. And so I don't have a particular favorite. Yeah, impossible to choose.

(...)

Glassy baby has been important to me and my relationships with my family and friends because I love to pick specific ones that represent our relationship. So I've given and received a lot of sister glassy babies and BFS and obviously gave one to my mom. And just, I like the messages around them. And so it's a reminder of how I feel about them or how they feel about me.

 

 

 

INTERVIEW 14

My name's Tom Mathers. I was born in Seattle, Washington. I'm here because my sister and Lee Rhodes were, I'd call them friends, back in the late 90s and through 2000. They're both cancer survivors and successful women in business.(...) And at one point, my sister had cancer in the 80s, breast cancer, and it went into remission. And then back in 2007, it reoccurred. And prior to that, Lee had come up with a beautiful glassy baby called Seattle Sunset.(...) And according to my sister,(...) Lee said, this color is yours. And so I've always told people that that was named after my sister, and that's my story, and I'm sticking with it.

(...)

And then there were a couple other glassy baby colors. This one is called Express Yourself. This reflects a cousin of mine who was a great guy who loved the water, organized stuff for our family.(...) And this is in honor of my wife called Sassy.

(...)

And she passed away a while ago. And so I have all three of these glassy babies in my house and up in our second house on Lopez Island where it is set out to remind me of the people I love and who I miss. And they really give me a whole lot of memories. They're all in here. So I want to thank Lee Rhodes and her family, her son, the business, and I want to congratulate them all on doing so extremely well, especially lately.(...) And they brought me a lot of joy, a lot of happiness. Thank you.

 

 

 

 

INTERVIEW 15

My name is Shawna Crotty and I was born here in Washington, Tacoma, speak back. My favorite glassy baby is really hard to figure out. I don't know that I have a favorite glassy baby. I guess my most special glassy baby is hiding seek. It was the first one that I purchased when we bought the house that we're living in now. It was kind of my first, I guess, purchase as a grown-up who was a splurge at the time. It was a big deal. I definitely have a glassy baby of my own. Yeah, it represents just, I guess, me being an adult. We have the house that we probably are forever house. What a glassy baby can do beyond being beautiful, I think it brings communities together. I've met countless friends through meeting them at stores or the groups that exist. I've been to parties where all the commonality that we collect glassy baby, they bring people together. They kind of mean friendship in a way. I use glassy baby just day to day. I always have them to sleep. I change them out all the time for different seasons. It's kind of become a tradition just like decorating a Christmas tree in my house. My girls get excited to help me pick out which colors to display for each season. For their birthdays, they pick out special display just for them. So it's just become a really nice tradition. Most recently, I had a friend that I had worked with, and she was getting married, and she was getting married in Cabo. And I gave her Cabo.

(...)

I actually gave her this glassy baby. I gave her Cabo out of my own collection because it wasn't super meaningful to me, but I knew it would be meaningful to her. And it was also her first glassy baby. So that was fun to give it to her.

(...)

I have a fairly large collection. It's more than 250, less than 300. I'm not quite sure how many total I have. But I love them all. And I rotate them. I use them. And I enjoy them. I'm happy that I have them.

 

 

 

 

INTERVIEW 16

Susan Parker, and I was born in Portland, Oregon.

(...)

My favorite kind of glassy babies are the ones like petal and wisteria and buttercup, where they're white, but they've got the colors, sort of the petals coming up from the bottom. So I'm not sure how emotional it is. I mean, I can tell you about my first glassy babies. These are the ones I have here. These were a fundraiser for the Rainier Valley Food Bank. This is fertile and mud,(...) which is great. And I really-- I'd heard of glassy baby before. I knew it was like a Seattle thing,(...) but I really didn't know very much about it. But I just said it was a fundraiser for the food bank, so I got them.

(...)

And then I did a couple of other fundraisers, like the Light the Bridge ones. And so then I just started hearing more and more about it. And I came down here for some events. And yeah, now I'm sort of addicted, especially to the fundraiser ones. Do I have a glassy baby collection? Yes, more than I need.

(...)

They're currently in cabinets, so they don't get dusty in their boxes. So they're not really displayed. But I'm looking forward to getting them out of the boxes and being able to see them all the time. Well, I will use them for decor. They will be displayed. And I never put candles in them. I'm not really a candle person, but I have the little battery-operated tea lights. So I have some of those that I will be lighting them up with for you.(...) Have I ever given them a gift? Yes. I used to love the airport location.(...) Because you didn't have to carry them with you to the airport. And through security, you could just buy them there. And so when I was going to my niece-in-law's baby shower, I grabbed a mom for her for the baby shower. I thought that was really cool. And another time, I was going to my friend's wedding. And he had had a cat named Orange Crush. So I picked him up a couple of Orange Crush ones that I gave him as a gift. Well, the reason I keep coming back and doing this is the fundraising aspect of it. A portion of each glassy baby goes to-- I guess it's what-- white light? Fun with? Glassy baby found it? OK. It used to be, I think, called something different. And so, yeah, I like that aspect of it, as well as just these individual fundraiser opportunities that there are. So I mean, that's important to me, the fundraising aspect of it, giving back.(...) So if you have an opportunity to do an event where you get to actually blow something, that is super fun.

(...)

And then it brings you to one of the locations where you can actually see all the glassy babies that they've got going on and see how they're made, as well.

(...)

So that's really cool.

 

 

 

 

INTERVIEW 17

My name is Jeannie Harkum and I was born in Tacoma, Washington. Gosh, that's my favorite glassy baby. It's a hard one to choose because I love them all for different reasons. But if I had to pick one, I brought one today and it was special because I love glassy baby's model of giving back.(...) And when they allow someone to do a fundraiser for a specific organization, it gives back to that organization and helps them. And my daughter-in-law did a fundraiser about a year ago and it is called Firefly and Meet Firefly. And it's very special. Her children made a poem to go with it, which I won't read to you, but she did it, asked me what color and coral peach is my favorite color. And so glassy baby created this and it's very special to our family. This was a fundraiser that was done for a baseball organization for young children and her son is involved with it and it was very much appreciated by that organization.(...) The first time I felt a really emotional connection with a glassy baby in particular was my mother had passed away in 2018 and my children had one etched for me and it's very special. It has a cross on it and her name.

(...)

And then shortly after that, it was Mother's Day and they bought me Mother Earth, which I thought was super appropriate for her.(...) And that was my,(...) I think in 2018, but I've been collecting for much longer than that. I use glassy baby in so many different rooms of my house. I think I counted the other day and I had over 96 displayed in different rooms, but our whole family loves them. They're a part of every function. They're lit all around the house. The grandkids pick which ones we put on the dinner table and it's just super fun. They all have their own collections too.

(...)

A glassy baby has so many meanings for people. I personally love giving them as gifts when somebody has lost somebody in their family. People's a good go-to and I've given them to at least 10 different people and they all have messaged me and told me that it's very meaningful. They light it and they're super grateful.

 

 

 

 

INTERVIEW 18

My name's Colleen Murphy and I was born in the state of Illinois. Kind of my relationship with a glassy baby is with a red glassy baby and it's really why I'm wearing the color red today.(...) And the story, you know, red is my favorite glassy baby and the story is really kind of tied up with my father, my dad.(...) Like 20 years ago,

(...)

20 years ago my dad had like a horrific heart attack and he was visiting my brother in California and at the time my brother immediately responded with CPR and, you know, was calm, knew what to do, called 911 and my dad survived.(...) And the fact that my brother knew CPR was able to respond really quickly saved my dad's life and really gave my dad another, you know, 10 plus years of life.

(...)

And it was a big wake-up call for me.(...) I live here in Seattle and my parents visited me very often and I did not know CPR. I did not, I would not have been able to respond in that situation.(...) So I was very motivated, total wake-up call and wanted to learn CPR and what I ended up doing is kind of going all in and joining the board of directors of the American Red Cross.

(...)

So I'm on the board of directors of American Red Cross and learning CPR became a first-aid responder and our first annual fundraising breakfast is called the hero's breakfast.(...) I walk in, there is a table set up and someone's selling glassy babies and the proceeds benefit that benefited the American Red Cross and I saw the red glassy baby and it just like, I mean I was kind of like, got really emotional and for whatever reason it just really spoke to me. Obviously I bought bottom red and white but the red was the color I responded to most.(...) It just reminded me of my dad and kind of like the, you know, the mission of the Red Cross and helping, you know, save lives actually. So every time I light a red, I have tons of red glassy babies but whenever I light a glassy baby I really think about my dad who's, you know, since passed away but really CPR saved his life. I associated that with getting involved in the Red Cross and that's how I discovered my first glassy baby. I use glassy babies to just set like a calming mood. I read a lot of books. I like to light the glassy babies in the evening and just kind of, it just relaxes me. I have a very demanding job and I find calm, I find, yeah, just calm and peace when I light my glassy babies.(...) One of my best friends, well two of my best friends or moms passed away and I gave them glassy babies and they were so touched and

(...)

just went on and on about how special it was and how when they light the glassy babies it makes them think about their mothers. So one of my friends had never seen a glassy baby before if you can believe that and so she just was like, "What's this?" and I'm like, "Light it. You'll see, you'll be amazed." And then she, you know, kind of, that was kind of cool just to kind of share like some of the joy I get out of lighting a glassy baby with someone I've never seen before.

 

 

 

 

INTERVIEW 19

I'm Rachelle Vine, and I was born in Bellingham, Washington.

(...)

My favorite glassy baby is Survivor.

(...)

And I bought this when my brother was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. It has helped me work through the process, just in that he didn't survive the esophageal cancer, but he was still a survivor in my mind. And I put this on his honor table and light it when I feel his presence or when I need his presence.(...) And it just has special meaning because it's tied to my brother.

(...)

The first time a glassy baby had an emotional impact for me was when my friend Stacy gave me my first glassy baby, which was given to fly, in memory of my daughter's friend Asher, who lost his life to suicide.(...) We live in Washington, so I like to use glassy baby to kind of light up my home,(...) give some extra light and cheer in those days that are gray and gloomy. I work in a hospital, so when I get home from work, it's just to have those glowing and ready for me when I come home. I have some little battery operated lights in them that they welcome me home to.

(...)

But what makes glassy baby special to me is that,(...) depending on whether it's a name or a color, if you can tie it to someone or an experience that they're having-- for instance, I gave my daughter bride and groom glasses when I got married. And they'll have them forever. They'll think of you.

(...)

They just have lifetime memories associated with them.

(...)

Glassy baby has affected my relationships with my loved ones and that they know if they can't find a gift for me. And glassy baby is always the answer.

(...)

And my daughter joked earlier today that, well, after all, it is my inheritance. So there are glassy babies that are special to them. There are glassy babies that are special between my husband and I.

(...)

And my mom and I, I'm on glassy babies all the time.

(...)

So they joke with me about them. But I have. But I tell them, it is your inheritance.

 

 

 

 

INTERVIEW 20

My name is Jean, and I was born in Spokane, Washington. How can you choose a favorite glassy baby? It's like choosing a favorite child.

(...)

I don't have a favorite. Depends on the day of the week and the time of day. The first glassy baby I ever received was kindness from a boss.(...) And I was honestly a little surprised because of how expensive the voters were.(...) But the poem really touched me, and it started me down the rabbit hole. They're scattered throughout my house. I like them. I spend time with friends with them. I just enjoy them. I have a glassy baby collection, and I have more glassy babies than I wait.

(...)

And many more than I have contacts in my life. They have worked to create a community.(...) I've made many friendships to glassy babies.(...) They bring people joy, and they de-contribute to helping other people and other types of organizations, like Conservation International,(...) B4, Cancer,(...) many, many different charities. This one was made in 2017. It's what they call a double overlay. It's white inside.

(...)

And it was a special edition that was created

(...)

as a part of a trio of three for "Push It To The Limit." It was for Cushing's disease in honor of a student at WSU. I have quite a few different friends(...) based on beginning relationships on the love of glassy babies.

 

 

 

 

 

INTERVIEW 21

Hi, my name is Susan. I was born in Trenton, New Jersey.(...) Ooh, so many years later, I moved to Edmonds, Washington, and a friend introduced me to Glassy Baby. And I quickly-- it really became my heart story to want to give Glassy Baby to people,(...) whether it was, you know, a monumentous celebration or a pick-me-up for her friends. I really wanted to share the spirit that it felt. Yes, Glassy Baby is definitely more than a piece of art. It's a good feeling. It invokes a feeling. It invokes an emotion out of all of us. Yeah, it's a feeling you get. You know, Glassy Baby is great right out of the box, but once you light it, it emits this warmth that not only lights up a room, but lights up your heart. And the feeling you get when you get to see it in experience, it's just... it's wonderful.

(...)

My favorite Glassy Baby is Breathe. I bought it to celebrate my friend's successful double lung transplant.(...) Now I pull it out on her birthday and the anniversary of her passing, as well as any time I need to draw on her strengths.(...) It really just helps remind me of the love and resilience that we're all capable of.

(...)

From the moment I was introduced to Glassy Baby, they quickly became my love language for gifting, whether it was a gift you needed to perk up a friend or, you know, really just celebrate a momentous occasion. It was something I loved and enjoyed. So I like using Glassy Baby to elevate my mood, elevate other people's mood. The majority of the ones I buy are gifts for other people. I like to share the feeling they evoke in me.(...) In my house, personally, I like them every night. And depending on my mood, whether I'm feeling sad or in need of comfort, you know, I'll light some Glassy Baby and really just energize me. And it's a good picnic. You can't be sad when you're around on lit Glassy Baby.

 

 

 

 

INTERVIEW 22

My name is Melissa Meyer and I was born in Chicago, Illinois.(...) I discovered Glassy Baby by my friend Kimberly who took me to a birthday lunch and at the Etchwater they have a small gift shop. We walked by and there were some glassy babies in the window and she goes, "Oh look, they have glassy babies. I didn't know what they were." I went, "So what are glassy babies?"

(...)

We went in, she gave the whole explanation. I thought they were really cool and then they dropped a candle in and I was hooked. I was hooked. So she gave me one for my birthday and I slowly started collecting them and that was the beginning of the glassy baby journey. How do I use them now? So seasonal decor is how I use them. I also use them for inspiration.

(...)

So certain colors I'm really drawn to. If it's a really gray Seattle day, I'll put pops of color out.

(...)

If it's someone I have told I'm going to be thinking of them, I'll pick a color that's like them and light it. So it's not just a core to me.(...) There's a little bit more involved.(...) Well I have a couple.

(...)

First of all I will say,(...) the one who started me on this journey took me to this class to make hearts for my birthday and this is special. This kind of represents all of my friends and it sits in a prominent place.

(...)

My second one,(...) this is actually a second.

(...)

It was my first second sale which changed my whole perspective.

(...)

I really got hooked. This is miracle and it was like the last one there and I grabbed it because I absolutely love not only the color but there is an opalescence that shines when you put a candle in it. So this sits by my table where I read and it's just kind of an inspiring and cheerful light and it doesn't need a season.

(...)

The third one,(...) this one is heavenly and I lost a very dear friend to cancer this year and when she was going through her chemo I brought her a couple of glassy babies. Put them on her table and said light these every day, focus on healing. She loved them but her boyfriend loved them even more.

(...)

So when she passed he offered to give me back the glassy babies and I said no, no those were Ann's name and so he ordered heavenly for us, two very dear friends. So I like this in honor of Ann.(...) There are many more.(...) This is it.

(...)

One thing that I really appreciate is that they are handcrafted.

(...)

I'm an artist and an art teacher and the craftsman element to it instead of being mass produced each one of them is a creation by a glass artist and I love that. So it's more than just a glass to put a candle in. It's a piece of art. A dear friend started me on this and when there are special occasions there's a select core of us that have been together quite a while. We call ourselves the Pink Porch Group but when we have celebrations and specific things to celebrate each woman in the group we usually give them a glassy baby. So we have kind of kept that going and continue our collection as our core group of friends which I love.

 

 

 

INTERVIEW 23

My name is Kimberly Butler, and I was born in Sockrabbits, Minnesota.(...) And now I've been in Seattle for 32 years. So I love glassy babies. I work at Five Networks, and we use glassy babies for corporate giving a lot of times. So we use it. We buy the drinkers.

(...)

We buy the candles. We give them out to customers.(...) They're beautiful gifts, depending on what's happening. We use them a lot for special occasions to show gratitude and appreciation for our employees and also our customers. I have a drinkers collection.

(...)

I have about 20 and all the different kinds, colors. And I love to have my girlfriends over for charcuterie on Fridays(...) and drink wine out of our drinkers.

 

 

 

 

 

INTERVIEW 24

My name is Karen Hanson and I live in Seattle, Washington. My favorite glassy baby is diva. For those of you that don't know, it's a maroon and gold frit. And this is special to me because I race on an all-women's ski team. They're the only all-women's ski team on Friday night at Alpenthalle and we're called the divas. And we all bought them together in celebration of our female ski team. The first time I felt an emotional impact with glassy baby is the first time that I started fostering animals. And as I successfully fostered an animal into adoption, I bought a glassy baby in his honor. And I've since bought a glassy baby every time that an animal I foster gets adopted. I like to use glassy babies, particularly the drinkers. I'm a huge fan of the drinkers. I have a collection of about 20 that I are sitting out in my kitchen and we use them for water. I let the kids use them. I'll use them as a vase. My friend just told me I can use them as a charcuterie basin for nuts or salami. But it's an everyday use in our house. So I have the decorative votives. But then I also use the drinkers the most. I think the glassy baby is really special because of the giving that happens behind it. But the percentage that is donated when you purchase a glassy baby and also because a glassy baby makes a lovely gift. And it's my favorite gift to give for a number of reasons. And the baby, a wedding, a new animal, a past animal, a birthday, it's a great gift to give. I've given Happy Birthday probably 10 times. And I love finding a votive or a drinker with a name that is special for the occasion.(...) I do or yes for an engagement or(...) Seattle sunset for someone that has moved to Seattle or for a cat whiskers. I like finding a name of a votive or the glassy baby that ties into the celebration.(...) Glassy baby has impacted my life because it's a fun hobby. My mom and I are both collectors. I began collecting glassy baby with one of my good friends. So it is a common bond that we enjoy shopping or browsing or talking together.