After selling my bakery in 2005 I formed Glimmer Glass Mosaics. For years I had a creative partner where we created architectural & residential mixed media mosaics. We did large installations in hospitals & restaurants all over Michigan. After many inquiries from creative people all over the country asking to learn our mixed media techniques we decided to focus on teaching workshops.
That became such a gratifying experience. When I moved to Arizona and no longer had a partner my husband urged me to continue teaching. One reason was because I loved it so much and the other reason was that we knew absolutely no one and he thought it would be a great opportunity to meet other creative people. The joy I felt in watching students find there creative voices was the most rewarding experience of my life. Some of these students will be life long friends.
Then in 2020 the pandemic struck and I was forced to put all my classes on hold. It was a difficult time and I found it difficult to be creative.
During this challenging period where I was not able to see my friends and family I really wanted to create small pieces to show them how grateful I was that they were in my life. I wanted to send them something that when they looked at it they would think of me and know how much I loved them.
The response was overwhelming. Everyone I sent them to told me they were brought to tears and that these small creations touched their hearts. They asked me to make them for people special in their lives. The response they received were also very heart warming .
My husband encouraged me to offer them in an Etsy shop. After lists of names for the store a lightbulb went off in both of our minds. Gladstone was my maiden name and it just felt like the perfect description. These are all in honor of my wonderful parents!