Third Degree has an amazing, vibrant community of artists who work in our studios every day. This month we are featuring fused glass artist and studio assistant Sandy Krebeck!
Where are you originally from?
Born and raised in St. Louis!
How did you begin working with glass?
I took a stained glass class for my 40th birthday and loved it! After that, I took a fused glass class and loved it even more, so my husband bought me a kiln and I had fun creating items in my basement for 10 years. On my 50th birthday, my friends brought me to a Third Friday open house (had never been to Third Degree before) and met [co-founder] Doug Auer. I asked him if there were ever opportunities to work in a cool place like this and he gave me his card! I followed up the next week and have been working and creating in the kiln studio for over 6 years now.
What and/or who inspires you?
Every artist that works or rents here inspires me. My husband and I love to decorate around our house with glass and art and we go to a lot of art fairs for wonderful pieces and inspiration as well.
What’s in your toolbox?
I work with wire in a lot of my creations, and I love using stencils and powdered glass too for some cool effects.
What are you working on now?
My friends and I have just made new glass tops for nesting tables for 60th birthday gifts, and another group of friends and I just made a mosaic window for a Home Sweet Home fundraiser, where I volunteer. Plus, I am making some small glass ornaments for wedding attendance/thank you gifts.
Especially for one friend’s daughter who is having her reception at Third Degree Glass Factory! I think the gift to her guests should be glass!!
What Experiences do teach and what do you enjoy about teaching?
I just taught the Sampler class in March, where people spend an hour in each studio and make a fused plate in the Fused Glass studio. And I also love to help with experiences for tiles or jewelry with companies or walk-in guests wanting to try to create something new.
I love teaching people how simple working with glass can be. From cutting to making mosaics or night lights, most people can create something really cool without investing a lot of time or expense. They find that it is very relaxing and creative in our studio, even if they do not play with hot glass!
What do you love to do when not in the studio?
I love music and gardening and getting together with friends and family. We have a nice patio and pond in our yard and I do have quite a bit of glass items all thru out to enjoy in the summer months. We enjoy entertaining or just spending our evenings outside
