WOW what a weird thing to say, but its true !! I would never have taken the time to take a  beginning Flamework class if I had not gotten breast cancer ! My name is Sherrie Venghaus and this is how I got started ..

In 2000, I was diagnosed with breast cancer, and in 2001, while I was finishing up my treatments, I became active in our local Relay for life and met my Best Friend Marjorie Frazier a fellow Survivor. My Team Raised money by making Bracelets for breast cancer awareness. I was quickly discouraged with the selection of beads out there to choose from. In 2003 Marjorie introduced me to a local Craft store “Glass Act” that taught Basic Flameworking. Now that was something that I have always been interested in but would not have taken the time to try before . My first goal was to make ribbon beads, Oh How sad my first beads were with their little ribbons, but not for long !! I became an instant Glass Addict and craved to do more with my torch.Working with glass is an emotional experience you will come to understand when you can imagine the medium at approximately 3,000∞F. It is the most fluid three-dimensional medium an artist can work closely with. The sensual flow holds your attention in a kind of magic spell. The glass is only cold and hard when it comes back down to room temperature. For the artist the process is a hot ballet of whirling and twirling. At a precise spontaneous moment they decide to stop and freeze the shape in time by taking it out of the fire where it becomes quickly rigid. Try to imagine the sculptures created from intense heat with the flames licking the sides of the shapes transforming them towards timeless suspension. My love is the more complex sculptural Flamework.  I love to make Sea life, whimsical animals, and I am always pushing the boundaries to create something different.  I use allot of reactive glass to capture wonderful colors. Something new is the addition of copper and silver Electroforming to finished pieces to enhance there detail.  I hope my pieces can make you smile and be awed, as I am always amazed at what a Rod of glass can become in the fire of a Torch.