CLAYTON —
Lisa F. Pelo has been blowing glass for more than 20 years. She has her own shop in Clayton where she creates artistic pieces and also shares her craft with others.
"I was born and raised in Ohio but moved here 22 years ago," Pelo said. "I've had a studio here for six years and this functional space for about two years."
She said she loves making her living as a artisan.
"I like using transparent colors so the light can come through," Pelo said.
Those who come out to take a class will need to return.
"It takes 12 hours for a piece to cool," she said. "So anytime you come out, you will get to see me twice."
In Pelo's teaching space she has a hot shop where other people can rent time. It's behind her home in rural Hendricks County.
"It took a number of years to get this going," she said. "But I'm glad I worked at this slowly."
The shop is filled with demonstration pieces made with all of the colors of the rainbow. There are also several small pieces she does for shops. She makes several popular ornaments for holidays.
Her work can be found in Hendricks County at Flowered Occasions in Plainfield, Frazee Gardens in Brownsburg, and Artistic Designs in Brownsburg.
She also has a portable unit that she can take to festivals or fairs.
"If a festival hires me, I can come out and do demonstrations," Pelo said.
"People get to see that hands-on work. I will also take stuff to sell. It's a lot of work to set it up, but the demonstrations make it all worth it."
This summer she will be appearing in Wabash and Columbus.
"My favorite work is commission work," she said. "I like that aspect of it. Commission work gives me the opportunity to be a consultant, designer, artisan, fabricator, and installer."
She has completed pieces for Community Hospital North, Community Hospital South, and the St. Vincent Breast Center in Carmel.
"I really like it when people see your work and want a large piece created for their home," she said. "I love those jobs."
As a small business owner, Pelo said she has had to push herself to learn many things.
"The business side is the tough side for me," she said. "But it's necessary. It can't all be about the glass."
Her website is one area where she says she knows she needs work.
"It's really just a way for people to get in touch with me," she said. "It's not set up to take orders or anything like that."
Although her business takes up a lot of her time, she also helps rescue dogs.
"I foster rescue dogs and help them get adopted," she said. "I also have some of my own dogs that I have kept because they were unadoptable."
"At any time I may have three to five foster dogs here. I just love dogs. They are always so grateful to be here. Sadly, we can't find homes for all of them."
For more information on classes or her work, call Pelo at 987-6862 or visit her website at www.hotblownglass.com.
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