‘Love affair with glass’: Washington City woman creates unique art from fused glass

Written by Jessi Bang
October 16, 2022

WASHINGTON —From stained glass designs to nightlights and framed glass art, one woman is using her talent and creativity to create unique pieces right in her home garage.

Nan Johnson stands inside her garage studio holding one of her art pieces, Washington, Utah, Oct. 5, 2022 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
Nan Johnson stands inside her garage studio holding one of her art pieces, Washington, Utah, Oct. 5, 2022 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News

“I have this love affair with glass. I buy more glass and I just have to look at it and hold it up to the light. It’s just so fun,” Nan Johnson, owner of Ruby’s Glass Studio said.

Johnson isn’t new to the artistic world. Before computers and printers, she created posters for people along with hand-painting store windows. She also enjoyed the craft of crocheting, sewing, creating silk flower arrangements and more. After her kids were grown, she decided it was time to pursue something she had always loved – stained glass. She took a class from a local artist, Julie Dumas, which opened up a whole new realm of possibilities.

One of the first Johnson made was a stained glass heart with a dog paw in the center. She gave them to her dog-loving friends as well as an employee at Woof Center who cared for her dog. The employee showed others and as word traveled, she was asked to sell her art at Dewey’s Dog Treats in St. George. The owner of the bakery suggested she also sell her items at the St. George Downtown Farmers Market. Hesitant at first, she decided to take the leap and was shocked at the support she received from the community. 

Ruby’s Glass Studio officially started in 2016 and is named after her Bernese Mountain dog Ruby, who faced a tragic death that same year. Through her shop, she focused on making smaller items, since large stained glass can be expensive and out of reach for most people. 

Glass art by Nan Johnson sits inside a kiln in her garage in Washington, Utah, Oct. 5, 2022 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
Glass art by Nan Johnson sits inside a kiln in her garage in Washington, Utah, Oct. 5, 2022 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News

“I would make things that people can afford to buy and still own a piece of that ancient art of stained glass,” she said.

Her daughter gifted her a small kiln and encouraged her to add fused glass to her craft, which she does today. She has since purchased a larger kiln along with other machinery. With the support of her friends, family, husband and Kat Puzey, owner of the downtown market at Modern Farm and Artisan Co-op, she decided to open her own shop on Etsy. 

The glass used in her art comes from various sources including other artists, such as an artist in Croatia that provides swirled glass she’s unable to make in her own kilns. Glass varies from sheets to ground glass powder – which is mixed with water, frozen, placed in molds and into the kiln to create dimensional items.

Christmas night light designs by Ruby's Glass Studio are shown, Washington, Utah, Oct. 5, 2022 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
Christmas night light designs by Ruby’s Glass Studio are shown, Washington, Utah, Oct. 5, 2022 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News

Johnson said there’s a process and preparation included in each of her pieces. Starting with sheets of glass which are scored to create strips, she cuts the glass into small squares. Edges of the glass are then nipped off to create designs such as individual petals for flowers. 

“Basically it’s cutting it all apart and putting it back together again,” Johnson said.

Once the designs are put together, she uses a touch of glue and hairspray to hold the design in place. The finalized piece then goes into the kiln, which fuses the glass together. Every one of the pieces is one-of-a-kind and designed from scratch with her own ideas.

From California Poppy to whimsical Christmas designs, Ruby’s Glass Studio offers currently offers 24 different nightlight designs, each of which offers the option of LED or incandescent lights. She also makes framed art, ornaments, and holders for business cards. New ideas are constantly forming, and she’s adding new designs frequently.

A variety of glass sits on a shelf inside Nan Johnson's glass studio in Washington, Utah, Oct. 5, 2022 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
A variety of glass sits on a shelf inside Nan Johnson’s glass studio in Washington, Utah, Oct. 5, 2022 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News

“It is just such a fun, fun thing that I do,” Johnson said. “Sometimes I wake up at night and think about something else I can create. So I get up and come out here. My husband knows if I’m not in bed, this is where I am.”

To learn more about Ruby’s Glass and to place an order, visit her online Etsy shop. Purchase her glass art in person at her display inside the downtown MoFACo shop.

“I have to follow my heart and love what I make,” she said. “After all, there is a little of my heart in everything I make.”

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2022, all rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jessi Bang was born and raised in Utah and has a passion for nature and the great outdoors. She graduated from Kaplan University in California with a degree in criminal justice. She has extensive experience in marketing, content creation, photography and copywriting. You can find her showcasing outdoor adventures through her blog, “The Rambling Raccoon.” In her free time, she enjoys climbing mountains, trail running, working out and cuddling her two lovable pups.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @STGnews

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