12 Days of Christmas Giveaway Day 3: Glass Elements

Welcome to the third day of Meylah’s Twelve Days of Christmas Giveaway!  On the third day of Christmas, Meylah is pleased to introduce Marja Hunta of Glass Elements.   We became instant fans of Marja when we came across her fused glass creations on Flickr, then we had the privilege to meet her in person at the most recent Etsy Rain event in Seattle.

You will love getting to know Marja, her tips, humor, and insight are so helpful and are truly an inspiration to the creative community.

Meylah:  Tell me a little about yourself & about your passion for fused glass.
Marja: Hi! I'm Marja Huhta, artist and owner of Glass Elements.  Glass Elements emerged when I could no longer deny my creative side.  Seeking to fulfill my creative drive, I accidentally came across a medium that spoke so clearly to me, allowing me to “fuse”" my scientific background and artistic side to create beautiful, unique items.  Life has, happily, never been the same.

Meylah: How did you get started?  (Where did you learn & what are the supplies you can’t live without?)
Marja: I started taking art classes in Washington DC at the direction of a career counselor a few years back.  I think of that period as "art therapy".  I had my hands in pottery and was loving it, until I took a fused glass jewelry class on a whim and that’s the moment when my life changed.  I fell in love with the colors, the process - and was dreaming about creating new pieces the night after my first class.  In short, I became addicted immediately.  I continued my training by taking as many classes as I could at Glen Echo Art Center in MD, Washington Glass School in DC and, after moving to Seattle, at Pratt Fine Art Center.

I use compatible glass from Bullseye Glass Company out of Portland, Oregon for all of my glass work.   I design, hand-cut, and layer each piece – whether a small jewelry item or a large platter – before placing it in a kiln and firing to approximately 1500 degrees.  I then anneal (cool) the glass for enhanced strength and durability.  Finally, the beauty of each unique piece is revealed by further shaping, polishing and additional firing.  None of this would be possible in my home studio without a lot of time, coffee, and my kiln (named “Gimli”), ring saw (“Wolverine”) and diamond grinder (“The Punisher”).  You can see that I have a bit of a comic book/fantasy fetish, so these guys are great company when I'm working long hours in the studio by myself.

Meylah: What advice would you give to someone wanting to learn the art of fused glass?
Marja:  Take a class! There are lots of glass artists sharing their craft, sharing their love of the medium.  Find one that fits both in your schedule and your creative style – don’t be afraid to try different instructors, schools, and studios.  There are also many studios that let you rent studio space or come in for open studio time after you've taken the prerequisites and have a good handle of the basics.  This is a great way to practice the techniques you learn in the beginning classes as well as grow your community.  The majority of fused glass artists I've met have been so helpful and inspiring.  In Seattle, I teach classes at Pratt Fine Art Center along with a very talented group of glass artists.  Classes range from beginning to advanced, so you can start off at your own pace and work towards learning more complicated techniques.

Meylah: How long have you been selling your work?  Are the majority of your sales from online or offline sales?
Marja:  I started selling my work in 2007 to acquaintances, colleagues and friends while I was working a full time job in biotech. After moving across the country from DC to Seattle in May of 2008, I was faced with a generous opportunity: to strike out on my own doing what I love.  After several months of preparation, in November 2008, I took the plunge and started selling online at Etsy and at craft shows full time.  I’ve worked hard to support my Etsy shop with Internet marketing strategies and have done well online, but the majority of my sales have been in person at juried craft shows.

Meylah: You sell your work online through both Etsy and 1000 Markets.  What guidance would you give to artists trying to decide between different online marketplaces to sell their work?
Marja:  I opened a storefront at 1000 Markets because they support and reward good photography from sellers and because they are the new kid on the block.  But I have not followed up on 1000 Markets as much as I need to in order to make it profitable because Etsy has (thankfully) kept me very busy.  Rather than choosing one platform or another, it’s far more important for sellers to decide who they want to reach and what platform helps them to best do that.  There are different interfaces and functionality for Etsy, 1000 Markets, ArtFire, and all of the others.  I think a seller needs to be comfortable with the site(s) that they choose to use in order to make them work.  In addition to that, sellers need to determine if they have the time and organization to dedicate to a multitude of online shops as well as the separate marketing strategies and tactics that goes into each one.

Meylah: I see that you use Flickr and Facebook as avenues to share your work with the public.  How has social media impacted your business?
Marja:  Social media sites such as Flickr, Facebook and Twitter are fantastic ways to engage with a wide audience.  They offer a way to interact both locally and globally - helping artists find the people most interested in their work and vice-versa.  Sites like these have revolutionized marketing for a sole proprietor.  The best part for me is the direct connection it allows with my fans & customers - sharing new work, getting feedback, asking for their opinions, and offering specials just for them.  Through these outlets, I have gained connections to a global community and have customers not only in the US, but in Canada, England, Australia and Finland.

Meylah: Do you participate in local craft fairs, farmers markets, or festivals?
Marja:  Yes - and I really enjoy them! It is a fantastic way to meet new people, other local artists and craftspeople and share the love of glass directly.  I find juried shows are the best venues for showcasing my work.

Meylah: How do you manage your inventory between your online stores and offline events?
Marja:  Since each of my pieces are one of a kind, once I take a photo and list it online, I partition it from the rest of my stock and do not show it at "live" events.  In the event that a "live" event provides Internet access, I show my online stock since I have up-to-date information and the ability to de-list an item if a customer buys it in person.

Meylah:  Can we find you at any upcoming events?
Marja:  I'll be at the Snohomish Holiday Market in Downtown Snohomish the weekend before Christmas on Dec 18-20th.

Meylah:  Do you have any final thoughts or words of wisdom for the creative community?
Marja:  Life is too short not to take the chance to follow your true path.  That said, being self-employed and running your own business takes a lot more perseverance, hard work and support from family and friends than you might expect from “just a hobby”.  It has to be your "true work" to make it worth it - but, don't worry, it can still be fun!

Today, Marja is giving away a $15 gift card, which will be good to use online or in person at any show for the most insightful comment on the follow questions:  What color is missing from Marja's current pallet that you would love to see in glass?  And, what shape would accent that color the best? 

Thanks so much Marja - you are amazing!