Libby Leuchtman

      “Glass has been the only art form that has held my attention. It is the only medium that constantly allows me to be challenged every time I sit down at the torch,” says Libby Leuchtman. “There is always a new idea, color, form, shape or method to explore.”

      A former jewelry designer, Leuchtman sold her pieces to galleries in St. Louis and throughout the U.S.  She wanted to learn how to make her own beads in order to bring more art into her jewelry.  After a class with Tom and Sage Holland, two of the founders of the U.S. glass beadmaking movement, beadmaking became her passion….and her business.

      She founded Sorella Beads in 2001 as the only store of its kind in the Midwest that was both a bead store and a glass beadmaking studio.  By then, she had received national recognition for her glass beadmaking and regularly invited other well-known artists to teach workshops at Sorella. 

      “I am heavily influenced by my first teachers Tom and Sage Holland, my good friends Dustin Tabor, Stephanie Sersich, Jennifer Geldard, Amy Johnson, Kate Fowle and so many more,” Leuchtman says.   “Right now I am doing a lot of "off mandrel work" which means that I don't use the traditional methods of beadmaking but more torch work,” she explains.

      In 2007, Leuchtman made the decision to focus on her art and teaching, closing Sorella in order to join Third Degree Glass Factory where she is heading up the new flameworking division. “I am excited about joining Third Degree because it allows me to be both an artist and teacher. Teaching gives me the opportunity to pass on the history of glass beadmaking and the constant challenge and wonder of working with glass,” Luechtman says. “I am also excited about combining both the torch work and blowing.”

      Leuchtman co-founded the St. Louis Lampworkers Society, serving as its first President and also started the St. Louis Bead Society.  She is a juried member of the Best of Missouri Hands and member of the International Society of Glass Beadmakers.  Leuchtman’s beads have been collected for the Kobe Glass Art Museum in Kobe Japan.

Who We Are:

Jim McKelvey Co-Founder	Doug Auer Co-Founder
Anne Murphy Director of Marketing & Development Cody Meirick Special Events Manager Lisa Volner Gallery Assistant
Instructors:
Mike Hayes	Nik Christensen
Amber Marshall	Ben Klein
Aaron Quigley	Jessica (Cope) Kopitske
Chris Dowdy	Whit Rogers
Shawn Lipe

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