Fire is my friend. I have always loved working with torches, and yes, that started long before glass.  My artistic journey began in the pottery studio at Pinemere Camp in Pennsylvania, where I first fell in love with making things by hand. Today, I am a full-time glass artist working from my home studio in sunny Jacksonville, Florida, creating one-of-a-kind handmade borosilicate glass jewelry.
Every pendant and pair of earrings begins with rods or tubes of glass, a torch fueled by oxygen and propane, and a spark of imagination. In a flame reaching temperatures of approximately 2,500 degrees, I melt, shape and layer the glass to create tiny worlds filled with flowers, jellyfish, opals, spirals and brilliant color.

From Pottery to Glass
My path to becoming a glass artist was not exactly straight. I majored in accounting and minored in art before spending approximately 25 years as a professional potter. In 2003, I discovered glass at an artists conference at the Penland School of Craft, and that moment changed everything.  Glass immediately felt like the perfect combination of the things I loved most: fire, color, movement and the challenge of transforming a molten material into something permanent and beautiful.

Since then, I have studied with accomplished glass artists at Corning and in Murano, Italy. I have also taught lampworking, glass beadmaking and silversmithing, sharing the techniques that have brought me so much joy.

My work has been exhibited internationally and has previously been sold through the Corning Museum of Glass gift shop, the Corning Glass Art Studio and the Cummer Museum of Art gift shop in Jacksonville. My glass art has also appeared in numerous publications. I am especially proud to have been the only American glass artist featured for three consecutive years in Bead Review, an annual publication showcasing 40 outstanding glass art beads from around the world.

One Piece at a Time
There are no molds and no mass production in my studio. Every piece is individually flameworked by me and then kiln-annealed overnight for additional strength and durability.  I specialize in borosilicate glass pendants and earrings created with techniques including floral implosions, frit work, flameworked glass, encased opals and detailed miniature designs.  My collections include glass flower pendants, jellyfish and under-the-sea jewelry, evil eyes, mushrooms, turtles, swirling vortex designs and my Mermaid’s Tears opal pendants.

Some of my most playful creations are made with UV-reactive glass. These pieces reveal surprising neon colors under a black light while remaining beautiful in ordinary daylight. I also incorporate sterling silver bails, ear wires and handmade settings into many of my designs.  Because every piece of wearable glass art is unique, I photograph my jewelry individually. Unless a listing clearly states otherwise, the exact piece pictured is the piece you will receive.

Jewelry With a Story
My goal is to create art glass jewelry that feels as individual as the person wearing it, something whimsical, unexpected and filled with personality. From a delicate implosion flower to a glowing UV mushroom or tiny jellyfish suspended inside clear glass, each design has its own character and story.  Although health challenges no longer allow me to participate in art festivals, I continue creating in my Jacksonville studio and sharing my work through my online shop. I also accept a limited number of special commissions.

One of the most rewarding parts of being an artist is connecting with people from every walk of life. I love knowing that something I shaped in the flame can become a meaningful gift, a favorite piece of jewelry or part of someone else’s story.  Thank you for visiting Heather Ferman Art Glass and for supporting an independent American glass artist. 

I hope you discover a one-of-a-kind treasure that feels as though it was created especially for you. 💛