Meet Charity Stewart

 

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Charity Stewart. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Charity below.

Charity, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?

I often work in production mode, crafting hundreds of identical glass designs. I find the repetitive process meditative and therapeutic. Yet, creativity is in my blood—I must experiment with new ideas and techniques or else I feel stagnant and frustrated.

That’s why I always listen to my inner voice and carve out time for inspiration and play. My nature-themed work thrives on fresh experiences; a simple hike or capturing unique photos sparks my creativity. Recently, a trip to Hawaii recharged me, and I’m excited to return to the studio to create some new beach-inspired pieces.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I am a full-time fused glass artist based in Newberg, Oregon, with 20 years of experience in the craft. For the past 12 years, I’ve run a thriving business specializing in colorful home décor and jewelry. I wholesale my work to retailers, sell online, and recently opened Glass Girl Studio—a storefront offering my artwork, locally handcrafted gifts and private workshops.

My work is best known for its distinctive floral designs, created using genuine Murano glass called millefiori—an Italian technique that means “a thousand flowers”. Every piece is a labor of love, crafted to bring a little extra joy to someone’s day.

This spring, I’m thrilled to be partnering with a new catalog company that will feature my floral nightlights. There’s nothing quite like flipping through a catalog and spotting my own work—it’s a surreal and humbling reminder of how far this journey has taken me.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Continuous Learning:
My passion for glass started with helping my grandmother with stained glass projects and grew as I took classes and experimented. The most valuable lessons really came through trial and error, and I love that there’s always something new to explore and learn.

Resilience:
Early in my wholesale business, I realized that I was holding myself back due to fear of rejection and a lack of confidence. Over time, I learned to see rejection as part of the process and that it’s not something personal. That mindset shift helped me overcome obstacles.

Courage to Take Action:
I’ve learned to embrace fear and imperfection. It’s about showing up, even when scared, and being willing to adapt along the way. I often need to remind myself that it’s ok to be messy, imperfect, and unsure… and still show up. Having confidence in yourself and faith in the product that you’ve worked so hard on is essential to growth. You should be your biggest fan!

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

I’m used to flying solo, but I love the magic that happens when creatives collaborate. I’ve worked with local metalsmiths and woodworkers to create unique mixed-media pieces and enjoy partnering with glass galleries and gift shops that carry my work. Sometimes, I even showcase their glasswork in my storefront, creating a full-circle exchange of creativity and support. I’m passionate about sharing the work of other makers and building a strong creative community.

If you have a collaboration idea or are a retailer interested in carrying my work, feel free to reach out at [email protected] or visit www.glassgirlstudio.com.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Natalie Kristeen Photography

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