Karen Ladd produces realistic floral glass art. Her custom designs are divided into four main categories; Bouquets, Awards, Wildlife & Commissioned Pieces. For specific interiors, occasions, and awards series, each category has a brief description of its contents including availability, size and purchase information. One of kind commissioned sculptures are regularly requested. Because Karen’s pieces are individually handmade and no molds are used, she is only available to a limited amount of fine gift stores and galleries. Please enquire about wholesale pricing.

The Process:

The heart of the process is Flameworking (also known as lampworking) , a technique of manipulating glass rods and tubing in a flame of 6000 degrees F generated by a bench mounted torch with a gas/oxygen mixture.

Each floral creation begins with a sketch to adjust the balance and form but it is in the studio where the true magic begins. The interplay of light within and through satin and clear glass is her main focus. The satin is achieved by sandblasting at different depths to create contrast. The varied shades of pink are achieved through a process known as fuming where metal, in our case, 22K gold, is vaporized and layered onto the hot glass. The finished sculpture is then placed in an annealing kiln between 1050 and 1100 degrees F to assure durability and clarity of the work.

“Throughout our history, flowers, especially the rose, have traveled with us. They enhance our, treasured moments, our glories and help us endure our tragedies. Essential to my work is staying true to my vision of bringing into our lives, a lasting floral expression, in celebration of life’s memorable moments.”