The Art of Never Stopping! Meet Carolyn - Forever Forward!

86 and just getting started - Passion has no expiration date!

About 6 months ago at one of my art shows, a lady approached me and asked, "Are you Melanie?" I replied yes, and she said, "you're going to teach me flameworking! I want to take your class and I'm going to learn to do this!" 

Of course, I asked about her background and why she wanted to learn flameworking. She told me she had been working with stained glass over the last 15 years since the age of 70. So, she had some experience with glass and art.  Although, knowing the physical and heat tolerance demands of working on a torch, I was curious if she was serious about learning. By the end of the conversation, after realizing she seemed determined, I asked, "Do you mind me asking you how old you are?" She proudly replied, "86"! 

So, Carolyn, living not too far from my in-person workshops at the Morean in downtown St. Petersburg, signed up for my classes this past June. As coincidence would have it, during this same month I finally released my virtual online series, "Beginning Techniques in Flameworked Glass Sculpture", and to my delight, she was the first to sign up! I thought how special and inspirational this was to have someone later in their years actually gravitate to what I was teaching and offering to the world! 

I interviewed Carolyn because I wanted to know what kept her going at 86, what her background was, and when she decided to want to learn flameworking. It's an inspiring interview for anyone thinking they are getting too old to start something new. 

Here is the phone interview: 

Melanie - 1. Have you always been artistic throughout your life? 

Carolyn - "Actually I never considered myself an artist or artistic. I couldn’t draw, and I always thought I should be able to draw if I were artistic. At the time when I had 4 small children, (2 twins) someone called and asked if I were interested in taking a class in cake decorating - the people in the class were all mothers of twins. Twins did run in my family....my great grandmother had 5 sets of twins....18 children!! Our family has been in country since 1600's from Jamestown, VA. But anyway, I realized with a pastry tube I could turn out beautiful roses and a beautiful cake! This was my first artistic endeavor. 

I also was an entrepreneur. I ran 7 businesses, ranging from interior design to the first woman-owned construction company in Maryland. 

About 16 years ago, my husband and I bought house that has a window in the guest bedroom, and I wanted a stained-glass window in that spot, so at 70 years old, I taught myself stained glass." 

Melanie - 2. Your age is a consideration and factor in the physicality required for flameworking, so you are really an inspiration for others that are older and want to try something new. What gives you the motivation to keep learning at your age - especially a new art? When did you decide you wanted to do flameworking?

Carolyn - "After 15 years in stained glass, I was ready to start something new. A year ago, we were in North Carolina in the Cherokee area and I saw glass work up there at a show. The work I saw floored me and I was astounded and I thought, "I have to learn to do that!"  When I came back I started looking for somebody that would be teaching it near me. 

You have a choice. You have to keep going and learning something new, Up until about 2 years ago I was going to the gym 3 days a week. But I started getting stained glass projects that had deadlines, so I decided, 'I’m not gonna go back to the gym until the projects are done. I need to keep active and keep going. The other option is not an option'. So, you need to keep active. Having the glass projects keep you going, and this was especially true through Covid. So many people didn’t make it. But I keep going, my mind and body!"

Melanie - 3.  How did you come across Melanie and her style of flameworking and the classes offered?

Carolyn - "I found her surfing the web. I found her website. I was trying to find someone in Manatee County who had classes. I found you had evening classes at the Morean glass studio and even though I wasn’t thrilled about night time, but I wanted to take the class. I found a friend who signed up with me and would drive up from Bradenton for those evenings. Nobody in Bradenton does flamework classes." 

Melanie - 4. What advice would you give older adults on not giving up on your desires or dreams or the desire to learn new things? 

Carolyn - "I feel like everybody should continue to learn and if you got a dream and want to do something – just do it! Take the step and put out the effort to learn something, if you really want to learn something, - we’re in control in our life. 

You can choose to either end something new or follow through. Today we have so much more available to us and we are allowed to do so much more. In high school, I worked as a volunteer in a physical therapy rehab, but they did not offer a program in physical therapy for women. Now women are allowed to do so much more, and everything is available at our fingertips. So, if you want to learn something, just seek it out and find out where to learn and do it."

Melanie - 5. Now that you’ve signed up for the virtual classes, what is your plan on setting up your own workspace at home? 

Carolyn - "I have started. I'm in the process of setting up studio in the garage. I'm researching oxygen suppliers that will deliver in the area. But I did find an oxygen company that will help me make sure I have the connections fitted correctly on the torch. I already have my glasses, torch, some graphite plates and paddles, tools and ordering some basic glass rods. It's a good time for me because as a retiree I have the time and money to take this on. I have a pending project with my stained glass, but until the customer decides to go ahead with it, I'll be working on setting up my table in the garage and watching your videos." 

Now it's time for you to Ignite your own Creativity! 

Embark on a mesmerizing journey into the world of glass sculpting by mastering its fundamental techniques. My new virtual online series on the Teachable.com platform (cechflameworking.teachable.com) breaks down the process into manageable steps, perfect for enthusiasts eager to create their own unique works of art. You won't just follow along; with Melanie's approach you'll gain a deep understanding of the fundamentals and purposeful practice habits, and NOW you can do it from anywhere in the world in the privacy of your own home! 

Together, we will fast-track your studio setup. I will guide you through building a safe, efficient workspace, choosing the right torches and equipment, and understanding the specific glass rods and frits I use—and why. Finally, I will break down the exact techniques and exercises you need to practice until muscle memory takes over and torch control becomes second nature.

Find more information about "Beginning Techniques in Flameworked Glass Sculpture" virtual series here:  https://cechflameworking.teachable.com/