Stained Glass Designs by Andrea de Lange

My Art Background:

As a kid, I loved drawing, writing poetry, and making things. Remember bread-dough crafts? I was really into that, and created and sold customized bread-dough mobiles for clients. I got into making decorative hair combs and ribbon chokers with silk flowers, after a visit to a wholesale silk flower warehouse. My mom got a business license for us, and I sold my wares during a family road-trip of 5 western states. I made about $400 during that vacation; and at 13, it seemed like a small fortune!

In 1983, I completed a year-long course in Commercial Art at West Valley Occupational Center, in Woodland Hills, Ca. About two years later, I took my first stained glass course at "A Touch of Glass", in Woodland Hills, Ca. This course taught the leaded came technique. Shortly after that, I completed another stained glass course at McGroarty Arts Center, in Tujunga, Ca. This class taught the copper foil technique, pioneered by the great glass artist Louis Comfort Tiffany. In 1990, I received a B.A. in 3D Design from California State University Northridge, specializing in glass, jewelry, and textiles.

After achieving an M.S. in Marriage, Family & Child Counseling, in 1992; I worked in the counseling and social work fields. Art therapy was incorporated into my work, whenever possible. Unfortunately burnout is an occupational hazard, in social work; and it hit me after about 10 years in the field. I returned to my original love: creating artwork for myself, family, friends, and others.

One month after the online handcrafted gift mall started, I opened my Etsy shop "NotablyGifted”. I sold textiles, jewelry and Sock Monkeys; and was one of 50 sellers chosen to mentor other sellers on the site. The shop has been in inactive status since 2008, when I went through cancer treatment.

Interestingly, I took a refresher stained glass course at McGroarty Arts Center, several years ago, and it was 30 years after the first one there! The course was great, and updated me on new tools and techniques, which weren't around 30 years earlier.

It’s now 12 years after cancer treatment; and I’m healthy, happy and grateful for many things. In addition to stained glass, I dabble in American Indian beading, mixed-media work, jewelry making, gardening and volunteer work. I’m happily married to the same guy I had a crush on in 4th grade.