'I created my dream home crafting business in Shropshire from a hobby I fell in love with while on maternity leave'

Now she sells her creations at craft fairs, markets and shops and also shares her skills with others by teaching workshops.

Glass fusing is a process where compatible pieces of glass are joined together with heat in a kiln.

For mother-of-two Lesley, who runs Little Owl Glass in Wem it’s a craft that is both rewarding and therapeutic. “I love working with glass. I love the process of combining colours, textures and fusing them together. It’s really good for my mental health because it forces me to slow down, to take time for myself and it focuses my mind,” she explains.

The former Brownie leader was first introduced to the world of fused glass in 2017. “I have always been arty and crafty whether it be painting, drawing, sticking, gluing, model-making or all-round general mess making with our Brownies and Guides where I was known as Little Owl – hence the business name,” she explains.

“During my maternity leave I fell in love with glass fusing after taking part in a half-term taster session with my older daughter.”

After enjoying glass fusing as a hobby, Lesley, who specialises in jewellery and home decor, decided it was time to take the next step.

“It has been a dream of mine for many years to have my own little home crafting business and in February 2020 I braved the decision of creating a business out of my hobby and also as a means of working through my grief – my dad passed away in 2019 from dementia – anxiety and post-natal depression,” she explains. 

She took part in her first craft fair in Wem during the weekend before the first Covid lockdown. Despite the uncertainty, the 44-year-old was undeterred and threw herself into further honing her skills and learning everything she could about running a business.

Now five years later, Lesley has a purpose-built home studio and has attended dozens of crafts fairs and markets and sold hundreds of pieces of jewellery. “I’m so glad I made the decision when I did. I’m proud of what I have achieved,” she says. “If you have a dream, don’t just follow it, chase it, flag it down and jump on board.” 

In her studio, Lesley, who started with a microwave kiln, now has three different sized kilns. She loves experimenting with different colours, textures and techniques for her pieces which are inspired by nature, the Shropshire landscape, Snowdonia, the Welsh Coast and abstract design.

Lesley enjoys spreading the word about the craft’s mental health benefits by teaching workshops. 

“I love making something unique that nobody else has and sharing that with people,” she says.

In the future, she is also hoping to set up a support group for fellow crafters so they can share ideas and be a listening ear for those that may be struggling amid the current economic climate. 

She added: “It’s really difficult for crafters at the moment because people don’t have the spare money in their pockets like they used to because of the cost of living crisis. 

"We’re not selling essential items, we’re selling items that people want, whether it’s for themselves or to give to someone else, but they don’t need them.

"A lot of crafters are closing their businesses because of poor sales which is a shame because it means that unique craft and skill is gone. I’m hoping it’s going to get better,” says Lesley.

“I love what I do. I love the process of fusing glass and I love it when someone looks at one of my pieces and says ‘wow, that’s amazing’. That makes me feel so good,” she adds.

Lesley’s glass is stocked in VAN Gallery in the Darwin Centre, Shrewsbury; Shrewsbury Arts & Crafts, Perches House, Shrewsbury; No. 61, Mardol, Shrewsbury; Under One Roof, Oswestry; Toadstools, Bridgnorth; Artworks 2 Celf, Betws Y Coed; and Canvas & Clay, Ellesmere.

Events she will be attending include Rossett Food, Craft & Gift Fair on May 11 and June 8 and Wem Plant & Craft Fair on May 17. On May 22 and 24, Lesley is running fused glass workshops at Wem Town Hall. 

For details, see littleowlglass.com or www.facebook.com/LittleOwlGlassStudio/