The journey continues ...

Do you believe in fate? I think I do. Life places forks in our way at every turn and we consider the options and make our choices. The fact that those choices magically create our future is the mystery.

I wonder how I knew to apply to Emily Carr College of Art and Design in 1986, or how they knew to accept me into 3rd year ... ? If I hadn’t – and they hadn’t – I would never have met Violet there – and she would never have gotten me a job at Signals Design Group after we graduated – and would never have taken the leap with me a year later to start our own design business ...

Huh ... I guess then we would never have experienced 21 years of the best business partnership that has ever existed in the history of the world! 

I remember as if it was yesterday, us sitting with our husbands trying to come up with a name for our business. “Tandem Design Associates” made so much sense then and it still resonates today. We were a team from day one, and we still finish each others sentences 21 years later.

And if we had not been in the best business partnership (and friendship) in the history of the world, we would not have come to the realization together, that at the next fork in the road, we would each take a slightly different path. So I have to believe that it was fate that brought us together, and our synergy that made Tandem a success and our friendship that makes this next bit possible.

So this is when I get a bit teary, cuz this is huge ...  The fork in the road is just in front of me and I have chosen my path. The tricky part, is that I know this path has a few forks in it, but I can’t see them yet, so I have many decisions yet to make. But the tears are not because of what lies ahead — but for the amazing experience that has now come to an end. I have been letting go in baby steps, but this week it feels like it is really happening.

And so the journey continues. As the corporate designer persona takes a back seat to the illustrator/designer/vagabond in me, a new chapter begins. I have big and many plans. Some of them are already in motion, others, well we will see what fate brings my way.

And if I had a glass of wine in my hand, I would toast to friendship and partnership and not sweating the small stuff. Violet and I never did and it served us well.

Ta dah! introducing (at long last) Violet Finvers Glass!

Violet and I met at art school so many many moons ago. We studied together and then found our first jobs together, and as if it was ordained by a higher power, we founded Tandem Design Associates together. Twenty odd successful years later, we both found ourselves craving an outlet — not quite so corporate. I have been waiting for ages to give you a glimpse of what happened to Violet after taking a fusing workshop from accomplished glass artist, Brock Craig.

I can't remember if the workshop was one afternoon or a couple of sessions, but it was barely enough time for most students to even understand what they were doing. Violet was a natural and she was hooked within hours. I met her teacher, Brock, at a small exhibition of three glass artists in Vancouver a few months ago and he told me that in all his years of teaching, Violet was by far the best student he has ever had. Since I have spent most of the daylight hours of the past twenty years working with her, I know he was not exaggerating.

She is set up now with a home glass studio and is taking her new craft very seriously. Her website is up and running and she is ready to take on new orders and commissions. Initially she was working in two styles which she calls kiln carved glass and colour bars. As of my last discussion with her, she is developing new work that follows a different path. Can't wait to see what she has cooking!

Violet is a perfectionist and each piece is designed and executed to the highest level. The final products are for the most part functional — but so stunning — it seems a shame to find a practical use for them. The light passing through these amazing creations, is in itself, a work of art.

So what are you waiting for? Check out her new website and  buy a piece of Violet Finvers Glass!