Jamie Burress will be at our Nov. 22nd and Dec. 13th shows. You can find more of her work in her etsy shop.

Meet Your Maker (MYM): Describe what you make, how, and when you got your start.
Jamie (JB): I've been making stained glass art since 1997, when my friend Shelley showed me the basics and I taught myself the rest through trial and error. I started off making stained glass windows, then a few years later, with boxes and boxes of scrap glass that I had left over from all my previous projects, I started making mosaics. I don't like throwing anything away, so I find a way to use even the smallest of glass pieces. A couple years ago I bought a kiln and have been really excited about all the possibilities of fusing glass. I also sew costumes, knit, paint, and do all kinds of random crafty stuff.

MYM: Is this your largest source of income or do you have another job?
JB: I work part time at The Art of Glass in Eugene, and the rest of the time I do craft fairs, have art shows all over Eugene, and sell small glass pieces at Sweet Life, The Redoux Parlour, Kitsch, and Deluxe.

MYM: Any advice to someone about making the leap from hobby crafting to selling?
JB: Be extra careful pricing your items to make sure you're actually going to be making a profit for yourself. Get really nice, professional looking pictures of your various items for use in brochures, advertising, or your website. I've had good luck Googling businesses and gift shops to find places I think my items would sell well in, then emailing pictures of my products to them (or sending a printed brochure with price list) and asking if they'd like a free sample. Usually most places I send free samples to end up placing orders for more.

MYM: Have you had any big breaks? How did they happen?
JB: The biggest break I ALMOST had (haha!) was going to be making a stained glass window for Anna Nicole Smith's house in the Bahamas. Anna was friends with my friend Sandy, and had seen and liked my art at Sandy's house. She wanted me to make a stained glass window of a lady with her features, with flowing blond hair, and wearing a pink corset. I was really excited about it, because I knew she had a reality TV show, and thought I'd get some business from my window being in her house. On my way to the glass store a few days later to buy glass to make the window, I turned on my car radio I heard the news that she had died. I thought it was a joke, but nope.

MYM: What are your most effective marketing/promoting tips?
JB: Sending free samples if it's a place out of town, then calling a week later to talk to somebody and ask what they thought about it. Personally bringing in samples if you're trying to promote your items at local shops.

MYM: Where else can we find you online?
On facebook and myspace.