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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Glass helps garden sparkle


Pam Deutschman is surrounded by her unique garden ornaments, made from glass and vintage glass items. At top, close inspection reveals intricate details in her work.
 (Photos by Brian Plonka/ / The Spokesman-Review)
Wendy Huber Correspondent

Pam Deutschman puts her art in the garden.

“I don’t know how I came up with this idea,” says Deutschman. “I kept seeing beautiful glass all around me, and I thought, ‘What can you do with these things?’ ”

Deutchman creates glass flower ornaments, fashioned out of vintage glass mounted on copper stems ranging from three to six feet high.

“To me the art of it is what’s important,” she says.

The flower ornaments can be placed in the yard in strategic locations to catch the sun’s rays, or indoors in front of windows or in potted plants or floor vases. Most of the glass Deutschman uses is purchased in thrift stores, antique shops, flea markets and yard sales. She uses vintage beads, chandelier pieces, ashtrays, dollhouse items, vases, shot glasses, old perfume bottles, ring holders, candlesticks, candy bowls and some Depression glass.

“I’m intrigued with triggering memories,” she says. “People really respond at another level to this. They say, ‘Oh, my grandma had an ashtray like this, or a little sugar bowl like this.’ I’m really interested in that aspect of my work.”

Using a costly UVB light machine, Deutschman uses ultraviolet light to cure the epoxy used to secure the pieces. To do so she must wear special sunscreen, goggles and gloves. It’s not an easy craft. The copper is tough and does not flex easily.

“Different colored metal would be a heck of a lot cheaper,” says Deutschman. “The nice thing about copper, too, is that pretty patina.”

Although Deutschman has made a few custom pieces, most of her work is conceived from imagination. She enjoys creating the many glass layers, figuring which shapes and colors will produce the most pleasing appearance. Red glass is her favorite, and at first she tended to create elaborate floral displays. Now she can also appreciate the clarity of clear glass.

“I was really ornate, almost over the top, even tacky, liking all that detail,” she says. “Then I realized that people want some simple ones. They weren’t to my personal taste, but I’m starting to see more beauty in simplicity and subtle changes of color.”

Deutschman has some unique plans for extending her craft. She’s researching solar light, and how the flowers could retain sunlight during the day and then glow at night. She’s designing different ways to utilize the flowers indoors, such as putting light bulbs behind the glass, and creating special stands for people who don’t have potted plants or floor vases, or who would like to bring the flowers in from the garden for the winter.

Right now, sunshine through colored glass is her favorite look.