Last Valentine’s Day I gave my partner a bunch of roses. A few days later they were already wilting.She looked at them and said, “You should try making one in glass. At least that one would last.” I thought that was actually a pretty good idea, so I gave it a try.
Full disclosure, this is my own work/shop.
This one is called Prism Lotus. I make each flower from borosilicate glass using a torch, shaping the petals one by one and assembling them into the flower. the colors come from glass colorants along with some gold and silver fuming, so they can look pretty different depending on the light.The glass flower lifts off the walnut base, and the light is built into the base.
It’s $399. I’ve had a few people buy these, and one was for an anniversary, so I thought it might fit here.
Prism Lotus: https://9purple.com/shop/prism-lotus/
These colors are a bit tricky to get right.
I’ve been trying a few different directions with glass lately, from small wearable pieces to sculptural objects.
These two fish ended up becoming a small composition together. I liked how the different colors and directions made them feel like they were moving around each other.
Still exploring where I want to take this side of my work.
A few people asked me before whether the glass flower was permanently attached to the wooden base, so I thought I’d show it a little more clearly.
It actually isn’t fixed in place. The glass flower and the walnut base are two separate parts, so the flower can simply be lifted off on its own.
The light sits inside the wooden base. When I place the flower back on top, the light comes up through the glass from underneath.
I like keeping the two parts separate because I still want the glass flower to feel like an object on its own, rather than simply becoming part of a lamp.
The last photo is what it looks like once it’s put back together and turned on.
I’d be curious which you prefer — keeping the flower removable, or making the whole piece one permanent object?
I’m back to share a little more. This time, here are a few steps from making this lotus with a smoky, ink-wash-like color.
I start with the flower, then work on the stem, and finally put the assembled lotus back into the flame for some small adjustments.
At this stage, my main goal is to control the heat while keeping the shape and edges as clear as possible.
What do you guys think of this piece?
I was going through a difficult period when I started developing this lotus. A lot of things in my life felt uncertain, and focusing on the piece gave me something quiet to hold on to.
I didn’t want the lotus to have one fixed color. Under different light, different colors come forward, and that started to remind me of how people change through different stages of life.
Sometimes, when we’re in a difficult period, it can feel like that version of us is the whole story. But it isn’t. Every stage brings out a different side of who we are.
For me, this lotus became a reminder that we don’t have to remain one fixed version of ourselves. We were never meant to be just one color.
I think every handmade piece carries a story. I’d be happy to share more about the stories behind my work, and I’d also love to hear what has inspired something you’ve made.
Flowers have always felt like one of the simplest ways to show someone you care, especially on anniversaries and other meaningful days.
But I always feel a little sad watching them fade after only a few days. The feeling behind the gift may still be there, even when the flowers are gone.
That was the thought behind this rose: what if the flower could stay a little longer too?
Curious what it makes you think of.
This was the final stage after the lotus had already been assembled. I used the flame to make a few last adjustments and set the shape. The tricky part was keeping the petals light and curved without losing the smoky, ink-wash effect.
I wanted this one to feel warmer and a little more elusive than my previous lotus pieces, so I experimented with pink, amber, pale blue, and violet tones.I’ve been calling it the “Nine-Tailed Fox Lotus.” What do you think of this color combination?
I usually work with lampworked borosilicate glass rather than traditional stained glass, but I thought some people here might enjoy seeing how one of the lotus petals is shaped before assembly.
A few days ago, a friend expressed interest in the creation process, so I put together some clips showing a typical day in the studio.
Creating these plant-inspired forms using borosilicate glass is quite challenging. There is a very narrow window of time to shape the petals before the glass cools and cracks due to thermal shock. The stems are tricky, too; they need to be strong enough to support the weight of the flower while maintaining the natural, graceful curve characteristic of traditional Oriental cymbidiums. Every piece you see is crafted entirely by hand, using only a bench-top torch and some basic graphite tools. I’d love to hear your thoughts, and feel free to ask any questions about flame chemistry or the annealing process!
Just a quick breakdown before anyone asks:
Monitors: AOC ultrawide in the center, flanked by two vertical screens for multitasking.
Peripherals: Apple Magic Keyboard, Logitech mouse, and a trusty SNBC thermal printer for daily shipping labels.
The Glow: A self-made high-borosilicate glass lotus lamp on the left to keep things serene during late-night packing.
Let me know if you want to know about any other specific gear!
In reading posts in this community, I've noticed a common issue: most people try too hard to fight anxiety or force their minds to go completely blank. This often backfires.
It's not that the methods themselves are wrong, but rather that they go against a fundamental principle: how can one possibly fight against thoughts that arise from within oneself?
Taoism teaches us to "go with the flow." In Taoist practice, there is a perspective on muddy water: if you try to stir it up or force it to clear, you only make it murkier. The only way to make it clear is to leave it alone and let the sediment settle naturally over time.
I feel that modern mindfulness sometimes involves too much attachment—treating chaotic thoughts as enemies to be defeated. Yet, the more you fight a thought, the more power you give it. Our philosophy speaks of wu wei—non-forcing or effortless action; it is the art of letting things take their natural course.
I used to be very anxious myself. I am a highly sensitive person with a heightened awareness of the world around me. Whether in life, romance, family, or friendships, the slightest hint of trouble would plunge me into deep, exhausting internal conflict. I would doubt everything, triggering a cycle of negative emotions and thoughts, and then fight against myself—leaving me utterly drained.
Because I was exposed to Taoist traditions from a young age, I tried applying those concepts: instead of being a combatant, I chose to be an observer. I would watch where my emotions and thoughts originated and seek the root cause there.
When I practice sitting meditation—or what you might call "mindfulness"—I don't try to empty my mind. Instead, I naturally accept those thoughts and slowly relax, allowing myself to enter a meditative state quite quickly.
Of course, in the beginning, it took a lot of struggle and resistance before I could connect naturally; I tried countless times, and there were moments when the jumble of emotions nearly caused me to break down.
So, what I want to share is this: peace isn't something you achieve by striving for it; it comes from giving up the fight against your own thoughts. This is just a personal insight I wanted to share, and I'd love to hear your thoughts as well.
My latest creation is ready! I previously shared a couple of posts featuring vibrant colors, and seeing how much everyone enjoyed them in the comments, I decided to bring you something different this time—a piece designed as a home décor ornament. It features a flower with an "ink-wash" aesthetic and a smoky, atmospheric vibe, accompanied by an unopened bud. It took quite a while to get the color balance just right; what do you think of this style?
thanks to the mods for letting us self-promote here this week, really appreciate the space.hey everyone, wanted to drop my latest bench project—a frosted boro lotus lamp with a warm lighting core. i'm an independent maker from China trying to keep our traditional Liuli (intangible cultural heritage) lampworking techniques alive.this piece is 100% sculpted freehand under a 1200°C torch, absolutely no molds. every petal and those tiny micro-stamens in the middle were pulled one by one behind the flame. honestly, because boro reacts to the heat differently every second, the fire basically decides the final shape. that makes each lamp completely 1-of-1 and impossible to replicate perfectly, and since it takes so much patience, i can only make a very limited few.quick question for the lampworkers here—how do you guys usually manage your flame chemistry when trying to keep a deep matte texture on boro without accidentally glazing it back to clear? it’s a tricky balance when you're shaping freehand. would love to talk shop.if you like traditional craft mixed with a cleaner minimalist style, you can check out our studio gallery at 9purple.com (link is also in my bio).thanks for looking and supporting handmade craft!
Hey everyone! Wanted to share my latest bench project. After working with a lot of vibrant color flows recently, I wanted to create something completely serene, focusing purely on contrast and texture.
The petals are made from frosted/matte borosilicate glass to soften the light, paired with a deep, dark amber core. Every petal and dewdrop was pulled and shaped individually by hand behind the torch (no molds used at all). > It's mounted on a custom-built wooden light base that illuminates the glass from underneath. Watching the light diffuse through the frosted layers in a dark room has become my favorite way to wind down at night. Would love to hear your thoughts on this minimalist approach! 😊👇
Hello everyone! The response to my recent "Glazed Lotus" piece has been incredible, and I’m thrilled to see how much you all love it.
Reading through your comments, I’ve come across some brilliant ideas—like turning it into a touch-activated ambient light, trying out a cool-toned wooden base, or exploring new color-flow effects. These suggestions have truly inspired me.
I have a bold idea: since imagination alone isn't enough to create something extraordinary, I want to combine my craftsmanship with your creativity. I hope we can blend our ideas to craft a one-of-a-kind masterpiece together.
To showcase the wonders possible when pushing the boundaries of torch-working glass art, I’d like to share my most challenging piece to date: a "Phoenix" made from borosilicate glass. It took over a month of meticulous work at the torch; I sculpted every single feather entirely by hand—without using any molds—at temperatures reaching 1,200°C.
Now, I’d love to hear your thoughts! Let’s create something together—please share your most unique, beautiful, or daring design concepts in the comments. I’ll read every suggestion, pick a few feasible ideas, and bring them to life in the flame. Let’s get creative! 😊👇
hey everyone, just wanted to share my latest piece. It’s a lotus flower made using traditional lost-wax kiln casting, paired with a natural wooden base.
I spent so many hours tweaking the kiln temperatures just to get that smooth, melting transition where the outer pink and purple petals bleed into the amber center. Glass can be so unpredictable, but seeing how it catches the light makes all the failed prototypes worth it.
would love to hear your thoughts on the color harmony and clarity!