Simsbury Small Business Spotlight: Made by Jane Original Glass Jewelry

Every local business has a story worth sharing with the community. And that’s the belief behind this exciting series — to shine the spotlight on all our favorite local businesses, and to learn a little about the ones we may not know that well.

• Business: Made by Jane | Original Glass Jewelry
• Owners: Jane Berling
• Website: www.madebyjanedesign.com
• Address: Hoe-based, West Simsbury

How did you come up with name?

I didn’t get very creative on this one. I wanted to use something simple and also open ended in case the business morphs into something more than just jewelry. I have no “morphing” plans as of now, but who knows what the future may hold.

What business are you In?

I guess I’m in the jewelry business, although I consider myself more of an artisan or craftsman. I make glass beads and then fashion them into jewelry. The method I use to make the beads is called Lampworking. Lampworking, also called torch or flame working, is a centuries old art form in which glass is sculpted after being heated to a molten state in a flame. That flame was once created by an oil fueled ‘lamp’. Modern lamp work artists use gas fueled torches to create the flame. Each bead is sculpted individually by building layers of molten glass around a steel rod called a mandrel. Once the bead is finished, it must be cooled very slowly to avoid thermal shock, i.e., cracking/shattering. When the bead has cooled completely, the mandrel is pulled from the center, leaving a hole behind through which you can string it.

Why start a business in this town?

I did not grow up in Connecticut, but this is home to me now. My husband actually grew up in Simsbury, but moved to Colorado for college. We met in Colorado, but I dragged him back to the East Coast. We have lived in Connecticut for 18 years. We started our marriage here, our careers, and our family. Our two daughters were born here. We moved to Simsbury almost 7 years ago and love it. Simsbury has history, beautiful geography and wonderful people. It’s a great town to live in and especially to raise a family.

What is the most difficult moment or challenge you’ve faced as a business owner?

My store front is my website, so the biggest challenge has been around spreading the word. Social Media is an amazing tool, but one has to be pretty savvy in order to really make it work for you. 

What has been your favorite moment or proudest achievement since opening?

Hmmm, my business is so new at this point, I guess my proudest achievement thus far is having the courage to follow this dream. I love working with glass and the idea of making a living by it is thrilling!

How does your business give back to the community?

I’ve really enjoyed volunteering at my daughters’ schools and plan to continue with that work. I’d also like to see my business As the business grows, I’d like to support our school’s fundraising efforts probably by donating a jewelry design to auctions and events like that. It would also be fun to help sponsor some of the man family and/or philanthropic events our town holds.

Would you like to see your small business showcased in this series? Email wendy.mitchell@patch.com.