Meet Lezlie Foster | Glass blower and glass bead maker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lezlie Foster and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lezlie, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I was born in San Jose, California but my family moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico when I was just 3 years old. Living in New Mexico exposed me to many different cultures and all of the creative expression available to me. One of my favorite places to visit was the Old Town area of Albuquerque. The many different artisans on the Plaza were always fascinating to me. Long ago there was a shop where a man would sit in the window and make beautiful glass pieces. On family outings to the Plaza I could always be found watching him with fascination as he created. I thought that was probably the best job anyone could possibly have!
My Dad was very artistically talented. He painted, sketched, sang, played piano, and built custom street rods, He instilled a love of art, music, color and creativity in me that I have pursued my entire life.
With a young family in the 1970s my parents didn’t have a lot of money, so we took weekend adventures. My Mom would pack a picnic lunch and snacks and we would drive out to the mountains or the desert. We were always encouraged to observe our surroundings, look at formations, dig in the dirt for arrowheads, pick up special rocks, leaves, and other treasures to bring home.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Instead of college I chose to go to manicuring school and I began a career as a nail technician when I was 23. I was able to incorporate art into something functional and for 15 years I made a fairly good living doing nails. I moved to Colorado in 1999. With what was a huge move for me and, being away from family and friends, learning a new area and a new way of life, I lost interest in trying to establish a manicuring clientele and continue being self-employed. I’ve spent the majority of my life being someone who is considered unconventional, establishing myself in Colorado was hard and I found that I was not terribly dedicated to the amount of work that self-employment can take. But I needed a job, so I answered an ad in a local paper and was hired as a 911 dispatcher for a small county on the front range. I was torn between my need to be artful and a calling to help people. I worked in emergency dispatch environments for 11 years before I moved to the western slope in 2010 and was given the opportunity to leave the traditional workforce. I was burned out and extremely sad for the human race. I was not the same person I was when I started the job and I needed to find joy again, so I went back to the art that had been pushed aside by the daily grind of my life.
Researching furnace glass blowing I came across glass beads. I had limited money and limited space but I was fascinated by these tiny works of art! I began the adventure of teaching myself to make glass beads with a hobby kit using my old manicuring table as a work bench. I was hooked from the very start, and I found that each time I lit the torch the joy in my life increased. I truly wanted to share the beauty of glass with others, so I began selling them on a small scale at local craft fairs. Fast forward (because it really does seem like time has flown by) 10 years and I find that I have built a successful business which brings me so much happiness and fulfilment.
My glass beads are used in my jewelry creations, as handles for beautiful stainless steel utensils and personal items such as magnifying glasses, makeup brushes, pens and letter openers. I am also known in the glass bead community as the “honeycomb lady”. About 7 years ago I began work and development on glass honeycomb jewelry designs out of my love of all things bee related. My honeycombs are created individually and totally unique to the industry.
I am a creative participant in the Beads of Courage program sending beads and raising money for the Arts in Medicine program established with Children’s Hospitals.
Probably the biggest blessing I have gained with glass is the ability to create memorial pieces in glass. Working closely with my clients I incorporate human or pet cremains into the hot glass making a beautiful memorial to a loved one in jewelry or a piece they can display.

This year I purchased a small mobile glass blowing studio. I am just starting this crazy new adventure, learning as I go, as usual, but my goal is to bring glass blowing to the public on the western slope. I want to pass on the joy and healing of creating and give others the opportunity to stretch creatively. It might take me a hot minute, but I am determined and unconventional as always!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I am outdoorsy and I love to hike so I would definitely be taking them up onto the Grand Mesa to experience the trails and lakes! A wine tour would be in order and hanging out in Palisade because it is just so diverse! Shopping downtown, eating at all of the great restaurants and people watching! I am super chill so my friends and I enjoy outdoor time around a great fire pit listening to music and enjoying local wines and brews. Is there a concert?? Of course there is! The Avalon and Los Colonias Park are wonderful venues to listen to great music but in the warmer months there are also a lot of performers in the downtown area! Biking or walking the Riverfront trail and visiting the monument are on the itinerary!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
So many people to thank along this journey! First of all my Dad for showing me how to live my life with grace, that art comes in all forms, and that it’s OK to be unconventional.
My Mom for wearing with pride all of those wonky first beads I gave her!
The staff at The Melting Point in Sedona, Arizona. Jordan and Austin especially for supporting me, teaching me and encouraging me.
Jim Miller of Firewind Art Glass in Grand Junction, Colorado for the lessons and his encouragement.
The numerous glass bead making friends I’ve made all over the country. For your critique, your advice, your support and your friendship.
All of those pioneer artists who came before me, breaking out of the laboratories and pushing the glass further.

Website: www.wanderingartglass.com

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