Katharine Peterson at her stained glass workshop at 1910 Highway 61 in Grand Marais. Her signature stained glass piece, which is her business logo, hangs in the window behind her at EpiphanyWorks.
The stained glass artwork of Katharine Peterson’s EpiphanyWorks fits perfectly in its new home at the 1910 Rock Shop on the western edge of Grand Marais. Peterson’s original stained glass and agate creations complement the other beautiful items sold in the store—beautiful bead and pebble jewelry; stacked stone lamps; and rocks of all sizes and colors, polished to perfection.
Several stained glass sun catchers hang in shop windows—an agate fish leaping to catch a fly—not a real fly, but a fly tied by the experts at the Beaver House. There is a stunning representation of a North Shore icon, the Little Cedar Spirit Tree, or Witch Tree. There are also distinctive stained glass business card holders and Christmas ornaments.
Peterson also looks at home at the shop, where she has set up her workstation in a sunny corner. Large draft tables covered with assorted pieces of glass welcome visitors whether they come to order a customized piece or to take a class. She is working on two custom pieces right now, but she grinned and said she couldn’t say what they were—they are Christmas gifts for some lucky county residents.
Peterson mastered the craft of stained glass in a surprisingly short time. She was visiting a friend and she suggested that Peterson participate in a class. She did, crafting a stained glass box that impressed her instructor, who asked, “Are you sure you haven’t done this before?”
Peterson laughed, “I hadn’t—but it is something I always wanted to tr y.”
She was looking for work and she said, “A light bulb came on. I thought I might be able to do this for a living.” With a huge grin, Peterson added, “I had an epiphany!”
It wasn’t entirely easy. Peterson said when she first started she was very nervous. “I was so worried, I was sweating. The instructor said, ‘Kathy, relax—glass breaks sometimes.’ After that, I felt much better and I just fell in love with creating with stained glass.”
She proudly shows off a few unique pieces she is currently working with. She has an agate shaped quite clearly like a bear. She has a stark black and white patterned piece of glass that will become a loon. And another plate of blue glass has ripples and bubbles—perfect for depicting a rainy day. She incorporates agates and other stones whenever she can and she has been considering using deer antlers in some way.
Looking at the special rack holding sheets of glass, a visitor has to wonder—does she ever cut herself. Again with a big grin, Peterson replied, “Oh, yes. But you learn how to avoid that.”
Peterson is excited about sharing her safety tips and her passion for stained glass with others. Peterson is conducting several classes through Cook County Community Education, including a class on Saturday, December 12 during which students can make a snowman or Christmas tree sun catcher. The class will offer instruction on cutting, grinding, using copper foil, and soldering.
For information on that class, call Community Ed at (218) 387- 2000. Peterson will be also available to work with anyone interested in stained glass at the rock shop from 9:00 – 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. In addition to offering workshops, she has pattern books and supplies for sale.
She urges anyone with an interest in stained glass to come and talk to her, to try making something. “It’s fun to try something new. And it’s nice not to invest a whole lot to find out if you like working with stained glass. People should come try it— they might find their epiphany!”
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