History of my Koi Pond Collection

Today, I’m celebrating 20 years of creating fused glass Koi Pond scenes. Here’s how my Koi Pond Collection began and continues to swim to new homes each year.

One of my first and most memorable fused glass Koi Pond designs was a 9″ x 12″ fused glass panel inspired by the Portland Japanese Gardens. The tranquility and gracefulness of the koi fish there helped me to imagine the scene in my glass pond. I started with a sheet of black opal glass as the background for the colorful koi fish and carefully cut the shapes of fish using white opal sheet glass, then added the transparent red, orange, iridescent, and dichroic glass bits to each fish to add the details. There were as many as five layers of fused glass used to create the three-dimensional appearance of these three koi fish, lily pads, and dichroic lily flowers (see photos above).

When I created my first Koi Pond in 2006, I had a lap grinder and other machinery to help me shape the fish and lily pad pieces. Today, nearly 20 years later, my process is quite a bit different. I don’t use any machinery to cut and shape the pieces for my designs. I exclusively hand-cut each piece without a template or pattern so that each design, even when similar, is unique.

Sixteen individual glass pieces were cut to create the 3″ x 3″ Artist Proof I made (photographed below). This new koi pond design was such a big hit with my husband (see below) that he claimed it and used it to create our very first LED light frame. He won’t let me sell it, so it happily swims on his desk day and night.

When I returned to making these designs, I chose to use different base glass. I started using a clear and black streaky sheet glass, so that the scene was more transparent and allowed light to shine through it, giving the illusion of depth. I also piled clear frit all around the koi fish to give the texture of gently rippling water and movement.

Over the last couple of years, I’ve created over two dozen different koi pond scenes. Each is unique and special to me. Some are designed to be placed in wood stands, and others are custom-framed like the one seen below. One thing is still true: the designs are still evolving.

Last Spring, while waiting to meet up with friends, I discovered a beautiful Koi pond in the middle of the mall. I was mesmerized by the large fish as they swam, and it was in that moment that I decided I wanted to create a new series of glass Koi ponds for the Koi Pond Collection.

I’m thrilled to share the Koi Collection with you!

My recent experiences with fish ponds ultimately inspired the five newest designs in my fused glass Koi Pond Collection. This edition was made with iridescent clear glass bits in the water to enhance the shimmering and color of the rippled texture on the pond surface.

Visit my online store or see these iridescent koi ponds for yourself at my next show!

My recent hangout near the koi pond also inspired me to start a small goldfish pond at home. Like most people who just decide to build an outdoor pond, I realized quickly that it’s not as easy as it looks, and started searching for pond shops and resources in my area to help my real pond thrive. That’s when I discovered Willamette Koi and Water Lilies in Salem, Oregon. It’s a wonderful place to go to get advice about pond challenges and pick up a few plants and/or fish, but you can also experience their beautiful waterfall pond stocked with a dozen or more gorgeous full-grown koi fish and see dozens of mature pond plants and flowers.

Visit Willamette Koi and Water Lilies at 1710 45th Ave NE, Salem, OR 97305