"I started making marbles in 1993. In the winter of ‘93 I was in Quartzsite, Arizona attending a rock and mineral show where I met some “old school” boro workers making “carnival” glass objects. I had already set up a successful business of making glass bracelets. In the evenings after the shows, we spent time playing on the rather crude torch setup where I started experimenting with difference shapes and trying to make a perfectly round orb. To my knowledge, I was the first to make lamp worked borosilicate marbles, an idea which came to life and form on those crazy nights in Quartzsite. I was fascinated by the results and I was hooked on the challenge of making marbles. That year I experimented and made hundreds of different kinds of marbles. I made everything from pinwheel designs to dichroic galaxies, to ribbons and more. I attempted to do a face cane marble. That first, rather crude, face cane is now part of the Corning Glass Museums’ collection. Later in 1993, inspired by the Hulet sisters face cane marbles, I attempted to achieve the same effect in borosilicate and struggled with success. While trying to put the cane into the marble without distortion, I kept pulling the cane to the back of the marble to straighten it out, what I discovered was the early version of the Vortex. I eventually perfected the captivating illusion of depth that is so fascinating. Over the years I taught and demonstrated the Vortex technique which now has become a borosilicate “standard”.
I learned to love working glass while employed by Ann Miller Wearable Glass in Santa Fe, New Mexico in the late 80’s. It was then that I found my passion for working glass in a flame. I soon left her company to explore all the ideas in my head. I have since built my business and reputation on my unique glass jewelry, collectable marbles, and murrine canes. But those early days in dusty Quartzsite, making marbles under that moonlit desert sky have always haunted me and I have continued to chase my marble dreams."
Kevin O'Grady
I learned to love working glass while employed by Ann Miller Wearable Glass in Santa Fe, New Mexico in the late 80’s. It was then that I found my passion for working glass in a flame. I soon left her company to explore all the ideas in my head. I have since built my business and reputation on my unique glass jewelry, collectable marbles, and murrine canes. But those early days in dusty Quartzsite, making marbles under that moonlit desert sky have always haunted me and I have continued to chase my marble dreams."
Kevin O'Grady
