Some projects begin with an idea.
This one began with love.

After someone very dear to us passed away, I was left holding a small collection of her earrings. Some had lost their match or couldn’t be worn anymore, yet each one was a piece she wore, touched, and chose. They were tiny objects, easy to overlook, but they carried so much of her. I couldn’t bring myself to put them away in a box. I wanted them to keep living in the world, the way she always did.

So I created sixteen stained glass hearts.

Each heart holds a fragment of one of her earrings, set into glass and sealed with intention. Sixteen hearts for sixteen people: family members, close friends, and caretakers who walked alongside her. Every person received something to display in their home, a physical reminder that she is still present, still connected to us all.

The woman these hearts honor lived with Huntington’s disease, yet she was the most positive person I have ever known. Her joy wasn’t loud or forced, it was steady, generous, and real. Even in the hardest moments, she showed up with humor, kindness, and an incredible ability to make others feel seen. This project felt like a way to reflect that spirit back into the world.

What I love most about this piece is how something so small can hold so much meaning. An earring that once felt insignificant becomes a shared symbol of memory and love. Each heart is different, just as each relationship with her was different, but they are all part of the same story.

This project will always be special to me. Sixteen hearts, spread across sixteen homes, all quietly glowing with the presence of someone who left the world better than she found it.

And to me, that’s what meaningful art is all about.

If you have accessories, jewelry, or small personal items from someone you love, whether they’ve passed away or you simply want to preserve a moment or memory, I can create something similar. Stained glass, framed pieces, or other custom artwork that incorporates what matters most to you. These objects don’t need to be valuable in a traditional sense; their value comes from the story they carry.