About Side Quest Curios

I didn’t start out in stained glass. My first love was lampwork—making glass beads and tiny figurines over a torch. It was fun… until I realized there are only so many people you can hand a bead to and say, “Here, I made this for you,” before it starts to feel a little ridiculous.

Stained glass felt like the natural next step. Bigger pieces. More function. More storytelling. To me, it’s basically extreme puzzling—drawing patterns, choosing just the right glass, and working through each step of the process: cutting, grinding, foiling, and soldering. I love every part of it, especially making art that’s whimsical, sometimes funny, and genuinely giftable.

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Side Quest Curios exists because not everyone has access to a stained glass studio—and that’s a shame, because this is an art form that’s better together. Making things with your hands is a bit of a lost art, and there’s nothing better than watching someone surprise themselves when they sit down for the first time and create something beautiful.

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The studio is meant to feel welcoming, supportive, fun, and creative. I’m very much a fellow art goblin—hoarding creative ideas like treasure—and my favorite thing is helping others catch the bug. If you leave wanting to make more, or excited to bring me your own wild idea next time, I consider that a success.

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Side Quest Curios is working toward a physical studio in Waukesha, Wisconsin, serving Lake Country, Milwaukee, and surrounding areas.