Your Company Name: Van Glo designs
Email Address/Web Page: Rathill@compuserve.com
www.VanGlo.com
City & State: Tucson, AZ
Type of Craft: Holiday Doll Kits
Tell us in your own words, how you discovered polymer clay and how long have you been using it?
We have been using polymerclay for at least five years
through experimentation to improve our dolls.
Are there any special artists that you can attribute your interest to or that have inspired you?
I love the work of the Creagers and Jack Johnson, and many wonderful artists seen through magazines and in doll shops
What is your specialty?
Holiday Dolls, i.e. Santa, Mrs. Claus, Elves, Chef for all
Seasons,Angels, Halloween witches, One-of-a-kind dolls and of all
varieties including personality dolls. Holiday doll kits for crafters.
Can you tell us why you find polymer clay the expressive medium for you?
Inexpensive, easy to manipilate, color, stregth. Little
equipment needed, clean shelf life. etc. It is wonderful!
Have you published any polymer clay books or do you have any in the works?
I have two video tapes that I sell under the titles
"Sculpting a Head the Van Glo Way" and "Sculpting Hands the Van Glo Way."
I know it is very difficult to express, but have you won any awards for your polymer clay work?
I have been too busy making and selling my dolls. I have
been on the cover of Early American Home and in the Best Santa section for
three years. I have been featured in Doll Collector in the Galleria
Section several years ago...my work has improved since then. I sold my
doll kits on Aleene's Creative Living (TNN) and have
been featured in her magazine. My work is sold in a very few fine shops
and I can't keep up with the demand for it. I'm having fun.
What are your expectations for the future? Where do you hope to be 5 years from now?
I hope that with our new Web site to increase sales of my
doll kits. My customers are having a blast, both making my kits and
sculpting. I am hoping to figure out the master card thing so that my
customers can pay that way. I can only make about 35 dolls in a season so
I hope my crafting kits business expands!
Do you have any advice for the beginning polymer clay enthusiasts?
Do it a lot and have fun. the more you try to be yourself
the better your products will become. Try everything look at the works of
others...explore!
Are you a member of any Polymer Clay group,or any other craft
organization?
No
What brands of polymer clay do you prefer and why?
Super Sculpey seems the most pliable for my needs. I am not
exacting, I do character work.
Last and most important can you tell us all about you? Your family, your
training?
I have a business partner, Allyn. She does all my paper work and ordering and taxes and
legal things. I am middle aged. Have three children. One married son who
lives in tucson, a daughter who flys for United and lives in Chicago. My
youngest daughter, Taylo Sue is 12 and a student. My husband , Bob works
in radio. We have a lot of animals. At present two birds one dog and
various cats. We live in Albuquerque and want to live in Tucson with my
other family. My name is Gloria Morrison.
