Make Over Burien Announces Glass Expressions as First Make Over Candidate

Make Over Burien volunteers have been working with owners Kathy Johnson and Lael Schmidt Bennet on concept, design and strategies to make over their studio and retail space in three days!

Glass Expressions is more than a working studio where over 1500 students have studied glass making for over past 25 years, it houses a beautiful and somewhat unique gift shop. The challenge for Make Over Burien group is to keep the look and feeling of a working studio, while re-organizing the retail store operation.

Kathy is the founder of Glass Expressions. In 1979 she went to work with Bob at Stain Glass Art and Supply located in Burien. As an artist she loved the environment and artistic challenges of working in glass. She helped him move the store from the location on Ambaum to the next location where 909 Restaurant in Olde Burien is located--and then bought the business in 1983. She subsequently moved down the street to their current location at 648 SW 152nd St. Since her start in the glass biz, Kathy has become an internationally recognized bead-making artist.

Lael joined the business in 1993 when a class at Glass Expressions turned into a partnership in the business. Halfway through the class, Kathy's partner announced he was quitting and wanted to sell his part of the business. Lael and her then-boyfriend (now husband) decided on the spot that she would buy in. Leaving her job at Boeing, Lael joined Kathy in her enterprise. "It's the best thing that's ever happened to me, that's for sure," said Kathy.

Glass Expressions is the only glass studio in King County that also has a retail storefront. There you will find an assortment of jewelry, decorative accessories for the home and just some fun stuff you'll not see anywhere else. Of course, merchandised is all Expressed in Glass. They are also the only glass studio in Central and South King County. Their students come as far away as Anacortes and Maple Valley as well as local artists in South King County.

Classes and Workshops: Glass Expressions offers stained glass classes for eight weeks for $175 and $200 for tools and supplies. This includes unlimited time in their workshop with hands-on guidance included. They will help you design your glass art pieces or do the total design if you wish. They have also started workshops in glass bead making which is Kathy's expertise and glass fusing from Lael. Check out their website for more information on these and other classes and workshops.

They also do residential commission work from design to installation.

As part of the total makeover project Kathy and Lael will receive a day of beauty and a makeover from Serenza Salon and complimentary teeth whitening from Dr. Jim Coleman.