Looking back, what might have seemed like a setback to Karen and Geoff Caldwell would ultimately lead to the creation of Sunflower Glass Studio, the business on Sergeantsville Road in Stockton they have owned and operated together for 45 years.
Just before they created their studio in 1978, Karen’s sales had slowed down at the local glass company where she worked and Geoff and his then-partner had just decided to close their leather shop.
By then, Karen had learned to assemble large stained glass hanging lights and Geoff had learned to cut stained glass. Initially they exhibited their pieces at local craft fairs.
Two years later, they purchased their first beveling and grinding machine and, ever since, beveled glass has been a large part of their business. Geoff hand-bevels Karen’s designs in a five-stage grinding and polishing process which allows light to sparkle, creating prismatic light as the sun passes through it.
As the design half of the duo, Karen studied old auction catalogs that listed thousands of examples of American and English 20th century work. Studying the old masters allowed Karen to develop her own style of architectural glass. Karen tells me that she and Geoff were self-taught. They had to be because in the early 1980s, there were no schools of stained glass craft where they could learn.
While raising their children — Catie, Alex, and Thomas — the Caldwells continued their calling. In the decades since Sunflower Glass Studio began, they have created glass for many homes and public spaces.
Some of commissions have been for the Raven in New Hope, the sanctuary of Stockton’s Presbyterian Church, and The Abiding Presence Lutheran Church in Ewing, N.J.
Geoff’s specialty is restoring antique windows to their former glory.
Karen has grown as a designer as well. In the past 10 years, she has started creating fused glass botanical panels. The process starts with glass powders, which are intricately formed on the kiln shelf, and, through a 1,350-degree firing, shrunk into thin pieces of glass. These pieces are then arranged onto the base glass with many embellishments, kiln fired again, and then set into a beveled and stained-glass border.
Today, with Karen as the designer and Geoff as the craftsman, the couple continues to create beautiful windows and panels for houses and churches, unique bevel boxes, picture frames, gifts, and other pieces to fulfill their clients’ dreams of the perfect piece of glass art for their own spaces.
Their work together draws heavily on the American stained glass window tradition that reached its height here in the 1880s but which originated in Medieval European cathedrals.
Karen’s most recent work has earned her Master Artisan status with the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen.
Geoff, in addition to his work with glass, is a master blues guitarist and host of a classical jazz and blues radio show.
The couple has two granddaughters — Ella and Nora — and hopes they develop an interest in taking over the glass business one day!
The Caldwell handiwork can be seen at two upcoming events: The 47th Annual Philadelphia Museum of Arts Craft Show, Nov. 3-5 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, and the 29th Covered Bridge Artisans Annual Studio Tour, Nov. 24 and Nov. 26.
The studio will be among 24 participating, all within five miles of Stockton.
Sunflower Glass Studio is open to the public, by chance or appointment.
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