El Paso
Times (TX)
April 5, 2010 Stained-glass classes draw a
following Author: Pink Rivera El Paso
Times
EL PASO
-- When Joanna Franco was laid off from her job of 20
years, she took it as an opportunity to change her
life's direction.
Soon her hobby of creating colorful glass works of art
became her livelihood.
Franco, 51, said she was introduced to stained glass
after her sister was diagnosed with breast cancer 11
years ago and she wanted to find something they could do
together.
"I saw it as a way to get closer to her and spend some
time together," Franco said. "But she didn't sign up, so
I ended up just taking the class, and since day one I
was hooked.
"I made my first piece and couldn't get over the way the
light shined and came through."
Her first piece depicts green flowers in a pink frame.
It hangs in her business window next to her "better
pieces" as a reminder of the spark she first felt 11
years ago.
When she was laid off after 20 years of working at Dick
Poe in 2008, Franco said, it was perfect timing to turn
her garage hobby into a full-scale business. She also
started teaching the craft to others.
"My mom was always happy when she did her crafts," said
Jeannette Negrete, Franco's daughter. "When she was
going to turn it into a business, I supported her
because I know when she puts her mind and hard work into
(something), there's no stopping her.
"I'm proud of her now, especially since she's a woman
and it's not easy for someone to open a business at a
time like this."
Franco and her students agree that creating
stained-glass items is a therapeutic process, which
helps them unwind and relax from their daily lives.
"I barely started to get into this and I make little
projects, but there's still so much to learn," said
Betty Marquez, 65.
She has been a student of Franco's for two years.
"Nobody believes how important and how much
time
each of the pieces take. It really is like therapy
because when you're cutting the glass and putting the
pieces together, you're not thinking about anything
else. It takes away your worries."
Marquez said she has not sold any of her pieces. She has
some at home and gives the rest to her four children and
seven grandchildren.
Franco said there is a common misconception that stained
glass involves painting as well, but it doesn't.
"The glass is already stained a color, whatever color
you want to order," she said. "Then you cut pieces with
a glass cutter, depending on your design, and solder
them together. It takes time and patience and a lot of
creativity."
Her classes, which attract mostly women, take place at
her workshop and store, Creative Expressions Stained
Glass at 5660 El Paso Drive. Classes meet for two hours
once a week for six weeks.
But Franco said it is not unusual for her classes to run
a little longer as she and students become engaged in
their work and in long conversations.
"Sometimes we get so caught up in what we're doing that
I can't just shoosh them out because we're just enjoying
ourselves and doing what we like," she said. "The most
important thing is for them to have fun and enjoy what
they're doing. They all love it and keep coming back for
more classes and supplies."
Among the pieces popular with students and customers are
crosses, angels, grapes, flowers and chiles -- all of
them with a lot of color.
"I used to do stained glass about 12 years ago and I
recently started taking classes again with Joanna this
year," Jennie Valenzuela said. "I get a certain
peacefulness and tranquility out of making my angels and
crosses. I had to look up a place where I could do this,
and I admire Joanna for her courage to go after what she
really wanted to do and following her dream."
What:
Stained-glass classes. When:
Tuesdays or Saturdays
from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Where:
Creative Expressions"Stained Glass, 5660 El Paso Drive. Cost:
$75. Information:
541-8995.
Creative
Expression Stained Glass is at 5660 El Paso Drive. Copyright (c)
2010 El Paso Times, a MediaNews Group Newspaper
Pink Rivera may be reached at privera@elpasotimes.com;
546-6156.
