INSPIRING MOTHER-SON TEAM OF GLASSYBABY HELPS YOU CELEBRATE MOTHER’S DAY IN A CRAFTY WAY

The vision for glassybaby, a sustainable handblown glass store and workshop space, began when the light of a candle in beautiful glass gave hope to Lee Rhodes. She was battling cancer for a third time while raising three young children—Mericos, Sale, and Cedric—when this simple sight offered the hope she needed. During this time she also found herself meeting many people battling illnesses who were unable to afford the care they needed.

Lee saw the opportunity to create change and to give hope and support to others in the same way she had found it herself— through handblown glass. Thus, glassybaby was born. Fast forward a few years, and Lee now works alongside her son Mericos in an inspiring team. “How many moms get to work with their son on something as special as this business, with a mission we created together when Mericos was just a little boy? I love that one of my kids is so interested and involved in the business, because I never expected that when I started glassybaby. Mericos has so many great ideas. In January he created “baby grants,” and we now give $6,000 every month to charities that our community chooses nationwide. His focus is always on the kindness and not the business of selling stuff,” Lee says. In fact, 10 percent of glassybaby’s sales, $6.5 million to date, is donated to causes devoted to spreading hope, beauty, and kindness, helping people, animals, and the planet heal and thrive. Mericos adds, “As we grow this brand, we give more money to help drive impact in our world, whether it’s helping dogs at the SPCA, helping to save the elephants, or funding the kids fun cart at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital. I get to go to work every day and feel like all of us on the team are trying our best to make a difference.” What will you experience at one of glassybaby’s four locations throughout the Bay Area? The magic of being surrounded by hundreds of colorful handblown votives and “drinkers.” Each item is unique, created from a solid glass baton, and each color bears a thoughtfully chosen name. The hues and shapes are as varied as your moods—after all, these works are born through the craft of a human like you. The glassybaby team has come up with some gorgeous colors exclusively for Mother’s Day, including the ‘mama’ drinker, the “grape juice” drinker, and the gorgeous ‘petal’ votive. If you’re visiting their new 14,000-squarefoot hot shop in Berkeley, you’ll find hands-on glassblowing experiences and tours. The shop will host free tours on Mother’s Day, so you and your family can watch the artisans at work. The hot shop also offers hands-on introduction to the glassblowing craft by creating a piece of your own. For tours or glassblowing experiences contact the hot shop at (510) 725-4832 or email berkeley@glassybaby.com.

Family is the cornerstone of glassybaby, so come purchase your favorite items for mom while supporting local causes. To learn more about glassybaby, including where you can find stores and hot shops, go to http://www.glassybaby.com/.