Christmas ornaments with a personal touch

For glass blower Jane Greer, making christmas ornaments is a balancing act.

“I like big things so I try and make them as big as possible, which is a little difficult with Christmas balls, because not only do you want them big, but they’ve got to be light enough where they won’t fall off a tree too.”

Christmas balls are only part of Greer’s repertoire. She’s been blowing glass for seven years.
Come christmas time, she makes everything from candy canes to icicles.

“I don’t really know what I’m gonna make until I sit down and see how the colors are blending and what the glass is doing,” said Greer. “Sometimes it’s just spots and different color combinations. No two are ever the same.”

Christmas balls in particular require careful craftsmanship. Greer must make sure the glass remains the right temperature, shape and consistency. She says the process is so delicate that some of her creations never see the holiday.

“You would think that making a round ball is an easy thing to do and it’s not actually,” said Greer. “There’s a lot that goes into it and it’s a lot harder than it looks.”

“It’s a challenge for me because I’m still looking for that perfect ornament,” she added.

But in the end, said Greer, it’s all worth it.

“For me, to see the reflection of them on the tree and in the light–that’s what makes ’em special.”