Garden Creek Wood Works, located on Route 611 on the south side of Garden Creek, has added Artistic Design Studio to their productions. Wade and Susan Brooks work to create delightful decorative glass and artistic blacksmith objects. They also make jewelry with lampwork beads and silver or 18 caret gold filled findings.

     The Brooks do stained glass hangings, inserts for side windows of the entrance door, windows, and much more. You present your request and they’ll design it. Wade does both large and small slumped glass bowls, serving dishes and pieces for display.

     Carved glass gives almost a three dimensional look; and combined with stained glass and blacksmithed artistic metal they create a design of ageless beauty. Engraved plates or engraved stem ware make excellent gifts for anniversaries, weddings, graduations or whatever the occasion-or maybe you’d like to treat yourself. 

     They are practical as well as beautiful. Use them and pop them in the dish washer for a quick clean-up.
Artistic blacksmithing products such as tables can be produced with an engraved or stained glass top. They make artistic metal fences, gates, decorative signs, planters or whatever you desire. Tiffany style lamps have become a specialty of theirs. They craft the metal base in the blacksmith shop and add the stained glass frame in that department. They restore existing Tiffany lamps. Whether the base or the shade needs repair or replacing, they can do the job.

     Glass vases with copper trim and leaves made from copper adds elegance to your house. Perhaps you prefer fine silver filigree with multi-colored glass trim interwoven.

     Contact Artistic Design Studio for commissioned pieces for any of the above plus trellis, garden or patio gates, wrought iron fences, hanging kitchen racks for pots and pans, including cooking utensils, metal fireplace screens with glass inserts and matching utensils or any other need.

     The Brooks display work ready for sale in Mathews Art Gallery on Main Street in Mathews. You will find a rustic wooden rack with artistic metal sides, a vine of green metal twining between the black iron framework, and glass shelves held in place with black iron matching the side frames. They display finished pieces of slumped glass, a stained glass night light, etched plates and stem ware plus smaller glass items on the rack. Stained and etched glass pieces sit or hang in the window. A vase with copper leaves sits on the rack or in the window where a Tiffany style lamp takes your eye. A gazing ball sits atop a wrought iron frame with painted blacksmithed vines and colorful flowers twining around the legs. A stained glass butterfly with metal between the wings and encircling the body sits on the edge of a flower as if gathering nectar. This piece may be used outdoors or inside since the finish is safe in the weather. There are more engraved glass pieces and tree ornaments in the smaller craft room.

     You may contact Artistic Design Studio by phone 804/725-7959, Fax 804/725-9534 or e-mail wbrooks@ccsinc.com for answers to questions, prices or to place orders. When you read this, Brooks hopes to have their web site complete: www.artisticdesignonline.net. 

© 2001 Catherine C. Brooks All rights reserved.