A little bit about lori...

My love of glass started when I was eight years old. My parents would take us to Disneyland and I would love to stand there and watch the glass figurines being made. I still have my glass figurines collection to this day.
In 1981 when our daughter was born, I started working for my mother who was a Kaleidoscopes maker and this is where I learned the art and craft of stained glass. In 1987 I started my own line of kaleidoscopes and expanded my love for glass art and learned the techniques of fusing glass. I then incorporated this form of glass into my Kaleidoscopes. My studio was my home and it allowed me to be a stay at home mom and help support the family with my art.

​So how does someone go from making kaleidoscopes to fused dichroic strips. In 1997 I went to work for a glass flameworking supply company and soon fell in love with the flameworking world. I met and became friends with so many customers and I learned so much about the glass bead and lampworking industry. I also learned what the customers wanted and needed, quality products. After 13 years, I needed to follow my passion to make kaleidoscopes. I continued to stay in touch with many of my friends in the lampworking and bead world and during my conversations they would always ask if I would make dichroic strips for them. So after hearing this for a couple years, I debuted Riley Designs Dichroic Strips at the Gathering in Rochester NY in 2013. That was the start of my dichroic glass business.
Who knew that the eight year old little girl would someday be a part of that wonderful glass world that she loved to watch.