Check Out Brenda Glasure’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brenda Glasure.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Years ago, through a series of life circumstances, I was living in Raleigh, North Carolina, and my husband was training to be an Air Traffic Controller with the FAA in Oklahoma City and Oberlin, Ohio. I was finishing a large exhibit at Durham’s hand’s on science museum, and was the only person doing my particular job. So we were apart for a few months as we worked on our…well…work!

During those lonely months, a friend knocked on my door one Friday night, armed with a couple of bottles of wine, some Asian take-away, and boatload of acrylic clay (FIMO). We watched movies, drank wine, and made fun sets of jewelry with a sense of humor — like one earring was toast, and the other was a pat of butter. We had so. much. fun! Not only did it lift my spirits, but it really got under my skin. I wanted more.

I learned how to do much more complex designs with the colored clay. I loved being able to produce pieces that I wanted to wear, and seemed to speak to others as well.

So I kept adding skills, eventually switching to metals and smithing. I am largely self-taught, but have sought out mentors for some key skills — like soldering, and learning to use a jeweler’s saw. Every new skill opened up all kinds of new designs, which led to new skills, which led to ever more sophisticated pieces. I absolutely love to imagine some fantastical piece, then take on the challenge of creating it.

My designs are one-of-a-kind. I am strongly influenced by nature, and sense of wonder for the way things work. I choose to create each piece by hand — from the ground up. I begin with sheets of metal and various gauges of wire.

Along the way down this road paved in semi-precious stones, copper, bronze, silver, and gold, I decided to create my business — a one-woman shop called *Tread the Terra*. A good friend once told me that I should tread the terra (walk the Earth) on my own terms. That really spoke to me. I started selling at white tent shows in 2012. Before COVID hit the world, my pieces sold in three separate galleries in Ohio and Pennsylvania, and I was a vendor with the Cleveland Flea Market.

Life changed post-COVID, as it did for most people. I realized that there is so much joy in the making of my jewelry — but I also wanted to teach these skills to others. I began teaching at a local art center in the Fall of 2024. I love my classes! Yes, I teach many new things to my students — but they also teach me.

My pieces are for sale through BayArts in Bay Village, Ohio. I also teach classes at BayArts. In the coming months, I am introducing a new line of jewelry under the name, “Outside the Box”. I am teaching 5 workshops in the Fall of 2025.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Oh gosh, NO! I think it’s human nature to think, “I got this!” from the start. But the reality, is that it takes time. It takes time to listen to your customers, to hear what they love — and what they don’t love so much. It takes time to recognize and create a cohesive display, or a collection, or the right color, shape, and size of both the jewelry and the displays that convey the precious nature of what I am making.

Eventually, I created a soothing, gallery-like space in my white tent. Eventually, I gained the confidence and the experience to understand my own process and the work that brings me the most joy.

I have largely let the white tent shows go at this point. The choice to start teaching took some time to think through. I am constantly working to create something attainable, yet challenging for each new workshop I design. This experience is certainly a bumpy road, but I am thoroughly enjoying the ride, and I love my amazing students!

I won’t get into the endless challenges of photographing shiny, intricate jewelry, setting up bookkeeping and an online shop, or creating and curating a great website. Those last two are still a challenge in both time and resources. I currently use a bare-bones, functional Square site.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Every piece of my work is handmade. I start with sheets of metal and various gauges of wire. I generally use copper, bronze, goldfills, stainless steel, and Argentium silver (a type of fine silver alloy that doesn’t tarnish as easily as sterling silver).

If I was working in clay, my fingerprints would be all over every piece.

I create the designs, hammer, set stones, solder, and finish by hand. Nature provides endless inspiration. I am known for my intricate dragonfly and damselfly designs. I often mix metals in my designs. I have also created several complex crown designs for Renaissance Faires. I have so much fun with the challenge of making the crowns. They are pretty darned amazing.

After many years of doing this, I am still totally jazzed about the work.

What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
As an artisan who sells my work, I have learned that I can never assume, rather, it’s best to give my customers space to experience the jewelry before them. People surprise me all the time — choosing pieces I never imagined they would choose — and it’s delightful!

Along the way, I began to realize that jewelry isn’t just some random accessory. We choose to carry pieces with us — to wear these earrings or this necklace — as part of our story that we tell the world.

The more mundane lessons involve the expenditure of energy and resources. Sometimes we must abandon the things that drain us, that do not pan out — even if we are very attached to a particular idea.

Pricing:

• I exclusively use high-quality silvers, goldfills, jeweler’s copper and bronze, never cheap zinc alloys or plated metals
• I always strive to give my customers and my students high value for their dollar
• My work is made to last
• Each piece is one-of-a-kind

Contact Info:

• Websites:
  • Portfolio: https://bkglasure.wixsite.com/treadtheterrajewelry
  • Shop: https://outside-the-box-109675.square.site/
• Instagram: outside_the_box_jewelry
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/treadtheterra