Spotlight on Terry D’Addio
Something I know I have in common with most of you is being a crafter my whole life. My favorite birthday and Christmas gifts were always something craft related. As a youngster it started out with coloring and making cards for family and friends. Then moved to paint-by-number kits, cross-stitch, embroidery, knitting, crochet, and quilting.
I have played with stained glass and glass fusing. I love kumihimo! I wanted to be able to draw and paint – tried, but it never worked out.
I am a native to the Washington, D.C. area and grew up in Bethesda, Maryland. I have spent most of my life in Maryland but have also lived in Woods Hole, Massachusetts.
I spent time in Cameroon, West Africa teaching after finishing my Master’s program in Agriculture and Resource Economics. That was one of the most rewarding and fascinating times in my life. The Cameroonian people were wonderful – full of life and joy even when they had so little. Came home with so much gratitude for the freedom and what we have here in the US.
I traveled to Kenya on the way home and fell in love with African beads. When I returned to the U.S. I took my first bead stringing course and that took over my craft time! I have also played with Precious Metal Clay. I consider myself to be a hobby jewelry maker but have participated in several bead shows and a local fine craft show.
I discovered lampworked beads when a friend and I attended the Bead Bazaar at the 2002 Gathering in Alexandria, VA. I had never seen such art in beads and never thought I would be able to be a lampworker. But four years later, I took my first class with Lisa St. Martin and was hooked! There is something so Zen about working with the flame and glass. You have to focus and can’t think of anything else without taking the chance of getting burned by the flame!
Eventually I moved back to Bethesda and bought my childhood home from my Dad. Turned my 1936 garage into a studio. I use a Carlisle Mini CC torch and Chili Pepper annealing kiln. My garage is usable through most of the year except winter! I have taken classes over the years with Corina Tettinger, Marcy Lamberson, Kate Fowle Meleney, Kim Fields, Brad Pearson, Heather Trimlett, and Hayley Tsang Sather.
I consider myself to be still a bit of a novice as I have had years go by without getting on the torch. This last time it has been over 2 ½ years since I have been on the torch.
I have been on the board of two chapters of the ISGB – Mid-Atlantic and Virginia Firebirds and been a long-time member of the ISGB. I am a member of Virginia Firebirds and am excited now that I am a fairly new member of the Glass Dragons! One of the wonderful things about becoming a lampworker is all the fantastic people I have gotten to know. There is something really special about people who work with glass!
After a 30+ year career in agriculture and natural resources, I retired and am looking forward to getting back to the torch and creating!