Welcome to Dana's Uncommon Glass: My Journey in Art
Hi there — I’m Dana, the artist behind Dana’s Uncommon Glass, and I’m so glad you’re here! Today, I want to share the story of how I discovered my passion for art and how it grew into a business filled with hand-painted tote bags, night lights, and more.
From Corporate Life to Creative Living
In 2021, after spending over 20 years owning my own staffing company — and later working in technology and biotech — my husband and I moved to a new city and state. For the first time in my adult life, I decided not to return to the workforce. It was a huge transition after years of commuting and grinding, and like many of us, I found myself restless in the quiet months of 2020 and early 2021.
I threw myself into working out and healthy habits, but I needed something more to feed my soul. That’s when I discovered a mixed media art group on Facebook, and everything changed.
Finding My Creative Spark
My first project was a sunflower on canvas, made with modeling paste, acrylic paint, crushed glass, and beads in the center — finished with a coat of Art Resin. I was instantly hooked!
Next came a Christmas tree challenge, where I created festive trees on 4” x 12” canvases, adding jewelry, beads, and other elements to decorate them before sealing with resin. I still make these trees every year, and now I even light them up — they’re a favorite among family, friends, and customers.
From Hobby to Selling Art
At first, I made pieces for our home, friends, and donations. But I quickly realized that if I wanted to keep creating without becoming a hoarder, I needed to find a way to sell my work. So I opened an Etsy shop and started selling at local craft fairs and art shows.
Craft fairs were exciting but exhausting. The setup and takedown were tough, and I realized I didn’t truly enjoy them. That’s why I focused on online sales instead. I’ve now been on Etsy for over three years and have made nearly 500 sales!
Building a Studio and Growing My Art
In the beginning, my workspace was just a nook off our kitchen. While I kept things tidy, the nature of resin art meant supplies and projects were always spread out — and the smell of curing resin wasn’t exactly popular with my husband!
When we moved from Reno to Las Vegas, I was thrilled to set up a dedicated studio. It’s not huge, but it has everything I need: specialized exhaust fans, extra lighting, ample storage for vases, crushed glass, beads, elements, paints, and plenty of workspace. I feel so fortunate every day to have this creative space.
Evolving My Art: Night Lights & Bags
Over time, I began shifting my focus from paintings to other unique creations. Today, I still paint, but I specialize in two popular lines:
✅ Night Lights — I make designs for everyday and holidays. My holiday night lights are especially popular! You can find them in my Etsy shop: DanasUncommonGlass on Etsy.
A Few of My Night Lights:
✅ Hand-Painted Bags — My jute tote bags now come in over 85 designs ranging from seasonal to everyday themes. I’ve also expanded into crossbody bags and canvas purses, available on my website at DanasUncommonGlass.com and for wholesale on Faire: Dana’s Faire Shop.
A Few of My Jute Tote Bags:
My Fringed Tote Bags:
My Crossbody Bags:
My Canvas Purses:
Looking Ahead
I never imagined I’d find myself painting full-time and creating hundreds of unique objects for customers around the country. But I truly love what I do, and I’m grateful every day for the chance to share my passion with you.
Thank you for reading my story! I hope you’ll visit often to see new designs and projects at Dana’s Uncommon Glass. I’d love to hear your thoughts or what you’d like to see painted next — feel free to leave a comment below or connect with me on Instagram @DanasUncommonGlass.
Warmly,
Dana