mission statement

I was born in the Chicago area, but quickly learned that the cold was not for me, so at age 15, my family and I moved to Florida. After high school I was introduced to the art of flameworking and quickly discovered that I was drawn to this unique artform.  As an avid entrepreneur and marketing student, I moved to St. Croix, in the US Virgin Islands to open a small gift shop featuring one-of-a-kind pieces with a sea life theme that I created in front of visitors and tourists to the island. During this time, I worked tirelessly creating and learning techniques on the torch and realized the satisfaction and fulfillment that comes with creating and selling my own work. I returned to Florida after 4 years in the islands, expanded my business and named the company The Glass Menagerie. I worked in Tarpon Springs at a small gift shop during this time as well, making countless number of pieces for tourists visiting the Sponge Docks. Between 2000 - 2015, I expanded my reach by offering my unique sculpture and jewelry to several galleries, gift shops, museums (including my signature design, the Nautilus, to the Dali Museum and Imagine Museum in St. Pete) and exhibited in 50+ art shows over 15 years. I then named my company Cech Glass, (Bohemian/Czech by nationality) and began developing my website and product line (https://melaniecechglass.com) to be able to offer my artwork to people all over the world. Since moving back to St. Petersburg, Florida in 2015, I have continued to collaborate with other artists and connect with more people in the art community. I still exhibit at several art shows a year and most recently have worked on developing workshops and virtual online courses in Beginning Techniques in Flameworked Glass Sculpture. These virtual sessions will not only teach you the beginning necessary techniques and skills you will need to learn to start your journey with glass, but they will also teach you how to rely on yourself, how to challenge and push yourself when you are faced with obstacles, and how to stay focused, determined and comfortable with taking the raod less traveled to follow your dream!  These online courses should be available by the end of 2021.