Glassworks Celebrates 10 Years in Morristown

In the cutthroat world of running a business in Morristown, getting past your first year is a worthy accomplishment.

Stacey Schlosser's Glassworks Studio has done that 10 times.

It was on Dec. 4, 2002 when the former pre-school teacher, department store buyer and stay-at-home-mother entered the next phase in her life, one she does not plan on leaving anytime soon.

The inspiration for what would ultimately become Glassworks began when she reconnected with a friend from junior high school, now a studio director at the world famous Corning Museum of Glass.

"She opened a walk-in workshop," Schlosser said. "And, I thought, 'oh, my God, this is such a great idea.'"

Whereas studios specializing in make-your-own pottery started with a relatively unattractive raw material, "Glass is already beautiful."

And there is a lot of beauty in Schlosser's store, located next to Somerset Hills Bank on South Street. Much of that comes from the bins of shiny, colorful crumbled glass, used for projects made by patrons ranging from young children to adults, who get the store all to themselves on Wednesday (make sure to bring the wine).

Glassworks customers can make items like picture frames, wall decorations, plates and more from scratch, or by utilizing a number of pre-made pieces that are then "fired" into the final product. Projects can cost as little as less than $20 to, well, how much money do you want to spend?

"There are a zillion ways to approach it," Schlosser said. "It's only limited to your imagination."

Almost six years ago Alison Slaff, then a high school junior, came to the store after receiving a gift certificate for her birthday. "I loved it so much, I never left," she said.

Ask the staff artistic director about imagination, and she will point you to the bathroom.

Much more than a place of necessity, Slaff has transformed the Glassworks loo over several years into a seascape, complete with glass fish and a sandy, pebbly beach floor that was meticulously handcrafted by the young artist. "People love the bathroom," Slaff laughed.

Special promotions in celebration of Glassworks' anniversary are underway, with more to come, Schlosser said.

That her business has made it as far as it has is cause enough to celebrate. "If you list the businesses in Morristown that have opened and closed [in 10 years,] it's pretty astounding," Schlosser said.

The business owner makes no apologies for her success and imprint on the Morristown landscape. "I feel like I created an industry that didn't exist," she said. "We've made an impact and brought something special to the community."