For the love of glass

Sarah Whitaker’s profession was borne of frustration and passion. Six years ago, she designed a glass water feature for her garden – and the realisation that she would never be able to afford to have it custom- made on her teacher’s salary inspired her to teach herself how to melt glass.

Today, this married mom of three boasts a range of works, including a 200-piece inter-linking glass panel she designed and created using children’s self-portraits and recycled glass, which stretches 100m along the front of Bridge City – a shopping centre in KwaMashu, Durban.

A finalist in the 2008 Nivea Smart Art awards, Sarah is now a successful glass artist who makes everything from dinnerware to décor accessories such as headboards, windows, wall panels and nightlights.

She also has a range of handblown glass candles made of borosilicate glass that, like pyrex, is heat-resistant and durable. The candlewicks are eternal as they use capillary action to draw the candle oil up to the flame, and so never burn away. Sarah’s range comprises three sizes of candles and six sizes of candleholders. She also sells the odourless, smokeless and longlasting clear candle oil.