Our Story
Creation is Messy was founded in 2006 with the mission to build a line of 104
compatible colors to expand your lampworking palette. We are a Seattle based
company producing glass lampworking rods in China. Currently we produce
Messy Color™ glass color products. We have been involved in the glass industry
for ten years in various capacities.
Kathy, Dana, Zoe & Zachary
We produce at a small, privately owned factory in China where we work closely
with the production and management teams and are involved with decision
making. Over the years we have developed a synergetic
relationship based on mutual respect and trust.
This relationship allows us to implement higher standards
than would otherwise be possible, allowing us
to confidently deliver high quality products with the
comfort that we know how they were made. The
Chens own a glass factory that pulls cane and uses it daily to make products
for international markets, such as glass holiday
ornaments, glass swizzle sticks, etc. I first met the
Chen family in 1999 when I was working as an import
manager for a glass company in Seattle.
Chen Yuzhong, the father, is a brilliant chemist and glassblower at heart. His wife,
Zhang Luan, managed the business side of the factory. The Chens have three children
about the same age as me. I remember feeling an immediate sense of kinship with
them when we met.
Zhang Luan made the strongest impression on me. She mentored me about doing business
with China and inspired me to go into business for myself. I watched her solve endless
production problems with perseverance, often saying, "There are no hurdles which
cannot be crossed." Over the past few years, Zhang Luan has been forced to take
an extended leave of absence for her battle with cancer, which continues to this
day. Her journey has been a testament to courage and she continues to be an inspiration
to me.
Chen Yuzhong & Zhang Luan
The Chens and I decided to get into the color business together. My patient and
supportive husband Dana moved to China with me for a couple years as we tested and
learned to make the glass compatible. After a few twists and turns in finding the
right sales channel, Creation is Messy was born in the summer of 2006.
I continue to visit China several times a year to communicate with Chen Yuzhong
and our batch mixer Zhou Defei about Messy Color™. Chen steers the direction of
the formula, Zhou test melts, and I manage quality control. For example, when our
customers suggested a milk glass that could be struck to varying degrees of translucency
without ever going completely opaque, Chen & Zhou ran more than 50 test melts before
we successfully obtained those working properties, for what has become known as
Messy Cirrus.
Zhou Defei
I also work closely with Tao Yongxiu, our quality control manager, and her team.
Tao is a treasure, doing her job well and always quick with a joke. She is responsible
for teaching me to play mahjong and eating my fill of jiaozi (dumplings) on numerous
occasions.
Tao Yongxiu
Han Changhong is our tester, a lampworker who can reproduce tests over and over
with amazing precision. Although he is quiet and shy, some of my favorite times
at the factory are chatting while monitoring his test making. He often gives me
a ride home on the back of his motorcycle when my bike has a flat.
In addition, we have a team of seven cane pullers and a frit grinder. I do my best
to take care of our team by making sure they have safety glasses, respirators, tools,
medicines you can only get in the USA, etc. In return they take care of me. During
my visits I stay at the Chen household, ride my bicycle to the factory every morning,
and return for family lunches and dinners.
The crux of my work is in quality control. I hope that you will feel free to email
me at any time with your ideas on how to improve Messy Color™. It is with your feedback
that I can improve, so I welcome your input.
Finally, it is with special thanks that I speak to the lampworking community. Many
people have been kind and giving with their ideas and suggestions. CiM is the product
of much of your feedback; we are grateful!
Kathy Seamands
Owner & Founder