Barbara Jack owned and operated Inspirations Inc., in Eagleville PA for close to 20 years. During that time, Inspirations became a center for knowledge and, a source of assistance for all things glass. Classes at Inspirations Inc., included a wide range of skills over the years including; basic glass cutting, leaded construction of stained glass, copper foil construction of stained glass, fusing, slumping, glass painting, mosaics, bead making and more.
At the heart of it all stood the community of artists who remained inspired about glass. Inspirations was more than just a store, it was where these artists came together to share their love of glass, and learn from Barbara and each other.
Barbara’s’ passion for glass ran deep. She was involved with local and national groups to try and preserve the integrity of the industry. Much has happened in Barbara’s life since closing Inspirations in 2010, but her passion for glass has never waned. She has maintained many of the deep friendships cultivated during her years in business. One of these is with JoAnna Vitale.

For 21 grateful years, JoAnna Vitale, successfully owned and operated Art Glass Connection Stained Glass Studio in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. JoAnna combined her business background, her teaching experience and her lifelong fascination with stained glass. In 1997, JoAnna identified a local need for something different. She created a warm and welcoming destination studio that offered a constant rotation of fun, advanced workshops making stained glass windows, fused glass projects and mosaics. Art Glass Connection quickly became the premier place to not only purchase unique glass, tools and supplies but to learn everything about glass including the very latest in Torch Beads, Painting on Glass, Jewelry, Lamp making, Silk Screening and Sandblasting. Art Glass Connection was committed to offering an out of the ordinary, next level Fused Glass Experience so JoAnna traveled around the country to learn cutting edge techniques from renowned fused glass artists; Patty Grey to Gil Reynolds to David Alcala to Glenda Kronke to Peggy Pettigrew Stewart to Paula McCoy to Brad Walker. One fond memory was gazing out of the window of Richard LaLonde’s Whidbey Island glass studio and enjoying the magnificent Puget Sound as inspiration! Soon afterwards, JoAnna’s student base grew from strictly local, to long distance, to international. AGC began to bring in a series of nationally acclaimed, warm glass artists to teach their techniques in sunny SE Florida, from Tanya Veit to Mark Hufford to Lisa Becker to Kelly Crosser Alge. Throughout her career, JoAnna also served in various executive positions, for the international group, Retailers of Art Glass and Supplies. In 2018, JoAnna made the difficult decision to close Art Glass Connection and move to Raleigh, North Carolina to be closer to family. Not one to let the grass grow under her sandals,
JoAnna can now be found passionately teaching Fused Glass and Mosaics at a local city’s Art Center, where she reinforces her mantra to “Discover the Magic of Art Glass”.