Maker Stories

Crushing It: Vawn & Mike Gray’s Recycled Glass Nightlights

September 30, 2016

 

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Vawn & Mike

From lazy pandas to wide-eyed unicorns, Vawn and Mike Gray make recycled glass nightlights with endearing details and handcrafted charm. In their Cape Coral, Florida studio, they use recycled glass and an energy-efficient kiln to create colorful pieces they characterize as “a little light for the darkness.” Here, Vawn talks with us about smashing glass, finding inspiration in viral videos, and the eloquent life lessons of John Lennon.

What inspired you to start making nightlights? Are there any personal or family stories behind that part of your collection?

Yes! Our first kiln was very tiny: an 8-inch square. We did all our experimental firing on jewelry because that’s all we could fit in the kiln. Our sons-in-law were involved and complaining they wanted to make something other than “girlie jewelry.” That’s when I got the idea they had just enough room to make a couple of nightlights! The first two nightlights out of the kiln were so cool—everyone wanted one!

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The Gray’s daughters: Kaitlyn and Erica

How do you decide what animals, characters, or scenes to add to that collection?

Since bottles really only come in clear, blues, greens, and browns, the palette really works well with nature of all kinds, and that is in step with the environmental side of our business. The Lazy Panda recently added to the UncommonGoods collection was inspired by a series of funny panda YouTube videos that went viral…we could watch pandas playing all day!

What’s your favorite part of the glassmaking process?

Figuring out a successful new design concept. We have to plan everything around the light source, which is both tricky and cool. Often, the hot spot created from the bulb will distort or dilute the final design. We like to treat it like the sun and use the light to its best advantage—to enhance and breathe life into the design…it’s always all about the light!

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How did you learn your technique of fusing recycled glass?

We took a private class in art glass fusing with a world renowned artist many years ago to get a simple understanding, then we developed our own very unique process through diligent trial and error—literally conducting continual experiments and keeping notes with plenty of failures along the way.

You’ve been concerned about the wasteful, toxic nature of glass production. How do your materials and process address those concerns?

We use recycled bottle glass, a computer controlled energy efficient kiln, and pack every piece in 100% recycled material. Even our “Grand Smasher” [their glass crushing machine] was built from recycled steel.

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The “Grand Smasher” bottle crusher

What was the most exciting thing about becoming full-time artists/makers?

It’s really all we know, but freedom is the best part. I will say it’s not for the faint of heart: You really have to be able to go with the flow and be willing to work around the clock when necessary—so you better love what you’re doing!

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Erica with studio cat, Stealth

Do you have any quotes of mantras that help motivate and inspire you?

We love this John Lennon story: “When I was five years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down happy. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life.”

Our Mantra is simple: “Be the Light”

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What was the last thing that inspired your work?

We love to read through the UncommonGoods reviews of our nightlights—hearing how a child’s fears are eased at bedtime, or how a beloved pet is memorialized by the silhouette Cat Nightlight is just so heartwarming. There’s something very magical about creating a little light for the darkness.

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16 Comments

  • Reply Deb Andrick October 3, 2016 at 5:41 pm

    I would love to get a Koala night light. Your work is beautiful

    • Reply Emily G. October 4, 2016 at 8:47 am

      Hi, Deb! Thanks for reading. We’re glad you love Vawn & Mike’s night lights. (We do, too.)

  • Reply Karva Chauth October 5, 2016 at 11:35 am

    Beautiful art work Vawn and Mike Gray; Liked read your story and your work is awesome. Elephant nightlight is beautiful creativity by you. Recommended things for every one.

  • Reply Patti Taylor October 15, 2016 at 12:49 pm

    Beautiful! Do you ever do any craft events in the Cape Coral area? Love your work!

    Patti Taylor
    N. Fort Myers, FL

  • Reply Arlene Bompensiero October 17, 2016 at 1:16 pm

    Do you have a Seahorse nightlight available. And so you have the Sanddollar available?

    • Reply Emily G. October 17, 2016 at 3:57 pm

      Hi Arlene! Thanks for reading the blog.
      Unfortunately we don’t carry either a seahorse or sand dollar nightlight from Vawn & Mike. To see all the available options, click here.
      We hope you find one you like!

  • Reply Ruth perry November 13, 2016 at 3:22 pm

    Love the llama mug, can’t find. Site not easy to navigate per others too.
    Help if you can.

  • Reply Dave December 17, 2016 at 1:00 pm

    Was very disappointed with Uncommon Goods. Ordered 2 night lights for Christmas and after ordering they told me one was back ordered. They could have sent the one I really needed since it was in stock but they didn’t. I called on 14th said it would ship on 16th never shipped. Then I called on 17th still didn’t shipped and now telling me the other one was back ordered. They never emailed me to inform me of the situation I had to call them for the information. Very disappointed and terrible customer service!

    • Reply Emily G. December 19, 2016 at 12:57 pm

      Hi Dave,

      We’re so sorry to hear you’ve had a bad experience. We’ll follow up with customer service regarding your order.

  • Reply Phyllis E Pope June 1, 2017 at 2:56 pm

    I am looking for a Sheep light for my daughter. Do you have one?

    • Reply Hadley June 1, 2017 at 4:48 pm

      Hi Phyllis! We do indeed carry a sheep light, made from crushed glass by Vawn and Mike. Check it out here.

  • Reply Cathleen October 7, 2017 at 9:24 pm

    Would love to see a peacock night light.

    • Reply Hadley October 9, 2017 at 10:41 am

      Thanks for the suggestion, Cathleen! I’ll pass it on to our merchant team.

  • Reply Angela December 26, 2017 at 11:25 am

    Hi there! I ordered a “Tree of Life” nightlight about four years ago. It’s beautiful! The intertek base stopped working. Any idea where I can purchase the base separately?

    • Reply Cassie December 28, 2017 at 4:15 pm

      Hi Angela! While we don’t sell the base separately, we do offer forever returns and exchanges. We’re sorry the base broke, and we’ll gladly send you a replacement nightlight. Please give our customer service team a call at 1.888.365.0056 or email help@uncommongoods.com with your contact info so we can get the new one headed your way.

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