Local woman turns glass into artwork

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Linda Elmore opened the very first nail salon in Lafayette 27 years ago. She now has another thriving business, turning glass tubes into masterful pieces of jewelry.

"The creativity just starts swelling up in the brain and starts going to it," Elmore said.

Elmore said the process can be tedious, but she has no trouble getting lost in her work.

"A simple bead might take two to three minutes to get nice and round. But, once you start working on the design it takes longer. I don't usually have anything in the mind it just kind of comes when the flame is on," Elmore said.

Elmore has also joined the Green Movement. She said she is one of only a handful of glass artists in the world who uses old wine bottles to make beads. It takes 40 hours to break down the bottle and turn it into jewelry.

"I'm going green, in this case, literally," Elmore said.

Elmore said she is most proud of her work raising money for Breast Cancer research.

"To raise the money to try and cure it, I'm always there," Elmore said.

Half of the money raised from the sale of anything pink she makes, is donated to the cause.

You can now find Elmore's designs at Something Special at 916 Main Street in downtown Lafayette. She now shares a storefront with the women behind Sandy's Peanut Brittle and Grateful Heart Pottery.

"I love my job. How many people can say that they love what they do. And I do," Elmore said.