We were lucky to catch up with Kristen Muñoz recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Kristen, thanks for joining us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

I wanted to share a story I call Rejection is Protection.

I very recently applied for a prestigious art guild. It had been a dream of mine for a very long time. I finally got up the courage to apply and passed the photography part (photos of my art). I was elated. I spent a lot of time preparing for the jury process. I cancelled holiday plans with my family to focus on this dream.

The magnitude of brain power it took for me to carefully create and choose which pieces to show in person took its toll on my life and my focus. During this time, I was getting a lot of lighting orders coming in as well as people signing up for classes in large groups. I suddenly started to feel overwhelmed with my to-do list that was steadily growing. I felt guilty for not spending much time with my family. I found myself feeling like I didn’t have the time to be a part of this guild. I started to feel like it would take over my life in a way I wasn’t prepared for, being a single mom of children that needed me.

The wait for the letter was excruciating.

When the letter finally came, ironically, I was not ready to open it. It sat on my counter for 3 weeks. When I felt brave enough to open it, I had discovered that I was rejected. Only half of my work was accepted. I was encouraged to reapply for free and was offered to take a course to help me see what they were looking for. I was told I could get the critique from the judges and did so. It hurt. My poor little ego got bloodied and bruised. So I honored myself by being extremely kind and gentle with myself.

Later that day, I had a teacher’s meeting with my kid’s school. He was also getting an evaluation of his work. It’s really challenging for him to write. He was sharing with us that he felt he had gone as far as he could get with writing and that he no longer wanted to do it. It made him uncomfortable. I was asked by one of the teachers if I had been such a good glass blower right away. Oh no! I wasn’t prepared for this question as I had just read my own critique before our meeting and had not even processed it yet. Here I was, crying in front of all the teachers and my child while I shared my story of humility.

“I know how difficult it is to work so incredibly hard and still not get the outcome I was going for, but do you think that is going to make me give up?” I asked him. NO! I said, that’s going to make me try even harder! It’s not about the end destination, it’s about the journey. I think it’s pretty awesome that we get to experience this together, because this is very much like a critique as well, I said. One practice that I have been forcing myself to do regularly is to do things that take me out of my comfort zone and say yes to things I would normally say no to, like taking off my clothes and jumping off of the rock into the freezing cold river just to feel the discomfort of freezing water in the winter time. I do this because I want to be a warrior.

The teacher looked at me and offered me some tissue. She told my child that I was a good role model for him. One of the other teachers asked me if she could come and take a glass blowing class with me soon.

I took my kid out for ice cream. When I got home, I took all the work I had brought to the jury process and blessed it with kind words and smoke of sage and cedar. I told the art how beautiful they were and put them out around my living room with all my other art that is displayed.

I would be lying to you if I told you that my work wasn’t affected. It took a couple of weeks for me to get back in my flow. I know what they are looking for. They are looking for work that looks like a machine made it. This kind of glass work requires molds and assistants to create. I am kind of an anomaly as a glass blower, in that I work solo. I also don’t use wooden molds. I don’t want my work to look like a machine made it and I don’t want it to look like any other artist’s work. I respect and appreciate the concept, it’s just not my style.

I have to remain authentic to myself. The next class I taught, I do what I always do and bring all the students into my home where all of my work is displayed. There’s a lot! It blew my mind when one of the women walked right up to the decanter that was rejected and asked if it was for sale. It was displayed behind a lot of other glass and I was surprised that she could even see it!

After they left, I started laughing and rejoicing that Spirit lets me know I’m doing the right thing for my soul every time self doubt tries to creep in. Rejection can be good medicine, if looked at in a humble way.

Kristen, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I blow glass the traditional way with local materials from Spruce Pine, NC. I make ornaments, humming bird feeders, tableware and lighting including chandeliers, pendant lights and sconces. I received 8 scholarships to attend Penland School of Crafts and built my own studio 16 years ago in Marshall, NC.

My studio space and my artwork are my spiritual practice. I am a bit of an anomaly in hot glass, in that I work mostly by myself. This has made a way for me to have a deeply profound relationship with all of the elements: fire, earth, air and water. I pray with them daily and ask them to help me and show me something about the language of the universe. They do not disappoint.

I have recently discovered my love of teaching and have been offering gift certificates for people to come and blow glass with me. It is inspiring to see people witness the magik of glass for the first time. The classes consist of being able to choose from many different colors options to create an ornament, paperweight, or drinking glass. I assist and guide whenever needed throughout the whole process. After our classes, I bring students into my gallery space and it makes my heart sing for them to witness the large lighting displays I have been working on over the past year. It’s so cool that they first see how challenging blowing glass is personally, as they create their own piece of art with me and then seeing the chandeliers and pendant lights I have on display.

Glass, metal and light all together are truly something to behold. Each one carries a different energy that accentuates and contributes beauty to the other. When I started to realize how drab and repetitive the lighting options are in this country, (white, frosted white, clear, painted brown) my love of color came shining through with a “nah, we gotta change this up!” I am currently working with an electrician that is licensed in 2 states, to provide our clients with unique, one-of-a-kind, custom light fixtures. It always blows my mind how my lighting looks like a completely different animal in the daylight than they do at night, when the lights are actually turned on.

If you are interested in getting a lighting consultation with us or booking a class (great for birthdays, family time, date nights) feel free to reach out and schedule an appointment at MoonGirlGlass.com

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My life’s purpose is to bring the light through the darkness with Moon Girl Glass.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

All of Carlos Castaneda’s books on the teachings of don Juan, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, along with Penland School of Crafts have gotten me to where I am today. I am eternally grateful.

Contact Info:

• Website: MoonGirlGlass.com
• Instagram: Moon Girl Glass
• Facebook: Moon Girl Glass
• Youtube: kristenmunoz99996
• Yelp: Moon Girl Glass

Image Credits
Yvette Freeman Red Angle Photography