Made in Iowa: Artist fuses passion for photography, wearable art

Stay-at-home mom Amy Mueggenberg, 42, of Marion, started taking her hand-knit scarves to a few craft shows for extra income in 2005. But in summer 2011, she noticed an ad for a beginning fused-glass workshop for adults while signing her kids up for summer art classes and decided to expand her creative horizons.

'I gave it a try, loved it, and as soon as the four weeks were over, I signed up at The Ceramics Center for beginning fused glass,” said Mueggenberg, who has been taking a weekly fused-glass class at The Ceramics Center ever since. 'I usually go down to The Ceramics Center to work on pieces two or three times a week while my kids are in school. I love working on my pieces there. It's just such a great, creative environment.”

She makes a variety of colorful fused-glass pieces - from pendants, plates and bowls, to art deco pieces, Christmas ornaments and pot pokes (garden stakes for outdoor potted plants).

A craft show in 2011 spurred her into creating her own business, AM Artistic.

'I was approached by a small gallery manager from a coffee shop in Valley Junction in West Des Moines,” she said. 'She wanted my pieces in her gallery; mine, out at my first show with my glass. I was flabbergasted and beyond excited.”

While she has her work for sale at several galleries around Iowa and on her website, Mueggenberg still exhibits at craft shows and farmers markets.

A bartering enthusiast, Mueggenberg also still makes several variations of hand-knit scarves.

'My ladder yarn necklace is very popular,” she said. 'It has a magnetic clasp and from a distance it looks metallic or like it's beaded but is very lightweight and easy to get on and off as a necklace.”

Her creative talents don't stop there. Thanks to her passion for photography, Mueggenberg also coordinates Greater Cedar Rapids Area Help-Portrait - an event held each December that brings together photographers and volunteers who use their time, gear and expertise to give back to those in need. Over the course of three events, Mueggenberg says GCRAHP has provided more than 448 local families with free professional family portraits with the help of more than 100 volunteers.

Q: Is AM Artistic a full-time job for you now?

A: Being a stay-at-home-mom is a full-time job, but I feel like I have the best of both worlds. I'm able to be here for my family and raise our kids, now 10 and 14. And while they are at school, I'm able to create and work on my pieces but still be back home to greet them when they get off the bus. From June to December, you can usually find me in my booth at a farmers market or an art or craft fair on the weekends.

Q: If you had only three words to describe what you do, what would they be?

A: Imagine. Photograph. Create.

Q: Where do you find your inspiration?

A: As a photographer, I enjoy shooting nature, scenery, travel and beautiful food. I find a lot of my inspiration through my photography. I always keep a sketch pad and pencil in my camera bag as I have a lot of crossover between the two art forms. For example, shooting a blossoming tree in the spring leads to a line of layered blue, black, white and pink glass work. Shooting a peacock at a zoo led to a great selling line of pendants and plates in green, blue, teal and black. Getting up before the sun to shoot a sunrise on a beach a few summers back led to several sunrise pendants with all the warm colors you'd expect to see at the beach in the morning.

Q: What's the best part about being a crafty/ creative person?

A: I've always been a shy introvert, so I really enjoy being able to express myself through my art, and share that part of myself with my friends, family and all of my customers.

Q: Do you remember the first craft project you tried?

A: Finger painting in kindergarten. I remember it all: the apron, the smell of the funny new paint, the big sheet of paper on the easel, the coldness of it on my fingers, the feel of the rough paper through the slimy slippery paint and the giddy emotion of it finally being my turn to put the color to paper.

Q: When you become rich and famous for your work, what will you do?

A: I know that I would still create. If I were ever rich, I'd buy that next camera, get a better camper and live my childhood dream of being a travel photographer and continue to capture it all.

Made in Iowa

Ogle it

' The Artisan's Emporium (NewBo City Market), 1100 Third St. SE, Cedar Rapids

' Olive's Oil, 5200 Fountains Dr. NE, Cedar Rapids

' Cedar Rapids Downtown Farmers Market

Google it

' www.amartistic.com

' www.facebook.com/AMartistic/