Tacoma's Art at Work Tours! Q&A with the Ladies of bella balls

On November 6 and 7 from 10am-4pm, studios and artist are opening their spaces up to the public for Tacoma's Art at Work, featuring forty-four locations throughout Tacoma.

City Arts spoke with some of the artists participating in this exhibition to give you a taste of what's in store. 

Name: bella balls artists Diane Hansen and Lesli Jacobs-McHugh

Primary artistic medium/media: Glass, hand-blown in Tacoma, and Japanese-style floats with Sterling Silver adornments.

Studio street address: 747 South Fawcett Avenue, Suite B, 98402.

What art items you sell you’d think would fit in City Arts' December gift guide (designed to promote local artists)? Our bellaballs are made for gifting. They sell for $40.00, and include Europen-style gift wrapping. We also have a smaller version available only in our Tacoma studio that sells for $28.00, our 'Piccolo bella'. We have over eleven adornments in seventy-seven different colors.

What you’re working on now? We are introducing our 2011 Holiday bella.  We are also busy with custom bellas where we are able to recreate your logo on our bellaballs.  Perfect for corporate, wedding or any occasion gifts.

Most dangerous tool in your studio: Estrogen.

Weirdest material(s) you’re currently working with: That would have to be Karl, lol. (See our quotable quotes).

Mental health “drug” of choice: Diane - Right now it's adrenaline.

Favorite part about your studio space: 
Diane - The sunny windows that look out over downtown Tacoma and Commencement Bay.
Lesli - Meeting new people and hearing their bella stories. I love the bella message.

Least favorite part about your studio space:
There isn't one...this studio is just buzzing with good creative energy and beautiful bellaballs!

Read more about bella balls and check in on the City Arts Blog for more interviews with Tacoma artists all this week.