Meet Your Glassblower
Gina is a fourth-generation Philadelphian who discovered her love of glassblowing at Temple University’s Tyler School of Art. She spent several years working in early education while continuing to strive toward her dream of becoming a professional glassblower. In 2022, that dream came true. She began to work out of a studio in Allentown, Pennsylvania, which catapulted her into the wonderful world of professional glassmaking. As her skill set grew she found herself back in the familiar role of teaching. She has worked with individuals of all ages, from 4 to 94, and she never tires of the connection that comes from sharing her passion with others.
While Gina enjoys creating a variety of glasswork, she finds creating glass ash memorials to be particularly fulfilling. As a young teenager, she lost her grandfather after a quick and heartbreaking battle with cancer. Her Pop was her favorite person. He was her confidant and her partner in crime. After his passing Gina was given a small metal cross which held his ashes. The necklace gave her comfort, knowing Pop was always close by. However, Gina struggled with the imagery. The death of her Pop shattered her and the necklace became a complicated reminder of all that she had lost; not only her best friend but also her faith.
In 2023, Gina found an outlet for her grief. She began creating glass ash memorials and this gave her a place to put her bereavement. She finds fulfillment in knowing that her work will provide someone else with the comfort that she struggled to find. It was this knowledge that gave her the drive to create Soulful Keepsakes. Now back at her home in South Philly, Gina dreams of providing a small glimmer of light to those who are struggling in the darkness of their grief.
A Little About Pop
Born in Philadelphia in 1939, there were three things that Pop always loved:
His Philly sports teams (Go Birds)
Going down the shore
Settling in with a good novel, preferably on a beach chair in the sun
He was a skilled typesetter and handyman, who handled every task with a precision that he said could only be taught in the Navy. A Philadelphian to his core, he played the banjo for South Philly String Band for years. He kept his mind active, and would complete the Inquirer crossword puzzle every day- always in a red pen. He was a Tetris aficionado and crime drama lover with a secret soft spot for show tunes (Gina didn’t give him much of a choice on that one.) He was a man who adored his wife and would do anything for his daughters and granddaughter. He was a man of his word, he was kindhearted, and he is sorely missed.
