Finding one’s calling in life can sometimes be overwhelming. With various pathways to explore, it’s easy to be convinced one is right at the time, only to be exhaustingly wrong.

Such was the case for Nicole Norman who became acquainted with her fate a decade ago. One that evolved into an escape and passion for this stained glass artist who hopes to ignite a love for her craft throughout the community.

Norman, alongside her husband and business partner Andrew Crittendon, runs Mojo Glassworks. Situated in Lakeside, their studio specializes in custom work, all of which is original design.

“Our design process is collaborative with the client,” says Norman. “They usually have an idea or certain image in mind but very broad.” She works to narrow down colors, elements and installation preferences before developing a sketch for review. Once approved, the pattern is officially formed.

Over the years, the two have created everything from personal home decor to restaurant windows, like a stained-glass key for Middletown’s Vault and Cellar. Norman even designed a stained-glass kidney for her childhood friend who was an altruistic kidney donor.

“That was so fun to do I decided to do a whole series of stained glass organs,” she says. Norman has since made two kidneys, a pancreas and heart with plans to do an eye, lungs, liver and bone marrow.

Stained glass entered Norman’s life during a time she was struggling with depression. “I needed something so I started taking stained-glass classes and it just really, really helped with everything,” she says.

Norman quickly became captivated by the craft, devouring its secrets, like the different preparation methods, proper soldering techniques and how to carefully score glass into different sections/shapes.

She started off making and selling stained glass jewelry on Etsy. Customers soon requested suncatchers. “People started asking for bigger and bigger projects and I ended up getting an apprenticeship at a local stained glass studio in Austin where I lived at the time,” says Norman.

But what started as a hobby soon turned into a new career path after being laid off from her bartending job during the pandemic; something she claims was the best thing that ever happened.

“I was feeling like an artist in my heart and not having an outlet for that; it never occurred to me to do [stained glass] as a job – I just started leaning into it and grew.”

Norman continued to fine-tune her art in Texas performing custom work and repair under a mentor. She eventually taught Crittendon the magic of stained glass and decided to start a business. Mojo Glassworks soon came to fruition in 2020.

The couple moved to Richmond in 2021. After arriving, numerous repair jobs were waiting alongside some custom work, but an email one day soon opened new doors.

A TV producer reached out asking if there might be interest in assisting with a special project. “We thought it was a scam and didn’t respond for six days,” says Norman laughing.

The assignment turned out to be for HBO’s “Trixie Motel.” Mojo Glassworks was assigned to create and install 10 windows for drag queen Trixie Mattel’s vintage Palm Spring motel renovation. The two were hired again to assist in Season 2, this time tasked with elaborate 1920s-themed peacock feather windows for Trixie and her partner’s ‘20s Hollywood craftsman-style home.

“I think that was probably the coolest thing I’ve done in my career so far,” says Norman.

Apart from bespoke work and repairs, Norman and Crittendon teach year-round stained glass classes, like copper foil, leaded glass and mosaics. A new instructor was just hired to teach fusing.

Seasonal classes are also hosted, like for the upcoming holidays where ornaments will be made. These “make and take” courses usually run about three hours and students can leave with their completed projects that day.

For those looking to get serious about stained glass, there are six-week deep dive courses. There’s also the Glass Club designed for those with foundational stained glass knowledge who strive to build their skill set or experiment in an open studio concept.

“Since we opened the studio (moving out of our garage), teaching classes in that space, I discovered I was really passionate about teaching,” says Norman. “It’s satisfying to teach classes and see people break glass for the first time.”

She had one student who wanted to make a 3D chessboard that was illuminated from the inside. It was only the student’s second project, but dreams are meant to thrive at Mojo Glassworks. “[We’re] a good place to innovate and try a technique you’re interested in,” she says.

The studio also has a retail operation where tools and sheet glass can be purchased. This was particularly done to help make the latter more accessible to area artists which can be difficult to find in person and extremely expensive alongside shipping costs.

But this is all just the beginning for Mojo Glassworks. New adventures, just as dazzling as her artwork, await Norman who has ambitions of doing a gallery show and public space installations.

“My fantasy project would be to do a huge stained-glass accent wall in a hotel lobby or other such place,” she says. “I’d like to do large-scale architectural installations. I’ve never done anything that big, but that’s my dream.”

Mojo Glassworks is located at at 5801 Lakeside Ave. suite B.