Marian has been working with glass for 20 years starting in the California foothills and now at her home on the slope of Mauna Loa in the Puna District. First interested in lampworking because it seemed to be a manageable way for one person to work with hot glass, she began to educate herself by purchasing a scientific glass blowing kit from a catalog in 1981. " That was certainly the hard way," she acknowledges. "Teachers were just not available or willing to take a beginner. It's very difficult to learn on your own."

Looking for customers in Sacramento, she met Donna Milliron who introduced her to fusing. She suggested attending Pilchuck School to learn about glass, they had the first lampworking class that year concurrent with a fusing class.

From that beginning, Marian moved to Hawaii in 1989 and began selling glass from a kiosk at the local mall where she produced many original pieces for gifts. Returning to fusing glass this last year, she was inspired by the active lava flows that characterize the Puna district of the Big Island. "I am fascinated by the liquid effect of the molten lava and it's affinity with glass. I want to capture the feeling of the Earth on fire and the undualating cooling surfaces. I'm just getting started with exploring the world of glass art. I just had a chance to try furnace glassblowing and I enjoy experimenting with new techniques. Glass is intriguing and beautiful. I am grateful to have the opportunity to make gifts others can give with aloha to remember the grandeur of Hawaii."