When Oak Park resident Laurie Freivogel bought a toaster-oven-sized glass kiln nine years ago, she never imagined it would lead to her running an artisanal glass company. But that’s exactly what happened.

Named Kiku (chrysanthemum in Japanese), the line features beautiful colored-glass bowls, platters, coasters, and more, all fused with charming images. Freivogel sketches most of these images (birds, rabbits, koi fish, flowers) herself; others she manipulates from photographs or clip art.

Buy one for yourself on her website, at Hazel in Ravenswood, or at her booth at the Lakeview East Festival of the Arts on September 14 and 15.