Some artists stumble upon their craft by chance, but for Houston Llew, art found him at exactly the right time. In the aftermath of the Great Recession, when the world felt uncertain and gray, Llew was searching for something meaningful. What he discovered was a centuries-old process called vitreous enameling – the fusing of glass to copper through intense heat. The first time he saw it, he was hooked.
“The process felt alive – equal parts unpredictable and miraculous,” he recalls. That spark ignited what would become Spiritiles, Llew’s luminous collection of glass-and-copper works that capture moments of joy, love and connection. Each piece begins with a quote or sentiment and blossoms into a visual story – designed to make people feel something real.
The Artist’s Lineage
Every artist has a story, and Llew’s includes a remarkable lineage of mentorship. He learned the intricate craft from Zingaro, an artist who studied under Craig Ruwe, one of the great enamellists of his time. Through them, Llew inherited not only a rare skill but also a philosophy – to respect the process, embrace imperfection and let the materials lead the way.
“What I learned went beyond technique,” he says. “It was about finding grace in imperfection and honoring the materials themselves.”
A Day in the Studio
Inside Llew’s Charleston, South Carolina studio, creativity hums like a heartbeat. You’ll hear copper being cut, glass sifted, kilns roaring at 1500°F. The air is alive with focus and laughter. Each Spiritile passes through many hands – layered, fired and inspected with care – before it earns Llew’s final approval.
“There’s pride in what we do,” he says. “We’re creating something meaningful together.”
Stories that Shine
Every Spiritile starts with a story. Sometimes it’s a quote about courage or love, other times it’s a quiet reflection on gratitude or friendship. The words come first, then the image – or maybe it’s the other way around. Llew says intuition takes over once the piece goes into the kiln. The heat transforms it, adding texture and unpredictability that make every tile one of a kind.
“Vitreous enamel bridges art and science,” he says. “The permanence of copper meets the volatility of glass, and fire binds them. The result is something alive.”
From Uncertainty to Illumination
Llew’s story – and his art – carry themes of transformation. “When I started this journey, I was rebuilding,” he shares. “Taking raw copper and glass and turning it into something luminous became a metaphor for resilience.” That philosophy runs through every Spiritile – the idea that light and beauty can emerge from even the hardest seasons.
Based in a city steeped in craft and history, Llew finds endless inspiration in Charleston’s rhythm and reflection. “This place values authenticity and artistry,” he says. “That energy is in everything we create.”
Creating Happiness
At the heart of it all is a simple motto: We create happiness. Llew and his team live by it daily, and it shows in their work. From the Fall Collection, which celebrates connection and curiosity, to the Limited Edition Holiday Spiritile #305 “Heart of Christmas,” each release captures moments that resonate far beyond the studio.
Spiritiles are found in galleries nationwide – something Llew insists is essential to their magic. “Art should be experienced in person – held, turned and felt,” he says. “That’s when the real connection happens.”
This holiday season, that connection comes to life close to home. You can experience the radiant craftsmanship of Houston Llew’s Spiritiles in person at Juelerye, where artist-made and handcrafted aren’t exceptions – they’re the standard. Nestled in the heart of downtown Mooresville, Juelerye invites visitors to discover one-of-a-kind art and fine craft, each piece selected for its story and soul.
Juelerye is located at 112 S. Main Street, Mooresville, NC, 28115, and is open seven days a week – making it the perfect stop to find something truly meaningful this season.
As Llew puts it, “Every Spiritile begins with a story and ends with a smile.” And now, that story continues – shared, held and cherished by those who find light in the fire.
