tanding next to a shelf of gorgeous vases in the Little River Hotglass Studio showroom in Stowe , Michael Trimpol holds a striking glass perfume bottle in his hands . As he waxes poetic about the complex subtleties of
Shandblown glass , his eyes light up with a
joyful glint . Tracing his fingers over the perfume bottle ’ s subtle contours , he points out the colorful details that lie underneath its finely-polished surface . It ’ s been 27 years since Trimpol and his wife and business partner , Monique LaJeunesse , opened Little River Hotglass Studio , but the two of them still find immense fulfillment in continuing to perfect their craft and product offerings . Working together as a creative and entrepreneurial team , Trimpol and LaJeunesse have built Little River Hotglass into a thriving business .
Trimpol serves as the principal craftsman who handles the production of the handblown glass pieces . Before moving to Vermont , he worked as an artisan glassblower for renowned public and private craft studios in Toronto , including the celebrated Harbourfront Centre . Trimpol also ran his own studio in Canada for eight years . LaJeunesse manages the business and the logistical aspects of the operation . She honed her marketing skills and artistic eye during the time that she spent studying at the prestigious Christie ’ s auction house in London . She now channels her sharp color acuity and business savvy into her work at Little River Hotglass .
In addition to being sold online , Little River Hotglass ’ finely-made , handblown glass ornaments , marbles , perfume bottles , bowls , vases , urns , tableware , and paperweights are currently sold in hundreds of stores across the country . Many of their products incorporate multiple layers of color and texture
The Magic of Glass
The owners and founders of Little River Hotglass Studio provide an inside look at the craft of handblown , artisan glass
STORY BY BENJAMIN LERNER PHOTOGRAPHY JIMMY iENNER , JR .
4 VERMONT MAGAZINE