About Us
Creation is Messy was founded in 2006 with the mission to build a line of 104
compatible colors to expand your lampworking palette. Messy Color™
is produced in China by a family owned and operated factory that has been producing
lampworked products on a large scale for twenty years.
The Chens own a glass factory in northern Jiangsu province that pulls cane and uses
it daily to make products for international markets, such as glass holiday ornaments,
glass swizzle sticks, etc. I first met the Chen family in 1999 when I was working as
an import manager for a glass company in Seattle.
Zhang Luan and Chen Yuzhong
Chen Yuzhong, the father, is a brilliant chemist and glassblower at heart. His wife,
Zhang Luan, managed the business side of the factory. The Chens have three children
about the same age as me. I remember feeling an immediate sense of kinship with them
when we met.
Zhang Luan made the strongest impression on me. She mentored me about doing business with
China and inspired me to go into business for myself. I watched her solve endless production
problems with perseverance, often saying, “There are no hurdles which cannot be crossed.”
Over the past few years, Zhang Luan has been forced to take an extended leave of absence
for her battle with cancer, which continues to this day. Her journey has been a testament
to courage and she continues to be an inspiration to me.
The Chens and I decided to get into the color business together. My patient and supportive
husband moved to China with me for a couple years as we tested and learned to make the glass
compatible. After a few twists and turns in finding the right sales channel, Creation is Messy
was born in the summer of 2006.
Zhou Defei
I continue to visit China several times a year to communicate with Chen Yuzhong and our batch mixer
Zhou Defei about Messy Color™. Chen steers the direction of the formula, Zhou test melts, and I
manage quality control. For example, when our customers suggested a milk glass that could be
struck to varying degrees of translucency without ever going completely opaque, Chen & Zhou ran
more than 50 test melts before we successfully obtained those working properties, for what has
become known as Messy Cirrus.
Tao Yongxiu
I also work closely with Tao Yongxiu, our quality control manager, and her team. Tao is a
treasure, doing her job well and always quick with a joke. She is responsible for
teaching me to play mahjong and eating my fill of jiaozi (dumplings) on numerous occasions.
Han Changhong is our tester, a lampworker who can reproduce tests over and over with amazing
precision. Although he is quiet and shy, some of my favorite times at the factory are chatting
while monitoring his test making. He often gives me a ride home on the back of his motorcycle
when my bike has a flat.
Han Changhong
In addition, we have a team of seven cane pullers and a frit grinder. I do my best to take care
of our team by making sure they have safety glasses, respirators, tools, medicines you can only
get in the USA, etc. In return they take care of me. During my visits I stay at the Chen
household, ride my bicycle to the factory every morning, and return for family lunches and
dinners.
The crux of my work is in quality control. I hope that you will feel free to email me at any time
with your ideas on how to improve Messy Color™. It is with your feedback that I can improve, so
I welcome your input.
Finally, it is with special thanks that I speak to the lampworking community. Many
people have been kind and giving with their ideas and suggestions. CiM is the
product of much of your feedback; we are grateful!
Kathy Seamands
Owner & Founder