Our story is a blend of two creative paths—rooted in curiosity, shaped by travel, and brought together through a shared love of glass and its centuries-old role in everyday use and craft. We come to this work from very different beginnings. Melanie grew up in a farming family, studying horticulture and learning to see the world through cycles of growth, balance, and transformation. That early connection to the land continues to shape her creative voice—guiding an intuitive approach to form, where each piece begins as a vision and evolves organically in the heat of the process. Her work reflects a sensitivity to movement and light, a desire to translate the language of the natural world into objects that feel both intentional and alive.

Casey’s path began in architecture at Washington University in St. Louis, followed by years of study at leading craft institutions, including Pilchuck Glass School and Penland School of Craft. His approach is grounded in studio discipline—an attention to precision, structure, and repeatability that brings clarity and refinement to the work. Through a deep understanding of material and process, he helps translate ideas into form with consistency and intention.

We founded Hyland Glass in 2002 in Louisville, Kentucky, and in 2009, our partnership took shape. Today, we co-lead the studio as equal collaborators where we create contemporary handblown glass—balancing intuition and discipline, designed as glass for every day and the days in between, and imbued with "Brilliance, Crafted by Hand."