Light is a life force for this nurse and stained glass maker

This story is part of our East Coast Studios series, a CBC Creator Network project. The videos are an intimate look at how creatives shape their studios, and how their studios shape their work. Milliner Nicole McInnis pitched the series and was commissioned as an associate producer. This video was produced by Sarah Kierstead for CBC.

Stephanie Couturier's home studio is a place of wonder she's been drawn to since childhood.

She grew up across the street from this spaceship-looking house. It's a series of hexagons,with windows nearly the whole way around.

East Coast Studios: Stephanie Couturier

5 years ago

Duration 3:38

Stephanie Couturier is a nurse and stained glass maker based in Edmundston, N.B. Video produced by Sarah Kierstead for CBC.

Couturier'ssurrounded by light a perfect fit for the part-time nurse and stained glass maker.

"Working in the healthcare system is sometimes a really dark place,"Couturiersaid. "For me, having light in my home, in my work, is something that is basically like a need for me to surviveto have this light that comes in, and the light that I can shine on other people around me, too."

Couturieris self-taught in stained glass. She's been creating for a year, but she has always been fascinated by the art.

She even did a class presentation on glass (verre in French) as a child, with a home video of her practicing to prove it.

Couturier's business is called La Vie en Verrestudio, an ode to the song La Vie en Rose, which means "life seen through happy lenses."

Her work is inspired by nature and thenatural light in her space, which can change dramatically depending on the season, or time of day.

"I wanted to do something that was like endless possibilities, that I would never get tired of it."

She sees her work as being unconventional, kind of like herself.

"If I were to tell my younger self a bit of advice, it would be to make something for herself and not for others," Couturier said. "And that will actually help others."