About The Artist - Lady Jane Glass Display Cases

Linda Young, A.K.A. 'Lady Jane'

Linda Young
Known professionally as 'Lady Jane'

Her day starts early at 7:00 a.m. when Linda Young walks the hundred feet to her studio behind her home in Parrish, Florida. Highly creative and artistically skilled, Linda now specializes in the design and construction of greenhouses, conservatories, and roomboxes in 1/12^th scale in clear and stained art glass. Utilizing the "Tiffany" method of foil and solder, Linda has gained both a national and international reputation. Her creations can be found in both homes and museums in France, Germany, Switzerland, England, Canada, Taiwan and the United States.

A native of Mt. Kisco, New York, Linda has been described as an extremely talented, self-made person who can take an idea and develop it to its fullest potential. Initially displaying talent in art, drafting, and woodworking, Linda joined IBM where she sorted electronic parts. Noticing her interests, skills, and ambition, her supervisor introduced her further to the world of electronics. By 1973, Linda had utilized her knowledge of electronics to form her own company to do electronic design and construction under contract to other companies, including her former employer IBM. Always striving to do her best and to incorporate her creative skills, Linda soon built and maintained a computer inter-active educational system in Bethesda, Maryland. Her company also began to design and build electronic controllers for special exhibits for museums and conventions. With the advent of the "Disco Clubs" in the 70’s, her company expanded to lighting designs. In 1979, Billboard Magazine awarded her company "Controller of the Year".

Other awards followed. In 1981, Linda became the first woman since the magazine’s inception in 1949 to receive Mechanix Illustrated ’s "Golden Hammer Award" for the construction of her ten foot, eight sided, stained glass and wood structure for her 17 cats. Later in 1982, Black & Decker chose her children’s playhouse design over 1500 entries to receive the first place Associated Lumber Dealers’ Class A Award.

Linda’s attraction to miniatures, however, did not come until 1985 when she was sailing down the East Coast to the Caribbean and stopped along the way at a miniature shop in Oriental, North Carolina. Fascinated with what she saw and wanting a "hobby" to do while on board her boat, she began making miniature rugs.

When her mother retired from New York to Florida, Linda moved nearby. Linda’s mother had nicknamed her "Lady Jane" as a child; therefore, when her hobby turned into her first miniature show in 1988, "Lady Jane" seemed to fit the bill as a professional name to use. For her first show, however, Linda spent $400.00 and sold only one rug for $20. Not to be discouraged, she began to investigate other avenues in miniatures to express her talents. Having been interested in creating stained glass for over 20 years, Linda soon utilized her background in drafting and design and began to build her first display cases in 1989. At first her designs were simple greenhouses and small, lighted roomboxes along with a few "doll" lamps. She sold her first creation for $450. Meanwhile, Linda had perfected her braided rugs and in 1991 had applied for and received her "Artisan" status from the International Guild of Miniature Artisans. Linda’s rug making days were soon to be numbered as her skills and vision for larger and more complexly designed stained glass creations increased.

As a true artisan with a talent and vision, "Lady Jane" has become the leading name in the use and creation of clear and stained art glass in the design and construction of miniature conservatories, roomboxes, and greenhouses. Linda and her husband David Clarke, who now assists her with the business, continue to enjoy their Florida home as well as traveling to display her work in the finest miniature shows held throughout the United States.

Paul Stockhammer