Our Company
The Chizel, like many small companies, started in the garage of the other co-founder, Paul Schroeder, and has grown to be one of the largest producers of high-quality etched glass products in our region. Even though our origins were humble, we have recently moved to a new manufacturing facility and have expanded our offerings. Our growth is mostly attributed to the uniqueness of our art, giving our products purpose and timeless functionality.
The entire journey has been very serendipitous. The two founders were introduced by a sweet and darling lab/boxer named Sadie May. Dara was doing contract design work for a publisher, and Paul worked for the IT company subletting a portion of the penthouse suite. Sadie entered Paul's office one day and caught his attention. Paul, a huge dog lover, wanted to ensure she found her way back safely. Sadie led him across to the other side to Dara. That was the first of many unique ways that helped build what exists today.
The Art of The Chizel
Dara Edwards (Burge) is an artist from Tulsa, OK, who co-founded “The Chizel” and specializes in the design of “functional art” through the etching of glass using the sandblasting technique.
She studied graphic design at OSU and has spent most of her career as a commercial artist in the corporate sector. In 2015, Dara was introduced to the art of sandblasting glass to help friends prepare wedding decorations.
She later discovered how unique designs appeared by pushing depth and creating dimension into the glass, resulting in glassware that is not only functional but exceptionally beautiful. As a result, she later incorporated to offer unique glassware for events, corporations, and gifts. She continues to express her creativity by adding new designs to the unique collection that we sell.