SOLANA BEACH — Chris Austin’s art starts with a creative vision — a design that evokes a certain feeling or a pattern of vibrant colors. Then, broken or ground pieces of glass are melted and fused together in a kiln at 1,500 degrees and the various layers become one. Finally, the glass is coaxed into its final shape, which can be a plate, a pendant, a belt buckle or a necklace.

For the past five years, inside a studio nestled next to her home in Solana Beach, Austin has created unique fused glass art that has caught the eye of local residents and celebrities alike.

Austin, 45, is the owner and founder of Kiwi Studios, and what began as a hobby is now her full-time job. She was always interested in art, but her interest in fused glass took off after she enrolled in a stained glass class with her daughter in 2002.

“It was at Alpine Glass in San Diego,” Austin said. “We learned how to create artwork by using a kiln, and I had read a couple articles about fused glass.”

That same weekend, Austin purchased a kiln. She said at first she didn’t tell her husband about her purchase. “I hid it in the garage for a week,” she said. “But then he found it a week later and said ‘What is that?’ He just laughed. I think he realized it was another part of being married to a spontaneous person like myself.”

The typical designs of stained glass didn’t appeal to Austin and she quickly gravitated toward the more modern feel of fused glass art. “Stained glass seems more old world and it’s very precise,” Austin said. “Fused glass is a little more spontaneous and the colors are more vibrant.”

Also, one person can do the process of fused glass art, unlike traditional glass blowing, which requires two people,

Thus, Kiwi Studios was born and now Austin’s creations are carried by several businesses throughout North County. One of them is Mable’s Clothing & Gifts, which has locations in Solana Beach and Carlsbad.

“Chris’ line is very distinct, colorful and a heck of a lot of fun,” said Lisa Ketcham, owner of the Mabel’s on Cedros Avenue. “It’s very recognizable and people keep coming back for it.”

Monique Dykstra, who works in the Mabel’s at the Westfield Plaza Camino Real mall in Carlsbad, described Austin’s work as contemporary and vibrant. “It is unique and simple in its own way,” Dykstra said.

Austin also got the chance to show off her work at the Emmy Awards in 2006 and the Golden Globes in January, where she gave away ceramics and jewelry to a variety of celebrities in the “gifting suite.”

At the Emmys Austin gave away pendants and belt buckles, and at the Golden Globes she gave out plates and platters. Austin said that Leonardo DiCaprio was very impressed by one of her items called the “Brady Platter,” a hand-washable plate that features distinct brown, black and gray lines. “All of the stars were very nice and polite,” she said.

When asked what the inspiration is behind her artwork, Austin pointed to two large caricatures of Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra hanging on her living room wall.

“I’ve always just loved the 1950s and 1960s,” she said. “The style, the architecture and the clean lines. The simplicity is the beauty of it.”

To view more of Austin’s fused glass art, visit www.kiwistudios.net.