Rachel Hall has made the bold move from an in-home studio to a storefront shop in Indianola for her art glass bracelets, necklaces and other hand-tooled items.

In between was a stint selling her work at the Southridge Mall Farmers Market.

“I got tired of always setting up and taking down,” Hall said.

She is a former instructor of two-dimensional design at Iowa State University, even though her artworks are three-dimensional objects.

Hall will have a grand opening Oct. 14 for Indianola Glass Creations at 110 N. Buxton St. on the city’s square.

Her arrival is being cheered because it brings another retail presence to Indianola’s downtown, which has been characterized primarily by service-oriented businesses. Her store is in a vacated barber shop that followed a photography studio that trailed an insurance agency.

Contractor Dan Wood restored the facade based on a 1902 photograph. Gone is nondescript steel siding, with aged brick taking its place. Hardwood floors were salvaged in the interior. The space is large enough to accommodate a classroom, where Hall plans to offer classes in stained, fused and blown glass, mosaics and jewelry. She hopes to have the classroom ready for her grand opening.

Hall also will host jewelry-making parties and has two scheduled so far: One is a bridal party where jewelry for the wedding will be made; the other is a birthday party.

She opened the store on Sept. 23 with much activity centered on stocking a variety of glass-making supplies, including more than 4,000 pounds of stained glass.

Hall’s degree from Iowa State focused on ceramics, but a back injury forced her to abandon the potter’s wheel. She already had a kiln for firing ceramics, and decided it could be used to fuse glass.

“I had the kiln, so I decided, why not glass?” she said.

Among the items for sale are writing pens made of blown glass, multicolored bracelets, pendants and necklaces, and stained-glass sun catchers. Her daughter-in-law does much of the stained-glass work, and her son specializes in blown glass.