Peer through the window of Ember Grove, and you'll see a glow - orange, red and yellow globes lit from within.

They're the work of artist Lisa Ferreira, who owns what she calls a "one-of-a-kind boutique and gallery" at the base of Munjoy Hill on Congress Street.

Artist Lisa Ferreira

Lisa happened on her new career almost by chance. When her art college glassblowing class was full, she settled for a course in papermaking.

The rest is history. She began making large sculptures, and in 2002 decided to create more functional art, free-form sculptural illumination. Her lamps, made of hand-made paper over copper forms, include hanging shades, floor and table lamps, night lights and sconces.

Her inspiration is nature - she fashions her shapes after the veins in leaves, details in petals, the shoots from plants. She collects milkweed, pearly white everlasting, lilacs, pine needles and other textures to use in her paper. The result: asymmetrical shades that walk the line between primitive and modern.

They range in price from $98 for a four-panel hanging sculpture to $420 for very large versions. Table lamps start at $98.

In the past year she's added more traditional lamp shade forms and bases to her collection as well as jewelry. She recently was featured on HGTV and the Senator Inn and Spa in Augusta tapped her for lamps.

Ember Grove has evolved into a Maine-made gallery that also features jewelry, ceramics, hand-embroidered dresses and hand-printed clothing. Lisa supports work by young artists as well, and has worked with the East End Community School and the Boys & Girls Club.

Looking forward, she hopes to market more of her work online to reach customers across the country and someday add a small staff so she can spend more time working on her art.

Ember Grove is open 11-6 Wednesday-Saturday or by appointment, 761-0408.

An Ember Grove hanging light

Kris Lape jewelry

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