#WomenOfWeston Series
On a sunny stretch of Main Street, glass leaves shimmer in the windows of one of Weston’s newest boutiques — a shop where the plants don’t need water and every piece is thoughtfully created.
Local artist Adrienne Coulter has opened The Glass Thumb, a retail space dedicated to her handcrafted stained-glass succulents and botanical decor. The shop blends nature, art and sustainability, offering visitors a bright twist on traditional houseplants.
Coulter’s creations are three-dimensional glass sculptures, each leaf carefully soldered by hand, planted in vintage pots she collects from antique stores and thrift shops across the region.
“I thrift the pots,” Coulter said. “It’s important to reuse what’s already out there and keep every piece unique.”
Her journey into glass art began three years ago, almost by accident. After taking a stained-glass class with friends in Platte City, she tried her hand at making small glass plants — a hobby that soon took over her weekends.
“I gifted a few, and people kept asking if they were for sale,” she said. “Ever since, it’s been nonstop glass.”
What started with a few handmade gifts soon grew into a thriving side business. Coulter debuted her work publicly at Art in the Park in North Kansas City, selling enough pieces to encourage her to invest in tools, expand her inventory and triple her presence at regional shows.
But the dream was always a storefront — and not just anywhere.
“I have history here,” she said of Weston, where her family once owned Charlemagne’s Restaurant and the National Silk Art Museum. “I just knew Weston was the right spot.”
Inside The Glass Thumb, Coulter’s artistry is everywhere: leafy sculptures in teapots and candleholders, colorful glass plant stakes, and jewelry made from tumbled scrap glass, resembling tiny shards of sea glass.
For those who prefer their plants alive, Coulter has partnered with other Weston business owners to supply live succulents to sell alongside her zero-maintenance glass versions.
Visitors looking for a hands-on experience can also participate in the shop’s “Create and Take” activity. Guests choose a small stained-glass piece and a thrifted planter, then assemble a custom creation to take home.
“It’s been really popular, especially with people visiting town for the weekend,” Coulter said.
For now, The Glass Thumb is open Fridays through Sundays, with occasional extended hours during holiday weekends. Coulter, who maintains a full-time job during the week, said she is happy balancing both passions.
“I’d like to expand eventually, but I love what I’m doing right now,” she said. “Weston feels like home, and it’s the perfect place for this.”