Robbie realized early on that not only was he able to make the lamp he so desired, but that he fully enjoyed working with glass. He began making small items such as jewelry boxes, sun catchers, kaleidoscopes and the like, and giving them as gifts to his family and friends.

After a very short time he found that because his designs were so well enjoyed by his friends, he started to receive orders for many of his gift items. His hobby quickly progressed into a full-blown business.

While still doing floral design, in 1988, Robbie opened a retail store in the art community of Leucadia, California. He created and sold high-styled floral arrangements and glass art in his store, which was called The Glass Orchid. Robbie began teaching stained and leaded glass classes in his store. He also began working with "hot glass." Using a kiln, he was able to add much more dimension to his glass pieces by fusing and slumping glass into different thicknesses and shapes, creating unique designs in such items as bowls, vases and jewelry pieces. He also began sandblasting glass to create still another level in his ever-increasing range of design ideas.

In 1992, Robbie decided to close the retail store in Leucadia to concentrate more on his glass by working exclusively in his home studio. He started placing his art pieces and gift items in various galleries in the greater San Diego area. Robbie continued mastering his talent in both "hot" and "cold" glass designs for the next several years, creating larger and more elaborate windows, sculptures and wall pieces for exclusive homes and offices throughout Southern California.

In 1994, Mark Wassmer, a long time admirer of glass art, met Robbie and talked him into teaching him the trade. Mark apprenticed under Robbie, and together the two of them have gone on to create and build still larger and more elaborate works of glass art. Robbie and Mark are long time members of the Glass Art Association of Southern California.

Currently their pieces can be found on display at the Many Hands Gallery at 302 Island Ave, Suite 101, San Diego, California 92101, and at the Glass Art Guild in the Spanish Village in Balboa Park, San Diego. You can also visit their studio in the North Park area of San Diego by appointment.