Simon Pearce is a household name in handcrafted glassware and pottery. </p><p>Growing up in Ireland, Pearce followed in the footsteps of his father and older brother, Stephen, by studying pottery. When Pearce was in his late teens, antique glass caught his attention. He began glassblowing, apprenticing with renowned glassmakers at the Leerdam glass factory in the Netherlands, Venini in Italy and Orrefors and Boda in Sweden.</p><p>Seeking independence from European business constraints and high energy costs, in 1981 Pearce moved his studio from Ireland to Quechee, Vt. Visitors can see a restored mill, interact with glassblowers and watch potters. Pearce opened a restaurant in Quechee that serves food and drink on Simon Pearce products, and later launched another one in West Chester, Pa. Simon Pearce, the company, is now headquartered in Windsor, Vt. Visitors can tour the site and a third manufacturing location in Maryland.</p><p>Simon Pearce tableware and other home accents can be purchased locally at Halls Plaza, 211 Nichols Road; Halls Crown Center, 200 E. 25th St., and Sharyn Blond Linens, 2718 W. 53rd St. in Fairway. For more, go to <a href="http://www.simonpearce.com">www.simonpearce.com</a>.</p><p>House + Home caught up with Pearce by telephone.</p><p><strong>Q. If you&rsquo;ve visited Kansas City before, what stood out to you about the area?</strong></p><p><strong>A.</strong> I drove around and enjoyed the city. Hallmark seems to be entrenched in the culture. I also visited Creative Candles.</p><p><strong>How did you get started making glass?</strong></p><p>I started collecting glass from antique shops because it had the character and individuality of handmade pots. Current glass was more mechanized, so it was perfect and identical. I wanted to make functional glass, not art glass.</p><p><strong>Tell me about your new book, &ldquo;A Way of Living,&rdquo; that you wrote with your wife, Pia.</strong></p><p>There are 180 pages. It&rsquo;s organized into three sections: our home, our products and recipes from our restaurants.</p><p><strong>Tell me about your home.</strong></p><p>It&rsquo;s a barn frame that we added on to. It&rsquo;s in the country, and it&rsquo;s quiet and peaceful. We have a driveway that&rsquo;s a half-mile long. The interior is a mix of traditional and modern pieces. It&rsquo;s got plastered walls and old wood floors. It&rsquo;s comfortable and <em>very</em> casual.</p><p><strong>How casual?</strong></p><p>So casual that there&rsquo;s a rope hung from the rafters for our energetic sons to swing on. We have four, ages 21 to 28: Andrew, Adam, David and Kevin.</p><p><strong>Do you collect anything?</strong></p><p>Richard Batterham is probably my favorite potter in the world: I might just have too many of his pieces. I also have early pots by my father, art by Patrick Scott, early glass and lots of wooden bowls.</p><p><strong>How do you have your own work displayed?</strong></p><p>Plates and glasses are on open shelving in the kitchen. Everything is functional, so I just use the candle-sticks, vases and lamps as needed.</p><p><strong>What&rsquo;s your favorite piece by you?</strong></p><p>I don&rsquo;t have one because I&rsquo;ve designed it all with the criteria that I&rsquo;d be happy to have it in my own home. I&rsquo;m proud of the Essex wine glasses I designed 40 years ago. They&rsquo;re timeless, which is the hallmark of good design. My philosophy is the simpler the better. When things are elaborate, you get tired of them.</p><p><strong>Which of your pieces are the most difficult to make?</strong></p><p>The Stowe vase, which has multiple layers of glass and is a laborious, tricky process. I name pieces after Vermont towns and villages, which is where &ldquo;Stowe&rdquo; comes from. Also, the air-twist Stratton pieces are difficult. It involves trapping air, twisting the glass and creating a spiral that looks like mercury.</p><p><strong>What&rsquo;s next?</strong></p><p>I&rsquo;m 63. There&rsquo;s a president that handles the day-to-day running of the company, which has freed me up to be more creative. I&rsquo;m blowing glass again. I&rsquo;m proud that we produce everything in America. It&rsquo;s very challenging to do. </p><p><hr class="infobox-hr-separator" /> <div class="infobox"> <strong><span class="infobox-head">SEE PEARCE IN KC </span></strong><br /> <strong>&bull;When:</strong> 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday</p><p><strong>&bull;Where:</strong> Halls Plaza, 211 Nichols Road</p><p><strong>&bull;What:</strong> Pearce and his wife, Pia Pearce, will be signing their new book as well as glass and pottery. One-of-a-kind pieces will augment Halls&rsquo; regular Simon Pearce items.</p><p><strong>&bull;Price:</strong> Free</p><p><strong>&bull;Details:</strong> 816-274-3230 or <a href="http://www.halls.com">www.halls.com</a></p><p></div>