Hello everyone,
I’m Romy Randev, the creator of My Glass Cookbook.
Over the past few days, many artists have raised questions about AI, privacy, data collection, and how My Glass Cookbook was built. Those questions are fair, and they deserve direct answers.
Why I created My Glass Cookbook
I’m both a glass artist and a software developer.
My Glass Cookbook started as a hobby project built in my spare time. I created it to make it easier for glass artists to find educational content, technical references, firing information, videos, manufacturer resources, and useful tools that are often scattered across many websites and platforms.
The goal has always been simple: help artists spend less time searching and more time creating.
Let’s talk about the AI generated images
Some visual assets currently or previously used on My Glass Cookbook, including certain illustrations, icons, educational graphics, and elements of the original branding, were created using generative AI tools.
The AI illustrations were meant to help beginners understand topics like cutting glass, full fuse, contour fuse, tack fuse, and other kilnforming concepts. The intent was to help educate, not take anything away from artists.
I’ve heard the feedback loud and clear.
A resource built for artists should involve artists, especially when it comes to visual design.
This experience has also shown me how many talented artists, designers, and educators are willing to help when asked. It has made clear that the right path forward is to involve the glass community more directly in the visual language of the site.
With support from Oceanside Glass, who have generously offered glass packs for contributors helping with replacement visuals, I am now talking with members of the glass community and exploring other options to replace AI generated assets throughout the site, including the logo, icons, and illustrations. That work is already underway.
How AI was used
AI assisted tools were used during development for tasks like coding, debugging, testing, documentation, and organizing information.
My Glass Cookbook is not an AI product.
The live Portal does not currently use OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, or other large language model providers to process searches, user activity, kiln schedules, saved resources, project information, or browsing behavior. Most AI related activity was used to help build static web pages and organize links to educational content.
What My Glass Cookbook does not do
My Glass Cookbook does not:
- Train AI using artist artwork
- Submit artist work or project information to AI companies for training
- Generate artwork or glass designs for users
- Act as an AI chatbot or recommendation engine
- Sell personal information
Neither My Glass Cookbook nor its tools claim ownership of artwork, project information, or content submitted by artists.
Data, privacy, and the Kiln Schedule Designer
The current Portal does not send user searches, browsing activity, saved resources, project information, or Kiln Schedule Designer data to AI providers for processing or model training.
The Kiln Schedule Designer is not an AI tool. It uses structured inputs, calculations, schedules, presets, and manufacturer published reference information to help artists produce firing schedules.
The platform currently uses:
- Netlify for hosting and form processing
- Plausible Analytics for privacy-focused analytics
- Local browser storage for saved resources and display preferences
The platform does not have user accounts or require visitors to log in. MGC collects only limited information needed to operate the site, such as voluntary newsletter signups, resource submissions, contact requests, and privacy-focused usage analytics. MGC does not sell personal information.
If AI related functionality is ever introduced in the future, users will be notified through updated disclosures before it is implemented.
How you can verify this yourself
Transparency should not depend solely on trust.
The Portal is deployed as a static website and operates using its own indexed content rather than a large language model. Technically inclined users can inspect network activity, browser storage, and site behavior using standard browser developer tools.
My goal is for the platform’s behavior to match its disclosures.
Why Oceanside Glass shared it
Several people have asked why Oceanside Glass chose to share My Glass Cookbook.
Oceanside did not create, fund, direct, or operate the project. My Glass Cookbook is an independent resource I created. I reached out to Oceanside for feedback, and they provided it. They also offered to help get the word out, given my limited reach and marketing resources.
They chose to share it because it helps organize educational resources, technical references, videos, and information that already exist, much of which links directly to the original source material. After feedback was submitted, Oceanside also helped encourage greater transparency and connect artists and designers who are helping replace AI generated visuals and improve the usability of the site.
What is changing
As a result of community feedback:
- AI generated visual assets are being replaced
- The My Glass Cookbook logo is being redesigned
- Artists and designers from the community are helping create replacement assets
- Privacy and AI disclosures are being expanded
- A dedicated AI and data-use disclosure will be added
- Future visual development will rely much more heavily on community collaboration and input
The feedback has already made the project better.
A final note
I do not expect everyone to agree with every decision I have made. What I hope is that people judge My Glass Cookbook based on complete information and what the platform actually does.
My goal has always been to support glass artists, not replace them.
The Portal is still very new, and I am treating this feedback as part of the process of making it better. Thank you to everyone who has asked questions, shared concerns, offered feedback, or volunteered to help.
What started as a personal passion project is becoming something much bigger because people care enough to help improve it. I appreciate everyone’s patience as the project evolves into something I hope the whole glass community can benefit from.