She has been working with glass since 2001, learning from internationally and nationally known glass artists. Cheely studied at the Corning Museum of Glass Studio, Pittsburgh Glass, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts,
The Chrysler Museum Glass Studio and Warm Glass Studio.
Her work has been exhibited at numerous juried Fine Art Shows, museums and galleries. She has received several Awards from these juried shows.
Cheely's work shows that nothing is static. She particularly likes taking glass to a molten state where she can flow the glass to make design elements in keeping with her intent that life is constantly flowing. She also casts glass making bold statements about the fragile nature of this world.