Arizona Sunset Stained Glass Panel

This Saguaro Cactus panel is the second in a series of three pieces ordered by a woman living in Mesa, Arizona.

The Saguaro Cactus can live more than 100 years and are beautiful cactus to see. If photographed during the beautiful Arizona sunset the colors just jump out of the sky.

Red, orange, blue, green, purple and gold are the common colors of the sunset I can view from my studio.

This woman has three western-facing windows in her kitchen which are very bright and difficult to look at in the afternoon. These panels will tuck nicely into the space and cast a rainbow of colors across her home.

The first photograph is showing the panel after the glass has been cut and arranged into place. Following this step is the grinding of the sides of each piece of glass, surrounding each piece with copper tape then getting soldered together. The final step is to surround the panel with zinc came then finish it off with a coating of dark patina.

After a good cleaning and polishing the completed panel is shown in the last two photographs.

Traffic Jam

I've been admiring the Tilt Shift Photography for quite some time now and have recently been playing around with various pictures. The picture shown above was taken during a traffic jam and is a great picture to apply this technique.

What I love about this format is that it makes the photographs appear to me a miniature version of themselves. It has a model railroad effect about the picture.

This picture was not take by me. I chose it from the internet for its depth and amount of color and subject matter.

I will be snapping pictures in and around Scottsdale during the next few weeks and posting my own photographs using the Tilt Shift method.

Four Butterflies

Although the calendar says it's Autumn - I'm still seeing pretty butterflies in the front garden which is filled with flowers.

This little sun catcher was inspired after picking flowers with my three-year-old granddaughter while she questioned me the entire time. "Where do butterflies sleep?" "How many babies do butterflies have?" "Do the mommy butterflies like girl babies or boy babies?"

Her questions seem to go on and on. But I love her curiosity.

Available for sale here.

I-19 Barn

During the six years my daughter lived in Tucson we had the opportunity to drive down to the Mexico border a few times.

Although the border towns are a bit dirty the bakeries and small shop-lined streets are fun to walk through for a few hours.

On one of our many visits driving down Highway 19 I had seen an old adobe barn off the old highway. On my last visit I realized the barn was slowly leaning to one side. I guess one could call it 'The Leaning Barn of Highway 19.'

We stopped and snapped a few photos. The clouds were cooperating with me that day and gave a lovely backdrop for the old structure.

I played around with the image in my Photomatix program and gave it an almost comic book look.

The barn has fallen to the ground and cannot be fixed. Anything made from mud, straw and water probably has a shortened life-span during the Monsoon Season.

I hope you enjoy this barn.

Old, Red Firetruck

During a recent photography day-trip to Apache Junction, Arizona I ran across a very old Firetruck parked against the back wall near the train station.

Although my goal was to photograph the train I couldn't help but be intrigued with this old truck.

I wondered how fast it would have gone during its Glory Days. How many fires did it help to extinguish? How many men rode on the back? Was there really a Dalmatian sitting in the front seat?

I hope you enjoy viewing this old truck.

If only it could talk.

Bird Cage Butterfly

A pretty blue stained glass bird cage with a butterfly attached.

This little piece is sparkling as it hangs in the bright Arizona sunshine.

Pretty Kitty

For all the cat lovers out there - this is a photo of my calico kitty. Her name is Allie and she has a sister named Bernie.

She loves to sit near the studio door and watch the birds as they fly around the yard.

When she was younger - and a little slimmer - she would chase the birds in an attempt to catch them. Now that she's middle-aged. All she does is watch them.

She's still pretty though.

California Poppies

Flowers are blooming and kitties are helping in the garden.

Allie, a.k.a. 'Garden Kitty' has been helping me work in the yard. Her favorite place to hide is under the leaves of the various flowers which are now in full-bloom.

Saturday Shopping on Etsy

OK -- It's Super Bowl Playoff time and I'm from the fine state of Arizona.

Since our team has made it to the big game I decided to offer up my Saturday Shopping on Etsy to the Arizona Cardinals.

I hope you enjoy my picks for the Cardinals. You won't find any football-related items here but you will find some very nice Cardinals items.

Feel free to click on any of the pictures above. That will take you to each artists' shop on etsy where you can shop around.

Colors of Autumn Stained Glass

Although the colors of Autumn don't show themselves too much in the desert region of the state -- up in Northern Arizona the colors burst.

This panel was made following a recent trip to the colorful northern part of the fine state of Arizona.

Available for sale here.

Arizona Sunset Stained Glass Panel

Inspired by one of the many, many beautiful Arizona sunsets -- this small stained glass panel consists of red, light and medium shades of amber.

Each colored piece of glass was cut into a circle to represent the sun. Jet black glass surrounds the four colors while providing a framed effect on the piece.

Available for sale here.

In an effort to keep my (very academic) daughter using both sides of her brain -- I've challenged her to take photographs of the every-day things in life.

You know the stuff: kitties playing, a pretty sunset, favorite things, family, friends and afternoon shadows.

So, while goofing off at the Desert Botanical Gardens -- she snapped off a few photos of me.

This is me on any Sunday. Jeans and a t-shirt with little or no make up and hair pulled back in a comfortable and low-maintenance style.

Next, maybe I can encourage her to start a blog to show her new artistic side.

An Unusual Saguaro Cactus

Near the Scottsdale/Phoenix border in Arizona -- is a beautiful sanctuary also known as the Desert Botanical Gardens.

A large, stately Saguaro cactus greets every visitor upon entering. This is a very unusual cactus as it seems to have blossomed out of the top.

I've read about these rare oddities of nature but cannot remember the specific name of them.

Anyway, this photo was taken just before sunset with the bright, Arizona sun glowing directly behind the trunk of the cactus. A small rock formation protruded just to the right of the Saguaro.

If you look very closely at the top of the arms, you will see the silhouette of a Cactus Wren perched high in the sky. The Cactus Wren is the state bird of Arizona.

Where Have All The Bees Gone?

I have thousands upon thousands of African Daisy flowers blossoming in my front yard, side yard, parking spaces, neighbor's yard and even in the alley behind my house.

Usually there are more than a few bees buzzing around.

Not this year.

Where have all the bees gone?

Mountain Range Made From Glass

On the boarder of the Arizona cities of Scottsdale and Phoenix lies Camelback Mountain.

If you have had the honor of either viewing or climbing the mountain - you can appreciate the beauty and wonder of this living monument.

Summit elevation is 2704 ft (824 m) -- the peak rises about 1600 ft (488 m) above the elevation of downtown Phoenix.

In my efforts to capture this mountain in glass -- I used the colors of the Arizona desert.

If you want to read more about Camelback Mountain -- go here.

The panel is Available for sale here.

Christmas Tree in the Moonlight

As I was in the studio last week listening to my iTunes (Van Morrison) I was inspired to make a moon-beam and Christmas tree stained glass panel.

If you look at the photo just imagine five pretty evergreen pine trees lined up in the forest. You can also imagine the light of the full moon casting a shadow from the trees onto the amber-colored forest floor.

Custom Window Panel

This is the beginnings of a custom stained glass panel that - when completed - will measure 58" high by 24" wide.

A friend of a friend of a friend was in need of a window covering that is next to her front door. (Luckily for me I have more than one friend)

Anyway - I visited with this friend and we decided on a pattern, textures and colors for her panel.

The photos you see listed above are process shots. I will list the completed piece within a week or so.