Stained Glass Window Project

Last month I hired Randy Leever, the owner at Boulder Stained Glass Studio to make us two stained Glass windows (each approx. 4 feet x 2 feet) to be installed in the stairways of our brand new Boulder home.

I let Randy be the artist he is, with no interference from me and this is how everyone should allow an artist to work! I did ask for a "modern interpretation of Aspens". After that, I held back & this was especially hard for me because I use to make & sell Stained Glass windows in the 70's (back in the dinosaur days). That was how I paid for my college education. Randy's studio opened in 1976,  he has over 40 years experience and has made thousands of windows! 

The first time I saw the 1st finished window, it was hanging upside-down, leaning against a work table and I loved it! I didn't realize it was upside-down until he told me. FYI Did you know, a testament to a good design is to turn it upside-down and see if it still works with balance and design flow. If it works upside-down, it's a winner. 

Randy has now installed our 2nd window too. It went into the staircase next level up, same theme but new design. Our staircase leads to a 4th floor sky deck garden, but on the way up that stairway looked out at solar panels and I needed something to hide that. Yet both windows still let the light in & actually make the staircase more interesting. Naturally your eyes will focus on the design and not the outside solar panels_creating privacy too.

I'm very happy I selected Boulder Stained Glass Studio http://www.bldstglst.com. This art studio is perhaps the last of a dying breed of craft houses refusing to offer generic designs or become a mass production shop. Instead, each piece is uniquely handmade and offers highest quality craftsmanship. Randy made a great piece of Art for us. He's made 1000's of windows ranging for ; The White House, hotels, churches, restaurants, etc ... & now my home! He can fit all budgets into a plan. I highly recommend Randy as a talented artist & detailed craftsman. Professional business in every transaction and always putting the customer (me) first!

Give him a call at (303) 449-9030

Located 1920 Arapahoe Ave, Boulder, CO 80302. 

And check out his amazing Gallery; http://www.bldstglst.com/gallery.html

First time I saw it, it was upside-down, yet still a winner!

Before

The 2nd Window Installed;

This was a boring staircase 

made beautiful with a custom stain glass window

while providing privacy and yet still allowing the light in

Light plays the biggest factor on how it looks & photographs

Night time from outside, looking up!

Thank you Randy 

at Boulder Stained Glass Studio

Give him a call at (303) 449-9030

Located 1920 Arapahoe Ave, Boulder, CO 80302. 

And check out his amazing Gallery; http://www.bldstglst.com/gallery.html

Selfie

Have Fun!

 Every Artist Should Create a Selfie

I've created a few fun examples for my Selfie :

Review of Santa Fe II Easel

Ah-inspiring way to begin the New Year! 

Yippee my new easel arrived Jan 2nd!!! (and just ahead of a big snow storm)

I was bestowed this incredible gift by my husband!
Yes I'm a lucky girl & very grateful!
I told him, he should make this my Birthday, Valentines, Christmas & all forthcoming 2014 gifts because it's so incredible!

This easel is Made in American by the Jack Richeson Co. AKA "BEST" out of Wisconsin,
It's so special it had to come via a freight truck company to arrive at my home in Colorado.
Too large for Mail, FedEx, UPS or any regular carrier services _ so yes it's a little pricey to ship!

It's made from Oak Wood & comes with a Lifetime Warranty, but only on the Oak version. An important thing to know, The Lyptus Wood version only comes with a 3 month warranty! Which is really too bad, because the Luptus tree is a renewable fast growing tree unlike the Oak Tree

After shopping many stores that carried this easel, my husband said Cheap Joe's had the best price. They were also very helpful & knowledgeable over the phone! He also had a coupon for an additional -15% off on Cheap Joe's already heavily discounted pricing. The shipping was $190, as much as this shipping cost seems high, that shipping fee was actually a good deal too.

I can certainly tell you this easel is very well made & a very nice looking piece of furniture too,  much nicer than the photos reflect.
I proudly give it 2 thumbs up & a 5 star rating!

Let me introduce my "Classic Santa Fe ll Easel"

it handles all sizes, from the tiniest canvas up to 106 inch, 300 lb. canvas. That's huge!
I love the Marin Wench System, so fun to use. This easel sits on rollers and uses a small footprint of space inside my studio!  I love that too! So easy to push around and adjusts to various position heights, angles & slants. 

P.S. 

This is a non paid endorsement of a product I simply love!

Here it comes, all 98 lb.

Such a big truck & it arrives just ahead of a big snow storm!

Made in the USA & comes with a Lifelong Warranty

Even the pets were curious waiting for me to open it!

They really know how to pack this baby !

Actually I was surprised 
how much of this easel was already put together!
It took me about 45 minutes to assemble & it was easy!

Going to have some fun with this baby!
It handles the tiny-tiniest canvas 
all the way up to 106 inches / 300 lb. canvas
Love the Marin Wench System and the rollers!
Best of all, it takes up a small footprint inside my studio!

Happy Studio Cat!

Handmade Holiday Cards

ho ho ho

Some people bake cookies by the batches, 

I make cards by the batches!

My Handmade Holiday Cards

*I drew a design on paper
*Placed drawing on top of my lightbox (Logan Desktop Lightbox)
*Traced design onto 50 Strathmore Watercolor Blank Greeting Cards
I love these blank cards:

https://www.amazon.com/Strathmore-105-150-Watercolor-Cards-Envelopes/dp/B004O77NVE/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=strathmore+watercolor+blank+cards&qid=1608336730&sr=8-3

*Inked each using Faber-Castell, size small, color Sepia (a few in Black)
*Watercolor painted the ornaments red
*To speed things up, I used Copic Markers for skin, hair & dress (skin white E00, Barley Beige E11& Dark Suntan E15)
*Added glitter for fun!!!
*Sealed each envelope with my Hanko stamp (paper was too rough to stamp, I improvise a new use).
Mailed out 50 handmade cards,
If you did not get one, it's because I only had 50 cards. Next time I'll buy 100 cards. I enjoyed making these over the course of 4 evenings while watching tv.
Merry Christmas & Happy Hanukkah
Peace & Carrots!

Double Click on each image to supersize

Spread a little magic Glitter!

Some with silver glitter, some with gold!

And some with Ribbons

Pictured above is an easy fun craft to make with your kids. 

Cover Styrofoam trees using Candy Gumdrops attached to toothpicks!! 

Stick an ornament on top! 

These last almost forever!!!

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah

Peace & Carrots!

Our China Adoption Journey

This is a photo essay about our China Adoption Journey, our daughter's orphanage, the people & captivating land. It was a "Happy 4th of July" that day she stepped foot onto USA soil and became an American citizen & forever our daughter. I'm posting this to my Art Blog because its a happy story & it's my story. It is part of what influences & inspires my art. Most of all, I hope this will inspire anyone out there who is trying to have a child but unable to conceive, or just wants to add to their family, or maybe thinking they're too old. I was 49 when I adopted this child. I adopted not because I could't get pregnant (but I was older) more because of the epic need I witnessed in China to save baby girls. I was raised as an American teenager in Southeast Asia, so for me, the choice was Asia. However, there are children all over the world and in USA who are waiting to be adopted. The need is overwhelming, even dire in many cases. I can assure you, it simply makes no difference if you are the birthparents or the adoptive parents, the level of love you will feel for that child is exactly the same wonderful love. I'm hoping my photo essay will spark your interest and possibly help you take that leap of faith! You can make a significant difference in a child's life and the love you get in return is powerful stuff! 
I posted too many photos,
so scroll fast!!! 
Enjoy!

For our adoption we used;
US Asian Affairs
539 E. Garvey Ave
Monterey Park, CA 91755
(626) 288-2220

I hope you will enjoy the following photo essay . 

We flew from Los Angeles to China

Gotcha Day refers to the day you're given your child 

That moment she was handed to us

Her referral photo mailed to us 

Her 1st photo taken by another visiting family 

Our first time to see her in person, waiting to be given to us.

some of the other new families that day (4th of July)

This is us, new family, it was 4th of July
Chinese hotel was honoring USA holiday with flags.
We flew home this same day and because China is one day ahead,
we got two 4th of Julys!!!

We stayed 2 weeks in China learning about the culture, people & land.
As we walked the public streets, people seemed grateful we adopted her

My favorite Pic "Water Babies"

at hotel 1st day, she looked scared

still looking sad

new families

At American Embassy in China, she was sworn in as an American

On the footsteps of her orphanage in matching dresses

she looked so sad & scared

a smile at last!

The blessing of the adopted children 

Blessing of the children

all these babies need homes!

girls playing in the Orphanage 

my daughter's crib

Some of the things we donated along with needed medicine

so excited about this ball

enjoying the new toys

We donated to her Orphanage & "HALF THE SKY" organization
https://onesky.org

sitting on the famous "White Swan Hotel Red Couch"

the red couch

The land & the people

Chinese diaper method

pollution

Her town grows yellow rapeseed 

VIEW FROM OUR 5 STAR HOTEL ROOM

1st week in her new American home

she loves American food

She meets her new kitty, 1st week home. They just happen to share the exact same Birthday!

Always smiling! A very happy child!

age 5 at DisneyWorld

Standing with same kitty as above, 11 years later

Give a child a chance & they will bloom!
At 12 years old, beautiful, always happy, Top Honors Student,
Black Belt in Karate, Pianist and interested in A.I. Engineering.

Family

"Our Frist Week Home"
Click link for YouTube Video ;

http://youtu.be/Izxc7XCiOpo