Choosing a pattern, selecting the colors and textures of the glass, making the scores, the snap of the breaks, even the smell of the soldering are all pieces of what I love about the art of making stained glass.

The qualities of glass have always attracted me, especially the way light highlights and changes its properties. I grew up in a home with a beveled window that absolutely fascinated me, but I didn’t begin to work with glass until my early 20s. Initially, I made items for myself, friends, and family. This evolved into a business where I enjoyed creating art for other people on commission, and in which I broadened my repertoire of subjects and projects. In the past 30 years, I’ve created installations that have included sliding and stationary windows (for churches and for residential and commercial spaces), lamps, cabinet and people doors, sidelights, boxes, sun catchers and many other projects both large and small.

Central Oregon is a huge inspiration for my glass art. One of my favorite windows is my Three Sisters circle pattern. Living here, I see the Cascades under many different lighting conditions. I couldn’t resist putting the view in glass and, like the real views, no two projects are ever the same. This area also has a strong following of quilters, and the plays of shape, pattern and color that are so attractive on fabric also lend themselves beautifully to being created in glass. I’ve also recently started creating windows with secondhand items such as bevels from old lamps or old window frames, which gives the glass a wonderful new interpretation.