A Family Who Creates

I often take creativity for granted.  I forget how awesome it is to have so many creative people in my family.  I grew up with sketched patterns lying around, taped together, saved in files.  There were stacks and stacks of ideas books, inspirational photos, and pattern books.  I can still smell the scent of solder in my dad's basement studio.  I remember walking to my mom's shop after school.  There was often a half-finished stained glass window on one large work table, while a framing project was in the works on another work table.  In another room, there was fabric, a sewing machine, and stacks of patterns.  In all of these places, there was a lot of lighting, upbeat music, sodas, and late night creative work.  That's how I grew up.  That's all I knew . . . and I love it! 

My mom's latest stained glass creation.  This is one half of the sun.  These two windows sit high on a vaulted log cabin wall in their Wyoming home.  See her other work at Rocky Mountain Framing & Gallery.  She owns a framing gallery where she's gotten really creative with her work.  She has sandblasted images on the glass that covers a framed picture, adds personalization to wine glasses and other wedding glass items, and creates large sand-blasted and stained glass windows.  How cool is that?  Now I need to go find more photos of her work.  They're amazing.

My step-dad's latest creation, a TV stand.  This holds their big screen TV and sits just below the two stained glass windows above.  He's a jack of all trades, really.  He helped construct the addition to their home that resembles a log home - it's amazing.  His favorite hobby is welding.  He's created wildlife, cacti, and more.  He also makes sculptured pieces from large logs, antlers, rope, and rawhide.  They have lamps, decor, and now cabinet handles made from these things.

And a few creations from my sister, a scrapbook instructor/mixed media artist/photographer in southern Wyoming.  See more of her work here at her blog.

 

My brother has created pottery in his high school art classes, but I can't seem to find a photo of them - darn. 

And I have to give my dad lots of credit too.  He passed away in 1991, but also influenced and inspired my art in big ways.  He was an artist of stained glass, beveled glass, and engraved glass.  I remember him drawing a lot of his patterns himself.  Here are just a few of the windows I have saved on my computer.

These are the people that inspire me all the time.  Different mediums, different styles, yet so creative and talented.  How lucky am I?!!!

Comments

[Holly]

Loved this post! Lots of great pictures (thanks for including a few of my stuff). I haven't seen those windows of Dad's in a long time, it was nice to see those pics.

Love the new photo and blog banner!