My name is Dona Sawyer and I am a stained glass and jewelry artist. I think I became an artist because I have been doing some kind of arts and craft with my family since I was a little girl. I got away from it as I became an adult, but then I moved to Mountain View! There is so much art of some kind or another here, that it is almost palpable. I live in the country and feel like I have found my little slice of heaven on earth here. The peaceful setting informs my artwork. My stained glass style has grown from simple quilt squares to antique, architectural designs and fused and slumped creations. I’m drawn to the architectural designs because I love antiques and old houses and buildings and feel like the stained glass that you find in them, on occasion, is like finding a treasure! The fused and slumped glass is just plain fun, because you never know exactly what you are going to have when you open up the kiln! My jewelry ranges from traditional silversmithing with set bezels and piercework to “found art” objects. I work with silver, brass, and copper, as well as glass beads, gemstones, stones, found pieces of broken pottery, parts of machines…basically if it’s shiny, and I can attach it to something, I’ll try to create something out of it! I really enjoying creating beautiful things and exploring different styles, design methods and alternative creative techniques, the more challenging, the better! I hope you enjoy my pieces as much as I do.