I began my design ideas for suncatchers the same way I did with many of my handmade gifts, wanting to see my art on gift items I saw in stores. In the early 90s I bought a 3.25″ x 3.25″ square bevel-edge clear suncatcher with a kitten etched in the center, which I not only liked but found inspiring. I had lots of pencil and ink sketches that would work on things like this. I held that idea all these years knowing I’d want my artwork on that beveled glass somehow, someday.
And like most of my memorial gift items, my suncatchers began as personal gifts for friends who’d lost their animal companions. Using the standards I’d set up to create the images on my Custom Pet Memorial Votives I was ready to make good on that suncatcher idea.
I wanted a piece of glass with a generous beveled edge that would cast rainbows when the sun shone through it the same as my little one did. Clear beveled glass pieces, preferably predrilled, were surprisingly not easy to find as many were too small for a nice-sized image and few were beveled, but I finally found a 5″ circle with 3/16″ thick glass and a deep beveled edge at least a 3/8″ wide. This glass feels substantial and the bevel is generous, the image is a good size. I made a few for friends, then made a quantity of them for a customer who owns the pet cremation business where I’ve taken my cats for the past 20 years. We host a Pet Memorial Sunday celebration each September and I make a custom gift for each person who has RSVP’d. The suncatcher proved to be popular right away.
I still wanted the square shape, though, partly to see my original idea, and to offer an alternative shape, and because not all images fit well in a circle. The company I buy from has 4″ squares which would seem to have less presentation space than the 5″ circle so I debated, then bought some to work with. The outside dimension is smaller but the corners allow the image to be almost as large as the circle. Below is the square, modeled by Buckwheat, whose portrait I painted years ago and whose person encouraged me to use his image.
I had another idea, of course…the company also carried a graceful arch-top rectangle I’d wanted to try but they wouldn’t be carrying it after current inventory ran out.
I had been looking at their 3″ x 5″ rectangle and also debated because it’s a difficult shape to fit, but when the company suggested that shape as an alternative—all their customer service people use all their products so you get the best real advice—I decided to go with it. The first time I offered it at the Blessing of the Animals many people found that vertical rectangle very attractive and I had several orders. The rectangle and square are just as popular as the original circle. The image area on this shape is 2.25″ x 4.25″. This suncatcher is being modeled by Pixie, a beloved rescue kitty of a friend who’s been the recipient of just about all my new ideas; there’s a lot of loss in rescue.
What recipients have said:
“I have her suncatcher hanging in my kitchen window. I stand there and look at her every morning while I drink my coffee.”
Anonymous, in person
I want to thank you for the very special, beautiful glass ornament suncatcher …It brought a tear to my eye that day and the day I hung it up in the sunlight. You really have a very special talent.
Anonymous, in a letter
And they don’t have to be memorials
Custom suncatchers also make unique customized gifts even when they aren’t in sympathy for a loss.
A suncatcher can hang on any window, mirror or any place you want to see the image of your beloved animal companion.
Standard with each suncatcher
I use my skills as an artist in traditional media and on computer to remove backgrounds, touch up lighting and composition, and add a background color or pattern that complements the subject (see Choosing a Photo…).
A sympathy card is also included. The one shown below is available with every suncatcher. You can visit my page of Animal Sympathy Cards to see a selection of others. If I am to ship directly to the recipient you can give me a note which I will write inside the card.
The price includes shipping, whether to your practice or drop-shipped to a customer, within the continental US. I have rates for international shipping.
I include a care and use card with each suncatcher. This card has a link to this website.
Little extras
Adding an extra subject, a special background pattern like a favorite blanket or chair are extra, usually no more than $10 per addition. Adding a name or other brief text is optional and is included.
Suncatchers are kept in confidence
I photograph each Suncatcher I make for my records and to keep the details of what it looked like for my reference. I never use a votive in any public venue, whether for display or self-promotion, without permission of both the giver and the recipient.
Order a Custom Suncatcher
Visit Suncatchers to read about all the shapes and order yours. As I mention above with the notecard, if your suncatcher is a gift for someone else I can ship it to them with a note from you.
You can also read about Other Memorial Gifts, Animal Sympathy Cards and Commissioned Pet Portraits.
All images and text © 2022-2023 Bernadette E. Kazmarski • www.custompetmemorialvotives.com
All images and content are copyrighted and may not be used or reproduced in any way without my written permission. Please contact me if you are interested in using any of my content.
