I featured all my Custom Pet Memorial and non-custom pet remembrance gifts, and animal portraits. Hosted by The Creatures of the Creator 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Unity Presbyterian Church, 1146 Greentree Road, Green Tree
I’m a member of this pet support group at a local church. I’m so happy to be a part of this event to celebrate our animals each year. Last year I met Winnie and her family, and made a few new friends too.
I’ve been busy creating some new Custom Pet Memorial items that I’ll share after this event is over…because I’m still working on them today!
And my display looks a little “flat” compared to the usual—because it is! Storms were moving in and very gusty winds were tossing things around including all those glass votives and suncatchers so I laid everything flat on the table. And if certain areas of the photo are a little blurry, that’s why.
I’ll have my Custom Pet Memorial items:
Custom Pet Memorial Votives
Several styles of Custom Pet Memorial Suncatchers
Custom Pet Memorial Garden flags
Non-custom pet memorial remembrances:
Non-custom votives
Non-custom pet remembrance garden flags
Non-custom remembrance keepsakes
Love Never Ends votive
Window Silhouette Votive Lamp
Love Never Ends garden flag
A selection of Animal Sympathy Cards.
Custom Commissioned Portraits samples and Gift Certificates.
Marketplace is a feature on The Creative Cat to share the latest coming out of my studio with my readers. Once a week on Thursday I feature something new in my “shop” .
Find out more about creating custom items for your own home using the images you see here. Visit the “Ordering Custom Art” page to see samples and read bout how to order.
Sign up for my e-newsletter (below), check the widget on the sidebar on my home page, or sign up to receive posts on Portraits of Animals Marketplace. I plan on plenty of events this coming summer in the Pittsburgh area.
It’s all done under the close and careful supervision of my studio cats!
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.
Custom pet memorial gifts are not only loving remembrances to have or give as a gift, they may also be a lovely gift with a favorite photo of a beloved animal companion while they’re still around to enjoy.
Mothers Day, Fathers Day, Memorial Day are observed in the next two months. Memorial Day is seen as a universal day of remembrance while Mothers or Fathers days are celebrations of a mother or father or the person who filled those roles for you, or for a friend or family member who considers themselves a pet parent. A gift that recognizes a loved one’s love for their animal companion or their grief at their loss is very personal and special.
A custom votive, suncatcher or garden flag for yourself or others celebrate or remember a beloved animal companion, created with images that you provide. I can ship gifts directly to your recipient with a customized sympathy card if it’s a remembrance at no extra charge.
And a discount from now until the end of May
Custom Pet Memorial Gifts Offer
25% discount on your Custom Pet Memorial Gift
or Custom Pet Memorial Gift Certificate
Use coupon code CUSTOMMEMORIALGIFT25 in your shopping cart.
Offer good until May 31, 2026
About the votives
Beginning as memorial gifts, I make your Custom Pet Memorial Votive with love and sympathy on the loss of a precious companion, be it yours, or a friend’s or family member’s companion. I designed the memorial votives to focus on your companion’s face, and position their image so that the votive candle shines through their face, especially their eyes. During the day your votive captures ambient light even without the candle, but in the evening, when the candle is lit, the flickering light through your pet’s face in a darkened area is warm and intimate. Watch the video below as I place a lighted votive candle into Luna’s custom memorial votive.
How I designed the Custom Pet Memorial Votives
I designed the first of these memorial votives, as a gift to a friend who had rescued Oscar and had previously commissioned a portrait of him. Rather than using his entire portrait where he is sitting up, I designed it to focus on his face and positioned him so that the votive candle would alight his face, and especially his eyes. From its effect on me, and Oscar’s family’s reaction, I knew this was an idea that I could share with other animal lovers.
A custom memorial votive for Oscar.
So I designed the memorial votives to focus on your companion’s face, and position their image so that the votive candle shines through their face, especially their eyes. During the day your votive captures ambient light even without the candle, but in the evening, when the candle is lit, the flickering light through your pet’s face in a darkened area is warm and intimate. Watch the video below as I place a lighted votive candle into Luna’s custom memorial votive.
I use 4″ x 4″ a square glass votive. Working with your supplied photo or artwork, I use my decades of pet portraiture on paper and canvas and my Photoshop skills to prepare the image to fit the votive. I remove background distractions and correct distortions if necessary, and add a color or gentle pattern that suits your pet, pulling ideas from the supplied photos.
I print that image on a frosted vinyl label that holds the image with clarity and diffuses the light of the candle, and wraps completely around the outside of the votive.
I can customize backgrounds too, using patterns or other decorations you choose. Customizations cost $5.00 to $10.00 extra.
Ziggy Stardust needed to have stars on her votive.
Ziggy Stardust
I can combine multiple photos so that animals appear together, or use each side of the votive for a different pet.
You can use a wax votive, but as much as I love real candles and flickering candlelight, with years of curious feline noses and waving tails I’ve been trained to use flameless candles. I provide an LED votive candle with each votive I make that has an inexpensive and easily purchased replaceable battery so that you don’t need to run out and find a brand new votive to continue remembering your pet when the original grows dim.
For more information and ordering:
A basic votive with one subject and no extras is $40.00 including shipping. This includes a use and care card and a complimentary sympathy card if needed.
A suncatcher can hang on any window, or a mirror or any place you want to see the image of your beloved animal companion. And they also make unique customized gifts even when they aren’t in sympathy for a loss.
As with the votives, working with your supplied photo or artwork, I use my decades of pet portraiture on paper and canvas and my Photoshop skills to prepare the image to fit the image area on the suncatcher. I remove background distractions and correct distortions if necessary, and add a color or gentle pattern that suits your pet, pulling ideas from the supplied photos.
I print that image on a frosted vinyl label that holds the image with clarity and diffuses the light of the candle, trim it to fit the image area.
Shapes and sizes
I offer four different sizes/shapes, as seen above: a 6″ acrylic circle, a 5″ deep beveled circle, a 3″ x 5″ deep beveled rectangle, and a 4″ x 4″ square. Remember that the deep bevel on all but the 6″ acrylic is between 3/8″ to 1/2″ and that reduces the image area from the outside dimensions to a smaller area.
For more information and ordering:
Each basic suncatcher with one subject and no extras is $30 including shipping. This includes a use and care card and a complimentary sympathy card if needed.
I spent a couple of years experimenting with ways to make my own 11″ x 15″ garden flags, and once I began selling the Custom Pet Memorial Votives it was a natural step to also make Custom Pet Memorial Garden Flags. I take the photo you provide and enlarge and crop it to fit the image space on the flag. Garden flags are printed on one side of cotton duck canvas with a rod pocket sewn at the top and a heavy hem at the bottom to prevent curling.
Your custom garden flag doesn’t need to be used in the garden, or it can come inside for winter, using a wire or wooden bracket that’s used for pennants, small quilts or weavings.
Below I have my samples displayed indoors for one of my open houses.
Pet Memorial Votives and Garden Flags
A few samples.
For more information and ordering:
Each basic garden flag with one subject and no extras is $30 including shipping. This includes a use and care card and a complimentary sympathy card if needed.
Each gift is packaged with a small care and use card and a message of sympathy from me if they are remembrances, “May their light shine on you always.”
If your votive is a gift a sympathy card with your message is included
You may include a message to any recipient. I offer memorial note cards that are blank inside where I will write your message and include it, in an envelope, with the votive. There is no charge for this.
The card for your votive.
I prepare and print your photo or artwork of your pet onto a frosted vinyl label, then burnish it onto a cube-shaped glass vase 3″ in each dimension. A sympathy card and an LED tea light are included. The price includes shipping, whether to you or a friend.
If this votive is a gift…
I’ll be happy to ship it directly with a card at no extra charge.
Use the drop-down below to enter your choice of standard or other sympathy card.
Use the text box below to enter your message for the sympathy card and optional text for the back, if necessary.
If you’ve chosen a sympathy card from my collection, use the text box below to enter the design name.
Please enter the recipient’s address in the “Shipping Address” area of the shopping cart.
Whether the votive is for you or a gift for a recipient, the votive and card are carefully packed and shipped in a Priority Mail box.
Custom Pet Memorial Gifts Offer
25% discount on your Custom Pet Memorial Gift
or Custom Pet Memorial Gift Certificate
Use coupon code CUSTOMMEMORIALGIFT25 in your shopping cart.
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.
Custom Pet Memorial Suncatchers as Thoughtful Holiday Gifts
Custom Suncatchers in Glass or Acrylic
A suncatcher can hang on any window, or a mirror or any place you want to see the image of your beloved animal companion.
And they also make unique customized gifts even when they aren’t in sympathy for a loss.
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 recipient, 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 recipient, in a letter
Ancient History
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.
That etched kitten suncatcher from the early 90s is pretty battered by now.
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.
Scroll down to read through information about each suncatcher
(I do seem to have a lot of gab around each of the products. I’m including customer feedback and results and experiences with customers at my vendor events and from sales in general to help you decide, especially if you are ordering a gift for someone else.)
I began with thick 5″ glass circles with a deep beveled edge, your animal companion’s image in the center, so that sun could shine through the bevel and refract light into rainbows.
Tuna, a 5″ beveled glass suncatcher.
Some customers asked for a less fragile item, and for those I use a 6″ clear acrylic circle with a slightly rounded edge. The extra inch of space, plus the lack of a bevel, allows more space for display and works well for multiple subjects, larger dogs, and even a full cat, not just the face. The acrylic costs less than glass, and shipping is a little less because it’s lighter, so it’s a little less expensive too.
Henry, a 6″ acrylic suncatcher.
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.
4″ square beveled glass pet memorial suncatcher.
I had another idea, of course…the company also carried a graceful arch-top rectangle I’d wanted to try but found 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 one at the Blessing of the Animals that vertical rectangle was an instant hit and I had several orders. At one of my vendor events this summer a mother ordered two for her daughter to depict her daughter’s beloved hounds, growing older now, and both in upright sitting positions. Both dogs looked marvelous with the image focusing entirely on their tall, graceful sitting posture.
The image area on this shape is 2.25″ x 4.25″. This suncatcher is modeled by Pixie, a beloved rescue kitty of a friend in rescue who’s been the recipient of just about all my new ideas; there’s a lot of loss in rescue.
Pixie, a 3″ x 5″ beveled rectangle glass suncatcher.
Thoughtful Holiday Gifts
The rectangle and square are just as popular as the original circle and all make thoughtful holiday gifts whether as a memorial or for the person who loves to see their pet on everything.
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.
Love Never Ends note card
The price includes shipping, whether to you or your recipient, or if you are an animal professional to your practice or drop-shipped to your client, 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 custom memorial item 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 order your thoughtful holiday gifts. 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.
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.
I make several non-customized memorial gifts, some intended for sympathy and remembrance, and some simply as gifts for animal lovers that can be used as remembrances.
Every day I design, make and sell many different gift items featuring my artwork and photography—that’s how the votives came to be. People have purchased the non-customized gifts when ordering a votive or other customized remembrance isn’t possible or when they want a gift to give right away.
About the image “I Will Always Walk With You”
Original photo for “I will Always Walk With You”
This particular design was based on a chance photo from a July morning in 2009 just three days after we lost Namir, and Cookie and I were out in our back yard, each doing our thing and remembering him, me racing from flower to glistening dewdrop with my camera.
They often followed or preceded me as I wandered. I happened to see my wet footprint and Cookie’s wet pawprints walking next to me on the flagstone path around my yard. Cookie and I were both missing Namir; he would have been with us on that morning, I feel he was.
Later that month I knew it had to be one of the set of sympathy cards I was designing and what text I’d use. I designed a few other remembrance items too.
About the “I Will Always Walk With You” Garden Flag
Flags are 11″ x 15″ and can be displayed outside in the garden or used indoors as a small banner. I print my flags on one side of cotton canvas duck fabric and stitch the pocket and hem. Cast iron flag stand is extra. Flags have been colorfast and resisted fraying for two years in just about all of my test yards around the country except where there’s been some wild weather. I’ve left my own out through the winter.
I was a little surprised at the popularity of this flag—I sell at least one at nearly every vendor event where I display my pet memorial gifts.
Scroll down to read about ordering a single flag or a quantity.
I make this flag in quantity because it’s also popular at my vendor events, so they can be ordered in quantity.
A single flag is $20.00 including shipping.
I can ship a single flag to your recipient with a note from you at no extra charge.
If you have an animal-related practice or business and want to order in quantity:
The first flag is $20.00, each extra flag is $10.00 each up to five with greater discounts for six. My price breakdowns are:
one = $20.00
two = $30.00
three = $40.00
six = $50.00
Order an “I Will Always Walk With You” Garden Flag
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.
In 2011 I published Great Rescues Calendar and Gift Book, a 16-month desk calendar that included a commissioned portrait of a rescued cat or cats for each month, plus more about the portraits, cats and rescuers in the back and information on cat care. But calendars go out of date and I knew these stories had to go on.
Great Rescues Day Book carries on the original idea in a way that’s much more permanent. This book is not dated for one year, but has all the dates in a month for you to fill in the birthdays, anniversaries, holidays and social and personal events in your life.
Great Rescues Day Book is spiral-bound and measures 8″ x 10″ to easily fit on your desk or in a purse, briefcase or backpack. While the original Great Rescues had a die-cut cover with the title stamped in gold foil, this has a solid 12 pt. printed cover for durability.
What’s a Day Book?
I’ve used a day book for over 20 years and have all the arrivals and, sadly, departures of each of my cats along with my friends’ weddings, my nieces’ births and the births of their children, the day I first registered a business name, all that sort of stuff, conveniently included in one place.
On the left is the featured portrait with the kitty’s story, below that the monthly fun quote of something feline. On the right is the month name with enough lines for all possible dates in that month. The holidays that are celebrated on a certain date are marked on that date, but ones that float, especially those Monday holidays, are explained at the bottom just to remind you that they also happen in that month. If animal-themed holidays are celebrated on a certain date, like Spay Day USA, they will also be included, but just the same if they are ones that float like Pet Memorial Sunday they will be explained at the bottom.
Here are the pages individually so you can open them and view them a little larger.
Although Great RescuesDay Book is a 12-month book I am still featuring from the original calendar 15 of the portraits of rescued cats I was commissioned to paint over 20 years as an animal portrait artist (to that date), plus the portrait of my own which I consider my first, “Waiting for Mom”, below.
That means you get a few pages in the center where you have only portraits and stories to enjoy.
And the story continues…
While the portraits are lovely and I’m proud of my body of work, the stories of these cats, and the people who rescued them, is what compels me to share them with you. Each of the stories tells of cats from shelters and cats abandoned and saved, cats found inside car engines and cats reluctantly surrendered by people who could no longer care for them, but each one has a happy ending as a cherished companion in a loving home.
And while each cat has an individual story, each rescuer has a story as well of reaching out to an animal in need to bring it in from the streets. In many cases they helped heal physical and emotional wounds and gave that cat a lifetime of love, in return receiving love and devotion; often those humans received some healing in return they weren’t aware they needed.
The story continues
After the calendar pages I have a section where the stories are continued, either with more details or updates; I remained friends with all my portrait customers and received continuing news. I also have notes on how I created the portraits that weren’t included in the stories.
And the story continues…
Resources for cat guardians
Following the calendar section and section of stories of the rescuers and their feline families I’ve included a mini cat-care book illustrated with my drawings. I based this information on the most frequent questions I field from people needing help with cats in any way, from finding strays or orphaned kittens, adopting for the first time or caring for a geriatric cat, a list of household toxins and toxic plants, or helping stray and feral cats and beginning with TNR.
“22 Cats” Notepaper
Each book includes 10 sheets of my “22 Cats” decorative notepaper with a collage of all the portraits in black and white so you can make your own notes or write special notes to friends.
“22 Cats” Notepaper
Each month on The Creative Cat I post the featured portrait, story and pages from Great Rescues Day Book and then describe the creation of the portrait in detail as well as even more history of the cats and the rescuers. You can browse here to read a few of the stories.
Here are images of the other portraits in the book—perhaps you’ll recognize a kitty you know!
All the portraits on the back of the book.
Purchase Great Rescues Day Book
Price includes shipping, and discounts for wholesale and quantity purchases.
If the book is a gift to someone, or you have a particular cat or cats in mind, I would be glad to add an inscription in the front of your book.
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.
A contemplative kitty sits quietly, looking out the window at the day.
I created the Silhouette at the Window design as another of my feline votive lamps collection but as soon as I added them to my display people bought them for themselves or others as sympathy or remembrance gifts. I can take the hint, and I can see why. So I’ve included them in my non-customized memorial gifts collection.
Silhouette at the Window Votive Lamp is a particular shape of upcycled jar, frosted outside with a black cut vinyl design and black glass paint embellishment, and offered in clear white or with blue, green or yellow transparent glass paint interior. All votive lamps come with a string of LED lights with a six-hour timer.
The inspiration and design of the Silhouette at the Window Votive Lamp design and product
I created the ink drawing that is the basis of this design way back in 1988, called Puck at the Window from a photo I’d taken in 1984, my roomate’s cat. You may have noticed in other feline art that cats at windows and the feline silhouette are favorite themes of mine, and you can see now it started early.
The line art I created from the photo.
Puck at the window.
Its original intent was as a sympathy card for my veterinarian to use, but that never came to fruition. I’ve considered it in my own collection of sympathy cards, but I’ve also had many another idea for items on which I could use this design, most involving light, and most originating decades ago. One of the first was as a nightlight cover, then a suncatcher, eventually, of course, a votive.
Scroll forward to today, when I’m actually planning my votives, this design was top of mind for three years, from the time I started working them out. I could picture this design on one of the four-sided jars I use for my cat art votives.
But what was the best way to present it? I love the contrast in the black and white, but the labels I print for my glass items don’t quite capture that; the black isn’t dense enough and the edges aren’t completely sharp because the label has a surface texture. No, the labels are purrfect for continuous tone artwork, not line art.
I could hand paint it in the dense black paint I use for glass, but I know I wouldn’t be able to reproduce this design well enough without taking a lot of time to handpaint each one. Trying to stencil or screen print each one would be too cumbersome because of the shape of the surface.
Window Silhouette Votive Lamp
But now…there’s vinyl to cut, with nice clean edges and permanent application, just perfect for an adaptation of line art with the interesting cat silhouette. I frosted the outsides of the jars so the glass exposed inside the vinyl design would have a matte finish while the permanent vinyl is gloss, giving it an extra dimensional interest.
I first introduced this design on a votive just in time for my 2021 Holiday Open House, as I’m so fond of creating a brand new item at the last minute for each open house and other events. That was also when Morty first had his urinary issue and I worked off my worry about him with working out this design while I kept an eye on him. I liked the way the original looked but wanted to make other adjustments and changes, and that’s what I worked out over the next few months. I made two to have at my events and was surprised they immediately sold. I’ve been making them since then, usually six at a time.
Four Silhouette at the Window votive lamps.
One of those refinements was adding color to the clear space. I liked the plain white, and the initial sketch was from a winter photo. But I could also visualize a blue sky out there, or a sunrise yellow, or even green for greenery. I will always make the plain white/clear, but I like the colors too. Up to now I’ve painted them on the inside, but I’m also working to see if the colors I use will be permanent on top of the etched surface.
Purchase a Silhouette at the Window Votive Lamp
Each of them comes with battery-operated string lights with a six-hour timer, and each has the original jar lid to keep the inside clean. You’ll also see that each one is a little different where the “leaves” are concerned in the design; those tiny pieces of vinyl don’t always stay where they’re supposed to.
Like everything else I make I’ve worked on the design and production of my upcycled glass jar votives, and one of the things was changing from small LED votive candles to LED light strings, with timers, so they are brighter and more colorful, and you can use them as lamps that turn on and off automatically.
They are made with frosted vinyl labels and embellished with glass paints and cut vinyl. Some of the jars may even look familiar as they are from spaghetti sauce, pickled things and condiments. I don’t mind buying new materials, but I also like to recycle, upcycle and reuse things when I can.
My feline votive lamps have a big variety of felines so you might be able to choose one that resembles the feline in question. Some of them are silhouettes or more abstract cat shapes, and some are collages of cats.
Visit the Votives Page in my Handmade Gift Gallery on Portraits of Animals to see the rest of the votives.
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.
I make several non-customized memorial gifts, some intended for sympathy and remembrance, and some simply as gifts for animal lovers that can be used as remembrances.
Every day I design, make and sell many different gift items featuring my artwork and photography—that’s how the votives came to be. People have purchased the non-customized gifts when ordering a votive or other customized remembrance isn’t possible or when they want a gift to give right away..
Love Never Ends Votive
I have the “Love Never Ends” votive at nearly every vendor event I attend, and nearly always someone will see the soft rainbows of the “Watercolors” artwork and the text and stop to buy one, tell me about a friend’s loss, or even their own. I’m happy to see the votive and design speaks to them because I designed it for just this purpose.
The Love Never Ends Votive which includes the soft rainbow shades of the “Watercolors” artwork and simple, sincere, phrase, can be a complement to other remembrance gifts such as the Love Never Ends Garden Flag which uses the same art and text.
And it can also be for any loss, humans included, or as an affirmation in difficult times.
Scroll down to read about ordering a single votive or a quantity, how I created the artwork for a pet loss CD after my own losses, and designed this votive.
I make this votive in quantity, like six at a time, so they can be ordered in quantity, higher quantities too.
A single votive is $25.00 including shipping.
I can ship a single votive to your recipient with a note from you at no extra charge.
If you have an animal-related practice or business and want to order in quantity:
I price quantities of these votives based on shipping, but typically they are $10 or $15 each at a half dozen or more.
When ordering at least a half dozen I can customize this votive with your logo or other text at a one-time extra charge of $10.00 to set up the changes.
About the “Watercolors” background
Watercolors background.
In 2009 I joined a licensed counselor’s loving and sincere effort when, after the loss of a beloved dog, she had prepared a recording and book of inspirational readings with information and affirmations for those who have also lost a pet. As a freelance commercial artist and promotional professional I had the opportunity to illustrate this wonderful recording, and to assist the author in publicizing and promoting it.
Two years prior I had lost five cats in a little over a year, and just after she and I began working together I lost my Namir after four years of working with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and congestive heart failure (CHF). I put my heart into the illustrations.
In the human-animal bond when a human loses an animal companion the rainbow bridge story and imagery are strong. Neither of us wanted to use literal bridge imagery but wanted the soothing colors and idea of a journey through grief.
I began with the cover art in a loose interpretation of a rainbow/waterfall with mist and a path in two variations that held the prints of all the animals who had walked there. The soothing feeling of the blue-purple was intentional in the first version, but felt too somber and dark. I lightened and brightened the idea for the final version.
CD cover art first version
CD cover art final version
You can probably see where in this art the Watercolors background was born. I then picked up the pattern and application of colors I had used in areas of those illustrations and developed that into “Watercolors.”
As we finished the work on the CD I also designed my first set of Animal Sympathy Cards dedicated to Namir, and we agreed I could use the Watercolors background for my own purposes since it wasn’t a principal image in the CD design.
After 10 years and many CDs, Karen discontinued them and I’ve been using the artwork for a few of my own creations and I plan to use the cover art for my own pet remembrance endeavors. I’ve used the darker version as part of a Custom Pet Memorial Votive in remembrance of three dogs. I’ve used Watercolors as the sympathy note card that accompanies a votive and as a votive itself and a garden flag, and I’ll continue with the cover art versions, starting with small sympathy note cards, then other votive designs and suncatchers.
Order a “Love Never Ends” Votive
Order up to three premade votives at the link below.
Ordering a quantity?
Because shipping heavy things can vary a lot by distance, please contact me so I can work up a shipping estimate.
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.
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.
That etched kitten suncatcher from the early 90s is pretty battered by now.
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.
Scroll down to read about how I developed the Custom Pet Memorial Suncatchers and information about the use of each shape with photos, and about ordering a suncatcher for yourself, a friend, or a customer of your practice or business.
All suncatchers range between $25.00 and $30.00 including shipping.
Adding an extra subject, a special background pattern like a favorite blanket or chair are extra, usually no more than $10 per addition.
Further customization by adding a name or brief text is included in the price.
I can ship a suncatcher to your recipient with a note from you at no extra charge.
Custom suncatchers also make unique customized gifts even when they aren’t in sympathy for a loss.
The original round Custom Pet Memorial Suncatcher
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 in your hand and the bevel is generous, the image is a good size.
I made a few for friends, then made a quantity of them for my longtime customer who owns the pet cremation business where I’ve taken my cats for the past 20 years, and I manage her website, photograph urns and events and provide design and promotional services.
We host a Pet Memorial Sunday celebration each September and I make a custom gift for each person who has RSVP’d. The suncatcher idea proved to be popular right away.
5″ beveled glass suncatcher.
Planning the square Custom Pet Memorial Suncatcher
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.
4″ square beveled glass pet memorial suncatcher.
And working out the rectangular Custom Pet Memorial Suncatcher
I had another idea, of course…the company also carried a graceful arch-top rectangle I’d wanted to try but found 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 one at the Blessing of the Animals many people found that vertical rectangle very attractive and I had several orders.
The image area on this shape is 2.25″ x 4.25″. This suncatcher is modeled by Pixie, a beloved rescue kitty of a friend in rescue who’s been the recipient of just about all my new ideas; there’s a lot of loss in rescue.
Pixie, a 3″ x 5″ beveled rectangle glass suncatcher.
The rectangle and square are just as popular as the original circle.
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 recipient, 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 recipient, 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. One of the suncatchers ordered at the Blessing of the Animals was a Fathers Day gift for a friend’s husband for a kitty who is very much alive.
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 note 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, otherwise I send you a blank card for your personal use.
Love Never Ends note card
The price includes shipping, whether to you, your practice or business, or drop-shipped to the recipient, 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.
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.
My display and tent at the Blessing of the Animals, 2025.
I made a quick video of my display at the end of the Blessing of the Animals yesterday, 30 seconds so it could easily fit most social media formats. Ran out of space on my phone to make a longer one! So here we are:
“We’re getting ready to pack up at the Blessing of the Animals today. The weather turned out beautifully and I got to see old friends I haven’t seen for a while, and talk to a lot of people about my Custom Pet Memorial gifts and non custom remembrance gifts, including the fact that they can just be nice gifts for people who like their animal companion’s image on things.
I’ve linked above to each of the custom pet memorial and non-custom pet memorial items and gifts you see here. Soon enough I’ll have a better video to present these items. For now, here’s the one I shared on social media yesterday.
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.
I’ll feature all my Custom Pet Memorial and non-custom pet remembrance gifts, and animal portraits. Hosted by The Creatures of the Creator 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Unity Presbyterian Church, 1146 Greentree Rd., Green Tree
I’m a member of this pet loss support group at a local church. I’m so happy to be a part of this event to celebrate our animals.
I’ve been busy creating some new Custom Pet Memorial items that I’ll share after this event is over…because I’m still working on them today!
I’ll have my Custom Pet Memorial items:
Custom Pet Memorial Votives
Several styles of Custom Pet Memorial Suncatchers
Custom Pet Memorial Garden flags
Love Never Ends garden flag
Non-custom pet memorial remembrances:
Non-custom votives
Non-custom pet remembrance garden flags
Non-custom remembrance keepsakes
Love Never Ends votive
Star of Wonder Votive
Love Never Ends garden flag
A selection of Animal Sympathy Cards.
Custom Commissioned Portraits samples and Gift Certificates.
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.
