At Sandpoint Nature Preserve, you’ll find more than just nature’s beauty. Retiree and hobbyist, Donna Steinman, is turning the preserve into a delightful treasure hunt with her stained glass birds. In her words, “I’m retired and enjoying the ability to pursue my passion which is stained glass”. She’s combined her love for grandchildren, gardening and crafting into a unique project that brings smiles to people of all ages.
Donna decided to “Share The Love” in a rather unique way. She began hiding small stained glass pieces for people to find as they walk through the preserve. If you come across one of these hidden gems, you have a choice – keep it as a keepsake or re-hide it for someone else to find and spread the joy even further. Her goal is to continue this throughout the summer.
Each week, Donna crafts and hides new stained glass birds along the trails. The idea was inspired by a similar initiative on Rhode Island’s Block Island, where hand-blown glass orbs have been delighting hikers and nature lovers since 2012. Donna’s version, aptly named “Share The Love”, has been equally well-received. She says, “People of all ages, can find joy in walking in nature, looking for the little scrappy birds. If they find it, they can keep it or ‘Share The Love’ and hide it for someone else to find. Viola!”
The response from the community has been overwhelmingly positive, which brings Donna immense joy. To date, she has hidden 14 birds and all have been found. She plans to continue this throughout the summer.
Donna’s love for stained glass is not a recent development. She’s been mastering it for over 25 years, starting with just a couple of classes and then self-teaching. Today, she does mostly commission-based work, with no storefront or dedicated website. People interested in her work usually contact her through Facebook, text, email, or word of mouth. You can check out many of her works at The Melting Point on Facebook.
The Sandpoint Nature Preserve, where Donna’s initiative is based, is a beautiful spot in Fairhaven Township, Michigan. It’s a bird-watching hotspot and offers educational opportunities on local flora and fauna. The preserve covers approximately 65 acres and offers diverse ecosystems from lush woodlands to vibrant wetlands.
Donna’s “Share The Love” project at Sandpoint Nature Preserve is a testament to how one person’s creativity can bring joy to an entire community. She doesn’t ask for any payment for her efforts. As she says, “My payment is the joy people are getting from a walk in nature and finding a stained glass treasure.” It’s her labor of love, adding sparkle and joy to every visitor’s experience at the preserve.
Retired hobbyist, Donna Steinman, has brought a delightful twist to the tranquil setting of the Sandpoint Nature Preserve. Her artful stained glass birds, hidden throughout the preserve, have become sought-after treasures, bringing joy and wonder to people of all ages. Through her “Share The Love” initiative, she plans to continue this enchanting treasure hunt throughout the summer, spreading love and happiness one stained glass bird at a time.
#ShareTheLove #StainedGlassTreasures
For more on this story, check out [Donna Steinman’s Shimmering Birds – A Stained Glass Adventure at Sandpoint Nature Preserve](https://thumbwind.com/2023/06/23/donna-steinman-stained-glass/).
Categories: #Art
Hashtags: #Art #DonnaSteinman #NatureCenter #Newsbreak #SandpointNatureCenter #ShareTheLove #StainedGlass #TreasureHunt #UpperThumb
Author: Michael Hardy
Excerpt: Donna Steinman, a retired glass artist, is transforming Sandpoint Nature Center into a whimsical treasure hunt. Through her project “Share The Love”, Donna hides stained glass birds for visitors to find and re-hide. It’s an initiative spreading joy and love, one stained glass bird at a time.
Slug: donna-steinman-stained-glass
