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Long time stained glass artists Sue and Ray Binetti have been designing and creating their art glass since 1975. Working with the play of color, texture, and light through glass, they produce pieces ranging from small suncatchers and nightlights, to windows, panels, sidelights, transoms, cabinet doors, and lamps. Art glass gives pleasure and warmth to any home, adding a nice finishing touch to both traditional and contemporary architecture and décor. Living and working on the Chesapeake Bay, many of their designs reflect herons, mallards, cattails, and Canadian geese of the region. Their Chesapeake Bay lamp is a hallmark signature piece.
Sue and Ray bring a variety of background skills and education to the development of their designs. Ray learned as a small boy how to work with his hands and use woodworking tools from his father. Majoring in technical education at the University of Maryland, he taught drafting and woodshop in the Baltimore County public schools. As a child Sue developed an early interest in all types of crafts. She tried a little of everything; pottery, leather, silk screen printing, jewelry, basket weaving, needlework, etc. Her first job while in high school was as a craft counselor at Girl Scout camp. Majoring in Home Economics at Hood College, she took courses in art and interior design before beginning a teaching career, also in Baltimore County. Married in 1967, Sue and Ray began studying the art of stained glass together in 1975, merging their separate skills into creating joint projects. As teachers, summers afforded the opportunity to market their designs at local craft festivals. By 1989, what started as a hobby became a full time business. They have been regulars at Sugarloaf Craft Festivals almost from the beginning, joining the sugarloaf “family” in 1977.
Today the Binetti’s main focus is designing and making custom stained glass panels and lamps. Designs have been created for decorators show houses and craft magazine covers. Working primarily on residential and small commercial projects, they especially enjoy working on a one-to-one basis with their customers. “Custom work is truly exciting; both for the artist and the customer,” Sue says “It gives us the opportunity to create something beautiful that can be enjoyed every time light shines on or through the glass.”
While specializing in custom work, Sue and Ray’s booth at craft festivals is filled with a variety of smaller items for home décor and/or gift giving. Small panels, nightlights, suncatchers, boxes, votives and table lamps among others. Every spring and fall new decorative items are created. We have so many repeat customers and collectors; they come in making a game of picking out what is “new”. One of our all time favorite comments came from a woman who stood in the center of our booth, slowly turning around in a full circle, enthusiastically remarking “O, my, it’s like being in an adult candy store.”
When looking for something large or small, for your home of a gift, or have a custom piece created just for you, Sue and Ray will be happy to help. See them at a Sugarloaf show or call for an appointment at the studio in Baltimore County.
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