A little about me......                                         Updated Friday, March 05, 2010

I come from a large family of gifted singers and artists.  As an art major in college, I had the opportunity to explore many different mediums, from oil painting and watercolor, to pottery and jewelry making.  In my mid twenties I began designing menus and brochures and also did some commercial sign painting.  Later I began doing logos on store front windows which led to my desire to learn the art of etching glass and mirror.  A "starving artist" most of my adult life, I've always juggled my artwork with various part time jobs......singer in a rock band, (still miss that) modeling, moonlighting in a fine dining restaurant on weekends, fitness instructor, or pet sitting.  Having Prada tastes on a  Wal-Mart budget, not to mention the care and feeding of my ever present zoo of birds, cats, and dogs, I've almost always worked two jobs to maintain my lifestyle.  (Those of you who have Mastiffs and/or Danes know what I'm talking about!) When a stained glass studio near my home offered classes for beginners, I was the first to sign up.  I loved it and within a few months I was teaching classes myself.   

Then came the addiction to showing dogs....I've always loved competition and can't get enough of it.  A beautiful apricot Mastiff puppy that I bought as a pet became a champion at eighteen months in only eight shows with 3 majors and 17 points, and I was hopelessly hooked.  (Ch. Chatelaine's Someday Bimini Bound).  I have both Mastiffs and Danes and have been actively showing for about three and a half years.  My kennel name, "Chatelaine Danes and Mastiffs", describes me to a T.  "Chatelaine" means "mistress of the castle or cottage" or "keeper of the keys", and I live on a few acres out in the country with the company of my dogs and my African Grey parrot, "Garfunkel". 

Here are a few photos of my dogs
(click on the smaller photos to see enlarged in a new window)
 

Mastiffs
Bimini	Bosley				Belize	Lila
As a puppy "Ch. Chatelaine's Someday Bimini Bound". New champion 18 months old, Columbia.	3 weeks old. "Nothing cuter than a mastiff puppy." 6 weeks old "Celtic's No Enhancement Needed v Chatelaine", 9 weeks old. Look for him at the Mastiff Nationals in N.C. 2009.				"Day Dream Acres Over the Rainbow". Rest gently my sweet girl.  I miss you every day.	"Lila", 3.5 yrs. old, 33" and 204 lbs. when she came to live with me.  Her family could no longer keep her and she was returned to her breeder, Suzie Mears.  Lila came into my life shortly after my Belize died and she's been a joy to have.  Thank you Suzie, for entrusting me with this beautiful, gentle girl.  Lila's co-owners are Jennie Getz of O'Gara Mastiffs and Suzie Mears of Celtic's Mastiffs.  Lila is out of Ch. Celtic's Cormak the King x Ch Celtic's Reign of Winsome.  Orignally sold as a pet puppy to her former owners, she's blossomed into a huge beauty, and she's got the looks and personality to do well in the show ring.    Show/breeding plans for my big girl coming soon.....
Great Danes
Moonie				Julep
"Scarletoak's Dbl. Dose of Magic Elixir v Chatelaine" 6 weeks old.   Mooney at 14 weeks, already weighed 55 lbs. Out of Ch. Equiss Scarletoak Kiss Me Quik x Ch. Equiss Middsummers Night Kiss  Co owned with Memory Armstrong.				"Concord's Mint Julep de Chatelaine", co owned with her breeder Nichole Conneen. Julep was a Futurity nominated puppy and went to the Nationals in Pa. in October '07.  She'll resume her show career this summer '08. Julep at the 2007 Great Dane Nationals in Pa.  11 mo. old "Concord's Mint Julep de Chatelaine", in the ring with her breeder/co owner/handler, Nikki.  (on the right) 1 year old.

A number of my show friends who have seen some of my glass work have been encouraging me to make dog designs in stained glass.  After three years of hearing this, with the help and encouragement of some very dear friends, I decided to go for it.  "Kazia's Touch of Glass" has been ongoing part-time for over 30 years......I can't model anymore because I'm older than dirt, can't teach fitness classes if I can't get out of the recliner, and the party days of singing with a rock band came to an end a long time ago... thus this website and my pursuit of happiness doing something I love. 

I'd like to thank my friend and Staff Assistant, Mary Jane Glebe.  Mary Jane is an accomplished stained glass artist from Georgia, and we collaborate on each and every design.  Please check the site frequently for exciting new designs.  MJ and I work so well together, and we plan to add many more great designs to the website over the coming months.....two heads are definitely better than one! 
 

"My goal in life is to be the person my dog thinks I am"