Stunning fused glass objects, super cool handpainted trucker hats, bold mixed media art, dazzling jewelry, recycled metal work, unique stained glass wallhangings, funky chic wearables, beautiful slate fountains, whimsical sculptures Buddhist-inspired yoga togs, handmade quilts, handblown ceramic pieces, dramatic photography and handcarved woodwork –– you’ll find all of this and more at the Mountain View Art & Wine Festival, September 12-13 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Castro Street. Stroll and browse well-stocked booths and meet 650 of America’s finest artists and craftmakers –– creators of the beautiful art at this nationally renown festival.

If you’re feeling a little rock ‘n’ roll, check out San Francisco artist Nick Myerhoff’s fabulous trucker hats. He combines hand-painted illustrative painting and graffiti spray art to make funky wearable art. Myerhoff’s parents forced him to take art lessons when he was 4 years old. In junior high, he got in trouble for drawing under his desk. The budding artist later found his niche –– his nostalgic, quirky creations make a timeless fashion statement. Inspired by the elegance of the Victorian Era, Frances Casey strings vintage button jewelry. The Mendocino resident uses mother of pearl, silver, glass and shell buttons purchased from private collectors. Casey’s oldest button was made in 1840. Unlike other button jewelers, she keeps the vintage shanks on her buttons so each piece maintains its historical value. Beat the heat at the fair with a lightweight sun visor by Sunnyvale resident Susan Brendlen. A former tennis player, Brendlen knows the importance protecting faces from the sun’s harsh rays. She uses pretty Hawaiian print, leopard, solid and floral designer fabrics. You’ll sparkle at your next summer soirée with pretty crystal jewelry by Fremont resident Diane Halstead. She uses the finest Swarovski crystals and pearls to make dazzling bracelets, necklaces, earrings and bookmarks. Arcata artist Victor Field promotes positive words such as “kindness,” “dream,” “contentment” and “patience” using Japanese calligraphy. All T-shirts are silk screened. Check out his popular yoga line for women, as well as his Sea the Fish poetry T-shirts for the whole family.

Diana Ahrens mixed media painting Wenlan Lu pendant with pressed flowers

Reno mixed-media artist Diana Ahrens has been painting since she was 4. Ahrens traveled with her mother, a watercolorist, to art shows throughout her childhood. “I love the 3-D effect of mixed media and the different textures,” said the artist, who uses wood, acrylic paint, pastels and stained glass in her beautiful wine-themed pieces. Need a special gift for a friend? Wendy Chen of San Jose makes beautiful glass bowls, tropical fish, sea creatures, flowers, hummingbirds and butterflies. Place one on a stack of books, in a dish on the coffee table or on a bedroom shelf. Wenlan Lu shares the lost art of pressed flowers with her customers. Originally from Taiwan, Lu has lived in the United States for three years. She grows gorgeous flowers in her garden and describes her style as “fusion European and Asian.” After flowers are dried and pressed, Lu displays them on a background of glass and pastels. Milpitas husband and wife team Chandra and Mike Callaway have worked with stained glass for 15 years. Using the copper foil method, the Callaways make pretty window hangings and unusual gifts. “No two pieces are identical,” Mike Callaway said. “They may look similar but they’re all unique.”

Denise Best quilt Bea Sharp fused glass plate Elizabeth and Jim Moores' emu oil products Dean Shapiro jade fountain Rusty Ohao oil painting Leon Ruiz oil painting

With autumn just around the corner, wouldn’t it be nice to snuggle up with a handmade quilt by Denise Best? The Fremont resident also makes table runners, napkins and placemats in seasonal themes: Harvest, pumpkin, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Daly City resident Bea Sharp describes herself as a free-spirited artist. She makes glass plates, platters, bowls, jewelry and functional soap dishes. Inspired by the shapes of objects found in vintage second-hand stores, Sharp fuses layers of colored glass in a kiln. Temperatures often reach 1425 degrees!? Bring your skin to life with Elizabeth and Jim Moores’ fabulous Wonder Oil Products skincare line. Their cleansers, lotions, moisturizers, lip balms and lotions are made from emu oil, which has fantastic moisturizing properties. Wonder Oil products are fragrance free and perfect for people with skin disorders. There’s nothing more soothing than the sound of water. Dean Shapiro’s elegant slate fountains transform ordinary backyards into extraordinary gardens. The San Ramon resident’s slate comes from all over the world –– jade-colored slate from China, raja red from India and mariposa slate from the Yosemite area. Menlo Park resident Angela Parker grew up with a father who loved flowers. “We had so many flowers in our home,” she said. “From one plant, he could make three or four arrangements.” Today, Parker uses dried and silk flowers to make wreaths, centerpieces and miniature arrangements. She uses high-quality silk that often is mistaken for the real thing.

Rusty Ohao of Campbell loves to chat with the crowd at art and wine festivals. He works with oils and paints beautiful seascapes and landscapes of the Philippines and California. Ohao’s work is vivid and clear, soothing and realistic. He also paints tigers, eagles, dolphins and exotic sea creatures. Courtney Cox, Neve Campbell, Paulina Porizkova, Charlton Heston –– these are just a few of the celebrities photographed by Fremont resident Blake Richards. Known for expert retouching, Richards has helped models with their portfolios and brides with their weddings. He also enjoys taking family portraits and said his main goal is for his clients to say, “I’ve never looked this good!” Dos Palos husband and wife team and Leon Ruiz and Rosa Chavez love color. They love to travel to Italy and throughout California to find inspiration for their work. When they find a beautiful destination such as rolling hills or a glistening coastline, Ruiz and Chavez sketch and take photos. Choose from sunny vineyards, Tuscan villas, cobblestone pathways and rustic barns. Ciao Bella! Craig Fonarow of San Anselmo says photography feeds his creativity. He has traveled the world to photograph black and white street scenes –– simple gutters, bridges, gates and street signs. Fonarow prefers black and white photos because objects often are “magnificent in black and white that are very ordinary in color. It’s just a little more emotional.”