Glass Case For The Hugging Saint, Amma

It is so interesting how my renewed glass career has introduced me to new people and purposes for glass display cases. I recently was contacted about making a custom size octagon case. This one to hold a brass lantern for, who I was later to learn about, Amma, known as the Hugging Saint.

Amma The Hugging Saint is internationally known (although not to me before this!) through her work with numerous charities and the delightful and transformative HUGS she has given to over 34 million people! Quite amazing!

Manju Ram was in charge of getting the piece ordered and she shared some of the backstory. Her words follow:

"Hi Sherri, and all is good. The box is perfect. Thank you so very much for all your help. And for the candy. That has significance for us - check about Amma (the Hugging Saint( :)). Thanks again!

It was Amma who gave the specific instructions for the glass box :). 

We had taken the new lamp for blessing (our old one was getting cracked), in early July. Amma blessed it and gave this set of instructions. I realized the 'why' only later - I frequently forget to shut the lamp/flame and the wicks burn down. We light the lamp in the Puja room (or altar) twice a day,morning and evening. Then I am like - Amma I told you to take care of it .... no blame on my carelessness, as my husband points out. :)) She also said it is safer because the houses are made of wood. I guess Amma chose you to be the 'executor' for the glass box, because we did try many other options. Thanks again for your kindness."

I was relieved, too, as this was the SECOND box which finally made it to her California address without damage. Thanks, USPS ;-(  Amma and Manju were so patient as I remade the display case. 

I usually add a few pieces of chocolate with the care instruction sheet and I had included a few Hershey's kisses. When I read about Amma I found that everyone who gets a big hug from her also receives a chocolate kiss wrapped in a rose petal! A happy coincidence indeed. I was out of Ghirardelli!

Little Boxes, Little Boxes.......

Little boxes made of........glass! What? No ticky-tacky?

Such has been my life since last Labor Day! The continued support of professional photographers has brought about new products and some amazing work that has been shared with me.

Take a peek at Sasha Danielle Photography! Sasha said she made up these two short videos on HER PHONE! Check it out, it's SEX A!!! Wow! Gave me goosies!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UqJcRMPj-4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQEdc9Pwrr8

It's been so busy I can hardly believe the changes in our daily life around here!

Photo Boxes a Hit in the UK

I have been so blessed to have customers for my work at home and internationally these past few months. I just got an email from photographer Howard Smith, Birmingham, UK, who had placed a large order several weeks ago. He helped me learn the ropes for shipping across the pond and miraculously the order arrived without damage.

Thank you for your kind words, Howard!

He shares his own blog here:

http://www.howardsphoto.com/blog/photoboxes

Merry Christmas!

WE DON'T ALWAYS

TAKE SELFIES WHILE WEARING

FURRY HATS...... 

BUT WHEN WE DO 

IT IS TO WISH YOU

MERRY CHRISTMAS

AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Art Show No Show

The preparations for the Fall Art Tour began as normal. The cleaning of the barn! Lots of cobweb hunting, vacuum sweeping and hauling of displays around. Progress was being made and a sense of the last crunch week was on.

September had brought me a raft of orders through my Etsy shop. Thanks to a happy customer, I had a mention on social media about the photo box I had made for a talented young photographer. The orders piled in like I had never experienced before! I was overwhelmed and worked like crazy all month to get the scores of photo boxes out the door. I even planned to do photo box making as my art tour demonstration!

At the one-week-before-show-time I had the notion that I really needed an evening ride with my three horses out to the big hay field. Recharging with pony energy would be the great reward for having put forth a huge effort and this would be the last chance before the final show set up. 

My mistake was in choosing the wrong horse to ride that evening. My favorite Cheyenne had just had her hooves trimmed and was a bit sore so I took Cerra to be my mount. We four rode out to the big field in the early evening glow. Grazing over the thick alfalfa, Cerra's trot suddenly turned into a crow hop, and a buck! While I was surprised and trying to keep my seat the NEXT buck sent me flying onto the ground on my left shoulder. All that alfalfa wasn't really that fluffy!

I had to regroup for a few minutes while the herd was happy to munch next to me. Assessing my injuries I felt my collarbone jutting upward and now all I could do was get myself the half mile home.  Slowly. I had a rope in my hand and thought I had Cerra with me on the way home. Half way across the field I thought,"She's really following nicely!" I looked back and found I was dragging an empty rope.

My adrenalized state got me home to the patio where I sat to rest. I heard Don coming out the door and I called "help" in a tiny voice. He found me and set into motion getting the horses in and me to the ER. When you live in the country you have a great appreciation for NEIGHBORS!  Our neighbor Tom came over and he and Don got the horses in and then drove me to the ER.

A broken clavicle, scapula and five ribs layer.......I'm at the three week mark now and still paying a price for a little bit of fun!

Story of the Zucchetto

The days of summer lasted three minutes each and now the apples are falling and the leaves will be turning next.

While summer was passing by the SherriStudio Etsy store has outdone itself and put the old lady into work mode again! Kind of like when I was 40.

One of the more interesting projects arrived this summer........ as posted from my Etsy store listing, here is the story of the zucchetto.

I didn't even know what a zucchetto was until I got a request to custom make a display case for one! 


My customer was so kind to send this message upon receiving her order. She shared with me the purpose of this custom order. Her words follow..........


"Hi Sherri!

The case did arrive in one piece and from the pictures my fiancé has shown me, it looks AWESOME. 
My fiancé has a radio show on SiriusXM satellite radio, on the Catholic Channel; and he works for Cardinal Timothy Dolan of NYC. We go to Rome regularly and through a friend at the Vatican we were able to get a zucchetto (the white hat) swapped out with Pope Francis'. It's a long standing tradition that if you buy the zucchetto from the store in Rome that makes the pope's clothing (and hat), and you have the occasion to meet the Holy Father, he will "trade" you. Although we didn't get to do it in person, a friend presented it to Pope Francis on our behalf and got the swap! 

It's something very special to us so I knew we needed to find an equally special way to display it, and your case was just the ticket! My fiancé Periscoped (live video stream) today about it and folks were asking how we found a "zucchetto case". Little do they know! :) 

Thanks for helping us out! We couldn't be happier! 

Welcome to America, Pope Francis! 

Spring Photos

A little of this....a little of that! 

The irises have put on a stunning display this year. Wish they could last all summer.

This tiny turtle was so colorful on the underside. What a cutie! I turned him loose by the creek.

 The spring morel mushroom season was pretty good this year. We had this stray one pop out by Don's boat. It was spared the frying pan. Maybe the spores will spread for next year.

Another snake painting was completed for the Snake Man. This one is the Timber Rattler. He might want me to do a hawk this fall. That would be a nice change.

A oil painting of spring loveliness in a baby lamb. All soft and wooly amongst the pussy willows.

We lost kitty Paisley last Sunday. We had no idea he had a tumor in his tummy until he took a sudden turn for the worst. He was an FIV kitty (feline immunodeficiency virus) and was always sneezy but survived with us for seven years. Rest in peace, dear one. Your friends here will miss you.

We were thrilled to spot Stanley across the creek and he seems to be doing well. His antlers should be amazing this year.

Molly had a visitor on the patio. Not sure what they are chatting about.

Had friend Susan Yergin here with Bruce Miller to collect and process red willow bark. It is used as a tobacco for indian ceremonies and it was really interesting to join in the process.

Cool moth out on the chick waterer. Haven't been able to identify it yet. Very unique markings. Kind of like Paisley.

And finally, an old lady taking selfies! Got my official old lady short haircut, too. Keeping things simple as the days are busy. Not quite used to all the wrinkles!