"Everyday Heroes"

 "Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around."                                      

                                                                                           Leo Buscaglia

We all know an "Everyday Hero", someone who consistently shows in big or small ways how much they care. It might be a school teacher, babysitter, grandma, or neighbor. It might be someone you know or someone who just passes through your day never to be seen again. Everyday heroes know that small things matter. They know a kind word or a smile can go a long way.  

I met an "Everyday Hero" this week. His name is Scooter. He stopped into the Fusionglass Co. gallery to ask for directions to a local costume store Gypsy Treasures. I knew exactly where it was and directed him with visual clues included.  

"Look for a baseball field on the right" I said... "a big red building on the left..."  

He thanked me profusely for the visual clues and I said "I'm an artist, that's how I see things". 

He said "You're an artist! me too!"  he then proceeded to dig around in his backpack and pulled out a bunch of balloons and a little pump. He asked me my favorite color (green), and while he fashioned me this lovely green flower he told me a little about himself.

He was on his way to the costume store to buy more balloons. He took up balloon art years ago after suffering a brain injury during a motorbike accident. He said the visual clues I gave  him using color and shape would really help. He rides around on a scooter (and hence the nickname) and when he sees someone sad or mad or in need of a smile, he makes them a balloon gift!  Scooter knows it's the little things that count. I was so glad to meet him and as I thanked him I told him he had made my day!

If you live in my neighborhood and happen to meet Scooter or see him riding along, give him a wave and a smile, I know it will make his day!

I'm writing this blog a week before "Valentines" day and know it can be an especially hard time for many people. As any holiday can. The focus on couples and being part of something can leave many people feeling discarded and uncared for. Which is sad for a holiday about making people feel special and loved.

"They" say that doing something for 21 days in a row makes it a habit. So we have just enough time left in the month of February to form a new habit. 

I am going to concentrate of letting people know I care. For the next 21 days (I don't plan to stop after 21 days) I will focus on doing at least one nice "unexpected" thing for someone.

There are all kinds of free or inexpensive ways to show someone you care.

 One of my favorites is to share a beautiful

  inspirational quote.   

Dropped into a colleagues inbox on a busy day it can be uplifting and re-energizing 

or 

Inspiration on a note tucked under the wiper-blades instead of the usual junk you find there! 

How about bringing in the garbage cans for a neighbor. This is one I especially appreciate!

 

Do you know an "Everyday Hero"?

Just use this link to email your nomination to us at Fusionglass Co. Please include one paragraph on why you think your nominee is an "Everyday Hero". Only nominations received before midnight on Feb 26th 2015 will be considered.

On Saturday February 28th we'll announce our winner on Facebook.
The winner & the person who nominated them will each receive a beautiful fused glass heart pendant created by one of our Fusionglass Co. artists. Right from our Heart to yours!

 The photos below include my very own "Everyday Heroes"  I am lucky to be surrounded by wonderful giving loving people. Thank you all for your support and love, It sure makes life grander to know you!

 

To the Power of 10.

 Celebrating Fusionglass Co's. 10th Anniversary.

"Our truest life is when we are in dreams awake"

I love this quote by Henry David Thoreau.
It serves as a reminder that we are never more fully alive than when we are in pursuit of a worthy Dream. The body is energized, the mind open to new possibilities and there is never enough time in a day! They say time flies when you're having fun, and as I reminisce over the last 10 years the overwhelming impression I am left with is definitely FUN.


It was in the pursuit of a dream that led to founding Fusionglass Co. with Paul Fernandes 10 years ago. or at least we had the beginning of a Dream.

...and what was that Dream?

It was simple really. We just wanted to do something we loved, and encourage others to do the same.
We wanted to leap out of bed in the morning with a sense of joy and fulfillment, filled with creative energy & eager to start a new day. We wanted to be challenged artistically and to share our love of art and if we ever got a studio I wanted a tea kettle and Paul wanted a George Foreman Grill!



As we make arrangements for our
Annual Holiday Show & 10th anniversary Celebration

November 30th from 7-11pm  RSVP

I cannot help but ponder the meandering road that brought us to where we are today.
So full of twists and turns and unexpected crossroads. So please excuse me if I ramble along.

A Ten Year period brings with it uncountable joys and sorrows, challenges and inspirations Along with the hardships that seem unendurable we found deep and lasting friendship.

We have been inspired by YOU our friends and family.
Held up by you in times of trouble & doubt, you have been there to celebrate our achievements, to 
encourage us to persevere through obstacles and challenges & most importantly to remain focused on our Dream.


With your support and encouragement that Dream has been realized over & above our expectations.

It has evolved along the way through impediments & delights, bolstered by disappointment and surprises. From the brilliant bursts of insight over a glass of wine and a bottle of beer in the back room: which weren't always so brilliant the next day!

To being watered by tears of frustration & nurtured & fueled by friendship, and the encouragement of  wonderful people we've met along the way,  Our dream has found a life of it's own.

Our passion has grown to include sharing what we do. Allowing others to tap into their creative source. To find solace for the soul in the joy of creating. To release tension & stress through the process of art. We've seen it ease the pain of cancer, of loss and of loneliness, we've seen students level of confidence raised, and effect to other areas of their lives. We operate under the premise that ART is GOOD for what ails you.





 


We are especially passionate about bringing art to kids, and in response to a disgusting lack of funding for the arts in our schools, have developed programs such as "Take pART", bringing a traveling glass class to local school children. We also work as community partners with the Girl Scouts Organization helping to inspire girls of courage, confidence, and character. We see ART as an integral part of life & encourage a S.T.E.A.M approach to education.








We initially set up the company for wholesale sales in 2003.  Paul and I traveled across the United
States selling our work at big shows. It was a wonderful experience jetting off to such places as New York, Boston, Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco, LA, Dallas, New Orleans, & Atlanta a couple of times a year.
 
During those first  five years we noticed a big change taking place. We noticed more & more imported items being offered for sale to a diminishing cadre of buyers.
Along with transportation costs, airfare hikes & hotel bills, we realized we had to rethink how we were doing business. We looked into the possibility of finding a space locally, somewhere we could create & show our work.


 We found 8872 LaMesa Blvd., and a new chapter in the life of Fusionglass Co. began.

As soon as we opened our doors people were intrigued with the glass, the beautiful colors and patterns drew them in, they fell in love with it just as quickly as we had.

We heard the same thing again & again  "it's beautiful... how do you do it?.. will you teach me?"
and another opportunity for sharing was born.




We embraced the idea of  teaching  and began with a simple pendant making class.
We 65 people show up for a 30 person class! Everyone stayed, shared tools, sipped wine and created a couple of fused glass pendants. It was a wonderful warm and very memorable evening.

We now offer an ever expanding repertoire of classes and projects from Fusionglass Co. and other local artists. Including a stain glass class every Tuesday with Paul Fernandes, painting & drawing (Lional Talaro), photo manipulation/painting (Kira Corser Carillo), silk painting (Marjorie Pezzoli) and with a 6 week basic drawing class with local artist Hazel Ross slated to start in January 2014.



Fusionglass Co. has given us the joy of  watching new friendships develop through our Ladies Night Out Events.
  










& seeing the delight on someone's face when they pick up their work, and are amazed by their own creativity.

we've seen the glitter in an emerging artists eye as they sell their first piece of original artwork.





& we continually experience selfless volunteerism at our many events, people showing up to help prep food, or hang artwork, or offer lighting services or wine, or spend the evening entertaining us with song, dance or music, or bar tending or a hundred other jobs that need doing!

We bear witness to an ever growing community of open minded, enthusiastic & loving people coming together to encourage & inspire, to challenge, to motivate & to grow through their love of art.

And here we are 10 years later, still evolving and stronger than ever, with new ideas for our future and plans to bring the gift of creativity to ever more individuals.
 
We hope you'll continue the journey with us along this winding road, and if we can offer advice at all. It would be that you should follow your bliss, & everything you need will find you.

“When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy.”
― Rumi
 
Live joyfully

and please visit Fusionglass Co.
if you haven't already!

Annual Holiday Show and 10th Anniversary Party is November 30th from 7-11pm. RSVP

Palette to Palate Event 2013