Pictures at Mi Tierra

Pictures of Juan & I at Mi Tierra Mexican Restaurant in San Antonio. It was a short one day trip but enjoyed the ride, music and bonding with my fifteen year old son, who also took the trip with us.

Repujado

This past Friday I drove to San Antonio to take a class in Repujado at Stamp Antonio Arts  http://www.stampantonio.com/.  Repujado is a spanish word at means to push.  Some may know it as metal pushing or metal embossing.  For this class the medium we used was pewter.  I was one of five students who had not taken the Introduction To Repujado Class.  But I have had some experience at embossing on soft copper and silver sheets, which is why I was allowed to take the class.  The other students brought some examples of their previous work.  I on the other hand did not have any examples because what I did make I gave them away as gifts. The instructor, Thelma Muraida, http://www.thelmamuraida.com/ was very informed of this craft and gave a little history of repujado and of the mexican game of Loteria, which we call Mexican Bingo.   You see the image that we embossed was picture #41 La Rosa from the Loteria game.  Thelma showed us how to create depth, texture and how to show details of  the rose.  She also kept reminding us to let our tools do the work.  Thelma was an excellent teacher with lots of patience. She did stay at the end of class to answer a few questions I had and  made herself available for any future questions.  I enjoyed the class and came home with a nice piece of art that I love and plan on mounting.  The only thing I would have liked is to have more time to patina and mount La Rosa.  There are about 50 pictures in the game of Loteria, I wonder which I will choose to push next.  But this is not just limited to the pictures in the game.  The images are only limited by your imagination.  By the way, if you are ever in the San Antonio area, I recommend stopping into Stamp Antonio Arts.  They are a One-of-a-kind Art Rubber Stamp Store and More with very friendly customer service. 

Stepping Stones

I am so excited to be working in stained glass again.  I had taken time away from my hobby to enjoy the holidays with my family.  It is time to get back to breaking glass.  It all started because I signed up to participate in a church/school bazaar in March.  But, first things first.  I could not start until I cleaned my shop.  You see, I have the habit of throwing everything in there.  I was embarrassed to let my niece in my shop when she came buy to order a piece of glass for her husband's birthday gift.  Well, I didn't quite get it cleaned, I just moved cutting the glass to my porch to enjoy these nice cool days.  I have three stepping stones ready to be grouted and my shop still not cleaned.  Oh well! Tomorrow's another day.  Oh  - wait, tomorrow I will be in San Antonio attending a class in Repujado at Stamp Antonio Arts.  Maybe Saturday I can clean my shop.  Hope you all have a great weekend.  Will give an update on my class when I return. 

OWOH Prize Winner

I had a great time traveling the world and participating in the One World One Heart (OWOH).  The winner of my prize gift is Joanie #673 of Full of Bolognie.  Joanie will receive the pink irredized stained glass heart suncatcher.  Congrats Joanie! 

One World One Heart 2011

Hi, Welcome to my blog.  I am a stained glass, mixed media artist and blogger from the Lone Star State.  I was born and raised in the heart of Texas.  When people think of Texas, they think of cowboys.  When I think of Texas, I think of home.  As a matter of fact we have people from all over the world who call Houston home.   I invite you to visit my blog to see a little part of my corner of this blogger world. You will see my first love (family and life) and my passion for art.  Stained glass remains my hobby of choice with a little rubberstamping and mixed media art thrown in.  So pour your favorite drink, sit down make yourself comfortable and have fun blogging.

Leave me a comment for a chance to win my door prize.  This stained glass heart suncatcher is made with a pink irredized glass.  By the way, don't forget to leave your contact info for the drawing which will take place February 17th. I'll also visit your blog and leave my comments.

Great Men

I am very fortunate to have two men in my life. They both are very well respected in their careers and loved by many family and friends.   So today, I wish to share my father and husband with you all. 

The first man who loved me and was a great father, provider, friend, and police officer was my dad.  Even though he is not alive, his love of faith and family has influenced me to this day. If you knew him, you know that he was a tall, heavy set man who wore the badge with pride.  What you probably don't know is the story of how he came to be one of Houston's Finest.  As a young man he followed the footsteps of his older brothers and registered for the Armed Forces.  He was rejected due to a small disability with his fingers and hands.  They thought he would have trouble firing a weapon. So he was left behind and his parents had high hopes of him attending college to become a doctor.   Of course, those were his parents dreams  - not his.  A friend tells him that the city is hiring.  The City of Houston is booming and has lost many men who have gone to war.   Somehow my dad hides his disability or the city is in need of officers that they overlook the disability and hire him.  In any case, he is capable of shooting a hand gun and is sworn in as the second Mexican American Police Officer for the City of Houston.  At the time of his retirement, my dad had thirty-three years of service to the citizens of Houston. In all those years he helped many people who found themselves in trouble with the law.  After his death, I learned that what he gained was the respect of many and am proud to say that he never had to shoot his gun.

The second man in my life is my husband, Juan.  He is also a police officer for the City of Houston who wears the badge with pride.  Juan has served the citizens for twenty years and has earned the respect of many citizens as well as officers.  We were teenagers when we met and were friends for many years before we married.  We were such good friends that I let him use my car five days a week to make the twenty plus miles to the police academy because it was more dependable than his older car.  Juan has told me that this is his dream and that he loves going to work everyday.  I don't know what made Juan decide to join the police force.  I do know that he is good at his job and that several officers respectfully call him the Ward Lord or Ward Dog.  You see in all the years of service, he has patrolled in the same beat.  The Fifth Ward beat is one of the most busiest in the City of Houston.  For this reason many rookies are trained in this beat but transfer out as soon as they can.  They say it takes a Real Police Officer to patrol Fifth Ward.  I am proud to say that I am married to a Real Police Officer.  It takes a lot to be considered one of Houston's Finest and earn the respect of many. There are many things like training, education, respect and common sense that keep Juan safe.  I believe the most important is our Faith and trust in God.   Faith follows Juan everywhere he goes and will see him enter the front door to our home where I will be waiting. 

I don't need one day designated as Father's Day to honor the two men in my life.  For this reason I am sharing two great men with you today.  I love them both.

Saint Michael

I won this charcoal drawing of Saint Michael in a silent auction at Our Lady of Guadalupe School.  The young artist is my nephew Lalo who was in 2nd grade at the time of the drawing. I had the drawing framed because the charcoal would rub off onto your fingers, clothes and everything else. Can you make out the artist writting at the bottom of the picture?  It hangs in the hallway where everyone can see it when they enter our home.   

Christmas Card

Every year Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic School in Houston, Texas sends out Christmas Cards made by one of their students.  This past year (2010) my niece was the lucky artist chosen to showcase her drawing on the annual Christmas Card.  The young artist is only thirteen years old and is in the eighth grade. The young beautiful artist is also one of my many favorite nieces. 

On the front of the card is a bright star shining upon Our Mother Mary holding Baby Jesus.  The artist also wrote Peace down the left side of the card with her name underneath.  The inside of the card reads:  May the joy and wonder of the Christ Child fill your hearts this Christmas.  And may the New Year be filled with blessings.  Merry Christmas! 
I have to say that this is my favorite card I have ever received.  I love it so much that I decided to frame and display it year round.  I have not told her what I have done with the card.  It will be a surprise next time she visits.  I plan on inviting her over this weekend because I can't wait to see her reaction.