I have known
Kathy Barnard's work, we have known each other's work, for decades, I
have admired hers, been a bit envious, loved her aesthetic and style
and skill, looked closely to see if some of it would rub off on me
but we never met since she worked out of Kansas City MO and I worked
out of Houston.
We
started communicating a little bit a few years ago via FB (her page) and earlier
in the year we discussed getting together when she would be in San Antonio
for the Stained Glass Association's annual conference in June. How far are
you from San Antonio, she asked.
So
it turns out, we are friends who just hadn't met face to face yet. I
had offered her to stay with us but also gave her the contact info
for a nearby motel because you never know how these things will go
but when she drove up Sunday afternoon I walked out to greet her at
her car and she opened the door and there was my friend who I hadn't
seen in years. It was like that, lots of hugs. We talked etched glass and work and
life stories and stayed up late and just hung out. Kathy spent two
nights and got on the road back home Tuesday morning with us
promising to get together again in the future.
Kathy's
shop is much like ours, or was when we were doing architectural
etched glass except that we were working out of a jumped up garage and she works out of her huge studio building and she also does stained glass and small items, glassware and tableware and ornaments and panels. She
had brought four small panels for the display area of the conference
that were so sweet.
She asked to buy one of my small pieces before
she left but I wouldn't let her instead telling her to send me
something of hers in exchange. So she's going to make me a piece with
one of the little mice with wings.
I looked at her web page and was caught up in the whimsy of so much of her work. Yes, a friend surely stepped out to meet you. I like the mice with wings, but, Oh, Froggy went adventuring.....
ReplyDeletethe two frog panels are from fables...the frog prince and the frog and the scorpion
DeleteGood story. Glad you made a friend, face to face. 👏👏👏. That is what we all want.
ReplyDeleteThose are lovely! I can see why you two would get along so well.
ReplyDeleteShe does beautiful work. Glad y'all got a chance to get together. It was nice to have met her briefly.
ReplyDeleteI love her work. So colorful and whimsy like artwork for a children's book. I love the mice with wings. They are so cute.
ReplyDeleteI love the frog. Nice colours.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it fun to meet someone like that? Trading art work is the best kind of remembrance. I do love those mice with wings -- quite whimsical, and the colors are delightful. I hope your weather's as good as ours has been the past couple of days. It's still warm, but the humidity's down -- hooray, hoorah!
ReplyDeleteI've had this experience several times, sometimes with people I had had no previous contact or knowledge of. I always figure it's past life connections or agreements made between souls before incarnation. when it's a blog friend and we meet and get that connection I think it's because over the years we have come to know each other and the face to face is just one more visit.
DeleteIsn't this kind of reunion of souls magical? Of course you already knew each other and were simply renewing the friendship, the love.
ReplyDeleteit is indeed!
DeleteI love the winged mice! It's so great to meet someone for the first time and feel like you've known them for years and years.
ReplyDeleteHer work is SOOO gorgeous, How lucky you got together. I agree, that the mice are favorites! Gut the frog, also! Delightful. Wonderful work!
ReplyDeletethe two frog panels are from fables...the frog prince and the frog and the scorpion.
DeleteBeautiful work! I experienced the same thing, stepping out of my rental car in Minnesota. It's a wonderful feeling.
ReplyDeleteisn't it though! both to her work and meeting someone you are already connected to.
DeleteYes! I love when this happens. Good for both of you to make the connection in real life.
ReplyDelete