From Skilled Hands

Many hands have worked to help Cups of Kindness. There is still incredibly beautiful art available: luminous paintings, sensitive photography, glass and pottery that “sing,” lovely jewelry, fiber, wood and other media that will make your spirit soar.

Last year, my friend, artist, writer and blogger Cat Bennett and I asked, Why Buy Art

-To lift your spirit

-To expand your spirit

-To meet your spirit

-To brighten your day

-To brighten your home

-To brighten your life

-To honor an artist

-To declare your value

-To have fun

-To know yourself

-To inspire yourself

-To inspire others

-To share your wealth

-To laugh

So many reasons.

Art feeds the spirit and soul; it brings light and life to being. Art can make your heart sing and your spirit soar. Something that comes from the heart through the hands. It is no accident that there is art in heART.

When you support an artist, you affirm the creative spirit. You have the opportunity to see the world in a different way, as the artist’s vision is manifested in the piece he or she has made.

This year, we can add, to help our friends and neighbors in a time of need.
Please remember that every dollar that we raise for the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank will purchase 7 nutritious meals.

These are some of the amazing pieces that the hearts and hands of some of Northeast Ohio’s talented and generous artists have donated. These pieces and many others, are available on the Cups of Kindness website, and at the Peninsula Art Academy and Elements Gallery in the Village of Peninsula.

Necklace by Carol James

Earrings by Elena Juodisius

Loving Kindness by Dottie Goebel

Batiked Napkins by Wendy Mahon


Soli Deo Gloria by Shannon Casey

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Friends and neighbors helping each other.

Friends and neighbors helping each other.

I am no longer terrified. The opening for Cups of Kindness was a wonderful testament to the Power of One. So far, we the people have raised over $1200 to benefit the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank. That’s 8400 nutritious meals.

The benefit continues through January 11, 2009. Items donated by 76 artists will be available for purchase, at 8:00 am,(EST) Monday, December 8th. Please visit our website http://www.CupsOfKindness.net to purchase a piece or to make a donation. All proceeds from the sale of the artwork will benefit the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank. Each dollar donated purchases 7 nutritious meals.

My town was a busy place this weekend. The benefit opening was well attended; folks were riding on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, some to visit the Cuyahoga Valley, some to get their Santa, some to go to Heritage Farms to choose their Christmas tree, still others for Christmas in Peninsula. I fully intended to take photos of the benefit but I first I ran out of time; then I ran out of energy.
Ronda’s store

Later, as the snows began to fly, folks came into the Village for the Polar Express, and to see the lights.

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The Chief Marauder of My Town Monday is Travis Erwin. Travis is taking a break until January. Junosmom and Chris are keeping things rolling. Check out their blogs and you’ll find links to bloggers hither and yon.

Friends and neighbors helping each other.

10 individuals and businesses sponsored our effort.
76 artists donated
165 pieces of artwork.
We have raised $1097 for the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank.
We have provided 7,679 nutritious meals.
The Power of One.

Five days until the opening of Cups of Kindness. Most of the work has been photographed, and I am working on getting it on the site. More work is still coming in.

I am donating these 3 little pieces, part of a series of wee tiles I have called Sage Trios. They are porcelain tiles, that have been hand carved, bisqued, inlaid with colorants, and the glaze applied over them. Carolyn Birchenall has donated the framing.

Sage Trio III

Sage Trio IV

Sage Trio V

Visit our website: http://www.CupsOfKindness.net to see more work that fellow artists have donated to help our community. It is a great way to celebrate the generosity of 60 artists, purchase artwork for gifts, or for yourself, and to support the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank.

And if you’re in our neck of the woods, stop by for a visit. You’ll enjoy the Village of Peninsula (population 602), and help an important agency do its fine work

Remember—-each dollar donated provides 7 nutritious meals.

Friends and neighbors helping each other.

The Village of Peninsula, Ohio, population 602, is a small town with a very big heart. People help each other. People come here and know they’re home. It’s just like that.

So a year ago, when we first started talking about Cups of Kindness, people said they’d lend a hand.

Friends and neighbors helping each other.
People from all over this big beautiful planet. Artists donated artwork. Just like that. No hesitation. Same with the website, the logo and the photography. Other bloggers said they’d post about it. And they did. Just like that. One member of the Peninsula Police Department brought in a large can of coffee and a package of stirrers for the opening celebration. Her kids are going to bake cookies and help us at the reception. Others are going to play music. And others have dropped change in our Help Us Help the Foodbank jar. It’s just like that here.

So if you’re in the Cuyahoga Valley in Northeast Ohio next Saturday, stop in and see us. You can have a cup of coffee and a bite to eat, listen to music and check out the wonderful artwork at Cups of Kindness. Then wander through the Village and enjoy Christmas in Peninsula. We’d be happy to see you.

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My Town Monday is the vision of the incomparable Travis Erwin, a guy who has a lot to say. He links to other blogs by folks all over Planet Earth. You won’t regret it.
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And the winner of last week’s drawing for Peninsula goodies is OldOldLady of the Hills. She’ll be receiving a package soon.

The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railway does a remarkable job of bringing the Polar Express to kids of all ages. Running trains from Akron, Canton and Independence, Ohio to the North Pole, the CVSR, along with hundreds of volunteers, elves and Santa himself, provides an experience that is magical.

We had the pleasure of taking the Polar Express when our children were younger; what a joy to see adults and children board the train and embark on the adventure of going to the North Pole. On the train, voilunteers read the Chris Van Allsburg’s magical story of the Polar Express. Hot chocolate, cookies, a visit from Santa and a special gift make the ride memorable for all who take it.

A few weeks ago, I wrote about Cups of Kindness,our show and sale of small scale artwork. All proceeds from the sale of the artwork will go to the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank.

Hunger does not discriminate; it affects people without regard to background or social status. In our land of plenty, people are hungry every day; they have to decide between paying rent or eating, between medication or food, between staying warm and buying groceries. Of this I am certain: having enough to eat is a right rather than a privilege.

So far, over 50 artists are donating artwork to benefit the Foodbank. The Cups of Kindness website has been donated by Carrick Enterprises; a professional photographer, Ron Wayton, is donating his services so that we have photos of the work on our site. The logo was donated by Teri Schott. Food for the opening is being donated by companies and by individuals who have offered to bake for us. People have walked into our gallery to ask if they can help.

Once again we demonstrate the Power of One. We the people who reach out to our friends and neighbors in a time of need.

If you live in the area, come on down for our opening celebration, Saturday, December 6, from 10-2, at our gallery, Elements Gallery, 1619 W.Mill Street, and at the Peninsula Art Academy across the street.

Enjoy light refreshments, music, and Christmas in Peninsula. You’ll be a part of a very important event. If you’re not close to our neck of the woods, you will be able to purchase artwork online on December 8th. The show will run through January 11, 2009.

Friends and neighbors helping each other.

The old maple sat in front of this old house as long as the house has stood. We think it’s somewhere between 1830 and 1840. She spread her canopy of green in hot summer days, shading this old house. Seeds helicoptered down, covering the walkway; and young maples surprised us when they sprouted in unusual places. Each fall, she’d shed her leaves; leaves that had started out as that bright, fresh young green of early spring, maturing into the deep green of late summer, and finishing as brilliant as they had started, but this time in red and gold. The front walk and garden were blanketed in browns, gold and reds as the leaves completed their yearly cycle.

The sugar maple had seen a lot in her long life: floods and droughts, high winds and thunderstorms, ice and snow, and she wore the battle scars. A strong cable supported a couple of large limbs that were located over the house. We knew she was old, and saw changes that kind of made us think she was winding down. Then Hurricane Ike roared into town, bringing torrential rains and high winds, taking its toll on the old tree. A large crack appeared in the side, pushing a section of the tree out from the trunk, as if the winds had twisted her like a matchstick.

There really was no choice. The tree, with 2 large limbs perched above the house, was dangerous and had to come down.

Rich is a man who thinks about trees. He methodically plans each move, each cut, as he takes down a tree, one section at a time. Climbing the tree, using heavy rope and a chain saw, Rich took his time as he brought our old friend to the ground.

A neighbor wandered across the road to watch; Grandpa came through the woods and over the stream to witness this change.

It took two days to take down what nature had nourished for 175 years. Friends who are wood turners took 2 truck loads of wood; and another who heats with wood took more. There are still parts of the trunk, 38 inches in diameter, sitting in front of this old house. We’re not ready to let it all go yet.

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My Town Monday comes to us all via Travis Erwin. Take a trip over there and check out the links from bloggers who share this beautiful blue planet.

*Post a comment if you’d like to be entered into a drawing for a Little Blue Santa.
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And if you’re so inclined, please visit Cups of Kindness, our art show to benefit the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank.

There is something special about things that are made one at a time by hand. They come from the heart through the hands.

An old friend once said that these mugs are user-friendly since he had “hands like hams.” He could easily hold the mug in his hand. I have my favorite mug: I can hold it with one or 2 hands, and it’s designed to keep my drink and hands warm. The cool thing is that if my coffee or tea cools off, I can heat it up in the microwave. They are available in blue, green and earth tones.

It drives me nuts when I have poured a drink into a mug or glass and the pitcher drips. These pitchers don’t drip— really.

Kids’ sets are unique personalized items. They are made from porcelain clay and are the perfect size for children. I use the cups, bowls and plates all the time. The cup is the perfect size for a late afternoon cup of something, and the bowl controls the amount of ice cream I eat.

All culinary pieces are made of white stoneware or porcelain clays, by hand, one at a time. They are glazed with non-toxic glazes, fired to 2400 degrees F, and are safe to use in dishwashers, conventional and microwave ovens. They make great gifts—either for someone else or for yourself.

The little Blue Santa and friends have continued to grace our lives. We have met so many wonderful people from all over this beautiful blue planet who have shared their stories about him. We are now making little Green Santas, a cat and a shoe. I will be posting photos of them in the next day or so, so check back soon.

To order any piece, please click here.

Post a comment and I’ll enter you in one of my high-tech (where I pull a name from a hat) drawings for a little Blue Santa.

The Mayor? Anonymous? A guy with big ears? A member of the PPP? Travis?

Fellow My Town Monday Marauders Barbara, Mary, and Reb correctly identified the guy as Travis. The winner of the high tech drawing is Laura, from CenterDownHome. She joins the other members of the PPP, Terrie Farley Moran, Sam, Travis, Barrie, and Eryl.

The PPP grows, and has members all over this planet. Who knows, perhaps we will find the wayward reptile one of these days.