Holiday Shopping at Missouri Bluffs, Weston, MO

Anne's 25th anniversary party at Missouri Bluffs on Saturday night was a lot of fun. We are so proud of the evolution of her business through the years. The shop only gets better and is well worth the pilgrimage to the historic town of Weston. Rhett and I reconnected with collectors of our artwork and made some new friends. If you are looking for original artwork or Rhett's and my designs for Demdaco, Anne has a large collection. Missouri Bluffs is located in Weston , Missouri. The phone number there is 816-640-2770. The store is on the Main street right beside the St. George hotel. This is a painted cloth hand sewn angel with metal wings. She is holding a garland decorated with my latest design for charms, tags, and ornaments. Peace.
A peek of the table of "pretties" that we set up on Saturday evening. Charms, tags, ornaments, metal trees, necklaces, sculptures and brooches.
This is a view of the front window, packed with Rhett art. A creche in the middle surrounded by Santas and the tree is decorated with Santa ornaments and snow dome ornaments.

Another view of the front window. You can see a couple of the steel and copper trees that Rhett fabricated. They stand 8 inches tall and look great in groupings on tables or mantels. Anne has a full collection of our artwork and many designs that you can only find in her store.

Remembrance Day

photo by E. G. Schempf
Our Lady of the Nations
23" x 13" x 18"
mixed media
2003
Feast Day 13 May
Invoked for world peace

This representation of Our Blessed Mother was inspired by an icon of the Theotokos which hangs in Diveyevo convent, Russia. I wanted my interpretation to appear as if Our Lady had stepped out from behind a pearl encrusted riza. She is standing on an historic map of Russia, the pivotal country for world peace according to the Fatima message of 1917.

A message became clear to me as I pondered the concept of PSYOP ( psychological operations ) and centcom leaflets. I held a few of these leaflets and thought about the information printed upon them. What images would Our Lady use on leaflets to shower down upon us? What would be her message? The answer was simply the dove of peace.

The Blessed Mother holds a rosary of nation flags emerging from the womb of a partial globe. A globe layered with historic maps of countries in which there is no peace due to the failings of human beings. Palestine. Somalia. Afghanistan. North Korea. Iraq. Cuba. This rosary of global meditations is currently unending.

What each of us as human beings on this planet must learn is to be understanding, to have compassion, to be respectful, to seek harmony, and to have patience. These qualities must be mutually held by all in order for any hope of lasting world peace.



This was the flag that hung in the window of Rhett's paternal grandparent's home whilst his grandfather, Andrew Johnson , served his country during World War I. My maternal grandfather, Andrew Etter served during WWI also. Both of you are being thought of on this day of remembrance.