Moon&Stars Studio

Baby Bears...

2009-11-12T08:27:00.003-05:00

Two little garter stitch teddy bear friends headed out to a Holiday fundraiser later on today. They are wearing their newly crocheted scarves to keep them warm. They hope to find their new homes with a holiday shopper tonight!

A Boy and his Dog

2009-11-11T19:14:00.003-05:00

Seth holding Ruben

In the Works....

2009-11-07T09:44:00.003-05:00

With all that has been going on around here, it is always amazing to me how much crafting i do manage to get done. The floors and the furniture are dusty, and the laundry is piled high, but i make sure that whenever i sit still, i have a bag full of yarn and a crochet hook or knitting needles with me.

Meet my new newborn model, Dorie. Her store bought name was Dora, but i decided to change it a bit so she would be named after the little pup we lost last week. Newborn sized hats fit her perfectly! And the hats are a new style i have been working with. Last Winter i focused on learning to knit, and this year i am teaching myself how to read and execute crochet patterns... I worked on the ear pattern on this hat and am calling them my teddybear beanies! They will be available in newborn and toddler sizes at The Paper Sparrow and in my Etsy shop real soon.

And underneath this pile is my kitchen table! I put my countless unfinished projects on the table this morning so they would be right in my face, and hopefully i will get some of them finished today. (This is just a fraction of the projects that need finishing) I have over a dozen pair of booties to be seamed, ears to sew on hats, scarves to be trimmed out, lovely hats started on looms, baby sweaters to be pieced together and trimmed, teddy bears that need to be stuffed and sewn together.... And that's not all. Time to finish up a few loose ends before starting another project....well....except for the next sweater i started last night and those new hat patterns i am working on........oh well, i am a work in progress!

Runnin' with the Big Dogs

2009-11-06T08:48:00.001-05:00

Early morning, and fresh out of the crate for the night, Ruben is ready for some wrestling...

Even Gipetto joins in sometimes, tho he spends most of his time sleeping on the bed or chairs up high above the action. Gipetto will be 17 next June. He's had his share of welcoming puppies to this house. Now in his old age, he can do whatever he wants to do!

Tag team action going on at the moment, and sometimes the big dogs lay down and let little Ruben win....I'm so glad they are all good friends already...

Morning Moon

2009-11-05T08:21:00.004-05:00

I have a special love for the moon...I tried to take some pictures of the Full Hunter's Moon the other night, but was unable to get a good shot. (It could be because all four dogs decided to jump and wrestle right under my feet, causing me to get some very blurry shots)

So when i came out early this morning with the dogs and saw this, i thought i would give it a try... The moon was only visible for a short while as the sun was coming up

and right before my eyes it blended in with the wispy clouds

and disappeared...just for a little while...

Prayers are welcome....

2009-11-03T10:09:00.003-05:00

My son in law, and Seth and Lola's daddy, Jeremie, is in the local hospital, and has been for over a week now. He has had a lifelong battle with asthma, and has been in and out of hospitals all his life with this problem. Two weeks ago he caught a cold or flu that was going thru the family, and last Sunday my daughter brought him to the ER with shortness of breath. He has developed a very strong bacterial pneumonia that has so far been very resistant to antibiotics. He is now in ICU, on a respirator, in a medically induced deep sleep.... Jeremie is a very private person so i have resisted posting about this. But as we enter into the second week in ICU with no improvements so far, i am hopeful that extra prayers and positive thoughts might just help him out. I am a lifelong believer in the Power of Prayer and Love, and i thank you all in advance for sending a little Love and Light our way....

The Cohoes Falls

2009-11-01T06:39:00.000-05:00

Last Sunday i woke up, and the sky was clear, and the sun was shining, so i grabbed my camera, and went to take some pictures of The Cohoes Falls to share with you... My little city has been working hard to improve it's looks, and one of the bigger projects was to build a park near the falls, and highlight the natural beauty that is right in our own backyards. And literally folks, this is right down the street from my house! I've gone by a zillion times and wished i remembered to bring my camera along. So on this day, i was on a mission... You enter the park by crossing this bridge

That leads to this overlook

to see this.... The Cohoes Falls. And on this day, after a few days of hard rains, they were very impressive!

This is the far side of the falls

The foliage was a little past peak, but still beautiful

the far side

from a distance The water was rushing so hard that the spray was creating the perfect environment for rainbows... and more rainbows

and more rainbows

and more

another shot of the cliffs and the foliage...
This year the city opened a staircase so that you could climb down to the water's edge and get closer to the river

You know, i got halfway down and got so dizzy! (I get dizzy just looking at this picture!) This is a very steep stairway

But it does give you a whole new way to experience the falls

You get so close you get sprayed with the mist from the falls and you can feel the water pounding the ground thru your body

This is a shot of the river just below the falls

I stood and looked at the water and felt the spray and the pounding and crashing and couldn't get this silly smile off my face. It was Awesome!

another rainbow

Ok, so it was chilly, the sun was going down, and i was getting wet and i turned around and this is what i had in front of me ~ a zig zagged pathway and the steep staircase again. And let me tell you, it is more work to get up the stairs than it is to get down!

almost all the way up....

The rapids before the falls

Another view of the lookout

and the rusty colored hills across the river

As you leave the park you face the old Erie Canal that has always run thru our city

and cross the bridge over the canal to the parking area. The park will be closed for the season in another week. But it will reopen in Spring during the Spring thaw, when the falls are really magnificent. I hope you enjoyed this little "tour" of one of the more magical places in my city. I know i did!

Snuggle Time

2009-10-28T09:02:00.005-04:00

Here's little Ruben,crouching in the dog bed, planning his next sneak attack on Pollyanna or Zinnia... when along comes Polly. She has taken over the role of Mother to Rubie, cleaning him, grooming him, and playing with him gently

He has decided he likes the fresh marrow bones i provide for the big dogs, and spends a lot of time working those sharp little teeth on the bones

Pollyanna sees this as a good time to do some cleanup detail on the pup

She cleans around his mouth, ears and chest

then works around to his eyes and the top of his head

She does this often with him...lays along side of him and puts her leg around him in a hug , just like Zinnia did to her when she was a small pup

The cleaner, new and improved Ruben!

Sunday Stroll

2009-10-26T18:17:00.001-04:00

A few weeks ago, on a Sunday morning, Bill and i set out to check out a fairly new local Farmer's Market, in the town of Waterford, NY. It's just a hop, skip and jump from our little city.

I go to the Farmer's Market in Troy, NY almost every Saturday morning on my way in to help my daughter Katie at her shop, The Paper Sparrow. And this little Market had some of the same Farmer's stalls set up, as well as some new wares for us to look at.

Like the Market in Troy, this Farmer's Market is also set right along the Hudson river, but this one is overlooking the Erie Canal Locks. So not only did we have wonderful pottery and produce to peruse...

but also some pretty colorful boats and tug boats to check out

The morning started out chilly and overcast, but soon the clouds and fog burned off and the pale Fall sunlight warmed us all up.

Here's Bill talking to a fisherman

and then he sat and warmed himself in the sun while listening to some live music

There were little cafe tables set up and benches galore to sit on and just enjoy the river, and watch life go by

This little Market only ran for one more weekend and then it was done for the year. I'm so glad we stopped by and discovered how nice it was. We will definitely be back in the Spring!

But with the colors of Fall in the trees, it will be a while before we shop at the Market here again.

Self Portrait with Puppy

2009-10-23T20:47:00.003-04:00

I took these pictures of me and my new puppy Ruben this afternoon... If we look a little sad and tired, it is because we had a rough day today. We learned that my little pup's sister Dorie had a life ending birth defect, and she had to be put down this morning... She was such a sweet little girl...My sister Kathy and i stayed with her until it was over...
Ruben (that's the new pup's name) has been crying a little more today and i think it is because he really misses her company. But his new friends Zinnia and Pollyanna are doing everything they can to keep him busy and happy. Happiness and tears....

Baby Shower

2009-10-17T11:10:00.003-04:00

My Niece asked me to make her a gift for a new baby girl who is coming into the Family
After making the hat and booties, i thought we might be on a bit of a pink overload, so i knitted this little fuzzy blue teddy for her too...

I hope she likes him... he's so soft....

New Crafts....

2009-10-15T07:09:00.001-04:00

It just hit me...the holiday season is JUST around the corner! So i have been busy!

I've been frustrated by the fact that my knitting still goes so slow, and by the fact that my wrists and arms seem to hurt more if i try to push for better production. SO i took the simple beginner pattern to make this sweater....

made out of a square panel for the back, two rectangle panels for the front and two more for the sleeves...

and made it in super fast double crochet!

and it came together in no time at all! And for some reason, crochet doesn't bother my wrists and arms at all! So now there is no reason why i cannot fill the Paper Sparrow and my Etsy shop (someday) with these cute little sweaters!

I am also cranking out more Mother Bears, and made my first Humpty Dumpty doll too. Very simple and soft for baby. Humpty has a friend with red pants and one with green pants coming together right now too. As a matter of fact there is a LOT more coming together, just awaiting seaming and embellishments. My kitchen table looks a lot like Santa's Workshop at any given time! Time to get ready for the big Holiday season!

An Amazing way to spend a Sunday afternoon. The Flux Art Show

2009-10-12T10:13:00.004-04:00

I found the video above on YouTube last night. But the image below my friends, is what you see when you first walk into the Flux Art Show inside St Joseph's Church in downtown Albany NY. The church has been abandoned now for may years, but at one time was a much loved, and well used part of the community. It has been lovingly taken over temporarily by the artists and musicians working with Ken Jacobie, Samson Contompasis and his Marketplace Gallery. What an amazing experience this was for me and the friends who were with me...

The altar was ruined long ago and many of the pews were destroyed or removed over time. Parts of the ornate tile floor were dug up and missing, and some parts of the walls were bare right down to the laths. But this did nothing to diminish the beauty and sacred vibration that was resonating thru this building. The troupe of artists had gone in and cleaned and straightened the refuse that littered the floors, and actually used some of the refuse to create new art. The show opened on Friday evening, complete with local musicians performing and food brought in by local eateries. And the art exhibit was outstanding and eclectic as always.

We waited until Sunday afternoon...the first day the show was open during the daylight hours. I waited till then so that i could see the stained glass windows of this 150 plus year old church... Now, this is becoming a bad habit, but i was halfway between home and my friend's house before i realized that once again i had forgotten my camera. (I am going to have to start pinning that darn contraption to my bra strap every day) But thanks to my friend Kate and her trusty and truly amazing cell phone camera(i do covet that little machine Kate) we have these pictures to share with you so that you too can have a glimpse of a truly one of a kind art show experience...The fabric pyramid was an installation piece done by Sam Contompasis.

Many of the smaller pieces of art were held up by old doors and pews found scattered in the church. Other art pieces were free standing or leaning against walls

This large painting of one of the faces of the Archangels hanging from the ceiling was placed on a side altar with candles lit beneath it, and was painted by Alex Contompasis

This is the mirror image placed on the left side of the room under an ancient painting of Mary, surrounded by cherubs

Here is a picture of the carved angels and the ornate paint and woodwork on the ceilings

Another ancient painting above the altar of Jesus and the angels

Stained glass panel ceiling above the altar

This room was called the "Gnome" Room. Many designs were stencilled and painted right on the old flaking wall surfaces. I found it enchanting! (That's me in the picture hugging myself to conserve heat. It was like an icebox in the old stone church that i was told was never fully heated.

More of the Gnome Room

This was a very lovely installation piece done by Samson Contompasis, of his impression of "Heaven". The mound of sand under the hanging gauze, and the handful of sand trapped by the material is sand collected from many different beaches around the world that he has visited...

And next to it, was his brother Alex interpretation of "Hell". It was a wire armature covered with canvas pieces that the female form was sewing together, and the hand written sign below that asked "Do you love me now?"

We actually climbed a very narrow staircase to a room above the church hall, leading to the bell tower, and Kate took this picture from the overlook window.

Here is some of the ornate tile work on the altar floor

more tile work

The doorway leading up to the bell tower room... Originally this show was to end last night, BUT Sam told us as we were leaving that he had gotten permission to keep the show there and open thru this next week. So, if anyone out there is interested, the show will go on and you still have a chance to experience it for yourself. Believe me, it is time well spent. I definitely plan to return at least one more time...

Happy Birthday CuppyCake...

2009-10-11T22:46:00.008-04:00

That's what your Grandfather called you the very first time he set eyes on you... My first born, and his first grandchild... I know it sounds silly but it seems like only yesterday you were sitting on Santa's knee (and didn't know that was your grandfather under that Santa suit! ;)

We have watched you grow over the years from a sweet little girl who loved Big Bird and Cookie Monster, to a beautiful, confident young woman who has always reached for her dreams, and worked hard to make them come true.

Happy Birthday to my first born... my Katie. Know that Dad and i are so proud of you and love you very much.

Rockin'

2009-10-09T07:02:00.000-04:00

I love little children...

Being around them reminds me of how much joy they can find in the simple things in life

like rocking in a rocking chair...

When Lola was a little baby

i used to read to her and rock her to sleep in this rocker

Now, she is big enough to help me push it out into the living room and sit in it and rock all by herself

But she still likes Gumma to sit with her and read a book, and rock together....

Flux~ An Art and Music Event!

2009-10-08T07:37:00.001-04:00

Just spreading the word! We have another big show here this weekend! The economic downturn has really hurt the artistic community. So come on out and check out this event, and maybe take home a one of a kind original piece of art! This announcement was taken from the Facebook Events page!

flux
3 day music and art event
Host: St. Joseph's Church
Type: Causes - Fundraiser
Network: Global
Start Time: Friday, October 9, 2009 at 4:30pm
End Time: Sunday, October 11, 2009 at 11:30pm
Location: St. Joseph's
Street: 38 Ten Broeck Street
City/Town: Albany, NY
View MapGoogle
MapQuest
Microsoft
Yahoo
Phone: 5182561380
Email: ken@kenjacobie.com

Description :The official unoffical end of summer 09' three day celebration of local music, art and Albany history!
One thing is certain- since it was completed in 1860, St. Joseph’s church has a long history of being a part of the community which surrounds it. Clearly today it also stands largely as a sobering reminder of what happens when communities change and institutions do not keep pace. This show is inspired to bring more than great music and art to the location- it’s also designed to function practically as a step towards the next possibility for this landmark.
Your support is what it's all about-
Get ready to enjoy a musical and artistic look at the ceaseless nature of change.
Clearly St. Joseph’s Church has been witness to plenty in its century and a half journey to today. This hand built monument to the 1860s was once brand new- yet today it is a silent testament to the flowing process of time itself- a lesson for each of us.
Visual and audio artists include Samson and Alex Contompasis, Daniel Chavez, Dwell & One Unit, Chip Fasciana, Ethan Bach, Courtney Blackwell, designs by JESSYKA, Existing Artists, Martin Dodge, Gregg Dunn, Adam Steele, Paper Girl, lo-fi LOBO, DJ Trumastr, radical!, Scott Smith, Jason Schultz and many others.
Large and small scale artworks but especially those crafted from vintage materials found in the church serve to remind us that all which surrounds us is visibly and invisibly in a state of flux.
The show will feature sculpture, live music, poetry, video, painting, fabric, installations and more- each offering the viewer a moment of reflection on the process by which the movement of time invariably flows. Historic themed murals, on the plywood covering the stained glass windows, will grace the exterior of the church bring signs of life back to the community.
Each night of the event will have a different musical theme which like time itself will ebb and flow as the evening progress. An ongoing reception in a specially created area within the church add to the enjoyment of refreshments available from the Pump Station, Shalimar, Quintessence, Franklins Tower and courtesy of Capital Wine & Liquor. Local food delivery services will be expedited to St Joseph's as well.
The event is open to the general public, each nights minimum suggested donation of $5 benefits ongoing restoration efforts and Albany’s art community. Bring IT on!

Friday, October 9th from 4-11pm;
Saturday, October 10th from 7pm-midnight;
Sunday, October 11th from noon-9pm.

How They Have Grown!

2009-10-06T09:54:00.006-04:00

The puppies at almost 4 weeks

We have 3 girls and a boy
This is the little boy...one of my favorites. Right now he is the biggest in the litter, but that can change with the days to come...

and here is my favorite little girl. My sister calls her Sookie...

And here is her brother again, fast asleep in my arms. Look at all those folds and wrinkles! Beautiful little babies...

Free Hugs...

2009-10-05T07:19:00.000-04:00

Here's another video favorite from You Tube. There's something about this little video that i love. Thought i would share it again, just because...(i gotta get me one of those "Free Hugs" T shirts...)

A Very (ugly) Hungry Caterpillar

2009-10-02T06:46:00.001-04:00

Ok, i was working in my gardens removing some of my spent tomato plants, when i found THIS!

This looked to me like the very hungry caterpillar on steroids!!!

This thing is BIG! And do you see those little rice like things clinging to it's back? It's larvae? Maggots?! Whatever they were they were wiggling and jiggling on that caterpillar's back.

And i'm not even sure that this end that's up is the head! It may be the backside?

As a matter of fact i think it IS the backside! Maybe another caterpillar could tell for sure, but i think it is pretty interesting that i can't tell it's head from it's hind end! Truly a face...or butt...only another caterpillar could love...

Little Bulldog and the Bug

2009-09-30T19:11:00.003-04:00

New Knits and Crochet

2009-09-27T10:12:00.016-04:00

In between all the big birthday celebrations we've had around here(see posts from mid August to present!!!) i have been getting some work accomplished. At night when i finally sit down i get out my needles, looms and hooks and get to work. I've tried a few new patterns and found a few that are keepers!

Like this Bunny Blankie, crocheted out of 100% natural cotton. And the crocheted acrylic baby blanket under the bunny...

And these little booties for infants...so easy and sweet! in acrylic and cotton

The cuffs can be turned down...

or left up to cover more of that little baby leg. And the soft ribbons that are laced thru the stitches can be used to gently snug the bootie to the baby's foot.

I made hats, hats and more hats in all sizes and shapes, with rolled brims and cuffed brims....

and these hats were made from yarn bought at The Paper Sparrow. All of these offerings are currently for sale at The Paper Sparrow, but i am trying to set aside a few things for my upcoming Etsy shop! ...someday.....

End Of Summer Birthday Bash

2009-09-24T07:38:00.054-04:00

At the end of Summer, right after school starts up for the year, we celebrate Seth and Lola's birthday. They were born on the very same day, but seven years apart. Carly and Jeremie had a big birthday party in the back yard, and everyone was invited. And what a beautiful day it was too!

There was a little fairy at the party!

Lola's Aunt Kate bought her an outfit for her special day, and Daddy bought her balloons.

This little fairy was irresistible and her Gumma couldn't help but hug her all day long!

Lola was fascinated by her Minnie Mouse and Elmo balloons

a kiss for the balloons...
Sadly, they flew away during the party but i am sure the birds really enjoyed them too

Here is the little Lola Fairy snacking in the garden...

Oops! Frosting on her crinoline!

The other half of the birthday brigade was very busy hiding in trees and running thru the neighborhood. Here is the Commando Unit resting for a bit before they charged around the block again.... I was very fortunate to catch them sitting still for a moment. I think the birthday boy was trying to avoid birthday kisses and hugs by constantly moving and changing locations...This strategy worked for most of the day...Eventually he was captured and held prisoner by the huggers at the party.

There were little Commandos too!

And the Commando team even accepted recruits!

As she was the only girl at the party, Lola loves to play with the boys!

There were bubbles to blow...

and magic red sparkle shoes to wear!

"matoes" to eat...(Lola's favorite veggie-tomatoes)

and fairy wear to share! Here is GG (Lola's Great Grandmother and my Mom) trying on Lola's headband. Silly GG!

Then it was time to take a little break before opening up the birthday presents!

This year, Sesame Street, Yo Gabba Gabba, and yes, even Barbie were big at the party for Lola.

While Seth got some cool clothes, GI Joe action figures, Lego building sets, and money!

Lola shared her new Elmo phone.

and Seth's friends admired his birthday stash.

Lola with her new cloche from Aunt Sandy...

Finally the gifts were all unwrapped and it was time for the cake.

and it was DEeeeeLICIOUS!

Happy Birthday Carly !

2009-09-23T10:40:00.011-04:00

Happy Birthday to my baby Carly. It seems like only yesterday you were born!

We've traveled and grown together thru pigtails

thru the teen years (oiy!)

and we've watched you grow from a little baby to a beautiful grown woman

who has given us the treasured gift of grandchildren.

Happy Birthday Carly! Enjoy your special day, and know that Dad and i love you very much!

From The Ashes-An Article from the Metroland Magazine

2009-09-21T18:29:00.000-04:00

Here is an excellent article written by my friend Kathryn Lange Guerin about Sam and the gallery fire for Metroland Magazine, on the stands right now.

Samson Contompasis
Photo and article by Kathryn Geurin

From the Ashes
A month after a fire demolished Albany’s newest gallery, individual determination and community support have made huge strides toward rebuilding
By Kathryn Geurin

Samson Contompasis seems completely at ease in his temporary role as construction foreman. No stranger to sweat and power tools, the hulking artist has sculpted stone and painted cityscapes that stretch for yards. But his latest effort is one of restoration and rebirth.
A month after an electrical fire burned through his apartment and gallery, Contompasis is shaping a pile of lumber into new interior walls in the expansive, gutted Albany loft. Sawdust sticks to a layer of sweat, and he steps onto the rusty balcony for a smoke, still volleying affectionate insults at his father and fellow artists working inside.
“If the gods want to test our mettle, then so be it. The show must go on,” wrote Contompasis in an open letter to friends, family and supporters of the Marketplace Gallery on the day after the fire. Five months and five art shows earlier, Contompasis and his two brothers had established apartments and opened a burgeoning gallery space in the old Greenbush Tape and Label building on Broadway. The fire claimed everything in Contompasis’ apartment except for a few photographs. Fire, smoke and water damaged artwork. Xena, the family’s beloved American Bulldog, was lost to the blaze.
“That’s the hardest thing,” chokes Contompasis. “I can laugh about everything else, even the artwork. We lived in Xena’s house,” he smiles. “That’s just the way it was.”
But losing nearly everything wasn’t going to deter the artist from continuing to build what he’d begun. “I’m trying to think of it as a chance to have a blank slate,” he says, “a clean, clear canvas. We’re pretty much just taking everything that the gallery was and improving on it. And really, that’s all art is, taking something and making it better.”
Less than 12 hours after the fire, Contompasis was back inside, boxing up whatever could be salvaged, tossing whatever was destroyed. The next day he’d begun demolishing the ruined interior walls.
He is at once wildly energized and deeply peaceful about the process. Over the shrieks of power tools, Contompasis shouts his serene philosophy. “That’s just what needed to be done. There’s nothing else you can do. My brothers and I all bucked up, packed up what was left, and started starting over.”
All three brothers are artists. All lost something to the fire. All are determined to rebuild. “We all create. Through that we’ve created a network, and that network has supported us through this.”
The day of the fire, the folks from Tess’ Lark Tavern in Albany contacted Contompasis to let him know they were already planning a fundraiser. This past weekend Silver Fox Architectural Salvage and Drops of Jupiter floral design studio joined forces in throwing a fundraiser at Albany Flea. Befitting the gallery they were organized to support, the events resounded with creativity and community. On Sunday, live music set a soundtrack for work on a communal painting. Kids in garbage-bag smocks worked alongside professional artists and 20-something hipsters. Cash donations taped to a whimsical blue money tree fluttered in the breeze, and fire-damaged art hung for sale alongside unscathed work.
After dark, a troupe of fire spinners put on a blazing show that spoke to Contompasis’ spirit of affirmative defiance—the element of destruction harnessed for celebration and rebuilding.
“The support has been magnanimous. It’s been coming from everywhere—fellow artists, people who have never seen our place, people who had never even heard of it, people who knew all about it, even people that literally just feel bad about losing Xena.”
The efforts have already raised between $2,000 and $3,000, with donations ranging from $1 raffle tickets to $500 checks, and every penny has gone to buy building materials. “Thanks to all the support, we have the means to just go get our materials and get to work,” say Contompasis. “We haven’t had to waste time wondering where we’re going to get wood or screws. All our energy has been put toward rebuilding. It’s very motivating.”
The first fundraiser raised enough for Contompasis to purchase the lumber and begin rebuilding. The second funded the purchase of the rest of the lumber and some of the wiring. “It’s all been happening in phases,” says Contompasis, “Putnam Den in Saratoga, I just did a gigantic mural up there, they offered to help in any way they could, so we’re planning an event there sometime in mid to late October. We still have to buy outlets and lighting, around 100 pieces of sheetrock, we have a ways to go, but we’re going.”
On Sept. 4—the third anniversary of Albany’s 1st Friday, and only two weeks after the fire—Contompasis mounted Epic, the art show he’d been planning to open that evening. “A fire is not going to stop me from having a show,” he insists. “I already had the artists lined up. I just needed walls to hang it on.” Space at 4 Central Ave. was donated as a temporary home for the gallery, and the show went forward as planned.
Contompasis hopes to reopen the Marketplace gallery in early November, and a short visit to the bustling site makes that daunting goal seem entirely achievable.
“I want every person who walks into this place to see where the money went,” says Contempassis, surveying the still-hollow shell of the loft, his vision of the future sparking behind his eyes. “I want the entire gallery to say thank you, to show people that this is beautiful—that every one of them was part of this rebirth.”

Happy Birthday !

2009-09-19T10:49:00.004-04:00

Nine years ago today a wondeful little boy was born. I didn't know him then but finally met him when he and his Daddy fell in love with my daughter Carly. It was then that i fell in love with Seth, the very first day i met him. Ever since that day he is and always will be my special boy...

Then 2 whole years ago, on the very same day Seth was born, Lola came into our lives, and i fell in love again.

It's really hard to get them into the very same picture, unless you pose them (IF you can hit the shutter button while Lola is staying still. Not easy!)
but these two people are what makes my life Blessed and very very happy.
Happy Birthday Seth and Lola! See you at the party!

Moon*&*Stars Studio