It seems like hearts are a theme for me right now. Do you remember Stan? Stan is the metal man I created a few years ago. Stan was in need of a heart and he found his when Otis, his companion dog, was created. Stan's heart was created out of the same material as Otis to symbolize the love he had gained. Stan and Otis lived together at 1813 Capitol Ave in Midtown Sacramento for about 4 years. Last May, Otis was stolen from this public spot and since then, Stan has been alone – arms outstretched waiting for his companion to come home. I think it was a sign of the times ... we’ve all been a little isolated and alone for the last couple of years. 😔 And even though Stan is made of metal, he's no different. Stan's heart has been broken and is longing for a companion to love and to greet him.
If you’ve ever had a pet, you know that each one is irreplaceable in your heart. And even though Otis was made of metal, he was no different. Who would have thought that a metal dog could bring so much joy to those around him. He was crafted with dedication and yep, love. Otis is irreplaceable. Even if I could do the hands-on metal work, I still wouldn’t be able to create another Otis. It was a design-as-you-go and let-your-heart-be-your-guide process and sculpture. There were no blueprints and really, not even any drawings.
But now, I’m working on a new companion for Stan. My goal in creating his new companion isn’t to bring Otis back, but to create a companion that is a constant reminder of Otis. Maybe the new companion is related to Otis, so has some of his characteristics but with a new twist. I think of it as a way to honor Otis’s memory without trying to replace him.
When I found out Otis had been stolen, I didn't think I would ever be able to create another companion for Stan. But now I'm learning a new way to create using computer aided design (CAD), computer drawings, cutout materials, and the help of others for some of the more physical labor my shoulder shouldn’t do. It’s been a steep learning curve … that’s for sure. I’ve gone from excited at the possibilities to frustrated at the roadblocks. And then, luckily, back to excited as I figure out and learn how to overcome those roadblocks. Last week, I created a 3D model of Stan’s new companion (my first model!!). I have to say, I’m pretty proud of myself (for the moment anyway).
I’ve sent the files off to the fabricator and hoping that I’ve done a good job spec’ing out what needs to be done. I’m definitely relying on some of my old engineering skills to do this. And believe me, they’re old. It’s been over 30 years since I used a CAD program. (yikes!) Luckily the tools are friendlier today and the internet exists to help get me through the process.
Now, I’m waiting excitedly and anxiously to hear back on how I did with the specs, and for the start of the fabrication process. You can follow along on Facebook and Instagram to see how this process goes. And I’ll definitely let you know here when the new dog is ready to meet Stan. Do you think Stan’s heart will be full? I know mine will.
Read the story of stan & otis on my website blog.
And speaking of full hearts, I couldn’t have been happier with my recent Valentine project. This year, I wanted to send out greetings of love since it’s been such tough times for the world, each other, and yeah, it’s been tough for me. I was grateful that this year I was (and am) in a mindset that I could do this. Sending out love is a great way to nurture love, and I’m working on getting better at this.
Surprising to me were the responses I received. Thank you!! I treasured every individual connection in emails, in social media, in texts, in person, and the biggest surprise were the valentines and cards I received in return. (add full heart emoji here…💗) I heard ‘it’s been years since I’ve gotten a valentine,’ ‘what a wonderful gift,’ and ‘my daughter loved getting her own valentine.’ I even loved and appreciated the message that said ‘I just wanted to let you know, I never received a Valentine,’ so I could remedy that. And I loved that I sent cards to people I’ve never met in person and some I’ve never connected with before … even to Calgary, Canada (the farthest place).
I had so much fun sending out the Valentine’s cards that I am planning on doing this next year ... and maybe making it an annual tradition. I even created a new internet domain name for it. (I’ll share that later when it’s ready.) So if you missed out this year, you can still sign up for next year. The link on my website is still active or click the button below. If you weren’t sure if this was a scam, or didn’t want to be a bother this year, sign up for next year … please! And yes, pass it on again to anyone who would like a Valentine card sent their way.
Most importantly, I want to say thank you for all I received in return. It was a blessing that filled my heart with love.
💗Angela
