Adam and Eve Are Ready to Party 9 Apr 2025, 4:09 am

As the garden begins to flourish with freshly planted blooms, the Tangerine Beauty Crossvine is strutting her stuff. Along the back wall, nestled among the flowering vines, our whimsical metal sculptures—affectionately named Adam and Eve—are coming to life. With Adam wearing his kerchief and Eve adorned with her ribbon, the pair seem to dance together, full of joy and playfulness, ready to join the party.

Let me share the story of how Adam and Eve found their way into our garden. Back when I had my business in North Carolina, I was blessed with two incredible friends and colleagues, Patsy and Michelle. For my birthday in March of 1995, they dreamed up the idea of these sculptures as a surprise. Michelle’s husband, a talented welder, brought them to life. What a gift—one full of creativity, love, and meaning. Over the years, Adam and Eve have traveled with us from garden to garden, always adding a playful spirit wherever they land. But here, basking in the sunlight entwined in the Tangerine Crossvine, they seem perfectly at home.

Art has a magical way of capturing moments and memories. Whether it’s a sculpture, a painting, or a handmade treasure, the pieces we cherish most often remind us of people we love or milestones we hold dear. Adam and Eve do just that for me—a timeless reminder of friendship and joy.

I invite you to celebrate the joy of art and the beauty of the garden with us this Saturday, April 12! For event details, visit: marysherwoodlifestyles.com/lets-party2

Adam and Eve are ready—and we hope you are too! See you Saturday!
With love,
Mary

Only One Week to Go… 6 Apr 2025, 2:10 pm

Good morning friends!
The countdown is officially on — just one week until the Garden Art Party on April 12th! Things are really coming together. The raised beds are settling in, the potted plants are still trying to perk up and find their groove, and the garden art will be making its bold entrance by weeks’ end. Come prepared to meet the artists and discuss how you can incorporate art in your garden! Go here for invitation details!

Every day brings a little more color, a little more life. The canna lilies may be fashionably late to the party. They need a little more warm weather.  The rest of the garden will be the backdrop for the fabulous art! This is one of my favorite cacti, not yet in bloom, the Red Torch Cactus!

On the menu side, the foodie lineup continues to grow. Alongside those Stuffed Cherry Peppers and Mini Phyllo Tacos, we’re adding Caprese Skewers and Mini Cheesecake Bites — because what’s a party without a little delicious overindulgence?

A few reminders:
The weather is shaping up to be sunny and warm — hats, sunscreen, and comfy shoes are highly recommended.

The paths are gravel, the art is colorful, and the vibe is relaxed.

If you haven’t RSVP’d yet, just click below to let me know you’re in — we want to have plenty of goodies for everyone

We are looking forward to seeing you! Please bring your friends!

See you soon!
Mary

Two Weeks and Counting… 30 Mar 2025, 7:22 pm

The Garden Art Party is getting close!

If you’ve been following along with my latest project, you know that in just two weeks we’ll be hosting a Garden Art Party in a Southwest setting with a touch of East Coast influence. If you’d like to see the progress of the new side yard raised beds I shared last week , check it out here. You can take an East Coast girl to the desert, but you can’t take away her love for a colorful garden! With vibrant floral plantings and plenty of Garden Art, my vision is coming together. I am so excited to have myself and the other artists share their interpretations of adding art to your garden.

Most of the major garden work is complete, though some potted plants are still adjusting to their new homes. The canna lilies have been separated, but they won’t quite reach their summer glory in time for the party. You can catch a glimpse of their full bloom from last year!

Speaking of blooms, take a look at some of the beautiful spring desert blossoms from the neighborhood:

As the party approaches, we’re gathering a tasty selection of bites like Stuffed Pepperdews, Mini Phyllo Tacos, and Broccoli Cheddar Tassies. Here’s a sneak peek at those delicious cherry pepper pepperdews:

The weather forecast looks warm and sunny for the big day! While there are some shady spots, be sure to bring a hat, sunscreen, and comfortable shoes for strolling along the gravel paths.

I can’t wait to see you here on April 12th! To help with planning, please reply to this email and let me know if you’ll be attending. Please invite your friends! All are welcome!

This is so exciting! See you soon!

Mary

See What’s Happening with the Garden Party Prep! 23 Mar 2025, 7:21 pm

The past few weeks have been a whirlwind of activity as we prepare for the Garden Art Party on April 12th. What started as a simple idea quickly turned into a full-on creative project! The invitation went out last weekend—if you missed it, click here.

The inspiration for the side yard transformation came from Shawna Coronado’s beautifully artistic garden space in Mesa, AZ. You can check out more of Shawna’s work on her Instagram page.

From concept to nearly complete, the side yard has truly taken shape. Here’s the “before” photo:

Paul and I built the raised beds right on our kitchen island! The design was simple, but the process definitely took some muscle. Each 2’ by 8’ bin required almost 400 nuts and bolts. Take note of the empty beer glass on the counter. This kept Paul going!

We lined the bottom of each bed with cardboard and layered garden cuttings—small branches and trimmings—to create enhanced drainage and take up space. A combination of topsoil and compost filled the bins.

Thanks to a generous neighbor, I was able to collect a beautiful variety of agaves and cactus pups(small immature plants from the parent plant). These desert gems are not only resilient but multiply so naturally. With these finds and a few additional plants, the raised beds are nearly done!

Here’s a sneak peek at the progress:

Just imagine colorful outdoor art sharing the limelight with the garden bins.  It gets even better as you move to the back yard for more festive art and displays.  

Excitement is building, and many have already saved the date! April 12th is going to be unforgettable.

Hope to see you there!

Happy Spring! Happy gardening!

Mary

www.marysherwoodlifestyles.com

Let’s Party!2 12 Mar 2025, 7:33 pm

Let’s Party!

For weeks I have been planning the Garden Art Party. After almost 10 years of immersing myself in the local art scene I have had this “garden art party” theme wandering around in my thoughts. After collaborating with many artists, working on sprucing up my garden and circulating the news, things are coming together. The time is getting close for the great garden art reveal!  

Please come and enjoy a vibrant outdoor setting featuring local artists, stunning artwork and delicious refreshments.

The path to the garden is graveled so please dress in casual attire and comfy shoes!

 Join us for an afternoon
of art, nature, and good company!

Saturday April 12th. 1 pm-6pm
13949 N. Willows Bend Dr, Oro Valley, AZ

Patty Sjolin: Large painted panels
Emily Mann: Metal garden & wall art
Malu Nicolette: Fused Glass Garden Art
MaryAnne London: Painted Fused Glass Art
Mary Sherwood: Fused Glass Garden Sculpture

Valentines 2025 14 Feb 2025, 7:01 pm

All We Need Is Love! 

Valentine’s Day always brings The Beatles’ timeless message to mind—All You Need Is Love! Love has been the foundation of my life, woven into every moment with my parents, husband, children, and grandson. It’s more than just a feeling; it’s a way of living—respecting, caring, and embracing one another.

With all the challenges in our world today, it’s easy to lose sight of that simple yet powerful truth. But today, no matter your circumstances or beliefs, take a moment to reach out. Hug your partner, call a friend, share a laugh with family, or cuddle your pet—because love is something we all need.

More than flowers or chocolates, I wish you the warmth of connection, the joy of kindness, and the light that love brings to your heart. Sing along to All You Need Is Love (or your favorite love song!) and let today, and every day, be filled with love.

P.S. I can’t help but smile at the whimsical Yellow Submarine album cover.

Peace and love to all!

Mary

What is Artist Sunday-Gift Giving at its Best? 1 Dec 2024, 7:41 pm

Today is Artists Sunday nationwide.  The purpose of this designated day is to patronize local artists everywhere. Now, through the holidays and whenever you need a special piece support these wonderfully creative people/organizations that add so much visual and emotional joy to our lives. Read more about Artists Sunday here. Artist Sunday

Please excuse me for popping into your inbox with another special. I intentionally did not circulate this until after the Black Friday madness.  I have seen far too many emails with every kind of offer.  Enough’s, enough!

But as we move forward into the next several busy weeks I have a few “glass-inspired” textiles that may help you check off an item on your list.  The fabric patterns are created from photographs of fused glass pieces that were edited and modified to fit the products.  Because of changes in production, I can no longer obtain these particular pieces.  

All the prices have been greatly reduced, the supply is limited, and all sales are final.  Your purchases will be shipped out, as ordered, via USPS Priority Mail. Call to arrange for local pick-up or delivery in the Tucson area. 

To shop the textiles go to Christmas Sale

        Who needs turkey leftovers with these unique textile leftovers?

Father’s Day 17 Jun 2024, 2:28 am

Dad’s Are Amazing!

Hi friends:

It is the ending of the day in Arizona.  I was up early watching the sun rise over the Santa Catalina mountains.  Walking at daybreak is the only way to beat the heat.  

Happy Father’s Day to all the dads who contribute to our lives, past or present!  Here is the post I circulated this morning on FB.  It was a wonderful tribute to a father and daughter collaboration. Dad’s Advice from Bo.  This article was shared by a news thread I follow called Nice News.

We are about to leave for a big family reunion of Paul’s siblings and families in the Denver area.  We have two full rental houses filled to capacity. It should be fun. I’m sure there will be lots of laughter, sharing stories and catching up.  I will contribute by helping in the kitchen while food is being prepared for about 35 people.  We are keeping the menu simple but copious!

I was busy in the glass studio this week with some good and some not so good results.  When things don’t go quite right doing a firing process we say “The Kiln Gods were not kind”. Here is a picture of the loaded kiln before firing.  The results after firing are not so pretty.  More on that later

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Next, I will be sharing an album of many of the surface pattern designs I have done over the last four years.  I’m still trying to find the best platform for further merging of glass and textiles!.

That is it for me.  Got to finish packing and get this Sherwood family adventure started!!!  

All the best,

Mary

www.marysherwoodlifestyles.com

Surface Pattern Design-Big News! 26 Apr 2024, 2:12 am

Good day!  It’s been awhile since I’ve said hello. I’ve been totally immersed trying to create Surface Pattern Designs. 

The Immersion Course with Bonnie Christine is very in-depth. As you know, I’m more of a “big picture” girl who likes to see the big image and figure out the most efficient way to get there. In Adobe Illustrator working with smaller images and putting them all together has been challenging. With all the myriad of tools in Adobe Illustrator I frequently get lost. The program is incredibly deep!  I need waders!!! Haha!

My goal is to create decorative fabrics and wallcovering for interiors. I’ve gotten my toes wet with a fabulous platform called Spoonflower. They are located in NC and produce all their products there. They are a print on demand (POD) company. They specify how to load images and edit depending on the look you’re going for. The few things that I posted on Spoonflower will give you an idea of where I’m going. The process starts with an image of a glass art piece. Then you move on to select from over 30 types of fabric and 6 types of wallcovering. The abstract designs seem to work well when edited with the mirror tool.  The results are an amazing kaleidoscope of color and patterns. Bold and beautiful…perfect for a fabulous powder room wall, kitchen backsplash, tea towels, placemats, napkins, pillows, and fabric by the yard.

BIG NEWS!

I entered my first Spoonflower Design Challenge. There are so many entries it is a lot to go through to find my design.  If you have some time, the entry name is Festive Dance Party.

To vote go to: Party Walls! 

This is a mock up of the image Festive Dance Party in the Challenge!  Even if you can’t find this in the Challenge there are a lot of fun entries to explore.

Voting Notes:  Designs are randomized each time you load the page. If you’re looking for a specific artist’s work and it doesn’t appear immediately, try refreshing or revisiting later.

To see all designs in my Spoonflower Design Library with ordering options go HERE.

In the midst of this I am really in the Spring gardening mode which I’ve just about completed. I’ve got to do it before my desert garden gets way too hot.

So this is my lifestyle: my love of gardening, making art glass, creating dynamic fabric patterns and sharing all things creative with you!

Hugs to all!

Mary

New Horizons 22 Feb 2024, 12:08 am

I don’t blog often but each month I’m always seeing things I want to tell you about.  So where do I start???

First, I’m asking you this question:  What do you want to hear about?

1. Glass art and events
2. Travels and adventures
3. Fun with my grandson
4. Gardening in the desert
5. Travel
6. Fill in the blank _________ you tell me!

I am really interested in what you would like because there are so many “rabbit holes” I can go down.  You may say something like “all” of the above but help me out with your top three. I am looking forward to reading your comments HERE.

First up for this blog is a new learning endeavor I am beginning. I am studying Surface Pattern Design.  Well what is that?  In very short terms it can be any art work, sketch, photograph, etc. that is applied to many surfaces such as fabrics, home decor items, clothing, t-shirts, and so much more.  If any of you have worked with me on an interior design project (my true love) you know I always looked for that “signature” fabric for an interior space and the project took on life from there. I am just starting to learn about this type of design. The course hasn’t even started and I already have several collections in mind. This announcement may be premature but if I tell you about it helps me stay accountable.  It may be years until you see my designs on fabrics and more.  I have dabbled with this in the textiles created from glass patterns many of you have purchased. This is a cotton scarf that was created by applying a picture of glass art called Ribbons. This is an example of surface pattern design. Stay tuned for more.

Beautiful glass art…beautiful fabrics…beautiful life!  Maybe that should be my new mantra!

This is not a new piece of art glass but it is new to my desert garden and so how it sparkles. You may or may not know this but my husband, Paul, is color blind.  With this addition to the garden he said:  “Finally I can see this garden sculpture because it is a dazzling blue dichroic glass”.  Can you imagine how hard it must be for him to live with a wife who is all about color.  Even so, he still loves me!  Click here for more information about Dichroic Dazzle!

Lastly, a brief video of the recent art event at Jane Hamilton Fine Art featuring Greg Heil’s fabulous desert scapes and my art glass.   Quite a colorful evening!

It’s really beginning to look like Spring around here in the desert.  Our winter has been much colder here with some night time lows of 24 degrees. Burr!!! It has resulted in many frost damaged plants.  I will give you a glimpse of my garden once it is groomed and exploding with new growth.

Here is an interesting plant that blooms in the spring in the desert called Jerusalem Sage. I’m hoping mine will come back after our cold winter!

Happy Spring!

Mary