Hand Crafted Sterling Silver Jewelry                                       by Helen Fuschetto Original designs in Sterling Silver Own unique Wearable Art.....      Each piece made by hand .....            No two are ever the same.....

~ In Memoriam ~           Helen has passed, and is missed. She a was self taught silversmith, designing and creating jewelry and ornaments since 1975 and a winner of numerous prizes and ribbons, Woven metal, was is at the center of many of her designs.The hot air balloon jewelry was her specialty Silver weaving, wire fabrication, and love for rainbow bright color resulted in the creation of her hot air balloon necklace using a handblown glass marble, and later beautiful old marbles, Venetian glass beads, and porcelain. Her work has traveled all over the U.S., Canada, England, Finland, Iceland, and Poland. Anyone for the moon?           Helen was an avid cat lover, and had strong interest in Buddhism

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           A "birthday person," Helen observed birthdays with carefully chosen and beautifully wrapped gifts, handmade or funny purchased cards, get togethers with friends. I have many reminders of her thoughtfulness: jewelry, stained glass, wood sculptures, cards. I look forward to wearing her jewelry as well as the color purple March 26. ...............Alice

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          One day in Helen's kitchen we saw two small birds darting in and out around the Buddhist Prayer Flags hanging in her back yard. This led to a light discussion .... Were they making use of the prayers, or restocking more prayers? We concluded that it really didn't matter, They were fun to watch and having a good time..............Ron

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          How grateful I am to have been a friend of Helen's. We met back when I was a teenager, still in high school, at the Pyramid Mall as I set up my first time at a craft show....Helen and I were 'neighbors' and apparently she took pity on this kid who was green behind the ears, and gave me tips and advice on my booth set-up....She was very friendly towards me, as I felt like a fish out of water, among the seasoned craftspeople all around .....and so it was that the seeds of a friendship were sown, all those MANY years ago....
          In Helen I discovered a woman that adored cats, especially her beloved Pendelton, the color PURPLE, and had lots of ideas about life and filled me with stories....Time spent with Helen were filled with show chatter, comparing notes about which shows to avoid, and which to do....we laughed a lot about our lives and the fact that anything could and usually DID happen. We developed a trust for each other, and knew that shared confidences would be kept. I learned a great deal from Helen....she was an inspiration, as I saw the courage and fortitude that it took for her to live her life as a professional craftswoman.....someone dear to us called Helen his "hero"....I think that is accurate, for many of us...to see her prevail, time after time. Through the laughter, the absurdities of life, and the ups and downs , we faced it together....Fears and sadness would ebb in and out, and we would support one another and know that we were just a phone call away...How wonderful to have that in each other. Alice mentioned that Helen was a birthday 'person', and I would have to wholeheartedly concur with that....many , many birthdays were celebrated in various manners, and gifts were exchanged. The cards she manufactured or purchased showed that she took time and thought with them........she was a thoughtful woman, and cared about her friends and family..... There would be many times we wouldn't see each other often enough, but when we DID get together, it was as if no time had lapsed...as it is with all good friendships. That is how it was between us......
          My last visit with Helen occurred on the Thursday evening before she passed away. I arrived in her hospital room , laden with things she had requested...batteries for her 'music', newspapers to read, green tea and organic honey...( apparently the hospital cafeteria was not supplying this !) I also brought a large arrangement of zany hued flowers...( although colored by artificial means!) There was little 'natural' about this arrangement..the colors were hot fuchsia, brilliant purple, wild yellow and oranges, with some bright lime green. The label on the flower arrangement called them "Crazy Daisies", which made us giggle a bit, as we appreciated the name...how appropriate, we felt! As many of you know, she had a van named Daisy, and she always said she was 'crazy'.... But the best part of this gift was the smile it generated.....that sincere and happy smile that I will truly miss. We sat quietly, talking in soft voices, punctuated by a laugh or two...the talk was serious, yet by turns it was silly and funny... ...we vacillated between the sane and the absurd in life....it was a great talk, and although her voice was subdued, her spirit was not....it was shining through the pain and haze of painkillers. It was Helen, through and through. Moments turned to an hour, and I told her it was time to rest, and that I would call her during the weekend that I was out of town, to check in with her....and that I would certainly stop at the hospital on my way home following the weekend...she urged me to be sure to call her first, to make she she was still a patient, for she was hopeful to be released soon.....So I called her on Friday and Saturday and then again on Sunday evening, from Syracuse. The last call alarmed me, for she was barely able to whisper , and we only spoke a few moments...we ended the call with "I love yous" and that was the last time we spoke. My thoughts of Helen crowded my brain as I headed east on the Thruway, and as promised, I called to see if she needed anything brought to her...or to see if perhaps she had been released, as she had anticipated.....Indeed.....I found out that she HAD been released, and was now home.....and though I was emotional and had to pull off the road to comose myself , I was also filled with the comforting thought that Helen now was free of the pain, the suffering, and the trauma of being stuck in a hospital room....(not the place she wished to be ) It had all vanished, and now she was free of it all.
          All through our years together, Helen and I would not always see eye to eye on matters....but what we DID do was to respect the others' opinions....We came to see different points of view as simply a good thing...a difference of opinion and nothing more....we enjoyed many similar interests, as well, and throughout the time we shared, I felt as if I knew Helen very well, and she me. It was a comfortable place, which we created for ourselves. When one of us was down or out, the other was immediately there, offering support and friendship and love.... I look forward to seeing so many of Helen's friends and family on March 26 and giving hugs and exchanging 'Helen' stories. We shall cry, perhaps, but probably we will laugh even more....and we shall wear Helen's signature PURPLE and sport her great creations in silver....( or maybe even a 'rainbow pin'...remember those??!) With each hug, we can feel Helen's love for us, and how she would enjoy this gathering of her 'dear hearts'....
          I miss Helen...I have picked up the phone to call her, once or twice....and I know that she will never be forgotten by me. She will live on in the memories of all of those that loved her, and cared about her....when I have a cup of her favorite tea, perhaps, or see a cat that looks like Pendelton did, or see a person wearing purple, I might get a tiny catch in my heart, as I feel the loss....but as time goes on, I just hope that all I will feel is the love....for a dear person who no longer walks among us....but that is NOT to say that she is not WITH us, and that will make all the difference. I have been blessed to have met Helen, back in the day....way back!........... Kittie Johnson

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