Emily Gold is a close friend of Maria’s. An artist and a baker, she specializes in collage, among other things, and is also a member of Maria’s Renowned Belly Dancing Troupe.

Every Saturday, she sets up at the Bennington Farmer’s Market, and every Saturday, she sells out almost everything that she makes, baked, or creates, food and inventive cards and collage work.

She is always working and shows her work at museums and libraries.

Just about every Saturday, we go to Bennington to shop and see Emily at her farmer’s market stand

Her scones and cakes and cookies are wonderful but I’ve fallen in love with her spirited and creative card collages.

I can’t say I’ve seen anything like them. They cost $10 apiece. I hope she sells packs one day.

Emily has been discovered, she’s been hired to teach collage-making online to people via Zoom.

She collects the bits and pieces of her collages and saves them in bowls – eyes in one, arms in another.

I can’t quite imagine how she made this collage – and some other wonderful cards – out of bits and paper. It’s the same thing Maria does with fabric, artists can see a whole most people can’t see.

I see a pile of fabric, Maria sees a quilt. You can see some of her illustrations here. I especially love the colors she uses.

No wonder they are friends, they speak art. They speak the same language, and their brains are alike. I’ve never actually met anyone who reminds me of Maria, as she is quite unique.

But their brains do work in the same way, and they challenge and encourage one another.

Maria bought me ” Bon Jour” – it’s unnamed, but I call it “Frenchie” – as an early birthday president.  She saw how much I liked it.

It’s sitting next to my computer because I can’t help but smile every time I see it.

Zinnia has the same effect on me, so my spirits are high when I work.

I am a fan of Emily and her work, she’s made some birthday and commitment cakes for me for the Mansion residents.

It’s fun seeing them together, they get each other, as friends should.

I love watching them talk, they love talking about their art. When they trade techniques and ideas, they remind of two guys who love cars talking about engines.

I never know what those guys are talking about either.

Like Maria, Emily is blessed with the creative spark, it is always there. Her baked goods are works of art as well, we always go to see her when we have company coming.

If creative were touchable, you can reach out and grab it when these two talk or meet.

She makes dessert, like collages, with attitude. And she has a neat blog. I  admire real artists, their lives are never simple, especially these days, but the good ones never quit.