Touching people’s lives through art

Mary Vielhauer in her garage, surrounded by cement and stained-glass supplies for making stepping stones.

Take a drive through the Forest Park neighborhood and you will see mosaic stepping stones shimmering in the sunlight from nearly every yard you pass. Most of them came from the same location: the garage of neighbor Mary Vielhauer.

It seems most know Mary by the gifts she gives. She explained that it all began 22 years ago. “When my neighbor had triplets, I offered to make stepping stones and imprint their feet in concrete,” said Mary. “We did it annually until their feet were too big for my 11-inch molds.”

Mary has always called Colorado home, moving to Castle Pines more than 11 years ago. She brought her creativity—and her concrete—with her. She never misses a moment to mold something amazing for someone she meets. She cuts stained glass patterns and presses them into concrete, making owls, birds, flowers and patriotic flags. “I mix my own concrete and make my own colors. What I love about them is that they are unique, one-of-a-kind art pieces,” Mary said.

Mary has been married to her husband, Eric, for 35 years and they have raised two adult sons; both still live close by. Nick is a teacher at Denver East High School and Nathan is a chef.

Mary believes she has made more than 1,000 stepping stones, with no plans to cut back. Or to sell them. She never wants her passion to feel like a job. She has about 50 stepping stones in her own yard, which have garnered a lot of comments. Last fall, she helped initiate Forest Park’s first holiday arts and crafts sale.

Mary’s creations are a way of connecting her neighbors and her community one step at a time. Mary said, “I love surprising people, and they walk away so touched. Walking around the neighborhood I see the stones, proudly displayed, and each one so meaningful. Touching people’s lives through art makes me the proudest.”