Autumn's Angel

Angels for Etsy....?

I'm loving the creating of these angels.....it's so fun to figure out the balance......

and to add layers of texture ...paint....and clays....

The wings are made from handwritten French journal pages from 1882....imagine!!   I like to use original letters instead of photocopying them cause I think the original brings an incredible energy to the piece.

I'm going through all my antique laces and nettings and trim and using bits and pieces of these amazing bits of history....all with stories intertwined between the hand wrought stitches......

I can't wait to work on them some more tomorrow......and I'm thinking.......maybe I'll open a shop on Etsy and place there for sale.........I've never done that.....could use any advice anyone has to share.  Etsy or Ebay??  Kind of scary to put one's work out in the world......even though I've been creating for over 30 years.  So silly..... :)  Place your name in the comment section or email if you wish to be on a list to be notified when I open my little shop.

It started with an incredible sunrise....

Magic was in the air....
and with the gift of another "spring" day here, off we went for a drive to the small, charming town of St. Helena, nestled in the wine country of Napa Valley.
It's such a cute town, dating from the early 1800's and the stores have the flair of french style and design.

One of my most favorite stores has a big M on the front window....meaning of course...
My store...for Me...Marilyn's place. :)






Everything in this store/gallery amazes me. The way things are placed...
the juxtaposition of texture, form, and design.
I LOVE this store!
























Here is my deep concern....I absolutely LOVE these pieces of art shown in the photos below.
They thrill me in their bizarreness...in their "out of the boxness"...in their simplicity. I LOVE the bone and skeletal look. The texture...the starkness.
Why then...does my art look so tame...so predictable...so...sweet?!
There appears to be a great distance between what lifts me up, personally, into inspiration and what I express through my fingers. This is of great concern to me!








Look at these great windows....I felt like I was in France....
so inspiring!





















On our way out of town, in the darkening sky, we passed an old cemetary and had to get out and walk around, with the just passing full moon rising to light our way.....













I was surprised....and delighted....that my Shadow revealed herself...finally, at the end of the day....in a most unlikely of places. Or is it?

Creating with bits of my heart.....

Some of my most favorite treasures came together today, creating two ornaments to gift to two dear friends....bits of my heart I gift to them. We have been friends for so long.

two egg gourds...words torn from an 1882 handwritten French journal... crackle glaze... rhinestones... brass bird findings... vintage religious medallions.... antique keys.... wire leaves.... antique beaded trim.... gold metallic lace.... and black ribbon with tiny white dots....

Voila!!

I have a friend....

Today I received a box in the mail.
A gift from a friend.

As I unwrapped it and studied each angle, my heart was so moved by the power and the meaning of friendship.

She made this "Passion Box" for me, and decorated it with mementos, collectables, images and reminders of our trip together to France this past summer. Admiring her creativity, I was immediately transported back to those carefree weeks where we drove across France, staying in castles, discovering flea markets and treasures...and creating memories.

And within....a tiny bird's nest that she found...and I had coveted!

This dear friend, in her generosity and caring, not only gifted me with a treasure of her own creation, and a French bird's nest! .....but with this gift opened up a chamber in my heart for the deep deep appreciation of friends....of friendship....
of generosity...and the always inspiring creative spirit.

I share my Passion Box treasure with you, World, in a bow to that spirit of friendship.

And a deep bow to you, Phyllis, my friend.... merci beaucoup de tout mon coeur. Tout droit!!