Art Food Soul

I’ve been checking out some new blogs this week and am trusting that I stumble back to them if it is meant to be as there was a blogger this past week who mentioned Frida’s Fiestas and I am thankful she did.

I promptly ordered the book from my library and picked it up yesterday. I have spells where I am all about certain countries — India is one, and now Mexico is another. I am biased I suppose, one of my nieces is half Mexican and I enjoyed what I could of Mexican culture when I lived in Southern California in the early 70’s. Still, this book is a treat, reading about a colorful woman artist like Frida in the context of favorite fiesta foods and celebrations even more so.

I want to learn more now, and the thing I love about Mexico is that it’s a lot closer to me than India. Plus I can use my broken high school Spanish if I visit there. A Mondo Beyondo dream would be to live there for say six months and follow the trail of Frida Kahlo for a while. I’m so enamored of her and this book has me dreaming further of how to integrate her into the art, nature and the goddess theme.

Yesterday I spent about an hour and a half sorting through a gallon jar or so of coins — separating the silver from the pennies. Getting into the rhythm of it was meditative and the time actually flew as I sat there on a cold wooden floor — I would never have been able to sit so long on such a floor without this strangely soothing activity. By the time I was done, my hands were filthy — your mother was right — don’t put money in your mouth! My intention was to take the pennies up to the Coinstar at Shaw’s and learn how that thing works. Crazy as this sounds, dare I say it? It was actually a lot of fun. Something I would have done with my kids when they were younger had there been such a thing.

My arms are actually sore this morning from lugging the bag into the store and waiting for several minutes behind a man doing the same thing I was doing — cashing in pennies. It was his first time too. There we were, Coinstar virgins. Waiting was entertaining — I people watched and watched his pennies tallying on the screen as they went down the chute — I’ve never seen a slot machine except in the movies, but I imagine it’s something like that.

My turn, and it was very easy — the 8 cents on the dollar that Coinstar takes if you go for cash is so worth it — by the time my loot was totalled I had over 3500 pennies! And by the time I was finished there was someone else behind me. The act of gathering pennies though made me realize that the little things can add up, reminding me that no matter how small my steps, how small my days may feel, they are adding up to something bigger and it’s kind of fun watching what it all amounts to.

Last night I decided to head over to the get together at Yummy Goods in West Barnstable to check out what was going on for Melissa’s Handmade for the Holidays event. I needed to get out and am glad I did. I totally enjoyed it…my sister was there and a friend I hadn’t seen in a while showed up. There were lots of knitted donations, lots of knitting going on, plenty of yarn and spare needles, card making supplies and so on so everyone could participate. Checked out all the goodies in Melissa’s shop in between chatting and cider, tea and cookies. She even had door prizes (Amy Karol’s Bend the Rules Sewing was one), and goodie bags for everyone. The next one is Friday November 21 and I already have it marked on my calendar. It can get pretty dreary and isolating here on the cape during the winter and Melissa’s been wanting to start a regular crafting group. She’s off to a good start. Thank you, Betsy (‘lil ‘sis) for letting me know about it, and thank you Melissa and Beth for hosting this!

Chlorine is another item I am parting with — think I’m gonna redo the photo though — it doesn’t do Andrea’s work justice. I already have another Superhero necklace and plan to someday get more (there’s one I particularly covet), but for now one is all I need. When I received my first Superhero necklace, I could feel its power. I found that interesting — how you can actually feel an artist’s energy in their work. I felt such a connection, it was truly special and personal, the first experience I’d ever had with feeling a connection to someone through their handwork. And it’s so true, her work really does give you super powers — I always feel stronger when I wear my superhero necklace. Andrea’s craftswomanship is superb — these necklaces are built to last. And like Rosa’s work, I believe Andrea’s may be highly collectible someday, too.

I am asking $75. for this including shipping and handling within the USA. Insurance extra. (I’m happy to ship beyond the USA for cost of shipping).

Think Handmade for the Holidays. Please email or comment if you’re interested.

Next up for in my treasure sale: my beloved Rosa Pomar doll, #283. I was blown away by Rosa’s exquisite work when I received this doll — she uses incredible fabrics and trims, and her craftswomanship is impeccable. She is a master at her craft in a way that I could never be — here attention to detail leaves nothing overlooked. It even has a gorgeous tag with the number doll it is. She is more than a stitcher, she is truly an artist. I’m not sure if she makes these gnome dolls anymore as her work continues to evolve; this is circa 2004-5 I think and her work will be highly collectible someday if it isn’t already. You can read and see more of Rosa’s work here.
I am asking $95. for this including shipping and handling within the USA. Insurance extra. (I’m happy to ship beyond the USA for cost of shipping).

Think Handmade for the Holidays. Please email or comment if you’re interested.

So, I am clearing out treasures to make room for more treasures in my life and am selling off some of my favorites.

This past spring and fall, I bought some troll beads and a bracelet because they reminded me of a fond Amherst memory. They are all handcrafted glass beads, designed by different artists, and Trollbeads tag line is “every story has a bead.” (I usually get that backwards).

I chose these individual beads for my stories or the meanings I associated with them. Turquoise armadillo for the Indian prayer associated with the armadillo: “Protect my borders, teach me my shield, reflect my pain so I shall not yield.” Gray wolf because I am a woman who runs with the wolves, Freddie because it reminded me of traveling the back roads of New England in my son’s battlewagon when he was a teenager and listening to Queen’s Bohemian Rhasody (plus I am a Virgo and a Mercury girl). The throat chakra because I seek my voice, the rainbow for hope, dreams and the promises rainbows hold, and circus because my kids and I used to go to the Big Apple Circus every summer when they were little. Plus, who hasn’t wanted to run away with the circus at one time or another? Rose for my daughter’s middle name, and buttercups because as a child I loved picking buttercups and holding them under folks’ chins to see if they liked butter. Barely worn. What are the stories you will create?

I am asking $165. for this including shipping and handling if you’re in the USA. Insurance is extra. (I’m happy to ship beyond the USA for cost of shipping). If you’re interested, please leave me a comment with your email, or just email me.

“What if you slept? And what if, in your sleep, you dreamed? And what if, in your dream, you went to heaven and there plucked a strange and beautiful flower? And what if, when you awoke, you had the flower in your hand? Ah, what then?”

~~ Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Yesterday when I needed it most, I saw a rainbow in the distant sky. I was amazed because there had been no rain, but there it was, just a piece, but just enough for me to follow it until it disappeared. I needed its promise of possibility.

Today, I met up with my girlfriend and after tea showed her the beautiful Giving Tree gardens in East Sandwich on the Old King’s Highway. We walked through parts I hadn’t yet explored too much, both of us crossing the suspension bridge over the marshes. As always, the space there was welcoming, full of grace, hope and dreams. The Samuel Taylor Coleridge quote is from a box in the garden filled with letters to the world written by other wanderers and dreamers. There is a magical pen provided for those of us who dare…to dream and share our dreams with the world.

The mermaid is from the gardens and reminded me of a certain dancing mermaid.

As I work on my plans for BEAR (Bay End Art Retreats), I get scared at the enormity of it as I’ve never done something like this before, only dreamed of it. As I ride with my vision, it is evolving in small steps for me. For example, I am going to try a smaller retreat first (hopefully March 2010), with about 18-20 participants. I now have the theme and what the general art focus will be. We will all stay in Overbrook House, which includes the use of the dance hall. Instead of Wednesday through Sunday, it will be Thursday afternoon through Sunday morning.

Art, nature and the goddess have been my three muses when times have been tough for me. Art frees my mind, nature restores my spirit and the goddess reminds me of how strong I really am.

Pixie’s in a different time zone or I would have asked her for permission for a couple of her images. So, I had to take my own of Agnes, who soars in the entryway of our old house. Like me, she’s still working on her wings.

“Longfellow believed that situations that call forth our coping abilities are “celestial benedictions” in dark disguises, sent not to try our souls, but to enlarge them.”
~SBB, Simple Abundance

My sister gave me SBB’s book Simple Abundance many holidays ago, and it really helped me through a soul wrenching year in my life. I don’t like to think back to that time because I have many regrets associated with it. Occasionally, I’ll revisit Sarah’s book, but this past year, I have been reading it daily again. Some of it’s trite and I roll my eyes, but much of each day’s writings speak to me in a timely fashion, e.g., on a day I need that particular wisdom the most.

Yesterday was a day of doubts, perhaps because I was cold and tired. But overall my past week was a blessed one, full of hope. My daughter sent me Halloween photos (Ky*ko check out the green man), I checked out a magical place on the wrong side of the bridge, and the gorgeous Miriam and I met at one of my favorite cafes in Harwich. That is a post in and of itself as that was another bit of magic in my week — how generous in spirit the world is if we stay open to it. That’s the hardest.

My girl and her sweetie pie roommate — my kids smiling always makes me smile.

I am going to run with this retreat idea as far as I can go with it.