Be Protected of the Gods

We're nearing the end of one period of time and just about to enter a new period. I've been thinking of beginnings and how a different or 'new' attitude to a same thing, a thing known, can transform it into a new thing, a thing unknown. Like a new period of time, or a new life in fact.

This post inspired me very much this day and so I found myself digging out an egg I'd made years ago from papier mache (I made the mold from plaster of paris from a hand sculpted egg shape) and painted with a coating of gesso and then splattered with a toothbrush with acrylics in lilac, pale and dark brown and a whisper of grey. I'd applied lettering in a phrase in french which I've long forgotten the meaning of and so when I went to google for translation it gave me this: "Be protected of the Gods." So I'm going with that.


May all of you have a pretty fantastic New Years' celebration however you do it. Be safe. Be loved. See you in the new year!

Rolodex Art Love

Right smack dab in the middle of the season's preparations...the gift making and wrapping and card writing and stollen baking...I discover and fall in love with altered rolodex cards.
So I have to get involved immediately with two rolodex card swaps. There's no waiting even for a moment. Here's my first card (I made one similar and mailed it to my swap partner already!)


Here's the underside of the second card I made. This partner wanted 2012 on the card somewhere so I made the "Fig." reference number 2012. That should suffice.


As kismet would have it, two weeks ago I was at my favorite local thrift store and I asked the stock person if they ever get in any rolodex card holders and he said rarely but they do come in sometimes. Well I'd been looking for months actually so I just thought to myself that I'd have to be more diligent. Not even 10 minutes later the worker came onto the loudspeaker asking if the lady wanting the rolodex was still in the store. I was and got THIS holder for $2.99 complete with a full load of cards. New, they cost $60.00 so I'm pretty happy.


This is the main side of the second card. I'd found this old wrapping paper with a pink background and glued that down onto the card and just went from there. The 'butterfly' image dictated the direction.



So it is back to bird making now (home made presents this year!). Nice to see you; we'll talk soon I hope.

The Gift of Time

These days when time seems to be at a premium it is even more important to give the gift of it. Time that is. I don't mean humongous chunks of it. Little bits spread out all over the place is what I am thinking of. The tiny moment it takes to give a smile to a person who looks like they might not even have had human conversation for the whole day. The time it takes to notice that the dog tied up by the thrift store is eying your potato chip bag with those hungry eyes and for you to grab a handful and drop it in front of the pooch. The time it takes to listen to a complaining neighbor even though you've heard it a hundred times. I mean to really listen to her. With eye contact. And nods. The time it takes to teach the other neighbor how to make home made bread. From scratch. And so you decide to make stollen because that's what she was wanting to make in the first place. And you share a sip of the brandy used for the stollen, with her.

I'd been thinking of these things lately. Because I don't have a lot of money. And I wished that I could give everybody a box of chocolates and a long-stemmed rose this holiday season. So I give what I can...a bit of time, and something hand made by me. To them. With love.

I came across this post. An impossibly wonderful giveaway where in order to have a chance to win her you must write a bit on your blog about what is meaningful to you this holiday season. This is what is meaningful to me. The gift of time.

Here is a picture of Virginia and I'm praying that she will come to live with me. I love her so.


Hoping that today brings you all that you hope for, *smiles* Norma

Chocolate Bar Swap

My package to Orit is being put together and will be in the mails today! Here's my goodies side by side with what she sent to me!


Now that I've taken the photo I can open Orit's package of chocolate. Oh heaven!!

This swap was hosted by LaWendula,a wonderful blog friend who hosts an ongoing monthly paper swap but who occasionally throws in a special event like this chocolate swap.

Giveaway for you!

Well I did complete the altered coaster Seasonal ornament.


And this was so much fun to do. If I had more time I'd redo the writing as my 'hand' is rusty. But I gave it a generous Tim Holtz treatment and wiped it back with sandpaper and gouged it with a knife to age it so now it isn't so strikingly imperfect.

Just leave a comment on this post and I'll draw a name on Sunday December 11th in the evening.

Now it is back to the bird making routine around here. See you soon! *smiles* Norma

Season's Greetings Giveaway

The other day while walking down the ally behind my studio I came upon this wooden butter mold laying on the ground by a dumpster. At least I think it is a butter mold. There's a handle on it and the whole thing is very smooth. So I took it home, scrubbed it clean, and...


Now it is a holder for my calligraphy pens and inks.


So it sits on my work table and of course inspired me to stop what I was doing immediately (bird making) and begin a piece with some sort of script writing (which I have not done for a very long time.) I decided to make an altered coaster ornament for the season festivities. I began by painting a wee angel.


And she will be the center of the coaster and I will finish this piece hopefully today to be given away so watch for the notice! *smiles* Norma

To see what other fabulous artists are up to drop by here!

Nice to see you again, and may this day be all that you hope.