It does seem like that these days. Like all is a magic show. The title of this post is a direct quote from a Tibetan Buddhist Treatise from the 11th century. Remember the story about how I found a book about submarines a few posts back? Well the magic is happening again. Same bookstore too!
Here is the lead up (to the story). I did scherenschnitte and fraktur back in the 80s and enjoyed it thoroughly. Over the past year or so I've been called to think about and notice these artforms once again and I sort of dreamily imagine things I would do. I even did a few cuttings and put them on ebay not too long ago. But I didn't want to just go over the same ground artistically speaking. Having said that, I didn't really know what I wanted to do. All I knew is this: a) I wanted script writing, not heavy gothic lettering, b) I wanted to join up scherenschnitte with fraktur in some way, c) I wanted a quote [this being the most important 'want' on the list], d) I wanted to incorporate india ink line drawing by my own hand, and e) I wanted to mix up the spiritual with the religious and add a dash of magic for spice. I really did not want to take it too too seriously. I needed to find some quotes that allowed me to quote from one religion so I could maybe use an image from another religion that had an organic attraction to one another. For example I have a cutting of Jesus on the cross in one cutting in my stash of cuttings I did years ago. He is surrounded by wonderful flowers and shrubs and urns and I was thinking that maybe I could put a line drawing of buddha in there instead. You get the idea. I thought that I'd have to google quotes and just start compiling quotes willy nilly.
UNTIL yesterday, when I found this book: The Quotable Spirit ~ A Treasury of Religious and Spiritual Quotations, from Ancient Times to the 20th Century.
The day before yesterday I went shopping and it means walking 3 miles and because I have M.S. I take the walking as a serious blessing and enjoy every step. I am glad to not be in a wheel chair. I have long periods of remission and I live my life not only a day at a time, but an hour at a time. But I do get tired. So anyway, I purchased purple onions and other heavy stuff and I just knew I would not have enough energy to do anything but go directly home. I wanted to so badly go to the library and sniff around and then pop into my favorite used book store but I wisely talked myself out of it. I made it home. But the next day, the pull was still there and so I just let myself drift in that direction and soon found myself browsing the stacks in the used book store. It did not take me too too long to find the book. I knew as soon as I put my hand on it that that was what I need and that is why I made my way to the book store.
Yes I know that if I'd of googled it and typed in the correct information, I'd of found similar books (it didn't occur to me to do that because it didn't occur to me that a book such as this exists) and I'd of been able to obtain a book like this, or even this book. But I feel the specialness of this event because I felt the specialness of the pull to the bookstore. It was s-t-r-o-n-g! So it may be just one of those things in life where you pay attention to what you notice, and notice what you pay attention to, but in the end I have this fabby book and I'm inspired. I have a 'vision.'
I think I will add f) a tiny bit of sparkle, to my list of what I want to do in my scherenschnitte/fraktur art piece(s)!
Okay this is all and well but I have to put this on my back burner because I have some paper artdolls on my plate, and a few other things. At least I know in what direction I am going with this.
Hope everyone is having a fun time. Talk soon, *smiles* Norma
P.S. look at those heart rocks on the cover beside the box of glitter. I just received them in the mail from
Firuzan, a generous and wonderful artist who has become a friend.
