Prayer Flags

This is a swap from the EC that I recently hosted. The creations were incredible! I am sending out the returns today to the players; I hope they enjoy them as much as I have. Here are three of my own, and a few from the other artists. How lucky am I to get to play with such talented women?






Artist: Corrine Davis

Artist: Kathy Ogg

Artist:Pattie Mosca

Guts

Do you know how much courage it takes to put a picture of your feet up on your blog? I questioned myself a bit before doing it, and wondered about my hesitation. What am I afraid of?
My feet have served me well in my life; I should be proud to claim them. They have allowed me to climb trees and fences, to rollerskate and spring from the high dive, to bicycle and run on the beach, tiptoe into the tide. They have walked me across a stage to my diploma, down the aisle to my husband, and up and down the corridor of the maternity ward once, twice, three times for three sons. My feet are worthy of honor, yes indeed. However, they also deserve to be pampered in a brief Photoshop session to preserve their dignity!


All this because I wanted to share what I made. I saw these creations in various Etsy shops and thought that they were a very cute idea. They are called barefoot sandals. Essentially, a bit of jewelry for your feet. They resemble flip-flops, but are soleless, which I love, since flip-flops hurt my feet, and I prefer to go barefoot anyway.

So, a little gift for my feet, to honor them. I will dress them up next weekend, and they will dance around the fire in the forest where my tribe and I will meet to celebrate the summer.

Another one?

I am very honored indeed, to have been given this award. The fact that my blog is of enough interest to even be read brings me pleasure, but to know it is consider worthy of special recognition from my peers brings me no end of happiness. A heartfelt thank you to sweetmango for the honor. She has two wonderful blogs worthy of your time, especially if you love beautiful art, and if standing up for the oppressed, human and animal alike, matters to you. Here is one of her paintings; isn't it breathtaking?
copyright sweetmango 2008

Now it is my turn to pass this award on to 7 bloggers who inspire me, and whose posts and creativity I think will inspire you, too! Go now, and visit ( and comment!):


Mallory Matson is an exceptionally talented photographer and writer. Don't let her age fool you; her blog is insightful and rich with poetry (and if you are lucky, Jeff Buckley or Joni Mitchell will be playing), and her photostream is riddled with picture after picture of evocative imagery and beautiful faces. I cannot wait to see her continue to grow as an artist; her talents already shine so bright.
copyright Mallory Matson 2007
copyright Mallory Matson 2007

Chrysti has long been an inspiration to me; I consider her a sister-in-art. I am blessed to have her art showcased in rooms around my home, and am forever in awe of her ambition, growth and accomplishments. Be sure to check out her shop on Etsy, and here.

My friend, the wonderful and intelligent Debra, makes the most delicious bracelets and shares sparkly bits of wisdom with the world...you can visit her here and see the wrist-candy here!

For anyone who likes a good giggle and a bit of NY meets Hollywood dish, this is the blog for you. Dish is my bestest friend from wayyyy back (think 80's hair) and is a fantastic NYC writer, diva, and all-around goddess.

Recently Rose honored me with a Web Award, so it is nice to be able to bestow one back. Her blog, A Walk in The Woods, frequently leaves me hungry for a fresh repast, and her Etsy shop has some lovely lovelies to browse through.


One of my favorite people and artists, the talented Gene Black lives in the ever-hospitable South where he paints, doodles, and quilts. Like me, Gene is a Sharpie Scout and chocoholic, 2 of many reasons why he is dear to my heart.

And last, but certainly not least, I cannot describe Spike's blog better than she does, so here it is : "a madwoman's lunchbox" -- a melange of colors, textures, or styles that do not commingle gracefully. "Madwoman's Lunchbox" -- a blog about fiber, photos, and stream of consciousness. because, after all, that's just what the worldwide web needs.

So now each of these bloggers gets the pleasure of selecting favorites blogs of their own to honor!

The rules of accepting are as follows:

1) Put the logo on your blog
2) Add a link to the person who awarded you
3) Nominate at least 7 other blogs
4) Add links to those blogs on yours
5) Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs.

Now Go! Read! Comment! Celebrate Bloggodiversity!

The Art of Forgiveness

I am a self-described magpie; I adore shiny, interesting objects. I like to think of myself as a savvy collector of ecclectic items and fanciful objects. There are those in this house, however, who are more likely to say I am a "compulsive hoarder" of piles of "useless crap."

One woman's treasure another man's trash? Fair enough, I suppose.

I had a friend once tell me, "You see potential in everything! I never would have thought to make THAT out of THOSE!" Alas, my skill for seeing potential is not as well-honed as one might think. I have seen what I thought was "potential" in dying houseplants, ugly skirts, broken appliances and unsuitable men. So, instead, I like to think I am some sort of ambassador of Second Chances.

As is with most of us, my life has been frought with moments that really could have used the power of the Do-Over, if that option were available at the time. It has been rife with opportunities to forgive and be forgiven, to give it another go, to reapply for admission, to give back and to recycle.

Second chances (and third, and fourth) are important gifts we give ourselves and others. There is no force more powerful in the universe than forgiveness, and forgiveness is a second chance of the spirit. It is a laying down of burdens. Forgiveness is not condonment or approval when wrong has been done; it is setting yourself free from the weight of bitterness.





The act of forgiveness is simple, which is not to be confused with easy. It can be unspeakably hard. In some cases, for some folks, impossible. The one thing I have found in my own life is that it is a tool I have had to reach for over and over, and it is the one that does the best repairs, yet I am reluctant to use it on myself. Oh, we are hard on ourselves, many of us.

How do second chances apply to art, you say? How convenient of you to ask; I have the answer here. A picture frame for a beloved fellow Circus Freak of the EC, Maggie. Adorned with the flotsam and jetsam of the creative tides that wash into my studio, this piece is a showcase of repurposed ephemerma and embellishments. Broken jewelry, orphaned game pieces, single buttons, used postage stamps, bottle caps, and even a subway token, all share here a common bond: the second chance.

Is there someone you might try to forgive?




Is it yourself?