Karen's Muse and Musings

In My House ...

... there is a little girl! Today I found a wonderful new online art challenge, Dans ma maison il y a ... This week's theme is une petite fille. For my house, I used various text papers, handmade paper, gel medium, acrylic paints, Shiva Paintstiks, Primary Elements and rub-ons. The image of the little girl is from my own collection.

Prairie Sisters

Did you watch Little House on the Prairie? When I saw the photograph of these two little girls dressed just alike, I thought of a particular episode in which the mother, Caroline, bought some beautiful fabric to make herself a new dress. However, she ended up making 2 identical dresses for her daughters, Mary and Laura, instead. True mother's love!

For the background of the collage, I used an old letter written from North Dakota in 1909. It begins, "Dear Sis." in English, but then continues in what I believe is Danish. I added some strips from an old primer and hymnal. I call the piece, Prairie Sister, and it's now for sale in my Etsy shop.

They were all happy that night. The fire on the hearth was pleasant, for on the High Prairie even the summer nights were cool. The red-checked cloth was on the table, the little china woman glimmered on the mantel-shelf, and the new floor was golden in the flickering firelight. Outside, the night was large and full of stars. Pa sat for a long time in the doorway and played his fiddle and sang to Ma and Mary and Laura in the house and to the starry night outside.

Laura Ingalls Wilder
(This quote is taken from "Little House On the Prairie," page 131)

Gothic Arch — Viva la France

Viva la France! This week's theme at Gothic Arches was selected by Frieda Oxenham, fabric artist extraordinaire. Click on her name to visit her blog and see her amazing art.

Lunching in Rome

I ate lunch in Rome yesterday. My sister, along with my niece just in from Athens, whisked us away for a lovely day in her private jet.

Gotcha! Actually it went more like this: I ate lunch in Rome, Georgia, yesterday. My sister, along with my niece just in from Athens, Georgia, home of the University of Georgia, whisked us away for a lovely day in her Honda Accord.

The trip was planned as a Mother's Day treat for my mom who grew up in Rome. She and my other sister met us, and we really did have a wonderful day exploring the old Southern river city, having a delightful lunch at the Harvest Moon Cafe, and wandering through Myrtle Hill Cemetery. I couldn't believe that I forgot my camera! Luckily, my mother let me use her camera to capture some stone angel photos which I hope to use in future art projects. Here are a couple.

Oh, and by the way, here in Georgia we also have a Cairo and a Vienna!

Divine Presence

"In a great chorus they sang, 'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty! The whole earth is filled with his glory!'" — Isaiah 6:3

The Kindness of Friends and Strangers

I received a delightful surprise in the mail from my friend Aileen, who makes and sells the Color Mists I'm always going on about. She used a tin and an image of Nellie for this beautiful mail art.

The back of the tin actually has the address on it, and she put it in this clear envelope to mail it. Here's what it looked like when it arrived.

This isn't the first time Aileen has sent me mail art. When I get upset with the postal service, I try to remember this story. A couple of years ago, she sent me an altered cigar box. She created a collage inside and placed a piece of clear acrylic on the front, and then mailed it just like that. No envelope, wrapper, nada. When it arrived here, it was in great shape, except that one rhinestone which had been glued on the front had fallen off. Some kind postal worker had found that rhinestone and taped it to the box! I never took the tape off or glued the rhinestone back in place — I left it just where it was carefully placed to remind me there are still kind and caring people out there.

"I have always depended on the kindness of strangers."
-from A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams (1914–1983)

Have You Seen My Muse?

I have been very uninspired this week. So much so that I think my muse has gone on vacation. Have you seen her?

This is Sunday, the day for a new theme at Gothic Arches, which I hoped would get my creative juices flowing again. Audrey, the hostess this week, chose "chair" as the theme. I was pretty excited about that because I have so many vintage photos with chairs. It does seem that a large percentage of the old cabinet cards have chairs in them. Even when the people aren't sitting, many are standing beside one. Going through my images, I chose Cordelia who is standing by a very ornate chair.

"I like that every chair should be a throne, and hold a king."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

The Music of the Spheres

It has been art all day for me. After finishing my Garden Fairy Gothic Arch, I jumped right into Kelly's Stone Angels book. She chose a lovely little book to alter, and it's interesting that this particular book was one of my childhood favorites — O Ye Jigs and Juleps. I clearly remember my 5th grade teacher reading it to us.

Kelly's take on the Stone Angels theme was a refreshing change. On the title page, she wrote "The Game of Life." On the next page she wrote, "Spin. Move forward or turn to Stone." She has used lots of numbers, game pieces and several hymns on her pages. So inspired by numbers and hymns, I went to work.

What is that you said? You see the numbers but not the hymn? Oh, it's there if only by inference. This is the hymn, written by Maltie D. Babcock.

This is my Father's world,
and to my listening ears
all nature sings, and round me rings
the music of the spheres. 
This is my Father's world: 
I rest me in the thought
of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;
his hand the wonders wrought.

All nature sings, and round me rings the music of the spheres. Amen.

Garden Fairy

This week's theme on Gothic Arches is Garden Fairies, which is perfect right now since I've been gardening all week. This morning as I was admiring my hard work, a little chipmunk scampered in and out of the flowers, so he is the companion for my garden fairy. For the fairy herself, I used Nellie from my collage sheets. I love her smile — so sweet but with that look of mischief lying just underneath.

Wednesday Stamper — Insects

I was excited to read that this week's theme at Wednesday Stamper is "Insects". I've had this beautiful moth stamp by JudiKins for some time and have only used it maybe once or twice. I started by stamping the moth on a file folder and embossing with detail white embossing powder. Then I sprayed Tsukineko Eucalyptus and Terra Cotta walnut inks over the moth. When that was dry, I stamped "French Correspondence" by B Line Designs over it, cut it out, stenciled with Adirondacks Snow Cap Dabber through sequin waste, edged with Aged Mahogany Distress Ink, and layered it over handmade paper I purchased at Dick Blick.