April Flight

When we use our imagination

Learning to Fly by Polymer Paws

to create another reality

Fly Penguin Print by Prim Originals

our consciousness

When The Flowers Are Sleeping Print by Joutomaa

expands

The Amelia Flight Hat by Pumpkin Haus

and with it

I’ll Sick My Flying Monkeys On You Pendant by Molly Heltsley Designs

the consciousness

Free Spirit Artblock from Shariyah Garner from Yiyah

of all.

Birdman Assemblage by Urbandon


The Angel and the Elephant by Wonderful Place

look up high
white on blue
gently
surrendering
to the currents
a mini cloud
plucked
and adrift

lifted
i am
bird/all
one

Wandering Albatross Diomedea exulans latitude 27° 27.22' S longitude 153° 03.11' E altitude 20m date 31.03.09 time 1039 hrs

Footnote: I started this post as an April Fool's joke but it got waylayed and now, a couple of hours later, I find myself with something completely different! I rest my case...

Shrines

Baby Memory Mobile by Honeysuckle Hollow

Most people think of shrines or reliquaries as sacred places dedicated to a specific person or object where the subject is remembered and often venerated. But the philosophy of the shrine I think can be applied to the containment of any memory whether real or imagined – who is to say what is ‘real’ anyway.

Shrines often contain idols, relics, or other such objects associated with the figure being venerated. For an artist and writer, memories are the bones and relics of creation.

As with all the ideas and objects posted here, I don’t list them so that you’ll go out and purchase them. That would be nice for the artists I know - and I am grateful to them for their willingness to share their work - but often, it is just not possible. My main aim is to share the work that uplifts and/or inspires me; that expands my life in some way. Maybe the work will speak to you as well. I hope so.

Tibetan Reliquary by Rusted Wings Gallery

Life is Memories Pendant by Jens Jewellery

Vagina Shrine from Quite Cuntrary

Bee Shrine (to the Goddess) by Chrisalis Moon Designs

The Measure of a Man by Julie Zarate from six06

Contemplation of a Butterfly by Chrissy Butler from a Wonderful Place

Estre by Malcolm Studio Shop

John Donald Carlucci sells his reliquaries through Darke Curiosity Emporium and generously supplies a free pdf tutorial for making one of your own.

Locked within the darkroom

of the past

I am

at will

with you

and for my pleasure...

Circus Art

Cuff from Boudoir Queen A hundred years ago, the circus was the largest entertainment industry the world had ever seen. The spectacle of death-defying daredevils, strapping superheroes and scantily clad starlets, fearless animal trainers, and startling ‘freaks’ gripped the imagination, outshining theatre and ultimately paved the way for film and television.

Headdress by Sansa 222

Although we may not agree with the practices of the old circuses, it is the spirit of the circus that lives on. It’s a romantic vision of escapism and dark glamour. Today this spirit mingles with that of gothic and steampunk providing a platform for the weirdly wonderful. Some artists imbibe this spirit in their work and even in the text that accompanies this work. Here are a few.

The Ringleader’s Elephant Photo by The Stapelia Company

Vixen Acrobats in spun cotton by Vintage by Crystal

Amazing Eunice and Her Trusty Circus Cat print from Amber Alexander

Victor the Strong Man from Sayraphim

Julia Loopty Art Doll from Loopy Boopy

The past is .... a wonderful container of revelations. It is filled with ingredients that both delight and dismay. In the interests of truth and accuracy, it is best to contemplate them all: the good and the bad, the heroic and the shameful – the moments to celebrate and cherish alongside those to deplore and regret. In the breadth of our understanding of this vast human story lie both an escape from deception and a fighting chance for improvement, restitution and growth. Dr Raymond Evans, Historian, Griffith University

Miniature Gardens

Hobbit House by 1967 Geezer

I'm not sure why I’m featuring these little landscapes - tiny gardens with real plants. All I know is that I saw a photo of one and had to keep looking for more!

from Two Green Thumbs

I will build you a house
If you do not cry
A house little girl
As tall as the sky.

from the Miniature Garden Shoppe

I will build you a house
Of golden dates
The freshest of all
For the steps and gates.

from Little Landscapes. Some instructions on their website here.

I will furnish the house
For you and me
With walnuts and hazels
Fresh from the tree.


Kelly Point House by The White Bear

I will build you a house
And when it is done
I will roof it with grapes
To keep out the sun.

An Arabian nursery rhyme in 'The Little Girl Book' by Paula Yates

Silk

I like silk. The crazy quilt above, a ‘work in progress’ is made from vintage silk ties embellished with mirrors, beads and embroidery. That term ‘work in progress’ or ‘wip’ can be said in a nanosecond but we all know that it’s a term that can linger on for a long long time. My dad has taken it upon himself to suss out old silk ties from secondhand stores to me. He does a great job. Every time I visit he has another stash to present. I now have literally hundreds of these. They call to me in quiet moments and I mostly ignore them. In the interests of ignoring wips but still paying homage to silk, I’ve put together some green silk items currently available on Etsy. Shrug/Wrap by Bonzie

Dress by Stacie May

Green is relaxing. Green is the colour of balance and harmony and can, therefore, be helpful in times of stress.

Scarf by Madlight 13

Clutch by ao3 Designs

Apparently, according to colour therapists if one has experienced a trauma, a green silk wrapped around the shoulders can have a very therapeutic effect.

Tie by Rabbit Stop

Freeform Embroidery by Bizarre Galah

So I’m going to wrap myself in a bit of silk, sit on the balcony with the weekend papers, and a good cup of coffee, and ignore all the wip projects currently calling to me.

This is the view I’m currently looking at. I can fantasize about boarding ‘my’ boat and sailing away. Maybe I'll take that quilt along for the ride.

Frida Kahlo

I must have been six years old
when I had an intense experience
of an imaginary friendship with a little girl .. roughly my own age.
On the window of
my old room,
facing Allende Street, I used to breathe on one of the top panes.
And with my finger I would draw
a “door”........
Through that “door”
I would come out, in my imagination,

Frida Fabric Doll by Quinn Knits

and hurriedly with immense happiness, I would
cross all the field I
could see until I reached…
a dairy store
called PINZON… Through
the “O” in PINZON I entered
and descended impetuously to the entrails
of the earth, where
“my imaginary friend” always waited for me. I don’t
remember her appearance or her
color [sic]. But I do remember her

Frida with Embroidery by Lily Grace Originals

joyfulness – she laughed a lot.
Soundlessly. She was agile
and danced as if she
were weightless. I
followed her in
every movement and while she
danced, I told her
my secxret problems, Which
ones? I can’t remember. But…
from my voice she knew all about my
affairs. When I came

Frida Creativity Doll by Awesome Art

back to the window, I would enter
through the same door I had
drawn on the glass. When?
How long had I been
with “her”? I don’t know. It could
have been a second or thousands of
years… I was happy. I would erase
the “door” with my
hand and it would “disappear”. I ran
with my secret and my
joy to the farthest corner
of the patio of my house, and

Frida Ooak Doll by Yalipaz

always to the same place, under a cedron
tree, I would shout and
laugh Amazed to be…
Alone with my great happiness
with the very vivid memory of
the little girl. It has been 34 years
since I lived that magical
friendship and every time
I remember it it comes alive and
grows more and more inside
my world. PINZON, 1950. Frida Kahlo.
‘Origin of the Two Fridas = Memory=’
From The Diary of Frida Kahlo: an intimate self-portrait

Frida Kahlo Snowglobe Doll by Buffalo Sisters

I enjoy the art and life story of the early twentieth century Mexican artist, Frida Kahlo. I do get impatient with her adoration of Diego Riviera and the way she allowed him to inflict emotional pain on her - although I suppose this reinforces her/my/our humanity. We've probably all had some experience with a couple like this - two people as the main actors in a dramatic play with everybody else playing the bit parts...