Theme 21: Then Suddenly It Came to Life....

How you choose to interpret the theme is completely up to you. It simply needs to be tasteful – no pornography or messages of hate here. When you sit down to create, you cannot think about how people will or will not receive your work. You are required to simply enjoy the act of creating.

I'd like you to take a trip with me for a moment. Let's go back to childhood, back to that time when it was our job to explore and play for hours on end. Now tell me what was your favorite childhood tale - that one you read over and over? I had many favorites so it was hard to decide but Harold and the Purple Crayon's pages are tattered from the constant reading and there are even some crayon markings made by yours truly :)

This week, I invite you to revisit your favorite childhood tale and bring any part of it to life in your own special way. Please feel free to choose Harold and the Purple Crayon and know that your crayon can whatever color you like.

Image from Crockett Johnson's

Harold and the Purple Crayon

Important Guidelines

The work submitted must be something you have created and/or worked on between the time the theme was revealed and the Thursday unveiling. Please submit your response to Natasha@creativenachos.com no later than end of day Wednesday, June 3rd if you would like it to be posted on Thursday, June 4th. OR send me a link to your response to include in the comments section of the post.

With your response please include:

1. Your name - either first name, shop name or both.

2. The name of your piece (if you choose to give it one)

3. The name of the theme you chose

4. Something you'd like to share (process of creation, idea behind piece) if you'd like to share anything

5. The shop and/or blog links you'd like to include

6. Two photos of your piece or of each of the pieces (3x5 or 4x6 and 72dpi or a max of 96dpi - if you need any help with that please don't worry I'd be happy to help!)

Most importantly, let your inner child come out and PLAY, PLAY, PLAY!

Step Into A Brilliant World Of Color and Beauty Created By Phenomenally Talented, Wonderous Artists

I am in love with the creations this week. Each artist's designs filled me with a feeling of freedom. I feel free to share my thoughts, create and just be me because each artist let their imagination soar to new heights thus inspiring me to do the same. The work is absolutely breath-taking. These talented, professional, incredible artists have inspired me to let my own inner colors shine and keep reaching for the sky. Thank you, you beautiful souls.

Now, spread your wings and take a trip with me.....


Salvaged Expression created this simply beautiful piece titled, "Stone Chrysalis."

"I almost didn't make it this week," said Salvaged. "At first I had a grand scheme in mind but the more I looked at it the more I could see that it wasn't going to happen this time. So I reached in my stash of random objects for a glass flower which promptly fell apart when I tried to manipulate it. So I poured out my stash of stones. I looked at shells and lava and finally this stone reminded me of a chrysalis. I went with a slightly chaotic looking wrap and photographed it on a leaf of my big bean plant so the prehistoric butterfly will have food when it finally emerges."

http://salvagedexpression.etsy.com/

Kaitlin, creator of Colors by K2, created this truly stunning piece titled, "Monarch and Daisy."

"I’ve recently been testing the waters with new materials and wanted to try my hand at polymer clay," said Kaitlin. "However, there are so many possibilities; I was getting a little bit overwhelmed about where to begin, so when I saw this week’s theme I yelled, “YES!!! That’s perfect!!!” I think I scared the dog with my exuberance =)"

"Anyway, this is the result! And the process… I first made a small slab (just under 3” and not quite square) and sanded it smooth after baking. Then transferred the outline of my design and carved out everything but the orange markings on the wings. Next came the paint! I covered the whole piece with black acrylic, making sure to fill in the cracks, then sanded to get the background effect. Second was re-painting the black on the butterfly, carving out the markings (which I left a natural terra cotta color), and applying the white paint to the spots and flower petals. I added just a touch of green to the stem to give some support, and signed (or rather, carved) and dated the back. Lastly, I baked it for 10 more minutes at a lower temp to help set the paint. It looks great displayed on a mini easel!"

colorsbyk.etsy.com

colorsbyk.blogspot.com

Maureen, a talented artist, created this wonderfully magical piece.

"I LOVE butterflies--the actual creatures plus their inspiration as cocoon/butterfly symbol, so was delighted to see this week's prompt: on the wings of the butterfly," said Maureen. "Yet all week, I surprised myself by dragging my heels on any artistic expression. Then today, my sweet daughter Amanda said, "Mom, just do SOMEthing." And so I did. I did NOT let myself get caught up in perfectionism--I just played. And then I realized that all this week, when it felt like heel-dragging, I was really just coming out of my cocoon!!"

http://aquamaureens.blogspot.com/

Felicia Kramer, creator of Another Bright Idea, created these absolutely gorgeous pieces titled, “Morning butterfly fairy” and “Evening butterfly fairy”.

"I have been busy with the business of being busy lately, and simultaneously in a little bit of a creative vacuum," said Felicia. "Lots of other things have been occupying my time, and when I finally sit down to “create,” nothing comes. I did spend four straight days in my little garden, planting lots of lovely flowers, a task I truly enjoy. I also have a few favorite fairy figurines that have yet to be placed in said garden, and that’s what may have prompted me to do something with these two butterfly fairy silhouettes from my clip art files. Hopefully, they will sprinkle some magic fairy dust on me to get my creative juices flowing again!"

http://anotherbrightidea.etsy.com/

Amanda, creator of Persistent Green, created this simply phenomenal piece.

"Natasha is always inspiring me to reach beyond the familiar," said Amanda. "This week was no exception, and it marks the beginning of my latest adventure in making journals. Although I ran into a few obstacles, I learned a lot and am excited to continue playing with this process. This particular pocket-sized journal features fabric covers, including a fun butterfly print that was too perfect to pass up for this theme."

http://persistentgreen.etsy.com/

http://persistentgreen.blogspot.com/

Teri, creator of Giraffelabel, created this truly unforgettable "butterfly RUTHIE bag".

"I'm so glad that I was able to participate this week. (it's been a bit crazy with the long weekend.) But, I had so much fun when we did the safari theme, U decided to do something similar," said Teri. "I freehand cut out the butterfly shape and hand-stitched it on. Then, I added the buttons for the body. It was all so much fun. The shape of the bag (the RUTHIE) is a shape that I make often, but I tweaked it a little bit with some pleats add the sides. I always love to just do something new...and this week was no different!"

http://giraffelabel.etsy.com/

One of the things that I love most about this magical playground is that it is getting me to share things and create things time and again that I've only ever dreamed of and this week is no exception. As I sat on the beach looking out at the waves and contemplating life - which included what I would make this week - I began looking at the seashells. They are my favorite bits of joy and I remembered a time when I was about nine when I wanted to start a business making "Seashell jewelry." Every single year I am at the beach I gather all these shells in the hopes of making that dream a reality and every year they sit and collect dust. Well, not this year!

In thinking about a shell, I found myself thinking about a cocoon and what emerges from it...a butterfly. It leaves its home and soars. People are like that...they all have a time when they leave their "shell" and let themselves soar. This is the first painted shell I've ever done and I am SO excited about it....I'm really proud of me :) So in celebration of leaving "shells" behind here is a little butterfly taking flight and inside the shell - the part that would be close to your heart when you wear this necklace - are the words, "Let Your Dreams Soar." (It is on two differet multi-colored necklaces here.

http://doodlestar.etsy.com/

Don't you want to soar through all these delights again?? Me too!!


Please share your thoughts, ask the artists questions, leave a comment and some love here. Then, go visit them at their shops and blogs, share some more and tell a friend! Thanks so much for visiting!!

Artist PlayDate: With a Joke or Two?

The writer/crafter who was supposed to be here to play today was unable to get everything to me. Ah, life! We all get that, right? But she will be here next week and I'm SO excited for you to meet her...for many it may be the first time you've met.

I am on a tight deadline for a massive project and when that happens I like to keep jokes handy to entertain me in times of stress. So today, let's play.

Please share your favorite joke with me and all the other TST-ers and let's see if we can make each other laugh for the remainder of the day...what do you say??

I'll start - Why was 6 afraid of 7?

Because 7 8 9 (get it? 7 ate 9 ...do you know how much that makes me laugh? Yes I know I am a true dork!)

Hope to hear from you!!

Inspirational Tips: Signs May Be Unreliable So Be Sure to Bring a Compass

Hello everyone! I've been thinking of you and hope that you all had a wonderful and relaxing Memorial Day weekend :)

As working artists and writers we have many jobs but none may be as frightening and simultaneously exhilarating as carving our own path. When you pursue a career as a lawyer or a doctor, there is a more concrete trail to follow. A certain amount of schooling that is needed and, within the field itself, people often share in achieving similar milestones and/or overcoming comparable hurdles. Becoming an artist does not provide such a set path. To become an artist who creates and sells their wares, one must begin by standing before a thick forest.

As I move toward the soaring trees, I use my heart, mind, spirit, passion, and signs to guide me. Yes, I am a sign seeker; my use of said signs is completely subjective however. Amid the forest, I stop to look for the connections in things, connections provided by the Universe that illuminate the path my life should follow. The connections could be as random as hearing a specific song on the radio.

“Oh,” I think to myself, “I haven’t heard this in forever. Wow, I was jst thinkinhg about so and so, so this must mean that they are thinking about me.”

Or the ones where someone randomly mentions something about an idea I’ve quietly been thinking about and I think, “That means I should go after that particular dream.”

I find it funny that the signs are always positive in telling me I should go after something; they never seem to be negative. Why is that? If I had to guess I'd say that it's because I use “signs” as a way to convince myself to do something I already know I want to do but am simply too unsure or scared to go after. Signs are the accessory of my personal kindergarten teacher.

I won’t lie, on the really tough days there have been times that I wished the signs would lead me to that spot in the forest where someone would step out from behind a tall tree, take my hand and lead me down a more readily traversed path. In fact, I hoped that person had a little red wagon I could sit in so that they could just pull me along the suddenly well paved road I’d somehow overlooked. That someone, my personal kindergarten teacher, would explain what is expected of me and then spell out in a step-by-step fashion exactly what I should do to get where I want to be. But right in the middle of that thought, I lose the comfort of my little wagon and begin to feel the pressure of shackles on my arms and wrists.

It is not a sign or a teacher or a leader that I need, it is trust. I need enough inner trust to say to myself, “Natasha, you’re on the right path. Don’t give up.” That one sentence gives me the power I need to fight.

The freedom of wandering, carving my own path, creating things that never existed before they leaped out of my imagination, propels me out of my wagon and sets my soul on fire. I run through the forest ignoring “signs” all around me. Instead, I use the sound of my own inner compass to guide me. When I finally stop look around, I find that the world around me is filled with luscious color and the sounds of creatures I’ve never seen before building and playing. If I’d taken any other way, if I'd blindly followed a ready-made trail, I’d never have stumbled across this beauty or learned from others. In that moment I feel whole and my heart beats one sentence over and over again, “You are on the right path. Trust yourself.”

Despite the lack of a road before me, I believe in what I am doing and where I am going - the unveiling of the children’s TST and Participant Choice themes solidified that for me. This weekend, I brainstormed some new ideas that will be taking shape and I realized that I love this forest and all its magical creatures. I’m so very glad I jumped out of that wagon, stopped fearing the unknown and stopped looking for someone to hold my hand and lead me forward. I’ve become my own forest ranger and as find my way, I find myself.

There is a forest. Lucky are we who get to wander around in it without a set course. Armed with heart, mind, soul, passion, and an inner compass we walk toward those soaring trees with our heads held high and ready ourselves for the adventure of a lifetime.

Theme 20: On the Wings of the Butterfly...

ANNOUNCEMENT: If you have not had an opportunity to see the amazing 2nd Grade Thursday Sweet Treat project, please scroll down to see the previous two posts. The work created by both the artists and the 2nd Grade students will delight you!

REQUEST: I am interested in inviting muscians to share in the TST experience. If you know someone who might like to compose a short piece based on this theme please invite them and I will includes a like to an audio clip or You tube video of their "Butterfly" theme! Please let me know I think it would be such fun!

How you choose to interpret the theme is completely up to you. It simply needs to be tasteful – no pornography or messages of hate here. When you sit down to create, you cannot think about how people will or will not receive your work. You are required to simply enjoy the act of creating. Please see the bottom of this post for instructions on how to submit your work.

But these are flowers that fly and all but sing:

And now from having ridden out desire

They lie closed over in the wind and cling

Where wheels have freshly sliced the April mire.

~Robert Frost, "Blue-Butterfly Day"

"I embrace emerging experience.

I participate in discovery.

I am a butterfly.

I am not a butterfly collector.

I want the experience of the butterfly.”

~William Stafford

Photo by Alice Russell

“Once I read a story about a butterfly in the subway and today, I saw one. It got on at 42nd Street and off at 59th where, I assume, it was going to Bloomingdales to buy a hat that will turn out to be a mistake..." ~You've Got Mail

Important Guidelines

The work submitted must be something you have created and/or worked on between the time the theme was revealed and the Thursday unveiling. Please submit your response to Natasha@creativenachos.com no later than end of day Wednesday, May 27th if you would like it to be posted on Thursday, May 28th. OR send me a link to your response to include in the comments section of the post.

With your response please include:

1. Your name - either first name, shop name or both.

2. The name of your piece (if you choose to give it one)

3. The name of the theme you chose

4. Something you'd like to share (process of creation, idea behind piece) if you'd like to share anything

5. The shop and/or blog links you'd like to include

6. Two photos of your piece or of each of the pieces (3x5 or 4x6 and 72dpi or a max of 96dpi - if you need any help with that please don't worry I'd be happy to help!)

Most importantly, let creativity flit and float throughout your imagination!

And Now, Please Allow Me to Present the 2nd Half of this Extraordinary Project!

Come discover the original artwork and poetry created by the magical artists and writers who participated in this 2nd Grade Thursday Sweet Treat project. Each artist was invited to write their own “I Am..” poem and then bring an aspect of a student's work to life.

The work of these talented, creative, professional, sensational artists will take your breath away!

Amanda, creator of Persistent Green, was inspired by Jordan's Pencil poem and Muhammad's Clock poem.

http://persistentgreen.etsy.com/

http://persistentgreen.blogspot.com/

"Jordan's Pencil was drawn with colored pencils and painted with watercolor," said Amanda.
"I love how clearly Jordan described the pencil, with its sharp tip, pink eraser and body yellow as the sun. I wrote all over the background in pencil, then splashed bright watercolor over the top. I like how the letters smeared a little, as they often do when I write with pencil. Then I drew in a big, happy pencil. I hope Jordan likes it!"

"Muhammad's Clock was drawn with colored pencils and markers," said Amanda. "My favorite part of Muhammad's poem was the repetition of the sound a clock makes--tick, tock, tick, tock. I wanted my drawing to make that noise too. Most of my clocks are digital now, so I really liked remembering the old clocks I grew up with. Thanks, Muhammad!"

Amanda also composed her own poem.

Notebook
by Amanda Fall

I am a new notebook
with fresh blank pages.
Denim blue lines march along,
ready for my next thought.
I scrawl secrets, doodle dreams,
erase here, scratch out there,
then try and try again.
I'm becoming a well-used book,
scribbled thoughts sprawling
sideways/upways/downways.
Even straight blue lines
can't contain me.

Agathe, creator of Meherio68, was inspired by Tamia's "I am purple" poem and Ricardo's "I am Red" poem.

http://meherio68.etsy.com/

"For Ricardo's "I am red", I created a charm bracelet, with an apple (not completely ripe, so just half red), a little brass charm stamped with flames, a red, Swarovski crystal heart, a lady with a cute red dress, and a heart-shaped charm saying "Hand made with Love". Both pieces are adjustable just as the lovelyness of their poems are universal..." said Agathe.

"I created a necklace, starting from this ancient plum-like bead (that was originally meant as a chandelier ornament), I added a textured brass pendant, for grapes, and a stamped one that says "POP !" for the soda, of course," said Agathe. "The little beads are very much the colour of purple lipgloss, aren't they? And then there's a little bag charm that just might accomodate books— and lipgloss, I guess!"

Janet, creator of Janet Davies, was inspired by the "Bluebird" and "King Cobra."

http://janetdavies.etsy.com/

The Bluebird was created using silk organza, fabric paint, acrylic and oilstick on paper.

The King Cobra was created using pastel and acrylic on paper.

Janet also composed her own poem.

I Am
By Janet

I am light
I shimmer in air
I dance on the lake
I open your eyes
and wake all things from their slumber
I am light

Marja, creator of Glass Elements, was inspired by Nikeisha's "I am... Red" poem to create this Fiery Red Fused Glass Candleholder.

"This handmade fused glass candleholder was created with a fiesty red fire in mind," said Marja.

http://www.glasselements.etsy.com/

Marja also composed her own poem.

I am…
By Marja

I am …
ever evolving,
shaped by experiences
with life, people, love.

I am…
steadily growing,
slowly unearthing the truth
that is Me

Maureen, a talented artist, was inspired by Jaydin's Cow poem and Jennifer's Pizza poem.

http://aquamaureens.blogspot.com/

Inspired by Jaydin's Cow

Inspired by Jennifer's Pizza

Maureen also composed her own poem.

I am . . .
By Maureen

Tart like lemony frosting
Sweet as a speckled ripe banana
Sad like my dog getting sick
Funny as the best knock-knock joke ever
Firm like a juicy red apple
Soft as a puffy white cloud
Hard like a rock I stub my toe on
Gentle as rain after thunder

I am all of this
Always a surprise
I am me

Teri, creator of Giraffelabel, was inspired by the "Mom" poem as well as Tyquel's "I am.." poem. http://giraffelabel.etsy.com/

"This is a purse...a clutch. Again, I have had this fabric for a long time, and have always loved it," said Teri. "Just wasn't sure what to do with it. It had so many elements that related to the poem - the black and orange, the stripes, and the jagged design (like teeth). Anyway, I don't really have a name for this either...maybe the tiger clutch?!" What do you think?

"This is a cuff bracelet made from fabric (vintage and new), beads, and vintage buttons," said Teri. "The pink fabric is something I have had, and it just seemed perfect for the "pink clothes, high heels, and eye shadow" in the poem. I don't really have a name for it." Any name suggestions?

Teri also composed her own poem.

I am…
By Teri

I am a mother
but, I am still a daughter
I am a wife
but, I am still independent
I am a positive thinker
but, I still have doubts
I am friendly
but, I am still shy
I am a teacher
but, I still have a lot to learn
I am an adult
but, I am still a kid at heart…

Ellen, a talented artist, was inspired by the Penguin poem and the Shark poem.

"I painted these in Photoshop, and they're not my usual style. I wanted to do something more design-y and illustrative for both of them" said Ellen.

This piece was inspired by the Penguin.

Ellen composed a poem for the creator of the Penguin poem.

I am...
By Ellen

I am a koala
I live in a eucalyptus tree
And spend my day eating
And sleeping in the high branches
I am soft like a rabbit
And only live in Australia

This piece was inspired by the Shark.

Ellen composed a poem for the creator of the Shark poem

I am...
By Ellen

I am a bat
I sleep upside down
And eat fresh fruit on tree branches
I hear tiny bugs
With my giant ears
And see in the dark with sonar

Jenjen, a talented artist, composed her own "I Am..." poem after she read all the poems. http://www.gottalovemom.com/

I am the sun
By Jenjen

I love the sun and it just makes me feel really good knowing that the sun rises and brings hope and sets to give us time to reflect and re-charge.
The pictures I put together are pictures from my zen-walk, cruise and vacation.

I am
the first beam of sunlight that marks a new path,
that starts slow and mild,
and step-by-step gathers strength,
as the clock ticks seconds, minutes and hours pass

I am
the radiant sunray that shines through the clouds,
that touches life as it shows the way,
and guides to persist
as the clouds cast the shadow in a day.

I am
the promise of hope,
the joy of being,
the feeling of success,
the grace of confidence
as a new moment is cherished.

I am
the warmth that oppresses rage,
the flame that can explode,
the rage that will infuriate,
the wrath that has to be contained
as the darkness sneaks through the day.

I am
the promise of sunshine,
the escort of the rainbow,
the conductor of the sounds,
the love that shines through,
as the storm stops.

I am
to end the day,
to recharge and evaluate,
to introduce the bright moon,
as the bright stars wait to twinkle in the sky.

I am
just like the sun
waiting for the moment to shine

Jenjen was inspired by Jie's Shark poem.

The poem just inspired me to have fun and be playful. I love how Jie described the playfulness of the shark. It makes me feel like a kid again, even though I’m as big as a giant! And when he wrote "sometimes I jump out of the water and sometimes I flip", I can just imagine sharks doing cartwheels!

http://gottalovemom.blogspot.com/2009/05/another-van-gogh-or-picasso-in-making.html

The entire project inspired me to paint with my 8yo –(Another Van Gogh or Picasso in the making? Or maybe a Matisse as someone commented) I was amazed on some techniques I learned from him – like putting different colors in the sponge before pressing it into the paper itself. But the most important technique he taught me was just to have fun and let the those fingers do their magic!

Tuesday, around midnight, I put all my art supplies on our dining table and just had fun with it.

In this piece, I used water color, acrylic paint and some oil pastel crayons. I just adding and re-doing it, just having fun and playing until 2am in the morning!
My 17yo (who loves to paint and do graphics) saw me painting earlier that night.

Son: “Mom, what are you doing up so late? Hmm ..since when can we paint here?
Me: “I am just playing. I had something in mind but…”
Son: “Mom, welcome to the artists’ world. Oh, btw, keep some paint for me!”

(Of course, everything was cleaned-up and put away before I headed to bed…)

I thought I was done, but I was still feeling playful. So I headed to the den and was just inspired to do some more oil pastel coloring.

This project definitely tapped in the “kid” in me!

Scott Lane was inspired by Rahman's "I am an Eagle" poem.

Scott composed a poem of his own.

I am a history reenactor
I dress in WWII clothes
wool shirts
army pants
tanker boots
short haircuts
I pretend its the 1940s again
while listening to 1940s music
and swing dancing to Glen Miller
With my Gal

Steph, creator of Tart Deco, was inspired by Tyrique's "I am Brown" poem and Elizabeth's "I am Red" poem.

http://tartdeco.etsy.com/

Inspired by Tyrique's Brown poem

Inspired by Elizabeth's Red poem

Steph composed her own poem.

I am song
Lyrics and Music
Living in the past and creating the future
Tears and Laughter
All in me

Natasha was inspired by Max's "I am a Gorilla" poem and Angel's "I am a Dolphin" poem.
http://doodlestar.etsy.com/

This Happy Birthday greeting card features a dancing gorilla created by Natasha and Brian.

This "Miss You" greeting card features two dolphins reuniting and was created by Natasha and Brian.

Natasha composed a poem of her own.

I am..
By Natasha

I am a child with a bucket of words,
endless waves of laughter,
colorful sidewalk chalk drawings,
an umbrella in the rain,
the moment right after a breaking wave,
a mini-Tasmanian Devil,
music notes hanging in the air,
the chocolate shell on a candy bar,
love dangling from a shirt sleeve
and a pistachio among peanuts.

Kris, creator of Lisianblue, was inspired by "Butterflies" and a "Whale."
http://lisianblue.artfire.com/

Glass Wings

"I think butterflies are incredible beings, beautiful, fragile, yet they are incredibly strong and can fly an amazing distance," said Kris. "I guess that's also tenacious. I love how something so delicate and soft can be compared to something also delicate, yet hard like glass. I was inspired to create a piece that could combine movement, beauty, their strength, and their fragility. Originally, I was painting an ornament,was almost done when I broke it! After I broke another one that was almost finished, I got it! I think I was supposed to do something else!
What better way to incorporate movement than make a mobile of a butterfly with glass wings, flying around a flower - or above it. I didn't want to use regular stained glass, as I wanted to make this a bright beautiful butterfly with colorful wings instead of just one or two colors if I had used stained glass. Being able to paint my glass projects allows me to be even more creatvie than I could be with just the glass. Even with the broken ornaments, I truly enjoyed creating this mobile that was so inspired by the Butterfly poem.

Splishin and Splashin

"I go from one of the smalled beings to the largest! I was so inspired by the Whale poem," saud Kris. "I wanted this to be about the the whale's movement, the water, and possibly sound. Aha! A mobile/windchime seemed to be a good way to express this. Initially, I hung the whale in the middle, with a series of glass on each side of her. As I was searching through my scraps of blue glass, to represent water, I had a different idea of how to lay it out. I put several pieces in a vertical position, as though the water was coming up with the whale as she comes up out of the water, along with more glass hanging from those in horizontal positions to one side of the whale. The other side was to be all horizontal with varying rows of glass. As I struggled with getting this to balance, I realized I was running out of time, and I still needed to paint the Orca and the butterfly, so I took the one side and hung it below the whale It isn't quite what I wanted, but I'm still pretty happy with it. These were such a delight to do!"

Kris also composed a poem of her own.

I am Blue

I am the soft blue of the lisianthus flower
a love instilled by my mother
I am the deep dark cobalt blue glass that
shines in the sun
I am the the royal blue of my grandmothers blue willow dishes
I am the azure blue of the New Mexico sky bathed in sunlight
I am of the ever changing blue of the Sandia Mountains
always in my backyard
I am the light blue of my fathers eyes,
always loving
I am the steal gray blue of my sons eyes
always trusting................

I am Blue

Bird, creator of Crow Tarot, Kitty Hawke, Cat Bird Crystals, and One Earth, One Tribe, was inspired by Jasmine's "I am a cat" poem.

Talismans by Crow Tarotfound at http://www.crowtarot.etsy.com/
Our Other Etsy Shops
http://www.kittyhawke.etsy.com/
http://www.catbirdcrystals.etsy.com/
http://www.oneearthonetribe.etsy.com/

Tacmai Belt & Necklace: Tacmai is I Am Cat spelled backwards. It seems to have a nice wildness to it as well.

The acrylic yarn is shaded in orange, grey-brown, and brown, for the fur, and a bit of pink for that little sharp kitty tongue they like to stick out at you from time to time. The faux pearls signify the white of the fur, but also droplets of delicious milk. On the necklace, there is also a ceramic bead w/the skeleton of a fish on it.

Reading that line in the poem, I was reminded of my husband's cat, from back in the days before she officially became his cat. His neighbor in the condo complex left his door open one day, as one does sometimes, because it was Florida and hot. This wouldn't have been a problem, except for the fact that he had cooked a lovely fish and set it out on the counter, then become distracted with something, a phone call, I believe, and stayed away for a while. When he finally returned, it was to find a perfectly intact skeleton of a fish on his plate, and nothing else. Sylvia had eaten it all. I've always admired her for the delicacy it took to eat that fish without disturbing any of the bones. So, the bead is there for her, and for Jasmine-cat.

The Mystery Skein was intended for my original project, a necklace with more literal mice and milk and fur colors. However, the charms have not yet arrived, so the plan changed. But it's a kyool piece, so thought I'd share it anyway. Ever since I saw a Mystery Skein listed on Etsy, I've wanted to play. So, now I shall! :-D

Bird also composed a poem of her own.

My poem has a bit of interestingness to it as well.

Tho' it may look simple, it's actually rather complex.It starts with a brick wall, overlaid w/a cobblestone pattern. Then come the words that folk used to use to name me, words of shame and judgement. As I have learned to shed the negativity associated with those names, and to sever my association with them, so have I next lain a pattern of snakeskin over those negative names, followed by a leafy layer, signaling the new growth that has let me overcome and grow. Then on top are the words I choose to associate with myself today. New names, new associations, all for the person I am and the person I want to be.

Special thanks to Kelsey who gave feedback but could not be a part of the larger project: http://caffeinatedfrenzy.etsy.com/

Also, a HUGE round of applause for Felicia Kramer, creator of http://anotherbrightidea.etsy.com/ and Marja, creator of http://glasselements.etsy.com/ for donating supplies!!

Thank you to everyone for being a part of this experience. Please feel free to share your comments and some love here then pop on over to their shops to check out more of their incredible works!