Up in Smoke!

If you follow some of my foolishness here at Woodstown Whimsies…

you know that I have an affinity for "coffee-stained" just about anything!

Well… if you have ever asked yourself: 
"Does he ever burn anything while attempting to age it 
and give it character?"  Here's the answer:

My "Hilde" book created for the ADQ Medieval Doll Challenge…

is proof-positive; "Yes indeed… he sometimes sets the world on fire!"

When coffee-staining, I use the microwave to "set" the stain and dry 

the piece I am working on… Well, 45 seconds was a tad too long for

Hildegard's "Simple Book of Medicine"  

Alas… it certainly does look old & worn!

(click on the pic to enlarge and really see the "aging!")

Thank You "Yankee Candle" for your sage & citrus concentrated spray;

totally (more-or-less) eliminating the smell of charred paper!

Tsk! Tsk!  Happy Daze… Daryle

The "Mystery"… Revealed!

Working on the most recent Art Doll Quarterly Challenge has been,

well… a challenge!  But she is finished!  My Medieval Mystery Maiden:

(drum-roll, please…)

Playing softly in the background, while completing my doll 

for the “Medieval Doll Challenge, are the ethereal voices 

of a Gregorian chant.   I am listening to music composed 

by one of the most remarkable and gifted women 

in medieval history: Hildegard von Bingen. 

Born in Germany in 1098, she would dedicate her life 

to serving others; becoming a nun at the age of fifteen.  

During her lifetime, Hildegard of Bingen created an immense 

outpouring of work in music, poetry, and scientific literature.  

She was both a woman of vision and a “visionary” of some 
Biblical and religious texts during the 12th century. 

 

The music, which I have incorporated on the doll stand, 
represents one of Hildegard’s chants: O virtus Sapientiae 
(Strength of Wisdom). I wonder if the text could have been based 
upon this familiar proverbial quote that Hildegard 
would have been acquainted with: Proverbs 9:10 
“The fear of the LORD 
is the beginning of wisdom: 
and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” (KJV) 

 

 The manuscript sitting on the small side table is a representation 

of her writings on medieval medicine: Liber Simplicis Medicinae 

(Simple Book of Medicine).  The glass jars hold her herbal remedies. 

Hildegard… a medieval lady in waiting! 

(Yes, waiting to be shipped off to California…)
Thank you for taking this creative journey with me! Daryle

Lancaster County…

Katie and I were able to spend the day in Lancaster County

and found a new favorite place to stop, while in New Holland:

Vintage Kollections (adjacent to Carson's in the Cornfield).

Katie picked up some linens and a nice little vintage flower "frog" 

which she will use to keep reminder notes on her desk!

I found some porcelain insulators that will make the perfect

mixed-media doll arms, along with a one-of-a-kind tin funnel (hat?)

some brass drawer pulls and a vintage (circa 1870) 
German Children's Bible Primer… all treasures!

We also spent the late afternoon at Sight & Sound Theatre

where we enjoyed their newest production: "Moses"… with about 45 
other folks from our church family.  It was dazzling and memorable!

Here's a link from the premiere opening:

http://www.sight-sound.com/WebSite/shows.do?showCD=MOS&gclid=CJrfxZvMqb0CFY3m7Aod2wEAZQ#videos?media=media1

Mid-March…a Record Breaker!

It certainly doesn't look like a "record-breaker"… does it?

By late afternoon, our most recent "dump of snow" had settled 

and started slowly melting in the mid-March sun.

It was official though: 

the second snowiest winter on record!

We have Lenten Roses under that heap of snow… with buds on!

Good thing, they are a hearty lot!

Warm Wishes… and keep those snow shovels close at hand!

Snap…Crackle…Pop! (well, "crackle" anyways!)

DecoArt crackle medium does its magic… with a porcelain-like

finish on the Maiden!  Poor thing definitely needs her hair-piece

back in place and the wimple to cover the top of her head.

I used a matte finish sealer to get rid of the "sheen" that was 

left by the application of the crackle medium.

Her eyes are acrylic paint with black pastel crayon/pencil.

I am pleased with her hands, love that bulbous nose…

and am ready to dress her… Ugh!