Azaleas and the Ice Storm

South Jersey took a beating earlier this week... 

with what ended up being a significant ice storm for us.

Our poor azalea bushes... were all encrusted in ice for several days.

The ice has (for the most part) since thawed, 

our power is restored and... all is well!

The Reliquary... Revealed!

The drawer has been primed, and then layered with hand-torn 

strips of paper toweling; applied with paper maché paste.

A coat of Gesso too!  My plan is to add some text over the

box and perhaps some images as well.

The chrysalis will eventually hang from the natural branch 

by a rusty wire "cage" which is shaped to its contours.

My little "butterfly boy" still need a body form to insert

in the chrysalis... and an arm and hand holding onto

the torn open side (of what has been his home)!

Thanks for stopping by... Daryle 

Mystery Solved... Thanks Mickie!

So, when Mickie (see comments from the Feb. 18th post)

suggested the mystery object in my new reliquary doll box 

was a wooden masher (pestle) from a cone shaped colander...

I "Googled" it and this is one of the images that came up!

Yay!!!  Thank you Mickie... 

And you are correct; the symbolism is perfect as well:

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show us

that this all-surpassing power is from God and not us.  

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed;

perplexed, but not in despair."  

(2. Corinthians 4:7-8, NIV)

The New Reliquary... Revisited!

BEFORE...

I really have been working on this new reliquary doll!

Preoccupied with the idea of "transitions" and "rebirth"...

a chrysalis keeps coming to mind.

What better way to create a "chrysalis form" than our

old school-days favorite: paper maché over a balloon!

I decided to use mulberry papers, for added texture and interest

along with pieces of theatre gauze.

AFTER...

Dried... and a day later: a chrysalis!

TODAY...

I sculpted a paper clay head and have base-coated it

with soft black...

Found this very interesting "thing" today...

at the Cow-Town Farmer's Market, here in Woodstown.

The vender said he found it in his Cedarville, NJ barn (circa 1840)

and had absolutely no idea what it was used for.

(He was asking $4 for it... I offered $2 and came home with it)

I just knew it would fit perfectly in the contoured side tray

of the desk drawer reliquary... and it does! 

So... now my doll "in transition" needs a little body!

Thanks for stopping by... Daryle

From Desk Drawer to Reliquary!

It immediately caught my eye yesterday, as Katie and I

were perusing around Art of Recycle in Ephrata, PA.

I'm thinking this is a vintage desk drawer... with an ink well,

 pencil/pen tray. What do you think?

It measures 8 by 16.5 inches... and the price was right!

It didn't "scream" at me... but immediately spoke to me, saying:

"Turn me on end, stand me up... stand me up!" 

And in that moment... Behold a reliquary, 

waiting to "house" a doll and a story!

And so... with a bit of sanctified imagination 

and some of the inspiration that Penny, from Art Journey 

(see my side-bar) just blogged about... 

I'm ready to begin working on a new doll!

Well... it's about time! (wink!)

Winter's Hold... A Light Touch!

While picking up fallen branches and trimming back rose bushes,

I couldn't help but notice some "stirrings" in our flower gardens!

Daffodils encroaching upon the ground ivy...

Lenten Rose revealing its new growth...

and even some of our Sedum was found...

sunning itself in the late morning light.

Winter's hold... it seems to be a light touch; for the moment!

A New Year... Fresh Fallen Snow!

Our first measurable snowfall of the season...

A cardinal found the stash of seed I placed in the feeder,

before the snow started falling this morning.

Happy New Year Wishes and Blessings to you and yours!