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My current interest in art is bookmaking. Specifically, I’ve been making junk journals and teaching my techniques. Here is my first one.
The embossed covers for this journal came from an old book. I added the spinner to the front and refreshed the gold guilding.
This precious soldered ornament arrived next. The talented Leslie Venable joined the group this year and I'm thrilled I participated to receive this little lovely. The darling shadow box includes a vintage image and tiny bottle tree.
Lesley's gift wrapping was a treat all by itself - a wonderful gift bag with a vintage Christmas postcard affixed. JOY indeed! Thanks so much, Lesley, I love it.
~~~
On the same day, I received a package from my long-time friend, Melissa David. Her wrapping was exciting. Lace and rust!! What more could a Texas gal want?
Her's was a down home gift bag for sure. What an added prize. And just look what was inside:
Melissa always comes up with creative metal assemblages. This one is the best yet! There are so many layers of rusted metal and vintage elements you can't take them all in at first glance! Melissa sent along a great little Texas Christmas poem:
(Click on it so you can read it more easily.)
Thanks, Mel, this ornament was hard to pack away after Christmas. Next year, I think I'll leave it out all year.
Just look at this bag Nellie created to wrap the ornament. It is a work of art all by itself. Thank you so much, Nellie, for these wonderful Christmas gifts. I'll cherish them from year to year always.
Guess What's going on this week!
Think summer. Think kids. Think rampant fun! Can you guess?
That's right - CAMP TURLINGTON!!!!!!!!!
We picked up our granddaughter, Korie, and our adopted granddaughter, our friend, Liz, in Katy. We met Clint, Stacy, Carly, Korie, and Liz at Denny's for the tradional lunch before camp. First, of course, was the infamous trip to the grocery store where the two girls pick up all the food they want for the week! No holes barred. Any junk at all!
After delivering the groceries to the camp house, the first order of business was - SHOPPING! The girls wanted to go to GUG and Target so, by the rules of Camp T, we do whatever they want to do. Off we went!
We did all the traditional things here, played on the face, looked at the giant statue, and bought t-shirts at the gift shop.
We really are having a good time. Honest.
So that was Sunday and Monday. More to come.
One of my favorite icons was of St. Rapheal because it had a reliquary built in. An icon reliquary is a recessed hole filled with a relic from the saint like a little piece of garment or bone. Here is the whole St. Raphael piece:
This is another icon with a reliquary:
This is a close up of the Holy Doors on the iconostasis (photo by Kaye Smith):
Icons of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John on the Holy Doors.
Did you know that the peacock was an early religious symbol? Because of a belief that the peacock’s flesh did not decay after death, the peacock became a symbol of Christ, and, as such, early Christian paintings and mosaics use peacock imagery. Here is a detail of the peacocks on the Holy Doors:
Here is the rear wall of the Nave. Through the doors is the Narthex. (web site photo)
Icons like this one were painted on the side walls of the Nave:
These are icons of Christ and the Apostles (includes Paul in the circle with Peter) painted on the wall of the Narthex:
Other icons in the narthex:
The Narthex prayer corner:
Icon station for children in the Narthex:
There were many icons in the church - too many to photograph all. I'd love to go back to have time to really look at all of them.
Kaye got a couple of pictures of us in the Narthex as Father Symeon talked to us about the Orthodox Church practices.
It was a wonderful field trip. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Houston Ch2 News
Mark Boyle, Ch2 News Reporter, interviewed me yesterday as I was taking photos of the snow at Raven's Nest Golf Course.
Later, one of my photos was broadcast on the evening news.
In case you couldn't guess, mine was the cow photo:
When I checked the Ch2 website, Click2Houston.com, I realized that one of my Elkin's Lake snow photos was selected for posting:
Thus ended my Day of Fame!
We celebrated Christmas with our children and grandchildren on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. Weird time? Well, not really. It was still during Christmastide - the twelve days of Christmas beginning with the birth of Christ and ending twelve days later with Epiphany.
Today, January 6, is the feast day of Epiphany, Three Kings Day, or the Twelfth Day of Christmas. The word epiphany means “manifestation” or “revelation" and is commonly linked in Western Christianity with the visit of the wise men (Magi) to the Christ child. Through the Magi, Christ revealed himself to the gentiles.
I think there is a monumental parallel between the journey of the wise men as led by a bright star to find the Christ Child and our own journey to find Christ and His leading us via the Light of Life.
God gave us a light, Jesus, to enable us to come out of the darkness and live eternally in right relationship with Him. In view of such a merciful offering, what gifts shall we come bearing for the Christ Child?
~~~
For Those Who Have Far to Travel
An Epiphany Blessing
If you could see
the journey whole
you might never
undertake it;
might never dare
the first step
that propels you
from the place
you have known
toward the place
you know not.Call it
one of the mercies
of the road:
that we see it
only by stages
as it opens
before us,
as it comes into
our keeping
step by
single step.There is nothing
for it
but to go
and by our going
take the vows
the pilgrim takes:to be faithful to
the next step;
to rely on more
than the map;
to heed the signposts
of intuition and dream;
to follow the star
that only you
will recognize;to keep an open eye
for the wonders that
attend the path;
to press on
beyond distractions
beyond fatigue
beyond what would
tempt you
from the way.There are vows
that only you
will know;
the secret promises
for your particular path
and the new ones
you will need to make
when the road
is revealed
by turns
you could not
have foreseen.Keep them, break them,
make them again:
each promise becomes
part of the path;
each choice creates
the road
that will take you
to the place
where at last
you will kneelto offer the gift
most needed—
the gift that only you
can give—
before turning to go
home by
another way.
Adoration of the Magi, Edward Burne-Jones, 1887, tapestry, England
What gift will you give —
that only you can give —
to the Christ Child this year?
Front row left to right: Tom Spruill, Amanda Eckberg, Ashley Eckberg, Nicholas Eckberg, Memaw Dorothy Connell, Jake Baeynerts, Korie Turlington, Carly Turlington.
Second row left to right: Kimberly Isleman, Lauren Connell, Linda Connell, Jim Connell, Millie Connell, Sally Turlington, Jacquelyn Baeynerts, Stacy Turlington, Kade Turlington
Back row left to right: Jack Connell, Doug Connell, Stacy Baenerts, Rodney Connell, Clint Turlington, Jerry Turlington
Everyone Hangs with Memaw at One Time or Another
We all have our roles . . .
These beautiful photos also by Cuz Tom.
More pictures from Thanksgiving 2013 coming Soon
Cornucopia created by Molly Cambell for First Christian Church Sanctuary. Photo shot and edited by me. Hope your Thanksgiving was full and peacefull.
The Music of the Spheres : Music, Science and the Natural Order of the Universe
Posted with Blogsy
