urbanrosary

Sacred Heart of Carmel Altar Bottle

Recently I had the opportunity to travel with my boyfriend to Carmel, California. One of the things that I really like doing (and so does he), while in California is visiting the various California Missions. Some of my altar pieces are inspired from those visits. There are 21 missions in the State that were founded by father Junipero Serra.

If you grew up in California, one of the most memorable things we had to do is what we call the "4th grade mission project". Every fourth grader is required to do a "mission project". You can pick any of the 21 missions, construct a model of it with anything you wish. Some are made of sugar cubes, cardboard, wood, popsicle sticks, plaster, styrofoam...the list goes on. I did one, and my daughter did one.

My girlfriend Arlene has helped her 5 children and her many grandchildren construct theirs. It has become ritual for many families. For Arlene, she travels with her trusty glue gun in hand to each of her grandchildren homes.

So..... I continue to do my "mission art"....inspired in Carmel I took a photo of the sacred heart that was at one of the altars inside. I decided I would feature it in the center of a cross. This piece has a vintage old world feel. The amber bottle has a removable lid, so something sacred could be stored inside....maybe a prayer, or a wish, or a blessing written on a piece of paper?

Buddha Altar Piece

I had this hand carved jade Buddha for years in my jewelry box. I thought of making a necklace at one point but never got around to finding the right beads for it. Like most of my altar pieces they just seem to "happen" when the time is right. This one just came together today in my studio. The jade green bottle is heavy and feminine. I added chain and a sterling silver rose bud with faceted beads to finish the piece.

Bluebird of Happiness Altar Piece

Taking my Bluebird of Happiness collage I decided to make an altar piece using a bottle. Knowing that the bluebird has roots in mythology that go back thousand of years. It is symbol of cheerfulness, happiness, prosperity, hearth and home, good health, new births, and renewal.

Prayer Book Altar Piece

Prayer Book Altar Adornment

I am just beginning to have the time to create some things from the Prayer Book. I have some sketches of what is coming next. Sometimes it seems that I have ideas in my head, but when I execute those ideas it doesn't always come out the way I had visioned, so I keep working at it.

This is one piece that I enjoyed making. I took a photo of a rose from my sister's rose garden and used that in the piece. Using various papers, colors and images from nature that speak to me, I created this altar adornment. I embellished it with chandelier crystal beads and semi precious stones with a sterling silver rose bud and tiny leaf.

The olive branch stamp that I use in my pieces remind me of my daughter whose name is means "Bringer of Peace" ....with the olive branch symbolizing "Peace".

Butterflies are a universal symbol of freedom, of being free, growth and evolution. I once rode a horse through a butterfly farm in Costa Rica, I was fascinated to learn how specific flowers need certain butterflies to exist. If a certain butterfly were to go extinct that flower could not exist and visa versa. It is a delicate balance.

The tiny rose colored spirographs are reminiscent of my childhood.

Inspirations

A found prayer book

Fifteen years ago, in a small dusty second hand shop in Connecticut, I found this prayer book. I just loved it. The cover is a type of plastic that has a image of the Virgin Mary on it. I think I paid $2.00 for such a treasure. Over the holidays, while taking time to go through storage, I found it and was inspired to use it in some way.

Written inside the book in the owner's handwriting is this inscription.....

"This is the book I was married with October 4, 1909 age 24 years the 5th of October 1909. George was 26 the 4th of July 1909.

Was married 50 years the 4th day of October 1959.....

My baby was born Wed. night January 18, 1911. was baptized in St. Mary's Church of Greenville, Conn. Sun 22. Godfather and mother, aunt and uncle Mr. and Mrs. Mahew.

My baby died Nov. 10 on a Friday night at 8:40 p.m. age 9 months and 22 days buried 12th in the Greenville graveyard.

Our second baby was born Feb 8th on a Monday night 11:45 p.m. 1915. Godfather and mother, Mr and Mrs. Geo. Bellows.

My daughter was married November 28, 1939.

George died January 16th 1961.

Little treasures hidden in small books. Words written by hand to sum up a life. Each event is either written in ink or pencil.

My great grandmother and grandfather along with distant relatives, along with my grandmother are buried in the Greenville graveyard. Another connection I had to the prayer book I found so many years ago.

My original idea for Urban Rosary was to make rosary type necklaces or altar pieces to connect the collector to a thing that they are inspired by. I still haven't had the chance to make the "rosaries" but, I wanted my necklaces or other creations to include things from nature....birds, trees, butterflies, shells....basically icons of any type.

I will be using the cover of the book in my next creations.

Garden Sunflower

This piece was commissioned for a woman whose mother passed away. Her mother's favorite flower was the sunflower. I had taken a photo of my sister's mammoth sunflowers that she grows every year in her garden. After altering the photo I added the words "FLY FREE", a bird in flight as a woman looks on. It symbolized what she hoped to commemorate. I added semi precious stones and chandelier crystal beads to finish the piece. I have to say it was one of my favorite Altar Adornments so far.

Ordinary Days.....Extraordinary Moments

Urban Rosary Necklaces