Mija Marie

One World One Heart Prize Winners

2010-02-15T22:43:00.000-08:00

Since my little bird is sick and in bed early, I decided to use the Random Number Generator to pick the winners instead. So here are the numbers that were picked and the 3 winners of my felted soap..... Amanda, Geni and Jona! I've sent emails to the winners so hopefully I can send their prizes soon!

Now do you remember my funny lady transfer drawing? I did a special drawing for her and she is going to live with Lola now! Hope she brings you some smiles Lola.

Thank you all for visiting my little blog and I hope you'll come back by to visit again sometime. I've thoroughly enjoyed this experience and hope to get to every blog on the list, some day! And a HUGE thanx to Lisa for creating this spectacular event! Can you even imagine how many blogs might participate next year?!

Let's Review

2010-02-08T19:18:00.000-08:00

As my birthday has recently passed, I've found myself reflecting on my year of art making. I'm surprised at how little art I've created, to my liking anyway! My job keeps me busy, busy and it is a very loosely structured work schedule, so it is hard to designate creative time. And when I do have extra time, I want to spend it with my family, not to mention there is house cleaning, Ugh! My only saving grace is I was sweetly reminded that although I don't have much time for my own creations, through MECCA, I create a space for and encourage the creativity in countless others. In this way, my creative efforts are actually multiplied 100 fold or more. This thought helps to soothe my soul.

Since I've been reviewing my creative year, I thought I'd share some of my pieces with you. I'll do this over a couple posts as there are several pics. First I'll share some paintings I made for a Paintings and Poetry book project with several artists I truly admire. Below are most of my pages. I chose the poetry of Anne Morrow Lindbergh as my inspiration. While I was pregnant with Raven I found her book The Unicorn and other poetry and would read it out loud to my big baby belly while rocking in the rocking chair. Her words often inspired vast visions in my mind and brought about physical reactions from my body. She was the obvious choice for me. The paintings are 6" x 6", if I remember correctly, and I used textured vinyl wallpaper samples as my canvases.

This painting is called The Anemone Garden and the line "her swaying garden of anemones" is painted on the right side.

This one is called Seed of Love and the line "the seed of love must be eternally resown" is painted on the left side.

This painting is called Captive Spirit and the line "captive spirit running free" is painted on the right side, in light blue.

This one is called Burning Tree and the line "burning tree upon the hill and burning tree within my heart" is painted in yellow along the tree trunk.

Stand Alone is the title of this painting and the line "Swept hollow of your presence, I must stand alone and in their empty faces stare" are the painted words.

This painting is titled Bolted Door and the line "Break down the bolted door, rip open, spread and pour" are painted around the door.

This piece is called More than Wings and the line "here soar with more than wings" is painted below the flying image.

And lastly, this painting is called Leaves of Youth. It is apropos as I find myself struggling to admit I am "middle aged" and fully exposed on top of the mountain of my life, looking down to the other side. Yes, it still looks a long way down but everyone knows that traveling down hill happens twice as fast, if not faster. Anne's words "Already I have shed the leaves of youth, stripped by the winds of time down to the truth" make me hopeful. That I may appreciate the experiences of my younger years, how they've protected and shaped me, but that as they fall away my true self will become more fully exposed, in all it's strength and glory.

I will be sharing some other art I've created over the last year in near future posts. So stay tuned.

Come Take a Magic Carpet Ride!

2010-02-02T21:23:00.000-08:00

Feb 6 Update: The One World One Heart blog event now has over 1,000 participants! I am thrilled with the great response to my own blog and wish I could send a giftie to everyone who has commented. Thanks to all who have stopped by and if I reach over 250 comments, I will add 2 more prizes! Smiles.

I'm so excited to be joining in the One World One Heart blogland giveaway this year! This is such a fantastic idea that Lisa Swifka came up with a few years ago. And it's grown and grown every year since. If you're interested in finding out more or joining in the event click the link above. Anyone can join in before Feb. 8. and there are links to over 500 participating blogs on Lisa's website.

This event is a wonderful way to connect online via individual blogs. From painters to writers to photographers to jewelry artists to chefs to knitters, so many people share their passions, skills, adventures, triumphs and challenges on their blogs. Some baring their souls while others just give a taste. I find it fascinating!

The OWOH event is meant to encourage us to visit new blogs, connect or reconnect with people from around the world, be inspired and maybe even win something great! Speaking of winning something great, here are my give away items...

Aren't these colors luscious? I'll be gifting TWO people with fuzzy felted soap! Yes, it's really felted soap and if you've never used felted soap before, you're in for a treat. To use this soap, all you do is submerge the whole thing in water, felt and all, then put it to your body and start scrubbing. The wool is naturally anti-bacterial and acts as a feel-good exfoliant.

I used a vegetable based soap that is lightly scented with natural essential oils and has a spicy citrus fragrance. It is not overpowering as I am sensitive to intense fragrances myself. Although if you're not interested in the felted soap, I'm also giving away this funny little lady...

She is a 6"x9" oil transfer drawing over a topographical map that I then drew and painted with watercolor pencils. She has some unique features that endear her to me. I hope she makes you giggle too. So, do you want to win one of my 3 prizes? Yay!

Now here's how it works, you must leave a comment, only ONE comment, with this blog post. (Duplicate comments and spammers will be deleted) Make sure you include a way for me to contact you if you're a winner. I will pick the winners at about 6pm United States Pacific Standard Time on Feb. 15. My daughter, Raven, will pick the winner from a hat (likely a witches hat altho she's been sporting a cute black bowler lately). Anyway, thanx for stopping by and playing... I hope you win!!!

Poe Gift Exchange Finale

2010-02-01T20:11:00.000-08:00

Yes I have been neglecting my blog. Tsk Tsk! Quite honestly, I knew I would. It is just the kinda girl I am. When a project appears daunting to me, I start to procrastinate. Then I find just about anything to do other than that. The funny thing is, most of the time, whatever it is I'm avoiding usually isn't that big of a deal once I do it. Then I wonder what my problem was the whole time. I know, I'm silly. It's no secret!

So it is now February and my Poe gift exchange ended in Oct but I cannot blog another thing until I finish showing you all the amazing creations I was blessed with! My last post was about my gifties which were opened on day 6. Well on day 7 we opened the present from Michelle Remy. When I was a kid, I loved miniature things! Anything that was a small representation of something large, and that I could fit in my pocket, was intriguing to me... so Michelle's little E.A. Poe made my inner child squeal with delight!

Isn't he darling! He's so small he lives on my flat screen computer monitor now. Thanx so very much Michelle!

On Day 8 we opened gifts from the daring Dawn Sellers. Talk about creepy kool, look at this...

She made a leather heart pin with a metal zipper edge and a big EYE in the middle! I dig this, it is so clever and just plain fun! Thanx Dawn!!

On Day 9 we opened gifts from jubilant Julie Molina. And what a treat it was, a super groovy cuff bracelet that tells me Nevermore! Thank you Julie, it so freakin' fantastic!

On Day 10, we opened gifts from the palpitating Pilar Pollock. Look at this marvelous creation... A painted canvas heart with beautious bat wings. Thank you, thank you Pip! She's a beauty.

For Day 11, Catherine van der Hoeff sent us gifts from across the ocean and what a gift it was! See here...

A wonderful little hanging canvas with the words and images meandering from the front to the back or vice versa. I just love the peaking eye too. Thank you Catherine!

Day 12, oh what a day... I got to open this itty bitty teeny weeny box from Liz Gale. It had been staring at me for days so I was relieved to finally open it and see what tiny treasure lay inside.

A magnificent miniature book of the poem the Raven! (photo courtesy of Kelly Snellling). WoW! I was shocked and amazed and thrilled with this little book. Thank you Liz!

The last day of the gift exchange, I didn't want it to end but was so excited to open this gift from marvy Martha Brown. I have to say almost half the fun of the exchange was the super gift wrapping! So very creative and inspiring. So let's see what Martha made for us....

A fabulously functional gift with Poe written all over it... a pins and needles case! That Martha is such a clever girl. I had to hide this from my child, Raven... I could see the coveting look in her eye after I opened it. Thanx Martha!

Well this Poe gift exchange is well over and done but I surely hope we have another next year 'cuz it was sooooooo fun!! Many thanx to all the lovely artists who participated in the fantastic swap and to Michelle Remy for hosting it. Yay!

Thanx for sharing in my joy and treasures. See you next blog post!

Today is my day!

2009-10-19T11:48:00.000-07:00

And so, Day 6 of the POEtic Exchange is the day my gifties are to be opened. I stitched the fuzzy gifts into old book page packaging and painted the number 6 on to black feathers as a hint of what will be found inside.....

Felted Raven Adornments with shiney threads and bright beads, such things a Raven would covet.

And this bird is more than just a necklace.... it is also a pouch... a little place to hide your shiney, rusty or natural treasures found as you fly through your day.

Although they do not look sinister, the pouch makes them a little mysterious! Don't ya think? I hope all the POEtic girls like their gift from my Tell-Tale heart. hee hee

Edgar Allan Poe
The Raven
[First published in 1845]

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary,

Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,

While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,

As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.`

'Tis some visitor,' I muttered, `tapping at my chamber door -

Only this, and nothing more.

'Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December,

And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.

Eagerly I wished the morrow; - vainly I had sought to borrow

From my books surcease of sorrow - sorrow for the lost Lenore -

For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels named Lenore -

Nameless here for evermore.

And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain

Thrilled me - filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;

So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating`

'Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door -

Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door; -

This it is, and nothing more,

'Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,

`Sir,' said I, `or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;

But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,

And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door,

That I scarce was sure I heard you' - here I opened wide the door; -

Darkness there, and nothing more.

Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,

Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before

But the silence was unbroken, and the darkness gave no token,

And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, `Lenore! '

This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, `Lenore!'

Merely this and nothing more.

Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,

Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before.

`Surely,' said I, `surely that is something at my window lattice;

Let me see then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore -

Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore; -

'Tis the wind and nothing more!

'Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,

In there stepped a stately raven of the saintly days of yore.

Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;

But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door -

Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door -

Perched, and sat, and nothing more.

Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,

By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore,

`Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou,' I said, `art sure no craven.

Ghastly grim and ancient raven wandering from the nightly shore -

Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!

'Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'

Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly,

Though its answer little meaning - little relevancy bore;

For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being

Ever yet was blessed with seeing bird above his chamber door -

Bird or beast above the sculptured bust above his chamber door,

With such name as `Nevermore.'

But the raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only,

That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour.

Nothing further then he uttered - not a feather then he fluttered -

Till I scarcely more than muttered `Other friends have flown before -

On the morrow he will leave me, as my hopes have flown before.

'Then the bird said, `Nevermore.

'Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken,

`Doubtless,' said I, `what it utters is its only stock and store,

Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful disaster

Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore -

Till the dirges of his hope that melancholy burden bore

Of "Never-nevermore."

'But the raven still beguiling all my sad soul into smiling,

Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird and bust and door;

Then, upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking

Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore -

What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt, and ominous bird of yore

Meant in croaking `Nevermore.

'This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing

To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom's core;

This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining

On the cushion's velvet lining that the lamp-light gloated o'er,

But whose velvet violet lining with the lamp-light gloating o'er,

She shall press, ah, nevermore!

Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer

Swung by Seraphim whose foot-falls tinkled on the tufted floor.

`Wretch,' I cried, `thy God hath lent thee - by these angels he has sent thee

Respite - respite and nepenthe from thy memories of Lenore!

Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe, and forget this lost Lenore!

'Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'

`Prophet!' said I, `thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil! -

Whether tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore,

Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted -

On this home by horror haunted - tell me truly, I implore -

Is there - is there balm in Gilead? - tell me - tell me, I implore!

'Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'

`Prophet!' said I, `thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil!

By that Heaven that bends above us - by that God we both adore -

Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn,

It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels named Lenore -

Clasp a rare and radiant maiden, whom the angels named Lenore?

'Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'

`Be that word our sign of parting, bird or fiend!' I shrieked upstarting -

`Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore!

Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken!

Leave my loneliness unbroken! - quit the bust above my door!

Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!

'Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.

'And the raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting

On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;

And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming,

And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;

And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor

Shall be lifted - nevermore!

Behind Already.... Gifties Galore!

2009-10-18T16:40:00.000-07:00

The Poetic Exchange has been underway for a few days now. Sooooo much fun! Due to long work days and illness (meaning out like a light by 8pm every night this week), I have not been able to post the progress until now. But thanx to a day off and a break in the weather, I was able to take pics... so let me share the booty with you here....

"Once upon a midnight dreary" dear Tami Roth gave to me, a kreepy kool Raven/Edgar necklace! And beautiously wrapped in a star shaped box with scrumptious ribbons! Thank You, Thank You Tami! My daughter Raven has already tried to claim it as her own.... but I'm not relenting.

On the 2nd day of the POEtic Exchange, dear Linda Duffy gave to me, wrapped in a graveyard scene...

...a lovely collage with an excerpt from the sorrowful poem of Edgar's called Annabel Lee. Many thanx Linda!

With a Love that the winged seraphs of Heaven
Coveted her and me.
And the stars never rise
but I see the bright eyes
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;

On the 3rd day, with grateful glee, I opened the present dear Saundra James gave to me....

... the staring eye made me a little nervous but I proceeded, with caution.....

and inside I found this precious, hand-made heart pendant! Thank you Saundra!

.... And now at the dead hour of the night, amid the dreadful silence of that old house, so strange a noise as this excited me to uncontrollable terror. Yet, for some minutes longer I refrained and stood still. But the beating grew louder, louder! I thought the heart must burst.... Excerpt from The Tell-Tale Heart.

On the 4th day, with a squeal and a jump, I opened the present dear Terrie Lightfoot gave to me...

wrapped in this splendid fabric bag of spooky imagery and yummy colors, this fantastic necklace with a shrine pendant full of detail and delicious color!

With the last line from The Tell-Tale Heart and Edgar on the back, close to my heart. Wow Terry, Thank You!

On the fifth day of the POEtic Exchange, my soul friend, Kelly Snelling, gave to me....

a treat and a treasure and a hand-wrought Raven of my very own! Shiny pearls and powerful turquoise dangles from the Raven. She's carrying them off to her nest of treasures now doubt. Thank You sweet friend!

Kelly well knows my affinity for Raven's. She and I both have a love of birds but Raven's have a mystical and sometimes macabre character that makes them even more interesting. Raven's are known in legends and tales as intuitives, tricksters, messengers, communicators and keepers of deep mysteries, holders of ancestral memories, and are thought to be representative of our shadow selves or the darker side of our psyche. The negative connotation of the Raven has mostly surfaced within the last few hundred years. This may be related to their scavenging the remains of battlefields and so they became an omen of death. I prefer to revere them for their primordial, resourceful and comical qualities. Really, just watch a Raven strut and hop about, it's sure to make you giggle.

I do remember the first time I read Edgar Allan Poe's poem The Raven, in 6th grade I think. Quite the conjurer of fear and madness is he. I remember I read it 3 or 4 times in a row. It chilled me and the images my mind created have stuck with me all these years. Then I read The Tell-Tale Heart and The Pit and the Pendulum, once again I quaked and shaked but still I wanted more. Poe believed that "Words have no power to impress the mind without the exquisite horror of their reality." Oh, he got that right!

Well, tomorrow is day 6, the day my Altered Guild friends open my gift. How exciting! Hope you enjoy it friends! I'll post more pics tomorrow but for now I leave you with this diddy from Edgar....

Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before.

Let the Opening Begin!

2009-10-13T21:44:00.000-07:00

I feel like a kid on Christmas eve... who has to wait 6 christmas eve's before Christmas actually arrives. 13 artists from my Altered Guild group are participating in a POEtic Exchange. We'll open 13 handmade gifts over 13 days in celebration of Edgar Allen Poe. Apparently he had a recent birthday. Sooooo, we're waiting for everyone in the exchange to receive their package of Poe pressies before we start opening them (which is only fair)..... but the waiting is BRUTAL! I have very little patience for such things as waiting to open presents. Obviously I've received my package already.... pure torture! But the wrapping of each gift is so fantastical, it almost makes waiting worthwhile.... Almost! Anyway, when the opening does begin, the gift I made will be opened on day 6. Here is a picture of my gifts all wrapped and tagged. When I can start opening them, I'll share pics of all the pressies here. But for now, we wait......

Testing Testing Is this thing on?!

2009-10-12T16:22:00.000-07:00

Am I really here?
Really getting it?
Really BLOGGING?
I'll believe it when I see it......