Homage to a Saint

My homage to Saint Gobnait is done. I have no lofty words of explanation. As with many of the things I make, my excuse is "my muse made me do it." I don't always understand where the ideas came from or what their significance is but I do know along the path of 'doing' I am changed. Saint Gobnait in her quirky way, along with her powerful honey bees, have reminded me that life is a delicate balance between pain and pleasure. So often it is our worry about the experiencing pain can keep us from the sweetness of life.

Sometimes it is amusing to review what was involved in making the work.
Amid the pain (HARDWOOD!) and enjoyment there was:

• wood carving with a pen knife AND using a screw driver and drill (there's nothing more iconic than a woman holding a battery operated drill!)
• dying with rusted metal, tea bags, flowers and plants, salt and vinegar
• sewing and stitching by hand
• painting Pellon and running it through the copier
• book making and construction
• repurposing a previously made stitchery piece (which qualifies as "reducing! Yeah!)
• recycling a cheese box, ribbons, and off cut piece of wood (Eco points for me!)
• goofing around with paper and glue to make the inner honey comb, paper hands and nest
• stamping with homemade stamps on the box
• learning ways to connect wire and paper (bees)

Saint Gobnait also taught me about one's resurrection place. The thin place where it is said one's spirit is whole, at home, with no longing or yearning to be anywhere else. It is the place one is most alive - where one is able to create, to discern and be wise. It is the inexplicable place where the physical and the eternal world meet.

I am wondering if it is a state of mind or an actual place on earth? When I am creating art I am of the mind it is a state of mind. However, some days, I tap my shinny red shoes together and plead "There's no place like home, there's no place like home. Perhaps you have insights? Obviously Saint Gobnait already knows the secret.

 little honeycomb in the upper lid

 

I guess when you focus on a Saint you should expect something to happen. For weeks I had dreams about bees and honeycombs, even visions of the color of honey. In my waking hours I saw the color everywhere. When spring cleaning started and paint colors were selected my husband wasn't so thrilled with her pick of colors (honey yellow) for the kitchen paint. He is, however, getting used to it. He realized right away he best not complain, the job would be put on his honey-do list!

 

Saint Gobnait and birds of the forest

Feast or famine, is it? The muse has been keeping me really, really busy. Can you hear the snap in her voice? "Do this instead," she shouted at me this past week. She said only a fool would be out in this weather. The first clue was seeing the over full pond running down the driveway. The second clue - 60 mph winds snapping branches in the firs left and right, which confirmed she was right. So, she and I played. Rather she played - that muse has more ideas than a dog has fleas and I worked like a dog to produce them (projects not fleas!).

The first one is called: The Blessing of Bees
Or at least that is what is called right at this moment. I am not quite done with it yet. Actually this apple wood carving is of Saint Gobnait, an Irish saint who saved her village with the help of bees. I intend to make a book to go with her, muse willing, to share her hagiography. (Hagiography is the biography of saints and spiritual leaders). Her frilly skirt is made from men's handkerchiefs that have been dyed with iron, tea, vinegar, salt and frozen leaves and flowers. I did some stitching and painted some sumi ink designs on them too. I hope Gobnait will come fully into her own... she may have some interesting things to share with us.

 

 

My second project, just started yesterday is a flag book.

Current title is "My heart sings to hear you singing."

Maybe there are too many 'sings' in it? Hummm... I will have to ponder.

 

I attended a Play Date with the Puget Sound Book Artists on the 5th of Feb

to learn how to make several styles of flag books.

It was great fun.

Of course they didn't show us how to do the flags made of wire.

That may or may not be something that is viable. Time will tell.

Keep in mind this project isn't done yet, but life is strange.

I share now, because who knows what tomorrow will bring.

It has been such a roller coaster ride this past year.

I am reminded to be present every day and

when the little bird sings one should notice, right?

So, twang away little birdies, twang away, is what I say.

 

 

Solitary vireo, black-capped chickadee, winter wren, bushtit, Oregon junco, ruby-crowned kinglet. Just a fraction of the birds that entertain us at the feeders.

Maybe I should make a sequel so all might be included?

Hang on, I will go ask the muse.

Apparently, she is 'driving the car', if you know what I mean.