Rabbit...Rabbit...White Rabbit

I just love the lore and legends of rabbits...I have several books on this subject. Actually I have several books on several subjects-period!
Here is one folk saying I like to share with you...

“Rabbit rabbit white rabbit” is a common superstition, held particularly among children. The most common modern version states that a person should say “rabbit, rabbit, white rabbit” upon waking on the first day of each new month, and on doing so will receive good luck for the remainder of that month.

I am designing some dolls for a gallery here in Colorado in Paonia, which is in the Rocky Mountains and south and west of Aspen. The Glennie Coombe Gallery is my friends', Susie and her husband. They purchased a library building and have been busily refurbishing it to hold a gallery and an ice cream shop!

Of course how could I not make rabbits! These rabbits will have cloth bodies with clay heads and hands. When complete I will make certain to share the photos with you!

Here are some photos of the process for the rabbit heads...

Step 1: Heads sculpted using DAS stone clay

Step 2: Eyes painted Step 3: Armatured ears added Step 4: First part of coloring

Step 5: Stained Step 6: Wax Overlay to seal

Next week the completed rabbit dolls!
Until then...

Tweet- A Funny Thing...

This is in addition to my usual Friday blog...
see today's post below- Sailor's Valentine

I thought that I would share this with you. I was driving home last night and had my car windows open enjoying the nice day and the sounds of the little birds singing.
I came to a stop light and thought "My...that sounds like there is a little bird in my car!" "Oh" I continued in thought "it is just the little birds outside...they know better than to get into my car!"

I got closer to the highway that I take home and rolled up my windows (for the noise). And there it was "Squeak...tweet...squeak" right in my car!

Being the animal lover that I am-I pulled off onto a vacant lot and jumped out of my car to rescue this little creature...hmmm, no sound. I got back into my car and there was the sound again "squeak...tweet...squeak". Where the heck was that little bird sound coming from??

I looked over at my passenger seat and started to laugh...there was my lunch bag...I opened my bag and there was the sound. It was my thermos that was leaking air with a "squeak" and a "tweet"!

So silly!!

Hey, the day I stay home all the fun happens!

Sailor's Valentines

Well, this month's blog has turned out to be all about shells! They have place in yesterday's as well as today's world. On their own they are special but put together in a grouping they can become even more fabulous. I find that there is a fine line between tasteful and kitschy...after all~ beauty is in the eye of the beholder!

The story of Sailor's Valentines bring thoughts of romance and of sailors aboard majestic ships on a long voyages to new wolds and new adventures. Dreaming of loved ones left behind...

It was told that these sailors had many idle hours about and set about making these valentines with shells collected from their travels, but in reality most of the Sailor Valentines where actually purchased though cottage industries on the Barbados island to bring home to their missed loved one. Sailors would buy or trade items for these special treasures.

Vintage Valentine 1850's

An authentic valentine was said to have a heart, a flower design such as a "compass rose", and a special sentiment such as "Forget Me Not", "To My Sweetheart", or "Think of Me". The Valentines were made in octagonal shaped box that were two sided and hinged with a glass cover. When closed, usually with a heart shaped-clasp, the delicate work inside was protected.

Original Sailor's Valentines can be rare and collectible. There are "new" Sailor's Valentines, crafted by contemporary artist, in today's market that are quite beautiful. And there are kits for you to make your own special treasure!

Valentine by S. Morgan

During the Victorian era, making Sailor's Valentine was a popular past time. It is believed many of the shells used in these were brought home to beloved ladies by their sailors.

Small Valentine we made in a class at ROotie

Here are some links:
nantucket sailors valentines
shannon webster valentines
stephanie strange valentines
wendy marsall valentines
pocket watches by bill jordan
other shell uses
book on sailor's valentines

Shell Journal

Many years ago, I was invited to teach (dollmaking) on a cruise. Barbara Willis, another teacher, sent all the other teachers a template of a scallop shell shape for us to create our own design for an additional project for our students...well the cruise wasn't a go but the shell shape kept speaking to me to do something!

I loved the shape and designed a shell journal for my own personal project...

I created it with quilted covers of hand-dyed burnout silk velvet, 11 altered pages, and bound together with rayon ribbons.

Tiny shells, vintage pearls, antique pearl buttons, and a special crystal button, nestled on top of vintage dyed lace. All where sewn or added onto the quilted cover.

Into the ribbon bound book, each page was created using different types of paper.

Many of the pages hold poems of the sea, vintage laces & postcards, an old button card, shells, anything that was a gentle reminder of shells and the sea...

A little sparkle of glitter to the starfish...

Old "Mermaid Pearls"...

Postcard with a Vintage Embroidered Flower added...

Little postcard tucked inside

a handmade velum envelope...

Old Paris stamps...
Pearls of Wisdom...

The truest Greatness lies in being Kind,
the truest Wisdom is a
Happy Heart.

Shells at the Table

Many of you know my love of the ocean...and therefore I love shells also!
So...when one of our Progressive Dinner parties came around with the theme of the Mediterranean, I thought of the Mediterranean Sea and the beautiful color of the water and...the shells.

The seashell is a symbol of many positive things in life. Seashells are thought to be gifts from the ocean. With its various shapes and forms, it is the symbol of uniqueness and beauty. One great symbolism of the seashell is created by Boticelli in one of his artistic creations. In his painting of "The Birth of Venus", the seashell is depicted as the vessel of beauty, rebirth, love, and godly attributes to the earth.
Here is my table setting- glass pebbles as little droplets of water...abalone shell square plates, shell votives and small candles...a scarf used for the runner.
Our course was salad-I served base of greens called mache with a mint vinaigrette topped with feta and figs with a swirl of peppered honey.

Great shell plates I found at Pottery Barn a few years ago...

My counter top with the "crab" nut tray...

Accents of white and aqua...to reflect the ocean!