A Gift Of Great Meaning

First, let me provide a little background. On Mother's side of the family, whenever someone married, there were always gifts that had an acorn involved in some manner. I still have grandmother's carved bone acorn sewing kit and pictured below is great grandmother's silver acorn jewelry box. (which, as I was polishing it, I managed to break the acorn free from the base....good silversmith, here I come!)

It was heritage, lineage, tradition. It represented long life and prosperity. It was a link with long gone family members....some of whom I have no idea where they were laid to rest.

By the time Gary and I married, acorns were decidedly out of fashion, and mom could find nothing for us. I had some of her serving plates with acorns and that was fine, but we never really received *the gift* of the acorn.

Then, unexpectedly a while back (I am so behind I have been meaning to post this FOR EVER but was having Blogger troubles...) I received a large envelope in the mail from Ces and wondered what on earth it was, and how quickly I could get it ripped open. :-)

I was delighted and surprised and completely touched when I saw below:

An ACORN!!! THE acorn! Gary's and MY acorn! I just sat and stared a while, and then tried to get photos and wanted to write Ces and put the post up and do everything at once......I did get the thank you out quickly as the internet was being cranky.

At any rate, we finally got to talk and I explained to her how much this meant due to not having received the traditional gift, and that the drawing now fulfilled that spot in our life! Of course, when she sent it, she had no idea. Serendipity at work!

Even the signature is delightful! (Ces! I need to put it between two pieces of glass so I can see both sides!)
So thank you C.P. Adorio........sisterfriend, oaken nymph, creator of the Quercus Society of Blogworld, Mental Ninja and slayer of Voldemort! Who makes me laugh until I fall out of my chair and am in need of kleenex from spewing at jokes! Who better to send something like this?
Thank you.
Thank you.
From the bottom of my nutty little heart! ♥♥♥

Pax....

A Lovely Evening.......

(All photos courtesy of Shane Mohler, copyright 2009, all rights reserved)

.....At Co-Op, even though it had gotten hot during the day and warmed the Cafe more than usual. We had a great turn out, new faces who all said they would come back (YAY!) and good art and good friends!

The late afternoon sun coming through the large windows always provides interesting shadows and highlights; Shane was kind enough to shoot pics for me and I loved these photos above he shot. (especially this with the chiaroscuro lighting!) Thanks a big BAZILLION Shane!

I did the presentation of the canvas to Rev. Steve Ailes (who had managed to escape from another meeting long enough to get to our meeting!) It was a touching moment for me, having to be semi-professional and explain all the details and remain emotionally neutral. The gift was happily accepted.

And I had to include this picture because we were laughing afterwards about me looking all proper and subservient........which, believe me, everone knows is not true!!!!! I do look like I am behaving though......and I did a pretty good job, until I turned the piece to the sides and said "How's your Latin?" (which of course, Steve could read...hmmmpht!)

Now today is off to PT, with a considerable amount of pain from being on my feet all day yesterday, so it ought to be interesting. I guess it will be payback for all the off-color humor AFTER the canvas was presented! LOL!!!!

I hope, during this process of posting from start to finish, some of the excitement of work and discovery was conveyed. Perhaps you have had a chance to get a new idea, to think about what you do in a new way, to be able to get a glance into the mind of another artist and discover your own inspiration. Or maybe you have just enjoyed the visual ride of process to product.

Whatever the journey has been, may it have been profitable, enjoyable and educational.

And may you always be able to share your art with those around you.

There is no greater gift and responsibility than being blessed with the talent of an artist, and no greater joy than passing the results of that along.

Make art! Do what you do well!

Deo gratias.

Yesterday's Delightful Surprise!

Yesterday, in between studio time, I came up for a snack and drink and thought I would go check the mail, which occasionally runs a little early on Saturday. I open the box and what do I see inside but this delightful package, and before I look at the return address, I know it has had to come from Bernadette, because--well--because! It looks like a stamp she would own and she is one of the few people who would take the time to do this to a wrapper.

The wrapping was too good to tear, so when I got it inside, I carefully opened the back and then proceeded to open the little silver box inside, and again......attention to detail and presentation!

I turned the card over before unwrapping the tissue and found this note:

"Anne, this is a gift to you from Jan Brattain. (can we clone her?) Love, B."

At that point I was pretty excited, because I was *hoping* it would be one of the monkey pins Bernadette has on her Etsy site, and sure enough, there it was! This wonderful little shrine that has the most minute detail one can imaging and Mr. Monkey, with the heart swinging from his tail!!!!

Jan---

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!! XXXXOOOO!!!!!!

Bernadette---

It never ceases to amaze me how you do the work you do--the infinitesimal pieces, all smooth and lovely and no glue showing, like the creation sprang into being from the half-shell that Venus stands upon!

To both of you---you don't have any idea how wonderful the gift is and how much I appreciate it. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!!!!

The generosity of friends is worth more than anything else in the universe. The thoughtfulness, the consideration......I could ramble a while, but you both know how I love this piece.

Mr. Monkey is mine!!!!

It was a VERY GOOD DAY!!!!!! ;)

P.S. These pins are worth every single solitary CENT. I cannot photograph the detail good enough for you to really see how much work this was.