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.

Cigar box shrine: Or while others smoke, you create!

First off I am putting this together before I have had enough coffee to really be responsible for the words that are typed. In fact, the backspace key has been put to liberal use already, and I am, what, two sentences into the post? :)
I definitely am NOT like those people in the Grape Nuts commercials; sometimes morning is NOT my time of day!
Moving on, this is a piece I love, made from a cigar box. Cigar boxes are amazing items to work with, either as they come or, like in this piece, with a little alteration.
I took the lid off, split it down the middle, then shifted the pieces 90 degrees. That left a little space at the top where I was able to insert a piece of decorative metal I had painted and aged. Gesso, and lots of it, was the secret to covering the paper and wood on the box and then applying liberal coats of color to build up depth. The pieces of the top were hinged back on with paper and medium, then all the collaging and painting was done. Tiny bottle caps with images in them, an alter at the bottom similar to Day of the Dead, the ferns that grow everywhere in New Orleans.
I am hoping the photos are able to enlarge; been having *issues * with getting them where they are supposed to be so I would guess that they will not! (just checked. I am wrong...)
I did this after the gallery I used to have work in down in NOLA closed, one year before Katrina. The photo inside is of myself---looking horrible---I believe I was

ill that year, and my friend, Taina Mechling, who ran the

shop.

I wanted a small memento to have of the lovely times spent in the warm, balmy, carefree days of the beautiful city, and a reminder of the most unique gallery that she ran. Since their move back to California, Taina opened another gallery, but I am not sure with the economic climate if she chose to keep it open or to close it and make her own lovely and unique art. (I hope she is making art so she has some time to enjoy herself!)

The cigar box shrine seemed for me a fitting and appropriate way to remember a very dear friend and times spent together on wonderful vacations.

Usually store that sell cigars will part with the boxes for a small fee, and there are an amazing variety of styles to choose from. They make perfect shrines or with the addition of a piece of glass or plexiglass across the front, a safely enclosed shadow box for all sorts of quirky items.

It is well worth your time to search some of these out and see what you can create with them.

Plus, they are just plain FUN!!!!!

So give it a try; you might be surprised at how much you can put into a small area!

And Taina, I hope you or your friends find this, and know you and Kelly are in my heart still, every day.