Growing wings.
Tuesday, September 29th, 2009
From Wikipedia:
The Nike of Samothrace was created to not only honor the god, Nike, but to honor a sea battle. It conveys a sense of action and triumph as well as portraying artful flowing drapery through its features which the Greeks considered ideal beauty.
My fave statue of all time. It helps that it’s displayed in one of my fave places on the planet, the Louvre in Paris. But for some reason, this statue renders me speechless every time I see it. Funny that a headless woman can do that, but I think it has to do with the posture of Nike—she is chest up, ready to take it on and graceful with wings flowing behind her.
I think I might need a small one on my desk to remind me of these qualities. You can get them at Amazon and I think I might just do make the commitment.
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I think it would be a reminder of strength on this journey. Growing these little feathers that poke out my side…encouraging them to flap a little in the breeze. I have always been a “jumper”, but sometimes life gets in the way of climbing to the high point. Jumping off a small stool onto the carpet doesn’t count 
Jumping examples that I need to remind myself of:
-going to Tunisia in Northern Africa as an exchange student in ‘88
-heading to a college in Cali (USD) where I knew absolutely no one
-deciding to go back to school to get my Masters in teaching when I didn’t have a penny to my name
-agreeing to a blind date after so many had failed (thank goodness for PH)
-deciding to have another baby after my first little lamby had open heart surgery
-moving to NY for my hub’s job and moving back again after creating a great life out there (it’s great here too, btw)
-marathon running (my knees are toast…it was a good ride while it lasted)
-going for it (three different times) with the portrait business
-beginning to collage and get messy
-letting go of a couple of friendships I knew were toxic
Whenever I get freaked out-–okay, this is happening less and less (but good grief, will it ever just go away?!)—I try to look back and say to myself that I’ve got what it takes to begin….to hope…to jump. What dreams are out there that right now just seem plain silly? Do I dare test them out?
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Okay, so in the spirit of sprouting wings…however small…wing buds, if you will I am unveiling another creation from this weekend’s craft time. Rach, my trusty 8-year-old assistant, is making her own collage involving wings (will show it when it’s done—so proud of her) and I was in the different mode of hearts and muses. So here is the piece and the words that go with it on an enclosed card:
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Nice brown ink on my fingers! I can’t get it off—anyone have any tips?
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This little box with the match on top will have the poem, words (below the last image here) or whatever you want to call it enclosed with it on a embellished cardstock…
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Ignite the Artist
An artist muse dwells within each of us, lighting the pilot light of our souls.
There are days she darts behind trees, only stepping into the clearing when the sun is shining brightly.
There are moments she pulls up a chair to our kitchen table, taking our hands in hers, paying no attention to the passing of time.
Yet through it all, she takes up residence in the smallest corners of our hearts and whispers in rhythm with each beat.
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Thoughts? Comments? I’d appreciate hearing what you think.
I’m putting these on Etsy, if you’re interested. I have a couple of special people in my life who will be receiving them in the mail as tokens of my appreciation for their participation in my vida loca.
Smooches on this Tuesday to ya’ll.
OX.
