Romancing the Stone

Romancing the Stone 

A Treasure Chest , a Stone Heart ~ keeper of love notes, a tiny Crystal Fossil heart in hand and Iron Man's Heart surrounded by precious crystal fossil stones. 



: ) : ) : ) TREASURE HUNTING : ) : ) : )

ROMANCING THE STONE........SPRING HAS ARRIVED ALTHOUGH CHILLY AND WET THE SNOW HAS ALMOST VANISHED FOR ANOTHER FEW MONTHS...HAHA! I HOPE....

IT IS A TIME FOR GROWTH AND RENEWAL, A TIME FOR VENTURING OUTDOORS ENJOYING ALL THAT MOTHER NATURE HAS TO OFFER, AND FOR DISCOVERING TREASURES!


NOT TOO LONG AGO HUBBY AND THE KIDS BOUGHT ME TWO METAL DETECTORS FOR MY BIRTHDAY , MY LITTLE ASSISTANTS IN SEARCHING FOR TREASURE.


IN THE CANADIAN WILDWOOD, IN A WORLD BEYOND THE WOOD THERE LIES QUIET AND WAITING A ZILLION EARTHLY STARS TWINKLING BENEATH A WARM SPRING SUN SOAKING IN ITS RAYS, THEIR SWIRLY CRYSTAL PATTERNED DRESS MAGICALLY GLISTENING AND SPARKLING IN THE MOSSY GROUND THEY LAY.




WHEN I HAD FIRST DISCOVERED THE MOTHER LOAD A FEW YEARS BACK WHILE HIKING IN THE WOOD I WONDERED WHAT ON EARTH I WAS GOING TO DO WITH SUCH SMALL CRYSTAL TREASURES BUT THEN IT WASN'T LONG BEFORE MY MIND FILLED WITH IDEAS.


THEN ONE DAY I DISCOVERED A PERFECT ROCK WITH A BEAUTIFUL CRYSTAL FOSSIL INSIDE BUT IT WASN'T ANY ORDINARY FOSSIL THAT I HAD GATHERED BEFORE , THIS ONE WAS IN A SHAPE OF A HEART.

I WAS THRILLED AND MAGICALLY I WAS POSSESSED TO CREATE SOMETHING VERY UNIQUE ......WHY NOT CREATE A TREE, A SYMBOL OF LIFE AND PLACE THE ROOTS OF THE TREE OVER THE CRYSTAL HEART; IT WOULD CERTAINLY BE MOST MAGICAL AND WHERE MAGIC RESIDES FARIES ARE NEAR BY......IT WOULD BE A FAIRY'S TREE!

WELL, THERE COMES A TIME WHEN ONE MUST PART WITH SOMETHING THEY LOVE BUT KNOWING THEY WILL BE LOVED BY ANOTHER IS EVEN MORE SPECIAL ; I SURELY WILL MISS THE FAIRY'S TREE .

LAST WEEK "THE FOUNTAIN" FAIRY'S TREE FOUND A NEW FRIEND, AND NOW IS ON ITS WAY TO A FAR OFF LAND . I'M SURE ITS NEW HOME WILL BE MOST MAGICAL A PLACE TO CALL IT'S VERY OWN AND IT'S NEW COMPANION WILL BE ENTRANCED BY IT'S NATURAL BEAUTY HAS I HAVE BEEN THESE PAST YEARS.....WISHING YOU MANY FAIRY DREAMS SHEILA : )


SO WHAT DOES ONE DO WHEN THEY PART WITH AN OLD FRIEND , WELL THEY FIND MORE FRIENDS, NOT TO TAKE THEIR PLACE BUT TO FILL THE VOID IN THEIR HEART, FOR THE HEART IS KNOWN TO HAVE INFINITE ROOM.

THE TREASURES I SEEK ARE NOT GOLD AND SILVER AND PRECIOUS STONES , PERHAPS BURIED IN A CHEST IN A SECRET HIDING PLACE ALTHOUGH THAT WOULD VERY LOVELY AND HELP WITH MONEY MATTERS BUT THESE TREASURES ARE SOMETHING VERY DIFFERENT, SOMETHING QUIET UNIQUE ....... PREHISTORIC FOSSILS DATING BACK 443-490 MILLION YEARS ; BRYOZOANS FROM THE ORDOVICIAN PERIOD. NO THEY'RE NOT THE GORGEOUS GREEN EMERALD STONE OF "ROMANCING THE STONE" BUT NO MATTER THEIR MONETARY VALUE THEY ARE JUST THAT, A BEAUTIFUL PRECIOUS STONE.

WHEN I SOLD "THE FOUNTAIN" TO THE NEW OWNER AND SPOKE ABOUT SOME HEARTS I HAD FOUND ALONG MY HIKES I THOUGHT ABOUT MAKING A POST ABOUT HEART SHAPED ROCKS , FOSSIL STONES AND SUCH BUT THEN LATE LAST NIGHT MY DAUGHTER M WAS LISTENING TO EDDY GRANT'S SONG TO THE MOVIE "ROMANCING THE STONE" . I THEN REALIZED I HAVE BEEN ROMANCING THE STONE ......FOREVER .....FROM THAT VERY FIRST DAY I DISCOVERED IT IN THE CANADIAN WILDWOOD , NEVER TO RECOVER FROM IT'S TRANCE INDUCING DRUG; I MUST SAY, CONTENT TO BE IN IT'S HOLD!



I'm humbled by Nature's beauty...each and every creation an intricate work.

The magnificence of each unique pattern in a single rock.

The swirls always get me, surprising me every time with their eternal beauty

An Iron Angel's Wing I bought a few years back from an artist in Merrickville.....She said it brought her good karma, I suppose it has for me as well for I have since become obsessively enamoured by spiders and webs and fossil art and filled with ideas in ways of incorporating them into my work.

This is my infamous Treasure Chest I made with small tiny fossils with "I Love You" decoupaged on an inside wall and a decoupaged heart in a glass bubble within. On the outside a gold crucifix and crystals were encrusted, something I thought would spark a little thought of Pirate's Treasure.And last year while walking the railway tracks with Grace one early morning I discovered this Iron Heart, I call it "Iron Man's Heart". 'It's not often that I find hearts created by Nature, actually quite rare and this Iron Heart is manmade....by accident I believe. In a way I suppose it is created by nature for after all we are a part of it so I guess it counts. 

Iron Man's Heart.....Imagine , I found this heart on a track going nowhere( it has been shut down).....Curious and so very, very strange ....Wonder how it got there and what it belonged to......Isn't Life Strange?   This Heart if I were to sell it, which I'm not, is certainly an item that most appropriately suits my " Cabinet of Curiosities". 

The Lid to the Treasure Chest held by Fossil Swirls always stays open for Love is never left out. 

A Glass Bubble Holds a Red, Red Heart Within....Love is a Treasure!

 A Closer look at the top of the Treasure Chest with the encrusted crucifix and crystals....Look closely and you will spot some Gold Doubloons....Pirate's Treasure....actually vintage buttons.

THE MERMAID'S GROTTO

And my Heart of Stone comprised of many crystal fossils with a touch here and there of crystal, a key and clip earrings which can hold if one wishes, secret love notes instead of ears....haha.

Amber and Rust and Clear Glass Crystals rest upon the Stone Heart, though once cold is now warm especially so under the sun's hot glow.

So these are my Treasures, Treasures Belonging to God , To Earth, To Us.

The art is only an imitation of Life.

Hope you liked this post.

I will be bringing you more of my adventures in the WildWood, in the World Beyond the Wood with more discoveries to unfold. Some of these pieces , like the Treasure Chest and Heart of Stone will shortly be available for purchase in my new Etsy store "Hush Sweet Charlotte".

Until next time , many magical twinkling crystal swirling dreams to you. 

Annabelle ~^..^~

Bottles Full of Posies and Honey Bea's Seaside Cottage

There has been so much going on in my life and so many things to complete and send along to friends and customers that I have been slightly falling behind; happy to state that I'm catching up.

A Secluded Place of Her Own 

This is Honey Bea's Hive - Away Cottage by the Sea ~ her Summer Dream Rental

A little sandal hangs drying, it's tiny daisy catches the morning sun twinkling and drawing one near to see what secret treasures the watery glass keeps within.

Why it's a Honey Bee's little house and in every home there is a heart or two or three or many more. 

Beautiful glittering white sand and blue ( color of the sea) hearts find refuge inside this tiny abode. As you can see Bea has quite a large place, many rooms to call her own; a perfect place for her and family.

Dawn, 

Your lovely spider is in the mail with his little companion; please let me know when it arrives.

Blanca, 

Your little guest is also in the mail,  again would luv to know when it arrives in sunny California.

Oh, and do forgive me girls for leaving my little notes out of your parcels, a little forgetful these days.

Hope you like them when they arrive.

Sheila, 

Your Fairy Tree "The Fountain" will be going out shortly and I'm presently working on your little something special to join the Enchanted Fairy Tree on it's journey to it's new home.

Hope it brings you much love and joy to your world.

Dzintra,

 I know you've been waiting a while now and since I just finished making it this morning, I thought I would cut the suspense and show you what I made for you.

The soldered top unscrews if you wish to remove it but please DO NOT WASH THE DRAGONFLY....IT WILL DISINTEGRATE.....MADE OF CINNAMON DOUGH although it is quite solid.

I added rhinestones to the wings, tail and eyes, kinda of lost the eyes when I took the pictures ...haha...need to get better with the camera!

Magic Bubbles...luv how this occurs in the water, makes me think of the sea, I guess I kinda of mimicked them in my soldering.

So I hope you like it Dzintra and I will be sending it out to you tomorrow. Please let me know when it arrives.

So here is the group photo.....Bottles Full of Posies and Honey Bea's Hive ~Away Cottage by the Sea

Thank you all you lovely gals so very much for hearting my art. 

Cabinet of Curiosities ~ A Different Locket

Sea Captain's Keeper ~ External Memory Open Locket 

with Visible Windows to the World

M designed this Open Locket recently and I tried to take a decent picture of it but failed miserably. 

She graciously took some photos for me so I could post it on my Etsy shop to sell for her...personal gain...haha.

Aside fro my joking she really had a great time creating this little masterpiece and I really like how it turned out. ... very impressed by her lovely design and work. 

What is especially intriguing with this sort of locket is that it stays open but the way Emma has placed the soldered rings with the suede cording threaded through creates a natural enclosure and surprisingly enough keeps whatever you place within the two glass heart panes stays enclosed. I also love the idea that whatever is within the heart is no secret but visible to everyone.....both sides of the heart the glass is see through,so this is for the world to see....an open book of your thoughts sort to speak.

The necklace has a lovely circle and bar for clasp and wire wrapping two sections of the black suede cording. 

She sculpted some ocean waves along side the heart in keeping with the theme of the sea. 

One  side of the heart has a clear water glass with texture and if you look closely it has tear shaped water drops melted within the glass. 

On the other side of the heart she has used a sea blue glass. 

Approximately length of necklace is 50 cm.The depth of the heart is 1cm and measures 3.5 cm across.

If interested in purchasing click this link.....


http://www.etsy.com/listing/70925312/cabinet-of-curiosities-a-different

So this to me goes into my cabinet of curiosities for it is a curious piece and one of novelty and uniqueness.

Well done M!

Hope you like what she has done.

Oh and a big thank you to my lovely models Karson and Grace...very patient indeed....much appreciated.

Until next time happy :) creating Annabelle  >^..^<

Cabinet of Curiosities~ Our Delectable Assortment of Unusual Arts and Crafts

Welcome to the Cabinet Of Curiosities; A Delectable Assortment of Unusual Arts and Crafts that my daughter and myself have created in the past week. Some finished and some in the middle of completion and others just at the beginning of their creation.

First off,  I will grace this post page with my most recent painting in progress ( just at the beginning )for my submission for "Paint Party Friday".The image I had visualized early in the week was of a complete and so perfect in every detail winter scene but it takes time for someone like me who isn't a painter to transform a blank canvas into a visual retreat and I have done very little of  this medium to feel comfortable and knowledgeable in applying the little tricks to recreating the picture I had vividly seen  in my mind so unfortunately it has taken me a week to get this far. But like the song playing...."I  have no fear " in trying to recreate my dream in a foreign medium.... eventually I'll climatize to it....I hope, I guess.....definitely will !!

...So Sorry for the delay, I have every intention to finish the landscape of my dreams , so here it is.

Recently I read a quote that I must keep forever in my heart ; it pretty much tells you the secret ingredients in achieving one's goal.

"If your mind can perceive it,

And your heart can believe it,

Then your hands can achieve it."

Thank you Victorian Rose Palette for those lovely words of wisdom.

Now with those powerful words in mind I'm sure I will reach my goal; may not be a Michelangelo but a whimsical naive  painting by little old me I can most definitely guarantee will transpire in the coming weeks...haha! These things take time.....

 And now for the other arts......

Sea Captain's Keeper ~ Eternal Memory a locket to keep notes, reminders of the day or week , pet pics or lover's pics whatever you like

My daughter M designed this heart when inspired by some roughly cut hearts she had seen in my stained glass stash. It is quite unique in that it is a locket which always stays open (on one side) with the suede black cording of the pendant keeping whatever note or photograph snugly enclosed within the two glasses.

You'll have to excuse my pictures and writing, I have been detained on some important matters today so running behind on stuff. I will post better photographs and more art work tomorrow.

Quite impressed by M's soldering and design abilities she has demonstrated in the past week. It was too late to take  proper photographs of her locket (External Memory...haha ) Sea Captain's Keeper and her beautiful fairy creature she created in stained glass ; will post tomorrow, better in the natural light.

And let me introduce you to Her Royal Highness Princess Maxine Payne..A Black Widow Spider..MAXIMUM PAIN!!!.....literally...HAHA! Beware of Maxine she doesn't keep her suitors very long:(

When I was sculpting her just about everything went wrong , ultimately breaking one of her lovely Victorian glass eyes; luckily I had more. She was a Royal Pain to construct...Thanks M for giving me her name, next time think of a nicer name ...haha!

This is going to be Maxine's new home...I will be sculpting her a lovely web which I will adhere to the back of this Hand Painted Victorian Matt with romantic violets.

Not sure where Maxine wants to sit but once her spidery bed is made I'm sure she'll know.




Until next Paint Party Friday......Have no fear    :) Annabelle

Ziggy Stardust and The Spiders from Mars and Other Oddities ~ Inspiration Found in Glass and Wire

Where are the Spiders ???

I have been busy soldering and doing some stained glass in the past week. As some of you may already know I have an infinite affection for Spiders and Their Webs. I intend to capture their lovely homes in my garden or else where with the coming of Spring; by then hopefully I wouldn't botch up the picture and know how to take a good one. Of course with the warmer weather there are other ventures that I am particularly anticipating on doing such as taking more pictures of the Giant Wild Carrot growing haphazardly  on a country roadside, Queen Ann's Lace, Yarrow, Roses, Rock Walls and Steps, Moss, Fungus , Birds , and but of course not forgetting to go fossil hunting and using my new toy, the metal detector the family bought me, actually two of them so I will have some company along side me to keep me sane....haha! With this basket of  scrumptious goodies I'm sure to have plenty of elements for future art endeavours. So I have much to keep me occupied and I better gather up some books from the library and online book stores for me to study. 

Well here they are........ but there're not from Mars although they could very well be from looking at their appearance......that's if there is life on Mars...haha!

Daddy Long Legs or War of the Worlds...M named him that....can you guess why?

Vintage Crystal Spider Wire and Solder Art

 A Pen/Pencil Holder with Spider Soldered on it's edge

Another wire soldered Spider....These are great on door screens or window screens as well as so many other places.

Then I got this vision of a web hanging on the edge of an old antique portrait frame ....what would it be like....well this is it! I adore how it turned out...I have another antique frame that I'm working on in a much larger size and it has the most lovely painted Victorian Violets....can't wait to finish it.

Then there was this little bottle looking to have something adorning it...well Spring brought the nest back out and a little blue feather from Bandit our Love bird.

Love how tiny the feather is.

I guess you can tell I'm thinking of Spring and summer weather...yup Damsel Flies, Dragonflies Sun-catchers, all in green..... should have posted them for Saint Patty' s Day.

This Dragonfly lost it's head , or should I say I did. I used an antique Victorian cut metal button, even has the back for hanging.

And this is a Victorian Heart Flower...a heart within a flower Sun-catcher sculpted the solder as well in this one piece.

For some of you visitors this is a pendant I made a few weeks back.I hope to get the "Catch the Fallin Star" done soon.

This is M's most recent Dream Catcher...two Dream Catchers in one....Sure to catch all the good dreams for sure!

 This one is very special, she used a crystallized fossil we found on our fossil treks last summer for the centre of the circular Dream Catcher and then she created another dream catcher inside  the antique key. It is magical and so very whimsical. She even dyed the feathers and string to match the key and ring colors....somewhat like an old relic. I will be posting all of this art work on my Etsy shop soon.

Until next time Happy Creating in all Art Forms.

Paint Party Friday ~ Catch a Fallin Star

Thank you Eva and Kristin for hosting this Friday Inspiration Workshop; I'm sure many of us will benefit from this community of painters. I'm not a painter but I have done a few paintings and sketches in the past and would like very much to paint more of whatever I feel the inclination to capture on canvas. In  time, hopefully get better with the practice; especially when I've committed myself to participate and create work in this medium for coming Fridays.....certainly have every intention to make them good. So I've decided for starters that I would use this old image of my moon for this week's Paint Party Friday entry. What I did initially was digitally cut out the moon and stars from my painting and incorporated them into a digital collage with the gothic arches and angel and forget me nots and universe. I was pleasantly surprised to see how lovely it turned out for me considering I didn't really visualize the picture before I started the venture and I actually liked it better than my original painting. In the future I hope it will be the reverse in some occasions. I  actually want to better myself in this art form as well as DG. and photography and so many more mediums...ahh art is so much fun! Definitely, very therapeutic.

I will apply the image to fabric paper and then seal it behind glass with silver solder. I have been wanting to make some pendants with this moon for some time now and this PPF has helped me get started. I will try to take some pictures of the work as I create the pendant. In the meantime I will start my other moon picture in a winter's landscape.

Until next time, Happy Painting.
Hope I have inspired you a little.