Friday, September 21, 2012

" The Natural world may be the most ancient subject of human art."



Fall has arrived here now in my garden and each new day I appreciate what remaining days of life my purple Morning Glories ~ President John Tyler ( my son's name is Tyler so very easy for me to remember and of course they are quite invasive but oh so beautiful ) and Heavenly Blue flowers may have left to enlighten all of the creatures great and small including myself who visit them in their garden bed.
Each season has it's unique beauty and I really can't make up my mind of which I am more fond of. I suppose I like them all, for each is a forecast on weather, more or less measured by time that must begin and end into the other, each of them bringing forth a special spice of their making in creating the new unseasoned stage in the circle of life. And so I take full grasp of this coming season still reluctantly letting go the last days of summer.

Rising early on Autumn mornings brings in view cool misty landscapes filled with the smell of musty wood burning in the farm fields and the aroma of freshly perked coffee that hubby had made earlier while I was still in my bed. If you might be a dog walker or photographer much like myself, then this is the most perfect time of the day to capture the magic the changing climate creates on the pastoral serene landscape. In my opinion an early morning walk is probably the best walk of the day followed by a Dusk and Moonlight walk. This morning I took a walk and like all others before I never return empty handed or without some sort of thought filling my mind.

Walking quietly down the leaf laden road of the woods doesn't avert me in making common and expected crunching sound upon the dry russet leaves of Fall and if any little feathered bird be about undoubtedly would be stirred into flight but this morning seemed quiet and I suppose they must of still been asleep ; )


Sometimes on these private walks I take alone ,maybe more often than I think, I stop dead in my tracks when I come upon an old ancient tree covered in moss and lichen bearing a couple of holes where once a creature or creatures made their home sheltered from the storms that only the old tree and his partisan neighbours saw and weathered alone. 



On this particular day I had noticed one such tree, with roots visibly gnarled, twisted almost like the hands of an elderly person afflicted with rheumatoid arthritis tightly clutched around a rock and what seemed to be a piece of it's lost wooden limb.Around it's base small toad stools grew and moss covered much of the remaining roots.
Even in it's dwindling life the old tree's beauty and form still remained and I wondered, if it too feels and endures the pain of old age.
Like an ancient stone or delicate flower trees were born in one place , never leaving their womb in a sense, only given one option,to entrust their lives with mother earth. 

Now is Autumn's golden hours and I must not fail to miss it's beauty in all of it's bright and faded colour for it too has but a number of days before I step on that one remaining purple leaf of Autumn's Fall.

It is this magical landscape,ever changing,never quite the same,always unique like a brand new life that takes seize of my mind and imagination.

Yes, it's quite true ….

" The Natural world may be the most ancient subject of human art." 



Although not an Old Oak or in a secluded wood this old Maple stands in another place I adore to frequent ~ The Silent Graveyard

Nothing Gold Can Stay

Nature's first green is gold
Her hardest hue to hold
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf,
So Eden sank to grief,
So Dawn goes down to day
Nothing gold can stay.

Robert Frost


The Haunted Oak ~ Annabelle Original 2012  

Totally Inspired by Nature and Little Spirit Cedar of Lake Superior






I had noticed one such tree, with roots visibly gnarled, twisted almost like the hands of a elderly person afflicted with rheumatoid arthritis tightly clutched around a rock and what seemed to be a piece of it's lost wooden limb.




This uniquely hand crafted old oak tree is made of copper wire and solder and solidly anchored unto a piece of burled wood , eternally rooted in it's place. It's size and weight a miniature to the real old oak that stands towering above the tethered trees in the wood below.

In it's stark ,crooked and contorted form he looks a little bit spooky and a tiny bit creepy seeming like this tree might just be haunted or maybe he's just dressed up for Halloween ; )


Soon Available on Etsy 

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Peek-a-Boo I see You Sugar Plum

" Peek-a-Boo I See You ~ Sugar Plum "  Annabelle original 2012







One night, when the moon was full and the wood was warm and still Charlotte not being very sleepy to retire early to bed decided to take a stroll down the woodland path to pay a visit to her neighbour the Witch of Plum Wood Hollow. The usually dark path was bathed in moonlight now and Charlotte could see very clearly the beautiful moon flowers in the distance glimmer in the glow of the moon; their clove like scent intoxicating her hairy legs ,drawing her nearer to the witches' home.

Charlotte loved playing Peek-a-Boo just about everyday of the year but playing Peek- a Boo behind the Witches' ivy  and Moon Flower covered fence was her favourite place for on the other side of the fence lay one of the most enchanting gardens of the wood "Garden of Plum Wood Hollow ".
Under a Halloween Blue Moon the Midnight garden of white, silver and blue exploded in twinkling stars from heaven above and moon bug fireflies that had awakened from their secret sleepy flowery nests.There was something eternally mystical and magical about the Witch of Plum Wood Hollow's garden and behold in that very moment  Charlotte spied a patch of the most luscious plum velvet Fairytale Pumpkins she ever did see when suddenly she heard her name being called…"Charlotte……hello my dear, how have you been?I haven't seen you in such a very very, long time!
Charlotte was speechless and the witch of Plum Wood Hollow , a kind looking old gal dressed in the most appropriate colours of purple and black carried on talking. " I see you are admiring my Velvet Plum Fairytale Pumpkins ; ) .  I suppose you'd like one and maybe next year if you keep some of it's seeds, you too can have some of your very own Sugar Plum Whimsical Fairytale Pumpkins". Without a doubt in her mind , Charlotte excitedly answered, ' Oh, yes, I would luv one !"
 And so after picking out her favourite of the bunch Charlotte and the witch had tea; a cup of Lemon Verbena Tea home grown as you would have guessed from Plum Wood Hollow Garden.
The two ladies of the night shared in some organic gardening knowledge and lore and by the time the clock struck 2 the witch knew it would be best for Charlotte to stay with her and rest till the break of day.

Upon Charlotte's return home the next day, her first stop inside was to place her beautiful Plum Velvet Fairytale Pumpkin on her Victorian table and decorate it with a few mossy green and purple jewel beads to mimic  and remember the garden she had seen alight under a Full Blue Moon the night before. Too beautiful to share alone, she picked up the phone and called her friend Annabelle.








Sugar Plum Velvet with jewel purple and mossy green acrylic beads

And so Annabelle loving the velvet plum colour of the Whimsical Fairytale Pumpkin was inspired to create more of the magical velvety gourds.




Blue Charlotte Under a Blue October Moon




Singed Organza Leaves under a Natural Pumpkin Stem



Side View of Blue Charlotte



This Plum Velvet Fairytale Pumpkin is an Annabelle Original entirely hand sewn and soldered Charlotte Spider. I singed some mossy green organza fabric for the pumpkin leaves and added a few mossy green and purple beads.The natural pumpkin stem was glued in place and a Blue Charlotte A. Cavatica was hand sculpted and soldered .The beads are glass aquamarine and iridescent in colour.

Sugar Plum  and Charlotte look just lovely together in their Autumn Fall attire.

Approximate Measurements:

6" in height depth and width

Sunday, September 16, 2012

Charlotte's Web Tangled Garden


Tangled Wood Garden


The Woods are Lovely , Dark and Deep, a purfect place for hide and seek but beware do not venture far beyond the thorny bramble bush , for it is there where Charlotte's  Web Tangled Garden lies and surely you'll be caught inside for quite some time. For you see Under a Halloween Moon there are all sorts of Spooky and Haunted, Curious and Creepy ,Whimsical and Magical things to be seen. A Tangled Garden filled with Witches and Cats, Pumpkins, Spiders and Webs, Owls, Goblins and Bats and Grinning Ghosts flying around and about.

Unexpected company for Charlotte is always a pleasure to see and she really doesn't mind one tiny bit of a Boo about unannounced visitors as long as they spend time to admire her intricate weaving, chat and catch up on lost time while sipping on camomile tea.

Charlotte's favourite time of the year is Autumn in all of it's brilliant warm colours of day and cool chilly nights filled with full moons. She loves to collect acorns , mushrooms and walnuts and many, many more of Nature's dazzling and glorious Spiritual Things .

Once nightfall arrives, Charlotte begins to weave her glittery magical webs by moonlight while she sits snugly by her glowing amorous fire with her friends Cassie and Boo.

And there is Not a ghost of a chance of keeping Annabelle away or even...... just you ? ~ ^..^~


************INSIDE THE HALLOWEEN CABINET ************


The Haunted Oak  ~ Copper Wire Sculpture on Burled Wood ~
Annabelle Original 2012







Tangled Roots grasp unto the ancient wood....Inspiration taken from the Little Spirit Cedar of Lake Superior or better known as the Witches' Tree 





Rear View of  The Haunted Oak



Bottom of Burled Wood Base ...solidly built with a good weight to sculptural piece.



Eternally inspired by Old Oak Trees : )



******* And then there is The Whimsical Fairytale Pumpkin ~ "Rusty"



Charlotte's Fairytale Pumpkin with Velvet Flowers ~ Locally Grown in Charlotte's very own Organic Garden "Tangled Wood Garden " 



  " Rusty and Charlotte" ~ Annabelle Original 2012




Charlotte all dressed in Halloween Black among the stars






Charlotte a. Cavatica adores being in her garden especially at HARVEST TIME in the Fall.




This Whimsical FAirytale Pumpkin soft sculpture is made of satin brown fabric with velvet flowers .

Shortly I will be adding these two art pieces to Etsy.
Until next post when ever that might be, I'll be bringing you more from Tangled Wood Garden and Home 




Wednesday, September 5, 2012

CAUGHT IN TIME ~ A POCKET WATCH , A CHAIR AND A PEEK-A-BOO BOOK

" In 1952 the world fell in love with a Terrific, Radiant, Humble.......Pig. "




" It is not often that someone comes along who is a true friend and a good writer, Charlotte was both."

~ Kate DiCamillo


This year marks the 60th Anniversary of Charlotte's Web (OCTOBER 15/1952 ~ OCTOBER 15/2012), a beautiful fairytale story written by the American Novelist E.B.White that resonates much of the same emotions and beliefs of James Herriot's "All of God's Creatures Great and Small" and like James Herriot , White too loved the world.

This year Newbery Medalist  Kate DiCamillo has written a beautiful poignant tribute for the 60th Anniversary celebration of E.B. White's Charlotte's Web. See youtube trailer here CHARLOTTE'S WEB 60th Anniversary 



I have always felt a strong connection to CHARLOTTE'S WEB since I read it as a small child and to this day, even at fifty- five years of age, CHARLOTTE'S place in my library remains on the VERY TOP SHELF . I have said in my previous post how much I love fairytales and creating magical worlds and I surely hope when the day arrives to depart this earthly world I will fly away with Peter....

 If "such tangible magic is the proper element of childhood and any grown -up who can still dip into it- even with only so much as a toe- is certain at last of dying young even if he lives to be ninety."
~ P.L. Travers , author of Mary Poppins




CHARLOTTE'S WEB INSPIRED ART WORK


#1 ~ CHARLOTTE'S WEB BEST FRIENDS FOREVER ~ Caught in Time ~ ANNABELLE ORIGINAL  2012 ~

"Fern loved Wilbur more than anything".....They were the best of friends.


And Charlotte the Ingenious Spider and Wilber the Humble Adorable Pig also became friends ;)

Original colour of Vintage Westclock Pocket Watch Dax ( ART WORK affectionately named by my daughter M ~ ( E.B.) 
A little tricky in photographing the crystal Charlotte spider, will try more shots later.







Made in Canada ....Born twice in Canada, in it's first and second life ; ) The hands of the clock still move and can be placed in any direction one wishes . Written on the face of the antique pocket watch BFF IN silver mimics the colour of the time piece.





A crystal glass heart with projecting rays of the sun hangs on tightly to the vintage time piece ; now no longer working as it's original designed purpose but maybe, more importantly now keeping a cherished timeless treasure forever caught in it's time!


BEST FRIENDS FOREVER  BFF 


We all could benefit from keeping in our hearts CHARLOTTE'S words of Love and Wisdom, Nature and Time and the Loyalty and Friendship in life.



# 2 ~ CHARLOTTE'S WEB READING CHAIR with CHARLOTTE and her cute PEEK-A-BOO MINIATURE BOOK ~ BEST FRIENDS FOREVER  ~ ANNABELLE ORIGINAL 2012


 Made from vintage burled wood, repurposed whimsical twisted iron and vintage rusted ball and chain rope.

CAN YOU SPOT THE TWO LITTLE CHILDREN OF THE NIGHT BELONGING TO CHARLOTTE ON THE WALL BEHIND CHARLOTTE'S CHAIR? I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT ...REAL BABY SPIDERS...MY CHARMING LUCKY LITTLE CHARLOTTES ; )



Charlotte A. Cavatica keeps faith and takes care of All God's Creatures Great and Small.


A bit of black tule wrapped into tiny bows gives Charlotte's Reading Chair a bit of a Victorian Parlour Ambiance.



A beautiful old heirloom soft pink rose, tattered and torn and weathered and worn makes for a simply delightful comfy cushion for CHARLOTTE'S ReADING chair.



Oh and here is Charlotte who has in the past wanted a bit of privacy and went by the alias Maxine Payne ; ) I think she likes being herself once more, truly the one and only Charlotte A. Cavatica : )


Charlotte contemplates making a web on the old vintage Westclock Pocket Watch





What a luscious comfy and cozy retreat Charlotte thought and settled into the soft layers of the perfumed vintage rose cushion of her Reading Chair, what A LOVELY DREAM!!!! 



# 3 ~  CHARLOTTE'S WEB PEEK-A-BOO MINIATURE BOOK NECKLACE ~ Best Friends Forever  ~ ANNABELLE ORIGINAL  2012









LOOK CLOSELY AND YOU WILL NOTICE SOMEONE VERY FAMILIAR TO YOU **






WILBER AND CHARLOTTE ~ BEST FRIENDS FOREVER : )



Charlotte's Web Peek-A-Boo Miniature Book~ BFF! Charlotte was quite impressed to find that the tiny  book held 10 very thin lined pages for her delicate writing. A little keeper for secret thoughts.









Charlotte began to flip through the pages of her Peek-a- Boo Miniature Book she received as a gift  and in one arm she held a note containing her top ten picks of her best loved poems . Dipping her pen in the ink, Charlotte began to write ....




CHARLOTTE'S WEB captured my heart and inspired my art : )



P.S. *** Something Strange.....a little unknown fact to most of you out there.....Until tonight I had no idea CHARLOTTE'S WEB 60th Anniversary was this coming October 15th/ 2012 until I found a link to the celebration while searching for material on my art work...strange coincidence of  the sixth sense? I would like to believe I have those extra feelers ~^..^~




WILL SOON BE ADDING THESE CHARLOTTE'S WEB INSPIRED ART PIECES ON ETSY AND WILL GIVE MORE DETAILS ON MEASUREMENTS , MATERIALS AND PRICES.

*******MORE CHARLOTTE 'S WEB SPIDERS AND WEBS , CHARLOTTE'S WEB PEEK-A-BOO MINIATURE BOOKS,FAIRYTALE OWLS AND BOATS, FAIRY MOONS, STARS AND ENCHANTED COTTAGES , HALLOWEEN PAINTINGS, HAUNTED SCULPTED TREES AND I FORGET WHAT'S ON THE REST OF THE LIST ... LATER : ) ******

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