Ix Chel

Today I would like to introduce you to Ix Chel (pronounced "is shel")

She is an ancient Mayan moon Goddess, who presides over childbirth. 

She is normally portrayed as an old woman, which implies wisdom...

and bearing a water vessel/jar, which is upside down with the water pouring out to signify childbirth.

She is always described as wearing a head dress made from an entwined serpent.

The cartouche on the wall is the Mayan symbol of her name.

Picture to try and show the "shiny" moon.

Although she is known as the Old Jaguar Woman, I have chosen to show her as young and beautiful, as she doesn't get out much any more :D

My Mayan Goddess, IX CHEL :D XXX

Sister Mary Whatsername in the land of the Pagan!

Sister Mary Whatsername, came to visit me today, in my home in Sheffield /South Yorkshire/England. 

She knows I am a Pagan, but as I am also an Artist(lol) she loves me anyway :D

She understands that Sisters travel in 3's in Pagan lands :D

One Sister is checking out the my pagan alter....

one Sister is worshipping by the faux stained-glass window...

and one Sister is worshipping in the garden by the Church of the Bleeding Heart :D

Sister Mary was pleasantly surprised at how many different places there are to worship in a Pagan home :D

Sister Mary Whatsername is the unofficial Patron saint of Lapsed Catholics and Dirty Artists, and as I've been digging in the mud today, I am claiming her as a Dirty Artist :D

Why not join the fun, and help Sister Mary on her world Mission :D

Blessed Be :D XXX

Tee Town Tenement :D

My Mixed media house, I built after watching Tee Thompson's free online class on Wednesday :D

The theme of the class was to use up old "paint chips/skins". These are the chunks of paint you have to peel off your palette when you used too much and left it to dry :D

In the spirit of re-cycling, I dug out a canvas I made for a challenge over a year ago...

and gessoed it into submission...

I left the swirls for texture, and then painted the base background and "house" template in acrylic and white gesso "Tee" style.

Then I raided my collage "bit box" and went to town....

My house required a cocktail lounge, and the clock has no hands, because there is no wrong or right time in my house :D

close up of paint skins added for texture. Everything glued on with gloss gel medium :D

Collage bits from scrap box, June Macs Treasure bag, and my friend Donna :D 

enjoy :D XXX

Lady Ophelia gets a spanking!

Darcy's Postcard Challenge, week 17, takes us to NORWAY.

Norway is famous for it's achievements in the sport of Skiing. In 1892 a competition was begun, which continues to this day at the town of Holmenkollen near Oslo. In 1895 a medal was created, and the 1st ever recipient was a Norwegian soldier called Viktor Thorn.

It was in 1895 that Edvard Munch exhibited his most iconic image "The Scream"

The national flower of Norway is Heather :D

"My dearest Miss Lillian.

I am SO sorry if my previous message offended you in any way. Richard was very cross with me for the way I spoke to you. In fact, if it had not been for the timely intervention of Miss Francesca, I swear he would have spanked me. He says he expects his wife to act with more respect for even the poorest of people, and especially to someone like yourself, who has devoted their life to the "betterment" of others.

I explained that you were the one who taught me to be an independent thinker, and that I consider you my friend and confidant. I have never thought of you as a servant. PEASE forgive me if I have caused you any distress.

Oh, I am writing from Norway, which is a bit like Scotland, only more so.

Yours apologetically, and with much love, Ophelia xxx

p.s. Is it wrong that I found the thought Richard spanking me a little exciting?"

"My darling Ophelia,

You are growing up in so many ways. Thank you for your concern. I was a little bit hurt by the apparent curtness of your last p.s. , but am old enough to realise that the written word does not always portray the emotional intent correctly. If you bear this in mind, you should not go far wrong.

Please assure your husband that I too have raised you to show respect to others, and that you should always feel free to confide in me. A woman needs other women to help her be strong, just as men need the company of other men. As a military man, I am sure he will understand.

As to the "spanking" issue, I repeat. you are growing up in so many ways. Though I would advise caution, due to your delicate condition.

Your ever faithful friend, Lillian xxx"

Images on my page:

A poster from the Holmenkollen Ski Festival (late 1800's)

A medal from the same festival(early 1900's)

One version of Edvard Munch's "the Scream"

Kirsten Flagstad, famous Norwegian saprano as "Brunnhilde", born 1895.

Enjoy :D XXX

A quick game of hide and seek!

This lady is nagging me to say hello to somebody. I know, I sound nuts. I was sitting down to work on one of my 13Goddess pages, when she flashed me a big cheesy grin, winked and refused to let me draw the Aboriginal art I was planning on doing for this page. Then she was tormenting me by not letting me see the pic on FB, though it seems to be there now! A very playful lady:D

So if you recognise her will you please let me know who she is?

Secondly, I would love to show you the gorgeous artwork I just received from Stacy, aka Magic Love Crow :D 

I won the wall hanging "If the broom fits, fly it!" during Magaly's "Sexy Dark and Bloody" Challenge, but she added greetings cards and ATC's....so generous :D

Oh, and Martha, aka Ayala, is giving away one of her paintings...the jolly looking fellow at the top of my sidebar. I't's just a "comment" for a chance to win" kinda thing, so why not pop over and take a look.(this pimping will allow me a 3rd chance lol)

Enjoy :D XXX

Hiding in the flowers

Just a quick post and sneaky peek at a Work in Progress.

Just realised that I haven't posted anything for this weeks Butterfly Effect, who's theme is FLOWERS, which I chose.....BAAAAAAD Gina!!!

I haven't posted because I've been playing on a 3 ft x 2ft canvas, which meant I didn't have room to play with anything else lol.

This is the bottom left hand corner( about 12x10 inches) on which I am creating a cascade of flowers.

Why not link up at The Butterfly Effect this week and show them all the pretty flowers you've been creating :D

Enjoy :D XXX

Cybele

This week at 13 Goddesses out prompt is ROMAN, and I have chosen CYBELE.

She is another Mother Goddess, associated with mountains, lions and hawks.

She was not originally a Roman Goddess, but was assimilated from Phrygia(modern day Turkey) via the Greeks.

She is also a Goddess of walls and buildings, and was called upon by the Romans when they felt their own gods were failing them...

Cybele is often represented as having the body of a lion and the legs of a hawk, and carries a Cornucopia.

Can't be a Goddess of Plenty and not have a big bosom lol :D

Had a bit of a mishap when sealing the under layers with fixative. New can, new make, different reaction. Nothing ever reacted with the Newton and Windsor, but with the Daler and Rowney the pen lines bled??!

And it smells like hairspray...so I'm going to have to ditch that £12 can and get some more Newton ...which didn't have a strong smell at all :S

My Roman Goddess CYBELE

:D XXX

Pimping Butterflies :D

Nothing to post today, as I am working on a BIG canvas (blames Tee Thompson), and it is taking up all my work space lol.

So I thought I'd do a quick "PIMP" for Natasha and Amy at

 THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT

Each week they challenge us with a bit of inspiration, this weeks theme is a simple one, FLOWERS.

Now this is not a challenge site in the same way most challenges work, more an EXPRESS YOURSELF site.

There are no rules

You don't have to follow the suggested theme

It is just a place for people to link their creativity and show off your work.

Some weeks there is a give-away, some weeks a tutorial, and if there is a theme you would like to see other people's take on, suggest it.

No one will rubbish your ideas, it is a site aimed at creative inspiration.

Their motto is "The more the merrier"

Why not link up this week and strut your stuff? :D XXX

Lady Ophelia...all grown up?

So disappointed this week, as I would love to have been able to do a whole "Effie meets count Dracula" piece as Darcy's Postcard Challenge takes us to ROMANIA.

 Bram Stoker didn't actually publish his most famous novel until 1897, though the Victorians were certainly well into the Gothic scene by then :D

Romania had historically been a very war torn country, but at the time my characters are visiting, 1895, Romania was at peace, and was experiencing a boom in it's oil industry.

The national flower of Romania, the Dog Rose

"My dear Miss Lillian,

Oh My Goodness! You would not believe the week we have had in Romania. Richard had to attend some stuffy event for the Oil Industry to show off it's new refinery, so Miss Francesca and I did a little sight-seeing. We found this most amazing fairy-tale castle, and were invited to stay, and attend a masked ball the following evening. Of course I had to clear this with Richard, who graciously accepted.

Well, the costumes were supplied by our host, who turned out to be KING CAROL! He looked most dashing in his military regalia ( as did Richard), but my costume was extremely....."different", and had it not been for Miss Francesca and my maid, I would never have worked out how to wear it. Do you know, we could not find a single mirror in the whole place!

Our room was that of a previous owner, Vlad somebody. I can not say that I share his taste, very dark. A few mirrors would at least reflect the candle light!

Yours affectionately, 

Ophelia xxx

p.s. I feel the need to remind you that I am a married woman now, and am entitled to my own opinions, political or otherwise."

" My dear Ophelia,

You are quite right to remind me. I find it very difficult to see you as anything other than the sweet little rosy-cheeked baby I have known since your birth. I should also remember, that I am, or rather was, only an employee of your family, and should not presume to tell you what you should think or do.

As to your visit to Bran Castle, the "Vlad", you refer to was none other than Vlad III, also known as "the impaler". A most disagreeable character from Romanian history, and to think, you were sleeping in his bed!

Yours

Miss Lillian"

Though Miss Lillian's reply may seem quite curt, she is secretly proud of her little charge. If she is gaining the courage to stand up to her old governess, then she should far well in adult life. Though one does suspect Miss Francesca may just be encouraging her rebellion a little :D

(the image of lady in bat costume is from The Graphics Fairy)

Week 16 of Darcy's 52 Postcards for 2012, ROMANIA

Enjoy :D XXX

Glutton for punishment???

In February this year I had a fantastically creative splurge, thanks to Ayala and her 29 Faces in February challenge.

Well, she got nagged into having another 29 Faces challenge :D, this time it will be in May(which means there will be 2 spare days for breathing room lol) 

The object of this challenge is to focus on improving our Face painting/drawing/collaging/embroidery techniques. In fact, any medium is welcome...it just has to be a face :D

The idea is to post a new face everyday...for 29 days...it is possible...honest...I managed it in Feb...just lol

So if you have a bit of OCD that needs a focus or if you are just a bit masochistic, why not join us?

29 Faces in May .....coming soon :D