Pasos Benditos ~ Blessed Steps

Pasos Benditos/Blessed Steps

The title for this piece, Pasos Benditos in Spanish or Blessed Steps in English, is taken from the practice in many spiritual traditions of doing a walk as an offering or a form of spiritual renewal. It may be a contemplative walk through a garden or a dedicated pilgrimage that lasts for days. Sometimes it is a walk through a labyrinth. The experience of walking becomes a meditation and each step is a tiny prayer.

Persephone's Tale

Persephone's Tale

Persephone's Tale is from a series called The Secret Garden. In ancient Greek mythology Persephone was the Greek goddess of spring. Hades the god of the underworld fell in love with her and lured her to the underworld to be his wife. Her mother the goddess Demeter (mother of the Earth) missed her so much that she stopped tending to the plants and animals and the earth began to die. As the story goes each year Persephone returns from the underworld to visit her mother and bring us spring but because Hades tricked her into eating pomegranate seeds, a food of the underworld, she must return to him each year after the autumn harvest. The found objects I use in the Secret Garden Series are old, worn and maybe a little rusty on the outside. They've seen some wear, have a few chips and dings. With a little love and attention something wild and wonderful grows out from their ruins! 

This piece is made with a vintage broken clock part purchased from the fabulous Etsy shop Anela and El Diablo  The rest of the piece is made with carved aspen that is delicately painted with acrylic and metal leaf

Size: 9"L x 3.5"w x 2.5"d

Persephone's Tale

On the table this week...

Bunny Sprout

Bunny Sprout

When the bunnies come out the flowers will bloom!

Flying Lesson

Flying Lesson

All angels aren't born knowing how to fly. Some need a few lessons.

Happy Spring!

Little Sprout Talisman

These Little Sprout Talismans have popped up in my art garden! They're made with  vintage escutcheons,  wood leaves that I carved and painted, and miniature images from ancient alchemist's illustrations. The one above has a Mexican milagro dangling from the bottom. The milagro (milagro means miracle in Spanish) represents an ear of corn. The one below includes a tiny twig. The alchemist's images are coated with clear resin to protect them. There are hooks on the back for hanging.

Little Secret Garden Talisman

Lost and Found Angels

Lost and Found Angel with Crown of Copper Vines

These angels are part of an ongoing series inspired by the carved wooden figures that reside in an old Spanish mission in my hometown of Tucson. The church is nick named the White Dove of the Desert. I've visited there since childhood. In the church there are frescoes of angels painted on the ceilings. Carved angels and saints are suspended form the walls. Much of the artwork has been damaged over time and although beautiful restorations have been done its still a bit weathered inside. I've always found this particular church to be a place of mystery and sanctuary. Whenever I visit I leave with a renewed sense of hope.

All of the pieces in the series are made from carved fallen aspen wood, found, re-purposed and reclaimed materials. The aspen wood was gathered in the mountains of northern Arizona and New Mexico. The wings are made from antique ceiling tin.

Lost and Found Angel with Crown of Purple Vines