Spring has returned. The Earth is like a child that knows poems. ~Rainer Maria Rilke

Saturday, May 21, 2011

"Glory be to God for dappled things..."

When I went down to my sister's house for Easter, she had many beautiful decorations in her living room but one stood out above all others.
This is called a Santos Cage Doll.
These dolls were, in history, very large and carried in parades and religious pageants. They represent Christ, the Virgin Mary or Patron Saints.
Most are reproductions now, because many of the originals are in museums or damaged beyond repair.  You can learn more about these dolls at this site. This website also sells them.
Sis wanted to buy one of these dolls but they were really expensive. Well, as good things do happen, she was in (are you ready for this?) HOME GOODS one day and she found this reproduction cage doll sitting on a shelf just waiting for her.She grabbed it up and brought it home.
The top is a resin of some kind and the bottom part (the cage) is wood.The bodice and sleeves are hand painted and distressed.
The arms and hands are movable and can be posed in many positions.

OK!... RIKI?? DIANA?? Do you notice something hanging from lovely Madonna's shoulders?
Sis has adorned the doll with your jewelry.
I'm talking about Riki Shumacher and Diana Frey. These two artists are jewelry makers of extraordinary talent. Sis and I took a class from them last year in Pismo Beach.
We first met them at Asilomar Art and Soul. We all took a class from Nina Bagley. Then we found out that they were doing a workshop together at Riki's home in Pismo Beach and we knew what great jewelry makers they were... so we signed up. We had such a great time.
 The top one is Diana's. She always puts a little bling in her pieces. The bird and the words, "Nature beats in perfect tune.", the beautiful connections, the old rhinestones and pearls all make this such a lovely necklace.
The bottom one is Riki's. She is a master when it comes to soldering and her pieces always reflect nature in some way. Well, maybe not always, but quite a bit of the time. Above the nested egg it says "Sense of Wonder". I love this piece. Recently, Riki has been going in a  "blingy" direction.... branching out with bling. Can't wait to see some of her new work.
These two women are very good friends, so I think that they share ideas and blend their creative talents ... but you certainly can tell which necklace was made by which artist.  Each is very distinct.
Please check out Riki's blog called Riki Jewelry* Romantic Relics and
Diana's new blog called Tattered Adornments.
Sis has the talent to put all these things together and make her own "collage" of creativity. She does this all the time. It's a gift.
*********************
And as for the world coming to an end today?
I really don't think so. I may be wrong. No one knows anything for sure. but I don't think that God would start anything in Spring with all his efforts at their peak.
This morning I walked out into the garden and a butterfly landed on a rosebud. It took my breath away.... The astounding beauty of this butterfly on that rose. God would not destroy this.... or any part of this. I think that someone is misinformed.
This is what I consider "rapture".... a butterfly on a rosebud.
... and God saying, in my head, "It will be OK."

*********************
Pied Beauty
 Glory be to God for dappled things...
For skies of couple-color as a brinded cow;
For rose-moles all in stipple upon trout that swim;
Fresh-firecoal chestnut-falls; finches wings;
Landscape plotted and pieced-fold, fallow, and plough;
And all trades, their gear and tackle and trim.
All things counter, original, spare, strange;
Whatever is fickle, freckled (who knows how?)
With swift, slow; sweet, sour; adazzle, dim;
He fathers-forth whose beauty is past change:
Praise him.
~Gerard Manley Hopkins~

11 comments:

  1. Beautiful- the doll and the jewelry.

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  2. Connie, this was a very nice post. Your sister found a treasure and did a good job of decorating it up. Your poem was very meaningful. As far as the end of the world coming today only God knows about that. Have a blessed day. Madeline

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  3. HOME GOODS? You know where I'm heading on Monday....can you believe it?
    love the adornments.....
    we all should have jewelry dripping off of us
    love the poem.. and the thought about the rapture??...
    either way...I'm ready...

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  4. I just love Santos dolls...and this one is a beauty. It does my heart good to know that the piece of jewelry your sis purchased from me has found a good home and is displayed so prominently in her lovely home. Thank you so much, Connie, for the recognition. So glad you enjoyed the class. Hope you and your sis will join us again sometime.
    Hugs
    Diana

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  5. There is such a light bright feel in the picture of your sister's house. Thanks for sharing poetry too.

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  6. Beautiful things and a beautiful poem. I remember that one from my school days, was always amused that brinded cows were included! My grandmother used to say "Watch out for Old Brindle, she has a nasty side to her that one", every time we went near the cow paddock!
    Wonderful how memories are sparked!!

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  7. I'll carry the image in my head today of the butterfly on the rose and totally agree with you.

    Always wanted to ride a horse on the beach. Tried it at Pismo, but I asked for a very slow horse and ended up back at the barn. Sigh. No beach.

    Beautiful post :)

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  8. WOW WEE! She did some good shopping! It was meant for her--it's beautiful! Thanks for the jewelry links! That poem reads like a prayer I want to commit to memory.

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  9. I LOVE THIS! I want one, but no place to put it, maybe spare bedroom! But then I would not see it as often as I would want...love the bling! That gave me a laugh! :)

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  10. What a beautiful post! All of it--the poem is beautiful, the doll, the jewelry....and your thoughts as well. Only our great God knows the day and the hour---and He has given no clues, not even the Son knew when He was on earth. People are nuts, I have to say!

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  11. Lovely post, and your right, that man was a swindler. I do believe in the rapture but the God I believe in says that no MAN knows the hour or the day. The earth does sing praises to God, there is a scripture which says that if we kept silent the rocks and trees would cry out.
    Spring is a time of epiphany every year, so much promise of good things to come.

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