This week's challenge on I am the Diva is called "Something Blue". I had fun coming up with the tangle. I also suspect this may be the beginning of more color in my tangles!
Friday, March 11, 2011
Weekly Challenge #12: Shades of Blue
This week's challenge on I am the Diva is called "Something Blue". I had fun coming up with the tangle. I also suspect this may be the beginning of more color in my tangles!
Saturday, March 5, 2011
What is Hidden in an Empty Box
What is hidden in an empty box is a well known zen koan. Introduced by Dogen (a major figure in Zen Buddhism), koans are an important part of Zazen or the seated meditation. Koans are questions posed by the teacher to the disciple. There is really no answer to the question but sitting meditation is the way to understand what the question means. With understanding comes enlightenment.
This handpainted, decorated wooden box symbolically plays on the theme with the placement of an antiqued key on the lid along with a Chinese zodiac coin. The text on the cover is the koan itself and the tilt of the birds' head gives the impression that they too are asking the same question! Thanks to Graphics Fairy for the vintage birds image. The box comes with a handmade micro journal on which you can jot down down your meditative thoughts.
The box is painted, distressed and weathered on the sides. The lid is decoupaged with a lovely distressed patterned paper. The aged look of the box is absolutely lovely.
The box measures approx 2 1/4" x 5 3/4" x 4 1/4". It is available in my Etsy shop
This box is completely handmade by me and I donate the proceeds from the sale to supporting physically handicapped children and adults. For more information go to htpp://www.sukriti.org
Thanks for visiting.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Weekly Challenge #11
This week's challenge on I am the Diva is called "Monotangle". I had fun coming up with the tangle. As you can see, this would have fitted well with last week's challenge "space within" too.
Abhaya Tian Tan Buddha
It took me two years to come up with the perfect way to use the photo I took of the Tian Tan Buddha in Lantau Island, Hong Kong. Tian Tan Buddha is the second largest outdoor seated Bronze Buddha statue (112 feet tall) in the world, conceived as a representation of the harmonius relationship between humans and nature. The right hand is raised in abhaya (fear not) gesture while the left hand rests on the lap in a giving gesture. It is truly a magnificent icon, and amazingly, the size does not in any way deter the serenity and the calm expression on the face of the Buddha.
The top of the cigar box seemed extremely suitable to evoke the magnificence of this image. I have used several layers of chiyogami papers and finished the collage with a scroll incribed with a Buddhist saying and the word dhyana (chan) in Chinese script.
Everything I make is special to me, but making this gave me great joy, and practitioners of Buddhism will understand why.
This box is available at my Etsy shop for purchase.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
IKAT Textiles of India
During my last visit to Chennai, India, I happened upon an exhibition hosted by the Tamilnadu Handloom Corporation called "IKAT of India". I have always loved Indian textile exhibitions for their variety and diversity. I made it a point to see the exhibition, took pictures of the some of the fabulous materials on display, and bought a handprinted scarf for myself. Below are the photos I took at the exhibition (some of the photos are a little dark mainly because of the florescent indoor lighting). Enjoy!
I bought this for myself |
Friday, February 25, 2011
Weekly Challenge #10
I thought this would be easy since my tangles typically have lots of white space...well it wasn't! Here is my response to I am the Diva Week #10 Challenge "The Space Between.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Weekly Challenge #9
This week's challenge at I am the Diva is called Artoo named after Laura's son who has just returned home after a trying week at the hospital. Here is to wishing him good health and speedy recovery.
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