urbanrosary

First Bud Mandala

This antique bottle, that has now turned shades of purple is accented with a sterling silver rose bud mandala. Square, flower, and octagon chandelier crystals accent the piece. It is 12" tall and 6 " wide.

Beautiful Shells

The Color Green

So many people including myself.....were so concerned about me moving from Southern California to Idaho. The concern was the weather. How was I going to deal with it. Whenever I met new people they would ask me (before winter came), "how will you deal with the cold coming from So. Cal"? It was really the "unknown" for me. I couldn't calculate "cold". What was it going to really be like to live in "cold" weather?

What I discovered is.... that it wasn't the "cold" that was so difficult at all. I found myself still riding my bike in the snowy weather....and actually liking it. There were some beautiful times. Giant snowflakes....the freshness of snow. Being bundled up.

The difficult part was the lack of color.....especially the color green (which happens to be my favorite color). Today as I look out into the backyard I see dormant grass and trees that are twigs and branches but no leaves....no green....no snow. This in between place. I know that spring is coming and along with it the color green!

Ball Bottle Altar Piece

My mom, thankfully sent me some great smaller bottles to work with. She found them in California. One was this sweet little bottle that has the word "Ball" on the bottom of it. "Ball" is written in the same font and style that is on the famous Ball canning jars, so I am assuming that it is from that same maker.

I also got more crystal chandelier flower crystals to use with my pieces....so I added them to this Ball Bottle Altar Piece.

White Lilies for Millie

As most of you know that visit my site, my dear friend Joanna from Moss Hill Studios mother has passed away. I have known Joanna for 30 years, and of course have had the privilege of meeting her mother and the rest of Joanna's family.

I felt like I wanted to do something for Joanna. She has been such a support to me through the years. So in reading her blog, she said that her mother had mentioned her love and desire for white lilies....so with that in mind....I created a piece for Joanna's altar area that I call...."White Lillies for Millie".

White Rain Altar Piece

A chandelier crystal cross with blue glass flowers top this "White Rain" vintage bottle. It features a rosary made of blue stones.

Key to my Heart Altar Adornment

This altar adornment was inspired by the Prayer Book that I found that is at least 100 years old. It is embellished with a coral carved heart that is crowned with faceted garnets. It has two glass leaves on each side of the rose that is set in a metal frame. The crystal chandelier chain has a key on the end. In the left corner of the collage a metal key is also featured ....making this the adornment I called the "Key to my Heart".

Bromo Seltzer Blue

Sacred Heart of Carmel Altar Bottle

Recently I had the opportunity to travel with my boyfriend to Carmel, California. One of the things that I really like doing (and so does he), while in California is visiting the various California Missions. Some of my altar pieces are inspired from those visits. There are 21 missions in the State that were founded by father Junipero Serra.

If you grew up in California, one of the most memorable things we had to do is what we call the "4th grade mission project". Every fourth grader is required to do a "mission project". You can pick any of the 21 missions, construct a model of it with anything you wish. Some are made of sugar cubes, cardboard, wood, popsicle sticks, plaster, styrofoam...the list goes on. I did one, and my daughter did one.

My girlfriend Arlene has helped her 5 children and her many grandchildren construct theirs. It has become ritual for many families. For Arlene, she travels with her trusty glue gun in hand to each of her grandchildren homes.

So..... I continue to do my "mission art"....inspired in Carmel I took a photo of the sacred heart that was at one of the altars inside. I decided I would feature it in the center of a cross. This piece has a vintage old world feel. The amber bottle has a removable lid, so something sacred could be stored inside....maybe a prayer, or a wish, or a blessing written on a piece of paper?

Buddha Altar Piece

I had this hand carved jade Buddha for years in my jewelry box. I thought of making a necklace at one point but never got around to finding the right beads for it. Like most of my altar pieces they just seem to "happen" when the time is right. This one just came together today in my studio. The jade green bottle is heavy and feminine. I added chain and a sterling silver rose bud with faceted beads to finish the piece.