Hearts in the World

Heart bitten into leaf 

Heart shaped leaf 

Heart on my little girl's shirt 

Heart on my little girl's cheek 

Heart shaped by fungus growth 

Heart shaped by snowshoes pointing,

and me & my family.

Sharing with Clytie...  it's been a while...

::Patience::Trust::Persistence::

These words - patience, trust, persistence -

are words that I have recently sculpted for

three different dear friends of mine.

I love sculpting these soul words;

their message intertwined with the metals

twisted to create them, my thoughts interweaving

with prayers lifted into the air.

 

"{t}he word patience means willingness to stay where we are and live out the situation out to the full in the belief that something hidden there will manifest itself to us. :: Henri Nouwen" 

(The quote above is one I found recently on someone's blog.)

 



 

Trust & patience serve as ingredients for persistence,

 



"I was most happy when some friends arrived and brought the news that you persist in following the way of Truth. Nothing could make me happier than getting reports that my children continue diligently in the way of Truth!" 3 John 1:1

::Breathe:: while ::Waiting::

I have been feeling so impatient, so in need of change,

so ready to move forward into something new. 

I need the messages of these wire words I've recently sculpted,

which fit so well together with the message to

 

Breathe

while

Waiting.

 

I need to.

 

Deb won the giveaway that I offered here recently,

and I had the opportunity to sculpt her word, breathe.

These words are from her blog, as is the image below:

 

one two three. be still

breathe belly deep, exhale slow

let go. calm down. BE

 

 

reminder to breathe...deeper, longer.

 

While

 

like my authentic friend Anna.

Some of her words are below.

 

"As I think about waiting, I think of these pages full of longing, confusion, pain, and joy."

 

"It might sound like a passive word, but wait is an active verb. It is an action that we take. That day I learned that waiting is brave when everyone else is moving past you. It is brave to believe that there is something better ahead, while letting the opportunities of the present expire."

 

"Those of us that are idealists are always waiting. I could write volumes more about the waiting, and what I'm continuing to learn." 

 

I do look forward to reading more stories,

that are part of the volumes, Anna.

 

 

These words are woven into my story as I mold and sculpt and wrap the wire, prayerfully meditating on the message of the word and the meaning for its recipient.  As I continue my own freedom pursuit, these words help guide my soul, too.

Freedom, I am still reaching for you.

 

 

 Vivian, the collection of wire word sculptures continues growing, fulfilling your very special vision!

 

Ellen, I think you're like the dendrologist I mentioned in my last post, there has been more going on beneath the surface than I think I realized - proprioceptive?

Focus, Flow

I made the collage above using postcards prints, and a business card, from the artwork of an artist who owns a really cool restaurant and gallery space in Jim Thorpe, PA, called FLOW.  My family and I visited the place with some of our close family on an outing last winter.  My husband and I had read about it in a magazine and always wanted to see the place in person.  From the outside, our family questioned whether or not we knew our stuff, but once we got in, and after the whole experience, it was clear why we had been so excited to go.

 

I framed the compilation that I created from the postcard prints and placed it on the wall behind my counterspace, where I spend time preparing food for meals.  I needed something there to look at as a reminder of what inspires me and of what I am seeking, just like how my word 'freedom' sits on the ledge above my sink.

 

Last week, my kids and I kicked off our new season of homeschooling, and as any transition presents its challenges and special needs, I knew I needed to create something to help me focus on my goals and reasons for doing what we do. 

 

I traced the letters "F-O-C-U-S" on cardboard, and used materials from my collage collection to decorate them with messages and symbols of inspiration and motivation.

 

"Shift from annoyed to enjoyed"

"Changing the way"

"feel good, live simply, laugh more"

"A revolution of hope and healing"

"The Joy...  The Joy...  The Joy..."

"Love is the flower you've got to let grow..."

 

After gluing on the images, I covered the whole creation with glitter mod-podge, one of my favorite inventions.  Then I added some sparkly silver and gold stars for a special last touch.

 

Where will I put this, I wondered?  I wanted it somewhere that I could see it regularly, to be reminded and inspired by the messages in this piece.  I tried it out on top of the framed compilation from FLOW, and it fit just so: 

 

 

I am still able to see the images from the original collage in the background, and be reminded of the messages and visions in the artwork that spoke to me.  I especially like how the FLOW business card is fully visible between the C and the U.  Now this piece as a whole has more meaning to me and it is helpful to see it while I am spending time at my counter, catching glimpses of inspirational phrases and images that are meaningful to me.  

 

This is a special creation to have to the left of my sink.  This whole area is a space that I spend good chunks of time in, and it is helpful to ensure that it is a place that contains elements that are meaningful to me, that speak to me, and remind me of the intertwining of my inner and outer worlds, combined to help me focus and make me whole.

::Resting::

Scroll to the bottom for update to see who won the giveaway!

Ssshhhh....  she's resting....

Making the word "resting" for a dear friend who shares her words, art, and heart at Kingfisher Crossing was a little bit hard for me.  It's not that the word was hard to sculpt, no, but the word itself was a hard one to meditate on, to pray about, to settle into.  I'm most often on the go, and keep busy with many things to do, lots going on in my head.  Resting was a good word to sculpt, because I needed to messages that only resting can bring, as she does.

I originally sculpted "freedom" when I followed an urge that led me to the wire on the shelves of a local hardware store.

Since then, I have been sculpting more and more words, for friends, family, acquaintances.  It's a therapeutic process that I enjoy as I wait for the water to boil, sit down to watch the Olympics or So You Think You Can Dance, especially during the commercial breaks, or while I am relaxing on the couch.

One of my best friends, my loyal friend I call her, because she has been with me through so many of my changes, and always accepts me for me and listens and talks to me, had a vision she shared with me about a page of all the pictures of wire words on my blog; everyone's journey's captured on a page. I'm adding to it here, on the Wire Word Sculptures page - most are linked to either the recipient's webpage or to a blog post I've written about the word. 

If you ask me, I'd probably make you one.  But today, I'm offering a giveaway.  It'll be open all week, with the last entries being accepted on Friday (August 17th).  Would you like a wire word of your own?  If so, you may enter by leaving a comment here on my blog, with your word.  If you'd like to, please share a link to any blog post you may have written about your word.  For an extra entry, "like" my page on Facebook, and let me know you've done so (or if you already have done so).  One lucky person will win a free wire word from me (you must be willing to share your address so I can mail it to you when finished!)  I will announce the winner on Saturday, August 18th.

To read the lovely post over at Kingfisher Crossing by my lovely friend who shares about her word, resting, please click the links within the words here, or on the picture below.

Update on Saturday, August 18th -

Thank you to everyone who commented

and liked my page on facebook,

to enter this giveaway!

I love all of your words, and appreciate that some of you linked to posts about your word to share the meaning behind your choice.  And thank you for also linking to my page.

I wrote all of your names onto paper, with your word; two entries for those who also liked the facebook page.  I folded and placed them into my special clear bowl filled with shells and other special items that sits atop my writing desk. 

The name I pulled, after closing my eyes and shuffling the bits of pink paper around, was:

Congratulations, Deb!!!  I will be contacting you for your mailing address so I can send your word to you after I sculpt it.

I must say, though, that you all have such wonderful words that I would love to sculpt...  Would you contact me to talk about possibly working something out, offering me a tiny donation to make yours for you, I quietly ask?  All words will be shared on my Wire Words Page, with a link to your blog, specifically your post about why you chose yours, what it means to you, if you have written one.

Thank you all, once again! 

To Kingfisher, for being an inspiration and providing encouragement, all while she is resting.

To Cheryl, who shares how "live" she is, how to "live" through her art journal pages.

To Sue, for connection, which she is embracing; a word which has been speaking to me, too.

To SperlyGirl, for "begin", whose 10 things I love, I love.

To Anna, for "waiting", who shares her insightful art journal pages while she finishes up her PhD, and is full of authenticity.

All my best,

Brianne

Spray Painted Heart

Remember these hearts?

It was such a surprise to then find this,

an imprint

left behind

by the same spray painting artist,

after my husband & I had dinner together

and walked  around town,

visiting the open art galleries,

and having conversations

that were only possible

with us being together -

him, a lot less shy

to ask questions

than me.

And as we walked back to our car,

it was so neat to see this heart

at our feet;

us, together,

our pieces,

peace.

For more hearts,

every Thursday,

and throughout the week,

visit Clytie's place at

Random Hearts,

one of my favorite spaces

to find visions and glimpses

that are heartwarming.

River Sanctuary

Nearby, there's a river, separating one state from another.

On a hot summer day we visited this place,

walked along the soft edges of its shore,

explored.

Took closer looks at what was

beneath the water's clear surface,

noting the presence of a tiny broken heart leaf,

and a teeny baby snail.

There was a band playing patriotic songs,

and we peeked from behind,

at this peaceful River Sanctuary,

a place to refresh our souls,

as we enjoy time

in God's creation.

Sharing my heart

with Clytie

@ Random Hearts

Walk On - Towards Freedom

The band U2 dedicated a song to Aung San Suu Kyi, Walk On.
This song celebrates the physical freedom of Aung San Suu Kyi after being held under house arrest four different occasions during a time span of 21 years.



"You're packing a suitcase for a place none of us has been
A place that has to be believed to be seen
You could have flown away
A singing bird in an open cage
Who will only fly, only fly for freedom"

An article refers to Suu Kyi's Reith Lectures, "Securing Freedom", and provides the following quotes: 

"...she recounts an anecdote in which people

ask how it felt to be free after each period

of house arrest, to which she replied

"my mind had always been free."

"For her, freedom is not only a set of

institutions, laws and political processes,

it is also a quest of the individual spirit,

the struggle to free oneself from greed,

fear and hatred and how they drive

one's own behaviour. That is why she

always talks of a "revolution of the spirit".

You cannot have one without the other,

both are part of transformational change;

the individual and personal is inextricably

bound up with the political..."

Now, I'll be the first to admit that I'm not in a mindspace to think more fully about this;

just wanted to add another tidbit to the dimensions of my freedom collection, while I'm on this topic.
There is much to learn from all this,

and, in time, I'll uncover what it means

in my life, for me, currently.

Freedom... is dangerous?

Freedom is dangerous How can I be free, if I expect anyone else but me to have the ability to ensure my freedom? "None but ourselves can free our minds..." These are thoughts that resonate with me, as I sit down with a few minutes to think. My husband celebrates our country's independence day this year as his first year of being an official U.S. citizen in the thirty or so years he's lived in this country. I celebrate as a lifetime American who's also become an official citizen of Nowhere Island.  An email was sent to we Nowhereians in which John Stuart Mill was quoted, and I recalled days of sitting in Oakland's public library reading his words.  Why was I obsessed with this author's words in my late teens/early twenties?  It all comes back with more meaning now, as I read the words he was quoted, “It is hardly possible to overrate the value, for the improvement of human beings, of things which bring them into contact with persons dissimilar to themselves, and with modes of thought and action unlike those with which they are familiar…it is indispensable to be perpetually comparing [one’s] own notions and customs with the experience and example of persons in different circumstances…there is no nation which does not need to borrow from others.” John Stuart Mill, Principles of Political Economy, 1848 (courtesy of Immigrants: Your Country Needs Them by Philippe Legrain, 2007) And I admit, I do not keep up with politics enough to be well informed in what I write about such topics.  Freedom itself is a touchy topic. We all want it, don't we?  Yet so easily, we give it away. "Freedom must be at the core of a free society, and this means that government cannot be granted control over our civic and private life. A new nation must learn from past mistakes. The UK’s state bureaucracy has created a deadening de-humanising system of licensing freedom. In other words, we are permitted certain freedoms as long as we perform to the state’s regulations. This cannot be allowed to happen in a new nation, and I propose three fundamental areas where a state should have no involvement in meddling with: free movement, free expression and free association." Where would I be today if America closed its doors to immigrants?”Ayn Rand - (note to self:  you've always been a fan of Atlas Shrugged.) "A new nation will never be paradise on earth or a utopia. Free citizens means being autonomous agents negotiating a new morality – it will be messy, tempers will flare, freedom is dangerous, and the rule of law should only be enforced to protect individuals from physical violence and harm, and conversely the state should play no role in implementing violence through militarism and coercion." http://nowhereisland.org/resident-thinkers/26/ Yes, my writing is blotchy. And just where am I going with my thoughts? I don't know. But this is just me, collecting thoughts on freedom that have entered my world.

::Love::

She was one of the first to respond when I sent out a request to my close friends and family, seeing who wanted me to make them a wire word...  my dear friend, one of my bests from high school, with whom many adventures have been had, that we will both never forget.

She wrote, "Brianne this is such a great idea. So many words come to mind. The first word that came to mind was independence but that comes from a stubborn place. Then I thought patience, but it didn't feel like it fit perfectly. I think love is my biggest obstacle. Love is something I need to work on."  To which I respond, don't we all?  I know I do!

Shouldn't it come naturally, to love? 

But it doesn't.

It is hard work, actually.

I know from experience.

When she sent me the picture of where she placed her word, my friend wrote, "I put it by my reiki charged candle that stands for gratitude.  It reminds every day to be thankful for the gifts that god has already given me. I light it every day and now when I look at it, it will remind me to let love into my heart and to allow myself to be loved by others."

I commend you for this journey you lead, my friend,
as you desire to love and to let yourself be fully loved!

Sharing with Clytie's Random Hearts, which I highly recommend visiting if you'd like to smile and read heart warming stories from around the world.

::Loyalty::

I email my closest friends, telling them about my Wire Word Project, and excitedly await the responses from the ones who are interested in sharing a word for me to sculpt them.

One of my best friends from high school takes her time, thinking long and hard about it.  Once she thinks of her word she writes, "My word would definitely be Loyalty. Loyalty to others, loyalty to my spirit, and loyalty to my Faith. (I think that’s also why I love dogs so much they are the most loyal creatures I think God has ever created that’s including comparison with humans as well )"

I sculpt "loyalty" for her and am there at her home for a barbeque when I present her word to her, and she hangs it on her wall.  The fruit of loyalty is present in her life, in many ways I see.  She is loyal to her friends, like me.  And her loyalty to her faith is unwavering.  She can ask, she can question, she can wonder and think - that's how rock solid she knows it is. 

I am a witness of this, because of the many seeds planted in my life by her and her mother, my hardened heart was softened and faith was able to flourish and grow in me.

Dear friend, your life is full of loyalty and I wait expectantly to see what more your loyalty will bring you!

~Cherish~

It's been enjoyable creating wire words for friends and family who are pursuing or thinking about a certain word this year.  I've added some to the Wire Soul Word Page here on my blog, and here is a post about one of them.

My friend writes, "I've thought about it, and I find myself always telling people to cherish their children, cherish the special moments in life, cherish the little things that we may not realize are important at the time, and I also remind myself to do the same with my family, SO, I'd like my wire word to be: Cherish"

She chose a spot for her word that means a lot to her:  "the bench was from a friend who I don't get to see much, but I cherish our talks together on the phone and have great memories of times we've spent together. And the vase is from our cruise vacation, where I bought it in Puerto Rico, a vacation which every second of was cherished...and a reminder that right after that vacation, we started our family...the connections keep going on from there!"  Each day as she descends her stairs, she catches a glimpse of this spot, to remind her.

This helps me, too, as the days go by so fast sometimes, to remember to CHERISH the moments that fill them.


Sharing with:

Cafe Hearts

Hearts are special.

 People remember to make others smile

by painting hearts on cafe windows,

and by taking the time to make hearts extra-special

with decorations that take infinitesimal care

to create delicious beauty.

For more hearts from around the world,

visit Clytie's Random Hearts.

Louise Nevelson - Journal Pages

These are pages that appear in my Freedom Journal.

Next to the page with the Freedom Heart and freedom messages, is the page on the right with a picture of a Louise Nevelson sculpture, words cut out from a magazine article about Nevelson's work, and thoughts behind it, and the words to Job 28:5-6.

"They promised that the streets of America

would be paved in gold."

 

The next two pages:

on the left is a picture of an Untitled sculpture

that we saw at the Locks Gallery,

and a list of possible locations for me to see more of Nevelson's work in person.

On the right are found quotes of Louise Nevelson's,

that speak freedom to me.

"Leave your brain outside, sweetie," Nevelson would tell her art students, "so when you see something, you see it totally."

"I take my mind out and put it on the table.  I take silver polish or whatever and rags and sponges and clean it up and clear it up and keep it shiny."

 

"The shadow is as important as the object."

"The wonder of collecting is that you are constantly in trainint to look for that added element that you identify with."

"I have made my world and it is a much better world than I ever saw outside."

"An artist has to live like an artist, and then you are an artist."