Amateur Art: Dream Catcher

I promised a little while ago I’d show you some of my ‘crazy cabinet’ creations (one of my kitchen cabinets is filled with junk that comes in handy sometimes, when I’m in the crafty mood.)  This particular creation I’m actually quite happy with.  If you like dream catchers, or maybe know somebody who does, try making one.  If I was able to make it, anybody can.  The basic “web” is really not that difficult to master, and the process of spinning is very relaxing.  I watched a number of “how to” youtube videos on dream catchers, I’m posting a link to the one I picked and used.  It has all the instructions you need.  (A note: I didn’t use either sinew or leather, just different kinds of thread.  Worked fine.  Used 'memorable' champagne corks for decoration!)  Happy spinning, and sweet dreams!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVSXXeFF-Gw

Live for the Love of it,

The Happy Amateur

Russian Roots: Marc Chagall

Here’s to a Russian-Jewish-French-universal artist I’m very fond of

 Marc Chagall

(7 July 1887 – 28 March 1985)

I and the Village

(1911)

 

Lovers in the Lilacs

(1930)

Artist over Vitebsk

(1982)

He invited Paris to a small town wedding,

And taught New York a foreign word “Vitebsk”

Accepted and praised he was, loved and spared

But the turbulent times that uprooted his genius

Kept his soul locked up in suspended limbo

Till he drew his last breath that finally freed him

Sent him riding the clouds all the way home.

Live for the Love of it,
The Happy Amateur


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marc_Chagall

Poetic Perils: An ant-size achievement :-)

Hooray!  My '100 word ant story' was one of the semi finalists!

Here's my story with a link to Janet Reid's original post about the contest:

http://www.thehappyamateur.com/2012/02/almost-anything-no-regrets.html


Here's Janet's today's post with all the results:

http://jetreidliterary.blogspot.com/2012/02/yes-i-want-that-contest-results.html


I understand, Janet holds similar contests regularly, so stay tuned!


Live for the Love of it,
The Happy Amateur

Poetic Perils: "Golden Glows"

This was prompted by Margo's Tryouts last Tuesday.

~ Golden Glows ~

In the darkness a glowing ball of flames

Floats, pouring golden grace. Myriads

Of rays fall onto Earth, into

The dark soil that breaths them in,

Shoots them back up. They burst

Through, brighten my sky -

The yellow suns

Outside my

Window

Pane.

Live for the Love of It
The Happy Amateur

Poetic Perils: Ash Wednesday

Wrote this last week.

~Ash Wednesday~

Come,

Bow your

Head, for all

That

Brightly burns

Will be reduced

To

Ashes, but

For Love whose

Flame

Sustains itself,

And lives forever.

Live for the Love of it,

The Happy Amateur

Almost Anything: "No Regrets"

The following challenge comes from Janet Reid.  Write a story with 100 or fewer words, using:

choice
destroy
risk
sequel
allegiance

Here’s mine:

~No Regrets~

They had no choice.  They always walked in line.  They owed their allegiance to it.  Today was no different.  And yet…  They felt it in the air.  Their pace quickened.  And then they saw it.  A white temple with archways all around.  A gasp of amazement rolled like a wave down the line.  Entranced, they kept moving forward.  “Wait!” a feeble voice called out, “Don’t go in!  It’ll destroy you!”  The line leader hesitated for a brief moment, then replied with confidence, “I’ll take that risk, no matter the sequel.”  He smiled and walked into the ant trap.

Live for the Love of it,

The Happy Amateur

This is actually a contest.  And it just started.  So, jump in!
http://jetreidliterary.blogspot.com/2012/02/yes-i-want-that-writing-contest.html

Happy Hour: "Homo sapiens...?"

The other day our dog tried to get us to do something for quite a while (as we realized later.)  When we finally got it - threw his blanket on the couch, so he could curl next to us - he gave out an especially long sigh.  I wonder what he was thinking...

"It's not going to throw itself."

Homo sapiens, they say?... I don’t know… 

How sapiens can be so slow?

I’ll keep nudging the ball,

Like it’s nothing at all,

Till he gets through his head: he should throw.

Image credit:  Charles Barsotti

Live for the Love of it,

The Happy Amateur