ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY

Under the Sea

This is my first contribution to Illustration Friday. It was fun!

To view other Illustration Friday art go to:

http://www.illustrationfriday.com

Enjoy!

Thursday's Puzzle Piece

Today is Easter Sunday, and I discovered why I have a missing puzzle piece among my treasures (see thursday's post).

One of the perks of having raised your family is that at 8:30 on Easter morn, you can be calmly sitting in church, even if the afternoon will be busy with family. Calm, but not expectant, was I. Perhaps, I wasn't prepared for something new. After all with 57 years of the spirit moving you, are there any Easter surprises left?

So when our pastor began by telling us that on Thursday he was puzzling over what he would speak on...puzzle..thursday...he had my attention. He had only three days to come up with something. But he reasoned, look what God had done in three days. So he talked to God, as pastors do, and had a lot to say by Easter.

His missing puzzle piece was 'look at the possibilities now that the tomb is empty'. Oh...possibilities...another one of my words. Possibilities. A really exciting word. Not a dead end word. Life can have new beginnings over and over.

Possibilities....puzzles...plans....hope....new beginnings. I just imagine those words floating out there on Thursday. Just floating by, available for someone to grap and take to heart. Now I wonder what I can do in three days....with a little help, and another look through my treasures.

A Book about Nils

A Swedish Nisse is called a Tomten. A Tomten, like a Nisse, is a wee magical household spirit. He is called a helper, unless neglected or treated poorly.

The book, 'The Wonderful Adventures of Nils', is about a little boy named Nils, who finds out how a Tomten can become a trickster.

The book was introduced to the children of Sweden in 1907, as a geography tool. It has been described as an adventure story, a folktale, a history and a geography. Besides, being a delightful way to learn more about Sweden, it addresses worldwide contemporary issues such as poverty, the environment problems, animal cruelty and social issues. Issues still important 100 years later.

This book was given to me by my mother over 15 years ago, when I started creating little Nisse. It is a enjoyable read and is still available.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1572160365/103-6432121-0626244?v=glance&n=283155

Possibilities and Dancing Bears

I have holes in my ears where I put the treasures I find in my jewelry box.

Today, when I was digging through diamonds and rubies in search of dancing bears for Grandson Tru to admire in my ears, I spotted a puzzle piece. Hmmm...Why would this puzzle piece be with my treasures? I had no idea.

But it did bring to mind a Shel Silverstein poem.

The Picture Puzzle Piece.

One picture puzzle piece
Lying on the sidewalk,
One picture puzzle piece
Soakin' in the rain.
It might be a button of blue
On the coat of the woman
Who lived in a shoe.
It might be a magical bean,
Or a fold in the red
Velvet robe of a queen.
It might be the one little bite
Of the apple her stepmother
Gave to Snow White.
It might be the veil of a bride
Or a bottle with some evil genie inside.
It might be a small tuft of hair
On the big bouncy belly
Of Bobo the Bear.
It might be a bit of the cloak
Of the Witch of the West
As she melted to smoke.
It might be a shadowy trace
Of a tear that runs down an angel's face.
Nothing has more possibilities
Than one old wet picture puzzle piece.

(from Shel Silverstein's book 'A Light in the Attic. c. 1981)

Staring at my puzzle piece, I tried to imagine the possibilities. If I had two, I could fashion them to wear in my ears.
Was it even my puzzle piece?
Had I thrown the rest of the puzzle away, because it lack this one piece?
How many possibilities had I thrown away because a piece was missing? Maybe I should have waited and looked in my treasures. So I left my puzzle piece among my diamonds, rubies and dancing bears as a reminder to wait for possibilities to gather all their pieces.

Bunnies Everywhere!

'Ideas are like rabbits. You get a couple and learn how to handle them, and pretty soon you have a dozen.' John Steinbeck

I love this quote!

Ideas can be birthed faster than little bunnies...and then they can hop around in a dozen directions. Gathering them is nearly impossible! The trick is to manage them, one at a time.

So which one do you follow? Pick! Pick one bunny and the determination to follow it... the right idea, at the right time can create a vision of worth. Remember to not run after it, but let it lead you.

The old tales or fairy tales are often about sorting through seeds...keeping the ones that can sprout.

It does take time to find the right idea...just a little bunny wisdom for your Easter egg hunt.

Spring Cleaning...my goals

I think New Year's resolutions should be made in the spring! Spring is the soul's cycle for things new, things fresh, and things planned. I have been decluttering my house, my clothes, my time, and my goals. Trying to start fresh and green. I walk around my house gathering the 27 things I can declutter. It is amazing how that task grows on me. So as my stuff becomes less, the stuff that matters shows. So it is with projects and goals. Hard to decide? Hard to plan? Start with what doesn't matter, and those tiny crumbs on your path will show.

A new home for Sverdrup

Sverdrup....interesting name. It is the name I gave my latest Nisse. He was created for a Sons of Norway in North Dakota. Sverdrup was a famous man in Norway, and his name pops up in America in strange ways, like a township....or a Nisse! This Nisse is large (22 inches) and bendable. I watched a group of girls hold Sverdrup. Complete awe. Made my day!