Friday, April 27, 2007

create with the heart of a child

Happy May Day!

I made this for the artsymama's mayday swap...

when I was a kid I used to make paper cones and put flowers in them for tree neighbors on my street...

Ms Brown who used to read to me, Ms Jones would teach me how to sew and needle point then there was Ms Dines, she was the outdoor girl of the bunch and when ever there was a little bird that fell out of it nest she would call me over and give it to me so I could try to mend it... most did not make it but I did end up with a pet crow and a squirrel :)

"It is amazing how complete is the delusion that beauty is goodness." — Unknown

Many fellow art bloggers heads have turned to artist blocks lately...
just like flowers its so easy for us to think of rain...

"will I ever come up with a new idea? will I always be stuck in this place? I am a fake a phony! nothing new will ever come out of me again! its all over!"

as we all know none of this is true! it may take a little time but the sun she always comes out to shine again :)

May Day, by Sara Teasdale, 1884-1933

A delicate fabric of bird song
Floats in the air,
The smell of wet wild earth
Is everywhere.

Red small leaves of the maple
Are clenched like a hand,
Like girls at their first communion
The pear trees stand.

Oh I must pass nothing by
Without loving it much,
The raindrop try with my lips,
The grass with my touch;

For how can I be sure
I shall see again
The world on the first of May
Shining after the rain?




As I tyred to decide what I wanted to do for the May Day swap I took a minute to reflect on what May Day meant to me then I started to think about the paper cones I made as a child..
and now as I look back my childhood came flashing back...
I was the kid that was always making stuff... always had my hands all messy and full of mud... I loved to be in the garden and be surrounded by nature... I did spend more time with adults and animals then with other children because I was forever busy creating in my own magical world filled with fairy's and far away places.

Now as a adult I do still play in the far away world of my imagination... but reality is a lot closer and so is self doubt and the inner critic.

But the May Day cone reminded me that its the PLAY that I love the most as a artist... the creating for the joy of creating and the reason why I blog is much for the delight I received when I was a young girl and would leave flowers on my neighbors door steep and ring the door bell and run away it was for the unknown delight that I surprised someone :)

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7 comments:

Jo Wholohan said...

Beautiful Ruth, what a lovely idea, your write so beautifully too!!!!

Just got CPS issue 12 here in Australia today. Congrats on the article its wonderful, beautiful work!!

Anonymous said...

Ruth
Love, love, love your May Day Cone-it's absolutely lovely! Also love the May Day poem!

Bronwen

Anonymous said...

your cone is Gorgeous, ruth. beth is going to adore it. and your whole post is delightful, soulful, and rich. i always enjoy reading what you have to say.

jackie said...

Happy May Day. I hope the clouds of self doubt stay well away.

Belinha Fernandes said...

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katie said...

Such a beautiful may basket (cone) - i loved hearing about you celebrated may day as a child. our neighborhood had a tradition of the baskets (actually tiny paper cupcake forms) with pipecleaner handles and hanging ribbons and decorations, filled with notes and little candy bits. i'd knock on the doors of my neighborhood pals, leave the basket on the stoop, and run and hide so i could watch them get the goodie. i do believe may day was my happiest holiday, thanks for inspiring the forgotten memories... Happy May Day Ruth!!

Anonymous said...

I looooooove this cone. Do you sell them? I would love to buy one if so. Beautiful stuff!
xo andrea