New Crop

Haiku My Heart
January 4, 2013

We meet on Fridays and give ourselves to each other as friends. Stop by recuerda mi corazon to see more and join this community.

Note: I posted this yesterday without the Haiku. I added the Haiku today.

What makes it artwork

Why not call it craftsmanship

Work with hands and heart



Just because you haven't seen me around on the blog lately doesn't mean I haven't been doing anything. I have sat myself down and completed many of the Dream Catchers that I had promised to people, some that I promised as long as a year or more ago!

Each is its own design as nature intended the wood to circle. Each has a representative of the wood, stone, metal and mineral. Each holds a spirit of some animal and each is one-of-a-kind. These are not your Chinese made sold-in-the-gift-shop-at-Grand-Canyon Dream Catchers. They are my interpretation of Native American influenced Folk Art.

Many of these pictured here today have already been sent out to new homes. Once they leave here, I don't know what happens to them. Some people believe in the idea and spirit of the Dream Catcher as a web to catch and keep away bad dreams and karma from getting to you while you sleep. Some like the decorative aspect. Once delivered, it is completely out of my control and up to the individual that receives it as to where it will reside. For all I know, they are sold for a quarter at the next neighborhood garage sale.

I was visiting a few weeks ago and stayed overnight. I went to turn off the lamp to go to bed and there was a Dream Catcher I had made adorning the lamp, right at the switch. I felt good that I had a Dream Catcher to sleep with, especially since I was sleeping in a strange place. It also made me feel good that I had made the Dream Catcher and I knew what kind of energy I put into it. By the same token, I made this particular Dream Catcher for them to have one of their own to sleep with and it ends up as a decoration in the spare room. Like I said, you just never know what will happen to them when they are sent on their journey.

As I participate with many really fine artists on sites and they show their artwork, I felt a responsibility to show mine. I am not always pleased with everything I make. I also think that in some cases, the photography does not do justice to the piece. But these are of my hands and heart.

I also have works in progress that are still Dream Catchers, but take much more time and patience to complete because of the unique nature of the specific project. I am also working on a new procedure for gourd rattles and might have a couple finished in a few weeks. There will definitely be some hand drums in my future. I have been making the above mentioned items for many years, but I am just starting to gather some momentum and trying new ideas as well. I totally have bought into the idea of creating things as another road to the health and healing of the Spirit.

So, here you have the Dream Catchers that I have made since the end of the Summer. If you want more information or would like a Dream Catcher, feel free to E-mail me and we'll discuss it.



Click 'em to big 'em

This project was made for someone that has a child that sometimes sleeps with them. I superimposed the yellow webbing over the red webbing. The red represents the child, being covered and protected by the main body.

This is a Buffalo head nickel made into a "bead"

This is Buffalo hide used as hanging decoration. The Buffalo represents many aspects of power and healing along with wisdom and strength. The individual had given me tobacco and asked for this Dream Catcher has waited a long time, but sometimes it takes a while to get an idea in my head about what should be represented.

Horse hair and a single feather on driftwood. This was sent over the ocean. I thought driftwood would be appropriate for such a journey.

The colors of the four directions, Black, Red, Yellow and White, are represented here along on the braid holders with the hair from the receiver's favorite horse that passed recently. Much of the horse hair that I use to decorate comes from other horses that these friends own. We traded horse hair for a Dream Catcher. Tobacco was giving in thanks for receiving the horse hair from their manes and tails.

The Dream Catcher in this photo and the ones above was made from a piece of dogwood, or what some people call red willow. I liked the "stalk" that protruded through the circle and kept it there. I used really long black horse tail hair and leather lacing for decoration.

I'm likely to leave the stems and pieces of wood on the twigs and branches that I bend to make the circular hoops. After all, It is not my job to change what Mother Nature has created.

Blurry, and too lazy to go take another photo, sorry.

This hoop is very delicate. Made from a very thin branch.

Peace