Wednesday, September 29, 2010

UPDATE #4 - The Butterfy Effect

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Just to make sure you don't miss this, I am starting this post with a big  thank you to each of you who have sent their butterflies, and an additional thank you to those of you who  also have enclosed beautiful cards or notes.   I am without words to express how humbled each of you cause me to feel. Please, for those of you in the process of making or sending butterflies,  this is absolutely positively not necessary.  Your time and kindness is more than enough alone!

As many of you know, the 'thesis' which this project came to life was based on   a poem written by a young man by the name of Pavel Friedmann who perished in the Holocaust at the age of 23.    It is published in a book by the same name ...I never saw another butterfly... Children's Drawings and Poems from Terezin Concentration Camp 1942-1944.   It is available for sale at Amazon here

 Today, I thought I would share another  poem published in the book - a poignant reminder for all of us to feel grateful for our privileged  lives.    Unfortunately, the author is anonymous.

The Closed Town

Everything leans, like tottering, hunched old women.

Every eye shines with fixed waiting
and for the word "when?"

Here there are few soldiers,
Only the shot-down birds tell of war.

You believe every bit of news you hear.

The buildings now are fuller,
Body smelling close to body,
And the garrets scream with light for long, long hours.

This evening I walked along the street of death.
On one wagon, they were taking the dead away.

Why so many soliders?

Then,
A week after the end,
Everything will be empty here.
A hungry dove will peck for bread.
In the middle of the street will stand
An empty, dirty
Hearse.

 I ordered two copies of this poignant and meaningful collection of art and poems  which arrived this week - (below image shows one copy  tucked in with the butterflies.)   One for me and one to give away as a way of expressing my appreciation for those of you who have joined in.  I will make the draw for the book November 30th from names of those whose butterflies have arrived by that date.



A couple of reminders -
1) there is NO deadline yet.
2)  if you join in by posting a comment on the original post, please remember to also email me at twodressesstudio@shaw.ca so I will have your email address.   You can also leave your email address below your comment if that's not a concern to you.

 And now, without further delay ...... LOOK  what flew in over the past several days (they are catching their breath after flights from as far away as Germany, Australia and the UK!



Safely arrived and in protective storage,  another 10 butterflies arrived this past week thanks to the following big hearted artists -

Gayle Price
Lisa Jurist
DeeDee Johnson (2)
Heike Gerhig
Nancy Donaldson (3)
Penny Steel
Rita Ackerman





Meet and Greet - September 29th

What a pleasure to study the variety of textures and techniques along with the assortment of colors and mediums used. 







GAYLE PRICE
Victor Habor, South Australia






HEIKE GERBIG
Berlin, Germany








NANCY DONALDSON
Toronto, Ontario, Canada










PENNY STEEL
Lymington, Hants, UK




DEE DEE JOHNSON
Fort Worth, Texas, USA










LISA JURIST
Baltimore, Maryland



RITA ACKERMAN
Phoenix, Arizona, USA
(Rita - yours missed the photo op today but will be included next week)



Sunday, September 26, 2010

A new week!

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Happy Sunday everyone!  A new week...and on the top of my list is to catch up with posting new digital collages from some of the designers I create for.  I consider myself very lucky to have the pleasure of working 'outside' the box for Tangie Baxter as a collage artist as traditionally on-line designers have recruited mostly scrapbook officienados.  But, the trend is changing and there are several designers who are now creating beautiful digital packages for altered art peeps of the digital and traditional collage variety. 


From several of Tangie's packs, I created this which will be the cover of a card to thank all of our friends who sent flowers recently.


To Believe is Magic 5 x 7 inch digital collage
(low res. version)

Image Credits:  Tangie Baxter - Scrapbookgraphics.com
various packs - if you are looking for a specific image, please email me and I'll track down the specifics for you.



Next in line - from Hollie Haradon, owner at DeviantScrap and designer for Holliewood Studios -  Haute Halloween and Dramatic Backgrounds


Breakfast Buddies

Image Credits - Holliewood Studios at DeviantScrap, with the exception of the figure - Bougereau




The Scent of a Rose

Image Credits - Holliewood Studios @ Deviant Scrap.com all images except figure - personal stash





Tease

Image Credits - Holliewood Studios - DeviantScrap.com except for figure of woman - Lisa's Altered Art







Haute Halloween
Image Credits:
13 and 'family' - Tumble Fish Studio at Etsy

Skeleton - Mrs. Inman - Flickr
Ghostly Image - photograph - TwoDressesStudio
All other images - Holliewood Studios - at DeviantScrap



And another new ATC (#5) group of images from Holliewood Studios -


I'd Walk a Mile

Image Credits:  Holliewood Studios for all images with the exception of
 the figure and CAMEL - both from a vintage Camel Cigarette ad.
Poison Sign - Tumble Fish Studio at Etsy.com




Genie

Image Credits:  Holliewood Studios at DeviantScrap - ATC 5





Wednesday, September 22, 2010

The Butterfly Effect - UPDATE #3

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Today I find myself quite delighted, and again humbled  that even though we have officially changed seasons,  butterflies seem to be flying and touching down at my front door step each day. They invite me to continue to enjoy  the colors and light of summer through  the caring souls I am writing about today.  I feel blessed.  I believe in a world of love.

The Butterfly Effect continues to ripple and thanks to efforts by those who join us and also spread the word, each day we have new people  signing up.  I've lost count as to the exact numbers as  there are many who plan to also share the lessons published on The Holocaust Museum Houston website  and create with their children, or students or friends.   A special thanks to you for teaching children these lessons.





As adults we can do our level best each day  by choosing to focus on speaking kindly to ourselves inwardly and to others  we interact with.  Please be gentle with others and be gentle on yourselves.   I am reading a book that I am hoping, if I read it enough times, it will rub off on me!!!  Here's an excerpt -

"When you open yourself to the continually changing, impermanent, dynamic nature of your own being and of reality, you increase your capacity to love and care about other people and your capacity to not be afraid. You're able to keep your eyes open, your heart open, and your mind open. And you notice when you get caught up in prejudice, bias, and aggression. You develop an enthusiasm for no longer watering those negative seeds, from now until the day you die. And, you begin to think of your life as offering endless opportunities to start to do things differently."
— Pema Chödrön (Practicing Peace in Times of War)
 
 


So, without further ado, I bring to you the butterflies that have now safely landed followed by photographs of those made and on their way.   Now you can see what I mean plus hopefully experience the colors and light of each of these beautiful symbols .... 

Click on any of the photographs to view large and,  if time permits, pay these thoughtful artists a visit by clicking on their blog links below.  The creativity, imagination and talent expressed in each unique butterfly speaks to me like a fingerprint of each child honored. 




ARRIVED from
Seth Apter
New York City, NY, USA
Thank you!




ARRIVED from
Jill Zaheer
Riverdale, New York City, NY, USA
Thank you!




ARRIVED from
Marilyn Rock
Schenectady, NY, USA




ARRIVED from
Sharon Chapman
Northbend, Washington, USA
Thank you!




ARRIVED from
Kathy Semrick
Elburn, Illinois, USA
Thank you!
(take a look below at Kathy's macro photos for details or
visit her blog)





ARRIVED from
Abby Lazar
Jamesville, NY, USA
Thank you!



And, a sneak peak at more butterflies.... just before they spread their wings......




Frieda Oxenham
Peeblesshire, Scotland, UK





Lisa Jurist
Baltimore, Maryland, USA



Sharon Chapman
Northbend, Washington, USA
(Arrived today and posted above but I wanted to share her photograph from her blog as well)




Nancy
Toronto, Ontario, Canada







Above - macros of Kathy S.'s (http://www.aspectacularmess.blogspot.com/) cloth butterfly


Please email me at twodressesstudio@shaw.ca if you see any typos or missing links. 

For more information on this project, including links to the Holocaust Museum Houston,  lesson plans, the blog button,  instructions, more photos, as well as links to previous updates,  please click here


Thursday, September 16, 2010

Note To Self:

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Note To Self - 5 x 7 inches


The figure above is from one of Tumble Fish Studio's new kits - check them out here and join in her blog celebrations!~

Image Credits:
Tumble Fish Studio at Etsy
Holliewood Studios @ DeviantScrap.com
Letters - Iktupilli

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Shades of Grey

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Marsha at Tumble Fish Studio (here) is hosting a two year blog anniversary this week with daily posts and prizes.  There is also a challenge to create a 'shades of grey' collage -





And just to compare - here's the colored version -

Image Credits:
Tumble Fish Studio Etsy  - for all elements in top image

Holliewood Studios - bottom images - Heavy Metal DeviantScrap