...by so many people who have come into my little artist blogging world. So God has taken Jenny. They say that God wants all the special ones close by. You know the expression,"only the good die young". I read a short story in 9th grade, The Bridge of San Loius Rey. I'd forgotten who had written it for many years. Then a few years back was listening to some radio program about books, and couldn't believe my luck, for there was the conversation about this story. Well, it was none other than Hemingway.
...a digression..........You know, that while on Safari in Kenya I stayed at a lodge where Hemingway wrote The Snows of Kilimanjaro. This lodge was in season of the dung beetles- these huge 4 inch beetles that crunched when stepped on, and were all over the place and so yucky that you had to side step wherever you walked. I also slept with a tarantula in my room that night. Truth. I am so brave when I have to be. They had no other room available, and I slept under my covers with all the lights on. Mistake. The bugs somehow found their way into my room. It must have been every bug in Kenya visiting my room that night.I pulled the bed away from the wall, and peeked out every so often, and closed the door to the bathroom. I had seen the tarantula in the bathtub. Needless to say, I didn't get much sleep that night.
Well, that story stayed with me that last year of Junior High. It stayed with me all my days since then. It takes place in some South American town in the 20's or 30's I believe. There is a strong rope like bridge connecting the town to the 'outside' world. It has been there for so very long, maybe hundreds of years, repaired many times along the way. But, one day it breaks, collapses, and 7 people perish to their death. One of them is a child, another is a pregnant woman, the others old , middle aged, etc..(note- I am going by memory here, so if I have forgotten something in my description of the story, please forgive, but, the basics are such).
A monk questions, why now, why these people? He decides to investigate their lives. And , one by one he finds that in some way these people have all accomplished what it was that they were meant to accomplish here on this earth. They were ready in some way. It seemed so very unfair thinking of the child, and the pregnant woman, etc.. But, the story had a certain beauty to it. When we lose those who we love, and there is no sense in their passing, and it all seems so very unfair, we pull at threads, trying to catch one that seems to bring a semblance of sense into the picture. Something, that is, to console us in some way. I think of this story every time that someone dies and we feel the hurt.
So the good Lord has taken Jenny, but the angels have seen fit to suddenly place into my life so many new artist blogging friends. And for that, I am thankful.
Jenny's son and daughter were with us Friday to Saturday, helping at the show. Well, after unloading the car Owen didn't quite feel too well, and went home with Serge. Emma loved to do the shows with Jenny and was such a trooper, as she always is, and is quite the artist and entrepreneur herself . But, it was hard for both of them. It was hard for all of us. It still seems so surreal.
It rained Saturday, drizzling off and on all day. Later in the day it got rather cool. The hoola hoops helped my tent. Neighbors last year at the event told me about these hula hoops that they used in the roof of their tent. They are placed to keep the water from drooping in the roof with the weight of the water. They are placed a certain way, and then duct taped.
The show was a success nevertheless, and there were lines numerous times into my little show space. And I actually met fellow bloggers who just happen to live in my neck of the woods! How cool is that?
I met the very sweet
Kathleen from
Musings from a French Cottage who blogged about my booth space and her purchases. You can see her wonderful blog
here. I hope that she doesn't mind me 'lifting' her picture of my work that she purchased:) I am not really a blingy person, but for the holidays and special things love some great glitter like the best of them:) tehe ....The picture is of a small Glitter Deer using Martha's fab fine glitter, vintage tinsel, crepe paper, and balanced to sit straight on a vintage checker. And I see that she has labeled it glitter lamb, and you know, the small size does look like a lamb indeed, although it is actually a deer. I think it looks better as a lamb! hahaha
What do you think, better as a lamb , or a deer? It is in the eye of the beholder I think:)
Oh, and one last note. Last year Jenny and I had shared a space. We decided to get 2 spaces side by side (if they'd put us so, which they did) in anticipation of a good show, and I requested to be near my church booth selling Greek food, as my kids love to help out each year (which they did). But, instead, I placed a sign in the ground of her space about
Victorian Vignettes & C, Jenny, 1961-2009, booth number#___,
Memory Eternal .
Many people felt emotion when hearing the story, and felt that they must be more appreciative of the day, as one never knows when the end will be for a loved one. And the last person to come into the space purchased one of Jenny's vintage pins. You can go to Jenny's blog
here and look on the right side to see them in a dish. She made the first few at my house at our artist date with the girls.
I recognized this lovely woman from last year. I believe that her name is Jeannette. She then told me about the most wonderful shadow box that she had purchased last year from our space. I asked her which one she had purchased. She proceeded to describe the shadow box with such endearment, and stated how very much she adored the box. When I told her that it was Jenny's, her eyes moistened, and we said our goodbyes, both choked up. I felt it a fitting way to end the show, remembering my dear friend and our appreciation for her wonderful artwork.
Goodnite dear friends.
Vintage Russian , old, rubber dolls on my kitchen counter.
Working on a show picture. What my dining room often looks like at those times...stuff all over the place. 'Kits' in 3-tier basket. I sell vintage and other items that I no longer need or want in cute little packages. They are very popular and inexpensive. You will find all kinds of goodies in the 'kit' bags.
Needle sculpted Santa doll in background on beautiful , linen fabric. Pin-keep proppings.....
That cute little santa guy- jointed. He is pretty small. Vintage curtains from my toddlerhood for clothing.
Setting up Virtual Pay Pal& Etsy, getting ready for the Big Baltimore Flea (in Timonium), finishing an on-line application, taxes, applying for another juried show before 2 Oct., writing the syllabus for the Russian class I'm teaching for 4 weeks thru the community college, and lesson plans, subbing,.........
