Saint Cecilia

Saint Cecilia is the patron saint of musicians...it seems because she heard heavenly music in her heart when she was forced to marry a pagan.....
who she converted.....
which led to his execution (one way to stay a virgin).
Like so many saints, there is gruesomeness in her story but also sweetness and beauty.
When I made her the neckline of her dress reminded me of notes on a staff....but after reading her story I realized  they could also represent drops of blood from the three times the executioner tried to behead her.....unsuccessfully.
I find it interesting how often an unknown (to me) part
of the story shows up in a piece I'm making.....

Yet Another New Direction

Sometimes I make things the same for a while and then I don't anymore...this is one of those don't times.
I'm really liking the new direction my icon boxes are taking.
This is a new Saint Theresa  (she's the one with the prayer hands) and Saint Zita (with the braided hair).
Saint Zita is the patron saint of lost keys.  When she's finished she'll have little keys hanging from her and Saint Theresa will have a prayer box ...like the one I posted a few days ago...only different.

St Theresa...Finished!

At last...
the weather was perfect...
there was spare time...
traffic was tolerable...
the first raku fire of the year!
I absolutely love raku...I love the smell and the bit of danger and the miracle of each piece and catching up with my friend Joyce....who is brave, and lights the raku kiln (check out my post on September 14, 2010 to see why I avoid this step).
 
This is the finished St Theresa!  (I posted a picture of her on March 19, 2012 ....she's the saint with the beautiful prayer).

My daughter did the bead work and added a small pewter prayer box.

I think she turned out divinely!

St Vincent

St Vincent, patron saint of wine merchants, vineyards, and connoisseur of good wine!

Mother Earth and Father Sky

I've been busy making small icon boxes since I got back from N.C.
When I finish these, Father sky will have little stars hanging inside and underneath and Mother Earth will have birds and leaves and flowers.

...Still Glazing

Week two of glazing.
These are the last few pieces...
I slabbed some clay out yesterday.... just to change things up a bit....hopefully it will be the perfect dryness today
...I've got this idea