SORCHA, DAUGHTER OF THE FOREST

SORCHA, DAUGHTER OF THE FOREST

Sorcha

I named my latest burning bowl "Daughter of the Forest," after the heroine in a book I am reading of the same title and written by Juliet Marillier. It is from her Sevenwaters trilogy. I normally don't read anything that involves fantasy or myths but since my friend Karen, better known as my book guru, recommended it, I knew I needed to give it a chance. I'm so glad I did. I found that the book is steeped in herbal lore. I have always loved and appreciated all the cures rendered from precious medicinal herbs such as Agrimony, used for sore throats, St, John's Wart for depression, Vetiver for skin care and I was thrilled to learn of many herbs I never heard of. A lot of research went into this book.

Back

The theme of the burning bowl fits right into the story as well. Unity Church has a special ceremony each New Year’s Eve. A large bowl is placed at the altar and each member of the church is asked to write down problems or vices they wish to annihilate from their lives. It could be a wish to quit smoking or drinking. It might be a desire to lose weight or to quit any of a number of addictions. Each person places their list into the bowl and at midnight, the bowl is lit. Everyone watches as the fire burns away all the troubles. I can imagine Sorcha, the heroine of the story, using the bowl as she conjures her remedies and sends evil away from the people of her forest.

Changeable Beads

Sorcha features an amazing headdress that I finally had a chance to use. It is made of small beads and safety pins. It's hard to imagine anyone sitting for as many hours as it must have taken to complete let alone the number of times the pins would jab fingers. I had been patiently waiting in my studio for just the right application. The headdress can be positioned in several different ways as shown in the pictures. She is 4" wide x 4 1/2" deep x 8 1/2" high and is an original. I priced her at $68. If you would like to purchase, e-mail me and we can go from there. I take personal checks or Paypal.

Another Change

GRATITUDE BOWLS

GRATITUDE BOWLS

Oceana Gratitude Bowl Number 1

Sold. Thank you Connie.

Number 2 still available.

Oceana Gratitude Bowl Number 2

I’ve named my new series, Gratitude Bowls. They are similar to my Burning Bowls which are used to burn away any problems and habits by placing statements inside on small pieces of paper and then burning them out of your life. I like the idea of placing small statements of gratitude into the bowls and reading them on occasion to remind myself of all the things I have to be thankful for. Actually, it might be a good idea to use them for both.

Back Number 1

I read somewhere that gratitude is the open door to abundance. This makes sense because when you are truly thankful for what you already have, life has a way of delivering more of the same.

Side Number 1

Since summer is waning and I’m already missing it along with the ocean, it seemed appropriate to use the ocean as my theme for the first two bowls. Hope you like them.

Close-Up Number 1

Bowl number 1 is 6”wide x 5” deep x 11” high and features beautiful shells and a stained glass basin. I have priced both bowls at $68.00 each.

Bowl number 2 is smaller at 5” wide x 5” deep x 9” high and features assorted shells and stained glass basin.

I have just placed them on Etsy where you can view more pictures or you can purchase directly from me via my e-mail. Click here to view bowl number 1. Click here to view bowl number 2.

Side Number 2

Back Number 2

From the Top Number 2

Thanks so much for visiting.

Frida Burning Bowl

FRIDA BURNING BOWL

Frida Burning Bowl

Sold. Thank you Gloria!

I had been planning on making a Frida burning bowl for some time but wanted to add just the right embellishments. Since Frida loved color and flowers, I knew I had to find just the right ones. After searching through my stash, I found several beautiful old jewelry pieces of flowers. The one on top is a cluster of three and is a real antique made of clay. The one on the right side is of metal. I added a sparkly gem from an antique earring to her naval. She is the standard size of my burning bowls and is 5”w x 6”deep and about 10” high. She is priced at only $68.

Close-up

I have created many posts of my favorite Mexican icon- Frida. You can view one of them here.

Close-Up of Antique Flowers

The concept of the burning bowl came from Unity church. They use a large bowl on New Year's Eve and ask each person to write down some vice or problem they would like to leave their lives. Then, the bowl is set ablaze and the problems are gone. I decided to make smaller, more personal burning bowls that can be used as such or a candle or incense can be placed in the stained glass bowl. You can view more images of Frida at my Etsy shop or inquire at my e-mail. Hope you like her.

Side View

EGYPTIAN BURNING BOWL-KARTEK

EGYPTIAN BURNING BOWL

GODDESS KARTEK

Full View

While checking on Egyptian Goddess names onine, I found that Kartek means “Spark Holder.” I couldn’t think of any name more appropriate for one of my Burning Bowls. As many of my regular readers know, I create Burning bowls fashioned after the large burning bowl that Unity Church uses every New Year’s Eve for their Burning Bowl Ceremony. The idea is that if you write your troubles, bad habits, worries etc. down on a piece of paper and burn them, they will leave your mind and therefore disappear.

Close-Up

In designing my own burning bowls, I knew I wanted to personalize them and make small enough to burn incense, sage leaves or a small votive candle when not in use for an actual burning ceremony. I decided that a female Goddess was in order. Kartek is approx 10” high x 5” wide x 6” deep and I have priced her at $68.00 I used stained glass, which I fired in my kiln, for her base. I’m sure anyone receiving her as a gift will be delighted, if you can bear to part with her.

Back View

You can see more views of Kartek on Etsy and purchase from there or e-mail me for more questions and to purchase. Thanks so much for viewing.

Side View

OCEAN BURNING BOWL

Front View

Sold. Thank you Angela!

Whenever I finish a piece that has an ocean theme, I name her Oceana. The reason is because the words in the poem I have written titled “Oceana” states exactly how I feel about the ocean. It surprises me that I live on a hilltop deep in the heavily forested Blue Ridge Parkway, and not by the sea. None the less, once a year I must go there to get my ‘fix.’ Incidentally, right now I have never seen the Roanoke Valley look any greener. It has rained daily and the leaves on the trees are full and dense looking and absolutely beautiful.

Close-up of Face

When I finished sculpting the face on this burning bowl, I knew she must be one of my Oceanas. She has a longing, a homesick kind of expression..sort of like she is yearning to be sitting on the shore and hearing the waves crashing in, talking to her, and making her whole again.

My Oceana features stoneware clay and various ocean pieces I have collected on my journeys to the sea. I always invite my customers to add items to my pieces of art from their own trips to the sea, or to add items meaningful to them in some way.

Close-up of Shells

Oceana is priced at $68 and is 11” h x by 5” w x 5” deep. You can view more images of her on Etsy where I have just placed her for sale or to contact me directly by e-mail and we will go from there.

View of Back

“Oceana”

As she was standing at the edge of the ocean she could hear the waves chanting their familiar song. “Come to me, I am greater than you, I am wiser than you..I am the one.” She resisted once again. How long could she continue to resist… How much longer before she embraced her larger self, her destiny, her soul… ..the sea….

ALCHEMIST AL-KIMIA BURNING BOWL

Al-Kimia Alchemist Burning Bowl

Sold. Thank you Gloria!

A few months ago, I created a Burning bowl for one of my customers. I chose not to name the Goddess bowl because this customer in particular, Arlene Bailey, who is a Shamanic Priestess, is a powerful woman and I somehow knew she’d come up with just the right name. Here is the e-mail I received from Arlene a few days ago. The address for her website, where she has herbal and other classes listed is, http://www.stonewyldeherbs.com/

Close-Up

“She is Al-Kimia from the Arabic for Alchemy, meaning the Art of Transformation... Alchemy is a word/concept that has been up for me for quite some time and fire, to me, is the ultimate alchemical transformation. Other names presented themselves, but each time I knew that she was Al-Kimia, the Alchemist.”

View of Back with Textured Cloak

I've used the name alchemist for various pieces I’ve created over the years and most recently one of my necklaces. After reading what Arlene said, I decided it was time to name one of my Burning Bowls Al-Kimia-The Alchemist. It certainly fits the one I have chosen.

The story of the burning bowl:

Unity Church has a special ceremony each New Year’s Eve. A large bowl is placed at the altar and each member of the church is asked to write down problems or vices they wish to annihilate from their lives.. It could be a wish to quit smoking or drinking. It might be a desire to loose weight or to quit any of a number of addictions. Each person places their list into the bowl and at midnight, the bowl is lit. Everyone watches as the fire burns away all the troubles. I decided years ago that it would be a good idea to create personal burning bowls and they have been very popular.

Al-Kimia is 10” h x 6” w x 6”deep and priced at $68.00 When you are not using her for ceremony, you can place incense or candle in the stained glass basin.

I just posted her on Etsy where you can also view and purchase or e-mail me directly.

Thanks so much.

NATIVE AMERICAN BURNING BOWL-AIYANA

NATIVE AMERICAN BURNING BOWL-AIYANA

"Aiyana"

Sold. Thank you Connie!

Many of my regular followers have seen my Burning Bowls posted on several occasions. Those who are new to my blog are probably wondering what in the world burning bowls are. Here is the description that best fits the Ceremonial Burning Bowls that I feature. Unity Church has a special ceremony each New Year’s Eve. A large bowl is placed at the altar and each member of the church is asked to write down problems or vices they wish to annihilate from their lives.. It could be a wish to quit smoking or drinking. It might be a desire to loose weight or to quit any of a number of addictions. Each person places their list into the bowl and at midnight, the bowl is lit. Everyone watches as the fire burns away all the troubles.

I decided it might be a good idea to create smaller, individual burning bowls and they have been quite a hit. I named my lastest burning bowl, Aiyana, which means Eternal Bliss, in Hopi.

Close-up

Aiyana is approx. 10"h x 5" wide and about 4 1/2" deep. I created her by sculpting with stoneware clay, which I then placed stained glass in the basin and kiln fired. I used turquoise and a crown of wolves surround her head. Hope you like her. She is just $68.00 You can view her on Etsy or e-mail me to purchase if you live abroad. I can ship anywhere in the world.

Aiyana would make a wonderful gift for yourself or someone else who loves ceremonies.

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"QUINTESSA" CEREMONIAL BURNING BOWL

“QUINTESSA”

BURNING BOWL

"Quintessa"

Sold. Thank you Autumn!

I was at the bank the other day and I noticed the teller’s nametag said “Quintessa.” How beautiful! I’ve never heard that name before. When I asked her what had inspired her mother to give her such a regal name, she said that her parents were in England when she was born and her mother wanted to give her a ‘queenly’ name. This name inspired me to create a burning bowl that is regal and befitting of the name. I haven’t come up with her story yet, but I will.

Close-up

For those of you who are new to my blog and don’t know the story of the burning bowl, please read below.

Unity Church has a special ceremony each New Year’s Eve. A large bowl is placed at the altar and each member of the church is asked to write down problems or vices they wish to annihilate from their lives.. It could be a wish to quit smoking or drinking. It might be a desire to loose weight or to quit any of a number of addictions. Each person places their list into the bowl and at midnight, the bowl is lit. Everyone watches as the fire burns away all the troubles.

Stained Glass Basin

Quintessa is 9” h (including her crown) 5” w and 4” deep. I sculpted her with stoneware clay. Her basin is of fracture streamer stained glass which was fired with her in the kiln. She is priced at $52.00. You will be able to view her adornments a bit better on Etsy. You can purchase there or directly from me via my e-mail.

Thanks so much for viewing.

GODDESS BURNING BOWL-"MISTFLOWER"

GODDESS BURNING BOWL

“MISTFLOWER”

Full View of "Mistflower" (In the Snow)

Sold. Thank you Deb!

I just finished this Native American Goddess burning bowl and decided to name her “Mistflower”. For those of you new to my blog, I create Goddess Burning Bowls out of stoneware clay and a stained glass base. The story behind the burning bowl is this:

Unity Church has a special ceremony each New Year’s Eve. A large bowl is placed at the altar and each member of the church is asked to write down problems or vices they wish to annihilate from their lives.. It could be a wish to quit smoking or drinking. It might be a desire to loose weight or to quit any of a number of addictions. Each person places their list into the bowl and at midnight, the bowl is lit. Everyone watches as the fire burns away all the troubles.

Close-up of Face

Years ago, I decided to make small, individual burning bowls. I named them Goddesses or Crones. Mistflower is one of the smaller ones at 10”h, 4”w and 5” deep. I have priced her at $52. If you would like to purchase her, please check out my Etsy shop, where you can see more pictures or purchase from me directly at my e-mail.

Stained Glass Bowl

Here is her story:

“Mistflower”

She stood by the great falls watching the water as it cascaded over the edge. The water was never the same..always new..always flowing. She thought of how much it reminded her of the human race..always new generations, never the same people..all moving toward something bigger than themselves.

She walked to the edge and saw her reflection and thought about how much we are all alike and how, as her people had taught her, we are all the great mirror..simply the reflection of one another.

Cheryl Dolby

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