Guess What . . .

I am still in my pajamas today! But, I am soon off to shower and change that. I'm compromising today by doing this seemingly lost ritual of mine in the afternoon. I started this about 4 hours ago - not as long as yesterday's took.

Fig. 39. Former Wallflower . . .


copyright by Marsha Jorgensen 1.30.09
5 x 7 collage using vintage pictures, reprinted, carefully trimmed and hand-colored and arranged with a dress and flowers from paperstreet.etsy.com and wings used under a license agreement with Butterfly Utopia, all arranged on a 100 year old encyclopedia page with originally made trim and label.

Symbolism in this piece . . .

• She's holding scissors to symbolize cutting herself out of the wallpaper and off of the wall and "freeing" all the other flowers too.
• She also cut her dress shorter, revealing she doesn't need to cover up all the time.
  
• 39 comes from the idea that women about to turn 40 are entering a new phase in their life. One in which they know enough and have experienced enough they get a little braver to say what they mean, do what they want, and dance in their new found freedom to just be who they know they are!
• The dress is made from a vintage greeting card from paperstreet.etsy.com but it is upside down. If you look you can see there's a vase that leads up to her head. The upside down vase symbolizes spilling yourself out, letting it flow.

Thank you! Thank you for all of your encouraging words and support. I am truly touched by all. Now I'm really nervous about listing on Etsy, but I will after I get a few more things made. If you're not able to get the piece you have your eye on or can't afford anything right now, I will be making more pieces along these lines for awhile. I plan to do a whole series of "Figures" and maybe some more simple Zetti Fairy portraits like I have made the last couple of days. To date I have not made or sold prints. I just have this thing about only selling original pieces. I am considering making prints but, I don't know, we'll see.

With one piece finished for today, which is usually my goal - a piece a day, I hope to take some time to blog hop and flickr hop and give support back to everyone that gives it to me and beyond. It really is evident to me that support makes a difference in someone's life or day or hour. Gotta pay all of your kindnesses forward! Have a good weekend!