Ah, it's Postcards From Paradise Sunday, but for the month of October Rebecca at Recuerda Mi Corazon has challenged us to share our preparations for Dia de Las Muertos via Dia de Bloglandia. As she says:
"so much more than the art of remembering our loved ones
dia de los muertos
is also a tradition
that sings to the soul of the living, reminding us to...live wildly
straight from our hearts!"
I had company this weekend and lots to prepare for church, my religious ed class, and filling out paperwork for my pieces that will be in the Redondo Beach Art Group's Power of Art two weekend show, but I managed to do the following.
Sophia the Art Mannikin asked to be part of the ofrenda this year so she began trying on clothes from her fall collection, settling on this outfit for this week. I did unbox all of the ofrenda materials and we were both delighted to find a vase we had forgotten about. And the sign around her neck actually resides permanently in a bookcase, but she's displaying it for now.
This is the wreath I made on Friday night. The black wreath itself and the flowers were from Michael's post Halloween sale table last year. The bride skull came from the Dollar Store.
Last year I bought this papier mache bride and groom at the San Pedro Day of the Dead celebration. On the ofrenda this year it will stand next to the beloved photo of my mom and dad on their wedding day.
Those of you who know me know that I delight in finding, refurbishing and recycling used stuff--or certainly buying stuff on sale if I possibly can. I picked up this old school chair many years ago and painted it olive green. The metal vase is also many years old, from a Michael's sale table. There is a big dent in the back. Yes, the flowers were post fall on sale many years ago. And you get a peek at the courtyard of our townhouse in the Villa Redondo complex.
Tonight I hope to have quiet time in the living room to begin writing memories of some of my family, friends and heroes and heroines I admire who have passed on. Death does not end a relationship.
As Rebecca also says today:
"Dios mio!!!
WAKE UP!!!!!
live brave, believe in good..
offer change, strive for a better world.
live fervoroso,
burning hot!
