Beautiful Today: A Chrysalis of Another Color

Queen butterfly chrysalis in pale green, purple and green variations

Purple and green, lovely together.

A group of color variations showing green, pinkish white and pink. This group was from a few years ago.

In Memory of Michael Grove

Written July 2, 2017

Knighting manuscript page for Sir Gaheris based upon the Utrecht Psalter. Photo by Lisa Pompeo. Calligraphy and illumination by me.

I sit tonight, at this desk, alone but for kittens and my thoughts. It occurs to me how very lucky I am. My life is an odd thing, strangely shaped and it may not make sense to everyone. I strive to meet new people, have new experiences, hear new perspectives, and stretch myself to learn more about what life can be for myself, and what it is for others.


My schedule is often packed and I give of myself, my skills and my time when it can help another, no matter if they would or could return the favor. When I give of myself, I try to give those moments as a gift that needs no recompense but will be met with joy, and maybe even grace if I can muster it, if those gifts are some day returned. I don't think my choices make sense to everyone, sometimes especially to my family. To many it might seem strange that I know so very many people, and can find a place in my heart for them.


The inherent danger in having such a lush garden of friends and associates is that sometimes there are those that I will lose. I suppose it seems, on the outside, that I happen to know a lot of people who have passed away. Indeed, I have. Each time it takes a toll as a remarkable person leaves with our time spent together cut far too short. I cry. I ache inside. I grieve. But, no matter the pain of their departure from this world, I would not trade a minute of knowing them to lift the stifling veil of sadness that their passing has brought.


For in the knowing of them there was joy, friendship, laughter, tears, memories and lessons that are the essential components of the person I have become. As I travel this garden path of my life, I collect friends and acquaintances as others would gather flowers. It is those memories made with these friends that I press like Autumn leaves between the pages of my life.


Some future day, I will open up that page of my heart and that treasure will flutter out. I may laugh at a remembered jest, recite a line or song or verse, or I may just press that memory to my chest, inhale the beauty or joy or sadness that it brings and let the lesson which that person engraved upon my soul linger for a moment while I remember them.


Today, well, now it would be yesterday, we said our aching goodbyes to a remarkable man. Gaheris Vitruvius Gracchus was unlike anyone I have ever known and I do not believe that I will meet his like again. Although there is now grief, and a hole left in the space he once filled, I must still count myself lucky. I knew him. I will remember him. Some day I will turn a corner and a memory will rise up inside me, and on that day and every other where he crosses my mind, I will know that I made the right choice to carry him in my heart.


For I carry them all in my heart and where I go, they will always be. But for now, I will let the poets say it far better, and more succinctly than I might with my rambling words. Good night, and joy be with you all.


......


i carry your heart with me(i carry it in

my heart)i am never without it(anywhere

i go you go,my dear;and whatever is done

by only me is your doing,my darling)

i fear

no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want

no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)

and it’s you are whatever a moon has always meant

and whatever a sun will always sing is you


here is the deepest secret nobody knows

(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud

and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows

higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)

and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart


i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)


-e.e.cummings

Manesse Codex Laurel for Countess Grainne

Manesse Codex inspired page for my friend Countess Grainne. Depicted at the top are her friends, the peers who spoke for her at the elevation. (Left to right) Master Davius, Duchess Maisie, me, Mistress Gwenhwfyr and Duke Ardion. Peacock feathers in the corners are at nod to Grainne's heraldry, a peacock.

Below image is the same with a US quarter dollar for scale for reference.

I must have flowers

Finished commission for a friend that will likely end up in the ETSY store at some point. You can visit my other work at https://www.etsy.com/shop/CurrantThoughts

Medieval Selfies, from Gulf Wars

Taking selfies at a medieval event is hilarious to me for some reason, but I often feel at my prettiest when I don all of my garb, my veils,  hair pieces, my beautiful gowns and get to be a 13th century baroness for a week. This past Gulf Wars was a lovely time.

Master of Mary of Burgundy Border

A leaf inspired by several pages from the Master of Mary of Burgundy. I was experimenting with changing background colors and botanical components to play with color and composition.

After calligraphy, it went out to Hon Lady Vivienne le Corbeau as a Triskele Trimaris.

Here's after calligraphy, added by Mistress Finnguala, I think.

Korean inspired tourney shield.

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Tourney shield for Duke Yoan Moon Yang. Acrylic on aluminum, with many, many layers of clear coat on top.