In preparation for my upcoming Day of the Dead Workshop, and Dia de Bloglandia, I have been revisiting two very special shrines of mine. In September 2005, Hurricane Rita, aka "That Bitch" smashed my home to the ground. The rooftop became twisted metal. 100 year old pine trees that stood 100 feet tall, were mere splinters on the ground. My little sewing room was knocked off its throne, as buttons and lace were buried under mud puddles. The bedroom furniture looked like tinker toys and doll furniture tossed about a childs room. My heart cracked open and it took a couple years and life on a Mexican Island to mend. Now, that sacred space on Village Creek, Texas belongs to someone else and my mended heart is swollen with happiness and comfort at my home in Carmine, with my beloved Matt. The pages of this fabric book are filled with water damaged photos, vintage curtains, lace and a needle felted cover. The cigar box shrine is filled with broken bits and pieces rescued from the mud and rubble. I visit these two shrines on occasion and smile, they hug me and remind me of days gone by, well spent and loved on Sister Creek.
Within you there is a stillness & a sanctuary to which you can retreat at any time & be yourself ~Hermann Hesse~
15 comments:
Wow Deb! No one would ever know that! You have such an inner peace within you! You're awesome!
That little deer lodge on Village Creek holds special memories to me as well... Even before you put your fabulous creative touch to it and then to be distroyed by mother nature... I remember using a shop Vac to try and clean it during it's beginning days to find it stopped up with a dead rat!!!
I can vividly remember bringing my mother down the azelia lined dirt driveway in the spring and the kids ran wild as W.A. told scarey stories of Louisana swamp monsters in a funny coon-ass accent!!!
My word verification is regra, what does that mean???
Take comfort in remembering and celebrate that you survived!! I love the shrines - they are beautiful!!
Deb, I barely know you, but you are truly an inspiring woman! I love the way you write and the composition of your photos....truly an artist! The Phoenix does rise from the ashes....stop by and see me sometime when you are in Brenham! Pamela Murski
What a big loss was that!You had lost almost everything... except one... yourself! You are a very strong woman my sweet Debby. I can easily see it to your look (the photo on page at your fabric book ...). You altered your pain to art. I admire this way of life...I love your strength and courage... You see the past and find only love, after all... This is great! I feel love and respect for you. Much love.
Damn, Deb...
Deb,
What a loss, it's hard to fathom this destruction....have you rebuilt on the same spot?
Your shrine will be very moving and I hope very healing too.
x..x
Your art projects are so beautiful and inspiring, and I can always feel the warmth just glowing from you in your self portraits. This is a lovely little corner of the internet!
Amy (who is currently not blogging but who plans to return to it someday, inspired by people like you)
It must be a very powerful experience to lose everything in a disaster like you lived through. Your tributes are stunning as is the life you came out the other side with.
thank you for sharing this as part of dia de bloglandia Deb!
x..x
steph
Wow! I didn't know that you went through this, Deb. I admire your strength in pulling through the loss of your home, through all the heartbreak and stress that must have come with it. You are an inspiration and I think your heartfelt fabric book is going to help someone out there who is struggling in his or her own life. Thank you for this post.
And I meant to include your shrine in my previous post. It's such a great, healing idea.
AND I'm so glad that you are in a happy place in your life now, surrounded by people you love (and who love you) and memories that you cherish. :)
Love your post.....we have so many things in common.....Texas, hurricanes, Mexico.....and a beautiful new apron from you to me!
OK......if only your amazing writing skills and photography could somehow fly into my head and hands....
xoxox
What a beautiful tribute to your events....really nice!
What a GREAT shrine and healing!! So nice to meet you in a happier place...
thank you so much for resending me the link!
wow! but i am so glad your spirit isn't broken it just got stronger, and you have a new studio, yes!!!
i love your shrine and that heart rock, fantastic!
congratulations on you being published! you deserve it!!!
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