I will not chew gum in class

Daydreamer, that's me, always has been, always will be! That's how I was as a kid, couldn't keep my mind on school work when the sun was shining ever so brightly and a clear blue cloudless sky poured in the window! When a sing songy wind came rushing over and past my face just calling my name! Remembering times I sat down on the warm side walk, shooing all the ants away (so they wouldn't get smooshed) and drawing out that familiar pattern of boxes with numbers in them, usually with a piece of heisted school chalk! Ok, you caught me, I spent a lot of time erasing chalk boards for the teachers and no it wasn't out of the kindness of my heart! Rather as punishment for Oh, lets say, Gum.
I will not chew gum in class.
I will not chew gum in class.
I will (did) not chew gum in class. Sometimes I'd stick a (did) in there and have to write twice as many the next day!
I will not chew gum in class.
or for being too much of a chatter box,
I will not talk in class.
I will not talk in class. And lets see, no passing notes in class, no foil balls( don't ask!) and a whole host of other things! I was/am filled with a love for life and didn't want to waste not even one single solitary moment of it! And was determined to carry that spark with me always!
And so we arrive back here in the present day. I am always at a loss for words when someone asks me what I do for a living! Sometimes I even break out in a cold sweat, it always comes out the same, I hum and stutter a bit and then say ever so proudly "I'm a maker of stuff"! And lots of it! You see here some of my earlier porcelain pieces. When I first started making porcelain dolls, over ten years ago, there were always lots of little mistakes here and there, sometimes I would cut eye sockets a bit too large and the intended glass eye did not fit properly,

or sometimes the whole head would simply sink into itself like a souffle!

And there was always the occasional split and crack during firing in the kiln . I couldn't bear to toss these misfits out so instead of becoming a nice little replica period doll, I transformed them into art pieces,

Pin cushion heads and Story Tellers who carry with them hidden messages tucked inside.

There are added bits of fancy vintage dress lace to create a frilly ruffled collars, and are attached to old metal candlestick bases!

Little bits and scraps were used to create the fancy headdresses, I use them to hold a small collection of antique brooches,

and old hat pins and even a charming little locket that was a souvenir from the Paris exposition at the turn of the last century. And of course a few stick pins, so there is always a pin around when I need one!

This piece is attached to a heavy brass candle stick, for plenty of support as it is a larger doll head.

It has a sweet little secret, look closely, ever so closely, stare and even squint into her eyes!

You are sure to find a pleasant surprise,

looking right back at you! A funny little guy with a big friendly smile! The apple of my eye!

A hand written note to dear old Mom, is glued down and sealed around the edges so the little guy inside doesn't escape, this was absolutely necessary in his case!

And there is a comical little bumpy one, with a sweet disposition,

I covered regular cotton balls with fabric to make the poofy balls for his cap,

In the close up you can see where one of the kiln cracks happened, a split right down the side of the face, so I just put a lace band aid of sorts on it and one on the other side so it looked like it was done on purpose!

Shredded and cut up bits of ribbon were used to create the rim of the costume.

And now we come to the end,

All I can say about how my misfit dolls come into being, I refer you back to a "daydream" and just go exploring, explore and explore some more!

A Crow's Cage

Inspiration, that magic little "?" that sparks your imagination. It's funny how sometimes all it takes is the quickest glimpse of something to set it off!

How one thing can lead to another and so forth and so on. It all started with a single photo by Robert ParkeHarrison titled "Flying Lesson".

Suddenly I realized how absolutely impossibly necessary it was for me to build a Crows cage and fill it with mysterious little creatures!

My Crows cage stands about 6 feet tall from ground to the top of it's feather plume. Its built from wood scraps and some chicken wire and odds and ends and this and that.

I wanted it to have the feeling of a deliciously decorated cake of sorts, albeit a wire cake,

trimmed with prickley dried vines, to keep the spiders out of course!

and old turn keys to make it safe, a long and winding tale it is and so let us begin.

Pots with little smiling faces peer out,

and giggle here and there,

then Shhhh,shhh, shh! Some one is ever so quietly watching, from up above the rest,

just waiting for the perfect moment, waiting for a chance,

to lower herself down and settle beside her.

All the while unsuspecting and floating on a breeze is a dandelion fluff,

busy as a bee, teasing and taunting the flower shop girls!

And the little bitty lacey winged ones flitter all about,

buzzing in and out,

and up and down,

trying out their wings.

While butterdrag or draggerbutt, which ever you prefer,

looks on and oversees the youngsters,

to keep them out of trouble!

Which is no small feat, might I mention!

Keep an eye wide open,

keep a good long watch,

and though those delicate gossamer wings

seem fragile at a glance,

she's the keeper of peace,

and queen of the land,

that no one dares to challenge, not bug, not bee,

or frog or pillar, cater that is.

Well, at least you can't say I didn't warn you in the beginning!
It isn't easy being green, but it sure is fun! Wait, what were we taking about?!

The Merchant of Marvels and the Peddler of Dreams

I do try my best to be an aware human, but sometimes it is as though I am but a silly ostrich with it's head stuck in the sand!

Pssst! Have you Heard?

There is so much amazing art out there and though I have come to this particular artist slowly, Thankfully, I am here!
Thanks to Florizel at Le Divan Fumoir Bohemien , I received an email with this in it!

I was transfixed, transported! Oh, Please, do tell me, WHO is the Master Creator of this incredible work!

With that my answer came with a link. Thrilled I followed it as it led me here "X" marks the spot where the hidden treasure lies!

When there is MAGIC in the air...

Come along and follow me into a daydream.. Close yours eyes and place yourself there...

A shiver went through me, my hand sprang open, the crystal wine glass quickly slipped through my fingers and crashed upon meeting the floor!

Such was my reaction to the delicious delights this artist serves up! Silently snuck in like a thief in the dark, stole away my imagination, only to set it free... I have set upon a dream and maybe, just maybe I shall not return, but remain under the influence and just, create, create, create...

Everyone knows it!

Frederic Clement is the author of many wonderful books The Merchant of Marvels and the Peddler of Dreams only one among many. Step into his tempting imagination and see for yourself!