As the Crow Flies

I will sit upon my throne in this rousing coliseum of nature’s curses

Oceans of leaves applaud me from the cheap seats

A pious crow calls to his flock a prayer of remembrance

The choir sings

-Laura Chowanski

"My Palace, My Prison"

"As the Crow Flies"

Applique Fabric Art by Laura Chowanski of Xcentric Designs

Look Closer and you will see where the crow flies and why he cries out.

PAST

PRESENT

FUTURE?

This is where I keep "As the Crow Flies" on my bedroom wall.

The fan my son brought me back from China.

On the left I have a CROW mirror I bought from an Artisan a while ago - my Grandmother's prayer drape over it.

The plate on the mirror says:

Wherever crows are

there is Magic

The Mother-of-pearl inlay letter opener on the right my husband's Grandfather brought back from Korea.

The watercolor of Rottenburg, Germany, on the left I bought from a Polish woman near a bridge within the walled city.

(Girl trip with my Mom when My brother worked in Munchen.)

On the right is a plate etching of King Kong climbing the Empire State Building I bought at a craft fair near Columbus Circle in NYC.

(My husband proposed to me at the top of the Empire State Building)

The picture on the bottom is my son doing a karate kick in front of a large Buddha on the top of a mountain in China.

Colorless Soul

If I paint the abyss will you let me stay

Give me my monsters and walk away.

I’ll dust in some yellows and orange and red

So the sun looks like rising over the dead.

Swirls of yellow and pink, as the sun doth set,

The colors of night filled with regret.

Is it really the color, or don’t you care?

My darkness that always leads to despair.

Why is color such a demand?

There is beauty in all, even the damned.

If I paint the abyss will it change your mind

Or turn your eyes and leave me behind.

If I expose to you my colorless soul,

Will you see me in pieces or a broken whole?

Laura Chowanski 4/19/13

Photo is from a painting of Madame Bijou

Gambling Mojo

I made this LUCKY Gambling Mojo Charm Bracelet for my trip to Vegas next month!

The whole time I was collecting every lucky symbol I could and hung them from my wrist, I was thinking, not just thinking, but visualizing - myself hitting the "BIG ONE" on one of my machines.

I love the slots! They are like video games with the excitement of winning. I have a 5 pull rule and if I stick to it I make out great. The decision is how much to bet? Playing max bet on the penny machines could really pay out with a sweet bonus, ($140 on a $9 with 3 pulls). But if I find one I really like and I'm amused I will drop the amount of the bet for longer playing time. (Just to see the man eating plant swallow more dudes in search for the bonus round.)

A bracelet like this can be used as a token that you charm with energy using a spell, or just old fashion superstition.The real MAGIC is to BELIEVE!

SYMBOLISM

PIG - Good Luck tokens in the shape of Pigs are believed to have the power to bring Good Luck, as they are a Riches, Good Fortune & Prosperity. Bone Pig charm

HORSE SHOE or HORSE SHOE MAGNET - Horseshoes have associations with the strength and dependability of the horse. The Horseshoe protects one's house and land, to keep strangers away, when hung up on the wall of a home or above a doorway. The "U" shape will hold good luck inside forever. The magnet will draw luck to you! Green Coin is decorated with horse shoes.

KEY -As a symbol of luck, a single key is among the most important, not to mention one of the oldest, of charms. The Greeks and Romans believed it represented the "Key of Life" and had the power to unlock the door through which prayers reached the gods. Key Charm

ALL SEEING EYE - Unlike other sources of good-luck, where good fortune resides in the possession of the object itself, the power of the Evil Eye Amulet resides in its capacity to ward off the misfortune cast by the Evil Eye. Blue "All seeing eye" bead

4-LEAF CLOVER - Four-leaf clovers do exist, they just are not as common as the three-leaf variety. (Flora Brittanica). If you find one, it's considered good luck. Silver clover charm & a Swarovski crystal clover

ELEPHANT - Elephants are good luck in Feng Shui and the Ganeshsa is the Hindu God of Luck.

Elephant figurines placed on shelves or by doorways are said to ensure longevity and luck. Red plastic elephant bead

# 7 - The number Seven is considered lucky by many different cultures and religions. Glass encased 7 Charm

Frog - The Frog has been a symbol of prosperity, wealth, friendship and abundance in many cultures and a symbol of fertility in others. Cloisonne Frog charm

Heart - Charms in the shape of hearts are obviously intended to bring luck in love. Small plastic heart bead

Cross - Although the cross has come to be a symbol of Christianity, it was both a religious and lucky sign for centuries before the Christian era. In most pagan religions, the cross represents the tree of life. Gothic cross Charm

Star - A  "shooting" star, grants the person lucky enough to see it, a secret wish. Small silver star charms

Skull - whether bone or silver are usually worn to protect one from death. Shamans wear them to symbolize the accessing of deceased spirits. A skull and crossbones is a symbol of Pirate's Treasure. Skull and crossbones gold metal charm and a green skull beads.

I added some Gambling tokens - Dice, Ace of Spades, and a penny attached to a plate inscribed "Lucky" and a few money stone beads of Adventurine and Malachite

(I would really love an Ahnk, a ladybug, a scarab and a bag o'money charms)

WARNING: Only gamble your spending or entertainment, vacation money -NEVER any money you can't afford to lose!

FASCINATING !!!!

Sugar Skull Eye Candy

Dias de los Muertos

Day of the Dead

A National Holiday in Mexico and celebrated in other cultures

that takes place on November 1 and 2, in connection with the Catholic holidays of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day.

Altars are built honoring the deceased using Sugar skulls, Marigolds, and favorite foods and beverages of the departed and visiting graves with these gifts

Earring on right, "Pour Some Sugar on Me Earrings" made by Madame Bijou Beads

https://www.etsy.com/listing/129679893/pour-some-sugar-on-me-sugar-skull-drop

Earrings on left made by MelancholyMind on Etsy

https://www.etsy.com/shop/MelancholyMind?section_id=11524772

This is a colorful, joyous celebration of the people we came from, those whom we loved and those who have inspired us. I find this amazing!  It makes perfect sense to me to honor and pray for our dearly departed  with a colorful celebration at their resting site.

"Sugar skull Angel" earrings by Madame Bijou Beas

https://www.etsy.com/listing/129686171/sugar-skull-angel-drop-earrings?ref=shop_home_active

I love jewelry inspired by this day, bright colors with skulls and flowers.

SMILING DEAD JEWELRY!

Some of these beauties where made by myself 

"Skull Angel on the Moon Earrings" (left)

https://www.etsy.com/listing/129708640/skull-angels-on-the-moon-dia-de-los

and some are made by one of my favorite shops on Etsy, MelancholyMind

https://www.etsy.com/shop/MelancholyMind?section_id=11524772

Silent Screams

The dream is poetic.

No meter or rhyme: timing or consistency. 

The most brilliant of which lingers with the scent of yesterday.

Breathe deep the memories of a time or place.   

Real or imagined.

Snapshots of unconscious observations comingle with loathing.

Static fear.

Stifled cries.

One labored step after another

heavy eyelids and spastic joints.

Cameos of faces from the past or with publicly induced fame that does not impress me.

Larger than the life of the woken.

Grander.

Uncomfortable.

Fabulous moments of shocks and terror.

People doing strange things

Strange people who are relevant yet insane

where whim is rational and my voice is ineffective.

Inconsequential.

A concoction of all life’s hidden desires

 conscious wants and

disturbing appetites’.

Delusions.

One more moment of ecstasy in my slumber

One last visit from the mocha woman with the glittery soft breasts. 

Please let me cum before I wake.

Please let me wake before the dying shot kills me!

Metaphoric pain.

Voiceless whispers.

Silent screams.

Excruciating desire for this world of Escher to be a dream.

Desperately in need of my conscious life.

It wasn’t that bad,       

was it?

Exhale into the waking world relieved and disappointed.

Why the hell would I want to live there anyway?

                               The anti-me

The real me?

The part that has become broken and unhinge

Plagued with the absurd

in desperate need of repair.

But by whom?

By me?

In the madness of the moment who will save me when I cannot save myself?

Who will wake me?!