Tarot card #5

WARNING: If you're a devout Catholic, Hindu or Orthodox Christian, you may want to skip this post. I mean no offense by the following.

(Really, do I have devoutly religious readers? If so, thanks for sticking with me.)

I finished this tarot card this week.At first, the phrase (rather than the actual concept) "Kali the Destroyer" came to mind, which led to "Mommy the Destroyer." Some days it seems like the best solution to every annoyance the kids hand out is for me to criticize and snap.
Serendipity -- Kali was a pretty spot-on choice. According to Wikipedia:

In both of her forms, she is described as being black in color but is most often depicted as blue in popular Indian art. Her eyes are described as red with intoxication, and in absolute rage, her hair is shown disheveled, small fangs sometimes protrude out of her mouth, and her tongue is lolling. She is often shown naked or just wearing a skirt made of human arms and a garland of human heads.

Okay, I'm not high, fanged, or nearly naked, but still. Don't make me add your head to my necklace.

In spite of her seemingly terrible form, Kali Ma is often considered the kindest and most loving of all the Hindu goddesses, as she is regarded by her devotees as the Mother of the whole Universe. And, because of her terrible form she is also often seen as a great protector.

Like the mama bear. Which brings us back to...
... Our Lady of Czestochowa, one of the most famous European Black Madonna icons. The image was on a card holding a religious medal with the same image and title.

I painted over it with skin tones more similar to my own, simplified the clothing colors, then added the barking dog in the medal opening. I wish I'd used another color in the pumice gel surrounding the images, but I'm still experimenting with it. Meh. Still better than the wimpy little flowers around the original card.

Rise up!

Urban Craft Uprising drew us into the heart of Seattle last weekend. The Husband was still groggy, so I packed up the kids and went. The Boy allowed himself to be lured with the promise of art-making.

This being a art/craft show, I figured there had to be something kid-friendly, and there it was. Homemade play dough. The maker provided a testing spot for small people. Kids' books available too. Matthew Porter brought his prints, t-shirts as well as his children's books. How do you not like a one-legged pirate monkey?

Oh, man. You should've seen the jewelry made by Marie Khediguian. My favorite "Markhed" jewelry pieces were made from microfiches of old New York Times ads.

Some of the crowd was a lot edgier than I...

But I definitely wasn't the only mom with stroller and small kids in tow.

The Boy wasn't all that impressed with the play dough -- he's beyond that artistically. So later we made a superhero cape out of string and a broken-down Goldfish crackers box. (The box was his idea. Love it.)

Later, we went outside so The Boy could practice his superhero leaps.

Artfest 2010... Awwww, yeah

Why, yes, I am going to Artfest. Thanks for asking!I had to miss this year's festivities. Fookin' economy, man. And I have definitely used what I've learned in 2008, but as for putting away my Artfest goodies...
... um, yeah. Maybe I'll actually get my ATCs and trades put away by the time AF 2010 rolls around. Sure. (Oh crap! Trades! I have to start thinking of trades!)
It was somewhat difficult, then and now, to commit to going. Not out of a lack of desire -- but worrying about money and leaving The Husband by himself with the kid(s) for four days.

I do have some of my own funds to pay the expenses. Also, The Husband is totally capable of taking care of the small people; he does it all the time. But that's a lot of time with two children under five, with no break, and no corresponding free time for The Husband. It just didn't seem fair.

So I just said, "Sigh..." on my Facebook status update, browsed the AF classes, and figured I'd keep plugging away on my own.

Once again, I had totally forgotten how much The Husband gets me.

First thing he said when I got home last night was, "Go to Artfest." He points out that this is how I recharge and that it's good for me as well as our marriage. ('Cause as you know... if mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy.) And when he needs time away, say for a training seminar, he knows I'll be happy to return the favor.

The Husband also noted that of the four days I'd be away, two of them the kids would be in day care. So he would have breaks, just not on all four days. I argued, weakly, but he insisted.

So I have to go. As long as Teesha picks my registration out of the hat, I'm there. Stay tuned for Artfest-related mishegoss arising from the feverish enthusiasm that builds during the next seven months.