
Sensitivity, Tuesday tea, new giveaway and a choice
When is an egg shell not an egg shell?
When it’s a tea cup. A fragile, transparent, possibly sad little tea cup. These two cups have the mark “made in occupied Japan” on the bottom dating them between 1947 and 1955.
I say sad because all aspects of war are sad to me but especially an occupied country. Even if this country is occupied by “benevolent” allied forces. This feeling is very ingrained in my subconscious awareness and comes form my childhood of first believing communist forces were heroes to be venerated, and later, experiencing great fear and uncertainty at escaping those same forces which, overnight, to a child, turned threatening.
And now, when I have the best chance to make a difference as an adult, I think my biggest contribution to the world are my three amazing children who are sensitive to the world around them.
Beautiful, sad, little, precious jewels, like people, like dominoes. One false move and we can fall down, we can crack. But we must be strong and not fragile. We may not be so easily broken if we stand firm. The Tshirt C is wearing today says “make art not war”. A good idea. The world could always use more art…and more tea.
And so we will not hide away from the world…
We will not be a transparent, fragile thing or fall down like dominoes…
We will do what we can and send our good out into the world.
This little owl (on the left) is being sent off to my friend in Louisiana, but this little baby robin is not spoken for yet. Perhaps the random generator will find someone from the comments on this post for the little robin to make his fledgling flight to next Tuesday. (Please leave a comment if you’d like to win him and he’ll be on his way to you next week with a moleskin journal and some other little lovely surprises)
And, if we all do our best and send our best out into the world, without strings attached, with love, we can all openly bask in the sunshine, even if we may still view the world with a skeptical eye. π
The winner of last week’s giveaway is Number 16 Carol Early Cooney. Congratulations Carol, some sweet little violets will be on their way to you tomorrow. π
Linking with Terri and Martha and Sandi and Bernideen.
Also, I can’t stand not commenting, so I’ll just factor out my comments from the random generator for next week. π
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Patty
Make art, not war. Perfectly said. I went on a self-guided studio tour with a friend this past weekend. It was wonderful to see all the creativity and life. Please enter me in your draw. Patty/Nanaimo
Martha
Hi Veronica: Love the picture of that owl. You are so talented. Your tea cups are beautiful. I do hope you are having a good week. Sending blessings your way. Hugs, Martha
Julie
Thank you Veronica for a beautiful post. May we all seek for peace in our homes first then out into the world.
Christie
Such lovely delicate tea cups and such wonderful paintings of your feathered friends. Your kitty looks like a wise old soul. Thanks so much for sharing your good with all of us.
Terri
Hello Veronica,
Wonderful post. Make art, not war is my sentiment as well….oh heck throw in love with that too, make love and art, not war! lol! Sounds perfect. I am focusing on the positive. The tea cups are so paper thin, oh my! They are delicate in beauty.
Hugs,
Terri
Christine
I love the message that your post brings…….Christine
Sandi
Hi Veronica,
The teacups look so very delicate; beautiful! I love your little robin on the sheet music! I have a “thing” for robins and I would love to win him. Wonderful post! Thank you for coming to tea.
Blessings,
Sandi
Rita McGregor
What delicate and beautiful cups! I love the Make Art T-shirt. There is entirely too much hate and violence in the world. It makes me so sad to think of what those people are missing while the drown in that heavy energy. Life is too short…and too beautiful and fragile…like the cups. π
Veronica
Very nicely said Rita. π
Jennifer J. Chow
Thank you for raising wonderful, aware children. Such lovely cups with such a sad history behind them…
Veronica
I know Jennifer, but at least they are still here to remind us of the past so it might not be repeated again. π
Karen
Hi Veronica ,
I love those teacups. They are so dainty and elegant. Your bird painting on the music notes is so unique. You are so very talented! Is it antique manuscript? It looks very old. I love to see framed antique sheet music. Thank you for visiting me and such kind words. Take care,
Karen
Veronica
Hi Karen, the paper is vintage but not antique. Have a lovely time on your holiday and may the sun shine. π
Stephanie
I absolutely loved this post. “Beautiful, sad, little, precious jewels, like people, like dominoes. One false move and we can fall down, we can crack.” What a gorgeous description. Are you familiar with Wabi Sabi philosophy? Because what you wrote reminds me a lot of it. In fact, cracked and chipped pottery is even apart of the Wabi Sabi aesthetic.
Here’s probably the best description of Wabi Sabi:
“Pared down to its barest essence, wabi-sabi is the Japanese art of finding beauty in imperfection and profundity in nature, of accepting the natural cycle of growth, decay, and death. It’s simple, slow, and uncluttered-and it reveres authenticity above all. Wabi-sabi is flea markets, not warehouse stores; aged wood, not Pergo; rice paper, not glass. It celebrates cracks and crevices and all the other marks that time, weather, and loving use leave behind. It reminds us that we are all but transient beings on this planet-that our bodies as well as the material world around us are in the process of returning to the dust from which we came. Through wabi-sabi, we learn to embrace liver spots, rust, and frayed edges, and the march of time they represent.”
(http://www.nobleharbor.com/tea/chado/WhatIsWabi-Sabi.htm)
Can’t wait to read more.
Veronica
I Stephanie, I’m a really big fan of any kind of imperfection, non symmetry and of wabi sabi. I have a giant pot in the garden with a crack down the whole side. I’ve been thinking of how to reinforce it and think maybe drilling holes and threading some kind of beautiful, maybe copper, wire thru it. π
Suzie Cheel
Love those tea cups they remind me of my Mum, love make art not war and your imagery is refreshing
thanks
Veronica
Thank you Suzie π
Ally
It’s interesting to me that they specified occupied Japan. I think those living elsewhere didn’t even realize just how much of a daily impact it made for people over there.
Veronica
It is interesting Ally. π I looked up a brief history and apparently the reason was that, after the war, Japan was in deep economic distress and the word “occupied” made it more palatable for goods to be exported and sold in Western countries. A sort of child psychology needed top set the world to working order again.
Sara v
What lovely tea cups, art and writing! It’s very rainy here today, this was perfect reading for that–thank you π
Veronica
Here too Sara π Hoping for a reprieve from the rain tomorrow.
Daryl
i must share a shot of the teacup i got as a gift last year … and i covet that baby bird
Veronica
I love seeing the outside of your life but, secretly, I’d LOVE to see the inside of your life Daryl, just saying. π
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freeasthewind24 (sheryl)
I really love those teacups. It makes me a little sad also My grandmother and a little black/brown teapot that she always let me use and on the bottom of that teapot was printed made in occupied Japan. I carried that little teapot around for over 40 years and then I lost all my possessions’ and it was lost. I think of it many times and this brought it back to mind. A very good memory and like you the occupied always bothered me. Loved your pictures the little bird reminds me how special life is Hugs
Ida P. Krause
Awesome post. You provide wonderful thoughts along with some great photos. Those teacups are amazing. I have one that my mom got for Christmas one year that I just love. I don’t think it’s stamped the way yours are though.
Your kitty is so cute!
Love your art pieces on the song pages, it would be fabulous to win one.
Veronica
Hi Ida, thank you so much. π I’m so glad you have a special cup from your mom. I have one my late father gave me, which I’m scared to use because it’s so precious so it just sits and looks like a jewel.
rarasaur
So, so lovely– every bit of it. π *hugs*
Veronica
Hugs back π
Marianna
Beautiful kitty! Would love to be entered as a new reader who discovered you through 31Days.
Veronica
Absolutely Marianna. π
Evalina
Veronica, your tea cups are fabulous! I think I will start exploring thrift shops from now on… I agree with you – βmake art not warβ will make our world more beautiful and peaceful. The little robin is lovely – I’m crossing my toes (you know, I need my fingers for stitching π
Veronica
Lol, fair enough. π I suppose that excludes crossing your eyes too. Good, I love seeing your work.
Kristi
Oh my goodness, those are so precious. I love the robin and “Mother told me so” oh my gosh. And the dominoes. And the teacups. My gosh, you are amazing. I just really love this post!
XO
Jeannine Bergers Everett
Those have to be the most beautiful teacups I’ve ever seen…
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