400th Blog Madonna and Child Reliquary Giveaway

 

In celebration of my 400th blog posting I have created this Madonna and Child Reliquary for a Giveaway.

I have posted 399 blogs over the past three years...who knew I would have that much to share, I certainly didn't.  It's been a rewarding experience in so many ways,  the new friendships that I have made along the way are the most cherished and the discipline to strive to improve my skills as a photographer, story teller and artist has been priceless.

Here's what you need to do to be entered in the Giveaway...

1.  Become a follower of my blog.

2.  Post a link on your blog, feel free to use any of the images.

3.  Leave a comment.

This giveaway will be open until the first day of Spring, March 21st.  A name will be drawn randomly and a winner will be announced to celebrate the new Season.

This Reliquary mixed media collage is in honor of Saint Maria who continues to be a source of inspiration in my work.  She soothes me with her grace and motherly love that is sublime in all living things.  It's a mystical force -  the love of a mother for her children.  The Reliquary is three inches in length and one and a quarter inches wide.

 

The vintage lace bit was given to me by Esther from France.  I have attached a vintage pearl bead and red fired rhinestone to the top of the pendant with the vintage lace.  A crown at the top of the reliquary is made of vintage rhinestones, a large vintage luminescent Czech glass bead, and filigree leaf bead cap.

A primitive silver heart dangles from the bottom.

  

The back plate is a high polished brass with spirals stamped onto the surface to represent life and heavenly forces.  The image of Madonna and child is printed onto silk and mounted above the brass for a shadow effect.

 

A vintage tiny porcelain vase from Italy which is actually a piece of a vintage tea set that is handpainted with a deep orange flower filled with old velvet flowers from a vintage hat.   Along the right side and bottom I have added a beaded strand of pearls from a vintage necklace.

The outside of the reliquary has a primitive texture to give the piece a relic feel.

My fascination with reliquaries was the inspiration for this piece.  I wanted to create something meaningful that was a reflection of me, something personal...for this giveaway.  I love this piece that reflects my love of tiny things, feminine images, babies in their mother's embrace, flowers, lace, hearts, all in warm colors of the Italian countryside.

Reliquaries or shrines have been used for centuries to preserve sacred objects or relics that were enclosed in a container for safe keeping.  These artifacts were kept primarily in churches, vaults or held by members of the church or group until a safe place could be found to store them.  The contents could be pieces of fabric from a garment of a saint, a lock of hair or a valuable sculpture, etc.

Many different religious cultures practiced this art and wonderful examples can be found throughout history.  It's fascinating...the craftsmanship is amazing and often the reliquary was encased in another container to offer it even more protection.

It is my hope, with this Madonna and Child Reliquary that I have created in celebration of my 400th posting will bring happiness, and a sense of wonder to the winner of this giveaway.