I have this collection of photographs that I have been thinking about using in a post, and I realized that what they all have in common is that they hold things.
These beautiful mailboxes were at the old school outside of Salem, Oregon where I went to Encausticamp this summer.
The letters that they once held and still hold, are a mystery to me, and I can only imagine the words that they might have contained.
Words of love and sadness, words of pride and encouragement, words containing thoughts and stories of a day or a week of the person sending them.
One of the artists I met at Encausticamp, named Colleen Monette, had this old dentist box that she used for her art supplies and collections.
The items in this box speak to me of both the past and the future. What project will they inspire or bring to life? What will their purpose be?
These packing crates were stacked in the fields on the west side of the Cascade Mountains. They hold more than grain. They hold the celebration of a seasons crop, livelihood of a farmer and his family, and the health of the community.
And I come home each day from work to my own places that hold things. This amazing new journal is from Trace Willans.
You can visit her Etsy store, here.
Oh, the stitching, the fabric and the colors are all so beautiful to me!
When I wrote to her how much I loved the paper inside she wrote back: "
The paper inside the journal is not paper!!!
It is cotton fabric coated on both sides in a traditional gesso which is made of a mix of whiting (calcium carbonate) and rabbit skin glue.
It is a really lovely surface to paint on.
And, when I asked her about the button and the small heart, this is what she wrote:
They are a white clay with a porcelaneous body fired to earthenware and then smoke fired in tins in the woodfire with leftover plant material from the natural dyeing.
And these little tin boxes, what do they hold? Ideas for art projects, scraps of color, tiny paintings or photographs. Bits and pieces of my life.
And outside, besides a home for a spider web and seeds for next years garden, what about this flower?
Still strong and upright, it's seeds so sharp they sting to the touch... for me she symbolizes fortitude and strength, in facing the long months of winter.
And yellow. The color of strength and the sunrise.
This flower holds the magic of mother nature.
Even in a fading garden there is beauty. Contrast.
Hopes and dreams that will sleep and deepen over winter.
My garden goddess holds the secrets of my dreams in her half smile.
And the fountain holds a place for this rusty grate to lean on, and the memories of it's water-songs of last summer.
Rabbit skin glue?!
Your photos are amazing, as usual. But not usual.
I think you contain inspiration!
Posted by: Chris | November 11, 2011 at 01:40 PM
A beautiful and thoughtful post .... So much to ponder and take a second look at. Trace Williams work is stunning .... Thank you for linking back to the etsy shop. The best work is hidden in deep recesses on etsy and quite hard to unearth without a good tip from a friend.
Posted by: Kim A. | October 29, 2011 at 08:30 AM
gorgeous photos! lovely assortment of beautiful things and marvelous writing too...
Posted by: Dianne | October 28, 2011 at 03:22 PM
Thank you so much for showing all the great stuff , I love all the boxes !
I wish that I have more words in English ;-)
Love ♥RINI♥
Posted by: Rini Boer | October 27, 2011 at 03:58 AM
lovely pix. Trace's stuff is brilliant. we met when she was a student in my class and we've become [i think] good friends and
now i'm quite in awe of what she does...
Posted by: indiana | October 24, 2011 at 05:51 PM
My heart races at the sight of old containers and vessels. What stories they tell!
As always, beautiful imagery.
Posted by: amanda jolley | October 23, 2011 at 03:18 PM
Your posts are always like poetry. Your thoughts on subjects are deep and insightful. I love containers too but I don't have as many or as interesting as the ones you have. Lovely post.
Posted by: katiejane | October 23, 2011 at 07:55 AM
roxanne, you are the holder,
the vessel with sensitive eyes and a deep heart and a mind fully capable of reaching into the world and synthesizing the beauty of its wealth.
we open your post and our eyes, hearts, minds are fed.
Posted by: neva | October 22, 2011 at 06:09 PM
Love your post Roxanne. It's so poetic in its charm and meaning. Fabulous photos with a freshness and sweetness that warms my heart. Wonderful stories about the items you've posted, how they were created- and of course, love your creativity in your 'places that hold things." One place you left out is "my heart" for your blog!! xo
Posted by: jill zaheer | October 22, 2011 at 01:42 PM
Roxanne,
What a delicious post; thank you for sharing your wonderful images, but also wonderful thoughts~so beautiful.
I too have the joy of possession one of Trace's fabric books; I am working on it today-to fill the pages with my ideas and sketches :) I will have the joy of having her in a workshop in AU next spring :) and taking a textile workshop in which she'll be present as well thereafter :)))!
Posted by: patricia baldwin seggebruch | October 22, 2011 at 08:23 AM
Places that hold things ..... You got my attention Roxanne and as usual I will leave here feeling inspired. The top image is beautiful.... I love old bottles and now I have dentist box envy.
Posted by: robyn | October 22, 2011 at 08:10 AM
What a beautiful post and how intriguing! your entire life could be in one of those dental boxes! what a find! Also wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed your article in cloth, paper, scissors! The mag. came yesterday and was my "before sleep" read last nite! thank you
Posted by: lyle baxter | October 22, 2011 at 04:29 AM
I love those old mailboxes too! Several years ago I worked in a facility for the elderly, which was nearly 100 years old. I worked there for 10 years, and almost daily distributed the mail to the residents in those old fashioned mail boxes! I wonder what became of them when the facility closed in 2005? I hope they are being used somewhere else!
Olivia
Posted by: Olivia King | October 21, 2011 at 08:49 PM
This is one of my favorite posts of yours. Time to take down the Paschal show, the end of October. Lovely language and thoughts for the fall and coming winter. ox
Posted by: anna neill powell | October 21, 2011 at 07:03 PM
What a sensational post Roxanne. The images here speak to me and I can see why you have been saving them all for a post. Looking forward to visiting Trace's shop.
Posted by: Seth | October 21, 2011 at 06:21 PM