I’ve been deeply immersed in the wondrously weird little world of my crow’s nest studio, much more appealing now that C.P. McDill helped me re-organize it and found a way to make it reasonably warm. Another important part of “gathering mojo” for the working mode has been treasure hunting for dusty old books and their pages. I guess this replaces beach combing and gardening since I do tend to switch to antiquing in the winter months.

I’ve also been listening alternately to two amazing internet radio stations, both of which I highly recommend. My current favorite is the recently discovered Ancient FM which plays medieval and early music. I also madly love the ambient otherworldly atmosphere of Drone Zone at http://somafm.com/ and not just because they occasionally play tracks by yours truly although that is always appreciated. Both stations have a nice flow to them. I am rarely taken out of my own zone or distracted from what I am working on.

The photograph (above) is a corner of the studio arranged with newly adopted books and cheese crates, along with an antique paper cutter, restructured wooden cigar boxes, and more books from the last successful raid.

Gorgeous book from 1905 illustrated by Will Carqueville.

This is not only a nicely tattered old book. It’s actually a useful music lesson primer. I’m beginning classical guitar lessons next week so it’s just what I needed.

Oh yes! Peacocks and columns.

No idea what these are! Embroidery cards?

Last but not least, deep in some arid desert is a cool cave, an abundance of life within finding refuge from the brutal noontime heat beyond. Small luminescent creatures dwell on the walls of the black interior, making unintentional constellations to delight the eye.

Size: 6″ x 6″
Mixed media: oil, paper, ink, and varnish on canvas.

That’s all for now. I’ll be in the cave.

Sometimes we have to say goodbye though. I said farewell and all that to one of my favorite works titled Rabbit, pictured in a new frame chosen to match a lovely new home. This has been a running theme for the past few weeks. I wonder if the “rabbits” are trying to tell me something.

New astrological miniature of the Taurus constellation. I posted this a few days ago and forgot to post it for everyone silly enough not to be subscribed to my improved website‘s new work feed or the shop feed on etsy. Hehehe. Kidding. Really though, aren’t these new fangled thingies so convenient? I love RSS feeds.

I redid arianadii.com in wordpress so that it could have a feed and better content management. What a Herculean task it turned out to be that I was not prepared for! It isn’t actually a blog like this one. It’s just that the wordpress is so easy to update. I still need to put up links and a few other pages. I’m working on that. Okay. Whew. That’s done and now I can just have fun posting to my websites and spend more of time in the studio where I belong.

Adopt a bull! – Etsy link. ;)

In alchemy, things in threes tend to symbolize the three elements (Sulphur, Salt, Mercury) as well as the Christian trinity of God. This esoteric image depicts a three-headed eagle astride a globe in which is represented three winds over the sea. Tom deForest of Small and Simple Things has another interesting take on this symbolism.

In his book, “The Five Thousand Year Leap”, Cleon Skousen describes our form of government as a three-headed eagle with each head representing a branch of our government; the judicial, executive and legislative branches. This separation of powers is nothing new. We’ve learned it from our youth, although most really don’t understand the details.

However, he carries the symbol a little further and describes simply and powerfully another principle of our government. He states that the two wings represent two forces at work in the government – the wing of problem solving and the wing of conservation. The wing of problem solving is the wing of compassion and seeing to the needs of the people. The wing of conservation is responsible for care of resources and individual freedoms. These two powers must be kept in balance in order for our form of government to operate successfully. Skousen gives the example of wing #1 wanting to solve all problems regardless of cost. If wing #2 cannot convince wing #1 to take a more realistic approach then the government swings towards tyranny. Anarchy lies at the opposite end of the spectrum.

These principles are so simply stated and understood. Share them with your friends and neighbors. Share them with people on the bus. Hand out pictures of the three headed eagle in the street and we will all rejoice in this simple knowledge.

(The Five Thousand Year Leap, Clean Skousen, p. 24-26)