I thank each and every one who visited to enjoy Dia de Bloglandia and those that participated and joined Rebecca and me in this JOY Full holiday of remembrance.
As the snow falls now...and the Marigolds are but a sweet memory, I will look back in delight on all the beautiful posts that you shared with us of your intimate and most heartfelt stories.
I hope we can gather again next year...
We have arrived, Rebecca of Recuerda mi Corazon and me to gather together the heartfelt offerings of those that join us for dia de bloglandia...
...we are 'sewn' together like the marigold chain, stacked bloom to bloom to share our stories, ofrendas and art for Dia de los Muertos.
My own ofrenda includes photographs of loved ones, items that remind us of their unique contributions to our lives and memories that help them live on...candles to light the way and to sit in the golden light.
A sugar skull for each of our loved ones...
Traditionally an ofrenda will be decorated with an item of each earthly element, air (cut paper), earth (marigolds), fire (candles), and water (bowls of water) along with things that help bring the deceased back into focus to hold them in our hearts.
This little Oaxacan angel surrounded in chains of marigolds ties us to the origins of this ancient tradition.
Our altar is filled with too many, many too young memories...Mr. R's daughter who had such a hard time living in this world, we remember her with photos, flowers and her sugar skull.
A small bowl of pinto beans to remind us of my sweet mother in law Helen...she tried many times teach me her old recipes, often laughing at my attempts to 'alter' them into more heart healthy versions. Mr R regrets not making a mold of her hand as this was the measuring tool she often used to share those recipes. This carousel glass that reminds me of my grandfathers' love of Orange Nehi that he drank from these festive glasses...photos of our lost sweet pups...
Our Ofrendas are setup in rooms that we are often in so we can spend time with the colors and smells of the altar for many weeks. This year it shares our kitchen...I have changed out the flowers as the garden flourished, now holding beautifully dried blooms.
Thank you for being part of this powerful tradition and for sharing with us your stories and experiences.
Please leave the link to your Dia de Bloglandia post below with Mr Linky and be sure to leave a comment too. Leave your link and comment with Rebecca as well so that we may all sit this evening in the candle light together.
As the time grows near, the veil is thinning...for us to gather in the candle light together and share our art and stories of Dia de los Muertos and sit in their loving memory...I surround myself with my own stories and images that gather in the Mango Studio.
On Tuesday, Nov 1st please visit me and Rebecca...leave the link to your Dia de los Muertos/ Dia de Bloglandia post in both our Mr Linky's and leave a comment on both of our posts.
Then settle in to visit each and every offering, share with each other the beautiful stories, ofrendas and artwork in this Dia de los Muertos.
We are only days away from Dia de Bloglandia...sweet
Great history of sugar skulls can be found HERE
Stringing chains of shades of orange, yellow and gold marigolds...easy. I use a heavy weight sewing thread and a longish needle. Put the needle through the flower end and on through the bit of green stem, grab another and continue until you have a beautiful chain.
Please use needle nose pliers to pull the needle through the bloom and not your teeth...let me be the only one that has to explain to her dentist exactly how I chipped that tooth.
These Merry-gold chains remind me of our conversations here...the accumulating stories that we share...that tie us together.
that so perfectly wrap around, gently holding together, one story unfolding into the next.... Just 1 more Sunday of sharing our prepartions for our Dia de Bloglandia event. Be sure to visit Rebecca for more on the Art of Remembering.
and...we put our huge garden to bed today...the last of the marigolds on their way to the compost pile.
perhaps I should be raking leaves...but stringing the last of the marigolds was more fun.
It is told that the tradition of Dia de los Muertos started in Michoacan Mexico with the following story documented in the Longmont Museum's Dia de los Muertos exhibit...more inspiration for your Dia de Bloglandia preparations...
"The butterfly is a universal symbol of change, resurrection, transformation, celebration, love, and the soul.
According to indigenous beliefs in Michoacan, Mexico, the butterfly represents the soul of the deceased returning to Earth to visit their loved ones.
Coincidentally, 20 million Monarch butterflies migrate every year from all over North America, crossing borders on their journey to Michoacan."
For more inspiration visit Rebecca's Postcards from Paradise
I find great JOY in gathering these distinctive smelling blooms...
gathering in preparation for our Dia de Bloglandia celebration. Some are not fond of the smell...
it is said that the strong smell of the cempasuchil... marigolds create a path that the deceased can follow back for the Day of the Dead celebrations.
The marigolds are as beautiful and rich when dry as they are in full bloom...freshly pinched.
How are you finding JOY?
I invite you to join Rebecca at Mi Corazon and me every Sunday in October in sharing of your preparations for Day of the Dead and Dia de Bloglandia. We are hoping for diversity, appreciation, excitement and increasing the understanding of this amazing celebration of loved ones past.
You can share your photographs, stories, traditions, art work, preparations, tutorials...you may even link upcoming dia de los muertos events in your area.
anything and everything dia de los muertos!
The altar above is the beginning of Laurie Beth Zuckerman's 'Homage to Old Mexico' altar that she is constructing at the Longmont Museum and Cultural Center. The museum hosts community altars and artist in residence altars in one of the largest, possibly THE largest Day of the Dead celebrations in Colorado.
Among the community altars is this very touching, incredibly beautiful altar honoring 3 women's still born first borns. I will be sharing more of this wonderful exhibit as well as more of Laurie's altar and presentation in the coming weeks....to inspire and fan the flames of excitement for Dia de Bloglandia!
Here I am...in my mothers amazing Dia de los Muertos dress that I borrow every year for this occasion....
and my display of Dia de los Muertos artwork for sale in the Museum Shop.
Please feel free to grab this button and join us in adding to the momentum and hopefully help get the word out so more will join in for the wildly colourful and much anticipated Dia de Bloglandia!!
Finding JOY in mining images from San Miguel and Dia de los Muertos last year...
in preparation for our upcoming Dia de Bloglandia!! Rebecca and I are in a frenzy of deLIGHT so...
Please begin making perparations yourself to join us for a blog celebration honoring loved ones who have passed. Create a post in your own unique way honoring dia de los muertos...simply leave your name and URL on both of our sites on November 1st.
Marigolds are beginning to fill up the Mango Studio as well as plaster milagro hearts...so that we may spend Dia de lost Muertos together, sharing the love and memories of those dear to our hearts.
Feel free to display this button for dia de bloglandia, help spread the word and invite your blog readers to join us...
con amor, Steph and Rebecca
Here I am.
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