For over 30 years, this lovely lady was the window covering in my grandmother’s bathroom. I used to love spending time in that magical space when I was a girl. The entire room was pink – the tile, sink, toilet, tub, and sparkly wallpaper – plus a Fairy Princess lived there! In that ultra-feminine place, experimenting with my grandmother’s cosmetics, I felt privy to all the secrets of womanhood.
When my grandmother died, the Fairy Princess became mine and evolved into a Garden Goddess. I still can’t believe I was so foolish as to place her out in my perennial gardens where anything might have happened. A tree branch could have fallen on her. A baseball could have shattered her to pieces. Luckily, the only thing that happened was her rustic wood frame disintegrated around her from exposure to the elements, and I learned my lesson about being careless with family heirlooms.
Without a safe way to display her, I slid her in the space between my dresser and the wall, where she stayed for years until an opportunity to restore her arose. A neighbor had started making stained glass art, so I asked him if he knew where I might have a frame made for her. Within days, he was carrying her away to his backyard workshop to make a custom frame. The result is what you see in the photo.
Now she’s the window covering in my living room, and her presence has coincided with a creative reawakening in my life. I’m blogging again after a near-year hiatus, and practicing yoga on the floor in front of her several days a week before sunrise, something I haven’t done at home in years. The Garden Goddess has evolved into my Muse.
Inspiration is all around us, in books, music, art, nature. Sometimes it’s tucked away in corners waiting to be rediscovered. So often we look for something or someone new to come along and inspire us, when what we really needed may have been there all along.
My grandmother at age 18, newly engaged to my grandfather.
How wonderful that your beautiful Garden Goddess has evolved into your creative muse. You’re right Kim, inspiration is all around us, we just have to have our eyes open. Enjoy. 💙
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Thanks, Miriam 🙂 I feel like my grandmother is here with me every time I look at her.
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I’m so glad that you were able to restore the Garden Goddess! She’s beautiful, a connection to your grandmother, and an inspiration all at once.
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Thanks, Ann. I feel my grandmother’s presence more so now that I see her every day. It also makes me glad to know that I am being a better steward of my grandmother’s treasurers.
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Oh my goodness! You are so lucky! That is such a beauty. I wish I had such an amazing piece passed down to me. I immediately thought it was a Goddess when I saw it, and being the feminist pagan I am, I really just was in love with it. Cherish it forever….
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It really is a beautiful piece and I appreciate you saying so. My grandmother bought it many, many years ago in Sturbridge, MA back when the town had a lot more crafters than it does now. I feel so blessed to have it and be able to display it. Glad you like it as much as I do 🙂
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An absolutely wonderful post Kim.
Great to see you back, posting.
PS.
Somehow, I don’t know how, but I deleted
your wonderful comment on my poem
And they did come. Sorry.
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No worries, Alan. I was having trouble following your blog for some reason, as in I thought I was following, but didn’t see posts, then would follow again, and eventually just typed your site directly into the address bar. I used to receive your post via email instead of having to go into the reader, but they don’t come via email anymore either. I don’t know what is going on, but it may have something to do with having been away for so long. It’s good to be back. I hope all is well.
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All is good here Kim.
I don’t know what’s wrong.
I’m receiving notifications of your posts.
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I enjoyed reading about the stained glass window. Your grandmother must have been a fun-loving person. She’s so pretty in the picture.
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Thanks, Sheryl. She was really beautiful inside, as well.
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What a beautiful muse! And a touching tribute to your grandmother, as well.
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Thank you so much! I appreciate you reading and saying so.
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such a beautiful tribute. wow
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Thank you.
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