Fran Meneley

Que Vida!

 

Well, well...hasn't it been an interesting week?? It all began for me with a trip to see my daughter in NYC just a few days before the Frankenstorm...AKA Sandy Storm of the Century.

Tea was sipped and stories were told...with a keen eye on the approaching storm...

...the Plaza Hotel was strolled through...on the way to a shoe sale at Bloomingdales. Not for the faint of heart. Bloomingdale's shoe sale that is. The Plaza has an AMAZING food hall in the basement level now, totally worth a look and nosh if you are in the neighborhood.

The sights were taken in while supplies were stocked up on. Two cases of water. Check. Solar powered phone charger. Check. Food. Check. New rain coat. Check. A girl has to look stylish while wrangling an umbrella in 40 mile an hour winds!

More tea was enjoyed in the wonderful Bowery Hotel lobby. I flew the coop before the storm, but my daughter weathered the storm until she'd been without power for two days. We decided it was time for her to get back to a land locked state until the power was back on in lower Manhattan.

The best part of the week was last night's Day of the Dead celebration with friends from Two Hands Paperie! The community alter filled with love...

...and loved ones who have crossed over. That's my grandmother - namesake to both my daughter and I...tea being her beverage of choice.

Faces were painted with roses and flaming hearts...

...and beautiful turquoise eyes..

...and blue birds and calaveras...

...thank you Mia, for putting it altogether and bringing...

...this wonderful group of women together! Viva la Vida!!! 

Sneak Peek - The Oaxaca Street Children Auction

Here's a little sneak peek of part of my shrine submission for this year's Auction to Benefit Oaxaca Street Children Grassroots. The auction (the brain child of the lovely and generous Rebecca over at Recuerda mi Corazon) will be happening in the first weeks of May.

Many talented artists have donated a shrine to this very important cause. Oaxaca Children Grassroots is a non-profit based in the city of Oaxaca, Mexico that helps the many (sadly, too many) children that live on the streets of Oaxaca. The Grassroots's mission is to lessen poverty through education and to remove the physical barriers that hinder children from receiving an education. 

Head over here to see some other sneak peeks and stay tuned for information in the coming days for when the auction will open up for bidding.

Wonderful hearts and shrines reaching out to the children of Oaxaca - what could be better?

Post Script...I just got this touching comment from Rebecca, the heart and soul of this auction, and just had to share her thoughts -

"fran, thank you for your perfect post that sings out in praises of caring for others. it seems one can hardly turn in any direction without seeing a way to make a difference in the lives around us, there is so much need in our world. the shrine project is a love note for the children of oaxaca that grew from many folk art tours to oaxaca to celebrate dia de los muertos. when i discovered this grassroots center and learned of their powerful outreach to the poorest of the poor i began bringing clothes, medical supplies and funds to the center. there is a wealth of artists that regard their relationship to mexico to hold such inspiration that they embrace this opportunity to give back to a rich culture that continues to fill our hearts. thank you for returning again this year as we offer a brighter future through education to these deserving children!!"

The real thanks goes out to Rebecca - I am honored to participate.

Two Hands Paperie - Dia de los Muertos

Welcome to one of my favorite shops. Ever. Anywhere. It's been my favorite for a long, long time and I feel really lucky to have it in my community. A deep wellspring of inspiration and beautiful paper, this shop never fails to lift my spirits.

 

This year Two Hands celebrated Day of the Dead with the grooviest door sign around and a great communal Day of the Dead alter.

Come on in and we'll have a "look see."

The brick-walled back room was the perfect spot for the alter. 

Decked out with a beautiful cross bejeweled Virgin Mary (complete with a hindi dot), candles, marigolds, cockscomb, offerings, Day of the Dead figures and photos of those that have crossed over...

...loved ones were remembered and honored. People stopped by and brought little offerings all day. Beautiful and touching - a nice way to include their customers in the celebration.

And as long as we're here, I'll show you around. The little hallway between the front room and the back, filled with all kinds of alphabet stamps and pens and books and puzzles and book making supplies...

...while the paper room beckons with racks and racks of glorious paper.

In between, a whole lot of fantastic art books. Hours can be forgotten as you browse their wonderfully curated collection.

The card wall...ah the card wall. It just makes me want to invent holidays and events to send cards for.

Little nooks of all the good stuff...

...giant scissors too!

Here are the beauty and brains of the operation. When I stopped by on Monday to bring in my alter contribution, Mia and her crew had their make-up done just for the celebration. Fetching and beguiling, I'm certain that souls just passing by were drawn in for a few moments of earthly beauty.

The Two Hands intern did the cutouts for both the front door and this very cool side window. Out of contact paper!...the mind reels with ideas...How cool is THAT?

Two Hands Paperie is located in historic downtown Boulder, Colorado at 803 Pearl Street. It's worth going out of your way (way out of your way) to stop by. Their website is here and they do have an online store. But really you've got to see it in person. Like all good things in life.

Dia de los Muertos

 Bienvenida! Welcome all souls, living and past to my corner of honoring. A smaller alter this year than in year's past (click here and here to see alter's past). Time is wrestling me to the mats and I'm feeling pressed so I took a step back to simplify. Lovely still...

...the sugar skulls and their little skeleton brethren coming for a visit.

Catrina's sensual dance blessed by Guadalupe...

...the light guiding and welcoming.

In this corner, honoring my grandmother's passing 17 years ago (at 100 years old) with a photo and a tea cup - her favorite Lipton tea an offering. Remembering the sweetness of life and those that no longer walk among us, but who I honor for their yearly visit that they may feel loved and missed. Via con dios!

Dia de los Muertos

Dia de los Muertos has arrived at my house, sneaking in just before the munchkins began roaming the streets on Halloween. The big skull came off the shelf in my studio to welcome guests, departed and living.

 

My ofrenda (alter) went up in my entry way, a good spot to receive the souls of loved ones no longer walking this green earth. 

 

A bunch of us gathered around my kitchen table to decorate sugar skulls and make merry. Thanks everyone, it was a lot of fun.

 

  

The bright colored frosting cups and a bowl of feathers and paper flowers for decorating brightened the scene.

 

At the end of the afternoon, a whole parade of brightly decorated sugar skulls danced across the table. Full of life and love.

 

While Soledad (the patron saint of Oaxaca, Mexico) stood sentry over my ofrenda, with traditional deep orange marigolds and crimson cockscomb glowing in the candelight...

 

...these little schizophrenic skeletons stood guard on a corner...

 

...and their brethren, the one armed chef and the guy from the taco stand kept an eye out for hungry travelers...

 

 

...and these little couples kept my father-in-law company with a beckoning gesture. 

If you'd like to see more Day of the Dead celebrations, skip on over to Stephanie's blog and check out her beautiful ofrenda and celebration. And while you are there click on the "Links to Dia de Bloglandia" button on her right hand side bar for a list of participating artists.

If you'd like to read more about Dia de los Muertos, I wrote about my trip to Oaxaca last year. Click on the links below to learn more.

Day of the Dead - Oaxacan Sand Paintings

Day of the Dead - Oaxacan Market Preparations

Day of the Dead - Ofrendas (alters)

Day of the Dead -Oaxacan cemeteries

 

 

 

 

 

Dia de Bloglandia - Dia de los Muertos con mi amigas!

Bienvenida! The day arrived and I welcomed a couple of girl friends over for some autumn victuals and sugar skull hijinx.

 

This is the first year I've made an ofrenda and I have to say it has brought such a loving glow to our home, I may leave it up all year. My wonderful husband built the stepped ofrenda structure and I had the pleasure of creating the place of honor for our loved ones that have crossed over. As I lit the candles in the dark twilight of the early morning, peacefulness washed over me.

 

 

Set up in my entryway, it welcomed all souls who came to visit. The candle glow reminding me of the churches I visited in Mexico, the quiet stillness a point of rest.

 

 

Chocolate, apples and corn a welcoming repast for the visiting spirits.

 

 

Bobble headed skeletons dancing in the light...

 

 

...marigolds and cockscomb brighten...

 

 

...as the skeletons enjoy a good laugh (the chef lost his arm in transit from Mexico last year).

 

 

I honored my grandmother, Frances Whitney, who passed away four months after my daughter was born. She was one hundred years old and one week, to the day. I have one precious picture of her holding my daughter - one hundred years separating them. She always drank Lipton tea, in a cup and saucer, with the tea wrapper laid out like a runway for the main event. She loved simple picnics in the woods.

 

 

We also honored my dad (large photo) who passed when I was 6 and loved Coors beer (maybe a little too much) and my husband's father who passed when my son was just 5 months old, and loved his coffee strong and black all day long.

 

 

 

Miss Lupita greeted visitors as they crossed the threshold.

 

 

These lovely friends, Stephanie, Katy and Lisa came for a lunch of roasted butternut squash soup and little sopes - small corn tartlets with salsa, chopped fresh herbs and goat feta cheese.

 

 

 

After lunch Steph and Lisa worked on mixing up a bunch 'o royal icing....

 

 

...in some of my favorite colors...

 

 

 

....while I punched star bursts for my skull's eyes.... 

 

 

 

...and my daughter worked the glitter glue magic....

 

 

...and Katy worked the icing bag.

 

 

 

Four Gaudalupes stand in their sugary splendor as our afternoon of decorating wound to a close.

 

 

And these characters are all destined for the their home alters to cajole and entertain the dearly departed.

 

 

Gracious mi amigas for the honor of your prescence as we honored and celebrated those that have gone before us.