Day of the Dead Photos in My Shop

I have added new photographs to my Etsy Shop  from a new series about the "Day of the Dead"(Dia de Los Muertos).  This Latin American Celebration takes places at the beginning  of November.

from left clockwise, "My Dear Santos", "Skeleton with Heart Milagro", and "Dia de Los Muertos"

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 The"Day of the Dead"(Dia de Los Muertos) is a Latin American Celebration takes places at the beginning of November. It is a celebration of remembrance for our deceased loves and not meant to be at all scary. Instead, it is a day and night to honour them with gifts of food, flowers and candle light vigils to the cemetery involving the whole family. This is the one night of the year when their spirits are thought to walk among us so it is really just a big party for everyone. Skulls and Skeletons are common themes in this Holiday, but they are seen as fun decorations and teach us that death is something not to be feared. In the U.S., we celebrate Halloween at the end of October with some of these same themes(spirits, skeletons, skulls), but the focus can get lost on creepy, gory, scary things now. There are many fun and beautiful decorations, costumes and food that are also used to celebrate Halloween so it isn't all horror with a chainsaws(I can't stand that stuff!). I hope you enjoy my little collection. I brought many of the pieces in the photographs back from Mexico and New Mexico and have them displayed in a China Cabinet all year long. They are beautiful treasures to me!

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Wishing all of you a beautiful and blessed Fall!

xoxo,

merle

OPHELIA, OPHELIA, OPHELIA!

I am not sure what it is about this character, but I have been taking photographs of my friends and self-portrait of myself as "Ophelia" from Shakespeare's famous play "Hamlet" for many years now.  I never have thought that she is dead though.  Since I grew up the daughter of life guard parents who taught me how to swim before I could remember, I never really understood how she could drown from her heavy gowns.  I was always thinking, "Just stand up in that water!  Why didn't anyone teach you how to swim?!  Run away! That is one messed up situation!  Smack your brother out of it and run away together!".  Or, I thought that she was playing "dead" by floating in the water so she could sneak away like Juliet in "Romeo and Juliet", well we all know how that turned out.  Again, I was equally frustrated. 

The new "Ophelias" in and coming soon to my Etsy Shop Merle Pace Arts, from top left clockwise, Ophelia and the Roses, Ashore, At Waters Edge, Suspicions

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I suppose I am not a romantic.  Maybe once, but I would hope that now I am a girl who knows that when things start to get creepy and the years have taught me a few thing. 

I still have huge blind spots.  I have most definitely tried to understand a love in my life when things were going horribly down hill.  I have been stuck trying to understand and lost myself wanting the situation to work, wanting to find my "person" as he used to be-help him/save him when it just couldn't be done and I was being treated horribly.  So, there is that sadness and woe which I do understand.   

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If you are a Romantic, love Shakespeare's Plays, or choose to make up your scenarios, I hope these images make you feel something that moves you.   I must add that each time I go into the water for photographs, it is with great trouble and the water is always cold regardless of season or if I am inside or out.  And, on second thought,  I remember that these gowns were rather heavy and troublesome to move about the water in.  Swimmer or not, I think they could have pulled me down if I wasn't so stubborn to get my photographs!

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p.s. I think being used to throwing myself all over the place for photographs, doing a bit of yoga and have a little strength doesn't hurt either~

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I hope all is well with my Fellow Blogger Folks!

With loving kindness,

merle

Autumn and Haunting Photographs in my Etsy Shop

I have been adding new photographs to my Etsy Shop Merle Pace Arts almost daily.  I am choosing ones that have themes of Autumn and that are a bit Haunting and Dark just for the season so check them out!  Here are a few more self-portrait photographs that I put in my shop in the last few days.

from the left clockwise,  Heartless Home, Autumn Fauna, and Unwanted Dark

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These new photographs are being added to the ones already in my shop so those favourites aren't leaving just yet.

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I am editing more photographs and have plans on taking more as the leaves are starting to change colour, the temperature is a bit cooler and the days are shorter with brilliant orange hued sunsets.  My little nephew Skyler's 7th Birthday is coming up on 2 October so our family must get our costumes ready for the Pirate themed Party he wants to have.  It is time for me to take another set of photographs of him and his older brother Zach as they love to dress up for the camera.  They have a specific theme in mind, but it is top secret! Here is a hint, Black Feathers!

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Hope all is well with you folks in Blogland!

With loving kindness,

merle

"Roots" A New Photo in my Etsy Shop

I am adding new photographs to my Etsy Shop which have a more of an Autmn feel.  For me, that means that they are a bit darker, or have warmer colours, and maybe are haunting but not in a creepy kind of way. 

"Roots"

(detail)

I took this photograph in the creek and woods where I grew up just as the leaves were beginning to turn.  I have always found this tree's tangled web of roots to especially magical.  I love this creek, Fishback Creek.  We spent all summer swimming and hiking in it and all Winter skating on it.  These woods are still so mysterious-mythical, mystical.  I love the dark contrasts in this photograph.  For me, it is perfect for Fall.

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I am adding new photographs so keep an eye out.  Hope all is well with you folks.

With loving kindness,

merle