the small silver tray was irresistible.
petite enough to carry tiny china cups
by children hosting tea parties,
in days gone by.
it sat overshadowed on a shelf of
larger cast aways.....
things, a mountain of things,
all given to my favorite thrift store
to support a local women's shelter.
it warmed so quickly in my hands, such a perfect fit.
months past. the silver tray waited.
summer arrived. so too the local
flea market swelling with life, hope, hunger.
in the sad collection of a lonely man
my eyes fell on the face of mary,
a lovely vintage cameo lost, almost..
the colour of peach singing out among his dusty offerings.
mary became a help to him and the brightest hope of
serving countless children
as i filled his hand with needed money and
she slipped comfort into my pocket
but how to honor her? this giver of life,
this mother of mothers?
nothing to do but carefully fashion a reliquary
to protect and hold her.
paper, patience, solder...
and then the challenge of creating a removable lid.
the silver and gold began to sing...
the reliquary, at home residing on the silver tray.
the small baskets of embossed fruit gave their harvest
to the heart of mary.
yet...still, it longed for something more.
of course.....
a rose in full blossom and
a cherished pearl,
one i have held close for years from the
button box of my own grandmother.
a small collection of little miracles
that waits for the most significant
of offerings,
yours, and through you,
bright dreams of sweet children coming true.
vintage silver embossed tray, metal formed rose, found button,
hand made reliquary of heavy paper, soldered with removable soldered embellished glass lid,
holding an authentic vintage virgin mary cameo,
in an ornate filigree armature.
the cameo rests on a hand sewn black velvet pillow,
and may easily be removed to wear as a brooch or necklace.
tray measures 8" by 4"
complete with a metal hanger on the back,
finished with my grandmother's vintage drop silk spun pearl,
and unending love for mary and all her children.
***
please join the twenty seven artists waiting for you in the
gallery of hope
(click to arrive at the auction)
where at this very moment dreams are coming true!
