my son's locks of love

He's been growing his hair out for this for about two years and today was the day. We didn't really plan it that way, but what a great way to mark the first day of Spring!

Jacob's hair will go to Locks of Love, so that a kid who has lost his or her hair to chemo or alopecia or any other medical condition can have a hairpiece made for them. Isn't my kid awesome?

Here's my little hippie before:

Here we've got the hair all sectioned off so that when we cut it we could get as much of the length as possible.

He thought that looked pretty goofy. ;-)

And here's the first section, coming off.

And here's my handsome boy after:

Yay for Jacob, for having the patience to see this through (not to mention putting up with me constantly nagging him about keeping it washed and brushed and out of his face! haha!)

I'm a very proud mom. :-)

two new pieces

Just posted in my Etsy shop this morning. These are two new mixed media collages, made from recycled materials and mounted on stretched canvas. The first shown here is the second in my new series which is an homage, of sorts, to the Buddha and to Chief Seattle.

"The Earth does not belong to Man.
Man belongs to the Earth.
All things are connected,
like the blood which unites one family.
We do not weave the web of life.
We are but a strand in the web of life.
What we do to the web we do to ourselves.
All things are connected."

~ Chief Seattle ~

"We Are All One" c. 2009 annie farnsworth
original mixed media collage on 9" x 12" stretched canvas

The next is another "second in a series" - the birthday homage with words excerpted from a favorite Henri J. Nouwen essay (see my previous blog!). These make great birthday gifts as the piece is both the card and the gift, and the piece is ready for hanging as is. And I can giftwrap and send these to the intended recipient, gift wrap is free. :-)

"So Glad You Were Born" c. 2009 annie farnsworth
original mixed media collage 9"x12" stretched canvas

Is one of your favorite someones having a birthday soon? Drop me a note and I'll make a custom birthday piece; you specify colors, favorite places or hobbies, totem animals, astrological sign... whatever... and I can whip something up that will resonate for that special someone. I LOVE custom work. :-)

recent work with words and images

"So Glad You Were Born" c. 2009 annie farnsworth
original mixed media collage on 9"x12" stretched studio canvas

Henri J. Nouwen wrote:

"Birthdays need to be celebrated. I think it is more important to celebrate a birthday than a successful exam, a promotion, or a victory. Because to celebrate a birthday means to say to someone: "Thank you for being you." Celebrating a birthday is exalting life and being glad for it. On a birthday we do not say: "thanks for what you did, or said, or accomplished." No, we say: "Thank you for being born and for being among us."

On birthdays we celebrate the present. We do not complain about what happened or speculate about what will happen, but we lift someone up and let everyone say: "We love you."

Celebrating a birthday reminds us of the goodness of life, and in this spirit we really need to celebrate people's birthdays everyday, by showing gratitude, kindness, forgiveness, gentleness, and affection. These are ways of saying: "it's good that you are alive; it's good that you are walking with me on this earth. Let's be glad and rejoice."

This was a gift for my sister.
Happy Birthday, Joani!
I am grateful you are walking with me on this earth.


"So Glad You Were Born" c. 2009 annie farnsworth

"We Are All One" c. 2009 annie farnsworth
original mixed media collage on 9"x12" stretched studio canvas

This was a "thank you" piece for my friend Eric who was kind enough to do a shamanic journey for my son and me when we were going through a hard time. I credit Eric for much of my healing and am ever grateful for his work. If you are interested in energy work or having someone take a journey to the ethers on your behalf, contact me and I will get you some contact info.

The finished piece is mounted on a 9"x12" stretched canvas. I've been doing that with my collages lately because it really gives them more presence and heft and they are ready to hang as is. The edges are "finished" and hanging hardware is included so no fussing with mats or framing is required.

"Everlasting Truth" c. 2009 annie farnsworth

I was grateful to have this little piece of "pocket art" included in an Etsy treasury recently. And it sold! Alas, it is so tiny I somehow "misplaced" it! I had put it in a nice safe place so it wouldn't get lost - (ha ha fat lot of good that did, yes?) Anyway, it did turn up just a few days later (indeed it was in a safe place!) and it is now winging its way to Hawaii where, coincidentally, another of my hummingbird ACEOs ended up. I love that they are both there in that beautiful, sunny place. Both pieces part of my ongoing "Yogi Tea Tag "series of ACEOs, of which more can be seen in my shop. :-)

I have two more mounted collages finished and ready to put up in my Etsy shop; will try to get some decent pics of them today since it's a sunny day, the Maine weather isn't blowing snow or freezing rain, and I can take photos outside in natural light. Have also been working on two quilt projects that will be ready soon..... stay tuned! :-)