Milagros / Sunday Sketches

We have combined our Sunday Sketches and a gift.. Milagros, or dijes, are religious charms traditionally used for healing and as votive offerings in Mexico and parts of Latina and South America. They are often attached to alters, shrines and sacred objects in places of worship. Blessed Milagros can be bought in churches and from street vendors. I am fascinated by Milagros, and religious folk art in general, and use them in my own art, workshops, and when finding a way to express my support for friends facing the challenges of the day.

Milagros by C Moore

Our friend Leticia needs positive thoughts, prayers, and healing light sent in her direction as she works through chemotherapy.

Leticia' Milagros by L Moore

This week my daughter and I have sketched heart Milagros then made one from felt, rosettes, beads and tassel, with an an authentic Milagros, the praying woman, attached (bottom 3 photos). We have sent it to our friend and posted it here to be used as an amulet for healing energy and prayer.

Mary by T Moore

My son sketched and made the card (I love this Mary, very folkloric suites the Milagros perfectly I think) and in it I have written "This is our Milagros for you. Our family has each put our prayers in it and send you many more. I will place its image in a space where creative people from all over can send you love and light, support and will, thoughts and prayers; so it can be a talisman, a votive. We can carry you and you can put all your energy into Healing."


Many thanks for your thoughts , prayers, healing light and visualization sent in Leticia's direction.

To our health! May we carry and be carried as necessary!

Much Love, Lenora.

Royal Sketches and Fabulous Fairies!

Under the genre of the summer "better late than never" - or maybe "it's about time" is more appropriate, here is another post that should have been out ages ago!


Some of the fairies in production at our last
Fairy Milagros Felting Workshop!



My huge apologies to those who have been waiting!


This is some of the artwork produced at our last Milagros, Art Faeries Felting Workshop!


Each fairy has a story - Fabulous, ladies - we had fun!

And now for our Sunday Sketches - this so fun! From Faeries we move to Royalty. .


My daughter has been inspired by some of your sketches so if you see resemblance please be flattered,


she has drawn up her princess, mocked up her painting based on her sketch and then painted it with fabulous result. Bear in mind that she is 10.

My Royalty is a young prince whom I wrote a wee Birthday story for. We used our art work to illustrate the tale and bound the book simply to make a lovely and personal family gift. This is the Prince for whom the story was written - Prince William. I forgot to photo the sketch before it was coloured, but that's ok, it is a simple sketch.

Happy Sunday All!

So Here's Her Story

The story behind last weeks Sunday sketches,
she is simply a sketch of one of my faerie art dolls.

As I mentioned, like the rest of us, my faeries all have a story..

Renewal (she is viridian, genesis, prelude, creation) is one of my art dolls; a voodoo doll, a Milagros; made as a votive with a particular friend in mind during the process. Milagros in Spanish means miracle. They are small charms offered in hope that someone will get well.
Renewal is a meditation, a prayer, she is an amulet.

Like your loved ones, some of my friends and family have had more than their share of issues to deal with; such is life. They have been in need of, and worked towards, their own miracle. I find art a therapeutic way to express my sympathy, my caring, my love and
support for someone in a time of need.

I have been frustrated with how little I can do when a friend is diagnosed with breast or uterine cancer or has an overwhelming issue of any kind. I can be there, give ideas around health care in the case of breast cancer as I have been touched by that myself. I can organize meal trees, care for children. I can cry, I can listen, I can pray but I am left wanting to do more; and this is how my wee fairies were born. They are talisman, my fighting prayer in physical form.

They are named, Hope, Strength, Love, Courage, Guardian and they have evolved as primitive dolls; an embodiment of a wish for healing. I have taught art workshops over the years and this felting class, Felted Milagros, is still one of my favorites to teach. There we work toward being part of a creative force; we explore areas of our life that may be in need of a little miracle, express our thanks for our own miracles or wish someone a miracle,
and this we express by giving our creativity a physical form.
Renewal is the embodiment of a healing wish.