Joni is the latest entry in Bios by Holly and art by Resa.
Holly’s has written a biolette on the amazing Joni Mitchell. It’s always a joy and an honour to collabrate with House of Heart.
Thank you with all my heart, dear Holly!
Joni Mitchell
Tag: art
Detour on the Eternal Road
by – John W. Howell
The plan was to read an advance copy of Detour on the Eternal Road, do some drawings of Sam and do a pre-release promo post. Well, I “took a wrong turn in Albuquerque“, hit a detour and missed the print release.
So the road trip, of a post lifetime, passes through Albuquerque? Well, no, but it does pass through 1881!
Resa – John, Detour on the Eternal Road is set in the past, present and possible future of earth’s history and in the possible eternality of existence. You animate eternity’s goings on with non-haloed, wingless angels helping to guide souls to their eternal home. The adventures are informative, but mostly harrowing.
Yet, through “it all”*, the message remains uprightly positive. I’m not talking about the ending, per se, but the body of your story. Is this purposeful, or unconscious?
John – I have always carried a positive attitude regarding life. It is no surprise to me that this comes through in my writing even in the most dire of circumstances. You mention the ending which I don’t want to spoil for folks is an example of this positivity. It does rain a question about how much responsibility each of us has to take for the existence of evil on this Earth.
Hello! I’m Sam. When not on the road guiding souls to their eternal home, I’m at home on my cloud.
CLOUD WEAR is a custom wardrobe designed especially for me by Resa, who at this point remains earthbound.
Resa – Do you, or did you ever have a crush on Sam?
John – Sam is an agglomeration of every woman for whom I have had the honor of having feelings. Of course, I love her.
PRESENTING – CLOUD WEAR
1. Windy Day (sun dial on wrist) - 2. Grecian Ode - 3. Rock'n'Roll Angel - 4. Fortune Teller - 5. Dream Away - 6. Honey 7. Surprise! (all blue beads and earrings made from dew and raindrops)
Resa – Without preaching any religion, you metaphorize good and bad/evil with god and the devil. In the story our protagonists, Sam and James angels, are presented moral dilemmas.
What say you to the idea that I think you are speaking to man’s “better angels”?
John – I think you have figured out the fact that I believe there are angels that walk among us. I also believe we all have inside of us the ability to behave as if we have been anointed with title ‘angel.’ On the corresponding side we all can be perfect devils at times. The control of the dominate characteristic is left up to how we were raised and our perception of what constitutes goodness.
Resa – So John, this is the third book in the Eternal Road series. I’ve read the first two and this one seems, in its fictional light, more politically predictive than the other books. It seems a pejorative on the future, on behalf of mankind’s progeny. Can you speak to that?
John – Since my books are written in the present tense it might appear as if there is a perjoritive view as the reader moves through the action. Quite the contrary the story attempts to provide human kind with a tool that can be used to continue the species forever. Yes we have to look at nuclear war as a possibility, but the essence of the story which is repeated is that all mayhem is preventable.
The one pejorative view that I will raise my hand to is the increasing dependence the average person has on Government. I believe in the government being representative of the people and not an entity that exists for itself.
“Lincoln’s Bedroom” in the White House.
What does this have to do with Detour on the Eternal Road? We go to the White House?
Yes, but which wing and what rooms ?
Below – A Made to Scale Replica of the East Wing
The replica is 60 feet long & 20 feet wide. The Artists, Historian John Zweifel and his wife Jan, took 25 years to complete it. It includes all furnishings. The clocks tick, flags wave, phone rings and TV’s work.
On Its 200th Birthday in 1992 – This to scale replica of the East Wing of the White House was presented in a special issue of LIFE magazine.
1 - First Lady's Dressing Room
2 - President's Bedroom
3 - Family Sitting Room
4 - Yellow Oval Room
5- Treaty Room
6 - Lincoln Bedroom
7 - Lincoln Sitting Room
8 - State Dining Room
9 - Red Room
10 - Blue Room
11. Green Room
12 - East Room
13- Library
14 - Map Room
15 - Diplomatic Reception Room
16 - China Room
17 - Vermeil Room
On the Left: Legend to all 17 rooms in the East Wing
I think you can enjoy this book without reading its predecessors. However, certain questions will come up, such as this question I asked John after I read the first book.
Resa – “Eyes are mentioned on almost every page, mostly due to travelling, but I could not find the colour of Sam’s eyes. I also searched brown, blue, hair…no luck. Thing is, I was thinking of drawing Sam as an angel, maybe no wings. This way I could do a gown.”
John – “You are not crazy. You won’t find a color of Sam’s eyes since I very seldom describe the characters in terms of physical attributes. My reason for doing this is I would rather the reader form an image in their mind of what the characters look like. So you can make her eye color whatever pleases you. She is more your character than mine since you invested your time reading the book. “
So, if you are thinking of jumping straight to book 3, you might want to read a few of the Amazon reviews on the first 2: Eternal Road & The Last Drive. OR read my Out-of-the box reviews.
Or read the books.
Click covers of Eternal Road or Last Drive & go to John’s Amazon page, where you will find these, their reviews & many of his other books!
To buy a print copy of Detour on the Eternal Road click on the above cover.
To Pre-Order the EBook, click on Abstract Art Sam below!
John W. Howell
“it all”* – Read the book and find out!
A Tangle of Stars
Dahlings, it’s me, Rene Rosso! Welcome to A Tangle Of Stars!
Tonight’s Stars are Resa (aka One- Eye), and Rebecca Budd. Rebecca did a podcast where she interviewed Resa about her Art Gowns.
I’m sure you’ll want to hear the Podcast, so click on the banner below.
Of course now that One -Eye has had her moment of glory, I am thrilled to tell you that I will be reciting Holly – House of Heart poetry, through Rebecca Budd’s voice. One-Eye is working on the contract.
GOD SPUN
by Holly Rene Hunter
I’d like to take a special moment to thank Chicklet Poppy © Georgian Carlson for doing my most fabulous “Tangle of Stars” hair-do.
Remember Poppy from a gala fundraiser & show of support for all victims of rape, sexual abuse and crimes of violence (click above pic for post) where she performed a jazzy ballet with Marina Kanavaki. They wore identical costumes.
Of course Chicklet Poppy had a trial run at The Tangle of Stars hairdo. Look how fabulous I look. Such talent!
That concludes this first ever, most wonderful “A Tangle of Stars”. Tata! See you at the second one!
Rene Rosso character © Resa McConaghy & Holly Rene Hunter
My most heartfelt thank you’s to Rebecca, for having me as a guest on Tea Toast & Trivia
Art Gowns’ Paris Adventure
When Rene Rosso was asked to sing in Paris, well, she said YES!
Of course, she had several requests. One, was that the Art Gowns would open for her with a fashion show. She had a special gown designed, just to announce the Art Gowns.
First out on the runway in “The Tulle Collection” was Gigi. In an asymmetric one sleeved stunner named “The Twirl”, she swept the stage with ease.
Holly totally glammed it up for the catwalk. She had wanted to ride out onto the stage on a motorcycle. It had to be a Harley, but they couldn’t find an acceptable one, on such short notice.
Rene Rosso, being a class act, sent out a big Thank you to the Beauty Team.
Taking care of the Wardrobe is the very capable Bijou. She wields a hot iron like no one else. Stay good and you won’t get your face pressed!
Margot is the hair stylist. She was once up for a Golden Globe award.
Geneviève, one of the best make-up artists, ever, to graduate from The Coop will be attending the Maquillage.
Of course there are unsung heroes. Rene Rosso insisted they come out to the stage for a bow, to hearty applause.
Above, Bridgette is responsible for all of the staging. Below is Adrienne, the Tour Manager.
Then it was back to The Art Gowns fashion show, with the vivacious Dale leading the way in an Avant Garde specialty.
For Shey, inspiration was taken from her romantic period novels. During the flight to Paris, the Art Gowns read The Viking and The Courtesan. The girls are all still chattering away about it!
Marina is for real, even as she models this Faux Ballerina number.
It was time for Rene Rosso to perform a song. She adores the Parisienne audiences. In an Art Gown designed by Resa, and stage production design by Bridgette to look like a painting,
… she torched with “La Vie en Rose”. Her favourite version is by Melody Gardot.
Suddenly, on the last note of the song, the lights went BLACK!…..
… and Princess Blue Holly found herself in the night’s streets of Paris.
Changing to her Crimes in a City’s Dark Corners outfit, she climbed to the roofs of Paris.
Hiding by a Gargoyle on on the southeast tower of Notre Dame Cathedral, Princess Blue Holly awaited the dawn and for her Tangle – Heart to guide her. 
What was happening? How had Rene Rosso become Princess Blue Holly without conscious effort? Where were the Art Gowns? Where was her Tangle-Heart? Would the master of her inner dragons, Hyperion be able to help her?
All Paris shots, including the Gargoyle courtesy of & © Timothy Price
The Chicklets artwork courtesy of & © Georgiann Carlson
Their names are hot in the descriptions of the gowns they model, so feel free to enjoy a visit to their blogs.
For the answer to all of Princess Blue Holly’s questions, Eye suggest you stop by for episode 2, of the Art Gowns Paris Adventure!
Princess Blue Holly & Rene Rosso characters © Resa McConaghy & Holly Rene Hunter
Art Gowns Art & Updates
Fourth in my series of “Art of Past Art Gowns” is Flora Blanca. It is my intention to artistically express all of the Art Gowns, after the fact.
Flora Blanca was inspired by my niece, Sherrie, who is my muse/model for this rendering.
Flora Blanca is embellished with flowers, and is herself designed in the shape of an Orchid.
She is one of the most popular Art Gowns.
Above are the 4 Art Gowns I have rendered, to date. Click on thumbnails, for larger views. So far, each has a muse/model. For Artemis & Mnemosyne it is Aquileana. Lady Anne is Holly & Flora Blanca is Sherrie.
Holly from House of Heart wrote a poem for me based on an old polaroid. This bit of Art Gowns Art is my “thank you”.
Turns out we both adore the poetry of Leonard Cohen, especially his poem, “Suzanne”. I was moved to depict Holly, as Suzanne. Above, Holly Suzanne, is expressed with stained glass hair.
Above is my first Holly Suzanne. Then a friend asks, why are your girls all so disproportionally tall and thin?
Well, I studied at a Fashion College. That’s where I learned to draw tall and thin. Nonetheless, I made a stab at a Holly Suzanne with more normal proportions. (above). It feels awkward, to me. Which do you like better?
You can click on the poem to enlarge it for reading, OR Click on the polaroid of “Resa and the Rock Star” to read the poem in its original glory on Holly’s blog!
Last Art Gown post, Contess Fiori, featured spotlights on 2 of my fave Romance Authors. These 2 writers are very prolific. Both have released new books since.
Shehanne Moore released His Judas Bride, and is re-releasing The Unravelling of Lady Fury with this new cover!
Look at those gowns!
Click on the covers & be transported to Amazon where you can buy a paperback, or ebook. Lady Fury link to be added once Shey formally re-releases it!
Carolee Croft has released the 3rd book in her trilogy about Ariella, a powerful warrior when women weren’t warriors.
I’ve read book one, and I loved it! Click on the covers to go to the .com Amazon to buy a paperback, or Ebook. The Trilogy is also available on Amazon in the U.K., Canada, and Australia.
The next “Art of Past Art Gowns” rendering will be “Ballroom Lux”. She won’t be blonde, promise!
All Art Gowns created by & © Resa McConaghy
All Art Gowns Art © Resa McConaghy
Reminder! To visit any Art Gown: scroll down the sidebar, find an Art Gown, click on the pic to visit her space!
Art Gowns Art
It began with the fact that my new Art Gown will take at least 6 – 8 more weeks to complete. I wanted to post sooner.
Aquileana said I could use her as a muse to sketch the Goddess Art Gowns we had done colab posts on. Thinking I’d only get to do 1, she chose Artemis. It was so much fun, I painted the sketch.
To read or learn about Goddess Artemis, and to view all of the creative collaboration, which includes a poem by Oloriel, see Aquileana’s post- “Artemis´ Dual Archetype”
Above is Art Gown, Artemis. To view the post “Artemis by Moonlight”, click on it!
It was so satisfying doing Artemis, that I segued into Mnemosyne.
It was fabulously fab to revisit my early fashion sketching abilities. Yes, I have a lot to remember & catch up on!
To read or learn about Mnemosyne, and to view all of the creative collaboration, which includes poetry by Christy Birmingham, see Aquileana’s post- “Mnemosyne”
Above is Art Gown Mnemosyne. To view the complete post, click on the above pic.
Art Gowns Artemis & Mnemosyne designed & handmade by Resa McConaghy
2016 & 2017
Outtakes and filtered images
Sketches © Resa McConaghy – February – 2018
🌹 Thank you so very much, Aquileana! 🌹
I think I should do more Art Gowns Art in the future. What do you think?
La Esencia de Titania
Did you ever think to yourself, I’d like to meet an Art Gown fairy?
She would look like the sun shining on rippling pink water and her tail would be made from the forest’s leaves.
Her wings would fold behind her, in many wonderful different ways.
Well, you’ve come to the right place. We make fairies here. This may be the first fairy, but it will not be the last.
And who better to dedicate the first fairy Art Gown to than Brenda Davis Harsham from Friendly Fairy Tales.
Okay, a few notes on the making of La Esencia de Titania
It began with leftovers from “O Royal Treasure”. As I was cutting the circles out of white voile to make her flowers, I noticed the long scraps were fairy airy and romantic feeling.
Using up old things is very Art Gowns apropos.
Shimmering pink stretch cut velvet was draped on Judy, with the white voile scriffles. It was too, pale. 
Using metallic bronze and copper acrylic paint with fabric medium, the scraps were painted. A ladder was used for hang drying the pieces.
The result is what I call autumn leaves. After I draped the leaves around the gown, I brought my cat, Jeep, in for consultation
Once she was made, it was a lot of fun folding her wings in different ways.
Of course spreading them for flight was very important, as well!
OUTTAKES
La Esencia de Titania heads to the dining room to plan a dinner party for the Art Gowns.
Apparently, the Art Gowns want to move to a place with a larger dining room, more the size of a ballroom, so their tails will fit in better.
La Esencia de Titania and Mini-Me discuss changing Mini-Me’s name to “Mini-Muse”.
Art Gown La Esencia de Titania designed by Resa McConaghy – 2017
© Photos taken by Resa – November, 2017
Brenda Davis Harsham lives in New England. Her site, Friendly Fairy Tales, is for kids of all ages. Her poetry and prose have been published at the places listed in the “Publications” Page on her blog. 
Fine art prints are available to purchase on Society6 .
Brenda wants to pen a Fairy Tale based on Art Gown La Esencia de Titania sometime in the future! Would love it!
La Esencia de Titania takes off for a special midnight mission.
La Esencia de Titania & Mini- Me (Muse?) dream of running away to Hollywood to become stars in black and white movies.
☆☆ Happy New Year ☆☆
Did you ever feel like dreams can and do come true?
Well, that’s exactly how I felt when I met Stephanie Tudin.
SWAN
Stephanie is a young, talented & passionate photographer who said “I love your Art Gowns, and would love to collaborate on an Art Gowns/Photo Fantasy project. I had just begun Mystic Lake, so she became the first. Stephanie chose Lake Ontario for the location.
Mystic Lake was based on ducks, swans & pigeons. Once our model, Paige Marie Anderson, began floating along the lake shore, she became Stephanie’s SWAN. She became my SWAN.
The first post of any new Art Gown will be on Judy, as I have always done. As usual, there will be dedication(s) and/or creative tie-ins with other bloggers. After that, it will be dressed on a live model, and become part of Stephanie’s & my collaboration. The hope is for it to all end up as a gallery show.
A very special thank you to Paige Marie Anderson, who braved the cruel cold, while Stephanie and I were cozy in our parkas.
Please visit Stephanie’s Website
Stephanie Tudin on FaceBook – Stephanie Tudin on LinkedIn – Stephanie Tudin on Instagram
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Thank you, Stephanie! You are like dreams coming true. ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Message in a Bracelet – DIY
Do you love learning about history? Does it ever inspire you?
Then think “Suffragettes” and you’ll know why I’ve designed a bracelet in green, white and violet.
Recently, I did a guest post on Christy Burmingham’s blog WHEN WOMEN INSPIRE. It’s titled #GreenWhiteViolet. It inspired me back!
I decided the bracelet needed earrings. I wound up making 2 pairs.
Just in case you want to make a bracelet of your own design:
DIY INSTRUCTIONS
One of my challenges was that I had to use what I could find at home, or in my kit.
I gathered my green, white and violet beads.I found white pony beads, violet lined glass seed beads, a string of real cut amethysts, and a string of fake pearls.
There were also some solid purple & green glass ponies and a string of agates, several in appropriate tones.
I never did use the crystals that you see in my platter’s collection.
You’ll need a needle nose jewelry plier, and a flat nose plier w/cutter.
Find some great chain.
Gather jump rings, jewelry pins to match the chain (or not to match, depending on your design) and a clasp.
Now creatively thread the beads onto the jewelry pins.
Try to keep an eye on what your building beforehand by clustering up some beaded pins, and havng a look!
If you’re happy then you can begin attaching your lovelies onto the chain.
INTERMISSION
Now, on with the DIY instructions!
Cut the chain about 3 inches longer than you need.
As you add beads, they and the pins take up space so it will get shorter and shorter.
You also need to snip the jewelry pins to about 1/2 inch from the top bead.
Using the needlenose pliers, bend the end of the pin into an arc.
Hook the arced pin into the chain.
Again, using the needle noses, push the open end of the pin toward the piece of pin coming out of the bead.
Tuck the raw pin end inside the bead to finish it.
Keep attaching beaded pins.
Before the bracelet is fully clustered up, check how it’s fitting your wrist.
Add the clasp to one end. You may need to use a jump ring here.
If your chain is not open enough for
your clasp to fit through, you will need to add a jump ring to the appropriate place at the other end.
If needed snip off excess chain.
TIP: Hold the beaded pin with the flat nose pliers in one hand, while you work with the needle nose in your other.
Click on pics for larger details.
TO MAKE EARRINGS
You will need a pair of “shepherd’s hooks” or a pair of clips.
Use all of the same beads and findings.
Using the same techniques as for the bracelet, design and build your earrings.
Unless they are symmetrical, remember to make a left and a right.
Slideshows are visual poetry. Here is my prose. However, if you feel like reading a written poem, check out Christy Birmingham’s blog Poetic Parfait
The past can be a nostalgic allure.
Until my next post, I wish you all a fond and romantic adieu!
Lady Anne
Did you ever toss and turn through the dark of night trying to figure how to make a gown out of an old black leather coat and studded leather pants?
If your answer is “yes”, I feel your stress!
Lady Anne is inspired by Norman who donated the coat & pants to my “Art Gowns” supplies stash.
Norman is a musician & composer. He works in film & television, and is an amazing guitar player.
Black leather and studs made me think “Hard Rock” and “Metal”.
However, this is 
a gown, so I thought “Rock Ballads” and bought 9 meters of very inexpensive cotton gauze and Chantilly lace.
I removed the coat’s sleeves, and each sleeve became half of the bodice.
The pant legs became the skirt’s front panels. I cut scallops around the raw edges, and used glue to attach the fabric.
I surgically removed the lower half of the coat’s fronts and the entire back in one piece.
This 
became the back of the gown. I split this up the center to add a flouncing bustle with skirt of gauze.
I over-layered the skirt of gauze with a triangle of lace.
I needed something to pull Lady Jane together so I pulled a grommet laden S&M harness from my pile of leftover production stock, and chopped that up.
Lady Anne is, Medieval, Elizabethan and Renaissance all rolled into today.
Her name, Lady Anne, came to me as I was shooting her.
Soon after I was humming Lady Jane, an old Rolling Stones tune. In the song, Lady Anne is being left for Lady Jane. There is only one color to describe that feeling …. blue.
I must take my leave, for promised I am
This play is run my love, your time has come my love
I’ve pledged my troth to Lady Jane.”
Mick Jagger/Keith Richards
Norman, Lady Anne is like the music you make, a romance of many eras, places and feelings. Thank you for the inspiration!
“Art Gown” Lady Anne designed by Resa McConaghy – November, 2013
All photos of Lady Anne taken by Resa McConaghy – November, 2013
Art Gowns 
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