There is nothing an Etsy addict loves so much as that walk to the mailbox, and the glee when she finds something waiting there.  Even better is when an Etsian sends this lucky curator something that she wasn’t expecting.  Yesterday I received the sweetest note from Nicole Docimo of Blue Bicicletta, written on one of the cards she sells in her shop.  That it happened to be a day of light, drifting snow made this card even more perfect: instead of an image on the front, Nicole has printed one of her word-sound pieces called ‘Winter Poem.”  There are zips and crunches and bbbrrrrs and pops and crackles and a final slurp and ahhhh.  Of her work, she says, “I work largely in pen and ink because I love the process of putting black ink on white paper.”

She has some lovely other items in her shop–abstract line drawings, prints, cards–that are worth a look.  This winter-y card has become my inspiration for today’s exhibit.  I am a sucker for any type of art that incorporates words and letters.  Perhaps it is because in my real, non-curating life I make my living by the pen, but there is something about the way certain artists and crafters can change the nature and meanings of everyday words that gets me every time.  It brings to mind one of my favorite quotes by Nathaniel Hawthorne:

Words – so innocent and powerless as they are, as standing in a dictionary, how potent for good and evil they become in the hands of one who knows how to combine them.

Welcome, then, to our latest exhibit, a celebration of all things words.

Words, So Innocent and Powerless

Stalkers, I have a confession to make.  I broke one of my stalking rules, the one that says “Thou shalt not buy anything while you are curating an exhibit.”  You understand the reasoning behind such a rule, of course, because otherwise I would purchase myself out of house and home. But today I broke my own rule, because I bought one of polarity’s Magnetic Recycled Locket Set.  This most clever of lockets comes with three different interchangeable lids, one of them straight out of the dictionary:

My wordy quest brought me to the next gem of our exhibit, a custom made framed name or word spelled out with gorgeous architectural photography.  Java Jane Designs makes each piece truly one of a kind, as shown in the two examples here:

I love the way peaceofpi uses words from a page and music notes as the backdrop to lovely blooming flowers in this set of art cards:

Keep moving, folks.  There’s a lot to see.  Like this absolutely mesmerizing print of scarletbeauitful’s original mixed media collage, “Words of Wisdom.”  I would love to have this in my hands and stare at it for hours:

Equally mesmerizing, I think, is this original painting titled “Anastasia” by artist Kage Harp of what appears to be a brand new shop, rustedwingsgallery.  I’m particularly drawn to the way the word at the bottom form a solid base for everything that comes above.  It says, “I’m Russian too….ever since I was 11. I recognized the people and lived with Dostoyevski and Tolstoy. You must see St. Petersburg and the sea.”

Sometimes Curator Beatrice has a hard time making up her mind, I’ll admit.  ‘Twas the case when I tried my best to decide which of these two word-featured rings to include in today’s exhibit.  The solution?  Include them both, of course!  The first is a hand-stamped silver disc fastened onto a ring made from fine silver wire by seller Pamela Susan.  The words pictured here are “love” and “hope,” but Pamela will custom make them with the word (or name!) of your choice. The second ring, sold in the shop DULCET, features a glass marble cabochon with text from a vintage poetry anthology.  Go ahead.  Wear this one and try not to talk like Jane Austen all day.

While we’re accessorizing ourselves with words, why not add the tall “Travel Journal” clutch made by the creative genius behind Simbiosis?  There, now don’t we look better? I think so.

The next item in our exhibit is one of the more unique pieces I have ever seen on Etsy, and that’s saying a lot.  Barkingmaddison will take any 70 words of your choosing and put them on a belt (band lyrics, a poem, random words, etc.).  I’m thinking this might be the next gift I get for Mr. Curator:

The final item on our trip through the land of word-inspired arts and crafts is the “Studio Mela Collage” by Studio Mela.  This limited edition prints features 16 of the artist’s prints all in one, many of which combine words and sayings with illustrations.  The result is a beauty:

That’s it for today, stalkers.  If it’s a winter wonderland where you are like it is here, cuddle up with a book of good poetry and a warm cup of tea.

Until we meet again,

Curator B.