shadow box

New Animal Art Inspired by Sweet Encounter with Hummingbird!

Posted by Barbara Techel
Original available here. Prints available here.

Earlier last week I had a lovely time communing with Hummingbird which inspired this new 8 x 10 dimensional shadow box piece!

I sensed this message wasn’t just for me, but for others too and why I’m delighted to share with you what Hummingbird had to share:

There she was.
So tiny and sweet as can be.
Sitting upon the thinnest of branches in the birch tree.
Admiring her small but mighty self
I heard Hummingbird say,

Isn’t the universe remarkable?

Then slowly turning and looking at the trunk of the tree, using her beak as a pointer, her head moved up and down.

This tree may be one hundred times my stature, but my spirit holds the same vast essence, Hummingbird exclaimed!

How true, I communed back!

Her tender wings fluttered in excitement at my response.

In this moment I am calling you back to ancient wisdom and that you too hold deep in your soul this same essence, Hummingbird said.

It is more magnificent and expansive than you sometimes realize. And I am here in this space of time to remind you to come back to the truth of who you are.

There is nothing to do.

But just sit with me, marvel at nature, and allow her caring, sensitive, and loving qualities to fully envelop you.

And then you will know.

And more importantly, you will feel yourself arriving back once again to your true home that is within.

©Barbara Techel with Hummingbird Spirit

XO

Barb

    

Priceless Frankie Memorabilia Gift From My Friend

Posted by Barbara Techel

IMG_0363 1200Yesterday was one of my favorite days of the month having my “Creative Coffee Break” with my dear artist friend, Cassy.  It was made even more special with the loving gift she presented me with–a shadow box of Frankie memorabilia.  While I knew she was working on this for me, nothing prepared me for the emotions that came to the surface seeing the actual finished piece.

The shadow box contains one of her vests she often wore, her medal for being inducted into the Wisconsin Pet Hall of Fame in 2009 as Companion Dog, her therapy dog tag, her paw print, a favorite photo of her, and a surprise of miniature versions of the books I wrote about her.

All within this box, held in my hands, are years of tremendous growth for me, with a little dog on wheels leading the way.  I feel tears rise up again as I write this post.

IMG_0365 1200While I’ve moved forward in my life with Frankie as a soft spot that lies peaceful in my heart, these moments of tears and overwhelming emotion remind me again of the deepest love of a dog. How hard, yes, it was to say goodbye to her, but the reflection of the utmost joy she gave me. I wouldn’t trade one single moment of all that we shared despite feeling a hole in my heart at times like this. But what Frankie gave to me is such a gift– and in that gift, I opened my heart to do what she so lovingly taught me- to love again, and love another little wheelie dog.

Cassy (and her framing assistant, Lisa) capturing this for me in this beautiful shadow box means so much to me. A reminder for me to sit in moments of silent reflection on how incredibly blessed I am to have been chosen as Frankie’s mom– but also the love and understanding of a dear friend in Cassy, who understands and gets my heart.

IMG_1451 1200The shadow box now hangs on the wall of my writing cottage beckoning me to sit in the joy of all that Frankie was, and now the joy that Joie brings to me. I am indeed so very blessed. So very blessed.

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I’ll be on Pets Teach Us So Much blog talk radio tonight with Robbin and Joseph Everett at 5:00pm CST.