Queen of Star Shine and Glimmer

Only a few hours left until the new year here on the west coast so here are one last post and project for 2012. A touch of whimsy to welcome 2013.
 
 
In the past my son and I have made paper or pipe cleaner crowns to celebrate New Year's eve. I was thinking of what I wanted to make this year when I became inspired to make a fancy frosted crown. I woke up in the middle of the night thinking about it and got started as soon as I got up this morning. I was so excited I even skipped my usual morning hot chocolate.
 
 
For the base I made a circle from a wire hanger then covered it with a strip of black poster board folded in half then stapled it to hold the wire in place.
 
Then I cut out various shapes from glitter card stock and glued them onto the base. The diameter of my mini crown is about 5 inches.
 
 
Each section is backed by another piece of glitter card stock to make it sturdier and also makes it look nice on the inside.
 
 
To give my crown a vintage frosted look I thinned white glue with water, brushed it onto the glitter paper and covered it with crystal glitter in two sizes. The large one gave it texture and muted the silver while the smaller one gave it extra fairy sparkle.
 
 
I also frosted a few glittery green stars.
 
 
 Next I sorted through my jars of baubles and trim.
Tried bits of this and that. Glued and unglued stuff.
Had a waffle for breakfast.
 
Until finally...
 
 
A frosted winter crown for the Queen of Star Shine and Glimmer.
 
 
In honor of my first word for 2013. Glimmer.
 
Glimmer, to me means a subtle glow, unsteady perhaps and sometimes faint but luminous and stunning in its own way. It is a sliver of hope in the darkness. Elusive and mesmerizing but never garish or overt.
 
When I was making my mini falling star bottles this Fall one of the words I cut out from the dictionary to make a label was glim-mer. Doesn't it sound magical? Like a light mist of stardust falling from a velvety night sky.
 
 
I like this word because I have never been the kind of person that constantly burns bright. My passion for anything waxes and wanes dramatically. In my relationships, my art, my whole life in fact, it's always a balancing of light and dark. When I try to stand out and shine darkness never seems to be too far behind. It is simply a part of who I am and the way things tend to turn out for me. I've learned that the brightest light can also burn.
 
 
 
So rather than say this is going to be my year to shine I'm going to embrace what I know about myself and find beauty in moments when I can simply BE. To be comfortable in the shadow of clouds as well as playing among the stars. To be content to whisper my own unsteady light. To glimmer.
 
 Which brings me to my second word. Gratitude
 
Gratitude for blessings, lessons and opportunities. Gratitude for what's good as well as what's not so good because they all make me who I am. Gratitude with a touch of Glimmer. I'll see where they take me in 2013.
 
(Oh and I'll try to post a picture with my crown on too.)
 
 
I wish you love, blessings and inpiration.
 
Happy Beautiful New Year!
 
 
 

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is beautiful!

Dianie said...

Oh Anna,

What an absolute beautiful post.
I had never gave that word much thought, until you described it so beautifully.

Glimmer... I love it :)

And your Crown is stunning!

I too am a soul filled with the light and dark.. It is a life long balancing act, but glad to know that there are others who understand the journey..

Happy New year!

~Diane

Ms Misantropia said...

Ok, totally awed. Why didn't I make/ get a glittery crown for New Year's?!

Mimi Foxmorton said...

Happy, Glittery New Year! :D

Mimi
Collage Pirate

Healing Woman said...

This is such a beautiful post and such inspiring words. Yes, I agree with you about glimmer. A beautiful word and way to share your life.

OmaLindasOldeBaggsandStuftShirts said...

Glimmer on.....what a delight. Oma Linda

Laura said...

Oh Anna, that crown is so beautiful! Perfect for a fairie queen!
Happy New Year to you and yours.
blessings
~*~

Wicked Faerie Queen said...

So gorgeous! I hope all of your dreams and wishes come true in 2013!

Kim Gillian said...

Beautiful! Happy New Year

Theresa MacNaughton said...

A perfectly beautiful start to the New Year. I wish you oodles of glimmery gratitude for the NEw Year!

Hindustanka said...

The crown is gorgeous! Don't even know how you made in such a way, it is simply magical!
Love the idea of glimmer and gratitude. Keep it up!
Thanks for sharing the beauty with us.
Happy New Year!
Anna

Dreaming in a Hat said...

wonderful work!

Linda said...

Awesome post Anna, It made me smile on this cold wintery day. Not a lot of snow but there is too much cold.

Wondrous word for 2013....
Mine is Direction.

Happy and Healthy New Year to all.

Ivy said...

So beautiful...Happy New Year!

Bohemian said...

Your Creations are always so Beautiful! And one cannot beat the Attitude of Gratitude.

Today I received the unexpefcted and Beautiful Gift of those Gorgeous Gypsy Hoop Earrings from Marfi! What a Delightful New Year's Surprise! The Generosity of the Land of Blog is unmatched!

Happy New Year from the Arizona Desert... Dawn... The Bohemian

Victoria said...

Yay..fabulous! such a gorgeous post and enchanting creations!
Wishing you a magical 2013!
Victoria

DREAMER said...

Magically amazing .....made me smile love it