Wednesday, 9 December 2009

Three Muses Challenge #28 - Bottles & Jars

I learned the legend of the blue bottle tree from the venerated Storyteller, Kathryn Wyndham, of Selma, Alabama. The legend, originating with the African slaves, is that the blue bottles ward off evil spirits, who fly into the blue bottles at night and are trapped, then evaporated with the morning sun. If you're vigilant, you may still see blue bottle trees in the gardens of the south. I may have shared this story before in response to a challenge at Mixed Media Monday over a year ago, but I couldn't resist repeating it. I hope you've enjoyed hearing about it!
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41 comments:

  1. Ozstuff9 December 2009 at 08:02

    What a great story and stunning illustration, Bev.
    My bottles and jars are on my blog:

    http://ozstuff-ozstuff.blogspot.com

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  2. K9 December 2009 at 08:06

    here is my challenge

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  3. Willy9 December 2009 at 08:12

    Here are my bottles and jars.

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  4. Judy9 December 2009 at 08:13

    My bottles are on my blog!

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  5. Yvonne9 December 2009 at 08:29

    Here is my entry.

    http://artic-blonde-creations.blogspot.com/2009/12/three-muses-bottles-or-jars.html

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  6. Terri Daugherty9 December 2009 at 09:18

    Here's my entry:

    Bottles and Jars

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  7. peggy gatto9 December 2009 at 10:17

    http://wwwpeggysamusement.blogspot.com/2009/12/3-muses-bottles-and-jars.html
    Good thing we artists have something called
    "Artistic License"!
    : )

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  8. Unknown9 December 2009 at 10:44

    Hi Everyone!!! what a fun challenge...I hope you're all up for some wishes to be granted...

    Here is my piece

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  9. Lucy - By the Hill9 December 2009 at 11:51

    So happy to be able to make a piece for this challenge. Here it is on
    My Blog

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  10. Martina9 December 2009 at 12:57

    Hi Everyone,
    my entry is on my blog
    Thanks for looking.

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  11. Astrid Maclean9 December 2009 at 14:12

    My altered jar is here
    Great story Bev!

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  12. Gayle Page-Robak9 December 2009 at 14:23

    Gayle'sArt

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  13. Mark9 December 2009 at 14:24

    Thanks for this wonderful challenge! My message is a bottle is here.

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  14. johanna9 December 2009 at 14:26

    http://johanna-mixedmediafun.blogspot.com/2009/12/3-muses-bottles-and-jars.html

    you can find my contribution on my blog:)

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  15. Elizabeth Golden9 December 2009 at 14:45

    My grandmother had a bottle tree in her garden. She used all different colors of bottles. They are popular here in the south! My bottle entry is up on my blog.

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  16. José9 December 2009 at 14:55

    First time I heard of this blue bottle story. Love it. And your interpretation is beautiful Bev! My entry is on my blog. Looking forward to all other entries.

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  17. WrightStuff9 December 2009 at 15:08

    What an interesting story. By coincidence I have a blue bottle in my piece too - with a lid for keeping the pesky spirits locked in!
    http://all-the-wright-stuff.blogspot.com/2009/12/load-of-old-bottle.html#comments

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  18. AliMayes9 December 2009 at 15:23

    Christmas Spirit
    Thanks for looking.

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  19. Sandy9 December 2009 at 16:21

    Hi all.
    Here is mine, thanks for looking.

    My Jar

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  20. Effie9 December 2009 at 17:14

    here she is
    great challenge this week!

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  21. Taluula9 December 2009 at 17:54

    Hey Bev I love that story and your illustration is perfect.


    You can find my entry on my blog.

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  22. Hanna9 December 2009 at 18:00

    Hi, my entry with parfume bottles is in my blog: www.hannastiinanmaalipurkki.blogspot.com,
    thanks for looking and all the comments you have left and maybe will leave and Bev, your bottles in tree with the story are charming.

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  23. Heather Robinson9 December 2009 at 21:10

    You always have the most thought-provoking themes and inspiring artwork to accompany them. My piece is on my blog. Thanks for having a look.

    http://creativesolace.blogspot.com/2009/12/three-muses-challenge-bottles-and-jars.html

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  24. Eila A9 December 2009 at 22:14

    Hi everyone! My entry is on my blog http://saksetjaliimaa.blogspot.com/2009/12/three-muses-bottles-and-jars-pulloja-ja.html
    Have a nice day/evening!

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  25. Linda Gibbons9 December 2009 at 22:30

    Here's my entry. a very masculine fairy in a jar

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  26. Svenja9 December 2009 at 23:40

    What a wonderful story! And a great picture, too.

    Here's what I did:
    http://www.millefeuille.eu/?p=594

    ReplyDelete
  27. Silvia(Barnie)10 December 2009 at 02:36

    You will find my entry on my
    blog
    TFL

    ReplyDelete
  28. druga szesnascie10 December 2009 at 06:17

    some scented candles (in jars) from me:

    http://drugaszesnascie.blogspot.com/

    it was so lovely to work with them - my room was filled with scents of Christmas (and I didn't even lit them)

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  29. Jayne10 December 2009 at 07:27

    Great challenge Bev,my entry is on my blog.

    http://pigsinpink.blogspot.com/2009/12/three-muses-bottles-and-jars.html

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  30. Amy10 December 2009 at 12:31

    Here is my bottle art..thank you
    http://heartnsoul-amy.blogspot.com/2009/12/threemuses-bottle.html

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  31. Rosie10 December 2009 at 22:20

    I love your challenges! I liked that example when I first saw it Bev!

    http://alteredartandstuff.wordpress.com/2009/12/10/bottled-family-members/

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  32. LynnF11 December 2009 at 02:59

    Here's my Princess Snowflake and Her Special Jar. Please take a look see! LynnF

    http://adreamseyeview.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  33. Flipper Lives11 December 2009 at 10:28

    Glass

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  34. Anonymous11 December 2009 at 12:49

    Here's mine, "When All Else Fails"... plus last week's, which I'm LATE with (AGAIN).

    http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kg572F0aKsg/SyHCI8Ml4cI/AAAAAAAAA40/NY_xfE-wCf4/s1600-h/Christmas+in+a+Bottle.jpg

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  35. Rika12 December 2009 at 14:16

    Hello all,

    My entry is on my blog

    ReplyDelete
  36. Jamie13 December 2009 at 19:33

    Hello everyone!!! Wonderful entries this week! I have a blue bottle too:) Love, Jamie

    http://readarteology.blogspot.com/2009/12/three-muses-challengebottles-and-jars.html

    ReplyDelete
  37. Ellie Knol14 December 2009 at 20:16

    My entry is HERE !!!

    ReplyDelete
  38. daisy15 December 2009 at 19:56

    Finally completed my challenge, which can be seen here.

    Thanks for another great theme xx

    ReplyDelete
  39. Anonymous20 December 2009 at 11:32

    Thank you! Your blog post will be advertised on the DigiFree Scrapbooking Challenges & Competitions search engine today (look for timestamp: 19 Dec [LA 02:29pm, NY 05:29pm, UK 10:29pm] - 20 Dec [OZ 09:29am]).

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  40. Emme Toaye24 December 2009 at 00:44

    I have 2 jars/bottles at my shop at mystic2awesome.etsy.com I'm not sure about how to post them here. (still learning) I call them "Energy Vampire Vessels" Energy Vampires are those people who suck out all your positive energy, you know the type..they never have anything positive to say and spread their negativity everywhere they go. The little glass art vessels have certain mystical gemstones and things sealed inside them and they hang by a little chain so you will have protection from these vampires.

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  41. a Bohemian Market12 January 2010 at 08:35

    Hi:
    My Mom is 100 years old and told me the blue bottle tree story as a young child (I am 60); she use to let me have her empty evening in Paris perfume bottles to trap evil spirits : )
    What a lovely photo, post and I know the venerated Storyteller, Kathryn Wyndham, of Selma, Alabama is a Sweetie too.
    Thank you for sharing with us!!!
    peace
    carole

    ReplyDelete

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