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!

41 comments:

  1. 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. My bottles are on my blog!

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  3. Here is my entry.

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

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  4. 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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  5. 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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  6. So happy to be able to make a piece for this challenge. Here it is on
    My Blog

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

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

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  9. 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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  10. 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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  11. 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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  12. 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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  13. Hi all.
    Here is mine, thanks for looking.

    My Jar

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


    You can find my entry on my blog.

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  15. 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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  16. 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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  17. 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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  18. Here's my entry. a very masculine fairy in a jar

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

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

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  20. 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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  21. 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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  22. Here is my bottle art..thank you
    http://heartnsoul-amy.blogspot.com/2009/12/threemuses-bottle.html

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

    http://adreamseyeview.blogspot.com/

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  25. 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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  26. 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

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  27. Finally completed my challenge, which can be seen here.

    Thanks for another great theme xx

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  28. 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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  29. 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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  30. 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

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