A Winter’s Solstice in Summer

Ecila looked up at the hot summer’s sun.

She was on her way to Teagan’s Christmas in July blog party, in a beautiful new gown. Blinded by the light, she accidentally turned left into a mural. Ecila looked around at the black and white world, and saw no way out.

Suddenly there was a black and white cat looming before her. “Who are you?” she asked.

“Why I’m Tac Tac the Water Cat,” he replied, “and you can’t get out the way you came in. You’ll have to go through the Purple Pink Rabbits’ door, in the pink alley.”

“Take this!” said Tac Tac, and he handed Ecila a gold rabbit coin. “Use it wisely. It’s your one chance to get out of here.”

Ecila wandered black and white curves until she saw a pink alley. In the alley was a Purple Pink Rabbit. “Hello! What’s your name, and can you please show me the door out of here?”

“I’m Tibbar,” the rabbit replied, “and yes, the door is at the top of the stairs.”

Ecila looked up some stairs guarded by three Purple Pink Rabbits. The door was there!

“But first you’ll have to get past Bugsy, Mugsy and Thugsy. Bugsy and Mugsy charge 5 gold rabbit coins each. Thugsy gets seven.”

“But I have only one gold rabbit coin,” Ecila said looking up at Bugsy.

“Not my problem,” replied Bugsy.

“There’s only one way to make gold rabbit coins here,” offered Mugsy. “You’ll have to play poker with the dogs! The game’s around the corner on an old red wood sliding door.”

Ecila found the dog’s game, draped her tail up to look like a gambler’s cape and threw her gold rabbit coin on the table.

“Chips please!” she demanded cooly.

The dogs howled. They figured she was just a human, and they would relieve her of her gold rabbit coin faster than the first day of winter. A chick in a bolero hat put a small stack of chips on the table for her.

Ecila thought of the wise words from her non uncle Kenny.

After many hours of holding, folding and not counting her chips, Ecila cashed in for 17 gold rabbit coins. She left the extra chips on the table, let down her tail and walked away.

Once out of sight of the dogs, she began running to the Purple Pink Rabbits’ door.

Ecila ran up the stairs tossing gold coins to the rabbits.

She threw the last 7 coins to Thugsy, and fled out the door. Elica ran all the way toTeagan’s blog hop party, where she made a grand entrance in her new Winter Solstice gown.

“Sorry I’m late everyone! My hair is mess and well, I can’t even begin to tell you what I’ve been through,” Ecila lightly panted. “Let me just say some cats are water cats, there’s such a thing as Purple Pink Rabbits and the the dog days of summer really are dog days.”

Teagan is holding a Christmas in Summer blog hop party. It doesn’t have to be Christmas, just a winter celebration around that time. Click on her badge above, and read the guidelines!

Outtakes

Winter Solstice gown created © by Resa – July, 2024

Pics of gown and street art © Resa McConaghy- June & July 2024

Story © Resa McConaghy – July 2024

Street Artists:

&

When Math Meets Art 2023 by Sasha Q

Art Remembers Us

Hosted by Dan Anton, the Fourth Annual Thursday Doors Writing Challenge began on May 1st. and runs the entire month of May. 

You pick one of the submitted door photos, and write to it. I chose the image above, by Teagan R. Geneviene.

I’m not a writer, but Dan said he was open to whatever creative inspiration I came up with . I decided on a triple crown event.

One, make a Barbie Art Gown to go with Teagan’s image. Art Gowns are always made from textile trash, old clothes, curtains, NOS and anything headed for landfill. They are completely sewn by hand.

Two, photography – a fashion shoot of said Art Gown.

Three, writing. “Art Remembers Us”.

Barbie dreams of the Venetian Ball

Rebecca was Teagan’s guest for an interview recently. Click on the pic above, and go to the interview.

Should you like to take part in the challenge, or simply want to read one of the many fabulous entries, just click on the pic above!

Cheers & thank you’s to Dan for creating and hosting this fab event!

Princess Blue Holly

After I did the comic book post, I was inspired to create Super Hero – Princess Blue Holly

For my first try I used the water colour crayons that Gigi turned me onto. It really has a nice comic book look.

Holly, Gigi, and I especially liked Poison Ivy & Cat Woman. I made the comment that Poison Ivy looked like  Holly, what with the red hair and all. One thing led to another.

Princess Blue Holly is based on the plant by that name (and Holly from House of Heart). Her super powers come from reading up about the plant. Above is my first rough up.

Of course she needs an alter ego, so I created Rene Rosso, torch singer. She wears gowns to perform in.

I painted it to look like silver lame. I used pencil, silver acrylic, water colour pen and an extra fine marker for lips and lashes.

I also did a gown using the water colour crayons. It seems more congruous with the opening image of Princess Blue Holly.

Princess Blue Holly & drawings © Resa McConaghy

There’s so much more to know: how she got her super powers, how she transforms, how she finds villains, how she deals with them, her super healing powers for good guys, etc. I’m working on all that, and one day Princess Blue Holly will be back with new sketches.

Starry Starry

As the first gown on my new Blog “Art Gowns” was inspired by my dearest darling niece Sherrie, this Gown Post is dedicated to her.

546 Academy Avenue

Artist: Charlie Johnson
Artist: Charlie Johnson

This Mural is on the side of 7th Avenue Fashions.

Charlie Johnson
Artist: Charlie Johnson

The official title is “Starry Starry Wedding Night”

Artist: Charlie Johnson
Artist: Charlie Johnson

It’s a wonderful Mural! Sherrie found it and took me there.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Shot taken by Resa, on October 09, 2012

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

The Murals of Winnipeg