“DRAGLIONI”
There he is…DRAGLIONI! He is a 23″ long x 8″ wide x 2″ deep, decorative fused glass plate. Draglioni was a labor of love, and in the end he represents so much about my life at this stage.
He started with an idea…a plan…a drawing.
Then an array of beautiful colored “Bullseye” glass was purchased (this time with the knowledge that “stryker” glass changes colors 😉 )
Next came the cutting…and cutting…and fitting…and grinding!
Once all the pieces were made to fit the next step was a fuse firing in the kiln. The fuse firing does exactly what it sounds like…it fuses all of the different pieces of glass into one.
And then the piece is put on a mold and fired again…a “slump” fire. It is so cool that the “flat” piece “falls” into the mold…and doesn’t change the design!
Next, for kicks you enter it into a “Glass as Art Competition,” not because you think he will win, but rather because Draglioni took about 60 hours to complete and he was made with love…so you enter him in the competition so people can see him, and feel his love!
And to your absolute surprise and delight, Draglioni wins 3rd place in his category!
It was so nice to hear his name called at the artist’s reception. But the best part of Draglioni was CREATING HIM! Oh, and the bag of goodies for winning was nice too 🙂
I waited a long time to post about DRAGLIONI. I thought that this was the start of something really special…a beautiful art form that I loved and the ability to create with a very dear friend.
But this is LIFE…and sometimes life has a mind of its own. The ten year friendship came to an abrupt halt with no signs of being able to be repaired. Along with the friendship, my ability to create in her studio has also ceased.
It has been a time of great mourning. All I can do is rejoice for the time we had together and be thankful for the experiences that were wonderful. I don’t profess to understand WHY things happen, but I know they happen for a reason.
While I don’t know if I will ever work with glass in the distant future, I know it is not a part of my life now. I am BLESSITUDE…”so blessed and full of gratitude” for this part of my life. And DRAGLIONI will ALWAYS have a place in my heart…as will my friend.
Thank you so much my friends for being such a wonderful source of love and support. Your words and thoughts mean more than you will know.
Wish you all a beautiful Sunday filled with love! <3
Blessitude
Lorrie <3
6/26/16
this is deeply special and beautiful…wow…
Hi Mino!! Thank you so much 🙂 I appreciate your kindness…and hope that all is super in your world!
Oh, Lorrie, such a beautiful piece and a wonderful reflection of a time in your life to be remembered and cherished – all of it.
Thank you, Susan. Your words just brought tears to my eyes…because of your kindness…because of the loss…because I rejoice in the memories!! Thank you!! ❤
Wow Lorrie!. Draglioni is wonderful, especially to hear all the labor that went into the creation. I’m sorry about the loss of your relationship. Hugs and bubbles of love coming your way! 🙂
I see the bubbles, Brad!! Thank you so much…for all you do…for all you are 🙂 I am happy to call you friend ❤
Likewise Lorrie. I’m glad you can receive my love. And thanks for touching my heart and life. <3
Brad…I just LOVE the energy you are sending! Peace my friend ❤
Peace out!
Draglionli is stunning! And the process of its creation beautiful.
I have always wanted to take a course in fused glass — but the need for space, kiln etc., has deterred me — plus, I have enough passions! 🙂
Sometimes, when we create something this beautiful, we have to give up something else to make room for the wonder and awe to keep growing. I am sorry for the loss of this friendship — I am grateful for the beauty you have created and shared with us here.
Much love and blesstitude dear Lorrie.
Oh, Louise…thank you! I waited to post so long about this because it was so raw…I thought I could handle it now…without crying…but I was wrong. Your words touched me deeply…especially about making room…I think that is how I will view this loss.
Oh…and you would so be addicted to this art form!!! But you are correct…the need for space…kilns & lots of tools/machines…YES…are obstacles indeed. I’m so grateful to have had the experience. And as you also said…I have more passions!!! ❤
So very, very cool, my ARTIST friend! Peace!
I’m wearing it well, Dennis!! Thank you ❤
Such a moving story, sprinkled with bittersweet emotions, culminating in a fabulous work by human compassionate and caring hands. And, yes, another avenue to explore in your journey, my dear friend. Thank you so much for sharing your art and exposing your sweet soul. –Steve
Hi Steve!!! You are amazing my friend!! Your words are so beautiful…I feel like I have been blessed by them 🙂 You are correct about the whole thing being bittersweet…kind of like dark chocolate 😊 I’m happy you got to see this…just as I am happy I got to experience it!!! And who knows…maybe one day I will revisit the art form…and even if I never do I will always love Draglioni!!
Hope you are well my friend ❤
Better to have loved . . . But anyway, did you know that the dragon is a symbol of transformation in parts of the Far East, dear Lorrie? Given your lost love, it then seems such a fitting artefact of it. H <3
Yes!! I know…Hariod! It is as if it couldn’t have been anything other than DRAGLIONI!! And I am very aware of the transformation aspect…as I see much symbolism in this whole process…he, in a strange way, also represents freedom for me. Ah! Better to have loved and lost…yes…much better than never having loved at all!! Sending you warm WISHES ❤
A treasure 😍
Thank you, Ka!! I will keep him always in my heart. I hope all is super in your side of the world!
I love the fused art piece and that art as a whole. I do understand it’s another “very” expensive hobby and as such have never pursued it myself. Draglioni is just beautiful. I’m sorry your friendship came to an abrupt halt. Been there and it leaves you stunned. I think I hate losing friendships more than anything else in the world. They are so fragile and necessary. I’m sure the experience was worth while though. Giant hugs.
Hi Marlene! Thank you beautiful soul for the compassion you share ❤ It is a very strange phenomenon…one I do not completely understand. All I can think is the saying: Some people come into your life for a season…some for a reason…and few for a lifetime.
It is sad…but it is what it is…and not sure what the reason is…but I have made peace with it.
Thank you for loving Draglioni…he has a big heart that Dragon/lion!! ❤:)
Draglioni is stunning Lorrie!
So many steps. So much inspiration and love. So much talent and expression to unfold.
May this chapter fill your soul 💕
Thank you, Val. The sum of your words touch me deeply!! I appreciate your support…and your words will linger in my mind. Much love ❤
💕
So sorry sweet Lorrie about the loss, but oh what a beautiful work of art came from having the friendship for a time. Draglioni is so colorful and beautiful, what talents you have. Love, hugs and blessings
Hi Maggie! Oh…thank you so much. He truly HAD to be created…he just used me to express himself in our world 😀 I appreciate your kind words…and while the loss of the friendship is hard…the only thing I can do is get through it (i almost said “over” it…but through it felt more right. Sending lots of love to you and wishes that summer finds you happy and healthy ❤
Dearest Lorrie… I don’t know why but your wonderful Draglioni made me think immedialetly of Mayan art… yes, there is something very mystical in that beautiful masterpiece… you masterpiece Lorrie!!! I know it is related to a painful story… but pain and sorrow can lead to beauty you know! I’ve read that in Mayan language, “love” is “ya” and that is means also “pain, wound, sickness; difficulty; and… a shoe”…it is meaningful word, isn’t it 🙂 thank you for sharing my dear friend! ♥♥♥
Ah my dear, dear friend! Thank you for your comfort…as always!! ❤ I will have to look up Mayan art…but when you say “mystical” …I know what you mean…I was so compelled to make him and he means so much to me. And pain and sorrow can lead to beauty!! And “ya” is an amazing word with so many meanings!! Thank you my dear friend for all of your heart…and for leaving your wonderful energy here!! ❤
What a beautiful piece. Friends come and go out of our lives for a variety of reasons, not all of them good. Time will tell if this ending is the start of a new beginning of something even more wonderful.
Thank you, Lorrie. It’s always hard to see when it is dark…when you are in the middle of all of it. But I am hopeful that this new chapter will be full of creation and beautiful blessings 🙂 Hope the week ahead is wonder filled!
What a great post! Sometimes we don’t know “why?” but I’m glad you can still cherish that time and the friendship for what it was. Endings often precede better beginnings…
Draglioni is quite an impressive piece! So nice to see your hard work was recognized. Peace! 🙂
If I had a nickel for every time I asked that question… My mother recently told me I never stopped asking questions when I was a kid…and it dawned on me that I never stopped!! But now I work hard on not needing to KNOW why…sometimes it just IS and the reason doesn’t matter as long as you have faith! Thank you for your beautiful support ❤
Through the beauty of your creation, you will find a place to create! I’m sure!
Aw…thanks Carol! The good thing is that I have more time to be here…which I missed so much while I was away. I am more than happy as long as I am able to create SOMETHING…ANYTHING! 😀 Thanks for your kind words and friendship ❤
My pleasure!
Congratulations, Lorrie, on a truly beautiful piece! I loved it and although things took a surprising turn, towards shores not altogether known, you have this experience of creative expression to draw upon. It is always really interesting what we create, never quite knowing what it will be or mean. Looking back at the “artifacts” of our lives we later sometimes discover we knew things all along, we didn’t know we knew… Draglioni looks like a friend who sprung right from your heart to accompany you on this journey!
Peace and Blessings
Michael
A friend…a guardian…a protector…a talisman…a symbol of freedom and emancipation…to name a few…and whew…they all just rocked off my fingertips so I may take time to pursue the feelings lying underneath them!
I get what you mean, Michael, about discovering that we knew things we didn’t think we knew. Life is so amazing with all its twists and turns and secrets hidden in the ether of our souls. It would seem that the lessons that pack a real punch to everything we thought we knew are the ones that can have the real possibility of transformation.
I am so happy you are on this ride with me. Much love…and Blessitude ❤
What an incredibly beautiful piece of art, Lorrie! I am so sorry for the loss of your friendship…I, too, have had something similar happen…I asked myself “why” for years, but now I have peace and I’m able to remember the good times. Life is bittersweet…but there’s always a blessing to be found! Blessings to you, Lorrie!!
Thank you for sharing, Julie ♡ It is strange how these kind of break ups can happen…it just stops working for one for whatever reason and then there’s no possibility of fixing it. It’s all good…it does make me very sad…in fact this post has been bittersweet as well…it makes me sad to think about all that happened, but then beautiful souls like you share your compassion! Blessings to you, Julie…hope you and your family enjoy the summer ♡
What a beautiful piece, and thanks for sharing, Lorrie. We have all been there, and one never knows what is around the next turn. Take care and have a wonderful week!
Thank you so much, Laura 🙂 I expect great things around the corner 😉 Wishing you love & light ♡
And to you!
Very impressive, Lorrie. Think of Dragonlioni as looking back and firing the past to preserve it.
Wow!! What an awesome thought! It is funny because I have thought that the firing in the kiln embedded the love energy that created him!! Thank you so much for your kind words…hope the week started well for you.
Phenomenal Lorrie, yes life does have a mind of its own, and you have a loving heart which is yours and sometimes it may feel like it is on it’s own. Your creativity is inspiring and I love how you shared the ENTIRE process with us. I see you in this plate, not as the dragon slayer, but the warrior princess that befriends the dragons and you win the Gold Medal in mixed doubles tennis. Thanks for sharing this, the plate and you, both of which are truly made of love. Hugs, Harlon
Oh…Harlon!! I can’t wait to design my Warrior Princess costume!! 😉 I love playing on grass…but an all white costume just wouldn’t seem fitting considering the wonderful colors of the dragons!! Thanks, my friend, for you kind and playful spirit…I see the love in you also ♡♡
This story was so beautiful. I find it striking- the beauty (and passion) of the piece, combined with the loss of such a relationship. I love the artistic eye that you have, Lorrie.
Hi Kim 🙂 Thank you so much. Your opinion on art is special to me. I can tell you get the relationship of what I feel…of how it all went down together. Life is unpredictable, that’s for sure…one can only hope to move with grace through the rough patches. Sending good energy.
So cool! Draglioni is beautiful! Love the colors 😉 Congrats!
Thank you Bela ♡ Sending you a giant hug!
I can tell you put your heart and soul into this project. Draglioni is beautiful. I love how his mane and tail remind me of flowers. Creativity is one thing that increases as we use it. I’m sorry about the relationship not working out, but I like your attitude and believe you will continue your creative work. Congrats on the ribbon! 🙂
Thanks, JoAnna! He actually pulled my heart and soul out of me 🙂 It was a sincere pleasure to be a part of his creation. It is funny…after I had the flu when I was “unmotivated” I couldn’t even look at him…it was like the bad energy I had couldn’t even go near Draglioni! Thanks for being here…thanks for your beautiful support ♡♡ As far as the relationship goes…it is very sad but I think I can see that it HAD to happen…it was just so unexpected 🙁
Much love for a super 4th weekend coming up!
A bittersweet story that you shared with grace and love. Draglioni is one remarkable work of art. My goodness, it’s lovely Lorrie. And I’m sorry about the loss of a friendship, but your attitude feels so wise and loving. Bless you.
Thank you so much, Cynthia!! Your loving support shines through your words and I am so grateful to feel it!! Every day gets a little better as I pray for understanding ♡ Much love and light back to you ♡
Beautifully made!!
Thank you…so much 🙂 I’m happy you got to meet him 😉
😊
Beautiful… I love the story, the work of art and your picture!! 🙂 Great to see. Thank you. <3
Thanks! So happy you stopped by 🙂 Have a beautiful week!
Hi, Fab blog! Amazing!! I am still in the very early stages – 4 months old. Just making efforts to link in with fellow bloggers to improve our followers and get the word out there for us both. I would appreciate you having a peek at my blog, as I have published several posts. Feel free to like, comment, follow or just take a peek. Thank you 🙂
Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting. Your blog is lovely…and informative. Happy to connect here 🙂
Thank you kindly. Happy to connect too 🙂
Draglioni is a wonderful piece of art, Lorrie! It is vibrant and expressive – all love <3 I hope you can continue with this art form in some fashion at the right time. Healing hugs ~ Helen
Hi Helen…thanks so much 🙂 It was really cathartic to post about him. Maybe some day…
Hope you are surrounded by love and light ♡
Absolutely wonderful Lorrie. Thank you so much for sharing this and for telling me you posted it. I’m so glad you did. You must feel a great sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. I know I would. Hahaha. And a huge congratulations for winning third prize. Did you ever think that would happen?
Lorrie, I am so sorry to read about the loss of a friendship in your life. I know it’s been a long, hard struggle to go through. I hope that your heart is healing, and that the worst is over.
Please don’t give up on creating though. Even though you may no longer have the use of her studio, there are many ways to create at home (I know you know this. Just want to encourage you to continue feeding your creative spirit 😉 ).
Blessings and hugs, my friend.
🙂 <3
Thank you, dear Staci!! I know we talked about this project…and it took me a while to post it…mainly because my heart was so hurt 🙁 But I am happy that I did…and happy that you got to see him!!! It was a beautiful process…and maybe one day I will explore glass again. Thanks for the encouragement…I am busy creating a few different projects 🙂 I HAVE to make things…I don’t think the medium is that important…at least most of my life it didn’t seem to be…and thanks…because you reminded me of this fact 🙂 I just have to CREATE!!! Much love to you dear friend. I hope your project is going really well ♡♡♡
Oh Lorrie, please forgive me for taking so long to respond to your lovely comment. My life has been very busy lately, and WordPress has taken a back seat.
Yes, I’m so glad I did get to see this project, and I’m so sorry that you were so hurt. Maybe one day we’ll be able to see some more beautiful creations of yours? …. Hmm?…. 🙂
I hear you @I HAVE to make things. I think we all have a need to create.
Much love to you too Lorrie, and please have a lovely weekend.
🙂 <3
p.s. oh yes, my project is coming along. Slowly, but surely. Hehehe.
<3
Never worry about time…I know you are there!! 😉 Thank you for your kind compassionate words. And you will for sure see more creations from me…I could no sooner stop creating than stop breathing on purpose! Much love my friend ♡♡♡
Yeah! 🙂
♡♡
Lorrie I know how much this meant to you, Also your friendship which broke your heart.
It is sad that this all broke apart, just as you started to develop your skills in your new found love of creativity.
However the Dragon is very symbolic and
The dragon is also a symbol of power, strength, and good luck for people who are worthy of it. And you are most worthy dear Lorrie.
And the Fire Dragon of your creation which by the way is a wonderful Piece of Art, also means
“The Fire Dragon is a symbol of transmutation, energy and mastery, if this is your power animal you will be lent enthusiasm, courage and vitality. Your inner fire will be fuelled. You will be helped to overcome obstacles. You will be given the qualities of leadership and mastery. The fire dragon can also be a strong protector. ”
I got that quote from the shamanicjourney.com
You are upon a wonderful transformational journey, yet despite the pain caused you are still willing to love your friend and know that somewhere within its lessons that you have grown even further to lift yourself higher from the vibrations that hold us down.
Thank you for sharing both your dragon art and your story Lorrie, I know the wound is still deep, but the Dragon is by your side guiding you.
Love and Blessings
Always.. Sue <3
Oh…Sue!!! It is amazing what you shared here! First…for the past year I was compelled to make a “dragon.” I had many means by which to create one…but nothing felt “right” until I decided to make him out of glass. Now the transformation you speak of…if I am honest with myself I know there were cracks in the relationship…just ones I did not want to notice…to see. I am amazed how many times I can ignore what my heart tries to tell me! This art piece is SO symbolic…in SO many ways!! I feel he “created” himself…I was just used for the labor!! And I KNEW he was important! And after the fact…I have even thought of him as the facilitator of events that are leading me on to even larger understandings. It is funny I never looked up the meaning…maybe I knew someone (you!) would send it to me 🙂 🙂
It is a very sad loss…but I have learned SO SO MUCH!!! Thank you for your beautiful energy and your wise counsel and your sweet compassion!! Much love my friend ♡♡♡
You are so welcome Lorrie.. And you know Dragons are not mearly symbols, And He, your Dragon is with you guiding you .. Look at him often when you need a question answering.. And I am sure the answers will soon come forth.. 🙂 Big smiles, and thank you for feeding this back to me dear friend xxx
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