Life in the Garden

Matters of Life and Death

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Making a Memory Jar

My friend the artist known as “Sooz” is making a memory jar. Last week I dropped in and snapped a few photos of her creation.

Soozie is an artist and sadly, one of the early members of the Widows Club (1998). 10 years later she’s made a major career change, had a child in mid-life and about to complete her master’s degree to teach- what else? Art!

While experimenting for this piece, she tried taking a smaller surface, covering it in glue and rolling the surface in beads.

Not what she had in mind.

This is the look. The bolo tie adds an interesting dimension. Now, show me how to work it.
memory jug

Tools of the trade. Jar or jug, junk, and white silicone. That gun looks a little unwieldy.

memory jug

But Sooz handles it like a pro.
memory jug

Using mostly flat trinkets to adorn the surface of the jar, working in small areas, letting it dry, repeat. Depending on your coverage area, this is not an afternoon project.

Love it!

Message In A Bottle

memory jug

Memory jars and jugs have always fascinated me. While they may look like a hunk of junk, they are actually messages in a bottle. Memory jars are thought to originate with Southern blacks as decorative grave markers. The art form later became popular with the Victorians and has become a rare collectible in the folk-art genre.

The jar pictured above is built on an old molasses jug and is covered with an extraordinary assemblage including old buttons, an onyx mourning cross, shells, marbles, keys, a belt buckle, broach, stones, English coins, bottles, ceramic people, metallic objects,screws, chains, jewelry, a wishbone, and more. It is topped with a glass finial. It has a pencil eraser holder with a date of 1886 on it. The three coins are all Victorian.

It was said that this jug had been given to a maid in the 1920’s by an English family who had immigrated to the US. It is 10 inches high, 8 inches in diameter and weighs over 7 pounds. While there has been some very slight loss over the years, it is almost complete; with the items now held very securely with old putty. It is signed in red on the bottom twice what looks likes “Mandelere”. Considered to be one of the best memory jars seen on the Folk Artisans site.

The price? $600.00

Everybody Loved Chris

chris sifford

Been thinking about my old friend Chris Sifford. Back in the early 90’s I had the good fortune to make Chris’ acquaintance when we worked together at a local radio station. Everyone loved Chris, he was smart, funny, and I developed a mild crush on him. Later, our careers took different paths, and we lost touch. I never forgot him though.

Chris wound up taking a job with Missouri Governor Carnahan as a staffer, serving in various capacities. During Carnahan’s 2000 campaign for the U.S. Senate, Chris lost his life along with the Governor and his son in a plane crash. Chris was only 36.

Last Saturday was the annual Chris Sifford Day at the ballpark (Springfield Cardinals) with a 5K walk/run fundraiser scheduled in the morning. It rained hard here (again) Saturday and the event was likely a wash. Next up, is the Sifford Golf Scramble to raise funds for scholarships at his alma-mater.

chris sifford memorial

From the Sifford Memorial site: If you had the pleasure of knowing Chris, you are lucky. He embodied the spirit of someone who actually wanted to serve or help others serve the people. His friends were many and came from a variety of backgrounds — which is why the Sifford Scramble golf tournament is so fun. There will be bootheelians, hillbillies, beer makers, teachers, preachers, athletic personnel, and worst of all lawyers, bankers and consultants (ha ha).

Friends and family established the Chris Sifford Memorial Foundation in 2001 to ensure that his memory lives on by providing scholarships for young people interested in careers in journalism or public service. Approximately $100,000 has been raised to establish endowment funds at Chris’ alma mater Missouri State University and University of Missouri-Columbia.

Establishing a foundation or memorial fund to preserve a loved one’s memory and pass on the legacy is a beautiful way to remember and treasure a special life.

Will Kurt Cobain Ever Have Peace?

curt cobain

A little late to the party, but I just found this story regarding the supposed theft of Curt Cobain’s ashes at the first of June.

From Rolling Stone:

The majority of Cobain’s ashes were spread at a New York Buddhist temple and in Washington’s Wishkah River. Cobain’s widow, Courtney Love said she kept a small amount (as well as a lock of his hair) for herself and was storing the ashes in a pink bear-shaped handbag that was hidden in the wardrobe closet of her Hollywood home. She believes the bag was taken by a former friend.

This isn’t the first time Love has had something of her husband stolen: In March, Love alleged that thieves used Cobain’s social security number to steal several million dollars from his estate. In both cases, Love believes she knows who is responsible for the theft.