Alter It Monthly

I am so excited to have Alter It Monthly back this month,  and with a wonderful sponser,  ARTchix Studio! The theme is shrines, nichos, alters, dream boxes                     

( and, in my case, potential fire hazards)

.

 I didn't set out to make a religious shrine. These things just kind of happen. I was playing with my new inchie shrines from Art Chix when I came across this Mary icon from my Grandma and it ended up going in that direction.  I'm really just a fairweather Catholic, often going when I'm on vacation and we see a beautiful church, or we're visiting family. For many years it seemed the only time I attended Mass was when I was visiting my Grandma in Pittsburgh, PA, and she went here to Assumption in Bellevue.

She was married there, my parents were married there, and I...was married near the ocean in Washington by a Presbyterian ( like I said, Fairweather), but this church holds many special memories for me.  I had my First Communion here, although all I remember is my special cake with the pink, plastic rosary on it. There were many Christmas Masses, my Grandparents' 50th anniversary, and several ordinary Sundays when Gram and I went to church.  I can still hear her groaning about the way people dressed too casually for Mass these days and I knew better than to show up in jeans. Actually, I still feel a little guilty when I end up at Mass in denim- I'm pretty sure God doesn't care, but my Grandma does!

With all that said, my shrine became a tribute to this particular church, built in 1931, a special place I am nostalgic for. The photo transferred on fabric is from a book the church had printed for their dedication ceremony, and the stained glass windows I know and love are yet to be.

Materials used: ARTchix inchie shrine, covered in Distress Crackle paint, two dollar frame found on sale at Borders, metal roses and white flower from ArtChix, vintage icon, felt, seed beads, German glass glitter, acrylic paints, crackle, muslin, transfer paper,Creative Paperclay for candle holder, cut-off birthday candle, and I think that covers it.