a perfect mother's day gift...

So my husband got me the most fabulous book for Mother's Day last month...."The Sick Rose: Disease and the Art of Medical Illustration."

There are pages of gorgeous illustrations of the most horrible and terrifying diseases.  

Skin diseases, Leprosy, Parasites, Venereal Disease...the most beautifully rendered decay of the body.  It is glorious and ugly all at the same time.  

I have been wanting to embroider images of scabs, scars, cancers, and diseased organs recently, and have found there is a Mayo Clinic Patient Library with all sorts of resources that might be useful.  I can't wait to get there.  

One of my all-time favorite blogs....

http://www.artisaway.com

If you haven't visited, Elsa Mora, is one of the most gifted and prolific artists I've found online.  I love her work (her papercuts are to die for) and I discover something new about her every time I look.  She believes creativity and art are life forces, and that they are available to anyone.  She is an inspiration...a mother, a woman, a maker...and she makes me want to be better in my different roles.  I once told someone that she made the worked I wish I could make, but I am not sure that is entirely true.  I think she has shown me that I can make the work I make and see it's truth.  Please check her out.  

Thank you Elsa for letting me show some images from your site!