A Writing Game

A Writing Game

Posted by Erin Mansfield

While looking for writing prompts, I found a post about an interactive story and I decided to join the fun.  The title of the story and it's first chapter were created by Cheryl (Thoughts from the Tall Girl).  There is a catch.  The website that hosts all the fun, called An Ancient Tome, gives prompts.  In this case, there has to be a "white shield".  I wrote a "chapter" (really about 200 words) and then let it sit on my computer screen while I decided if I should post it.  You wouldn't believe the thoughts that ran through my head!

Gasp! "What if I ruin the whole story!"

Ok, I finally decided to post it.  After all, the idea is to have others add to the story.  Of course, I did discover I had a typo, actually a part I thought I'd erased.  It makes me smile.

The story is called "The Frozen Crown".  Please add your own part to the story!  Below is a copy of my chapter, complete with my error:

She pressed forward, sweat running down her face.  The continuing song settled into an ancient chant, soft and alluring, yet it sent shivers up her spine.  Sasha tried fervently to run, but her senses were overpowered by a droning in her ears.  Her side ached, and she was losing feeling in her limbs.  Panting, she caught hold of an elm tree, and then curled up at the base.  The world spinning, she closed her eyes.

It was a calm, beautiful morning when Sasha finally came to.  She took a deep breath, as she tried to piece together what happened.  She hadn't been dreaming.  For one thing, she her stomach still hurt and she had no idea where she was.  More disturbingly, she discovered a strange mark around her belly button.  It was like an old tattoo, with the ink slightly faded.  The image was a silver ring, within a white shield.  She tried to rub the image away, but it burned under her touch.

“It won’t do you any good, I’m afraid”

Sasha jumped to her feet.

“Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone I startled ya” grinned the thin, tall man as he stepped closer.

All In A Row

All In A Row

Posted by Erin Mansfield

Thought I'd make some flowers with the InspirARTion Windows 8 app.  Enjoy.

The Devastation Beneath

The Devastation Beneath

Posted by Erin Mansfield

Life is broken
It's shattered pieces trampled
Where Beauty and promise
Hide the devastation beneath
All the colors sucked dry
By a whirlpool of pain and fear
Leaving the world bland and gray
Where even the best intentions
Spawn a fog so foul
It is an astounding wonder
That we haven't choked to death

Yes, I know dawn will rise again
And I will so willingly forget
The termoil festering beneath
For now though I wait sitting
Wondering how much damage
Can my heart really take

Rainbow Farting Unicorns League

Rainbow Farting Unicorns League

Posted by Erin Mansfield

Note: What follows is meant clearly for humor's sake.  I decided to make a fictitious website, and I found the results humorous and so I posted it below.

RainbowFartingUnicornsLeague.com

About Rainbow Farting Unicorns

This is all about the fantastical wonders of those mystical unicorns. It primarily focuses on how to get those beautiful creatures to fart out those rainbows they are so famous for. Of course, we will also discuss how to find and trap a leprechaun, for all his wonderful gold!

Caution

Any information included in this site is to be used only at your own risk. We are not liable for unicorn stampedes, gas poisoning, or being turned into a melon by leprechauns.

History

Long before this site was created, causing unicorns to fart rainbows was already a noble tradition. No one knows for sure who first discovered that unicorns had such a peculiar gift. We do know that the earliest records tell only of the droppings, being brightly colored and strangely tasting of chocolate. It is rumored that the original discoverer was actually attempting to mate with one of the creatures, when it ran off, releasing a gaseous array of colors. Unfortunately, the man's genitals forever bore a rainbow pattern, causing him to be harassed by leprechauns the rest of his days.

The Tradition Today

For many, the art of unicorn rainbow farting has become more of a pastime than a true calling. Where once initiates would pledge their lives to the task, now only teenagers, drunks, or the suicidal put in any real effort. Today, groups tend to gather more for the food and drink. It is time spent with family and friends, ending in a staged attempt, kept carefully away from any unicorn’s backend.

The Renaissance

While many consider the risk involved in reviving this harrowing sport far too high, it is time to reconsider. With today's knowledge, it is far safer than ever before. Those brave enough to coax unicorns into farting, can earn themselves a lifetime of fame and fortune. For it is the only known way to reliably lure a leprechaun.  If one can also succeed in capturing a leprechaun, they can acquirer whatever their heart desires. Of course, there are risks. The gas itself is unpredictable. It has been known dissolve entire groups, cause people to think their own flesh is a most delicious dessert, or to simply turn everyone into adorably defenseless bunnies. If one survives, one still must manage to outwit the leprechauns. Yet, with the use of the latest information and safety equipment, many are now willing to risk it all.

Contact Information

Of course users are free to contact each other, or myself, through the forums. If the need is urgent, however, the use of telepathy is preferred. Of course, all scheduled gatherings can be entered by teleportation. We only ask that guests refrain from using telekinesis in designated areas, so arrivals can apparate without foreign objects becoming lodged in their body.

Mother's Day

Mother's Day

Posted by Erin Mansfield

I hope everyone enjoyed Mother's Day, whether or not you are a mother.

This is a pretty simple image, though it still took me a while today.  I drew the image and scanned it into the computer, then edited it, added color and effects with gimp.

The House Upon the Cliff

The House Upon the Cliff

Posted by Erin Mansfield

They fell like sopping rain into the foyer
Before maneuvering past buckets of water
And hastily settling into the parlor
Each crack of thunder shook the house
Comfort was disregarded for warmth
Provided by sips of a light, bitter tea
Their journey was a difficult one

The house, once splendid, still charmed
As gold-leaf glistened beneath the neglect
And each room contained the remembrances
Of generations of life, love and home
The sole remaining heir and guardian
Drained of money, time and energy
In the desperate hope of restoring the house
And preserving those cherished memories
Finally knew that the quest had failed
Standing upon the edge of a treacherous cliff
More of the grounds vanished every year
Threatening to take this ancient dwelling
The travelers confirm worrisome fears
The roads are washed out, barely passible
Perhaps these walls will still hold
Yet this torrent is not about to let up
Certainly they must escape to safety
While they retain a chance of success

Caught unprepared due to a deep denial
The guardian stashes a sentimental souvenir
Gathers some necessities, and prays for safety
Another flash and crack, the lights flicker
Before flooding the room in blind darkness
They struggle with flashlights and candles
The job is nearly done, though the ground jerks
Suddenly gravity seems to pull with a new weight
Feet slip, the body lurches instinctively forward
While nearly swallowed by the blackening abyss
And is yet caught by a single hand on the wrist
And pulled into a welcome temporary safety
Into each other’s arms, holding tight for a moment
With a nod they run, taking care not to fall
They shove themselves and a bag into the car
The path ahead, more like a river than road
The car jerks with each widening whole
The traveler’s determined to save their friend
As they charge onward, defying wind and rain
But the guardian only stares at the home now lost
No longer the protector of a priceless history
Now the protected in a battle against the elements
Nothing left to do, but to simply hold on
As strength slips and the world continues to rage
Forgetting to feel anything, but overwhelming loss

Back in the Muck

Back in the Muck

Posted by Erin Mansfield

Gone the vibrant victories
Perfect in song and honor
When any road one chose
Filled pockets with gold

Only now all pathways
Are entrenched in muck
Causing countless stumbles
While fog does muddle

And still yet more troubles
The map now swallowed
In a torrent of water
Leaving one to wander

The miles last beyond forever
Yet if there be an end
Then even shoeless feet
Go marching ever forward

Spring with a Touch of Snow

Spring with a Touch of Snow

Posted by Erin Mansfield

A sky, blue with streaks of fading white
The wind is comfortable, cool and mild
Though teasingly it swells then stills
Allowing warmth to seep into the earth
Squirrels seek through lush green
While the melody of birds flutters above
Flowers dab colors of yellow and cranberry
Though snow still hides in shadows
And in the pockets of thick, green bushes

Haunting Pains

Haunting Pains

Posted by Erin Mansfield

Watching agitation overwhelm composure
Enduring threads finally give their last
Heavy burdens spewing venomous demonstrations
As every hindrance deepens the indignity

Though warring against the prevailing turmoil
The display evokes images of a past disregard
Where my own temper surged with turbulence
And led to an aversive defense against my heart

A single sentence, surely not meant in truth
Intent only on forestalling further challenges
Yet sparks flared, before slowly surrendering
To leave behind a charred and cold void

I can not find any strength born from difficulty
For with each trial adds yet further strain
Slight neglects provoke sensations of battle
My capacity fades as haunting pains invade

Perhaps a stay beyond the current discord
Where long gentle rains soften the rugged ground
From the accompanying lonely withdrawal sprouts promise
That the coming sunshine will nurture vibrant blooms

Rambling Thoughts Need to Quiet

Rambling Thoughts Need to Quiet

Posted by Erin Mansfield

So many thoughts do ramble past
Some snag, causing them to persist
Looping thoughts just never end
Ideas that seemed dead, rise again
Pointless debates do vigorous battle
While shadows hide murky troubles
A whirlwind of thought, scatters a mind

Thoughts overwhelmingly fulfill desire
Seductively touching flights of temptation
Always concurring courageous adventures
Or suffocate in snares of tremendous pain
Stumbling fears of all treachery and torture
Toss one into the bubbling depths of sorrow
Unsettling highs and lows, skew perception

The stream of thoughts dwindle to a drip
A calmness clears the fog from the waters
Contented silence melts away the irrelevant
Silence concentrates focus onto the brilliant
Refining the nugget into the purest gold
Time, space and age manage to disappear
A quiet mind finds purpose in the imperfect

Gems Masked in the Ordinary

Gems Masked in the Ordinary

Posted by Erin Mansfield

A soft mixture, sweet and reminiscent of spring
The aroma carries the mind in tranquil thoughts
A gentle stir, both potent and yet vague
Layers of pure delight blossom in every color
Gratifying the heart in waves of the serene

The babble of a brook becomes a roaring river
Feathery seeds float along like ethereal wisps
Bare feet in grasses, is as to dancing on clouds
A successful find becomes a quest worthy of song
And everyone present forms everlasting bonds

Such dreams evoked when one opens their heart
To beauty carefully hidden like precious gems
Masked behind folds of the ordinary scraps
Where Angels and heirs do find their share
Lavish beyond the considerations of this land

Life: An Array of Possibilities

Life: An Array of Possibilities

Posted by Erin Mansfield

Life contains so many layers
Hues of shadows and light
Spiraling in every direction
A vast array of possibilities
We struggle with the weight
Of choices we've yet to make
Yet none know the full expanse
Held within the insignificant
An entire universe of meaning
Contained within a single drop

Is There Nothing You've Enjoyed?

Is There Nothing You've Enjoyed?

Posted by Erin Mansfield

Have you not once woken
To a sunrise in luscious color
With rays to overwhelm the sky
Or had contentment settle in
As clouds and light perform
While slow ballads dance
Within a summers breeze
Lulling you into reflection

Have you no fond memories
Of youthful, playful days
Or had a child's laughter
Renew your carefree spirit
That you've long forgotten
Or found abundant treasure
Within sleep filled nights
Of dreams that seem so real?

Mind and Creation

Mind and Creation

Posted by Erin Mansfield

Oh such a longing holds my heart
For the mystical, the spectacular
To create the surreal, the beautiful
With each and every thought

Alas, I find I lack such power
I must confess I am not God
My mind majestically carves
It needs no paint brush or pen

Yet such creation is forever trapped
Within the complacent simmer
Of an imagination lost to life
Leaving the days sparse of light

I must bridge the surreal to the real
But building bridges takes skill
The cost will vary in time and effort
And the highest price may be my pride

The perfect picture set in the mind
Will most certainly be set aside
Yet stray marks become the inspiration
The toil transforming, infusing emotion

Melting of a Snowy Heart

Melting of a Snowy Heart

Posted by Erin Mansfield

Cold and forbidding was once my heart
With no light to show, not even a spark
Numbing silence draped me in it's chill
A dulling pain blocked all my senses
As ice crept in from every direction

Yet slowly sunlight lifted over the horizon
To soften my heart and release it's burden
To melt the ice and release my shackles
To expose all feelings in this fresh season
Snow melts into a vivid spring green

Dreary's Dreadful Night

Dreary's Dreadful Night

Posted by Erin Mansfield

Thoughts upon a dreary night
Soft slumber so far from sight
Worries that hide below the surface
Conclusions rise without a purpose
My mind lost on winding paths
My heart distant and detached
Until my mind hits on a snag
Memories pour out once again
And emotion overwhelms
There is no more sun or air
Only the struggle for the surface
The crushing pain from drowning
And then once again it's gone
My feet stand steady upon the shore
The waters calm and all's secure
The sun warms the gentle breeze
It must have been some nasty dream
And yet I can't shake this dread

A Mystical Contentedness

A Mystical Contentedness

Posted by Erin Mansfield

While light dances in the night,
The fragrance like a sweet kiss
My eyes become entranced
By the harmonious movement
Of the many candle flames
Found on every table or stand
Within this mystical time and place
My eyes dull as lids begin to fall
And dreams grow ever more vivid
The room fills with the warmth
It wraps around me in it's comfort
The cool, chill air left well outside
A distant memory that one can't find
A contented smile sweeps across my face
As tender memories mix with the surreal
And music forever fills my heart

Thoughts on a Day Scarred

Thoughts on a Day Scarred

Posted by Erin Mansfield

An event to participate and cheer
Turned sour and filled with fear
In a moment that fell out of sync
Like a dream or a nightmare
And thoroughly changed lives

The confusion, the pain, the loss
The shock that gave way to tears
The heroic acts of those near
And the spoken and silent prayers

To live with those haunting memories
To have lost loved ones so dear,
To face frightening injuries so severe

Let us remember to continue to care
For many are scarred for a lifetime
A moment in the shadow darkens lives
Yet thoughtful love and caring hearts
May bring light into the darkest nights

We can't change what has been done
And so we need to lend a shoulder
To give a hand, a listening ear
To watch out and care for each other

We must not forget the many lives
Filled with sorrow and pain today
As well as each and every other day

To face such fear, such pain
Takes love, takes patience, takes time
For tears fall more abundant than rain
Yet love shines brighter than the sun

Striving for Wings

Striving for Wings

Posted by Erin Mansfield

Staring down the path already chosen
The consequences set in motion
Constantly watching for the moment
To turn around ones fortunes

So many have fallen and are forgotten
When trying to touch the sun above
Always striving for wings to take flight
Yet the skies are never free of storms
And not everything remains in sight

Then one rewinds through memories
Of both grand and simple slices of life
The amazing love for a child born
The warmth of a hand entwined in yours
Holding on a heartbeat and a breath
One must soar as far as they may go

Blessed Snow

Blessed Snow

Posted by Erin Mansfield

While this isn't exactly what I envisioned, I am pleased with the final image.  Basically, I finally combined my Snow Angel and Winter Tree drawings, with a background I created in gimp.

Longing for Summer Days

Longing for Summer Days

Posted by Erin Mansfield

Memories of lazy summer afternoons
Gently swaying in the comfort of a hammock
The soft breeze moving the branches above
Wind chimes singing their harmonious tones
As soft clouds slowly dance across the blue sky
The rhythmic sway lulls me into a haze
Dream images mix with my surroundings
As my eyes close and open of their own accord
Time passes and yet all seems to stand still
Scents of flowers and garden greens
And the faint sounds of distant conversations
Further pacify my mind into total relaxation
In such peace, I enter into a light dreamy sleep.

A Room of Memories

A Room of Memories

Posted by Erin Mansfield

The room was small and scantly furnished
An old, failing chair sat near a window
The curtains faded to a translucent yellow
A flowering fragrance, both sweet and light
Entered through the broken window pane
Yet could not conceal the distinct scent
Of so many long years of dust settling
Nothing had changed in all those years
Nothing and yet everything
For this was once a gathering place
The active center of a vibrant home
Where parents provided with love
And children grew, played and learned
Where hearts broke and healed again
Now the room is quiet and still
With only an old man and his thoughts

Love of the Night

Love of the Night

Posted by Erin Mansfield

I love the nights with gentle rain
Or a cool breeze that gently sways
Skies clear to gracious stars above
Or darkened by a blanket of clouds
While days do shine in their grandeur
A mystical thread weaves it's mysteries
Within the hidden folds of the night
In solitude one imagines more
Than can be lived in any lifetime
In groups we grow together more
With friendly songs and a warm fire
As couples remind themselves
Of a love that carries their dreams
Wherever they may find themselves.

Good Night Bear

Good Night Bear

Posted by Erin Mansfield

So I decided to play around more with the InspirARTion Windows 8 app.  The first drawing I started, developed a rather evil looking face.  As I kept drawing, it grew into something like a vampire/devil.  It was pretty cool, but not what I was after.  I decided I start over.

The next face I made, looked like an angry teddy bear.  Apparently, I need to work on happy faces.  After finally coming up with a more pleasant face, I then drew the rest of the outline for the teddy bear.  I edited my creation with the wonderful Gimp program.  I changed it's perspective and added a simple shadow.  The results are still slightly creepy, but not bad.  It reminds me of being a child and seeing some beloved toy in the dark shadows of the night.  When very young, it's frightening.  Eventually, the image becomes comforting.  The strange shadow is only a reminder that it is time to sleep, while teddy bears and other stuffed toys guard the night.

Continuing Love

Continuing Love

Posted by Erin Mansfield

Words spoken softly in the ear
A breath, soft and warm upon the neck
A sweet shiver as lips meet lips
The world pauses for an unknown time
As two hearts beat together
And they become linked forever

Somehow time passes and life goes on
Some of our days are simply routine
And our dreams are nearly forgotten
But moments of such bliss still exist
A look, a moment when hands touch
An unexpected gesture in a time of need
Or a night of tender loving bliss

A Spring Flight

A Spring Flight

Posted by Erin Mansfield

Wings fold in for a thrill ride
A rush of pure acceleration
Sudden drop, the world flies by
Spread those wings to catch the glide
Slowing down, taking time
Enjoy the flight while skies are clear
When sun kisses the new spring blooms
And the gentle breeze is soft and warm
The scene so serene and flight so freeing
Colors revived, so vivid they shine
Winding rivers play their musical sound
The mountain stands majestically above
My soul sings with it, forever it flies

A Song, Perhaps

A Song, Perhaps

Posted by Erin Mansfield

Ok, so below is a song I came up with in the shower, so the tune isn't probably that original.  I could also clean up the vocal, add some instrumental, and some verses.  Oh, and you can hear my cat in the background.  Anyway, I think that's enough fretting over my own shortcomings, here it is:

Nothing Stays The Same

Sometimes life is so great
There's always a smile on your face
And my heart wants to sing forever
But where does the time go
We try to hold on
But nothing stays the same
(nothing stays the same)

They say children grow up fast,
much too fast
And adults have far to much,
to much to plan
So the days are short
And sleepless nights are far too long
We're haunted by the memories
Of Cherished moments long gone

Contradictions

Contradictions

Posted by Erin Mansfield

Waiting for the perfect moment
Now that moments come and gone

Striving hard to push ahead
Blind to the joy within each day

The money to pay for one's dreams
Time just continues to slip away

All the time to create and play
Lack of funds get in the way

Boundless energy in a small package
No understanding of the road ahead

Experience to guide one's every move
Too tired and weary to make the way

Frustration can breed from life's recipe
But so can love and laughter

Happy Easter

Happy Easter

Posted by Erin Mansfield

Hoping everyone had a happy Easter!  We had a great day, but now I really have to get to bed.  Anyway, I hand drew the Lily and edited in gimp.

Winter Tree

Winter Tree

Posted by Erin Mansfield

I decided to create a tree.  I once considered myself an expert at drawing trees, from perhaps my 5th grade year and through middle school.  After messing around with this image for quite some time, I feel that the years have robbed me of this expertise or perhaps my ego was just bigger then.  That said, I still feel it is a nice tree.  I drew the image with pen, scanned it, and then edited it in gimp.  I didn't enjoy a plain white background and a black background made the outline and twigs disappear.  So, I used gimp to render in some clouds for the background.  Eventually, I hope to add snow to it and add it to the snow angel pic I created earlier.

A Painful Power

A Painful Power

Posted by Erin Mansfield

Few would thank their faults for their success
Their pain is seen as a miserable pest
It decides to visit whenever it likes
Only popping in for a moment
Or attempting to stay for a lifetime
It can vary from a slightly annoying guest
To something that puts one to the test
At which point there is little left to do
One will medicate the pain away
In any way one finds they can
Sometimes relief is the sweetest candy
Sometimes there is merely numbness
Yet where relief can not be found
And the pain can not then fade
A certain, powerful focus can arise
While one moves onward anyway
When the task is too important to ignore
I do not know why we carry such weight
Why our lives aren't perfectly sweet
Yet there is that calm within the storm
Something within that's so much more
If we can remember ourselves within the pain
We have less to lose and more to gain

Lonely Road

Lonely Road

Posted by Erin Mansfield

It's lonely on the road
When you can't go back
And don't know the way forward
Fellow travelers offer advise
Yet nothing seems quite right
The turn is somewhere up ahead
But the road keeps going
So many miles without an exit
Too few rest stops along the way
You worry you'll run out of fuel
Will have to hike for miles
Before the end of the day?

InspirARTion Flower

InspirARTion Flower

Posted by Erin Mansfield

I created this flower with the InspirARTion Windows 8 app.  It is very simple to use and I was easily able to draw without a touchscreen.  It's a fun program.  Their website allows the same type of drawing tools.

Thoughts of Love

Thoughts of Love

Posted by Erin Mansfield

I walk slowly across the room
Barely noticing the chill in the air
Each step means something more
The sound of my own breath fills my ears
It is a moment of intense promise
The simplest detail is enveloped in significance
The sweetest joy, as eyes meet eyes
And hands meet hands

Precious are the thoughts of love
Amazing how often one forgets
The simple pleasures life permits
When nights are long and cold
And a days work is never done
Smile in the thoughts of what was
And what is yet to come
Enjoy each moment
As best you can
And live and love everyday

Starting to Add Color

Starting to Add Color

Posted by Erin Mansfield

Worked on the Snow Angel pic today.  Took forever, since I'm just learning how to add color to anime.  I used two tutorials to get some ideas.  First I used the videos Coloring Anime Drawings on Gimp, parts 1 - 3.  I also used Anime CGing Tutorial, Color Choice.  It's just a start, but I like the results so far.

Altered Time

Altered Time

Posted by Erin Mansfield

There are moments
That seem to stretch,
Far into the past,
And long into the future.
When time itself
Seems forever altered.
These interruptions
Launch us out of ourselves,
Into an entirely new perspective.
Somehow I see my own life
As both vitally important
And yet highly ineffectual
Within the grander mosaic
Of the cosmos.
Within the painting
Of such bright and varied patterns,
I am as insignificant as a dot.
But to the artist,
The painting is not complete,
Without everyone in their spot.

Spring Snow

Spring Snow

Posted by Erin Mansfield

When winter storms
Cover the early spring
It's blank get cold but beautiful
I'll laugh at the snow
Soft flakes gently falling
A touch of fluff
Softens the landscape
I'll watch the snow caress the trees
While I lay in comfort and warmth
With my slippers and tea

Choices

Choices

Posted by Erin Mansfield

To blindness turns the heart and mind
When we forget the test of time
To stand before our well laid plans
And cheat our neighbors and our friends
How easy it is to pretend
That there is only one choice to be had
Instead perhaps we can admit
Sometimes our hearts have selfish fits

We forget the road is rarely easy
Sometimes life is like a race,
But life often takes a slower pace
There are storms that bring sudden change
Yet change also comes in subtle ways
So take the time to do what's right
Even if it hurts more than you'd like
You never know when something small
Will make the difference, after all

A Doodle

A Doodle

Posted by Erin Mansfield

Back in my late teens and early twenties, I spent a lot of time doodling.  I would fill pages with doodles, many becoming more complex over time.  I decided to do a similar doodle tonight.  This one is fairly simple.  I have no idea what it's of.  I just like the lines and shading.  It's all done in pen and scanned onto the computer.  No digital edits.  I learned how to draw in pen from my father, during times I needed to stay quiet.

Escaping the Shade

Escaping the Shade

Posted by Erin Mansfield

A shade seeps into the day
It lays unnoticed at first,
But by the very end,
When the mind is strained
And the body is worn thin,
It hangs thick in the air
It overwhelms the senses
And irritates every sensibility
Till one starts to believe
That it is the very taste,
The very essence of life,
Gone sour beyond recognition

So muddled and jaded by it's presence,
The mind seeks only to wallow in misery
Taking the poison as the cure,
One steeps within the tar
And the shade feeds

This, my friend, is an avoidable condition
I myself, do know the cure
But when lost within
It's hard to stop
For a mind becomes so baffled, so blind
That one enjoys pain
But love causes only anguish
To escape this shade
Surrender to love
And let go of yourself
However painful that may be
Trust not what you feel
But be tender towards others

Happy St Patty's Day

Happy St Patty's Day

Posted by Erin Mansfield

In honor of the day, I decided to learn how to tie a celtic knot. I found an excellent picture tutorial with video at Animated Knots.  I tied the knot with some black nylon rope that's used for jewelry.  I had Kevin take the photo.  I just couldn't get a good shot on something so small.  Then I used gimp to change the color to a nice Irish green and edit out the leftover tail.

 

I also thought a poem about fairies might be appropriate.

 

 

Walking the Fairy Path

 

Walking along the fairy path

Few others dare pass

Afraid, you see

But oh not me

 

Seeking out the fairy folk

So long as they are pleased

And their mischief

Does not involve me

 

The fairy forts,

I'll enter in

Seeking worlds

Unknown to men

 

I seek no gold and steal no treasure

I only want to explore forever

And gain in wisdom

That can not be measured

Snow Angel

Snow Angel

Posted by Erin Mansfield

There's still some editing to do on this, but I'm done for tonight.  Enjoy.

My Best

My Best

Posted by Erin Mansfield

Sometimes I find it hard to stay in line
I want to change the world and make it mine
Give everyone everything
They've ever been missing
No more hearts with pain to hide
No more children lost inside
I'm always trying to save the day
And forgetting you already did

I'm trying my best
God I'm trying best
But I know that's not enough
You've got to do the rest.
I don't want to give up
Yet I don't want to get in the way

Gentle Sleep

Gentle Sleep

Posted by Erin Mansfield

Gentle sleep, take my cares
Take me to worlds far away
Familiar faces, all with smiles
Only laughter, no more sorrows

Gentle sleep, let me stay
If only for a little longer
People dance, children play
Such wonderful dreams in my slumber

Gentle sleep, ease this heart
Let it soar beyond the stars
Voices singing, breathing art
Tender souls, without scars

Gentle sleep, nurture this soul
Set my path down on the road
Happy couples, young and old
Sweet dreams for a joyful day

Wings Revisted

Wings Revisted

Posted by Erin Mansfield

I decided to add some detail to those the angel wings I created.

They look ok, but something cool happened when I added a black layer in the wrong place.  I liked the result so much, that I created a deviantART account and posted it there.

I was a little nervous to sign up with deviantART.  Never used the site before, except to look at other's art.  For once I have content to add and a platform I know nothing about.

Dark Caverns of Change

Dark Caverns of Change

Posted by Erin Mansfield

Caverns deep and cold
No light, no laughter
Only regrets echo
Through the dark loneliness
Never to escape
Never to find home

So it seems, when lost within
Yet there is no place
That is forever lost
No heart that forever wanders
Our time is short
And so we forget
That much change takes longer
Than the breath we call a lifetime

Wings

Wings

Posted by Erin Mansfield

Created a simple pair of snowy angel wings on my computer today.  I may expand on them to include an actual angel in a scene.  For now I just put them on a black background.

Forgotten on the Path

Forgotten on the Path

Posted by Erin Mansfield

They walked along the shadows
Hearing only whispers
Strangers they were,
Yet closer than brothers
They never knew
Where the others came from
And when they left,
The others forgot of their existence
The only thing any knew,
Was the foot to the path
On a road that went forever
Where people come and go
And very few are ever remembered