CRUSADE No. 35 ~ What's Your Sign?

No, I don't mean what is your zodiac symbol.  The signs I'm talking about are images or things that make you think of a loved one.  The thing that happens when seemingly out of nowhere you see something and it makes you think of someone.  You know what I mean.  You see a cardinal and it reminds you of your Grandma.  Or you see a sunflower and it reminds you of a friend.  You hear a song and it makes you think about a special someone.  You smell a wood burning fireplace in the night air and it takes you back to your childhood home.  A butterfly, a bunny, a penny, a four-leaf-clover....silly or sentimental, signs offer connection.

I love hearing about signs.  I love hearing the stories that involve the discovery of a sign that makes one feel connected to someone else.  It can happen with those living, and those passed on.  I realized I include these type of stories and images in my journal alot.  I want to encourage you to do the same.  Capture the evidence of a sign in your journal.  It's a great place to document the story and the image.  

Here's an example.  One of the signs my mother has for my sister is a hummingbird.  There have been several times where she truly felt the spiritual presence of my sister when she was visited by a hummingbird.  Because I know this about her I will often gift her with hummingbird items.  Sharing your special signs with others gives them a chance to know you better, and allows them to become more aware of those same signs.

I've written about the deer as sign for me in a blog post HERE.  Because I shared the story of my sign of the deer I was given a most precious gift from my friend Lisa.  Additional deer treasures continue to show up that continue the ripple effect of the good feeling I received from the initial sign of being visited by the doe in the woods. 

I have several signs that remind me of Shannon.  A snowflake, a sunflower, and nearly anything pink, particularly a pink rose.

Please don't feel you have to share a sign or symbol that represents a connection to a soul who has moved on - signs are also for those who are still with us.  If you are like me you have a sign in mind for almost every person in your life.  There are colors that make me think of certain friends, songs that make me think of others, places that are special or significant to some relationships.  Does the Eiffel tower mean something to you because it makes you think about someone?  When you see a fleur-de-lis do you drift off in thought about someone?  Tune in, and pay attention to the signs.  Once you do you will find them everywhere.

This month, share a connection to loved one by showing a sign and telling the story on a journal page.  Blog about it or share it on your flickr or other photohosting site then come back here and leave a link in the comments section.  I will post the links in the sidebar on the left.  Come back often and check the list to visit and leave your words of encouragement for other team players.  Newest links will be at the top.  Open to anyone....come play!!  Due:  December 1st.

What I love about the crusades is that we are all trying something at the same time and have the opportunity to see each person's perspective.  We not only get to observe the same challenge interpreted different ways but we get to know each other a little better.  THANK YOU to all who CAME OVER TO THE DARK SIDE.  It was super cool to see all the work applied over a dark surface.  I think we all learned some interesting lessons by doing the work ourselves then visting other crusaders to see what they had to share.  THANKS AGAIN!

EDIT:  Archived links have been moved from sidebar to here.

CRUSADE No. 35

• Aimeslee W
  
• Alberta
  
• Becky New
  
• Becky New (more)
  
• Belinda Schneider
  
• Carmen
  
• Cath Sheard
  
• Dawn
  
• Ellie
  
• Griselda Tello
  
• Hanna Andersson
  
• Hanna Andersson (C34)
  
• Helen Goudsmit
  
• Jane Royal
  
• JeriAnn
  
• Joanne
  
• Kathryn Antyr
  
• Michelle Ward
  
• Michelle Ward (more)
  
• Rosie Rowe
  
• Teri Flemal
  
• Wanda Miller

Comments

[iHanna]

Such beautiful pages, and a great crusade this time too. I loved "the dark side" and have made two spreads in my journal but didn't get to post them until today, so I'm late but maybe some crusaders will come look? This is the second spread on black:
http://www.ihanna.nu/blog/?p=1011

Will join the #35 too, I'm thinking blue...

[wanda miller]

oh my goodness, i just love you, michele. the only thing bad about this one is what to choose...i better get busy so i can share with others. i love how personal you are and how personal this #35 is....ON TO CREATE! xo wanda

[wanda miller]

...and now i have left something on my blog...i suspect one of many if i find the time. thank you especially for this one, michele. and my nephew came over yesterday to show me how to post your green pepper emblem..wahoo! xo wanda

[Chris]

what a great idea for this month. my thoughts are humming.

[Lindart]

http://lindart.blogspot.com/2008/01/new-journal-pages.html

Third journal page down. Sometimes when I go into a room I smell my Dad. His house had a distinctive smell, which is gone now that we have lived here for the past 9 years or so. But once in awhile, I will go into my room or my DD's room, and be instantly hit with his smell. I don't think the smell has come up in any other room.

[ellie]

I LOVED doing this!!! What an awesome prompt!!! :D Thanks ever so much!

Here's what came of my time with paint and paper: http://promptlyinspired.blogspot.com/2009/11/my-teacup-friend.html

[Helen]

Hello Michelle,
what an inspiring challenge!! I really loved working at it. I made drawings and covered them with thin painted paper. I stamped with stamps with celtic symbols. The key is a symbol for all our private signs and what they mean to us. Most of the time we keep them a secret, but it is wonderful to share them. I am looking forward to see what the others will send in. Helen

[Jane]

Hi Michelle,
My post is up. Thank you as always for a thought provoking, inspiring challenge-I love the Crusades!! Love 'em!

http://paintedheartstudio.blogspot.com/

[Cath]

Thanks so much for this one Michelle - it helped me to document a story that really needed recording somewhere. You rock :-) http://cathsheard.wordpress.com/2009/11/15/crusade-35-whats-your-sign/

[Becky New]

Well.... I will leave it to you if this is an appropriate addition to this crusade. *snort* :) Here is my page link:
http://windows-wide-open.blogspot.com/2009/11/gpp-street-team-november.html

[Becky New]

I often think of your sign of a deer when I see one around here. I wish I had a sign too. You definitely have me wondering what it would be. As always, I love your pages. I love the depth you give them... both visually and emotionally. Thank you!

[Kathryn - Collage Diva]

What a great prompt. Yesterday I thought of you when my Ikebana teacher told me that the flower I chose winks. Winks? Now who does that remind me of? {wink} {wink}

Learn what flower winks by clicking here: http://collagediva.typepad.com/collagediva/2009/11/ikebana11.html

This isn't my submission for this crusade but what a coinkydink that I saw a sign reminding me of you and I came here unawares of how your prompt ties in. Now that is way cool. (ps, I love the word coinkydink)

I hope you see lots of heart-warming signs this month.

[Rosie]

Michelle, what a very poignant post... I love your photos of the deer. I often think of Shannon when I see pink flowers and remember how good it felt to be a part of the whole "wink". Take care and have a hug.
I did make a page for this Crusade...

http://alteredartandstuff.wordpress.com/2009/11/17/gpp-crusade-35/

[Carmen]

I had a wonderful time playing with my journal and making a couple of pages for my grandmother.
Thank YOU Michelle!!!

Here it si my link:
http://heartandsoulgardening.blogspot.com/2009/11/signs-and-symbols.html

Thans again!

[belinda]

This has been really tough!! Enjoyed your wonderful journal pages. Here's my journal spread
http://belindaschneider.wordpress.com/2009/11/22/gpp35-whats-your-sign/

[alberta]

One of the most inspiring art challenges I've ever done!

[dawn]

Oi...this was hARD for me. And as you can see, I didn't "really" come up with something.

http://catharticcreativity.blogspot.com/2009/11/michelle-ward-whats-your-sign.html

[teri]

I loved doing this one...it was a natural. Post is here: http://quinceberry.blogspot.com/2009/11/sign-sign-everywhere-sign.html

[Kathryn - Collage Diva]

Here is my post: http://collagediva.typepad.com/collagediva/2009/11/aedm-27.html

Thanks Michelle for another wonderful post.

[Becky New]

I FOUND ONE!!!! Please visit:
http://windows-wide-open.blogspot.com/2009/11/sign.html

[joanne]

i wrote about signs today, December 1st, the very day you have it listed as due... and i haven't had a chance to stop by your sites in the longest time... so, i think it is a sign that today was the day i did ...

this is a link to my post... thank you for yours... it is beautiful... as is everything you share.

http://breatheasme.com/2009/12/01/signs/

[aimeslee]

http://paper-paisleys.blogspot.com/2009/12/happy-december.html

Hey, here I am, bringing up the rear! I haven't forgotten ya, just couldn't get the page spread into my imagination nor could I carve out the time until now. Thank goodness you gave us a Dec. 1 duedate, it made all the difference to me. :-))

xoxo,
Aimeslee

[Griselda Tello]

Greetings!... it has been a long time since I participated, but here I am, on the due date...I made it!!

http://awesomepaintings.blogspot.com/
Thanks Michelle for your constant inspiration, I hope the rest of the year is full of pure creativity and the spirit of joy.
Dragonfly kisses to you and all the wonderful people who visit here leaving behind so much beauty with their talent.
Griselda Tello

[JeriAnn]

My apologies for being late, Michelle, but I do have a submission:

http://commutersjournal.blogspot.com/

I hope this finds you well and enjoying the holiday season!

*waddles off to see if the boy finished off all the pie*

-- JeriAnn

[iHanna]

This is my sign-page-post;

http://www.ihanna.nu/blog/?p=1031

XOXOX