Here are some links to little old me.

My Shop: www.SilverSunbeam.etsy.com
Blog: www.craftingwithcats.blogspot.com
MySpace: www.myspace.com/prayerboxgirl
Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/26251540@N04/
Hand Made Directory: www.dmpmc.net/THMD/

I make boxes for holding prayers. I started off in this vein by making really nice Altoids shrines with the pretty parts on the inside but I could never close them once I was done. That bugged my perfectionist self.... how could my friends safely and easily transport these delicate objects if they couldn't close them? I put the idea aside for a while until March 2007 when I felt a strong urge to make a St. Dyphnia shrine in the form of a box that one's hopes and fears and requests for help could be written down and placed inside. This box wasn't exactly successful but I keep it to remind myself that success in art is relative. The box does its job and whenever I think I'm nuts I find the idea of Dyphnia comforting... she knew what delusions really were.

My Prayer Boxes are small tins, occasionally a paper box, decorated on the outside with an image of a saint, teacher, healer, or uplifting motif, and a variety of ribbons, glitter and "stuff" that somehow relates to what that person or thing might teach us. They're covered on all sides and very detailed. I don't think them through before starting because I know I'll just have to start over again if I try to exercise any control at all. In my head, I hear the box telling me which colors and materials to use. I'll show it different choices and often feel a tug at my heart when the right object has been presented. I like to believe that this is Spirit guiding me. When the box is complete I usually give it a name and, if it's a Christian saint, I try to write what help they can give a petitioner.

So far, I've not heard of others making quite this kind of shrine but I'm certain they must be. There's a lot of prayer going on these days. As for who goes on the box, I'll put anyone that can teach us a little goodness. I've made ones of Christian and Hindu saints, tarot images, animals, angels, and pictures of emotional states. I'm even contemplating making a series of great artists. After all, if God exists, there's no reason why It can't allow anyone at all to hang around and be helpful after death, no?

I sell these guys in my shop at www.SilverSunbeam.etsy.com so please check them out there. If you've seen one here that isn't up on the SilverSunbeam site use the "Alchemy" feature to request it. Most likely it's still available. I can also make custom shrines. The local miracle shop has every Catholic prayer card known to mankind or I can work with a card or charm that you send me. Buddhist and Hindu images are not too difficult to come by here in Santa Fe- just ask and it can probably be found.