A Beginning Crafter's Journey:
Designing Your Coat of Arms
All of these archetypical symbols seem to just throw themselves at me from edges
of my workroom. Being one who functions better in the symbolic world then I do
in the real, these things have a penchant to nag at me from the corners of my
eyes. It’s spring time and so much has happened…And as the sun returns to us, I
feel like I too, am starting my own return journey from the underworld- the
journey made by Persephone, Ashtara, Euridice, yes, even Snow White- whatever
your culture, it is the nature of our lives that we start, fall, and begin again
so many, many times... And here I am reemerging from my own gray and muffled
underworld inside of which nothing really thrived. I’ve yet to save a single
soul and but it seems like, once again I’m digging my way out, I am emerging
from the water, and finally it is time to reinvent myself, to become something
anew… In truth, this is not the first time. And I while was never good at
planning my metamorphoses, there comes a time when one needs to learn. I have
been here before emerging from the underground likes stalks through the snow.
Each time I simply trusted whatever form it was that I became… I think this time
I need a plan. It is time I design a suit of armor, time I make a coat of arms.
A standard, a banner, a flag. An image for the shield that this time I will
carry- it is time that I promise myself my own loyalty, it is time I pledge
myself my love. So just how does one create a coat of arms? Let us first
consider the form…
Background of a Coat of Arms: The practice of
heraldry is quite old and was at one time highly regulated- however we no longer
need to adhere to the earlier strict restriction. Suffice it to say that most
coat of arms or family Herald contained certain components by tradition: A
motto, A shield, a helmet one of the most obvious and the only really mandatory
component is that of the shield. Traditionally this feature is shaped as a
literal shield- circular, oval, or U-shaped. A ‘lozenge’ – or a diamond shape is
actually a specific shape that was reserved for wome, but I remind you, we can
do whatever it is we want… I will flush this out over time…
Making Your Personal Coat of Arms: What will you need:
-
Totem Poppets- as many as you want/need. For my heraldic piece, I will be
using three: the wolf, the peacock and the dragon.
-
Some sort of permanent flat surface on which you will arrange your coat. I
used a thin piece of 12”X12” balsam wood from a local craft stores.
- Eyelets and eyelet setter or mini brads.
-
Acrylic craft paint. I’m using DecorArt Dazzling Metallics cause I think
they’re perfect for things like dragons and peacocks
-
Several paper plates- one for each poppet and one to use as a paint palatte
- A long plastic straw approx. ¼ to ½ inch in diameter
-
Assorted prettys for your poppets, such as tiny crystals or beads, embossing
powder, whatever..
For my own personal crest I wanted images of creatures that represented my
strengths and my supports.. I was looking for personal totems…yep- that’s what
these are. They’re shapes, but they’re also totems- images of creatures that
move beyond the literal, each one belonging to a culture that saw them
representative- intrinsic to the human spirit– an image that could speak to us
when we were willing to listen. When I go back and look at the symbols that mean
the most to me, the ones that speak to me the loudest, they are the
Totem Dragon, the
Totem Wolf, and the
Totem Peacock.
These are the ones I found myself returning to over and over again.
I’ve learned enough now to know that when removing the pieces from the chipboard
backing it’s helpful to have X-Acto knife nearby while I’m removing the pieces.
Granted they’re easy enough, but sometimes the smaller pieces can be just a
little bit of a challenge, and I have ripped them before when I wasn’t watching
my patience. [caption id="attachment_5567" align="alignnone" width="270"]
Using an exacto knife to remove the pieces from the chipboard.[/caption] Once I
get out all of my pieces, my usual next step is to gesso them, making sure once
again that I have something beneath them just so I don’t accidentally glue the
my project to the table. I’m trying to pay attention to which side I’m using
because, once taken from the frame, it can be hard to remember which side is
which. On the one hand, gessoing both sides is a great insurance policy, because
you can use the poppets in either direction you choose. I’ll admit- it’s not
hard to forget which side is which and wind up with a poppet that seems to be
going weird direction cause you got some pieces one way, and some the other.
Also- if you’re using more than one poppet, I have found that it helps to put
each one on separate paper plates to keep the pieces together, otherwise things
get confusing- even for the most organized soul. I mean, look at the platypus-
it just shows you that everyone struggles with organization once in a while…
[caption id="attachment_5568" align="alignnone" width="480"]
Painting the Totem Poppet pieces.[/caption] I recommend assembling and laying
out your poppet in the direction and position you mean for it go before you
pretty it or assemble it. the same here goes for your shield: Traditionally the
shield is divided into two or four sections, each one signifying a portion of
your and/or your family’s lives. Just as you prepare your poppet, create your
shield. One of the rewarding pieces of doing heraldry is every single piece that
you choose is meaningful and symbolizes something important in your life. I’ll
create a diagram to help you see how to create a shield, but essentially they’re
divided into four sections each section representing something distinct about
your life your family what are accomplishments. Traditional heraldry recognized
a limited set of colors for specific meanings, but our lives are so much more
complicated and you should use the colors you choose. Like the totem poppets
themselves, there is a rich tradition of color symbolism and you should choose
the colors that speak to you loudest or make you feel good- choose what has
meaning to YOU. If you wish, you might want to write down the colors you choose
in case you someday wish to remember or explain it to someone. But understand-
there are no wrong colors. In this case I have chosen the color purple as a base
for my shield as purple represents royalty, generosity, and good will.
On a quick side note: Another thing about I about the totem
poppets that I very much like is that the paper insert inside of the poppet is
a good quality card stock. I’m using that paper the shield for my design. It
takes color well and it keeps with EyeConnect’s commitment to produce products
that are environmentally friendly and reusable.
Now- I did promise you guys warts and all… SO- boy, did I mash up my peacock’s
face. I let the eyelet setter slip and- POW. I think I flattened her jaw…
However, A little bit of unmixed paint dabbed on thickly and….Presto! Can’t see
it. Oh- wait…yes you can… Also- aw-right. I flubbed up my shield. See, a lack of
planning on my part. I decided I wanted to use rubber stamps to add symbols,
then I got even more excited and decided to emboss them. Because this was all
off the cuff, I wound up stamping the images twice- once in ink and once in
glue, which made for some smeary images. Add that laying it on a painted surface
that’s not quite dry and…Presto! A project ready for the Wall Of Shame.! HA.
Nothing a little ingenuity can’t fix…. lessee…… It’s easy to forget that the
totem poppets are double-sided. This means two things: you have the option of
making something two-sided that can be used in a three-dimensional fashion, like
a mobile… It also means you have the option of finishing one side not the other,
which is great for saving time. The third bonus is: If you mess up side one, you
can always re-do on side two…I mean let’s be honest. We can’t be perfect all of
the time. Personally, I need my artistic mediums to be like my friends…willing
to forgive. I’m pleased with my poppet right now and how the shield it’s on are
emerging… [caption id="attachment_5574" align="alignnone" width="318"]
Totem Peacock as a personal crest.[/caption]
Up Next: In the
next blog I will show you step 2: The Supports: Creating my dragon and wolf
poppets…Meanwhile I’ll be posting an article within a couple of weeks explaining
how to lay out create your own heraldry design using your own hopes, dreams,
your can’s or you did’s... Go ahead- Connect! See what you’ll design… By
Christine O'Leary
