Fairy Garden Chair or An Inferiority Complex

 This is a story of an Inferiority Complex and how silly I feel for having one.

I entered a contest called "Take A Seat". It benefits the Round Rock Art Council. Artists take or make chairs and decorate them anyway they want.

 I acquired 5 of these chairs at a thrift shop...well, out of their dumpster. They were throwing them away as they had no seats and were in rough shape. I knew I could use them somehow so they came home with me.

Of course, they were perfect for this endeavor. I had lots of ideas...Peacock chair, waterfall, or how about a fairy garden chair? I had lots of bark from the crepe myrtles that seemed perfect for the back to simulate a tree trunk. Ok! I like that idea. I started by spray painting it brown. Added a seat wrapped in moss, then started gluing the bark onto the back.

I made the mushrooms using wine corks and the caps of burl acorns and the door from an old fence picket cut to take advantage of a small knot. A sliver jewelry thing around it to define the "door knob", moss over the top and voila!

One of the mushrooms I turned into a mailbox with a little flag and a letter waiting to be picked up. I'm sorry it's blurry...I am taking a class to learn how to use my camera better. :o)

 I took an empty snail shell from the garden and then some homemade clay and made a snail body. Glued them together, then stitched a mail pouch with "letters".

Of course, it needed a pebble path:

I added a cute fairy figurine waiting on her mail and a bottle cap and spool became a bird bath and twigs tied with twine made an arch:

I named it "Snail Mail".

I felt so good about how it turned out...so cute. Then I delivered it and saw some of the other entries -painted beautifully or amazingly clever like a tire chair. I started second guessing myself, wishing I'd gone with one of the other themes. I even called my husband and told him mine was.no.good.

I felt awful; second-rate artist and all. sigh. Told myself to get over it.

I was not able to go to the award ceremony the next day as we were moving our son. I forgot about the chair until I got an email informing me to come pick it up. Upon finding my chair, I saw a trophy sitting in front of my chair - "First Place:Best in Show".

Did I win? Was that mine? The volunteers there didn't know. They'd find out. But as I hadn't received a notification I'd won, I assumed it placed there in error. So I took my chair and went home.

I told my family about it. Sighed and said, "Oh well. It was fun to make." Decided I was going to pull it apart and use the pieces in a basket with plants. I wasn't ready to tackle that yet so I stuck the chair in the garage.

Later that day, I'm checking my email. I see one from ArtSpace. Could I please come back and pick up my trophy? Have my picture taken? They apologized for not notifying me of my win...crazy Summer and all. I was stunned. I won?!? Then a big smile broke out over my face and I laughed. Bruce and my daughter said we told you so.

I still can't believe it! But today, I will have the trophy to prove it. I'm thrilled to say the least. Will I ever doubt my creations again? Probably. But I'll try to remember the chair and get a grip on those feelings. And create on.

Have a great week!
Cecilia

I'm sharing at these parties:
Lavender Garden Cottage Cottage Style Party
The Dedicated House Make it Pretty Monday Week 113
You're Gonna Love It Tuesday