Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Billy Wigglesticks

(actual size 2.25" x 2.75")

Is it a bad assumption to think that everyone will know who this is? If you don't, it is William Shakespeare or Billy Wigglesticks as one punny friend of mine has taken to saying. I have fond memories of reading his work. A few fortunate friends of mine just visited his birthplace, Warwickshire, Stratford upon Avon, in Great Britain.

photo credit: Lisa Oudean

William Shakespeare (1564–1616), `The Bard of Avon', English poet and playwright wrote the famous 154 Sonnets and numerous highly successful oft quoted dramatic works including the tragedy of the Prince of Denmark, Hamlet;
"Neither a borrower nor a lender be;
For loan oft loses both itself and friend,
And borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry.
This above all: to thine ownself be true,
And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man.
Farewell: my blessing season this in thee!"
--Lord Polonius, Hamlet Act I, Scene 3

The birthplace of William Shakespeare.

Here is another famous quote by Mr. Shakespeare that I have featured on the sidebar of this blog; it is really an inspiration to me. This quote is from Measure for Measure, a play believed to have been written in 1603 or 1604.

(actual size 2.25" x 3.5")

Mr. Shakespeare and this quote were carved for a postal project hosted by yours truly called the Postal Challenge. The premise of the project was for newer carvers to challenge themselves to create something just beyond what they thought they could achieve, to stretch a little extra and see what they came up with. I have to say the project was a huge success and one of the most satisfying, exciting rings I had the privilege to host. Everyone involved was pleased with what they accomplished, even me.
“Nothing builds self-esteem and self-confidence like accomplishment.” ~Thomas Carlyle

4 comments:

Ari C'rona said...

Very cool! Love the quote! Hmm... a punny friend. I think I know who that is! :o)

Stacy Christian said...

One of my favorite college memories was going to a Shakespeare fest at the Guthrie Theatre (sadly gone now) in Minneapolis. We saw Richard II, Henry IV and V, all in one day. I guess I need to put him on my carving To Do list.
S

Mama Cache said...

That man sure had a lot to say!

In fact, I think he was fond of puns:
"Not one now, to mock your own grinning--quite chop-fallen." ('Chop-fallen' means sad. Hamlet was talking to a skull sans lower jaw or 'chop.') Okay, even the word-master could succumb to the lowest form of humor. ;-)

Your likeness of him is absolutely recognizable and so well carved. How appropriate and beautiful the quote is for your postal challenge and all others. Very fitting in your sidebar, my friend.

Mama Cache said...

Didn't you also carve lines from "Blow, blow thou winter wind" by Shakespeare, too? More excellent lettering!

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