fate ... or faith?

i've always been intrigued by the words "fate" and "faith" ... especially when i think of them together. of course they mean 2 completely different things but they do sound somewhat alike.

"fate" ... according to this 40 year old dictionary in my hands, means "inevitable necessity"
"faith" ... is "truth or religious system believed"

the more i think of these two little words, the more my brains get muddled up. and as 'fate' :) has it, i've been commissioned to create a journal that is precisely inspired by these 2 little words, 'fate' and 'faith', plus a couple more mind-boggling topics like 'divine prophecy', 'foreboding', 'signs' and 'hallucination' ... interesting huh?

so ... do you believe in fate?

i often think that perhaps it is "faith" that drives "fate" ... when someone, say a fortune teller tells you some things, and you have so much faith in this fortune teller, you could actually manifest her words by your own blind faith. so when the exact things she said happens ... do you then believe that they're "fated" ?

do you precisely know what life holds for you? people say things happen for a reason ... is that "fated"? or ... can you reshape your "fate"? some people believe strongly that they can ... does that now mean it is "fate" that drives "faith" ?

at the end of the day, is there a higher force that holds the key to all of this ?

see ... i told you i'm a puddle of muddle :D. i honestly didn't know how this journal would turn out, but in the end, i am truly stoked with the result!

i allowed myself to go a little havoc, and was brave enough to try things i've never (but always wanted) to try ... like the peeled up, scratched out and decrepit looking background complete with splatters and cracks!

of course, this posed to be a great opportunity to use my "self-rust" iron washer and mesh wire :) and an antique key i found at the sunday antique bazaar. the derelict clock is created with air dry clay, a rubber stamp, some rough handling, paint and destressed techniques. the tattoo-like motif is my "lorien" design, which is now in the shop, being transformed into a rubber stamp as we speak :) the white paint drip/run ... whatever you wanna call it, was a last minute addition and what a dramatic effect it gave the whole look!

to complete the look, i bound the journal using the 'single long stitch' technique on the back side of a medium soft leather, to give it a more weathered look.

an antique brass chain with a piece of mother of pearl makes a unique page marker, and completes the look.

i hope he likes it :)

oh oh oh!! i just realized that i am still in time for the three muses challenge this week :) and i did promise that i would join in their challenge when i have the chance ... well, i hope this is not cheating or anything ... but i do have some 'rust' in this creation ... namely my 'self rust' items ;) so now i'm going to just drop this link at the three muses blog and try my luck :)

happy pimping! :)