An "Outsider's" Take on Heraldry

Karen Hatzigeorgiou over at her blog, Artful Journey (http://artful-journey.com/), has recently (July 19, 2010) begun a short series on heraldry and coats of arms, inspired by her recent find of Heraldry for Craftsmen and Designers by W. H. St. John Hope.  (I have a copy of this book myself.  I highly recommend it to anyone who has an interest in heraldry and/or heraldic art.)

As an artist herself -- mostly altered books and collages -- she is looking at heraldry from an outsider's point of view, as someone new to heraldry.  (She also has a website on which she places a lot of public domain images and clipart, including some of the heraldry she's recently discovered.  See her Terms of Use at http://karenswhimsy.com/public-domain-images/#terms)  One of my favorite lines from her post today (July 21), is: "Wow! It’s like trying to learn another language! Can you imagine the skill it took for craftsmen to design a coat of arms?"  To which I must honestly reply, "Why, yes.  Yes, I do."  Followed by: "Welcome to the wonderful world of heraldry!"