tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3733140087562654152024-03-06T00:02:42.278-05:00Fortune Cookies Guide My LifeSomething remarkable will happen today.
Musings from an untamed mind.-Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11069575583331275887noreply@blogger.comBlogger139125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-373314008756265415.post-12376362715151465562016-08-30T18:30:00.000-04:002016-08-30T18:30:03.861-04:00If "No" is the Worst Result, Why Not?8/20/16<br />
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Me: sweaty, smiling, carrying a yoga mat waiting to cross the street.<br />
He: not sweaty, smiling, also waiting to cross the street.<br />
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After walking together across the street for four blocks, chatting about the morning and our plans for the afternoon, he asked for my number. I smiled and said "thanks, but I'm taken." True or not, my response was a polite "no" and life moves on.<br />
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The risk taken to ask was small, the worst that will come of it is no and the best...well only imagination could tell. That is the purpose of risking, to see if what "is" can be something different. It surprises me how seldom we take that small risk to connect with others.<br />
<br />-Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11069575583331275887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-373314008756265415.post-16117635726937101002016-08-20T18:47:00.002-04:002019-06-14T09:10:18.357-04:00Brief Opportunities8/20/16<br />
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She: sitting on her yoga mat, feet bare, visibly self-consciousness<br />
Me: late to class (of course), quick to settle in, less-than-calm<br />
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After setting my shoes and keys aside, she said a large good morning and commented on the wonder of us all being here at such an early hour on a Saturday. My response was polite and we chatted a bit about our practices. It is nice to know the ones you're spending an hour near. At the end, I hurried my mat away to say hello to some familiar faces at the other side of the practice space. I wonder now: what opportunity did I miss in not slowing down, chatting some more? The risk was low, but the comfortably of being seen by faces I am already familiar was easier than risking another interaction with the stranger beside me.<br />
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-Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11069575583331275887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-373314008756265415.post-48993583307163561912015-03-31T17:30:00.000-04:002015-03-31T17:30:00.739-04:00Best Festivals in Columbus, OhioSo, spring is springing and my calendar is itching to be filled with all of the lovely summertime fun that can be had in Columbus, Ohio. Those locals and transplants-who-are-learning-to-love-it-here know that Columbus is a city filled with festivals, often overlapping and requiring skilled planning. I have been to a lot of the big events but in no way I have I been to all, so this short list is certainly biased by my inability to be everywhere at all times and with an unlimited bank account. If I had to choose just three festivals, these are my top pics:<br />
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1. <a href="http://dublinirishfestival.org/">Dublin Irish Festival</a><br />
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Okay, this is not technically in Columbus but it is the best festival around. There is dancing, music, shopping, story tellers, Irish Dogs, and food! Really, it is the music that is the big draw for me. No, it is the dancing that gets me here every year. Or, maybe it is the fact that I am on the planning committee...yeah, that is another reason I make it here! I was raised to think I am Irish and regardless of truth, I am Irish this entire weekend.<br />
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2. <a href="http://columbusartsfestival.org/">Columbus Art Festival</a><br />
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The Arts Festival is a pretty big deal. Artists from around the country are here to show and sell their amazing art. There is always at least one vendor displaying something I have never ever seen before, and that is really saying something because I look at art and crafts constantly. There is no admission fee to check out this festival. It does get very, very crowded so I recommend going early and not during meal times when it gets so packed you cannot move.<br />
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3. <a href="http://www.columbuspride.org/">Columbus Pride</a><br />
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Need I say more?<br />
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4. <a href="http://www.doodahparade.com/">The DooDah Parade</a> is not a festival.<br />
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For the first time in my years hanging around this city, I made it to the DooDah Parade in 2014. I laughed nearly the entire parade (which lasted about 90 minutes). The weirdos in this city are simply amazing. The creativity of the entries (from giant balloon people to dogs dressed in black tie), there is humor and political commentary galore. I can't wait to see this parade again this year and will only dream to be as witty and culturally with it as those who walk in this parade. It's a lovely weird time.<br />
<br />-Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11069575583331275887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-373314008756265415.post-40537203463553616572015-01-13T17:30:00.000-05:002015-01-13T17:30:00.529-05:00Sales Successes in 2014!(1/11/15)<br />
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During mid-summer last year I set my sales goal for the year (yes, this is perhaps a little late in the calendar year to set a goal, but no one is perfect...).<br />
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The goal: to sell enough art to cover the rental expense of the studio. Roughly, I estimated I needed to sell 120 ornaments to cover my costs.<br />
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I am incredibly happy to count that, all numbers in for the year's end, I have not only met by exceeded my sales goals!<br />
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I sold a total of 139 of the original star design and 14 of the mini star design! Talk about an exciting year for ornaments. It is time to start practicing some new designs and dreaming some new combinations of color and texture.<br />
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The goal for 2015 is break even and participate in one holiday market. Maybe expand into another brick and mortar...though I am not sure if that is a goal or an aspiration.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Red White and Blue / Red Green and White / Hand Crafted Stained Glass Star, Four 6 inch star" height="320" src="https://img1.etsystatic.com/059/0/8580660/il_570xN.692216029_ccbm.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Available <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/213466706/red-white-and-blue-red-green-and-white?ref=shop_home_active_6" target="_blank">here</a>.</td></tr>
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-Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11069575583331275887noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-373314008756265415.post-64323572358270605052015-01-06T18:42:00.002-05:002015-01-06T18:42:21.987-05:00To Be a Forest Fire<blockquote style="background-color: white; border: none; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 5px 0px 0px; word-break: break-word;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-size: medium;">
"Most people want things like a candle-flame, flickering, shifting. You, on the other hand, want like a forest fire." </div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div style="text-align: center;">
-Neil Gaiman, “The Sandman: Endless Nights”</div>
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<br />
I have not read this book so I am not sure what context surround this quote. I found this quote somewhere along the way of life and it really made me pause. At first I thought, I want to want like a forest fire; to consume everything on my way to the destination. To be powerful, ferocious. But at the same time this way of wanting seems destructive, scary, uninspired, and without a destination. Though the slow burn of a candle may flicker, it rarely damages that which it surrounds. I guess that is the point; to want something without the ability to cause change will always leave you wanting...never having.-Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11069575583331275887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-373314008756265415.post-69511892739339627532014-12-23T17:41:00.000-05:002014-12-23T17:41:00.687-05:00Lyrics Change over Time(12/19/14)<br />
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I have been listening to the same music most of my life. Case-in-point: Bob Dylan.<br />
<br />
I am going through a very stressful transition at work and have insisted in Bob Dylan playing the background soundtrack through all of this. I don't know why really, it is just a need I have. The song that just popped on this morning is "My Back Pages". Truth be told, I have always love the refrain "Ah, but I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now" as it resonates with my own life. However I haven't ever heard the rest of the lyrics until today. (His phrasing makes it hard to hear the poetry).<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">A self-ordained professor’s tongue</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Too serious to fool</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Spouted out that liberty</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Is just equality in school</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">“Equality,” I spoke the word</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">As if a wedding vow</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Ah, but I was so much older then</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I’m younger than that now</span><span style="border: 0px; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Yes, my guard stood hard when abstract threats</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Too noble to neglect</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Deceived me into thinking</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I had something to protect</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Good and bad, I define these terms</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Quite clear, no doubt, somehow</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Ah, but I was so much older then</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I’m younger than that now</span><span style="border: 0px; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" /></span><br />
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And in these words I found a version of myself who I have all but forgotten. I have lost touch with the girl whose driving force was justice and equality, who vowed to give away excess money, and to take intentional time to "retreat" and reconnect to nature/philosophy.<br />
<br />
I am not sure how these ideals of my college aged self align with my post-grad self. There is an uncomfortable tension that I'd like to resolve.-Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11069575583331275887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-373314008756265415.post-4210066654102154502014-12-16T17:30:00.000-05:002014-12-16T17:30:00.545-05:00Another bad idea(10/31/14)<br />
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Actually, this is a pretty good idea. When I was returning from Vegas, I realized I should have bought something for the office. Maybe a box of candy or another consumable. The thing about traveling is that I rarely want to carry around souvenirs while I am out and about and even more rarely have room in my luggage for extra things on the return home...so wouldn't it be nice to have a store in my hometown with things from frequently visited cities?<br />
<br />
It would solve a lot of my issues:<br />
<br />
A. I wouldn't need to get third suitcase while away and then have to lug it home and<br />
B. When I totally forget someone I could fake remembering and<br />
C. When planning a surprise trip, I could uses this store to help clue-in the person I am surprising (I am not sure in which universe I am surprising people with travel, but I hear this happens to others.)<br />
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Cons:<br />
<br />
A. there is already this thing called the internet and you can buy just about anything under the sun. so yeah, maybe this is a bad idea.<br />
<br />
Glad we had this talk.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="233" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ19twM459HdOFKHzjAYVOXOpf-hA4e84SE1vjLA1mI2_tafRG5" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from <a href="http://lynnmosher.com/come-into-the-ark/" target="_blank">here</a>.</td></tr>
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<br />-Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11069575583331275887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-373314008756265415.post-44460472540636431002014-12-09T17:30:00.000-05:002019-12-09T16:18:47.212-05:00Stranger Sales(11.30.14)<br />
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In a very cool coincidence, I had my first sale to a stranger on my etsy.com shop as did my best friend and her husband (all in the same week)! Check us all out below!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Pin-tailed Manakin on Blue iPhone 5 Case" src="https://img1.etsystatic.com/026/0/9621620/il_170x135.658342283_nn8s.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ashley's <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/ashleycecil" target="_blank">etsy.com shop</a>; <a href="http://www.ashleycecil.com/" target="_blank">website</a></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Red White and Blue / Red Green and White / Hand Crafted Stained Glass Star, Four 6 inch star" src="https://img1.etsystatic.com/059/0/8580660/il_170x135.692216029_ccbm.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/COROcreations" target="_blank">My Etsy.com Shop</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Memory Smith" src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0452/7789/products/MemorySmith_medium.jpg?v=1415287596" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://fygment.com/" target="_blank">Fygment</a></td></tr>
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-Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11069575583331275887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-373314008756265415.post-18444533660999837062014-12-02T17:30:00.000-05:002014-12-09T11:40:34.189-05:00Impacts on Reality(11/26/14)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://www.thenation.com/sites/default/files/police_tape_ss_img_3.jpg" height="266" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo from <a href="http://www.thenation.com/blog/181365/police-violence-we-arent-talking-about" target="_blank">here</a>.</td></tr>
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I had a really vivid dream last night of being pulled over by the police in a car I wasn't driving. There were two officers who were super aggressive and demanded us to get out of the car so they could search the car and, as dreams go, to search my car that was parked across the street. (It was the 1994 Ford Thunderbird that I miss as much as I miss people). Of course I refused to consent to a search and asked what was the problem, which outraged the officers. But somehow how in all the confusion and high tension, I was able to calm the officers down and they ended up sitting in the car with us, agreed they were over reacting, and eventually left.<br />
<br />
This would never happen in real life.<br />
<br />
In real life I am sure I would have either submitted to the search or been so verbal as to get myself arrested. Which lead me to another mid-sleep though, if I were locked up, refused to talk, and insisted on an attorney...who in the universe would I call?<br />
<br />
So this morning I raked my brain, figured out who is the nearest trust-worthy criminal defense attorney is that I know and added the firm's number to my phone. Along with a 24-hour defense hotline number, just in case.<br />
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Oh the wonder of dreaming.-Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11069575583331275887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-373314008756265415.post-34813169744877156942014-11-25T22:24:00.004-05:002014-11-25T22:24:47.156-05:00Echos<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;">(11/25/14)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Some times, in my mind, art echos art echos life.</span></div>
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<b style="background-color: white;"><br /></b></div>
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<b style="background-color: white;">Musee des Beaux Arts</b></div>
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W. H. Auden</div>
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About suffering they were never wrong,</div>
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The old Masters: how well they understood</div>
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Its human position: how it takes place</div>
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While someone else is eating or opening a window or just walking dully along;</div>
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How, when the aged are reverently, passionately waiting</div>
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For the miraculous birth, there always must be</div>
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Children who did not specially want it to happen, skating</div>
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On a pond at the edge of the wood:</div>
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They never forgot</div>
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That even the dreadful martyrdom must run its course</div>
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Anyhow in a corner, some untidy spot</div>
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Where the dogs go on with their doggy life and the torturer's horse</div>
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Scratches its innocent behind on a tree.</div>
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</div>
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In Breughel's Icarus, for instance: how everything turns away</div>
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Quite leisurely from the disaster; the ploughman may</div>
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Have heard the splash, the forsaken cry,</div>
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But for him it was not an important failure; the sun shone</div>
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As it had to on the white legs disappearing into the green</div>
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Water, and the expensive delicate ship that must have seen</div>
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Something amazing, a boy falling out of the sky,</div>
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Had somewhere to get to and sailed calmly on.</div>
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_________________<br />
On the brink of death, they wait and long for the end. The world turns on.<br />
And when gone, we go on.<br />
My how time flies.<br />
_________________<br />
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<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: proxnov-reg, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">
<b>Without You (Rent)</b><br />
Without you<br />
The ground thaws<br />
The rain falls<br />
The grass grows<br />
Without you<br />
The seeds root<br />
The flowers bloom<br />
The children play<br />
The stars gleam<br />
The poets dream<br />
The eagles fly<br />
Without you<br />
The earth turns<br />
The sun burns<br />
But I die without you<br />
Without you<br />
The breeze warms<br />
The girl smiles<br />
The cloud moves<br />
Without you<br />
The tides change<br />
The boys run<br />
The oceans crash<br />
The crowds roar<br />
The days soar<br />
The babies cry<br />
Without you<br />
The moon glows<br />
The river flows<br />
But I die without you<br />
The world revives<br />
(Colors renew)<br />
But I know blue, only blue<br />
Lonely blue<br />
(Within me blue)<br />
Without you<br />
Without you<br />
The hand gropes<br />
The ear hears<br />
The pulse beats<br />
Without you<br />
The eyes gaze<br />
The legs walks<br />
The lungs breathe<br />
The mind churns<br />
(The mind churns)<br />
The heart yearns<br />
(The heart yearns)<br />
The tears dry without you<br />
Life goes on but I'm gone<br />
'Cause I die without you<br />
Without you<br />
Without you<br />
Without you</div>
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-Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11069575583331275887noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-373314008756265415.post-55634218710332611462014-11-18T17:30:00.000-05:002014-11-18T17:30:02.513-05:00The Day the Birds Cried<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="400" src="http://www.explodingdog.com/drawing/thedaythebirdscried.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">http://www.explodingdog.com/title/thedaythebirdscried.html</td></tr>
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When I saw Exploding Dog's cartoon entitled "The Day the Birds Cried" I was reminded of my questions about emotions in animals. I've often wondered what emotions animal feel (if any). It is easy to see fear and surprise in a cat and joy in the wagging tail of a dog. But what about birds?</div>
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There was more to this post but I deleted it. The End.</div>
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For real answers, <a href="http://thebark.com/content/do-animals-have-emotions" target="_blank">read this</a>. </div>
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-Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11069575583331275887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-373314008756265415.post-59297083457191012862014-11-11T17:30:00.000-05:002014-11-11T17:30:00.882-05:00Quit Putting it Off DayI have always thought that I should invent a new holiday and finally I did. <div>
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My new holiday is called: Quit Putting it Off Day. </div>
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It was yesterday and it went like this: don't go to work and instead do everything you keep avoiding. For me this included going to a doctor's appointment, cleaning some glass that I keep avoiding, and finishing a project for my brother. </div>
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You should celebrate this holiday on any day you chose. But you actually have to do things.<br /><div>
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<img src="https://img.quozio.com/img/311bd47e/1035/Quit-Putting-it-Off-Day.jpg" /></div>
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-Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11069575583331275887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-373314008756265415.post-1838985392040828272014-11-04T17:30:00.000-05:002014-11-04T17:30:00.890-05:00Feathers?My studio-mate and also my sister have encouraged me to craft a glass feather. Of course I either cannot find a pattern already made that I like or I enjoy the creation of my own design. I thought you'd like to see my process.<br />
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First, finding inspiration:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQsCF9cmCYUK1W4liomglsY6AM5v_hXLLIf8DYdQhIKK6IGCAZaCll3lq_8ojV3EHn4ISgKJbq4lHX_s7Di_dJodRaFT7SY-njqzTgB-TivGxlbt2JAgkNrIJGN1-9F2qI08bvgwYFE-qT/s200/feather+repeat.jpg" height="180" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Available <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAgQjRw4ew&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcraftedwithheart.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F10%2Fproject-feather-repeat-pattern.html&ei=H0FFVLr2FdSnyAS8yYHwDQ&psig=AFQjCNFqzscjL73_JRyIyEHDNHWRTyhJ0g&ust=1413911199456752" target="_blank">here</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://thumb101.shutterstock.com/display_pic_with_logo/1373419/149440757/stock-vector-seamless-pattern-black-and-white-with-hand-drawn-feathers-vector-149440757.jpg" height="200" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="191" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Available <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAgQjRw4JQ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.shutterstock.com%2Fs%2F%2522decorative%2Bfeather%2522%2Fsearch.html&ei=XUBFVIqwF8z5yQTTj4CQCw&psig=AFQjCNFkoGIEi3n_cqq0JBn29K0xNPwEHA&ust=1413911005461758" target="_blank">here</a></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/x/vintage-seamless-pattern-hand-drawn-feathers-25961977.jpg" height="200" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="166" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Available <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAgQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dreamstime.com%2Froyalty-free-stock-photography-vintage-seamless-pattern-hand-drawn-feathers-image25962217&ei=CUFFVLruMtH3yQTu1IGgAw&psig=AFQjCNGzA9jY48f5e3jaMGc6VUumD5QetQ&ust=1413911177902538" target="_blank">here</a></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAgQjRw4JQ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pinterest.com%2Fexplore%2Ffeather-pattern%2F&ei=VEBFVISgE9KTyASn4oGgAw&psig=AFQjCNEc-aNQ-KQYzY8wPZPD3AuCDKM0fA&ust=1413910996569651" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img src="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTZMqgutiWt5akgs-SbSHVqbk3dFaygXgs8vqYrh0ZYkOfVn0jVwg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Available <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAgQjRw4JQ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pinterest.com%2Fexplore%2Ffeather-pattern%2F&ei=VEBFVISgE9KTyASn4oGgAw&psig=AFQjCNEc-aNQ-KQYzY8wPZPD3AuCDKM0fA&ust=1413910996569651" target="_blank">here</a></td></tr>
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Next, sketching lots of things:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJVKcu6MPgzxsBltSK7WxsNBLA7kfRoTis1yC06laPBRHmk00vGJrxEFPwNjzhNwrUZ2LHJpKbX7xvZmSAhaOrxHzXStxoyROhavjoFQBxzGwH95ZEmEXTQAPe8atgwm0pFvRZSGlCBLc/s1600/IMG_0135.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJVKcu6MPgzxsBltSK7WxsNBLA7kfRoTis1yC06laPBRHmk00vGJrxEFPwNjzhNwrUZ2LHJpKbX7xvZmSAhaOrxHzXStxoyROhavjoFQBxzGwH95ZEmEXTQAPe8atgwm0pFvRZSGlCBLc/s1600/IMG_0135.jpg" height="173" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The best time to sketch is during meetings.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim19Z3XF1UXhIsMKkNEfkGepWmBZkIUnohSediILq3X7OafQoDtyifERhXLwH_ZeR1zrKrZrI7m6n1H3DiARC8yj6fxX1RfOxbcJtb0ZdgaXe3xdRtGJObuczdyk411ibQm8a6pwhZneI/s1600/IMG_0138.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim19Z3XF1UXhIsMKkNEfkGepWmBZkIUnohSediILq3X7OafQoDtyifERhXLwH_ZeR1zrKrZrI7m6n1H3DiARC8yj6fxX1RfOxbcJtb0ZdgaXe3xdRtGJObuczdyk411ibQm8a6pwhZneI/s1600/IMG_0138.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the ideas from meeting sketches made in to larger ideas.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg85WNbZPWajCKq9qVx_YALp_QfneZBdhPXxYBV8nZaAJ8Uk8ORURZcIyTNSudm0YZrFfCK6IYywLy7Xy2SBSs2qfkdB3Xzf19nuW7PqX_-zvpr3lWG4TFScw-FsXFTS8wVF0j4dtv-gWw/s1600/IMG_0139.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg85WNbZPWajCKq9qVx_YALp_QfneZBdhPXxYBV8nZaAJ8Uk8ORURZcIyTNSudm0YZrFfCK6IYywLy7Xy2SBSs2qfkdB3Xzf19nuW7PqX_-zvpr3lWG4TFScw-FsXFTS8wVF0j4dtv-gWw/s1600/IMG_0139.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trying some new angular ideas instead of nicely fitted drawings.</td></tr>
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Then, convincing myself it does not have to be perfect the first time or ever, but if I don't just do <i>SOMETHING</i> then nothing new will ever come. </div>
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I gave myself a deadline: three feathers by our open studio event on 11/14/14.</div>
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Here's the first design:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX2YvQHp99skvLUqwCNY5f7viOf4A-99ZwapBMaGUqzMk1Ptq6vk_FXXGu03mC9M-wDvPqsp_r367ht4-JUDifRgL_BmVMRrmQ0HPNvFhA9fMzK2JKmhQ1zXwg-SRT9IZQw3MVeMOC0Ss/s1600/IMG_8843.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX2YvQHp99skvLUqwCNY5f7viOf4A-99ZwapBMaGUqzMk1Ptq6vk_FXXGu03mC9M-wDvPqsp_r367ht4-JUDifRgL_BmVMRrmQ0HPNvFhA9fMzK2JKmhQ1zXwg-SRT9IZQw3MVeMOC0Ss/s1600/IMG_8843.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cat was really bored by this project. Sorry the lighting is so yellow, I wasn't planning on a photoshoot.</td></tr>
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I will add a photo of the glass versions as soon as they are done!<br />
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Second and third you'll have to come to 400 West Rich to see!</div>
-Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11069575583331275887noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-373314008756265415.post-79228917375022301872014-10-28T17:30:00.000-04:002014-10-28T17:30:01.743-04:00Coming Right Along...(10.21.14)<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF4gx5HlwdtWPSx_eKfCfJPK6v-AacB_IshBoPVlYwQqavnkD1H_uniX6Qu-JgAfX9_jSWecEi089v2Rmw03XzKwmaQZDcSysyBI3ZgZcdkLsONSxrfWACWiRWT_FGVi_QBxm-e2HWBa4/s1600/IMG_0149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF4gx5HlwdtWPSx_eKfCfJPK6v-AacB_IshBoPVlYwQqavnkD1H_uniX6Qu-JgAfX9_jSWecEi089v2Rmw03XzKwmaQZDcSysyBI3ZgZcdkLsONSxrfWACWiRWT_FGVi_QBxm-e2HWBa4/s1600/IMG_0149.jpg" height="148" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
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Last night I was able to actually turn off the distractions and focus on the projects that occupy my mind!<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">You may remember my <a href="http://fortunecookiesguidemylife.blogspot.com/2014/10/inspiration-everywhere.html" target="_blank">Inspiration Everywhere</a> post a few weeks ago where I showed you some research I started in pursuit of finally returning to a project I started in 2012. I have wanted to make some prints stylized after the great art made by the <a href="http://breadandpuppet.org/b-p-press" target="_blank">Bread and Puppet Theater</a> Company. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The subject matter for this print series came to me while attending <a href="http://cslgc.org/" target="_blank">the best church</a> in the whole world (located in Cincinnati). </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">You see, the Center for Spiritual Living of Greater Cincinnati has some really awesome tenants of faith. These tenants include core values that </span>resonant<span style="font-family: inherit;"> with me beyond my wildest dreams. So, in response to my feelings I set out to make art so celebrate these values: </span><br />
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<span style="background: white;">Love </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="background: white;">Spirituality </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="background: white;">Integrity</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="background: white;">Service</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="background: white;">Abundance </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="background: white;">Consciousness</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="background: white;">Mindfulness, </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="background: white;">Dynamic Energy!</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeGLS-dlBKiy0KAuPKYRULaGaKfSJGLgT2SbJyBJ14RqvcxakWov205lATbPrSCncXq5JJav78MxjWBwAj8oFuzd6sr2MfssN_NUEzbVc3wwN-AtQotZRBCTihDcEtrX1nk3uNOicBY30/s1600/IMG_0141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeGLS-dlBKiy0KAuPKYRULaGaKfSJGLgT2SbJyBJ14RqvcxakWov205lATbPrSCncXq5JJav78MxjWBwAj8oFuzd6sr2MfssN_NUEzbVc3wwN-AtQotZRBCTihDcEtrX1nk3uNOicBY30/s1600/IMG_0141.jpg" height="200" width="148" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two of the sketches from </td></tr>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: inherit, serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">And, as it goes with me, I chose to sketch ALL of the words at once and when I failed to finish, gave up entirely. </span></span><span style="background-color: white;">So my sketch books has nice ideas for a lot of these values but still has empty pages waiting for inspirations.</span></div>
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<span style="background: white;">This time, in 2014, when that whisper of inspiration for this project returned, I was bound and determined not to get lost in the enormity of newness. </span></div>
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<span style="background: white;">Though I wanted to go out and buy the largest linoleum I could find, all the paper I would need, the Speedball ink and roller and cutting tools, I forced myself to scale it back. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">I set out to make ONE PRINT AT A TIME. (brilliant, right?)</span></div>
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<span style="background: white;">I borrowed tools from another artist instead of buying new.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">I bought only a small piece of linoleum and no ink and no paper: one step at a time! </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">This scaling back prevented me from becoming overwhelmed and I have actually been able to START ONE PRINT put one step in place before the the next step is started. </span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: inherit, serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Here's where I am:<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguh3FaMIX3Ej7r24WAB88bLwTWvIqkfHjfbPi3a-kn9exUD0z233ays-Ogd44cYrvF4wu_T1MCOntq5w3FMWsCkdbQmQSVZG7TCVI2WhiqeQESyOqknQs1cKi06zKglPCmCSoXZ1t03Ds/s1600/IMG_0142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguh3FaMIX3Ej7r24WAB88bLwTWvIqkfHjfbPi3a-kn9exUD0z233ays-Ogd44cYrvF4wu_T1MCOntq5w3FMWsCkdbQmQSVZG7TCVI2WhiqeQESyOqknQs1cKi06zKglPCmCSoXZ1t03Ds/s1600/IMG_0142.jpg" height="320" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pick just ONE inspiration at a time!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO1LIuE5PZ7JBE9dM25rQu29KkCsn8bGOUawMaEdJ_Z5BD_DJvcH7EWWnEUGY3SBOwSQPN1QCU0QFnlz5jscNPS30X6-HTV6H-j7xiFRp0RDth1AOfK9qrqrKb1FzDJ0AVEe5q786cgu0/s1600/IMG_0144.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO1LIuE5PZ7JBE9dM25rQu29KkCsn8bGOUawMaEdJ_Z5BD_DJvcH7EWWnEUGY3SBOwSQPN1QCU0QFnlz5jscNPS30X6-HTV6H-j7xiFRp0RDth1AOfK9qrqrKb1FzDJ0AVEe5q786cgu0/s1600/IMG_0144.jpg" height="320" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outline the drawing with charcoal.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGvLhp0FLxaDvJ-GnsWz2skeklHjaY7ZY9ui7ILQxbWjxLtgPuOzgc8OjEqa6tTweO4I9GdrGtFRkdB0uuO1xZNl0uKkjd3hGyh7NmKofn_2YZAF4nEtqWZp0MmRqK85uTSyM8lL4GZsE/s1600/IMG_0145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGvLhp0FLxaDvJ-GnsWz2skeklHjaY7ZY9ui7ILQxbWjxLtgPuOzgc8OjEqa6tTweO4I9GdrGtFRkdB0uuO1xZNl0uKkjd3hGyh7NmKofn_2YZAF4nEtqWZp0MmRqK85uTSyM8lL4GZsE/s1600/IMG_0145.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Transfer the charcoal image to the linoleum</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl2Z5SoqR4q1SL-Q8ypZGZm0UW_rKPGPvErJ9_w9h6vxnGeD2kfsxG-ise32u3iHRJWdUk64xodZVPVvfE2PKfnD1ziktLe61Lze8BtpohcIsKGktfOeebUVhf0NjnOdGB6NQZyrPZ_9M/s1600/IMG_0147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl2Z5SoqR4q1SL-Q8ypZGZm0UW_rKPGPvErJ9_w9h6vxnGeD2kfsxG-ise32u3iHRJWdUk64xodZVPVvfE2PKfnD1ziktLe61Lze8BtpohcIsKGktfOeebUVhf0NjnOdGB6NQZyrPZ_9M/s1600/IMG_0147.jpg" height="238" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The transfer didn't turn out too well the first time so I wiped it off and tried again.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqKX5d4imuwLu9pZMiDR7abk2rsG2KBIvF7GymAFJywEEdnOCmM_igNlUexSTePJlDIW_IwAl3kybWzs9VsadNmOjXBMTYIW3fyxGqP0wfy54VmC-OsT9pZ5iEJjahuiRaualHYXjl9nw/s1600/IMG_0148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqKX5d4imuwLu9pZMiDR7abk2rsG2KBIvF7GymAFJywEEdnOCmM_igNlUexSTePJlDIW_IwAl3kybWzs9VsadNmOjXBMTYIW3fyxGqP0wfy54VmC-OsT9pZ5iEJjahuiRaualHYXjl9nw/s1600/IMG_0148.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sharpies are the best! I traced all of the charcoal lines with black marker.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidANBZZj2kBgohCTN3XKiOS1pfbPrE62CZndYtGl4RUm9i_MfSwHMigqhmNrHjEvyb5VJwcGjX8f63HptndYaLsrpS6KC5CiGnfwlfR5vuJDVtBXNcHdvWHmNyFEnUBQ1K5uwEpmYIaWk/s1600/IMG_0150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidANBZZj2kBgohCTN3XKiOS1pfbPrE62CZndYtGl4RUm9i_MfSwHMigqhmNrHjEvyb5VJwcGjX8f63HptndYaLsrpS6KC5CiGnfwlfR5vuJDVtBXNcHdvWHmNyFEnUBQ1K5uwEpmYIaWk/s1600/IMG_0150.jpg" height="320" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now I have a great reverse image of the original!<br />
Next step is to cut away the grey.<br />
I will post more pictures as this project comes along.</td></tr>
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<br />-Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11069575583331275887noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-373314008756265415.post-55577982720456929462014-10-21T17:30:00.000-04:002014-10-24T09:10:00.630-04:00My Favorite Quote (in case you were wondering)<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="background-color: white;">Today, like every other day, we wake up empty</b></div>
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<b style="background-color: white;">and frightened. Don't open the door to the study</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="background-color: white;"><b>and begin reading. Take down a musical instrument.</b></b></div>
<b style="background-color: white;">
</b>
<br />
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<b style="background-color: white;"><b>Let the beauty we love be what we do.</b></b></div>
<b style="background-color: white;">
</b>
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<b style="background-color: white;"><b>There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground.</b></b></div>
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</b><br />
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<b style="background-color: white;">-Rumi</b></div>
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<img src="https://img.quozio.com/img/f6730ead/1003/Let-the-beauty-we-love.jpg" /></div>
-Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11069575583331275887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-373314008756265415.post-20870130057724606042014-10-14T17:30:00.000-04:002014-10-14T17:30:01.014-04:00I show up because...<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, 'Palatino Linotype', serif; font-size: 11.8181819915771px; line-height: 16.3636360168457px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">(9/25/14)</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/10552438_10202568560321943_1651323772644280021_n.jpg?oh=94528fc807adbfbdb140e7e95c77369f&oe=54F52BBB&__gda__=1420552132_18ff97e8b69b7ee0f5bf08f37663be1b" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/10552438_10202568560321943_1651323772644280021_n.jpg?oh=94528fc807adbfbdb140e7e95c77369f&oe=54F52BBB&__gda__=1420552132_18ff97e8b69b7ee0f5bf08f37663be1b" width="240" /></a></div>
Over the summer I attended a huge outdoor yoga practice in Cleveland called <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CB4QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.yogarocksthepark.com%2Fcleveland.html&ei=qjI9VMvRC8-OyAT70IDgCw&usg=AFQjCNEueKRqNrqIFivKCStqm1FTLnDhLw&sig2=UMSvVg-Zgr3yfDjDDp1DTA" target="_blank">Yoga Rocks the Park</a>. It was an amazing evening practice with thousands of other yogis. The sunset helped the light to leave as the darkness faded in. Then this awesome light installation brightened. (I am sure there is some symbolic way of saying the darkness could not keep away the light, but frankly I am tired of saying the darkness is bad. I like the dark and without it there would be only restless sleep. Not the point.)<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; clear: left; float: left; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.3636360168457px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img height="320" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/10577159_10202568559601925_2900882899314992967_n.jpg?oh=a35f398a7b602de5fb987cb8c65ed3b1&oe=54AE1E5F&__gda__=1425274347_4a44ae12bb31ddbb228435c2068aa539" width="240" /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.3636360168457px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: normal; text-align: start;">The point is this: now I am on an email blast from a yoga studio that is 142 miles away from where I reside. This means it is highly unlikely I will be attending their Tuesday evening mindfulness seminar or whatever. And that is simply a shame because what is offered is soooo what I need. Again, not the point.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.3636360168457px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: normal; text-align: start;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.3636360168457px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: normal; text-align: start;">The point is this: those emails contain a personal reflection from a yogi that starts with "I show up because..." and the response that made me pause was this: </span></span><a href="http://www.innerblissyogastudio.com/" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, 'Palatino Linotype', serif; font-size: 11.8181819915771px; line-height: 16.3636360168457px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">"I will never achieve perfection in life or practice, but something about that concept makes me want to keep trying.</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.8181819915771px; line-height: 16.3636360168457px; text-align: center;">"</span></a><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.3636360168457px; text-align: center;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.8181819915771px; line-height: 16.3636360168457px; text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">This simple statement made me stop and my tracks and say, yeah, she is totally right. We (I) will not EVER be perfect but that idea, that perfect existence, is an idea worth being inspired by and worth striving for even though it is, by definition, an unattainable goal. I like to say "oh, well (insert explaination of something I screwed up), I am not perfect...yet." And usually that is what I mean, I am not perfect yet. I am going to keep trying to be better and get closer to this image of perfection I have built in my mind, and regardless of the impossibility, I am not going to give up. Just being a little bit closer to an idea is worth the effort. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">Thanks, InnerBliss Yoga, for the inspiration to keep showing up. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.3636360168457px; text-align: center;"></span>-Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11069575583331275887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-373314008756265415.post-41663591853288686242014-10-07T17:30:00.000-04:002014-10-07T17:30:00.512-04:00Inspiration Everywhere<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: left;">
(09/29/14)</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://wlast.org/artist/images/JillEvansKavaldjian_52d5cc27f10f0_big.jpg" height="131" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Available <a href="http://www.wlast.org/artist/JillEvans-Kavaldjian.html">HERE</a>.</td></tr>
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Above my bench in the stained glass studio hang two hand painted block prints from the <a href="http://breadandpuppet.org/">Bread and Puppet Theater</a>. They are my inspiration. They remind me to enjoy my process and to keep my art simple, meaningful, and beautiful. (I also have two of these prints in my office, two in the living room, two in my bathroom, and one in my kitchen...I may be a tad obsessed.)</div>
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Anyway, when visitors come to the studio they often ask about the posters. This of course got me thinking about how I could sell what people like/are drawn to. So, as I am toying with the idea of trying something new I of course seek ideas from others. It seems like a logical first step. The images below are a conglomerate of what I like and what I would like my final product to look like. </div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://eradart.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/lino-teacup.jpg" height="156" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Available <a href="http://cursivearts.blogspot.com/2011/01/linocutblock-printing-tutorial-part-two.html">HERE</a>.</td></tr>
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The next step will be to borrow some tools and seek advice on what paints work best and which paper will hold up for the long haul. I already have the subject matter well on its way to creating a nice block print. For years I have been working on a series of drawings; they are large squares with a single flower and a word of inspiration like: "Abundance" and "Joy". </div>
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I hope you like these images as much as I do...there is so much talent in the world.</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="158" src="https://img1.etsystatic.com/003/1/5449202/il_340x270.357302835_hlh1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Available <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/62577201/artichoke-original-art-hand-painted?ref=shop_home_active_3&ga_search_query=artichoke">HERE</a>.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://www.artapets.com/resources/img/blog_img/4072/Progress_Print___Schnauzer_001.jpg" height="200" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="148" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Image from <a href="http://www.artapets.com/blog/block-printing-is-a-versatile-medium-my-plans-to-market-my-latest-animal-block-print-of-a-schnauzer/">HERE</a>.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="320" src="https://bernadettesmarketplace.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/theroundesteyes.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="165" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Available <a href="https://bernadettesmarketplace.wordpress.com/tag/block-print-t-shirt/">HERE</a>.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br />
<img src="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSR1HPZoQR1TZlK_a9XM6pj6u7Z4Hrl1hNZsRmt9wKRnF65wMi2" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Available <a href="http://theflyingfruitbowl.wordpress.com/2013/05/13/chris-bourke/">HERE</a>.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT-aQ720PHNHOOKn1MfTSkwtYSc13hdVzMXUnZJHgPfwp7NMofd" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Available <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/62701846/pomegranate-block-print-original-art">HERE</a>.</td></tr>
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-Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11069575583331275887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-373314008756265415.post-4411289003221143482014-09-30T17:30:00.001-04:002014-09-30T17:30:00.541-04:00Missing Him (7 years)<h1 class="quoteText" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;">
<br /></h1>
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<b><u>In Loving Memory of My Dad.</u></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="400" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/68273_1550647972843_1065260_n.jpg?oh=f7aed1f4da299ebb6803594b704214e4&oe=54BD6CE8&__gda__=1422714839_793b8ce9ffc9cab4191ce8b24b9f6c6c" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="270" /></td></tr>
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“I mean, they say you die twice. One time when you stop breathing and a second time, a bit later on, when somebody says your name for the last time.” -Banksy</h1>
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<span style="background-color: transparent;">May we never stop saying his name, remembering his life, or wishing for more days.</span></h1>
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-Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11069575583331275887noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-373314008756265415.post-83256819428086397232014-09-23T17:30:00.000-04:002014-09-23T17:30:00.581-04:00Perfection of the life, or of the work<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://restassuredediting.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/whichpath.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image found <a href="http://restassuredediting.com/editors-corner/">here</a>.</td></tr>
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<br />
(07/21/14)<br />
The Choice,<br />
W.B Yeats<br />
<br />
The intellect of man is forced to choose<br />
perfection of the life, or of the work,<br />
And if it take the second must refuse<br />
A heavenly mansion, raging in the dark.<br />
When all that story's finished, what's the news?<br />
In luck or out the toil has left its mark:<br />
That old perplexity an empty purse,<br />
Or the day's vanity, the night's remorse.<br />
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<br />
I found "The Choice" in a blog comment following <a href="http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/was_law_profs_frenzied_output_worth_it_his_widow_says_work_devotion_came_at">an article written by a widow</a> about her great bitterness towards her husband, a great legal mind, now dead, who had spent all of his earthly time writing, researching, and not living a life where she could be included.<br />
<br />
I will make a confession, I am not one to easily glean the meaning of a poem, it is just not a talent I have ever possessed. It usually takes a lot of time to consider the individual word choices and the play between the lines themselves and the statement as a whole. I am not very patient so I usually skim poems and move on. Occasionally, I do still sometimes try to understand and am not ashamed to seek the meaning from others interpretations. (I often do the same thing with songs I hear but cannot understand, take "<a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CCYQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.englishmuse.com%2F2012%2F01%2Fskinny-love-explained.html&ei=mlkYVODWKYWjyASxrIH4Dg&usg=AFQjCNEgGv77LNu_SmxAqL1SX-jwvst4Ug&sig2=bFV5Hi-zGpzALanNfW_e2g&bvm=bv.75097201,d.aWw">Skinny Love</a>" for example). This inability to decipher and understand, however, was not a problem when I read the above Yeats poem. I was quick to see the choice and consequences as outlined by the poet.<br />
<br />
As an attorney it is expected that the "norm" is to chose perfection of "the work", not the perfection of "the life." I myself knew of that expectation when I started down my path of legal studies. I didn't realize, however, how strongly "the world" expected this path to be <i>marched</i> down. Personally, I find little joy in devoting my intellect to the perfection of "the work." This idea of "balance" works so much better in my life than wholly devoting myself to one single pursuit. <br />
<br />
The widow's bitterness in the wake of her husband's passing is a somber reminder of the impact of our choices on those we love. Of course, for her husband, I would imagine the entire purpose of his being was to follow that pursuit of perfection of the work, but how unfair to leave behind such remorse in the spouse who tried to love him as he walked a path that perhaps had no room for her. Maybe we just cannot have it all.<br />
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<br />-Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11069575583331275887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-373314008756265415.post-90320757036492228622014-09-16T17:30:00.000-04:002014-09-16T17:30:00.913-04:00Life is Short but the Summer has just Begun(7/17/14)<br />
<br />
I wish I had a list of all the activities, cities, and people that have made this year (so far) so fun! I feel like I spend more time playing now than I ever have, which is a good thing. I am grateful for the small things like the weeds in the garden that remind me how persistent the will to live really is; and for the big things like airplanes, buses, and cars that make adventuring easy.<br />
<br />
Just off the top of my head so far this year: Philadelphia, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Milwaukee, Las Vegas, Miami, Charlotte, Asheville (NC), Indianapolis, Dayton. Turning my travel focus to the states has really been a lot of fun. It is a good thing my friends live far and wide and make all of these extended weekend jaunts possible.<br />
<br />
(09/16/14)<br />
<br />
And as the summer weather is turning to an obvious rendition of fall, I can't help but continue thinking "Wait, wait, summer has just begun!".<br />
<br />
That's all from me for today.-Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11069575583331275887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-373314008756265415.post-70533224426431196912014-09-09T17:30:00.000-04:002014-09-09T17:30:01.617-04:00An Open Letter to Kate Elvey(08/29/14)<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Dear Kate Elvey,</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I did not buy any of these things for you. But I thought about it:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Needle Felted Brown Tabby and White Kitten: Miniature Wool Felt Cat" src="https://img1.etsystatic.com/022/2/7681074/il_570xN.498894395_t3mz.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Available <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/161943769/needle-felted-brown-tabby-and-white?ref=sr_gallery_8&ga_search_query=kitten&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery">here</a>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Rainbow Unicorn - Micro Amigurumi Miniature Crochet Tiny Stuffed Animal - Made To Order" src="https://img1.etsystatic.com/030/0/6157099/il_570xN.546114883_pp9m.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Available <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/174476595/rainbow-unicorn-micro-amigurumi?ref=related-2">here.</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Embossing Rolling Pin - Kittens" src="https://img0.etsystatic.com/038/0/9013585/il_570xN.600497586_j9ut.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Available <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/189100677/embossing-rolling-pin-kittens?ref=sr_gallery_7&ga_search_query=kitten&ga_page=2&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery">here.</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Cute Brown Short Hair Tabby Cat Kitten Stud Earrings - A14E84 Made To Order - Marked Down Price" src="https://img1.etsystatic.com/024/0/5483125/il_570xN.531907447_ig5v.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Available <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/104359786/cute-brown-short-hair-tabby-cat-kitten?ref=sr_gallery_10&ga_search_query=kitten&ga_page=2&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery">here</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Love, </div>
<div>
Colleen</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
PS:</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="All I Care About Is Pizza And Like 2 People- T-ShirtAll I Care About Is Pizza And Like 2 People Graphic - T" src="https://img1.etsystatic.com/023/0/8399141/il_570xN.579176709_kzex.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Available <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/183374356/all-i-care-about-is-pizza-and-like-2?ref=sc_2&sref=sr_2b74e34dce121b22e0619f8303816b62afb56371d5c3e0fefb414ac3b430bcba_1409335054_14839270_kitten&sref2=MTgzMzc0MzU2%3Aa2l0dGVu%3AMTQ4MzkyNzA.%3Aa2l0dGVu%3Ady40%3AMTQwOTMzNTA1NA..%3AMzoxNDA5MzM1MDU0OnppMkc5QkYzcmM4Q0ZEWXNEc3phbzRQeGpQY2Q6MDYyMjI0MjZlN2NkY2NjZDMwNDdlYTZlOGFiN2QxN2E3NDc0MzE4ZWMyYjU0MTlmOWNjZGUyNWVjMzNhZjQxNA..%3A2cfb38fe7e6a6e144480af468d014d198afb014f&ga_search_query=kitten&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery">here</a>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
-Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11069575583331275887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-373314008756265415.post-8921873006289327442014-09-02T17:30:00.000-04:002014-09-02T17:30:01.477-04:00It's Christmas Time in my Studio(08/11/14)<br />
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As of today, Monday August 11th, 2014, there are 135 days until Christmas. I have made a pretty large leap of faith with my art this year and have made the choice to (hopefully) sell a whole lot of ornaments during the upcoming holiday season. I suppose failure is always an option, but for now I really think my goal of selling 120 ornaments before the end of the year is an achievable goal.<br />
<br />
Here's a progress picture:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAKTFxKmqGKMy6hKNsll-sOshKZzGYQFDjChJ7ftQbPtI0SCFh-gOVs2gOBuUBRC0rnRaW4ZdRKDGipYlyNPS0DVraPFXjDAdBaZn9Js-wfFD0iG5hKOafLsYQfVRNz3REzrWHz70Kd6M/s1600/IMG_20140806_203211.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAKTFxKmqGKMy6hKNsll-sOshKZzGYQFDjChJ7ftQbPtI0SCFh-gOVs2gOBuUBRC0rnRaW4ZdRKDGipYlyNPS0DVraPFXjDAdBaZn9Js-wfFD0iG5hKOafLsYQfVRNz3REzrWHz70Kd6M/s1600/IMG_20140806_203211.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
(08/19/14)<br />
<br />
The first accounting from Celebrate Local reports 7 sales in 14 days!! I am super excited and inspired to keep on working.<br />
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Here's a taste of what's to come:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Pw09-WkHzik-i5M1Zp_EOPscwM8OSSw-hYzqZ_PhbPnWkTh8WbrL3V9clANj1ytx8Tpg_J3tVNezuIMLH8Gw9uo47cjWe-hHnH9TOFNVAivKPIa2257dzXZpwKIsUywvbXXUuuOGalA/s1600/IMG_20140727_182347.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Pw09-WkHzik-i5M1Zp_EOPscwM8OSSw-hYzqZ_PhbPnWkTh8WbrL3V9clANj1ytx8Tpg_J3tVNezuIMLH8Gw9uo47cjWe-hHnH9TOFNVAivKPIa2257dzXZpwKIsUywvbXXUuuOGalA/s1600/IMG_20140727_182347.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
(9/2/14)<br />
<br />
The month of August was my best sales month yet at Mary B's. I think all the energy I put in to staying in the studio and foiling while watching TV is really starting to pay off.<br />
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Can you believe there are only 113 days before Christmas?<br />
Click here for a <a href="http://mycountdown.org/fullpage.php?cp3_Hex=&cp2_Hex=040244&cp1_Hex=F9F9FF&ham=&img=1&hbg=&hfg=&sid=&fwdt=150&lab=1&text1=Days%20Until%20Christmas&text2=Days%20Until%20Christmas&group=Holiday&countdown=Christmas&widget_number=3003&event_time=1419465600&timezone=UTC">Christmas Count Down!</a><br />
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<br />-Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11069575583331275887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-373314008756265415.post-48908199006850790702014-08-26T17:30:00.000-04:002014-08-26T17:30:00.791-04:00Urban Scrawl 8(08/25/14)<br />
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This weekend 400 West Rich hosted an "Open Studio" event in coordination with Urban Scrawl 8. Our studio had loads of visitors but not too many buyers. Popular commentary suggests I continue to work on my display layout in the studio.<br />
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Not related to glass, here is what was going on during the Scrawl:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUwNPjEpiSIKeVYRcSqspv_gmx6FsstHn06SyAZNx-sCNUbcekEI6o6_oZJBIZzfTMcEYG8vqNIBGJRshaWLKbBPAWMfMSEoplFsBeqnBUDLQIPWwMjX6CIKy-0-THR0W4se35ZtBM5Bs/s1600/IMG_20140823_125028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUwNPjEpiSIKeVYRcSqspv_gmx6FsstHn06SyAZNx-sCNUbcekEI6o6_oZJBIZzfTMcEYG8vqNIBGJRshaWLKbBPAWMfMSEoplFsBeqnBUDLQIPWwMjX6CIKy-0-THR0W4se35ZtBM5Bs/s1600/IMG_20140823_125028.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDoAdu5zYz7OAZsQgGtYkKueC7yCaPayJC-5w7ACwjsvOnIIDX3vZNbNAcwBco_2xQQp4x-0JrzgM58KeYCwvp0qyk1XF6CEPWc_w02wrb9Cj-xH8c2z5PLzZakLbzVamJg0EsTGfNUWk/s1600/IMG_20140823_160318+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDoAdu5zYz7OAZsQgGtYkKueC7yCaPayJC-5w7ACwjsvOnIIDX3vZNbNAcwBco_2xQQp4x-0JrzgM58KeYCwvp0qyk1XF6CEPWc_w02wrb9Cj-xH8c2z5PLzZakLbzVamJg0EsTGfNUWk/s1600/IMG_20140823_160318+(1).jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ECSBVjJBai8AoXwPIhyphenhyphenQ4kZCE0n9_FF-2_eSEdWpqss5BSRwq0s5HZF-whEBtQX_pg0oKufczQkgwzLPrOYSLfzSVnKF2ulbUWz125iGTCuu4e2jzYHO4ltHuaJm26ZUk5pAJKU7Swc/s1600/IMG_20140823_161433.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ECSBVjJBai8AoXwPIhyphenhyphenQ4kZCE0n9_FF-2_eSEdWpqss5BSRwq0s5HZF-whEBtQX_pg0oKufczQkgwzLPrOYSLfzSVnKF2ulbUWz125iGTCuu4e2jzYHO4ltHuaJm26ZUk5pAJKU7Swc/s1600/IMG_20140823_161433.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Columbus isn't all that bad....-Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11069575583331275887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-373314008756265415.post-33950283337111983832014-08-19T17:30:00.000-04:002014-08-19T17:30:00.678-04:00On Soul Mates<div class="MsoNormal">
(07/22/14)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I don't even know how this book ended up on my reading list, let alone my request list at the library. Some one must have referenced it online or in an article; according to a friend the author recently died (fact check: the <a href="http://www.nancygarden.com/">author</a> passed on 06/23/14). Regardless of how this book found me, I am very glad it did. It is a rare book that causes me to pause, tear up, and close the book just to <i>think</i>.<br />
<br />
The quote that found me mid-read and required more than a moment's pause to digest is this:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"Have you ever felt really close to someone? So close
that you can't understand why you and the other person have two separate
bodies, two separate skins? I think it was Sunday when that feeling
began."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
pg 91, <i>Annie on My Mind</i> by Nancy Garden</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
I am not sure if it is because I have indeed felt this closeness, or if I was so interested in the plight of the characters and their stress that I was so moved. Maybe a little of both. The emotional intimacy that gives way to an inseparable bond is rare. The risk of being vulnerable to another person is, for me, frightening and incredibly difficult. The characters in this book reminded me how important it is to take that risk when the right person is knocking on your heart's door.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://www.whatsupkaith.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/tumblr_kwf677cKqL1qzx5i0o1_500_large.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo found <a href="http://www.whatsupkaith.com/2011/12/14/take-the-risk/">here</a>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
-Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11069575583331275887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-373314008756265415.post-81552537758496599342014-08-12T17:30:00.001-04:002014-08-12T17:30:00.970-04:00On Writer's Block<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #111111; font-family: Calibri, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21.993999481201172px; margin-bottom: 1.7em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
(08/11/14)<br />
Last week I missed posting a new post, not so much because I was unable to find something to write, but because I have been so obsessed with getting other things done that is slipped my mind. I have found, in writing this blog and forming the very quiet goal of posting something new every Tuesday at 5:30pm, that it is best for me to write as many new posts as I can whenever the proper combination of sunshine, caffeine, and inspiration collide. Right now I have 8 posts started and 2 completed (one scheduled to post in April of next year...). There doesn't seem to be a time (yet) when I have nothing to write. Perhaps that is because this blogging is for my own personal amusement and I don't expect my two dedicated reader to grow by any significant leaps and bounds. The deadlines are light and there are no repercussions for failure.<br />
<br />
Regardless, I think these quotes are excellent reminders of how our favorite writers have dealt with the issue of running into a block the prevents the flow from mind to keyboard/pen and paper. All of these quotes were posted by <a href="http://thebloggess.com/2014/07/and-thats-why-ill-never-leave-twitter/">The Bloggess</a>, one of my favorite bloggers who I have been reading for years.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #111111; font-family: Calibri, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21.993999481201172px; margin-bottom: 1.7em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<i>I hate writing. I love having written. ~ Dorothy Parker</i><br />
<img src="https://img.quozio.com/img/4a876e0c/1005/I-hate-writing-I-love.jpg" /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #111111; font-family: Calibri, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21.993999481201172px; margin-bottom: 1.7em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed. ~ Hemingway</em><br />
<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img src="https://img.quozio.com/img/96644063/1000/There-is-nothing-to.jpg" /></em></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #111111; font-family: Calibri, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21.993999481201172px; margin-bottom: 1.7em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Writing is like driving at night in the fog. You can only see as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way. E. L. Doctorow</em><br />
<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img src="https://img.quozio.com/img/b155fa0c/1006/Writing-is-like-driving.jpg" /></em></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #111111; font-family: Calibri, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21.993999481201172px; margin-bottom: 1.7em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What people are ashamed of usually makes a good story. ~ F. Scott Fitzgerald</em><br />
<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img src="https://img.quozio.com/img/fb780a91/1014/What-people-are-ashamed.jpg" /></em></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #111111; font-family: Calibri, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21.993999481201172px; margin-bottom: 1.7em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">from the Bloggess.com</em></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.7em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21.993999481201172px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>http://thebloggess.com/2014/07/and-thats-why-ill-never-leave-twitter/</i></span></span><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
-Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11069575583331275887noreply@blogger.com0