Coming Right Along...

(10.21.14)

Last night I was able to actually turn off the distractions and focus on the projects that occupy my mind!

You may remember my Inspiration Everywhere 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 Bread and Puppet Theater Company. 

The subject matter for this print series came to me while attending the best church in the whole world (located in Cincinnati). You see, the Center for Spiritual Living of Greater Cincinnati has some really awesome tenants of faith. These tenants include core values that resonant with me beyond my wildest dreams. So, in response to my feelings I set out to make art so celebrate these values: 

Love 

Spirituality 

Integrity

Service

Abundance 

Consciousness

Mindfulness,  

Dynamic Energy!

Two of the sketches from 

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. So my sketch books has nice ideas for a lot of these values but still has empty pages waiting for inspirations.

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. 

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. 

I set out to make ONE PRINT AT A TIME. (brilliant, right?)

I borrowed tools from another artist instead of buying new.

I bought only a small piece of linoleum and no ink and no paper: one step at a time! 

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. 

Here's where I am: 

Pick just ONE inspiration at a time!

Outline the drawing with charcoal.

Transfer the charcoal image to the linoleum

The transfer didn't turn out too well the first time so I wiped it off and tried again.

Sharpies are the best! I traced all of the charcoal lines with black marker.

Now I have a great reverse image of the original!
Next step is to cut away the grey.
I will post more pictures as this project comes along.

These Things Make Me Smile

(04/29/14)

Trolling the internet for inspiration and smiles often leads me to laughing out loud and thinking of the specific people who would also love what I find.

This certainly should belong to my baby sister:

Available here

And, well this one is for my baby sister, too:

Available here

My other sister would like this art:

Available here

On Friendship

(04/21/14)

On Friendship

I asked a friend to write an essay about "Being a Good Friend." In my opinion, she is one of the best keepers of people I have ever met. She regularly corresponds with people from her long-ago past and keeps tabs on the happenings of hundreds with only rare reliance on social media for sourcing.

So, after a good deal of time passed and I did not get an essay back, I inquired. You know what she said?That she wrote the essay; it was only one word: persistence.

Ft. Myers, Florida

(3/21/2010)

"Within all of us there is an illusive melody, which when heard and followed will lead you to the fulfillment of your fondest dreams."

(03/21/2014)

Funny how four years have passed and this blog entry was never expanded upon. Either I can't hear the melody or I have heard it and just keep playing a different tune. Or, wait, that is wrong. I actually have fulfilled my fondest dreams...just waiting on more dreams to come.

Repurposing with a Purpose!

(02.20.2011)
Two days of 40 degree weather prompted me to make good on my plans to start seeds for my garden! I had a dream about creating a mini-greenhouse to sit on the table in my office. With the help of Jen and some duct tape, I was able to create a nice frame out of old curtain rods, covered in left over winter window plastic to keep in the moisture and warmth! We had some plant containers from last season, now filled with fresh dirt and later today sprinkled with seeds. The garden of my dreams is well with in the reach of reality.

The plastic is not attached to the frame in this picture.

4th Floor Madness

(02.25.2010)

Here at the College of Law they have all of the professor's offices on the fourth floor while nearly all of the classes are on the first floor. It is a rare day that I venture all the way to the top, but today I took that stair-climbing challenge and I am so glad that I did. Nearly everyone was hanging around, most were working in their offices. Best yet, every professor (4 total) I needed to talk to was in and had their door open. Woohoo for efficiency. The professors at this school are so personable. I am glad I ended up where I did. This blog is a lot of fluff. I apologize for a lack of purpose other than saying that I like school. The end.

Trusting the Universe Month

(02/01/10)

I used to strongly adhere to the idea that I could "get whatever I wanted from" the universe; that there was no reason to worry about the future because everything would always unfold exactly as I needed it to. I realize this is a very self-centered approach to my existence. Over time I have found myself straying from such a spoiled-child sort of philosophy. However, the root of the philosophy deserves some more contemplation. And this month I am going to try and be more trusting and less worrisome. Working in my favor is my optimistic view of most everything and the coming of spring. There are some cool work/life happenings that fall in to this "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you" (Matthew 7:7). I will keep you posted on how it all unravels. I would love to hear your stories of asking and receiving...