New Invites and E-Cards for Halloween

I've been busy designing new Halloween invites and e-cards in my Pingg studio! Here's a few examples below--click on the Pingg button on the right side of this page to take you to my studio.

Meditation Monday-avoid loud and aggressive persons....

Happy Monday--this week's Desiderata post:

New Fall invites and e-cards

Hey it's almost Fall! At least that's what I'm thinking, even though it's 95 degrees here in the heartland...I'm visualizing cooler weather--hey it can't hurt, right? And to celebrate the imminent end of Summer, I've created a group of new Fall/Harvest invites. Halloween invites soon to come also! Here's a few to give you a taste. Just click on any of them to take you to my Pingg studio.

Meditation Monday--listen to others....

Happy Monday Morning- Today's Desiderata phrase always sortof makes me laugh when I think about it, because of the "dull and ignorant" part....I've come to realize that sometimes I'm the one listening to someone expound at length on something I've heard before (or don't want to hear) so I assume THEY are the dull and ignorant people this is referring to, but then there are times I've realized that it's sometimes ME who is that one who is going on and on about whatever subject I'm into at the moment, even though I can sense or see that whoever I'm talking to would rather I put a period at the end of the sentence and move on. So here's to all the people who have ever felt they have become pedantic or tiresome and to all those patient souls who have listened to us anyway. Happy Monday!

Favorite Things--Trash

You've heard the old saw "One man's trash...." well, in the hands of Stuart Haygarth and Tony Cragg, trash indeed becomes treasure. Haygarth truly transforms the way we view everyday discards--things like old sunglasses, plastic bottle tops, pink plastic champagne glasses, detritis that washes up on the Kent beach near his home-the list goes on and on. But what he DOES with it is so simple yet so unique that for a moment, you forget what you're looking at. Take the photo below entitled Dispoable from 2005. You have to look at it awhile before you notice that's it's not only a gorgeous mod chandelier, it's constructed of those throw-away pink champagne glasses. Click on any photo below to take you to each artist's site.

In Spectacle (2006), Haygarth takes old sunglasses and uses them to create a lovely amber chandelier.

Raft-dogs (2009)-Ceramic animal figurines are rescued and shown in their best light (sorry couldn't resist)

Tide (2004)-Made from debris from the beaches of Kent

Tide (2004)-Again, made from beach debris but grouped according to color to amazing effect.

Tony Cragg has been up cycling before it was cool. These two pieces below are from the 80s. Click on either photo below to go to his site.
Union Jack-(1981)-Anthony Cragg brilliantly constructed his country's flag from the items it's citizens leave behind.

The Streets Are Full of Cowboys (1981)-Anthony Cragg

Meditation Monday-speak your truth......

Happy Monday! Today's chunk of Desiderata wisdom is about speaking your truth, but in a peaceful way, not in a defensive or aggressive way. I think it's all in the delivery, especially if you have something that you're really struggling to say...speaking unapologetically but calmly will often have the same effect in return-you'll get honesty back (which you'll have to be ready for) but not anger. At least that's been my experience so far. Have a great week!

Favorite Things--NAPS!

I love me some naps....just got up from one, as a matter of fact. My friend Laura Huliska-Beith, an awesome children's book illustrator and author, says that naps are like "shaking and resetting the Etch-A-Sketch" in your head and I think she's right. I typically will draw something or get some ideas down in the morning, then take a 30 minute nap later in the afternoon and look at my morning work right after I get up from the nap. Never fails that I see something I didn't before or notice something that I want to change or improve. Speaking of Laura, take a look at some of her beautiful work below. Click on the top photo to go to her site to see all her beautiful work, both in 2 and 3D. She's a multi-talented person, beautiful inside and out (not to mention a wonderful friend who also happens to have one of the best senses of humor that I've ever known!)

Meditation Monday--be on good terms...

Happy 6th of August--today's meditation post is another wise saying from Desiderata that I love and try to do, but again, it can be somewhat hard sometimes. I remember thinking about this phrase once when dealing with a very unsympathetic trade show person who, no matter how calmly I tried to state my case, would not listen to me. I didn't end up flying off the handle and saying what I was actually thinking which was a good thing because 1.) I may see that person again and 2.) it NEVER pays to burn bridges. I can't think of a time I've regretted not responding in anger, but I just hope I can remember that in the future too!