WENDY'S PERFECT NOTE

Once in a while, artwork brings me to shed tears. It doesn't happen very often. So far, I can count the number of times it has happened to me on one hand. It happened tonight.

For well over a year, Wendy Addison has been working on creating a self-published book ... a book that she aimed to reflect her "perfect note." There are only 450 copies that she has made. Each one is filled with TRULY breathtaking passion like I've never ever seen in a book before. Believe it or not, it contains an actual theatre that has a lovely dancer behind a curtain who can move with the flip of a built-in lever. In my wildest dreams I never thought such magic could happen in a book.

Through this book, Wendy has hit a note that is undoubtedly at the pinnacle of  creativity. It is in fact a gift that she has worked so hard to create and offer to kindred souls who seek the magic. 

(Wendy welcomes inquiries from those who seek to purchase a copy of her book at (510) 787-2164.)  

GOT STRING? (or YARN, HEMP, WOOL, ETC.?)

You may remember my telling you about our brand new publication titled All Things String here. Well, here's the official Call for Artwork. Hope you'll help me spread the word. Got questions? Then shoot me an e-mail at jdoh@stampington.com. 

MYSTERY ARTIST REVEALED ;)

Kristen Robinson ... an artist of immense talent ... a friend with whom I share a passion for sizzling hot shoes.

DEEP DOWN INSIDE US

What an interesting idea, don't you think? It's by Richard Rorty ... one of the most important philosophers of modern time. Rorty argued that the world exists independently ... but our descriptions of the world exist dependently. That is, the world exists whether or not we are able to describe it. But our descriptions of the world cannot BE without the existence of the world.

Which in turn leads to his tenet that what's deep within us in terms of our thoughts and ideas and feelings don't just exist independently. We create them. Our physical bodies aren't what create what we feel and think. What we think and feel are created by us. 

And I would therefore argue that what we think and feel ... which ultimately lead to how we behave ... are our responsibility. WE CHOOSE how we think, how we feel, how we behave. 

MYSTERY ARTIST WITH HOT SHOES

The other day, when I was visiting with an artist, I looked down and noticed that we had the same shoes on. Remember ... the pair I was talking about here.

So I decided to take this shot of the the two of us wearing the totally hot shoes. The foot on the right is mine. And the foot on the left ... well let's see now ... hmmm ... wonder who this mystery artist with great taste in shoes might be:

A: Ruth Rae

B: Kristen Robinson

C: Traci Bautista

D: Amy Hanna

F: Sandra Evertson

BLINK

For the last few weeks, my creative energies have been focused on helping my friend Cynthia Criollos who is turning 50 years old. And her friend Karen who is turning 60. So when Cynthia asked me to help her with designing an invitation for a joint-party, this is what I came up with:

It was made with those cool file folders I spoke about here. I folded them up by about a third and then stapled the sides.

And then I folded the middle toward me and then the sides away from me to create four pocket areas in which I inserted panels that I made by computer-generating text and then sewing them onto red cardstock.

And to give as gifts to all the party guests, I embellished Moleskine journals to coordinate with the invitations.

As I've been making these invitations and favors, I've been reflecting on the fact that life happens fast. We blink and we're 20. We blink again and we're 34 (my favorite age). We blink again and we're 42. We blink again and 50 and 60 are just around the corner. 

Given how fast it all goes, we might as well do it in great style.

NAMING HIM PETER

About a year ago, the dream to bring a breeding pair of Giant Anteaters to the Santa Ana zoo was born. You may remember here, my telling you about early efforts to raise support to build a habitat for the future anteaters. And you may remember my telling you here about our having reached our fundraising goals to break ground to build the anteater's future home. Well, I am more than ECSTATIC to report that the adorable furry critters are finally here! Here's the boy anteater:

And here's the girl anteater:

Are they not the cutest things you've ever seen? They are the FIRST and ONLY anteaters in Orange County. They are still currently under quarantine to make sure that they get adjusted to their new environment as zoo staff keep a close eye on their health and adjustment. In June or July, we will have an official ribbon cutting where they make their debut with the public. 

The last leg of this campaign before the public meets them is that they need to be named. And of course, given that UC Irvine's official mascot is Peter the Anteater, it would be perfect to name the boy anteater Peter. In order to make that happen, we need to raise $20K to claim naming rights. For all you anteater fans out there, I hope you'll join me by making a gift to help us reach our goal to name the boy anteater Peter by going here to the UCI Alumni Association site.

ZOT!

GOT QUILTS?

Well, the premier issue of Art Quilting Studio is officially being printed as we speak ... ready to make its official debut on June 1, 2009 ... everywhere magazines are sold. Don't worry. June 1st will get here before you know it. The one page that I CAN show you ahead of time on this blog The Special Challenges & Calls page. Check it out ... 

I am very proud of our Challenges and Calls, which are fun, fresh, and SO inspiring. Whatever your background, whatever your medium, we have a place for you in the pages of Art Quilting Studio. Oh ... I actually have another page from the magazine I can show you here: Our official Submission Guidelines. 

If you have ANY questions whatsoever with these calls and challenges, feel free to drop me an e-mail at jdoh@stampington.com. 

Happy (art) quilting. :)

NOT BY CHANCE, BUT BY CHANGE

If we want better relationships, it happens not through silent wishes but through deliberate changes in the way we behave. If we want better health, it happens not through sitting on the couch wishing for fitness but through deliberate choices in the food we eat and the way we exercise. And so it goes. Better careers, better education, better finances, better marriages, better lives. 

I remember when I was an at-home mom when Andrew was a baby and Monica was a toddler. It was SO hard. And I resented Gerardo for being able to work all day out of the home while I tended to the very difficult mommy duties day in and day out. When he'd come home, I would hardly say anything to him, as I tried hard to keep a frown on my face to prove to him how unfair I thought things were. During that time, I remember wishing that my life were different. That we wouldn't have such a gloomy household when we were all together. But then it dawned on me that I was the main culprit in fostering such a negative atmosphere. And so I decided to take action. The next day, when I knew it was time for Gerardo to come home, I grabbed the kids and went to the door to greet him with a smile and forced myself to say the words: "Welcome home." In that moment, the spirit of our home lifted. Of course not all days have been perfect since then but it was a big lesson for me. I learned that not by chance, but by change, I could positively affect the course of my life.

Through changed behaviors (and attitudes), I do believe that everything is within reach.

PROOF POSITIVE • COMPLIMENTARY/COMPLEMENTARY

CORRECT: If you buy a sandwich, they will give you a complimentary bag of chips.

INCORRECT: The chair we bought is complimentary to the rest of the furniture in the room.

CORRECT: After you paint the circles in red, be sure to paint the other shapes in complementary colors.

INCORRECT: If you sign up for a subscription, you'll receive a complementary gift.