Birthday Gift

Dancing is not just getting up painlessly, like a leaf blown on the wind; dancing is when you tear your heart out and rise out of your body to hang suspended between the worlds. – Rumi

By on August 9, 2017
The Magic Man – Foolish 2

No sooner did I think Start finding great and beautiful books to share on Instagram  than I came across a most beautiful gift given by two artists to my musician friend for his birthday.

To think that so much time, planning, creative focus, and love went into making such a splendid gift for this splendid man was deeply touching. And there is not a more deserving person to receive such a gift. He has invested his life’s energy into making music in various genres and moving to and through music in such a way as to inspire those around him to move to and through music; he is a gift to all those who experience him.

More brother than band mate of my husband’s for over 25 years, Craig is a musician, dancer, dj, entertainer, and all around magic man.  Nights spent dancing and laughing with him are abundant and energizing. Thank you Craig!

Written especially for him by Kate Best, illustrated in watercolor and pen, and bound with love and admiration by Ashley Young’s skilled artist’s hands. I am humbled to share Craig’s Song (with permission).

 

ps. Hey Craig, can you do me a favor? PLAY ME SOME SLAYER!! Love you brother!

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Birthday Gift

“You don’t give up, do you?” – Red Skull, Captain America

By on April 5, 2017
‘You don’t give up do you?’ poster art

 

I’ve said yes! and Yes!! and YES!!! to so many projects I have a back log decades long. No joke. Sketches and mock ups, partial layouts and plans that only exist in my mind’s eye.

I’ve slowly started moving through them – finally. The feeling of being overwhelmed subsiding ever so little, but only if I focus on what is right in front of me.

If I think for even a moment of the many promises waiting to be fulfilled on the shelf  behind me, the flow shuts down and I run off and start a load of laundry or a deep clean of the bathrooms.

I’ve had a creative mentor and business accountability partner for almost a year now and she has profoundly influenced my ability to focus, prioritize, accept, and move through the b.s. I put in my own way. And, there’s nothing like a deadline, self imposed or someone else’s, to clear the plate. Like say, your kid’s best buddy’s birthday.

Last year, a dear friend’s son found out he had diabetes, landing him in the hospital for a short time and putting his family in a whole new relationship with carbs. Shortly afterward, he tested positive for Celiac disease. Double crap (gluten free) sandwich.

His class made creative and hilarious cards and after a going through, my friend handed them to me to ‘do something with.’ My mind was a whirl. I scanned and cleaned them up right away then sat on ideas for an entire year.

I count her as one of my favorite people because there are no feelings of unmet expectations with her – which also accounts for why she is such a marvelously relaxed mother of three. I didn’t feel guilt around her, but there were many times I wanted to mention, lie really, that I would have those cards back to her any day now.

When she opted to celebrate a full year of her son successfully managing two huge lifestyle changes with an over night at a dude ranch, I found my deadline. The form took shape quickly (a poster!), the work was quick (scanning and cleaning done months ago!), and the flow took over. I had the 36″ x 24″ poster printed at Miller Imaging and Digital Solutions in half a day and delivered the gift on time.

If you’ve seen Captain America, the First Avenger, you know who Red Skull is, but you may have missed how ridiculous he sounds as he threatens the Captain saying, ‘You don’t give up, do you?!’ Or maybe you just need 10 year olds to reenact it over and over and over until you can’t help but chuckle every time you hear it. That phrase became a comical mantra after we all watched the movie together last summer.

Seems appropriate for a kid who proved he was stronger and more adaptable than he knew. And for anyone with the chutzpah to keep at life, art, love, work, adventure, even when the tasks at hand are daunting. All we really need is a good friend, a mentor, and our sights set directly in front of us.

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Birthday Gift

“We think back through our mothers if we are women” – Virginia Woolf

By on March 15, 2017

 

Their love created another beautiful smile, the smile of MaryAnn

Favorite photos from my life collection often become the central element in my card making. Such a simple and wonderful exchange – a moment illustrated in faded, glossy tones with fashions that incite elation, youthful optimism brimming in everyone’s faces, my family in it’s early formation. I have spent timeless hours with old photos from both sides of my family helping me connect the varied chapters of my life and encouraging a familiarity with people whose influence I embrace.

Re-framing images in a gift is my way of saying thank you for creating your life as you did, for your participation in my life, and for our relationship as it continues to grow.

For my mother’s 70th birthday I wanted to celebrate her radiance and beauty in both her youth and her wise years. Choosing one image was impossible. Instead I made a short book using 59 images, totaling 26 pages which I created by folding 13 – 11 x 17″ full color prints in half.

As a long time collector of beautiful bits of paper, I found a lovely wallpaper-esque roll of cotton fiber paper in my craft closet to use as detail over a black card stock cover.

I put it together using an uncomplicated Japanese stitch binding. This video tutorial by Sea Lemon was perfect and when I found myself needing single frame instruction, this step-by-step at Design Sponge did the trick. Both are clear and easy to follow.

Seeing my baby self in the light of my mother’s glowing smile, fixed gaze, and capable hands fills me with warmth. Her smile became the theme of the book. By the third book, my stitching edged on graceful. Final size : 8.25 x 7.5″.

close up
Two beautiful smiles fell in love
Her smile persisted, even through unimaginable sadness
She too fell in love with a smile
Life, as always, was full of adventure, difficulty, joy, sorrow, gratitude and faith.
Seventy years of smiles has made MaryAnn’s beauty ageless.

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