Blossoming in Nature

Every flower is a soul blossoming in nature. 

Gerard De Nerval 

Little Things

White Campanula in the early morning garden 

It's the little things declaring beauty that one must cling to in this tumultuous time,

to fight the despair that threatens to overwhelm.

#resist

In the morning... solitude

“In the morning, – solitude; … that nature may speak to the imagination, as she does never in company.”    Ralph Waldo Emerson

Studio Destash - Mixed Media Technique Books

I'm slowly cleaning out the studio and downsizing my stash of art technique magazines and books. While I've gifted some to friends, I have listed others in my Etsy shop.

Take a look at a few just listed:  

2006 Somerset Workshop - PLUS Workshop 2 

These were the very first Somerset Workshop magazines. I believe they discontinued the Workshop magazines in 2013.

Somerset Workshop - Summer and Autumn 2008

 Collage Discovery Workshop + Beyond the Unexpected 

Claudine Hellmuth is a favorite artist and I've referred to these books over and over these past few years... 

While it's difficult for me to let go of favorite references, there comes a time to release the inspiration to other artists. 

Happy Arting, Everyone! 

16 Photos in 16 Minutes #365phew #80

A challenge on a day we were traveling home from my nephews wedding - take sixteen photos a minute apart.
We were driving through Washington wine country... and not all were in focus, but they give a feel of the road traveled. :)

This last photo was several miles up the road - a rest area at the top of the hills between Yakima and Ellensburg. Besides a view back the way we came, it had a cryptic sign that warns to "Watch for Rattlesnakes."

Imagine

Imagine a world where tolerance, acceptance, and kindness was lived daily. 

Imagine there's no countries

It isn't hard to do

Nothing to kill or die for

And no religion too

Imagine all the people living life in peace... 

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people sharing all the world...

You may say I'm a dreamer

But I'm not the only one

I hope some day you'll join us

And the world will be as one

John Lennon
 

Eyes Closed Photos

One of the daily prompts this past week (from the year long class with Carla Sonheim) was "Eyes Closed" photography. 

I did this during our walk yesterday at our favorite bird watching park - Scudder Pond in Whatcom Falls Park. The challenge was to take without looking, after scanning the area first. So, high and low and all around. To my delight, a couple of the high photos have hidden hearts. You may have to allow a bit of poetic license, however I see them. 

 

Tutorial - Setting up your Google+ Brand Account

I've just gotten into promoting my Etsy Stores on Google+. I started with my main Google+ account, but have just set up a "Brand Account" for my Vintage Shop and am sharing to help fellow sellers. Note that I work from a Windows PC.

To create your Brand Account Page: https://support.google.com/business/answer/4570248

1. In a web browser, visit the page creation portal.
2. Follow the instructions on your screen to finish creating your page.

After you've created the page, it takes you back to your main account (at least mine did). You can’t edit the Brand page from there, so go up to your profile avatar and LEFT click (on PC), which brings up a list with your Brand Account. Click on your brand account, and you can edit it as you did your original Google+ page.  

To change your banner and avatar go to your Profile - found in the column at left of screen. If the list is not showing click on the three lines at the top of the screen to the left of Google+ and it will bring the list up.

Click on “About” and it brings up a screen where you can add your banner image and avatar as well as description. Add images by clicking the camera icon, and text by clicking the pencil.  I matched it to my shop for consistency.

Note: when I click the camera it brings up the photos I have on my google account (from phone), if it does that click again and it should give you a choice to access your computer.

You follow the same basic steps to create “Collections”. Just click on the Create a collection and edit away.

*Note that you will remain in the last collection you posted, so go to “Collections” and select YOURS to pick the appropriate collection.

Also *borrowed  from a fellow seller-Alex* A reminder (or new info if you don't know) to speed listing y on G+, hot keys are your friends! Here are the most usable ones below:

Mac:

Command and C = copy

Command and V = paste

Command and Z = undo

PC:

Control and C = copy

Control and V = paste

Control and Z = undo

Good luck setting up your Brand Account page!

Dreaming of Summer

Native Grass Seed Head from the garden

Dear World, From America...

What this man says, echoes what the majority of American's feel... Thank you, John Pavlovit. 

"Dear World, From America

JANUARY 28, 2017 / JOHN PAVLOVIT

Dear World,

We felt we needed to say something while saying something is still allowed.

We know many of you have lived under malevolent, unhinged Dictators before, but this is new for us. For its history our nation has been led by men who, despite their varying flaws and deficiencies, some of which were quite disturbing—were by and large, normal human beings. Whatever darkness in them, they had at the very least, a baseline of humanity and decency that more often than not insured rational behavior.

This man is not normal.

He is unstable, malignant, devoid of integrity—and he does not speak for us.

Please understand that nearly three million more people voted for his opponent Hillary Clinton than for him. (Yes, we realize this is completely screwed-up).Millions more voted for other candidates, and sadly nearly 90 million of our people did not vote at all. The point is, the vast majority of Americans are not with him. He does not speak for us. His America is not our America.

Over the past week, we’ve watched long erected pillars of our Republic bulldozed in the stroke of a madman’s pen. We’ve seen the very hallmarks of who we are as a nation tossed in the garbage; the celebration of diverse coexistence, the open welcome to the oppressed, the guarantee of unalienable rights for every person, the same access to health and opportunity and safety afforded to everyone, the freedom to speak without censor or restraint. At this moment these are all in great jeopardy.

Things we took for granted in our leadership: things like goodness, wisdom, and basic truthfulness are no longer in play, and as things are eroding quickly we wanted to let you know that we’re sorry.

We’re sorry that our apathy and laziness have yielded such a reckless, impulsive, small man to steward this nation.
We’re sorry for the jagged, bitter ugliness that is characterizing us in these moments.
We’re sorry to those suffering greatly, who have braved such peril to seek refuge here and who’ve now been turned away based on the faith they profess.
We’re sorry to our Mexican neighbors who’ve been fashioned into convenient villains for erecting a grandiose, wasteful display of false protection that we do not want.
We’re sorry to Muslims everywhere who’ve been used as pawns to generate irrational fear among those already susceptible to bigotry and discrimination.
We’re sorry to the leaders of the world, who instead of being met by level-headed, measured, intelligent dialogue, are now greeted with the social media rantings of a furious child.
We’re sorry to those who now experience the Christian faith as a racist, Nationalistic bully pulpit wielded with malice toward the very diverse Humanity Jesus lived and died for.
We’re sorry to people everywhere whose lives are made more tenuous, more violent, less safe, less secure than it has been before.

We want you to know that this is not who we are. It may be who this man is. It may be who those sharing power with him are. It may even be the tens of millions who originally voted for him (though that support is vanishing quickly among those who not among the religious zealots and extremists).

But this is not America. It is not the steady, strong beacon of freedom that it was intended to be. It is not the America our people have fought and died for. It is not the one first formed in the crucible of oppression and cast into the words of our ever-disregarded Constitution.

This is not our America. Our America affirms the inherent, priceless beauty of every human being. Our America declares that no person is ascribed less value because of their skin color, religion, gender, financial means, sexual orientation, nation of origin, or any other variable. Our America is home for those seeking hope and joy and rest.

And we are going to fight for this America. Through political channels and through grassroots activism, through the use of our Press and of our personal voices, we’re going to expose this man’s incompetence, call out his heart sickness, and condemn every violent, reckless, vicious act when it does not reflect our hearts and our will. Please do your best to disregard anything that comes from his mouth or those loudly and continually parroting his propaganda. They have proven themselves mortally allergic to the truth.

And we hope that in whatever way you can, that you will stand with us. We know that we have made this mess ourselves. We understand that you have your own problems to contend with, some far more urgent and pressing than this, but we believe that we are a single community; that we are tethered together in our Humanity, that we are in real-time crafting the life our children and their children will inherit.

Dear World, we’re sorry and we hope you’ll endure these days with us.

With Despair and Hope in equal measure, in Peace and Unity with you,

The American Majority"

A Rainbow Smiled

Yesterday, I marched for all who are oppressed, or in danger thereof, in this country. I marched with love and kindness. And a rainbow smiled upon us. :) 

 I will continue to voice my thoughts and opinions in a peaceful, loving and kind manner. 

We the People have a right to voice our opinion. Every single citizen is guaranteed that right under the constitution of the United States of America. 

#HearOurVoice

Women's March on Washington

I am marching in my town of Bellingham, Washington today with the Women's March on Washington! May those participating remain peaceful, respectful and safe. 

By an anonymous Bellingham artist - Thank you! 

    

When I despair, I remember that all through history the ways of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants, and murderers, and for a time they can seem invincible, but in the end they always fall. Think of it--always.

Mahatma Gandhi