Another birthday…bring it on! Some people may scoff at the reminder of the accumulating years, but with the current struggles and losses of those precious to us, I am reminded that each day is a blessing and we should celebrate the milestones.

I get to celebrate a birthday in the next week. There is always a small shiver of excitement that runs through me when July rolls around. It's my birthday month! It brings to mind hot, sunny days, running through the sprinkler, eating popsicles, riding bikes, and the hope of birthday cake and presents. Even though I am a working adult, that little bit of excitement is still there.

When I was young, I could never have imagined myself to be 50+ with streaks of gray in my hair. Today, if I don't look in the mirror, I still feel the soul of that young child in me. The child that wants to skip with joy when I think of my upcoming birthday. I want to bounce and clap with the anticipation of happiness and specialness that makes a birthday something to celebrate. I am the odd one that likes to tell strangers it is my birthday. I tell the mail carrier. I tell the cashier, or the gas attendant who doesn't even look up at our transaction. I say "Today is my birthday" and that person will perk up and smile and wish me well, and that makes my day. 

These last few months - actually this year - has been a struggle for my family and friends. We have sadly lost people close to us. We have seen and prayed for loved ones facing health crises, and currently have loved ones struggling to fight atrocious cancers. [Thinking of Tre'von, Tim, Mom, Uncle Dick, Tami, Debbie, Brian, KT…and the list goes on.] My prayer list has gotten longer - so long, that instead of having to count sheep to fall asleep, if I start my prayers for all of those in need, I usually fall asleep before I get to the end of the list. My Grandmother Dorothy always said that "it's okay to fall asleep in prayer, because the angels will always finish it for you". (Love and miss you, Grandma.)

Keeping in mind all of those who are struggling, and all who know how short life can be, as the saying goes...each day is a gift. We should celebrate the lives of those around us, each and every day. A birthday is a blessed reminder of that special milestone. 

So…bring on the birthdays…shout to the world...and let's celebrate! 

[Happy Birthday to Baron, Miranda, Pam S., Keith/FeFe, Mom, Elizabeth, Matthew…] 

Why not both?  Creativity. I think it can be expressed in many ways, shapes, and forms.

To me, it is as energizing and relaxing to build a website as it is to draw in a sketchbook. I like to do different things at different times. Drawing, reading, designing, cooking, and gardening, are all ways to express myself and are all facets of who I am. This blog is a current interest of mine.  Hopefully you'll glean something new or interesting from it TO SPARK YOUR CREATIVITY.

(Above) This sketch is one of the dozens in my sketchbook. To keep drawing everyday, sometimes I play around with the mental gymnastics of organizing my wardrobe into a 'capsule' of mix and match outfits. I try to pick a color scheme and see what options I can make in different seasons. It keeps my mind churning and my hand drawing. It is relaxing to me. It also takes me back to my childhood and coloring books and crayons. It is kind of like playing with paper dolls. Being a visual learner, these drawings are just my way of 'thinking' on paper.

Why care about fashion? How we present ourselves is just another facet of who we are and what we do. It is what makes us unique. I know it is odd to be interested in 'fashion' when there are worldwide survival issues that need our attention and there are people who are homeless, hungry, and fighting for everyday essentials. I see the way of Mother Teresa, and her simply lifestyle, and by contrast, an interest in fashion may seem frivolous and materialistic.

But, what interests me about fashion is putting ourselves together in a way that adds intention and beauty in a civilized society. It's playing with color and pattern as in art, but wearing it. At a time when people are using fewer manners in public and language has deteriorated on television and in social situations, presenting ourselves thoughtfully, adds a touch of civility and structure to our lives. I remember my Grandmother Dorothy (see photo below), who dressed presentable EVERY single day. She would don her garters, girdle, slip, dress, earrings and necklace or brooch - like armor - ready for her everyday acts of kindness. If she was doing physical housework, she'd add her apron. It wasn't until she was in her late 70's and early 80's and when was unsteady on her feet that she took to wearing a blouse and 'slacks'. She always presented her self properly and respectfully and that is how she was perceived.

It may seem at odds that I am on a quest to reducing excess and yet I am interested in what to wear and what to buy. I don't think the two ideas are incongruent. I think we can use our interests in style to make better, strategic choices about what we have in our lives. I intend to use this site as a outlet and a forum for us to speak the same language and share ideas.

I hope we can discuss ways to polish our ourselves and our environments a bit in the process. As an artist, I love to notice the little things in life, and the beauty and function and I want to add more of that in my life without adding excess. I want to reduce my belongs in a functional way that allows me to live with less and make it work. That works for the wardrobe.

I really respect the work of Jennifer L. Scott. I stumbled upon her book Lessons from Madame Chic: 20 Stylish Secrets I Learned While Living in Paris because I have to admit I am turning into a bit of a Francophile and I mistakenly thought her book was going to be a how-to-guide for French fashion but it was so much more. It really spoke to my heart and subtly shifted my attitudes on lifestyle and purpose. If anything, she eloquently verbalized what I was feeling inside, and demonstrated that others are living in a way that addresses life with simplicity yet still paying attention to detail. She describes the Parisian way of putting intention and a finishing touch in all areas of life. One of the chapters in her book is about 'Looking Presentable Always' which could be applied to the home or person.

Here is a quote from Jennifer which I like.

"Looking presentable always. A concept that may seem obvious to many people, but is something I think we as a society desperately need to discuss. Looking presentable on a daily basis may initially seem like a shallow and superficial concept, but really it is about so much more than appearances. It's about respect. It's about tradition. It's about honoring formalities that seem to be going by the wayside."

So, thank you Jennifer! You and Madame Chic inspire me to use creativity and intention not only in the wardrobe but in all areas of life. Thanks for changing the way I think about clothing choices and family rituals. Thanks for inspiring me to draw what is on my mind whether it be landscapes or closets. 

So why would an artist be interested in fashion? I think that Art can be about whatever inspires you.  

What inspires you? What do you do to be creative? New recipes? Gardening? Scrapbooking?

The start of summer brings back good memories. Talking about books in a recent blog post reminded me of a childhood treasure….the BOOKMOBILE.

When I think of my summers when I was little, a few of my clearest memories are: waking up and putting on my swimsuit (in hopes of running through a sprinkler or a kiddie pool), waiting by the mailbox and checking it everyday until I got my report card in the mail saying I passed and could move on to the next grade, and waiting until Thursday so we could ride our bikes one mile to where the bookmobile was parked.

Ahhhhh I love that thing. We would park our bikes on a scorching, sunny, day, and step up into the narrow, dark, rolling library that smelled of old books. Not the musty kind, but the old polished kind and those with cloth covers and stitched bindings. It was floor to ceiling bookshelves, and the aisle was so narrow you would hardly fit through. I loved browsing the picture books and choosing a favorite, and filling out the little card in the back. Every book was a new adventure and the different drawing styles drew me right in.

When we were really young, our Mom would drive us, but as we got older, we could ride our bikes to where it was parked in our neighborhood.  We would sit on the little step stools and page through the books to get a favorite or two. We had to keep our voices down, because being in there had a certain reverence (policed by a strict librarian). It was such a great feeling being in there. I liked to imagine having a bed in there, and moving in so that could be my bedroom.

That bookmobile is such a fond, treasured memory. Did you have a visit by a bookmobile in your neighborhood?