Monday, November 22, 2010

Brave in Winter


Here it is the tail end of autumn and we've had a day-long snow storm.  All the annuals are gone, but this little pot of alyssum and a brave geranium are hanging in there. This pot caught my eye, and when I look at the snowy patio, these summer soldiers are retaining their color and bunching up to stay warm.



Wednesday, November 17, 2010

They Put Me on the Table




My dad loved jazz long before I was born. As a little kid I knew who all the jazz pianists were and could sing the songs. I remember my grandparents putting me up on their dining room table where I would dance and dance. They laughed and clapped their hands for me.  I was probably two -- wouldn't you call that "positive reinforcement?"

Here is a spectacular jazz performance by Anita Baker and James Ingram.



Saturday, November 13, 2010

Hey, Where Did Thanksgiving Go?





When merchants put out their Halloween stuff, have you ever noticed how quickly the panicy Christmas season arrives?  If you mix Halloween with Christmas you get "Hallomass, which makes no sense at all. 

I don't ever plan to slip-slide into that trick. As a pledge I have created a greeting card -- pumpkins covered with snow.  And who should feel all sentimental about this? George Winston and I.  Here's something to sooth our minds as we celebrate Thanksgiving.  (You can purchase this magical card at http://moxyfoxdesigns.etsy.com/  )


Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Crazy Antics in Mickey Mouse Storybook



This adorable book presents several adventures of Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and Pluto illustrated by the staff of Walt Disney Studios.  The well-known author, Maurice Sendak, has written a fascinating introduction.  (You can take a look at this book here:  http://moxyfoxbooks.etsy.com/   )


When I was a little girl, my dad occasionally brought black-and-white movies home for my little brother and me.  I have no idea what his source was, but they came with a big projector and huge reels.  He loved cartoons and had been asked by the Disney Studio if he would like to be part of the Disney team.  Here is what those "movies" looked like.


Sunday, November 7, 2010

Where Do I Start? Is There a Map?




I am convinced that from the beginning, there is a thread that weaves itself  through our lives.  We don't have any idea what it will be, but it gets there.

This is a digital collage I made yesterday.  The first thing is to find images that are cool.  Intertwining them is lot of fun. Giving the work a title is really the hardest part for me.  I love putting jazz with the works I create.  I should start with that instead of the other way around.

Here are two people deeply related by DNA and sharing the talent that runs in those mysterious strands.