My mom told me I learned my color wheel before I learned my ABCs. It surprises me now how I struggle to use color in my work now. In a high school art class, we had to draw a scene and then paint it. I loved my pencil drawing. It was of my best friend …
I've been making handmade books, and most of them have had simple covers with the design that happens to be on the paper. Now I want to make covers of collage or with objects. And I want to clear out a lot of items I've accumulated over the years by making things. They won't have …
I can't remember how much before my mother's death, I thought about death and dying. It's true that my mom had had a boyfriend who was a professor of death and dying. My 13-year-old self was very impressed by this. Just as I was impressed that my mom spent a night in a cemetery with …
Halloween It's hard to believe the friend I'm talking to in this photo is dead. She was 11 years younger than me. When she reached out to me several years ago after her cancer diagnosis, she took comfort in knowing that I'd had cancer and was doing well. I offered assurances her in her first …
I promised something creative everyday, and today that something is for death. Perhaps you haven't experienced this yet (and I love if you haven't), but I know many have had that moment when they walk outside, the world rushes about its business, and you want to shout, "Hey! But someone is missing today! How can …
Yesterday, I said I'd make something everyday. Today, I made a tiny book and did some writing. (It's impossible for me to share everyday, but I'll post when I can.) I worked on my story The Princess Detective. Here is a scene an early chapter of the manuscript. The Princess opened the door. “Jaffine!” Indeed, …
Someone else already came up with the challenge for being creative every day. So now I'm going to join in. I've had too many days in a row of just doing housework, schoolwork, or napping, and important as those things are, they can't be all that fill my days. Certainly teaching takes creativity. And I …
My hometown has a community center complete with two swimming pools (for competitions and high diving), game rooms, classrooms, theatre, and art gallery. (I'm sure it's changed over the years, but that's how I remember it.) My great-aunt volunteered there for the art exhibits, and my grandmother sent me there some summers for pottery classes …
Home To be honest, I don't think my dad has any connection to the summer solstice. He isn't one to take note of such days. He's a quiet Catholic. He never talks about his beliefs and hasn't been to mass in 40 years. About ten years ago, I saw that he'd sent a check to …
I'm reading Craft in the Real World by Matthew Salesses. It's a book I wish I'd had years ago. It's a book I needed to read. And it's a reminded that no matter how much you think you know or how openminded you think you are, there is always light to shine in the dark, …
