Making “Fire” happen!
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I have been following Danielle LaPorte’s blog for a long time now. I’ve watched every web talk she’s ever done and have waited with bated breathe for her new book THE FIRE STARTER SESSIONS to come out (April 2012). Since I received my copy last month, I’ve poured through the book and have purchased 5x more copies for my nieces and friends. It is an amazing read and I can’t recommend it enough to all my creative and entrapreneurial friends out there! If you want to get a little taste of what’s in the book, check out her “30 day Fire Up Your Creative Genius” videos on the Huffington Post. It’s sure to spark your inspiration fire!
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Here’s a description of the book on Amazon:
Another cupcake for you … “Hunger Games”
Lately I’ve been obsessively reading the three Hunger Games books by Suzanne Collins. If you haven’t read them yet, I suggest you race out right now and get them!
When I first heard about the stories from my nieces last Christmas, and what they were about, I was horrified that books about kids killing kids in an arena was something that was resonating with our society and youth. However, I was wrong about both my simplistic impression and understanding of the story, as well as the level of writing Ms. Collins brings to this series! Wow – these books are both horrifying and enlightening with a complex storyline that unfolds beautifully into a tale about human nature and how frail our moral base can be. I can only say I’m super sad to be done reading them, but I finally had the chance to see the movie and unlike many book adaptations, this one actually didn’t leave me walking out of the theater frustrated. I liked it. there were some liberties taken to the story, but that is to be expected … it’s why you have to read the book as well as see the movie. Preferably in that order.
In honor of the Hunger Games and my love of all things cupcake, I had to share this picture of the Hunger Games themed cupcakes my talented friend, Katy, made for her daughter Claire’s b-day. There’s something somewhat wrong with the idea of a Hunger Games Cupcake, but then again – for those of you who have read the books, I can imagine there would be lots of these Mockingjay Cupcakes in the Capitol! :0)
Bunny Love and Easter Greetings
Growing up this little story, The Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes by Du Bose Heyward and illustrated by Marjorie Hack, was one of my favorites to read, whether it was Easter or not (as evidenced by the lack of binding, falling out pages, and torn corners). I haven’t thought about this book in a long time and seeing it brought back a ton of memories. If you haven’t read it to yourself or to a child, please do. It is the one and only Easter book that made any sense to me as a little girl whose imagination was very precise and who had a lot of struggles understanding the logistics of holiday traditions. It actually provided a ‘clear ‘ story as to how the heck a bunny could possibly deliver so many eggs on Easter morning and why he/she should want to (I just gave you a little book spoiler, sorry). That part too, the fact that in this book the star was a girl bunny who fought her way to the top always resonated with my young feminist mind. The illustrations are sweet, soft, and quiet, and remind me a lot of the artwork by Beatrix Potter, E.H. Shephard, and Flavia Weedn.
This Easter weekend I’m going to be spending some much needed down-time with my family ~ working in the garden, dying Easter eggs, doing a little painting, and most of all being thankful for the amazing blessings God has bestowed on me and the sacrifice He made for my life.
I wish you a wonderful Easter, and may your day be filled with lots of chocolate!
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xo
Inspiration: Eggs
I am working on egg images at the moment, and having a lot of fun playing with my watercolors. Eggs are fascinating to me; all the colors, sizes, and varieties … they’re simply gorgeous!
When my boys were little they always loved eggs. I remember them begging me to buy the REALLY expensive container of tiny little quail eggs at the grocery store just to keep in our refrigerator to look at (we weren’t allowed to cook them). To this day I love dying Easter eggs, and when I was a little girl I would blow out the insides of eggs, paint the shells, and make egg ornaments. Eggs symbolize life, rebirth, nurturing, and renewal, but beyond all those deeper meanings – I just plain like the way they look.
I found this book in my picture book collection that I had forgotten I had ~ An Egg Is Quiet by Dianna Aston and Illustrated by Sylvia Long.. The illustrations are fantastic!
Appreciation Post – my friend Sioux and her amazing pottery skills
I’m starting a new post series on Appreciation. My friend Jill told Mark and I about a book that has changed her life called The Art of Appreciation by Peggy Halevi. I just ordered it, and in the spirit of this whole idea I want to take a moment to share a bit of Appreciation to someone who I feel very lucky to know.
This GORGEOUS vase was lovingly made by my talented friend Sioux. She is a teacher at the school I teach art at, and back in May she and her students gifted me as a thank you this vase that Sioux made. Though my photos above turned out pretty good they still don’t even come close to showing this vase’s true beauty. I can’t say enough how much I love and adore it, and now that it’s sitting on my table filled with van Gogh worthy sunflowers, it is even more spectactular!
What is wonderful about Sioux is how she understates her talent. If you try to compliment her, she humbly shrugs it off. She isn’t creating for the praises (though she gets them), she creates because it’s in her core to do so. She is driven by an unseeable force that finds its voice through clay and glaze. Sioux is authentic and real and it is a joy to watch how she not only inspires her students with the art of pottery making, but how she shares her gift with her friends and co-workers. Sioux is a pure craftswoman; throwing all her pottery by hand, experimenting with different glazes and techniques, and creating such personal and lovely end products that I know it must be hard for her to part with them. What a beautiful soul Sioux is, and I feel blessed to call her my friend.
(I’m not an affiliate for this book, I just wanted to share an Amazon link in case you’re interested)
Such a great surprise!
On Friday I was SO thrilled to see a package in the mail from a friend of mine from my college days, Dave. Dave and I recently reconnected thanks to Facebook and it has been so wonderful to learn all about what he’s been up to. One major thing I discovered is that he owns his own publishing house, New Year Publishing. Dave had read my post about my newest addition to my children’s book collection and put together this fabulous goodie bag of picture books published by him to add to my stash! In particular were some adorable books written by his amazingly talented daughter, Paris. If you, or a young girl in your life, aren’t familiar with the book series, MY FRIEND PARIS, I highly recommend you check them out. Especially if twins are in your world! I am so honored to add these books to my ever-growing collection. I told my husband that I think I need to buy a special bookcase now. :0)
Book Review – A Sick Day for Amos McGee
"A Sick Day For Amos McGee"/ Written by Philip C. Stead & Illustrated by Erin E. Stead/ A Neal Porter Book/ Published by Roaring Brook Press, New York
Anyone who knows me knows that I am an avid children’s picture book collector and reader. I totally admit that the children’s book market (the creators and readers) is my crowd. It’s been a dream of mine to one day write and illustrate a children’s book, and I will do it one day … but for now I am enjoying following the amazing books that are out there at this moment.
Today was the book fair at my son’s school. It’s always a beautiful site – the parents who run it do an amazing job creating a mini book store in the school’s MPR, and the shelves are filled with all the latest and greatest children’s book treasures. Needless to say I tend to load up at this event (it’s a fundraiser too, so I can justify it as my contribution to the school and my addiction all at the same time). This year I picked up the picture book entitled “A Sick Day for Amos McGee”, written by Philip C. Stead and illustrated by Erin E. Stead (Roaring Book Press, 2010). It’s a Caldecott winner and absolutely adorable. The book is quiet and sweet. It reminds me of the quieter style of illustrating from years past, such as Russell Hoban and Lillian Hoban’s “Frances” series and Patricia Coombs “Dorrie the Witch” series (both big time favs of mine).
“A Sick Day for Amos McGee” is a sweet story of how investing in friendships, putting the time and effort to be there for each other, is what matters most in this life. Yes, I learn my life lessons in children’s books, but why not?! It’s some of the best stuff out there!
I give it 5 Gold Stars (and that’s a lot). :0)
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