Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Wishcasting Wednesday

You can be a maker of magic and a tender of wishes. It’s easy. Answer the wish prompt on your blog and then add a direct link to your post in the box [at the link] below. Support wishes by visiting other participants, leaving a comment saying “As (insert name) wishes for her/himself, so I wish for her/him also.” It’s that simple. There is great power in wishing together.
~ Jamie Ridler

What do you wish for an abundance of?

Well, the first thing that popped into my head when I read this was LUCK!  But I am trying to minimize dichotomies in my life: good, bad, lucky, unlucky... things just *ARE* and choosing a side is judging and judging *anything* ultimately leads to judging myself; so ... What am I really wishing for?

I think over the past week or so.  Life's been a merry-go-round, up & down, round & round, and really going nowhere... I was sick with a cold, yet started my first days of subbing this year; spent some time out with the family, but felt pretty alone and distant; the rainy weather turned nice and I wanted to spend time together with my partner, but was too stressed to enjoy it and feel I ruined the whole day; and today after working with people who do *not* share my ideals of what teaching should look like, I found my car with 2 nearly flat tires, and the autoshops all closing before I could get a tire.

So yes, the first thing that popped into my head was LUCK!  I feel like things have been going all Murphy's Law on me, and I never felt like that before.  I've always felt very lucky.  Sure I had rough spots, but they always worked out ok and nothing THAT BAD has ever happened to me, really.  So do I really need LUCK?  I'mma hafta say no.

What do I really want more of though?  An ABUNDANCE of?  Well for starters, more of that ice cream I just finished.. omg YUM!  XD 

No... seriously though, I'd like more energy, aplomb, and financial solvency to deal with life's little rough spots.  I'd also like to find my life bubbling over with joy, laughter, sunshine, music, dancing... Like I've somehow recaptured the feeling of swimming every day...

or the night of the Shine Campground Cotillion!

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

I am ARTIST


Artists are people who make change, people who touch others, people who create work that matters. If you design a new interface, you’re an artist. If you create a story for a non-profit that spreads around the world and raises awareness and changes lives, you’re an artist. If you look a kid in the eye and teach her algebra in a way she understands, you’re an artist.

So why is it difficult to be an artist?

Because artists break things. Breaking the status quo, the established rules, the way things usually are.

~ Seth Godin, good experience






Human, The Killers
I did my best to notice
When the call came down the line
Up to the platform of surrender
I was brought but I was kind

And sometimes I get nervous
When I see an open door
Close your eyes, clear your heart
Cut the cord

Are we human or are we dancer?
My sign is vital, my hands are cold
And I'm on my knees looking for the answer
Are we human or are we dancer?

Pay my respects to grace and virtue
Send my condolences to good
Hear my regards to soul and romance
They always did the best they could

And so long to devotion
You taught me everything I know
Wave goodbye, wish me well
You've gotta let me go

Are we human or are we dancer?
My sign is vital, my hands are cold
And I'm on my knees looking for the answer
Are we human or are we dancer?

Will your system be alright
When you dream of home tonight
There is no message we're receiving
Let me know, is your heart still beating?

Are we human or are we dancer?
My sign is vital, my hands are cold
And I'm on my knees looking for the answer
Are we human or are we dancer?

You've gotta let me know

Are we human or are we dancer?
My sign is vital, my hands are cold
And I'm on my knees looking for the answer
Are we human or are we dancer?



And sometimes, between the pictures in my head and the movements of my body, there are words. Words that flow and grow and trip merrily off my fingers and onto the page like they were never mired in the physicality of my body & brain...


Claim the name of your creative spirit! Go visit Jamie Ridler Studios!

Mosaic Monday Bunday

It's time for another round of Mosaic Monday Bunday!  Last week's theme was CHOCOLATE in honor of Milton Hershey, born September 13, 1857.  And again there is no winner because we had no guesses...

Guess today's theme and win a Mosaic Monday Bunday prize!
(Remember Mosaic Monday Bunday always features rabbits!)



Top, left to right: Halloween Butcher Bunny art doll sculpture, Blue Bunny Ring, Split Hare keychain
Middle, left to right: Kawaii Usagi (Rabbit) Canvas Field Bag (PINK), 7 Radical Rainbow Moon Buns - Amigurumi Bunny Rabbits, Tumsy the bunny necklace - Yellow
Bottom, left to right: Rabbit Art - Parfait, Fiona the Big Red Bunny, Batty Small Orange Halloween Rabbit Plushie Hand Sewn with Black Bat

Queer Etsy Street Team

It's been a while since I talked about them, so I thought I'd rebroadcast some of the great things QuEST has been doing.

As you may remember from my post in June, QuEST has a team shop which, at the moment, is donating all profits to The Trevor Project. So far we've made just under $100 for them and would like to give them more. If you are able, please head over to our shop, check out the great items for sale there, and buy one to make your donation!

More recently we've been collecting items to donate to the Human Rights Campaign which will be auctioned off at their National Dinner in Washington DC this fall. There's some really great stuff pouring in for it; I donated one of my necklaces, similar to this one, and this postcard:


I can't wait to see what else ends up in the basket... And how much it goes for! ^-^

We're planning so many other wonderful things! Be sure to keep up-to-date with all the happenings by Liking our Facebook page and adding our blog to your reader!

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Wishcasting Wednesday

You can be a maker of magic and a tender of wishes. It’s easy. Answer the wish prompt on your blog and then add a direct link to your post in the box [at the link] below. Support wishes by visiting other participants, leaving a comment saying “As (insert name) wishes for her/himself, so I wish for her/him also.” It’s that simple. There is great power in wishing together.
~ Jamie Ridler

How Do You Wish to Come Out of Your Shell?

This is such a timely question for me today!  You see I'm a substitute teacher and have been for several years now, but I have never worked in the middle school of the district I work in primarily.  Well tomorrow I'll be subbing for one of the art teachers there - and it's my first day back to subbing this school year!  This is a big deal for me, as middle school is where I am hoping to find a permanent teaching position after finishing my masters, and while I've worked in other middle schools without any real issues, I've heard horror stories about this one from other subs.

I *so* don't want to fade into the background and be just another *babysitter* to the kids.  And I don't want the kids to walk all over me.  I want to be a fantastic sub, I want the students to like me, and the other teachers to notice me.  I don't want to be too terrified to say anything and avoid the staff lounge.  I want to interact with everyone and be the best sub they've ever had!

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Mosaic Monday Bunday

It's time for another round of Mosaic Monday Bunday! (Whoops! That's me alright! A day late & a dollar short... LOL!)

To recap: No guesses for the August 23rd theme which was HARVEST and there was no contest for the past two weeks. So we're starting fresh here!

Guess today's theme and win a Mosaic Monday Bunday prize!
(Remember Mosaic Monday Bunday always features rabbits!)

Click any pic to see its Etsy listing!

This one should be EASY-PEASY!  Leave a comment with your guess and I will be drawing a winner next week! Extra entry if you can guess *WHY* I chose this theme!  Good luck!

For other Mosaic Monday posts, click here!

Thursday, September 09, 2010

Mosaic Monday Bunday

It's PAST time for another round of Mosaic Monday Bunday, and still no guesses on August 23rd's theme which was HARVEST; and no guessing for this week's again (not enough time for everyone to enter), but be sure to tune in on Monday September 13th for another chance to win a one of a kind piece of art!

Today's theme is TIME!
(Remember Mosaic Monday Bunday always features rabbits!)

Click any pic to see its Etsy listing!

For other Mosaic Monday posts, click here!

Wednesday, September 08, 2010

Wishcasting Wednesday

You can be a maker of magic and a tender of wishes. It’s easy. Answer the wish prompt on your blog and then add a direct link to your post in the box [at the link] below. Support wishes by visiting other participants, leaving a comment saying “As (insert name) wishes for her/himself, so I wish for her/him also.” It’s that simple. There is great power in wishing together.
~ Jamie Ridler

What do you wish for less of?

I wish for less worry, stress, and sadness for myself and my family.


September 9, 2010 ~ Lake Ontario, Oswego, NY