December 22, 2010 In animated video, art, children's books, communication, creativity, drawing, illustration, imagination, inspiration, presentation By Patricia Saxton

New & Improved Mermaid Video Debut

Sorry to post this again, but it must be done!

I wasn’t satisfied with the sound quality on my Magnetic Mermaid Toy video. The music itself was excellent, the problem came with the translation inside the video editing software.

Thanks to the collaboration with musician and master whistler (& fellow perfectionist!) David Santucci, a new track was prepared that worked MUCH better in the editing process. Our ears are much more pleased ~ and we think yours will be too. Please enjoy!

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December 20, 2010 In creativity, music video By Patricia Saxton

Joyful Creativity ♫

A brilliant (and very fun) performance!  It’s been making the rounds, but for those who haven’t seen it – watch and enjoy. If this doesn’t make you smile this holiday season, I don’t know what will!

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December 20, 2010 In creativity, music video By Patricia Saxton

Excellent Pickin' for the Holidays

More musical treats from David Saxton. Yes, he’s my brother, so sure, I’m probably biased. But ~ while I may be his biggest fan, I’m also not afraid to critique, and it’s from that place that I know that he’s got more talent in his left pinky than all the fingers and toes in a roomful of people. Enjoy!

For anytime:

For the holidays:

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December 19, 2010 In art, design, work and play By Patricia Saxton

10 Years of Tea

One of my favorite holiday traditions revolves around one of my favorite drinks~ tea.

Every year for the past 20 or so I’ve hosted a “holiday tea” ~ and somehow, no matter how busy we are, or how up-to-our-eyeballs in hustle-bustle, the time shared feels just right. The home seems to magically expand in a welcoming embrace, all tension is left at the door and a warm, light sense of companionship takes over. (I’m always a little bit amazed at how well it all falls into place. But some things aren’t worth questioning; just worth enjoying!)

Designing the invitation is part of the fun, so I thought I’d share some. I can’t find them all, but I’ve got ten, so here’s a collection of  “1o years of tea”…

Cheers!

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December 16, 2010 In art, books & stuff, children's books, creativity, illustration, imagination, inspiration, words and language By Patricia Saxton

Gifts of Peace, Magic & Creativity (under $20!)

Can it be last-minute holiday gift idea time already? Hmmm. I just might have some ideas. How about the gift of reading and imagination..? A Book of Fairies, and  The Book of Mermaids are great for school-age kids! The Magnetic Mermaid Dress-up is ideal for 3 and up. All are available at Amazon.

Then there’s a whole bunch of cool stuff over at my *boutique* at CafePress.  Totebags, mugs, coasters, mousepads, journals and magnets, grouped by my signature pieces of “peace”, “pencil points”, fairies” and “mermaids”. Lots to choose from. Fun, unique, and practical!

Happy holidays ~ and may peace, magic and creativity fill your hearts!

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December 12, 2010 In art, drawing, illustration, words and language By Patricia Saxton

The Power of Cartoons

A fantastic talk from TED Talks:  In a series of witty punchlines, Patrick Chappatte makes a poignant case for the power of the humble cartoon. His projects in Lebanon, West Africa and Gaza show how, in the right hands, the pencil can illuminate serious issues and bring the most unlikely people together.

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December 10, 2010 In appreciation, children's books By Patricia Saxton

Shout Out to Chattanooga

I got up early today to do some online Christmas shopping before work, and noticed a special email message from Amazon. Turns out they’ve added some nifty features for Authors, and I have to say “kudos to Amazon” for adding these nice analytic tools.

Because of the new tools, I can see where and how many copies of my two books, “The Book of Mermaids” and “A Book of Fairies”, are sold each week. So I want to say Thank You to all of you who’ve bought my books from places like New York, Boston, Rhode Island, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Seattle, Portland, Chicago, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, New Orleans, North Carolina, Montana, LA, San Francisco, Nashville, Albuquerque, Omaha, Oklahoma CIty, Kansas City, Detroit, Phoenix, Hartford, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Washington DC, Miami, Dallas, Houston and Denver.

And a special shout out to a lone somebody in Chattanooga, Tennessee, who bought “A Book of Fairies” last week. I don’t know who you are, but I thank you  ~ and I send you best wishes!

We’re not talking NYTimes Top 10 bestsellers here, but the numbers are good and I have to tell you it’s a thrill to see the reach, and to know that kids and parents all over the country are reading and sharing things I created. Things that originated in one heart and mind … made its way to pencil, ink and paper, and to a publisher who found it worthy to print, and into the hands of people near and far. Every purchase is an honor.

Thanks everyone!

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December 8, 2010 In animated video, art, children's books, communication, creativity, design, illustration, inspiration, presentation By Patricia Saxton

A Conspiracy of Mermaids, Art, Music and a Toy

If you recall the “sneak peeks” I posted a while back, your wait is over. Here’s a special something I’ve been conjuring up for the holidays!

For those interested, this video was created with hand-drawings, animated in PowerPoint. I wanted to push the boundaries of what most people think PowerPoint can and can’t do. In that sense alone, I feel a mission was accomplished. But I also wanted to have some fun with it…. which I did!

The vision for the video came to me after it was clear that no one wanted their children to be filmed in a piece that would be shown on YouTube. That was disappointing, since kids really engage with this game and it would have been great to capture their enthusiasm. But, as someone, somewhere, once said, “inside every cloud is a silver lining”. This one came in the form of a happy idea.

And so, this is what happened when an idea + illustrations + PowerPoint + some good music became a video!

Special thanks to composer/musician David Santucci for lending his remarkable talent to this piece. A gifted artist and overall nice guy whose work will soon be available in high-def quality on iTunes; it was a delightful collaboration.

Now I hope you’ll go on over to Amazon and buy the Magnetic Mermaid Dress-Up toy and make some kids very happy this holiday! :  )

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November 27, 2010 In art, creativity, illustration, imagination By Patricia Saxton

"52 Weeks of Peace" Totebags Are Here!

In the name of brazen self-promotion, I’d like to start spreading the word that some terrific canvas tote bags are now available, adorned with designs from my “52 Weeks of Peace” series. One bag shows all 52 weeks, others are created with individual designs.

For the time-being these are available online only, through my shop at CafePress. But I have to tell you, I personally love their canvas bags. They’re sturdy and earthy and hold a lot of stuff.

They really make a great gift – practical AND fun (oh, and yes, with a message…!) . And by the way, requests are being taken. If you have a favorite “week” you’d like to see on a bag, let me know!

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November 22, 2010 In art, creativity By Patricia Saxton

One Last Sneak Peek

Everyone’s crazy busy, so you may not have noticed that I’ve not posted as often as usual. But in case you did …. remember the post about “what’s inside my head”? Well it’s been stuck on #3 for quite some time.

Lots and lots and LOTS going on, lots of cool work, but not a lot that I can post yet. What I can post is another sneak preview of my “secret project”…. which I hope to have complete very soon.

Ah. All this unveiling to be done. I guess patience is called for.

In the meantime, here’s a last peek of the special little something in the works.

 

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November 10, 2010 In communication, creativity, drawing, imagination, music By Patricia Saxton

Andrew Bird: One-Man Orchestra

In a word: impressive.

From TED: Musical innovator Andrew Bird winds together his trademark violin technique with xylophone, vocals and sophisticated electronic looping. Add in his uncanny ability to whistle anything, and he becomes a riveting one-man orchestra.

On a personal note, it’s interesting that I discovered this, and a few days later, my teen shared one of her favorites songs from … Andrew Bird. Bells went off, and I thought about how cool that we unknowingly shared this appreciation. I also happen to really like the cover of his CD. I’m a fan.

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November 10, 2010 In art, children's books, design, illustration, work and play By Patricia Saxton

Sneak Peek of a Secret Project …

My muse is hard at work, sliding with a vengeance into all available slivers of time. (When is a girl to sleep, I ask?)  This time it’s something kind of new for me … and it’s making me smile, despite a crazy schedule, some sleep deprivation and probably too much tea and chocolate. (Wait ~ there can’t be too much tea or chocolate. What was I thinking?)

But I will say no more (because, after all, it’s a secret) and just cut to the sneak peek. Hope it makes you smile too. :  )

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November 6, 2010 In art, business, creativity, design By Patricia Saxton

Work That Gives

My parents always told me there was great satisfaction in a job well done. May seem corny, but it’s true. And it’s one of the things I like best about my work …  it’s satisfying to interpret and conceptualize a broad range of messages. I like to call it giving things a “visual voice”.

No two voices are the same; each has something distinctly their own ~ and to hear, discover and express that in its most dynamic way is really kinda neat.

Naturally, it’s also satisfying when the work is appreciated. (Who doesn’t like a kind word?) Clients are happy, you’re happy. It’s good for their business, it’s good for you. A “job well done.”

Sometimes though, the work achieves more measurable, tangible benefits ~ and when that happens, it’s that much more meaningful all around. The small piece of art below is one of those.

Commissioned specifically as a fund-raising effort for my alma mater, Wittenberg University, I was pleased to learn that this hymnal bookplate raised more than double the intended financial goal, attracted a high percentage of new donors and brought valuable support to other campus needs above and beyond the original effort.

This is truly “work that gives”.  And somehow that’s doubly satisfying.


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October 28, 2010 In creativity, design, inspiration, presentation, work and play By Patricia Saxton

Fun, REALLY Fun, Pumpkins

As if ghouls, goblins and wads of candy weren’t enough, Halloween just got a whole lot more fun.

This is the 15th year of an annual pumpkin carving contest held by Duarte Design, and boy are these carvings great!  What a treat. You can even vote for your favorite. (but hurry, voting ends the afternoon of 10/29.)

These are so much fun, I’m thinking I might start my own contest next year. So, you’ve been fairly warned, with plenty of time to think about what you’d like to do ~ and here’s some fantastic inspiration to whet your creative spirits!

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October 26, 2010 In art, photography By Patricia Saxton

I Found My Camera

Of course, you hadn’t known that I’d lost it. But I thought I had. I looked everywhere. I called all the places I might have brought it along. I fretted. I even dared to dream of a new camera… but that just didn’t feel right. So I “let it go” for a few days, and like magic, when I wasn’t thinking about it at all, a thought form led me to exactly where it lay waiting in the car, under some stuff. Joy of joys, just in time to snap a couple of orange shots while the weather was warm. So I share my joy with you, and thank the Gods of Misplaced Things.

……………….

“Autumn is a second spring where every leaf is a flower.”
~ Albert Camus

© Patricia Saxton

© Patricia Saxton

 

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