November 4, 2011 In art, books & stuff, branding, creativity, design, illustration, inspiration, photography By Patricia Saxton

“where in the world is peace?”… west of the delaware and south of the mason-dixon line

Book by book, bag by bag, button by button, good people are spreading the message that “peace starts here”. Much appreciation to these new peace ambassadors!

The fabulous Hunga Bunga Java shop in Surf City, NC

The Hunga Bunga Java mascots!, North Carolina

off to school!

Christmas in October at Lake in Wood campground, Narvon, PA.

Delta Gamma house, Wittenberg University, Springfield, OH

"Tiger Spirit", Wittenberg University, Springfield, OH

My Jacket

(ps:  all “where in the world is peace?” images are being compiled on a special “where in the world is peace?” page, here. Totes, mugs and things are available here. Send your own pictures to 52weeksofpeace@gmail.com or join our FaceBook page and post them there. Let”s see where peace goes!)

0
0
November 3, 2011 In appreciation, art, communication, creativity, design, drawing, illustration, inspiration By Patricia Saxton

A Plethora of P’s / #44: Pumpkin

proactively punctuating life with the plausible, powerful possibilities of positive thought presented through a plethora of “P’s”.

– ♥ –

Pumpkin season! Bewitching, enchanting, spooky, happy pumpkin season….

I know I’m a little late on this one. It was all ready to go, then the power went out. Then it stayed out. Halloween itself was cancelled. School’s been cancelled. So you could say, life took a turn.

But the power’s back on, and my orange Pumpkin Cat “P” is here to remind us to make room to be bright, lighthearted and playful, a little bit preposterous ~ and, yes, even pointless now and then. :  )

0
0
November 1, 2011 In art, creativity, design, imagination, inspiration By Patricia Saxton

Electric Peace

Peace is having your heat & electric restored after 4 long, cold days! (inspiring another image for the as of yet unofficial “52 Weeks of Peace²“)

I like candlelight and am pretty crazy about real wood fires in the fireplace. And sure, it’s cozy bundling up in blankets and soft, warm woolly sweaters.

But right now, after 4 days of forced power-lessness, I’m so loving my creature comforts. I’m dancing in the house, smiling at my microwave, and basking in the light from a 75-watt bulb. Modern life never felt so good.

Ahhh.

0
0
October 31, 2011 In appreciation, work and play By Patricia Saxton

Halloween is Cancelled.

Who cancels Halloween?  How do you do that?  Two words: Mother Nature.

Power gone, wires down, great big trees crashed to the ground. No spooky goblins at your door, no candy treats, no inside heat.

At first it was “cozy”. Second day …”acceptance”, more firewood, more candles.

Third day …. how did the pilgrims do it?

Edison was the genius of genius-i, whose praises I sing. Power back on will be the next best thing. How conditioned we become…

Of course, another big question is whether we will eat the mini Baby-Ruth chocolates that are waiting inside our special Spells & Potions candy book…

(Regular posts, and important things like work, will continue when power comes back and our hands and feet have been duly warmed…)

0
0
October 28, 2011 In creativity, imagination, work and play By Patricia Saxton

Crazy for Pumpkins!

I love these pumpkins! Every October, the illustrious California-based design firm Duarte Design holds a Halloween Pumpkin Carving Contest. The results are pretty incredible. Check out these testaments to creativity…

© Duarte Design / 2011 Pumpkin Carving Contest

You can see them all here and cast your vote for a favorite. The deadline for voting is October 30; the results are posted on Halloween Day. And while you’re there, don’t miss their pumpkin Hall-o-fame. It’s big fun. :  )

Have fun carving, and Happy Halloween!

0
0
October 27, 2011 In music By Patricia Saxton

From the Farm to L.A.: A Young Starlet

While I’ve got Wittenberg on the brain, let me tell you about Allie. She’s a smart, energetic, bluesy-voiced, extremely talented 20-something-year-old ~ and yes, another graduate of Wittenberg University. And she may very well be bound for stardom since making her way from Ohio farm country to the big city life about a year ago.

allie persinger and her awesome band

I met Allie through a mutual friend, several months before she finished her years at Witt, when she was thinking about heading to NYC after graduation. We clicked on a bunch of levels, and it was clear that she was very bright, full of passion and brains and guts. The world was out there waiting and she was ready to grab it with gusto.

She chose Los Angeles over NY, and chose music over some of her other gifts ~ and she’s out there now living her dream in full shiny color. The hard knocks, the awesome opportunities. Working hard, reaching for the stars. I hope she reaches them. I think she just might.

So here’s an introduction, through a video with her (very cool, very talented) band. And below that is a quieter, a capella piece she recorded on a visit back home. (I know Allie, it’s not perfect ~ but it’s really good!!) Both are well worth a listen. Enjoy, and keep a lookout for this rising star!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50UMFEtOfug&feature=player_embedded

Michael Row-Hallelujah

0
0
October 25, 2011 In appreciation, art, books & stuff, children's books, creativity, design, illustration By Patricia Saxton

Witt World Whirlwind

Yea, say that ten times fast! Or, rolling more easily off the tongue, you could say the whirlwind Witttenberg University book-signing weekend went very well. And Wittenberg is still a beautiful campus, with classic Ohio friendliness in tact.

My book-signing was set for 10AM on the Saturday of Homecoming Weekend, and I was so pleased that a good number of people got themselves up and out in time to be there. It was a terrific crowd, in fact! I loved seeing old, familiar faces and meeting new ones. I loved that they liked my books. :  )

I also loved meeting a particular young girl who adores mermaids and aspires to be an author/illustrator, and loved that she gave me a book she wrote (complete with drawings). That was an especially precious moment, in a weekend of special moments, memories revisited and memories made.


0
0
October 24, 2011 In appreciation, art, communication, creativity, design, drawing, illustration, inspiration By Patricia Saxton

A Plethora of P’s / #43: Patterns

proactively punctuating life with the plausible, powerful possibilities of positive thought presented through a plethora of “P’s”.

– ♥ –

They’re unavoidable. Patterns, seen or unseen, weave the tapestries of life. From small and intricate to big and bold. Some as “routine” as the sun rising and setting, or tides coming and going. Some, like the hides of zebras and giraffes, are unique and irregular. An Aztec calendar is mystifying. A sky of stars, grand and mind-boggling. The patterns upon patterns that create the whole big universe ~ unfathomable.

And then there are the patterns of daily life; individual tapestries woven from the choices we make ~ the clothes we wear, the colors we include, the language we use, the people we align with, the actions we take, the thoughts we think.

And all of our choices that are creating patterns that are busy creating our own personal tapestries, interweave with others’ patterns creating their own personal tapestries ~  all becoming part of the quilt of the great big unknowable picture.

So how do you want to pattern your world? Which thought patterns serve you well and which get in your way? How will you weave your life tapestry?

0
0
October 18, 2011 In art, books & stuff, children's books, design, illustration, words and language By Patricia Saxton

Traveling Peace: Book Signing Update

Heading out soon to my old college stomping grounds in the friendly midwest.

It’s homecoming weekend at Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio, and I’ll be stationed at the campus bookstore on Saturday the 22nd, between 10 & 11 am, with my 3 books and some cool gear. If you’re in the area, come say hello!


0
0