words and language Archives - Page 5 of 12

December 3, 2012 In art, communication, creativity, design, graphic design, imagination, inspiration, words and language By Patricia Saxton

A Plethora of P’s / #65: Paris

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

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saxton.P_paris

Oh la joie ~ Paris! So many things to love … the Champs-Élysées, the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Musee d’Orsay, the Louvre, the Seine. Opera houses, fashion, culinary finesse. Art, and more art. And of course, chocolate croissants at a sidewalk cafe … beau, oui ?

(see our growing, ongoing Plethora of P’s here)

November 7, 2012 In art, creativity, design, graphic design, life and the universe, words and language, work and play By Patricia Saxton

Nonsense Makes Sense

“My alphabet starts with this letter called yuzz. It’s the letter I use to spell yuzz-a-ma-tuzz. You’ll be sort of surprised what there is to be found once you go beyond ‘Z’ and start poking around!” ~Dr. Seuss

We’ve had a rough go on the east coast in recent weeks, and as I write this, the predicted Nor’easter is bringing down the temperature a whole lot more. What the snow will do remains to be seen, but the whole affair adds insult to injury for thousands of still-out-of-power or displaced folks.

Within all this, schools and towns are in various states of open or closed throughout the area, the election happened, and “the show must go on” with work to be tended. (yes, dear clients, I am working!)

So I decided to lighten up a bit, with a little nonsense borrowed from the great Dr. Seuss ~ which seems to make as much if not more sense than “real life”. (And I’ve a feeling there will be more installments of nonsense down the pike …)

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Here’s wishing you a bit of nonsense in your day. 🙂

October 18, 2012 In art, communication, creativity, design, graphic design, imagination, inspiration, words and language By Patricia Saxton

A Plethora of P’s / #64: Paisley

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

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According to Wikipedia, paisley is a droplet-shaped vegetable motif of Persian origin, but its western name derives from the town of Paisley, in central Scotland.

Well, you learn something new every day.

What I’d already known was that paisley seems to have an almost immortal popularity that’s been used heavily by the likes of the equally immortal designer William Morris and fashion giants Gucci and D&G (Dolce & Gabbana).

I think of it as a happy print; happiest when used sparingly and elegantly. Of course, for those who like to shout it out more boldly, that works too. Either way, wear it in good cheer. There’s quite a bit of history in a piece of paisley print!

(see our growing, ongoing Plethora of P’s here)

October 5, 2012 In appreciation, art, communication, creativity, design, graphic design, imagination, inspiration, life and the universe, philosophy, words and language By Patricia Saxton

A Plethora of P’s / #63: Pink Flamingo

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

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I’ve always been enchanted by flamingos. I think most people are. Maybe it’s their color we find so stunning ~ their sheer pink-ness! ~ ranging from pale and soft to deep corals and brilliant pink-tinged scarlets.

Then you see them standing on those incredibly skinny legs that go every which way (often standing on just one leg; go figure…), making them both awkward and fluid, beautiful and strange, and there’s a sense of awe at their very design.

I like the “awe” of flamingos. I like the way their form almost contradicts itself. I like their grace and their gentleness, and how they hang out in groups like one big happy family and don’t cause any trouble. They eat, swim, and fly (sounds good to me). They mate for life. And they’ve got that amazing plumage.

You know, just thinking about them has brightened my day. Heck, I hope it’s brightened yours too.

(see our growing, ongoing Plethora of P’s here)

September 25, 2012 In appreciation, books, imagination, inspiration, intelligence, skill, words and language, writing By Patricia Saxton

Blomkvist, Lisbeth and other Fictional Distractions

I did it in all the wrong order, but was riveted just the same.

First I broke form and saw the movie before reading the book. (The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo) “Wow”, I thought. Disturbing but mesmerizing and intelligent. Then while on vacation, the place I stayed had a copy of book 3. (The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest). Couldn’t put it down (and got to picture Daniel Craig throughout the book, which wasn’t a bad thing). I was so enthralled that I bought book 2 (The Girl Who Played With Fire) at the airport bookstore on the way home.

In order or not, these books are distractingly good, and I have Stieg Larsson to thank for my to-do’s taking a back seat to my most recent obsessive reading spree. What a marvelous storyteller. I don’t know that there’s ever been a main character quite as fascinating as Lisbeth Salander. Sadly, Larsson passed away before they were published, which means there’ll be no book four or five or six.

I applaud you many times over Mr. Larsson, and I hope you see how far and wide your work has been appreciated from where you sit in heaven.

This has happened a few times in recent years ~ finding a series I can’t get enough of. Ariana Franklin’s Mistress of the Art of Death series was another (she also passed away, leaving a void). And there’s Mary Doria Russell, whose The Sparrow and Children of God are spectacular. Each writer’s style is different – I would call Larsson’s contemporary spy/intrigue, Franklin’s are historical murder mysteries, and Russell’s a rich brand of science fiction I never knew existed, whose characters come to life within moments of being introduced, as if they’ve long been good friends.

There are far, far too many outstanding books (and their authors) to mention right here and now; these are three (with series’) that happened to come to mind. All I can say is, thank goodness for them. Not only inspiring writers, their fictional works have made “real life” that much more delicious.

September 14, 2012 In appreciation, communication, design, graphic design, inspiration, words and language By Patricia Saxton

A Plethora of P’s / #62: Paradise

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

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Need I say more? Of course, there are lots of versions of paradise. Pick one and keep in your mind’s eye, place it in your heart and pull up the feeling as needed.

(see our growing, ongoing Plethora of P’s here)

August 24, 2012 In appreciation, communication, design, graphic design, inspiration, words and language By Patricia Saxton

A Plethora of P’s / #61: Posies

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

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“And I will make thee beds of roses / And a thousand fragrant posies.”

From Christopher Marlowe’s “The Passionate Shepherd To His Love”. The full poem, below, was published posthumously in 1599 – Marlowe died in 1593.

Come live with me and be my love,
And we will all the pleasures prove
That valleys, groves, hills, and fields,
Woods or steepy mountain yields.

And we will sit upon the rocks,
Seeing the shepherds feed their flocks,
By shallow rivers to whose falls
Melodious birds sing madrigals.

And I will make thee beds of roses
And a thousand fragrant posies,
A cap of flowers, and a kirtle
Embroidered all with leaves of myrtle;

A gown made of the finest wool
Which from our pretty lambs we pull;
Fair lined slippers for the cold,
With buckles of the purest gold;

A belt of straw and ivy buds,
With coral clasps and amber studs:
And if these pleasures may thee move,
Come live with me and be my love.

The shepherds’ swains shall dance and sing
For thy delight each May morning:
If these delights thy mind may move,
Then live with me and be my love.

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If not inspired to write of love, one should at least enjoy the beauty of flowers as often as possible. Maybe pick some wildflowers to brighten up your dinner table, or hand some to a friend (or a stranger) ~ just because. And if nothing else, do stop to “smell the roses” now and again. Spirits are lifted, senses are massaged, hearts are happier. What a gift posies are!

August 9, 2012 In appreciation, communication, design, graphic design, inspiration, words and language By Patricia Saxton

A Plethora of P’s / #60: Practice

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

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“Practice makes perfect”. Or at least it makes for better. And better. And better. If you want to be proficient, you’ve got to plod on, persist, persevere, pursue and practice, practice, practice ~ and in the process come to know satisfaction and personal pride, and in the end, who knows how prolific you might become… and when you do, how glad you’ll be for having practiced your little heart out.

(And oh-by-the-way, the target’s always moving, so you’re never done……. but the good news is that it simply becomes a natural part of creating a better you. It’s never too late. So practice on!)

July 23, 2012 In appreciation, communication, design, graphic design, inspiration, words and language By Patricia Saxton

A Plethora of P’s / #59: Pencil

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

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The #2 pencil: A simple, humble, eloquent, favorite tool. A fierce confidante with a rich history and a great future ahead!

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The following is, for lack of a better word, a tribute I scribbled out a few years ago. (Unedited as of yet ~ but that will happen, surely before I get around to producing the book it’s meant to go with.) Hope you enjoy it …

July 20, 2012 In appreciation, words and language By Patricia Saxton

Colorado, We Love You

I poked my head out from some intense work focus to learn that, yet again, the beautiful state of Colorado is under siege.

Not wild fires this time, but a wild human bent on some seriously deranged devastation and destruction. I’m not going to link to the news, you can search it on your own if you haven’t already. Just that it saddens me, and all I can think to do is send this message to all the truly, wonderfully good people out there.