The Lost and Found Project: My favorite Artist has done it again.

Funny and smart writing is my favorite kind of read, so I guess adorable and smart art would be my obvious fave as well. That's why Ian Sands is my FaVoRiTesT artist. His creations are whimsical yet there's a deeper meaning behind the art. He's an artist that thinks out of the box . . . or should I say out of the frame. Even his art has a hard time being contained inside the proverbial four corners. Ian constantly has some creative scheme afoot. He loves art and I can tell that he loves it when people enjoy art. He gets people involved. He even gets his students excited about art when school is out.

He's the kind of artist that creates a 6 ft. monster and places it on a park bench in the downtown Apex area. He uses art for political statements. What did I tell you. Fun with a deeper meaning. his critters are adorable. . . but just sit back and think about what he might be trying to say. It's fun!

Just when I think he can't get any more creative . . . he goes and thinks up something more creative-califragilisticexpealidocious!

Picture this: an interactive art exhibit. He placed 22 critters around downtown Apex that encouraged the finder to return the critter to the exhibit hall. It's like a super-cool exhbit invitation! This video (below) explains it better. (and, I must add, his 8 year old son created the video.)

Enjoy! :0)

I've been thinking of 100 different ways. . . .

Today's blog is brought to you by, STRUCTURES THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN MORE THOUGHT


I've been thinking about trying a creative writing exercise. You know how artists will take an object like a coffee cup and draw that same object from different angles every day for a specified number of days?

Well, I was wondering if maybe I could benefit from a similar exercise as a writer. Maybe I should pick an object that I see everyday, like a tree or a building etc. and try to think of 100 different ways to describe that one object.

Has anyone ever tried that before? Anyone want to try it with me?

Now .. . . what object should I pick? hmmmmm . . . .

Do you have your book goggles on?

Today's blog is brought to you by Citizens against Steroid Use for Melons.

I just picked up Downsiders by Neal Shusterman from the library last night. I"ve been on a Shusterman kick. This is my 18th book in the "50 books in 2009" challenge. 4 of those are Shusterman books. Downsiders will make #5. Shusterman is creative, witty and takes his characters to places where I find myself thinking "Whoa! I can't believe what he just did to that character!"

But recently I've noticed another thing that Shusterman books do to me. Each one has an everyday element in the book that I can't help but think about when I see that object in real life.

Everytime I see a fortune cookie, I think of Everlost.

Everytime I hear the phrase "Unwind" I think of his book UNWIND. Which by the way, I can't say that I'm going to "unwind" anymore, because the word makes me think of the word in terms of the Shusterman book. It's just too creepy for me to say anymore.

I think of THE EYES OF KID MIDAS, when I see sunglasses.

I think of FULL TILT when I see amusement park rides.

And although I've only just started DOWNSIDERS, I'm certain that I'll never look at another manhole cover the same again.

Shusterman's writing is so vivid and powerful that those common objects connect me back to his books. I'd love to be able to write like that! It's like I'm looking at the world through book goggles.

What about you? Are you wearing book goggles? What things in everyday life remind you of a book? Was it the writing, or an experience or memory from the time that you read the book?

Start Wearing Purple . . . All your sanity and wits they will all vanish, I promise

I don't know about you, but I could use a case of the Monday Morning giggles. This song does it for me. It's wacked out, so if you need something to make sense in order to tickle your funny bone. . . this won't do it for you. It does for me though. :0P




So . . . Start wearing purple for me nooooowwwwwww!

ohhhhhh! YAY!

It seems as if my unfortunate dealings w/ illness this past month have inspired Author Jacqui Robbins.

I feel so special! :0)

May is looking good!

May is looking better for me than April. April about did me in. This gives a whole new meaning to April showers bring May flowers. My April was more like a down pour, but I do have some pretty awesome May flowers coming up!

First, is that my 16 year Anniversary is on the 8th. 16 years! Wow!

Then, my critique group is hosting an SCBWI Schmooze at Quail Ridge Books on May 17th. You're welcome to come if you're in the area.

And then today . . . I finished making travel plans to attend a writing retreat for a Highlights Founders Workshop called Mining Your Memories led by author, Rich Wallace. I read one of his books, "Restless" a coupe of weeks ago. It was very clever and entertaining.


I learned so much from the Chapel Hill retreat that I attended last year. It was a great experience for me in so many ways.

ahhhhhh . . . having things to look forward to feels really, really good!

Tree's speak to me (said in spooky Sixth Sense Whisper)

I got to take a walk this week. ~squeeee~ With all the CrAzInEss this month, that's a big deal. It's a breath of fresh air in a frenzied time.

I find that I'm drawn to odd shaped trees. Straight, perfect trees are pretty, but the ones that are bent out of shape intrigue me. They're eye-catching. Make me wonder . . . they're inspiring and even encouraging. They tell stories. Lately, when I take walks, I find that God's creation is teaching me a lesson of hope by way of example.

You see. . . the last 10 years have been rough. Grief, loss, illness (me and other family memebers) It's been one thing after another. I've found that over the long haul of difficulty, I've lost a bit of my old self. Things that I used to like about me have vanished. I've changed and I can't go back. I was a young sappling, straight and shooting skyward. 10 years worth of pressure tends to bend the bough in strange positions.

But you know what? I like the odd shaped trees. They stick out from the crowd. They have character.

This type of bendy tree below, that's the kind where we like to take pictures of loved ones gathered 'round or even sitting upon. The bendier, the better. There were trees w/ more bent than this one, but my camera batteries died. I call this tree the "back stretch tree" Makes my back feel better just looking at it.

This tree is the champion of all trees. It wasn't just weighted down by a dead wood. It was hemmed in by rotting roots, covered by dead weight; top, bottom and sides. This tree found a sliver of hope and stood its ground. Sometimes all we have is a small sliver of light. This tree took it and calls out to us to, "Grab onto the light, no matter how slight, and GROW!"

I cal this combo of trees the "Lovers Embrace" Two tree's entwined in an eternal tango. It even looks like the big one is puckering up for a kiss. ~Geesh~ Makes me want to put a privacy screen around these two. I'm starting to blush! Passion. Commitment. Lucky trees!

This is not a tree. It's a goose w/ baby fuzzy-lings. I just thought they were cute. I love to see new hatchlings in spring.

So, these trees taugh me something. Although I've longed to go back to be the old me, the perfectly straight tree that blends in with most of the others. I realize that a bent tree can't go back to the way it was. But the mangled trees are beautiful. They are picture worthy. They have a story to tell. Hope to give. Maybe, instead, when wind, circumstance (or whatever) bends our bough, we should seek out the beauty and benefit of our new shape instead of trying to regain the old. And maybe I should give more effort into appreciating the strange bent of others. . . . . . . . . .

I think I feel a sequel of this post coming up for the future. I better charge those camera batteries!

What kind of things in nature inspire you?