DNA can hurt

We play a lot of tag at school and the kids really go for it. Flying through the air, O. took a fall on the gravel yard. He wasn't hurt bad, but he brought the tears for effect, and I felt for him. We all need a little attention when our hands hit gravel. It stings like crazy. So, the two of us walked to the refrigerator together to get an ice pack. It takes a little time to get it all together, the ice pack, the towel, and I like to keep them talking so they can't cry and talk at the same time.

Me: So, which part hurts, O?

O: This part (pointing to the tips of his fingers), this part hurts the most.

Me: So, it's your fingertips that hurt, rather than the palm of your hands?

O: No, no, this part, this part (again, pointing to the tips of his fingers)

Me: Yeah, I get it, that's called your fingertip or the tips of your fingers. That's the part that hurts, right?

O: No, Miss Molly, this part...the part that has the little lines that tell you who you are?!

Me: You mean your fingerprints?

O: Yeah, (crying now) my fingerprints really hurt.

little lady's out to give!
check it out at bonbon.

two greats

imagine one day struck out of your life,
and think how different its course would have been.
pause you who read this, and think for a moment of the long chair of iron or gold,
of thorns and flowers,
that would never have bound you,
but for the formation of the first link on one memorable day.

--charles dickens

There is a vitality, a life force, an energy,
a quickening that is translated through you into action,
and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique.
And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost.
The world will not have it.
It is not your business to determine how good it is nor how valuable
nor how it compares with other expressions.
It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly,
to keep the channel open.

--martha graham

images

musicality

dude, remember when we fell in love with David Gray, his voice, his music?
and then Pete Yorn?
And then Damien Rice? and after that it was Fiona Apple? and when we couldn't get over how much we loved Magnetic Fields? And you know how all of these stick with us?
dude, I've got a new one for the collection:


you can finally let go of that rick astley fan club membership.

fleas = heaven

I think I hit up at least six different flea markets on my summer travels. I could go to a flea market or estate sale every day and never tire of them. I've been asked if I know what I'm going to do with something when I buy it, especially when I buy in quantity (which I learned, thankfully, from my sister-- buy all of it!), but the fact is... even if I think I know at the time, it rarely ends up becoming that.

8mm IDEAS, small works of wonder

I'm really so excited to get 8mmideas running into the new year, with all new styles and all new sentiments. I so rarely show-off what I'm doing because I've always sort of believed, if someone's into it, they'll find it. But, having just spent the day telling my friend, M., that the only way she's going to succeed is if she puts it out there all the time...well, I guess my hypocrisy got the best of me. I rarely ever put it out there. I have a really difficult time telling new people I meet about my card bizness. I don't even have business cards! I've still, after five years of making artwork and having multiple solo shows, never called myself an 'artist'. I'm totally comfortable with the fact that I like what I make, feel it's totally unique, I create cards that could fit any occasion, I create artwork that's like no other, yet, I'm totally uncomfortable with actually telling anyone about it. M. & I just spent the day discussing so many people we know who are so totally confident with what they do: and they succeed at it. So, while this may not happen again for awhile, I thought I'd give a taste... just see what happens when you put it out there...

I'm forever telling friends that I miss them. I figured this said it once and for all



Who doesn't need a pick-me-up? Or, for someone that's always your cheerleader, you can cheer them right back!



inspired by my friend, D., who loves herself some animals

cohesive

I'm not much of group person. I like groups okay, but I was never really a person who had a "group" of friends. I had lots of different friends, that belonged to lots of other groups. But mostly, I had individual friends that I hung out with alone or I'd hang out with individuals from various groups and sometimes bring those said individuals, strangers to one another, together to see what would happen.


I think I'm quite intimidated by groups of friends: People that have been in each others lives, dated one another, told each other all their most sordid secrets, disappointed each other, been there for one another...

At my age, even if you wanted to, you can't exactly join a group of friends. They're settled. They have their thing. You're never really gonna break into that world completely.

I suppose I've thought of my family as a 'group' that I'm a part of. I think, when we're all together, we've often been described as a 'gang'. And, maybe that's also part of the reason for my lack of other-group status: I do belong to one, it started at birth. Hard to top that.
And, when I looked up the word "group" in the dictionary, it said a group could be "two or more people"... which made me realize that RK and I classify as a "group", too. So, I'm really already part of two groups.

I've always known it, but feel like, as an adult, I can actually say it: I really, really like being alone. Not lonely. Of course not. Everyone knows those are actually two different things. But I really enjoy being on my own. I find myself quite good company.

Sometimes I drive my own self crazy,
but I think that can happen to the best of our selves.



images from here

Schooooools IN!

Welcome back, ladies and gentlemen. A new beginning, a new year, a new class, and a whole new set of strange and wonderful stories to keep track of. My co-teacher this year, the one and only Miss P., and I spent all last week coming up with fantabulous plans that will morph into grand realities once the final piece is placed: the kids! One of the greatest things I've learned from Miss P. is that no matter what we'd "planned" to do, to 'go with the flow' is where the juiciest nuggets come from.