pinch me, please!

I can hardly believe I got to meet Patti Digh,
the illustrious author of these amazing books:








and look - here she is -holding up my art quilt, called Shine!


She and Jane LaFazio are fast friends, sharing a love of their new cowboy boots.


Such a privilege to be invited to be in the picture with these extraordinarily talented women, Patti, Jane, Linda Bannan and Wendee Lee


Near the end of Patti's inspiring talk we were invited to choose, without looking, a rock from her collection
Oddly enough - here's mine:



Shine is surely on my mind these days,
from my art to the shine stamp Davi gave me before she left, to David Crowder to This Little LIght of Mine at mass on Friday.
I'll do my best!

Patti Digh is Amazing!

I first became acquainted with Patti when I discovered her blog, 37 days.
The premise is based o the idea that if you knew you only had 37 days left to live how would you spend them.
Her blog continually celebrates life and the concept of treasuring each day we have.

I've subsequently come to know her better since being her Facebook friend. I've delighted in her posts on such varied topics as sending her daughter off to college, the joys and woes of kindergarten, the challenge of learning to knit, the trials of frequent travel and her obsession with Johnny Depp.

I savored her first book, Life is a Verb



and preordered 4 Word Self Help the minute I heard about it.

Actually 4 Word Self Help, Simple Wisdom for Complex Lives, is the reason for this post.



It is simple, but it's simplicity is part of its charm.
Open at random to any page and you'll be greeted by a 4 word phrase that will be good advice. After reading it in its entirety I found myself reducing my communication to 4 words and it's quite fun, not to mention energy saving.
The 4 word phrases are intriguing, but what's even more enticing to me is the accompanying art work. Before publishing Patti sends out invitations to artists to submit art to illustrate her words. I love the idea of giving artists, some well-known, others not so much, an opportunity to be published.
My dear friend, Davi's Princess Magpie work will be included in Patti's next book, Creative is a Verb.



Needless to say, I've already placed an order.

I do hope you join me in the pleasure to be derived from reading Patti's books.
Perhaps one day I'll be fortunate to have a piece in one of them.

More Peter H. Reynolds

I still can't get over the wonders of Facebook.
If you follow my recent posts you'll see that I added some links to books by one of my most favorite children's author/illustrator, Peter H. Reynolds.
Peter H. Reynolds


He caught my attention once again, because Patti Digh,
37days
author of the renowned book, Life is a Verb, mentioned him, not once, but twice, in her Facebook posts in the last few days.
You may remember from a previous post, I said, "When Patti Digh speaks, I listen." I love that she loves him too.

She posted both on her blog and on Facebook, Peter's remarkable animated short, He was Me.
Click here:
HeWasMe


Anyway when I was searching I looked at Peter's website which had a Facebook link. I followed it and he graciously accepted my invite. Now we're friends!
I'm a happy person!

This is a link to more PHR wonders for you to enjoy.
Fablevision Library

Guaranteed to make you smile!

Thank you, Patti, for putting this on your blog.

The Pursuit of Happiness

Please follow this link thepursuitofhappines for a moving presentation on our freedom.

p.s. when Patti Digh speaks, I listen! Love being her facebook friend!

What do we teach our children?

Thanks to Patti Digh for this:

Thanks to Juliana Cooper-Goldenberg for pointing me to this:


Each second we live is a new and unique moment of the
universe, a moment that will never be again. And what
do we teach our children? We teach them that two and
two make four, and that Paris is the capital of France.
When will we also teach them what they are?

We should say to each of them: Do you know what you are?
You are a marvel. You are unique. In all the years that
have passed, there has never been another child like you.
Your legs, your arms, your clever fingers, the way you
move.

You may become a Shakespeare, a Michelangelo, a Beethoven.
You have the capacity for anything. Yes, you are a marvel.
And when you grow up, can you then harm another who is,
like you, a marvel?

You must work, we must all work, to make the world worthy
of its children.
--Pablo Casals (1876-1973)

How did I miss Maira Kalman????

In all those teaching first grade years, spending hours reading children's books, how on earth did I miss Maira Kalman?

Thanks to a link about her work that Patti Digh posted on facebook, I ordered The Principles of Uncertainty, and LOVED it.
It defies description. She writes the way I like to, like a streaming waterfall, she illustrates with glorious whimsy and color, and drops names like a pro.

Am looking forward now to delving into her children's works.

Enjoy!

RUN, don't walk

If you've ever read even just one book that I recommended and liked it, I hope you'll trust my judgment in telling you to RUN, don't walk to your nearest bookstore to buy, Life is a Verb, 37 Days to Wake Up, Be Mindful, and Live Intentionally (or click on the link below and have it delivered, as I did). You won't be sorry.

Those of you who know me well know how much I love quotes.
Those of you who know me well know how much I love modern art, not the real modern art, but the journal, altered, worded art that artists are doing.
Those of you who know me well know that I'm working very hard on making this very moment be the very best it can be.
Those of you who know me well know that I treasure the process of writing, be it from a first grader or a senior or anywhere in between.
This book contain elements which touch every one of those things.
I hope you'll join me in my 37 Days journey!

Death and Dying

Death has been on my mind of much lately. Parents of two close friends passed away last week. Two of my closest friends are lurking in the wings. Another is winning the battle and two have already won. I'm so grateful for my faith and strong belief that heaven will be way better than earth, however I can't stop thinking about it.
I'm been following Patti Digh's blog, 37 Days with joy. I'll let you read the reason for the title yourself. I've been trying not to buy so many books lately, but broke down and actually drove to Barnes and Noble to buy her book: because I know I'll love it.
After all that energy spent, they didn't have it. Bless Amazon - of, course they do!

Anyway back to today, I was walking home from church this morning thinking about my heroes, Cath Phillips is a living one, and Erma Bombeck is a heavenly one.

Then I had to check my email, just one more time, before doing what I really should be doing. There was a forward from a long-lost friend in AZ, recently found through Google, Bless the internet, once again. I'm really quite over most forwards, as is Davi, but it didn't have a subject, and I was curious. I'm glad I opened it, and instead of forwarding it to all of you I'm putting it here.

IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER - by Erma Bombeck
(written after she found out she was dying from cancer).

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth
would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.

I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it
melted in storage.

I would have talked less and listened more.

I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was
stained, or the sofa faded.

I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried
much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the
fireplace.

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his
youth.

I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.

I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day
because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.

I would have sat on the lawn with my grass stains.

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more
while watching life.

I would never have bought anything just because it was practical,
wouldn't show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished
every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the
only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.

When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, 'Later. Now
go get washed up for dinner.' There would have been more 'I love you's'
More 'I'm sorry's.'

But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute.look
at it and really see it . . live it and never give it back. STOP
SWEATING THE SMALL STUFF!!!

Don't worry about who doesn't like you, who has more, or who's doing
what
Instead, let's cherish the relationships we have with those who do love
us.

You can find more of her poignant humor here:
erma

I do cherish all of you!

A fabulous visual journey

This is the first illustration of Maira Kalman's New York Times blog, describing her inauguration journey.
I urge you to see the rest here: theinauguration.atlast
She's a fabulous illustrator and has done many children's books.
Enjoy!

Thanks to Patti Digh of 37Days fame for posting this on facebook.