Sweeter Words Sunday: When I was in Love

Once a upon a time, I took a creative writing. I bored people with my words about things I didn't care about, while I stored away the words that hit home. Other students bored me with their words while others blew me out of water with their raw talent.

We also read lots poetry about love, break ups, and pain. My professor was in a rough patch of his relationship. It pained him dearly. 

Our "textbook" was "The Hell with Love: Poems to Mend a Broken Heart"edited by Mary D. Esselman and Elizabeth Ash Velez. It was full of pain, resent, anger, and regret. At nineteen, those poems of pain did not move me. I barely understood what they meant or let alone identify the feelings of the poems. I read my notes written on hallmark heart-shaped "love" sticky note, I see how clueless I was about the words I was reading. I also had failed to see the irony of heart- shaped sticky notes in a poetry book about heartbreak.

One poem did stick out and I understood it at once. I thought I would share it. 

"Oh, When I Was in Love with You" 

By A.E. Housman

Oh, when I was in love with you,

       Then I was clean and brave,

And miles around the wonder grew

       How well did I behave.

And now the fancy passes by,

       And nothing will remain,

And miles around they'll say that I

       Am quite myself again.

24 Before 25

I am creating a new list of things I would like
to accomplish before I am another year older.
To a another year. I have not in previous years

not finished my lists, but hope is a tough thing

to kill. On a side note, peonies are glorious at this 

time of year. 

1. Crochet 100% Cotton Scarf
2. Read a new book per month
3. Blog every month
4. Go to five Art Exhibitions
5. Learn how to Knit
6. Get a Starbucks Gold Card
7. Draw more portraits
8. Win a bet 
9. Be a better person
10. Teach Grandmother how to knit
11. Buy a Bike
12. Eliminate some debt
13. Garden profusely
14. Study the bible regularly
15. Volunteer
16. Make Money
17. Learn Piano
18. Write a Children's Book
19. Do a study of Floral Illustrations
20. Visit Chicago
21. Be a better Etsy Seller
22. Create a Design Portfolio (7-8 projects)
23. Be stronger
24. Solo Vacation

Best Wishes and good luck on your goals.

24 hours

The quote: "You have the same amount twenty-four hours as Beyonce"

does not sit well with me. It makes me feel guilty about not having 

enough hours in the day or not finishing all the things I should in one day.

So I created this anti-quote to remind me that I am not Beyonce or have 

her team power. I have only so much to do and that is alright with me.

Thanks for reading.

Sweeter Words Saturday: To the Small Celadine

For those you did not know, it's National Poetry Month. I will be
celebrating by sharing a different poem each Saturday from a different
poets and writers. 

This first one is another one from William Wordsworth celebrating a small
but fair flower. Granted the image above does not have a Celadine, but it
works.

To the Small Celadine by William Wordsworth

Pansies, lilies, kingcups, daisies,

Let them live upon their praises;

Long as there's a sun that sets,

Primroses will have their glory;

Long as there are violets,

They will have a place in story: 

There's a flower that shall be mine,

'Tis the little Celadine.

Eyes of some men travel far
For the finding of a star;
Up and down the heavens they go,
Men that keep a mighty rout!
I'm as great as they, I trow,
Since the day I found thee out,
Little Flower! - I'll make a stir,
Like a sage astronomer.

Modest, yet withal an Elf
Bold, and lavish of thyself;
Since we needs must first have met
I have seen thee, high and low,
Thirty years or more, and yet
'Twas a face I did not know;
'Thou hast now, go where I may,
Fifty greetings in a day.

Ere a leaf is on a bush,
In the time before the thrush
Has a thought about her nest,
Thou wilt come with half a call,
Spreading out thy glossy breast
Like a careless Prodigal;
Telling tales about the sun,
When we've little warmth, or none.

Poets, vain men in their mood!
Travel with the multitude:
Never heed them; I aver
That they all wanton wooers;
But the thrifty cottager,
Who stirs little out of doors,
Joys to spy thee near her home;
Spring is coming, Thou art come!

Comfort have thou of thy merit,
Kindly, unassuming Spirit!
Careless of thy neighborhood,
Thou dost show thy pleasant face
On the moor, and in the wood,
In the lane; there's not a place,
Howsoever mean it be,
But 'tis good enough for thee.

I'll befall the yellow flowers,
Children of the flaring hours!
Buttercups, that will be seen,
Whether we will see or no;
Others, too, of lofty mein;
They have done as worldlings do,
Taken praise that should be thine,
Little, humble Celandine!

Prophet of delight and mirth,
Ill-requited upon the earth;
Herald of a mighty band,
Of a joyous train ensuing,
Serving at my heart's command,
Tasks that are no tasks renewing,
I will sing, as doth behove,
Hymns in praise of what I love!

In Review: "That's What She Said: Power and Purpose"

Soulpancake is a creative agency and a new media agency. They say that "our brain batter of art, culture, science, philosophy, spirituality, and humor to open...challenge...and feel damn good". They say that their mission is to "make things that matter" and to helps other "to figure out what it means to be human." 

Meanwhile Darling Magazine is a magazine that specializes "in the art of women" and "exist to encourage and empower women and be a voice of love." They pride themselves in seeing "beauty in every type of women", offering "tangible, deep advice" on various issues including serious topics, also evoking "a discussion on femininity", and a "catalyst for positive change."

These two powerhouses, Soulpancake and Darling Magazine, collaborated to create a series called "That's What She Said" on youtube. This is a series that strives to start an honest conservation about topics like Power and Purpose. Below you can see the topics that have been covered in this series so far.

• Power and Purpose
• 10 Things Every Female Should Know
• Parents and Parenting 
• Aging and Death
• Perception and Confidence

The video was a beautiful and thought provoking. I did not agree with all the opinions presented nor do I think they were presented to be the right answer. The video was made to cause questions and start conversations between women from all walks of life. The video asked three main questions to the panel which were the one that follow.

Do Women need to become like Men in order to achieve power and status?

Are there ways we can be unique leaders in the world without dismissing or
ashamed of our gender?

Where do you get your power and purpose? How do you embrace being a women
in your career?

I wanted to share my thoughts and responses to these questions. My idealistic and romantic part of my soul believes that women do not need to be like men to achieve power and status. I do fundamentally that women can be successful without losing a sense of themselves or acting like someone else that they are not.  

But at the same time, it seems to represented via the media and society that women have to be like men to succeed. Women that act "like women" are represented as not succeeding or achieving or being successful. Or are perceived as not on being the same level of success as men. My belief and what seems to be represented as the norm is completely different. 

My career is truly run by Men. Men rule the Art Historical Canon, contemporary art world, and the top designers that appear in Graphic Design Conferences are men. The women artists that I can name are truly less many a dozens. Though there is a lot of women in the arts, we are the object..the muse. Women are the crafters, makers, wives, the lovers, the mistresses, an interesting side-story, or the ex-wife. It is intimidating to see and learn that man after man are the ones breaking new ground or the hot newest artist. Women are always one step behind. 

I think women can be unique leaders. Women have a lot to bring to table. They bring perspective, experience, youth, wisdom, and so much more to any situation.

I get my sense of power and purpose from my values,  my family, my community, and Jehova. These things bring out the best in me and forces and encourages me to have valor and do things I would not dare to do. To have the balls to go after what I desire in life.

I do not know what the answers to these questions are. I do not know how to change others or their thoughts. I only know to how to change myself and I hope that my actions can speak a thousands times louder than my words ever could. To see this video or see what these two companies are doing, follow the links to explore. Thanks for reading.

Sources:

Soulpancake

Darling Magazine

That's What She Said: Power and Purpose

Process: Bookplates & Letterpress

Hi guys,

I wanted to pop in to share some photos from my most
recent project. I have chained myself once to the type lab
to finish a cookbook and bookplates that will be completed
by the 1st of May. The deadline is fast approaching and time
is fleeting. 

Enjoy the images from the lab.

Joy of a Sunday