Sign of my Times

These days I look for signs. Sometimes they are so hard to find that I just make them up. I wish the "thumbs up" signal was more obvious-

Well Meaning Friend: You need to learn how to take better care of yourself.

Me:    I know, right? I'm walking on the nature trail a few times a week. It's a start anyway.

Voice in my head:        Shhhh, I'm scanning the past and future so I can intervene any potential problems before they can work their evil -- and you are distracting me.

in·ter·vene/ˌintərˈvēn/

Verb:

Come between so as to prevent or alter a result or course of events.

Here you can enjoy a picture of my lovely nature trail walk while I"m being all "taking care-ish" of myself.

As I walked along the trial I took a picture of the pretty sky-- 

And when I looked one more time, I swear I saw this--

Excellent progress.

Whaaat?

My Goddaughter is adorable and talented-- plus she has ALOT of stuff. She is a costume design major at a college nearby-- which I love, since I get to see her mother (my bff) when she visits her daughter.

 After Christmas break, my bff and her hubby loaded up gdaughter's stuff to move her back to school and into a new apartment. Down I-35 goes a trailer load full of dresses, costumes, wigs, etc.

When Hubby returns to the apartment after a load--he confesses to us that on the way down the interstate he hit a bump and a plastic tote full of her stuff hit the highway. Tears and upset ensue-- drive bys to collect her one of a kind treasures were unsuccessful. Oh, dear...

Last week I was passing on that same stretch of highway and in the corner of my eye I saw (ok-- imagined) some strange cast members with highly suspicious attire-- very curious!

Are We There Yet? I'm Bored

Creatively speaking, the one thing I don't want could be the one thing I need. Boredom.

Giving the brain time to percolate and formulate means unplugging, and that means being still.

How else can I hear the voice of the next thing calling?

I loved this blog post by some Harvard dude--and heck, surely he would know, right? Not sure if I would take back an IPad--but I get his point.
http://blogs.hbr.org/bregman/2010/06/why-i-returned-my-ipad.html

For Cynthia

For Every Season there is a Sale

In retail display land--as the calender changes-- so does the focus of our "prime real estate" table. Located dead center as you enter my store, it's always the merchandise display I lead with & it also sets the tone for the whole place.

Juliska made a lovely Valentine, but time to re-group and start fresh. My boss is awesome-- when I scurried out the door, throwing out over my shoulder that I was headed to Hobby Lobby for feathers, she braced herself mentally and took a deep breath. My boss does not like feathers, or shiny satin --but she lets me run amuck and it usually works out OK.

This table did the trick--I even found a glass  vase from Hobby Lobby that mimicked the Juliska swirled glass stemware. And let's face it--Valentine is a pretty flashy holiday (hence the feathers and satin) So off with the hearts & bring on the pastel colors and bunnies!

New table, new picture in my head--I prefer to start with a  blank surface. Sometimes you can add or remove merchandise and get a new look, but I found when a display has the same bones of another one--it's boring.

I'm showcasing Italian pewter by Match & Arte Italica for this display,  plus I needed to insert a little Easter merchandise.

The texture and elegance of the pewter will balance out the pastel bunnies nicely.

I built a tall foliage centerpiece  which will anchor all the other elements. The yellow in the flowers will be the running color thread through the display to tie it together. I bought some some huge decorative flowers to hang over the table (--which are basically a wire frame with colored panty hose stretched over it--again with the Hobby Lobby).  I'm starting to notice allot of circle shapes in my display and start looking around the store for some square elements to balance it out.

May the Easter Bunny bring you Italian Pewter

ARTnewsmag — How Much is the Doggie in the Window? Martin...

ARTnewsmag — How Much is the Doggie in the Window? Martin...: "Martin Usborne, Prospero 2, archival giclee print. From the series “Mute: The Silence of Dogs in Cars,” at FrankPicturesGallery.com.

I Love Art Supplies