The artist within

How many times has this happened to you? You walk into a store or open a magazine and there is something you have had in your idea book right in front of you in the flesh. This happens way too often to me. It feels like people are living inside my head. The most recent of these frustrating experiences was just the other day. I have in my idea book to put together a coloring book drawn by several artists. I really think the quote by Pablo Picasso says it best. "All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up." Coloring books are a favorite past time and why can't they be taken up a notch. Imagination and creativity shouldn't stop once you have outgrown coloring books. I for one, would love a well illustrated coloring book to lose myself in. Tie some colored pencils to the top and you have a fun gift for any age. So, until I put my idea together..........attention all artists, I'll be calling on you soon...........here is a good substitute for my idea.

I know it is not gift of gab Monday, but for the tag, I would put that Picasso quote.

Gift of Gab...Dear Susan, thanks for being lazy.

No longer are lazy susans those weird little gizmos you see at Aunt Mildred's house. The lazy susan has evolved into a very useful piece of art and I for one am grateful. We have one sitting on our kitchen table at all times. It makes every meal so much easier. Gone are the meals of constantly hearing, "pass this or pass that". Last night for instance, we had bean burritos. The lazy susan held all the little bowls of fillings. With the holidays, gift of gab Monday had been put on the back burner. If you are new to us here, the gift of gab is a regular Monday feature that shows how to put a quote with a gift. By writing the quote on the gift tag, you tie together your gift with the thought. I love this quote and I am not surprised that it was Frank Lloyd Wright who said it. These lazy susans are just the right amount of artistic and practical to create that modern spin on an old fashioned favorite.

Lazy susans available here

A highly intelligent creature with lots of arms...genius

Since I have already dubbed it the year of the octopus here and posted about a pitcher with a lot of uses here, I knew that when I saw this octopus that is a pitcher, I had to feature it.

& for the tag..."Because we could all use some extra hands."

Available here

What is the use of a book without pictures or conversations?

I could post about a book every day as inspiration for a gift, but there is nothing like a classic that has illustrations that bring a warmth of familiarity along with an excitingly new sense of humor.

& for the tag...Shouldn't every day be a wonderland?

Available here.

32 uses

& for the tag.....Variety is the spice of life. Use for 1.flowers 2.milk 3.juice 4.dinner table pitcher 5.cream for coffee 6.ground coffee 7. loose tea 8.dry dog food 9.dry cat food 10.sugar 11.oatmeal 12.dry cereals 13.sun tea 14.bedside carafe 15.wooden spoons 16.buttons 17.candy 18.acorns 19.beach sand 20. legos 21.shells 22.candy 23.marbles 24.coins 25.bath salts 26.mouthwash 27.cotton balls 28.q-tips 29.loose matches 30.rubber bands 31.staples 32.colored pencils

32 oz. carafe available here. (Also available in 8oz. if you don't want to list 32 things!)

Vegging Out

& for the tag..."Now that the holidays are over, I thought you deserved some time to veg."

Farmers market cards hand printed on letterpress on recycled paper. Available here.

the year of the octopus

Wow. Here we are in the new year. So much has happened in the last 2 weeks and yet it is like nothing has happened at all. My Christmas was very nice, but that seems like a long time ago now. We got sick somewhere right after Christmas and didn't surface until a couple of days ago. Just in time for Drew, my oldest, to have his birthday. Even though time has stood still around here, I know that is not how it is "out there" and I'm anxious to get moving with the rest of you again. I have a lot planned for 2009 and I'm glad you're here. I'm taking inspiration from the octopus since I feel like I have my hands in a lot of exciting projects for this new year. What about you? Are you feeling inspired with the new year?

octopus artwork available here