Fortune Telling

I'm thinking my 'fingerprint' poem may become a 'palm reading' poem...

Regroup

Still trying to find a little balance in the midst of a chaotic few weeks. Things should get a little better in November and December, so I'm planning to make a final push to tackle my key goals for 2010.

I've been looking over my 100 Things list tonight.  It's fun to see some of the strange and wonderful things I set out to do in January and at least a few projects are going to end up on my 2011 list (yes, I'll be doing it again!).  For the next two months, however, I'm most interested in completing the goals that best represent where I am creatively.  Therefore, I've narrowed my focus to this Top 10:

1. Create 'fingerprint' poem - I've completed 80% of the work for this project, but haven't gotten around to the final draft.  It's time to get r' done.

12. Draw a multi-coloured ink drawing - My original vision for this was to complete a black and white pen and ink drawing (possibly incorporating some red highlights).  I don't think I would have kept this one on the list if I hadn't of come across these two drawings on Thanksgiving weekend:

These sketches (done in '99! Such a good year!) reminded me exactly why I love working with black and white.  After eleven years, it's time to pick this style up again.  (In case you're wondering, the first one is of Cate Blanchett.  The second one may or may not have been Ricky Martin. Yikes.)

31. Update mailing and contact lists - This one seems simple, but I've just never gotten around to creating a master list.

32. Send out a mailing - The logical follow up to Number 31.

36. Create a chapbook - Any size and format (likely something 'mail-able'...)

40. Write 'constellations' poem - Also partly done... must finish and write on letterpressed cards.

46. Enter a poetry competition - I have the whole project conceived, I just need to work up the strength to write on my original drawings.

77. Make a paper cutting - I've never tried this, but I know I would love the process.

99. Make a donation to a local charity - Will definitely do before the 31st!

100. Fully document my completion of the goals list - Tally ho!

So there's my top 10 'must complete goals'.  Stay tuned.

Thanksgiving

What a lovely weekend! I spent a fantastic Thanksgiving up north at my parent's place and the weather was perfect. 

I was hoping to translate the fresh air and brilliant colours into some new writing, but ended up producing pies instead.  Also, I may have been slowed somewhat by my diet of deep fried mars bars, poutine, and more turkey and mashed potatoes than I care to remember. 

I did snap a few photos that perfectly highlight how I spent my time.  

The weekend also started with some exciting news - I'm going to be published!  I'm not sure if I can give out the details yet, but I'll definitely post the whole story at the beginning of November.

Until then, I've got to get back on track with some of my newer projects.  I've definitely been inspired to get more of my work there.

Thistles, Inspiration, iphones

As my less-than-regular posting might suggest, things have been pretty busy lately.  Work has been particularly demanding of late and this has pulled some of my energy away from other projects.  But today when I was walking from my office to the bus stop, I had one of those moments where a very little thing helped shift my focus and renewed my creative energies.

The `thing`was this little dried up stock.

Not the prettiest state for a flower (Queen Anne`s Lace, I believe), but seeing it suddenly brought back all of these memories of walking through the fields where I grew up, clear skies, crab apple trees surrounded by fallen apples, frost on corn stocks, cool quiet mornings. The types of things that bring me an immediate peace in a very indescribably way.  Now my mind is full of dried out husks of milk weed and thistles and leaves on the ground - beautiful ugly things that immediately inspire me to write and draw (especially in pen and ink!)

So tonight when I got home, I drew this little sketch in homage and, once I’ve finished this post, I’m going to see if I can extend today’s inspiration into a little writing session.  

With Thanksgiving weekend approaching, this is exactly the type of unexpected motivation I am truly thankful for.

P.S. The subtitle of this post should be `Why the iphone4 is the best thing in the history of the world (after dried up stocks of Queen Anne’s Lace)’ because I’m also completely enamoured with my new tech toy.  T and I each got one after his Blackberry died (it mysteriously fell into a mud puddle a few days after we discussed how cool it would be to get iphones...).  I`ve never really had a cell phone, let alone a portable device that takes photos, has internet, houses doodle apps, etc..., so I`m enjoying my new found sense of connectedness (people actually call me again!) and the sudden advantage of having a camera with me at all times... should any inspirational thistles appear!

I hope you are all finding little bits of inspiration out there in the world.  Make sure you use them!

Folds

I've been experimenting with a few simple fold books.

Playing around with the patterns reminded me of the good old days of folding notes in elementary school.  

So much fun!  I wonder if I can find any of those patterns online...