BSM: Best Shot Monday 9-28-09

This was taken in August, and it's the coolest CHERRY stem I've ever seen.

In thirty-plus years of going to Montana for his parents' cherry harvest, Mark has NEVER (he says) seen a SINGLE STEM with THREE CHERRIES branching off it.

How cool is this?!

So, I know that from a PHOTOGRAPHY or an ARTISTIC perspective, this is not really a "best shot" image ... but the SUBJECT MATTER is so delightful, I couldn't resist. {and there IS that way cool shadow thing happening ...}

Happy MONDAY.

-- Princess Magpie

September 28, 2009

The Artist's Creed by Jan Phillips (2002)http://www.janphillips.com

I've been quite absent from blog-posting all of September - and even stretching way way back to the end of July ...

But this morning, I feel compelled to post this: The Artist's Creed by Jan Phillips
{you can visit her website at www.janphillips.com }.

I BELIEVE I AM WORTH THE TIME IT TAKES TO CREATE

whatever I feel called to create.

I BELIEVE THAT MY WORK IS WORTHY OF ITS OWN SPACE,

which is worthy of the name Sacred.

I BELIEVE THAT, WHEN I ENTER THIS SPACE,

I HAVE THE RIGHT TO WORK IN SILENCE, UNINTERRUPTED,

for as long as I choose.

I BELIEVE THAT THE MOMENT I OPEN MYSELF

TO THE GIFTS OF THE MUSE,

I open myself to the Source of All Creation

and become One with the Mother of Life itself.

I BELIEVE THAT MY WORK IS JOYFUL,

USEFUL AND CONSTANTLY CHANGING,

flowing through me like a river with no beginning and no end.

I BELIEVE THAT WHAT IT IS I AM CALLED TO DO WILL MAKE ITSELF KNOWN

when I have made myself ready.

I BELIEVE THAT THE TIME I SPEND CREATING MY ART IS AS PRECIOUS

as the time I spend giving to others.

I BELIEVE THAT WHAT TRULY MATTERS IN THE MAKING OF ART

is not what the final piece looks like or sounds like,

not what it is worth or not worth,

but what NEWNESS gets added to the Universe

in the process of the piece itself becoming.

I BELIEVE THAT I AM NOT ALONE IN MY ATTEMPTS TO CREATE,

and that once I begin the work, settle into the strangeness,

the words will take shape, the form find life, and the spirit take flight.

I BELIEVE THAT AS THE MUSE GIVES TO ME,

SO DOES SHE DESERVE FROM ME:

faith, mindfulness, and enduring commitment.

-- 2002, Jan Phillips

COULD any one of us have said it better? I think not ... this piece spoke to me, loud and clear, the first time I saw it -- I was at a workshop at Ellen Speert's amazing CALIFORNIA CENTER FOR CREATIVE RENEWAL right here in Cardiff, California. I just stumbled across it again this morning, clearing out my office. {you see, there really ARE benefits to sifting thru the piles!}

This just SCREAMED at me to pay attention to it. In a very positive, very good, very challenging way. A loving scream, if there is such a thing.

Don't give up on your art, my friends.

Do. Not. Give. Up. On. Your. Art.

-- Princess Magpie
September 27, 2009

BSM: Best Shot Monday, September 7, 2009

Well, it's MONDAY, and you know what that means ... so here you go ... another BSM {Best Shot Monday, a la Tracey Clark} image to enjoy (I hope!).

This was taken in my garden this morning, after the Flower Fairies (aka, Kaia & Kiara) had their way with one ripe cantaloupe and a piece of throwaway blown glass from my friend Cindy McQuade ...

What do you think?!

And then, there is this photo, which I took on the evening of August 21, 2009 when Mark and I were in Montana at his folks' place at Flathead Lake. My father-in-law had saved up quite a pile of kindling and brush to burn, and we had one heck of a fabulous bonfire that night. It was extra special to me because August 21 was my mother's birthday ... well, it would have been her 86th birthday, if she had not died five years ago. SO this fire's for you, Edith. Blaze on !!!!!

I love you, Mom ...

-- Davielle