Sarah*n*dipitous

Kindness Matters

KINDNESS, n. {from kind, the adjective}

1. Good will; benevolence; that temper or disposition which delights in contributing to the happiness of others, which is exercised cheerfully, in gratifying their wishes, supplying their wants or alleviating their distresses; benignity of nature. Kindness ever accompanies love.

Noah Webster 1828

Let's think on Kindness for a moment.

Kindness is a noun with a verb hidden in it's core that the world simply needs to see, feel, touch, hear and taste more of. Perhaps the power within many nouns, people included, is that they exist to complete actions. Nouns are happiest, more fulfilled, and made whole by an act that transcends themselves and positively affects another, another noun who may not be able to repay the event but merely, use that momentum to send it forward.

Kindness is deliberate. It is easy to believe so many things in this world just "happen" as if by cosmic happenchance yet, to be kind to another or show kindness in a situation, is something we not only have to think about, marinate on and let soak in but, summon the inner momentum, fortitude, and courage to act on it. It is a choice.

Kindness is also contagious. It is a golden pocket watch with intricate craftsmanship etched with our names that we want to share with others, want to tell them the story about the time they were given something so precious, something deliberate and with their name right there etched permanently upon it. We want to share the fact that we mattered to another, that we were the recipient of something completely intended, that we are special and have a moment dedicated to just us by another. And the beauty is, within each person is that kindness seed, we are all carriers if you will, of that kindness contagion and have a story to spread.

Today is the annual "Kindness Party" on Twitter (4-6pm EST). I have been invited to help moderate by Phyllis Mufson (@phyllismufson) Read about it and the other participants HERE 

This is why it matter folks, and by it, I mean Kindness and by matters, I mean everyday, not just a designated time slot on a social media platform. Humanity loses something when we are unable to share a bit of who we are with another, we lose the momentum, that sacred spark, that beautiful orange glow that all embers have inside of them. Humanity has grown cold in a way, we are skeptical of what we hear, we distrust the motives behind what we read, we question the sales pitch knowing perhaps that we'd buy what they were saying if, we ourselves were not so bankrupt and threadbare. We look at the term "Free" and pray the hook doesn't hurt when we reach out to grab it. We want the hug but wonder if we'll be pick-pocketed in the process. Jaded is perhaps the most effective vaccination against spreading kindness and as a herd, it would seem that our immunizations are up to date.

The truth is, we need kindness more now. We need firsthand Kindness, not kindness by proxy. In an overly "connected" world, we have allowed ourselves to "disconnect" to that which is to be human, forgotten the feeling of what it is to reach out and hold another's hand simply because we can. Kindness enables. It enables us, humanity, to share a story, a story that someone else will get to tell about us. 

Be Deliberate. Be Engaged. Be Kind.

To my Twitter family, thank you. Kindness knows no time zones, no artificially set boundaries, no beginning or end... it is a constant stream that flows at a rate of about 140 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Makers

One of my favorite events to attend is Maker Faire. Truth be told, it does not really matter in which city or what time of the year it is held, it is a concept not a square on the calendar in my world.

Maker Faire is an event that is difficult to explain or define because it is something different to each person. For some it is a geek convention, others, a hacker reunion, it is a Lego village while others see it as a concert with Tesla Coil sparks of pure energy. Maker Faire is a steampunk revolution, a Bizarre Bazaar, a lecture on innovation, a display of alternative energy possibilities or even a choreographed Mentos and Coke Zero wonder of science. It is experienced through make n takes, various foods on a stick, a lifesize mousetrap game or in a knitting circle sipping tea and talking about the weather. As varied as the ideas of what Maker Faire is, the commonality that binds each and every person that walks the grounds and interacts within the event is that we are all Makers. We are the doers of things and thinkers of thoughts, the curious, the child like wonder trapped in an aging birthday suit. We are the "what-if" askers and the grease smudged foreheads, we are the growers of gardens and the wearers of the fantastic and outlandish. We are the product of our own making wrapped up in a Providential design that embodies a creativity only the original Maker could create. It is a celebration of what could be possible when we choose to marinate on the impossibilities of the here and now.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hold the Line

Veterans Day is a very special day in our household. My Grandfathers both served their Country, my Uncles and Aunt served, and my Step-Sister and dear Friends all have taken up the call and chose to Hold The Line to ensure our Safety and Freedom. Military Service is a tough calling not only for the Soldier but also, their families. That sense of Honor, Duty and Loyalty can be a difficult thing to swallow for family members who may or may not have chosen to be the Support System and holding the other side of that line at home.

It was a huge honor to be asked to create a series of papers to be used exclusively with a project Danielle and Rayme (The Diva Craft Lounge) had volunteered to do with Military Families before one or both parents leave for the Theater of War. The Series was created with the express intent and wish that they will never be bought or sold, only downloaded for use freely in honor of those who give FREELY their service for our Country.

Here is the Story of Hold the Line and why on this Veteran's Day, I encourage those reading this to create something for someone who Held the Line and gave so sacrificially for the Freedoms we enjoy today.

These 5 designs started as pieces of thin Maple Veneers. I chose Maple because they serve, protect and give so selflessly each year in the harshest of climates and when they themselves are the most vulnerable and unprotected. I live in Michigan where in early Spring when the ground is still frozen and the world is still asleep under Winter's icy kiss, spigots are tapped into the bark of the Sugar Maple trees where syrup flows like blood from it's core and is collected into a bucket.  That syrup is enjoyed in the comforts of a warm home over freshly made pancakes with pats of butter oozing, freshly squeezed juice and brewed coffee waiting next to the plate. The table linens are clean and pressed, the silverware polished and in order, and even the plates are fragile glass and clink with taps from an empty fork seeking to be laden again. It is safe.

The Maple stands guard throughout the year, providing shade, shelter and rest for all those who seek comfort under it's strong limbs and never once does it complain. It weathers storms and driving rain, gales of winds and drought without yielding where it's roots are secure and dug deep. They Hold the Line.

On these Veneers, are the tiny cracks of faithful service etched in their protective polish, signs that they wear outwardly, the patina of a life well spent and invested in something higher than themselves. That rich surface and texture only improves with age as the slight lines become creases and scars that tell the story to the next generation, the group of Men and Women who hear the calling, the lineage of proud Patriots spanning from family line to family line across oceans and terrain... They Hold the Line.

The drawings are simple, pen to paper, nothing complex, no technology involved (sans the scanning in), simply a mark on the surface signifying a thought, an idea, and a purpose. Words salvaged from an old manual; a set of instructions left from the 1800's on a printing press preserved for posterity in ink, cut with scissors and attached with glue. It seemed only fitting to use exactly what was on hand and leave the page to be completed with only the story that could be told from someone who Held that Line. Our Veterans are the thread that bind and connect the very fabric of our Constitution and Flag to the people who are guided and live under them today. They are the Line and here, as Citizens we are tasked to preserve, document and Hold that Line.

Thank you Veterans. May God keep you and protect you. May those serving in Harm's way Holding the Line now, come home when their job is completed safely. And a special thank you to my Maple, you are an inspiration.

This is a lovely poem written by Thena Smith using the FREE downloadable Paper at The Diva Craft Lounge.

Royalty

I remember being a kid and learning how to play chess with my Uncle. My Uncle is an amazing guy, incredibly smart, wickedly funny, and just full of interesting stories, tidbits and randomness so much so, one could truly sit at his feet all day just listening to him. I love the way He and my Dad play Chess... it isn't the game that fascinates me, it's the "way" they play it and how the conversation is always peppered with historic epic battles and friendly disputes over British lineage and the succession of Kings, Popes or Prophets. Their games have the stories of intrigue and mystery intermingled with the "Check and Check Mate" back and forth that make it entertaining for all that choose to stop and observe. These games last hours but, the history lessons last a lifetime. 

The discussion at this particular game talked about Royalty and where it came from in the first place. That designated authority to rule? The debate opened up so many interesting questions between what makes a leader as opposed to a follower, the mindset of a dictator and the ego involved all the way through to why do people want to be lead in the first place? It was fascinating. The point that I have been marinating on more relates to business. Why do we choose to work for ourselves in the first place and what makes a lineage... a company that survives after you have gone on to your reward? Many folks build a business in the present but seldom think about it as a foundation for the empire of the future. They may dream about being a King or Queen of industry and perhaps wear a fancy crown however, where do the loyal subjects come from, where are the folks that will designate themselves as being a part of your "kingdom", your brand? Who are the folks that will wear your colors into the proverbial jousting arena of the marketplace proudly and speak on your behalf as a loyal subject when you aren't around?

Troll

When I was young, growing up here in Michigan, those that lived in the Upper Peninsula were called Youppers (You Pers) and those below the Mackinaw Bridge, we were Trolls. Like most seeped in Michigan lore and quirky "using your hand as a map to explain where you are from" colloquialisms, stories of Trolls and massive Lumber Jacks with a Blue Ox for a pet were things that are in your genetic code. The idea of Trolls though is something you need not be from Michigan to know anything about. Trolls are suckers for shiny objects and tend to attach themselves to things with shiny objects until said shiny object can be stolen and pilfered away or are no longer valuable. In the art world, as with most other professions in the corporate setting, there are many who gravitate towards the shiny new (you fill in the blank here) seeking hidden treasure and undue enrichment. Oftentimes, companies will seek out new talent and suck them dry of their ideas before they are aware and while they are still green and taken in with their own shiny objects (the promise of a bigger office, a brighter future, a paid off mortgage) to care. It has long been a belief of mine that we should teach mythology, Aesop, and a number of other cautionary tales to kids coming into the Creative Community and profession. There is a sense that because it is art, because it is a sharing type community that by proxy all people are working towards the common good when in fact, that simply may not be the case. Once upon a time there used to be the premise that if you make money, I make money... people had control over the destinies of sorts and income potential was only limited by their own vision. The Trolls would like to let folks believe that they have just as much "respect" for said such shiny object but, in reality, they covet it and will do what ever it takes to deprive it's own of said jewel.

If the creative community understood the value of what they brought to the table, I believe wholeheartedly they would guard it a bit better. Rather than discounting their work and talent they would be trained to want to partner with the companies they work with to mutually edify and enrich each other. Respect comes first from understanding the value of one's talents. As a creative community, we must come to agreement that there are collective standards and rates lest we give away our shiny jewels on a fool's gold quest.

Griffin

I always wondered how it was that mythical beasts came to pass and how so many people groups littered around the world seemed to have their version of a similar creature. Perhaps it is because we are all human and can indeed have similar thoughts?

The other day the big stone monster in the room was the discussion about collage and the use of copyrighted materials. This is always a heated debate and many feelings inevitably are hurt in the process. In our business model we have made a decision on the executive level not to use stock photos or any other "for purchase" work that isn't our own. We, in essence, shoot our own B roll whenever we are out and about and harvest images to use on projects specifically for our clients. The problem has arisen in many firms the question of where ownership lies when photos are used from the public domain especially when things like logo and letterhead is involved. As a creative, be it in art, music, or writing, you need to ask yourself the hard questions and do what is right for you and what falls in line with your core values and mission statement. It is always a very difficult thing, after the fact, to find out that something you made using what seemed to be an innocent rendition, is indeed depriving an artist, a fellow creative, their ability to earn a livelihood following their passion and using their talents. As a manufacturer or someone purchasing art, music, written copy, you need to ask where the source was and where the rights to the said work lay. The worst thing you can do is create an entire marketing plan, class, body of work or campaign around something that isn't yours. 

Stone Army

The Great Chinese Emperor had an army constructed in preparation for his life beyond his existence here on Earth. The artistry and time it took to create these masterpieces is staggering. Seeing them in real life, quietly standing in line and at attention awaiting their orders is almost eerie yet completely awe inspiring at the same time.

What I found breathtaking is the fact that those who want to be remembered in History resort to the arts and craftsmen to preserve that legacy. Every great monument, the works in cathedrals, crowns and jewelry, clothing, and even the bound and masterfully illuminated books from times gone by were all made. The way people are remembered is through the things people DID to leave a lasting mark, a constructed and created impression that the sand in the hourglass could not erode away from the minds of men simply because they were *that* grand and unforgettable. What boggles me more and more is how the arts in general are the first thing cut when funding and budgeting becomes and issue. My question is who will be the Makers, the Craftspeople, that are equipped and enabled to create History if we as a society no longer deem their education and apprenticeship worthy of a line in the final budget sheet?

Playful

The spirit of play is something we all need in order to continually feed the create muse and keep it healthy. Just as good food and exercise are good for the body and staying in shape, our Muse needs to be exposed to laughter and just old fashioned play and experimentation in order to grow. Many working artists lose track of time designated to just "new" work, retreats or even classes due to the busyness of trying to run a business and make a living from their creations. It comes to a point where many artists are spending more of their time staring at paperwork than blank canvases full of possiblitites waiting to be given a new life and exiestence.

In my studio, play is important, it is part of my job. My role as an innovator encompasses using existing products and materials in new unexpected ways for my clients; this by proxy means, I must get my hands dirty and machines are sacrificed for the greater craftiness good. The point is, I learn more from these playdates than I do with the set appointments I have more times than naught simply because there is no agenda, it is come what may. I encourage those in the creative community, be it in art, music, writing, theater, or dance to make sure to schedule play time and make it a part of the routine...

Nature's Playdoh Factory

There are times in life where the Universe is just trying to tell you something. Flipping through family photos of a vacation we took this Summer, I came across the "safari series"... This personal joke in our family is the "butt" of discussion in that every time we saw an animal, it was ALWAYS it's backside. It was almost as if once we were in the position to snap the picture the animal would dutifully turn and show us it's tail end. Now, for those with young boys, you will totally understand where I am going with this and how absolutely hysterical they thought this was. The crowning shining moment was when we reached the Elephant habitat. This massive creature was eating it's breakfast and like a giant playdoh factory, our now accustomed view of the animal, started spouting off one of the foulest sights I do believe one should ever have to see in a telephoto lens (I will spare you the extreme close up) 

The funny thing about this is, we can all relate; every person reading this understands. Why? Because it is a function of life. The stuff we put in one end, travels through and comes out the other. It is something so basic and so sometimes in your face, that it is hard to not laugh when you see it close-up and have the full 5 senses type experience one gets with a telephoto lens. What was so special about this moment was that the people we were sharing a vehicle with were not from the United States and did not speak English as their primary language yet, they laughed too. We all got it... kids, adults, people from different walks of life, languages and economies... we all got it. Good design, good art, good branding, good marketing, good communication and people skills, being a good friend, being a good human, it all is based on the things that transcend and speak to us all in a ways that connect us. And sometimes it is the most primary bodily function that sparks the conversation.

Keep Out

I was driving along one of the many back country dirt roads in the are and came across one of my neighbors working in the yard. I waved from the car and she of course waved me into the driveway. From the corner of my eye I saw this old tree on the side of the house with the warning sign posted and felt myself hesitate a bit. Perhaps it was unconscious but, I think most of us are trained to heed warnings especially signs painted in someone's hand (those are the one's they wanted done right away and made in letter that mean business). I walked up her driveway and, like neighbors do, we said our "how are yous" and "how ya' beens". I mentioned the sign. She said, "What sign?" I pointed to the tree and she laughed. "I never noticed it before but, it explains a lot." Our conversation went on about how people gave her odd looks when she waved as they went by and how this sign, the one she was unaware of, had been sending mixed signals to strangers ever since she moved in.

Of course I marinated on that on the way home about how folks who acquire businesses or even books of business may not be aware of the signs the previous owner sent out and how now, the signals could be mixed. It's true too for people who outsource their work to third parties- what are those folks saying about your business when you are not their managing it? This sign was out of my friend's line of vision and much higher than either she or I could have placed without a ladder and, had I not commented on it, how long would it have been there sending out mixed messages to neighbors, friends, and business contacts (she has a home based business)? What signs are you unaware of that could be sending an inconsistent message?

Makers

Makers are the folks that create something from nothing. They dream of the impossible and think of ways to defy conventional thinking to make it a reality.These are the anti-cookie cutter people that make this world a more interesting place. As I sit here and reflect on all that I learned and saw over these past few days, there are a few things that truly are profound and leave a lump in my throat to think about. The first is that, people chose to take their kids and folks hands down, went out of their way to accommodate, engage, and inspire the curious and absorbent mind of the children at Maker Faire. Many trade shows and conventions ask that children not attend because they are a inconvenience and have a way of slowing things down and getting in the way. Makers understand that it is investment in the children that create a better future. Makers are about sharing what is in their head with the people who want to know it and, it seems more often than not, true makers are people who have an amazing story to tell about how and why they made what they did... children love a good story. Secondly, every person I met and had the honor to speak to, never lost that sense of child-like wonder. It is something truly amazing to be in the company of folks who never stop asking questions, who's insatiable curiosity is contagious and the natural questions that occur in just exploring and observing the everyday come out from every pore of their beings. That proverbial "What If?" is on the tips of every tongue and the fantastic and imaginary are sitting there in front of you (A fire breathing Snail Car comes to mind). Maker Faire is about equipping people not only to think about the impossible but giving them the sandbox to keep failing until the impossible is a possibility and from there a reality.

Crafty Pod

I am blessed with incredible people in my world. Diane Gilleland from Crafty Pod is not only one of the most genuine and professional Podcasters around, she is a gifted and talented artist with a passion for sharing her love of making things with the world. Diane and I have been Twitter buddies for some time but had our first real life meeting at CHA in Anaheim this past January. I was impressed by Diane's incredible gift for sifting the wheat from the proverbial chaff and getting straight to the heart of the conversation with meaningful and well thought out questions. It was such a huge honor to be a guest on her Podcast today. My hope is that you will spend some serious time listening to her collection of insightful shows and tell all your friends. Our industry needs people like Diane. She in a shining star and I for one am truly, grateful to call her friend.

Listen to Podcast Here

Read about it here in CRAFT

Special Thanks to Kayte Terry for the picture she took at CHA of the booth (lifted from the CraftStylish post)

Privies

Awhile back I made a tea set for one of my favorite publications... it was bright, jarring and made your teeth hurt but, it was something intensely personal to me. Once upon a time, my Grandfather wrote an inscription in a book that has always been both a blessing and a curse. He wrote, "May you be as Versatile as Master DaVinci". Versatility is a tall order because it means you have to be in a state of perpetual learning, self-improvement, and self-scrutiny... a willingness to be useful. It also means, you have to understand and believe that you have something to offer, that you are indeed unique, and have value.

"Lo Some who can call themselves nothing more than a passage for food, producers of dung, fillers of privies, for of them nothing else appears in the world, nor is there any virtue in their work, for nothing of them remains but full privies."

~Leonardo DaVinci (Forster III. 74 v.) "The Notebooks of Leonardo DaVinci"

It seems that people tend to discount what it is, and why it is, they are here taking in oxygen. The moment you believe that there is nothing more to life than the usual suspects; eating, sleeping, drinking, breathing, continue on as you feel the need to do so... the point is, the moment you believe that it is about just YOU and the mundane, the dung level creeps up to about eye height and clouds your vision and you miss all the incredible opportunities and experiences there are in this world. I have had the privilege to meet some absolutely insanely gifted artists, musicians, and writers... the tragedy is when they themselves merely see themselves as a "passage for food".... a terrible waste.

When "Inanimates" Attack

For some folks, it's the random crack in the sidewalk that fouls up the footwork that is the catalyst for the chance encounter of one's nose to the pavement, others, the door that forgot to get out of their way when they ran into it, for me, it was a few shards of glass glitter that decided to get stuck in my eye that did me in. I think Russell Baker had it right when he said, "The goal of all inanimate objects is to resist man and ultimately defeat him..."

I sincerely believe that people think crafting by proxy is "safe". Seriously, how can pictures of dripping ice cream cones and smiling faces be all that bad. Paints, glue, paper... they all seem unassumingly "safe". Well, folks, there is a reason why I have all sorts of safety gear in my studio... fire extinguishers, work gloves, safety glasses, and heavy duty protective wear... art supplies can indeed be hazardous and throughout history artists have indeed suffered for their art (thinking pigments and all the heavy metal poisoning when folks did not know better... the colors were AMAZING yes, but when the hair fell out and people went bonkers because of lead, mercury and arsenic well, you catch my drift).

Today I was working with glass glitter. It is truly beautiful stuff and it photographs like no tomorrow however, it's tiny pieces of crushed glass... Well, I wore the goggles and took precautions but, as kismet would have it, I managed to get some in my eye while taking my apron off. Hurt like the dickens every time I blinked (it was scratching my cornea every time). The moral of the story here is, there really isn't a reason one should suffer for their art, just be prepared for when, not if, inanimate objects attack.

Incidentally, inanimate objects happen to be wonderful for decorating... they can't run away. Eye patches love to be decorated and it makes the nurses laugh.

Living in Color

My Husband is notorious for downloading random songs on iTunes that sneak into my playlists at just the right moment. Jamey Johnson sings a wonderful song called "In Color" that if you get a chance to listen to it, I highly recommend it. The premise is that you may flip through the black and white photos and get an idea of what was going on but, that it isn't a substitute for living it in real color.

I think many of us go through life living it by proxy. We flip through magazines, follow folks online, friend strangers and live vicariously through other people's images... all a cheap imitation of life. Today I watched two of the kids I work with text each other from opposite sides of the room. They could have just put down their phones and had a meaningful conversation, seen the facial expressions, heard the changes in their voices, and the slight giggle on their breath.... but they completely missed it. They missed the good stuff, the stuff LIFE is made of. I don't know about you, but I want to have my own pictures that I remember being in vibrant, crazy amazing, mind boggling color. I want to look at a picture and be able to smell the fragrance of the flowers and feel the warmth of the sun on my skin just like the moment I took the picture. I try to explain to my students that it is really hard to paint or create something from scratch, you need to have something to draw from, a first hand experience. How can I imitate the perfect shade of blue that I have never seen? How will I know what Heliotrope smells like from a picture? How will I be able to discern a ripe strawberry still glistening from the morning dew if I've never picked one at sunrise and tasted the goodness myself? How can I hear the symphony of Spring Peepers in the clicking of text messages? Live your life folks, don't let someone else live one you enjoy by proxy, it just isn't the same.