tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72246137657166199092023-07-18T23:37:14.546-07:00Little Lucy and ScooterMy blog is hopefully just like sitting down with your favorite magazine. There are articles on styling your home, how to record your life, features on interesting artisan products and the artisans who make them and who knows what else!Molly Ann Quigleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13866857360904191405noreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7224613765716619909.post-16260139736787366472017-06-27T16:25:00.000-07:002017-06-27T16:25:57.910-07:00What Types of Underthings Do You Need?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlopxFRMjmUdcSt_t9ALZOe-Od2nNiK7eIG2co8oEX-x-e7Nmehgnaudi-n6HCi9r753iirLEkW0ljUXa2JSE_dL8Xt4dpNaL5Ft2Qnd_1Ysj7mPnz48LE4h61GBksgR3ZjJc40cqYg8-9/s1600/0B4A2B6F-443D-451C-BD5D-AA5A63BF2A5D+%281%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlopxFRMjmUdcSt_t9ALZOe-Od2nNiK7eIG2co8oEX-x-e7Nmehgnaudi-n6HCi9r753iirLEkW0ljUXa2JSE_dL8Xt4dpNaL5Ft2Qnd_1Ysj7mPnz48LE4h61GBksgR3ZjJc40cqYg8-9/s320/0B4A2B6F-443D-451C-BD5D-AA5A63BF2A5D+%281%29.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<h2>
Under Your Things Things</h2>
You need one MAJOR thing as a woman.<br />
<b style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></b>
<br />
<h3>
<b style="color: #0b5394;">A bra that is fitted to you PROPERLY. It fits your size, your breasts and your body.</b></h3>
<br />
<b style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></b>
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Look, I get it, Buying a bra is like paying for a new roof on your house.</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394;">No one sees it. Just you. But like a proper foundation for your home, you NEED it.</span><br />
<br />
Wearing a Bra that fits you properly will do 3 things for you:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Boost your breasts up and <b><u>make you look taller </u></b>and improve posture.</li>
<li><b><u>Help you look thinner</u></b> by having your breasts raised, instead of drooping.</li>
<li><b><u>Help control and eliminate the FAT </u></b>that sometimes is around your back and next to your underarm.</li>
</ol>
<div>
Places to go? </div>
<div>
<ol>
<li>Nordstrom - great selection at varying price points and great service</li>
<li>Neiman Marcus - more luxurious brands - go here if it is a special occasion or to get your bridal ware</li>
<li>SOMA (Chico's intimates shop) - their brand only but their t-shirt bra is the shit and it has no underwire to it (which feels a-mazing)</li>
<li>Your local lingerie store</li>
</ol>
<div>
Just go anywhere where you walk into a dressing room, take your bra OFF and let the saleslady measure you. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Feeling modest? Don't. They see it all. You are just another set of boobs that they don't even look at anyway.</div>
<div>
<br />
Then , buy 3 of the style you like the most.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<img alt="Lace Plunge" src="https://www.soma.com/Product_Images/570187616_001.jpg" /></div>
<h3>
Next thing you need is a bra that can handle plunge and is wireless, which you can find <a href="http://here./">here</a> and is pictured above.</h3>
<div>
I am a 36DD. I didn't think a bralette like this could support me.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
It can, and now I have a sexy bra to wear with low cut things that my MOM bra really can't.</div>
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<h3>
<img src="https://lovelace-media.imgix.net/uploads/1897/b2940d60-29b0-0134-b04e-0a814d95abff.jpg?w=740&h=376&fit=crop&crop=faces&auto=format&q=70" /></h3>
<div>
</div>
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<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
You also need a strapless bra and a racerback or t-back bra. </h3>
Above is the racerback, I figure you know what a strapless looks like. <br />
<br />
This is it. This is all you need for bras. If you have these 4 types, you can wear anything and look GOOD in anything.<br />
<br />
I'll make you a list again:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>proper fit bra - underwire or not - I prefer this <a href="https://www.soma.com/store/product/vanishing-back-full-coverage-bra/570160251?color=9672&catId=cat3310015&fromSearch=true&scPos=1-1-3488" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">one </span></a></li>
<li>bralette</li>
<li>strapless</li>
<li>racerback</li>
</ol>
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<h3>
How to take care of your BRAS</h3>
<div>
<img alt="Forever New 32oz Granular" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81m0euMd8yL._SX522_.jpg" /></div>
<div>
This is the ONLY wash I have ever used and I hand wash all my bras.<br />
<br />
I don't use a lingerie bag and put them through the washer. This might work for underwear, but not for bras.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This is not a liquid, it is like a bath salt in its consistency.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
You add a teaspoon to water and let your bras soak, rinse and hang dry. Easy Peasy.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I found some <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002USD5FC?th=1" target="_blank">here</a> on Amazon, but it is sold in lots of lingerie places. I swear by it.<br />
<br />
<br />
And look, I don't receive things from companies to post about them or to link to them. This is just something I do because, heck, I want to help ladies feel the best they can. There are so many choices out there, you need someone to navigate the waters with you.</div>
<div>
</div>
Molly Ann Quigleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13866857360904191405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7224613765716619909.post-48831268459865907202017-06-25T21:00:00.000-07:002017-06-25T21:00:28.510-07:00Need a Shirt Longer Than Your Shirt?<h2>
</h2>
<h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif4EkzEK-rf2Wqkm7jaWHFehpR4rOXUEEDrSXFQzVV5WJOe07uN_6QQUxY76NcB0zmg-FpL083IKpzBdZfUKfdQeoGSrv2cda0RTg5fAjGxM8TpkcwcGQuTEmo8TXX-fymGn8SMaDuaz3k/s1600/IMG_2411.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif4EkzEK-rf2Wqkm7jaWHFehpR4rOXUEEDrSXFQzVV5WJOe07uN_6QQUxY76NcB0zmg-FpL083IKpzBdZfUKfdQeoGSrv2cda0RTg5fAjGxM8TpkcwcGQuTEmo8TXX-fymGn8SMaDuaz3k/s400/IMG_2411.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
</h2>
<h2>
<u>Shirt Extenders</u></h2>
<div>
I don't know about you, but when you find something that revolutionizes your life ...</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
don't you want to tell others about it?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I'm in my 50's and pear-shaped (smaller waist and larger hips).</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I'm also short - 5'2" - it's a blessing and a curse.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So, if I want to wear SKINNY JEANS and a short crop top.... guess what?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This can make me look like a BOX.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And LONG TOPS to hide my hips? They can make me look SHORT and DUMPY.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Enter the shirt extender. <span style="color: #cc0000;"> <b><u><i>It's a small amount of lace that hides</i></u></b></span></div>
<div>
<b><u><i><span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span></i></u></b></div>
<div>
<b><u><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">your stomach, your hips or that problem area of your bottom.</span></i></u></b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
You can Google "shirt extender" and get a whole list of pictures.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I like how <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/263914878/shirt-extender-white-scalloped-lace?utm_campaign=shopping_us_ClassicDianne_sfc_osa&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_custom1=0&utm_content=11570426&gclid=CjwKEAjw-LLKBRCdhqmwtYmX93kSJAAORDM6YnTwxKjAowUIEUmsI2vakWgUQlPveQReQNk3EM4UrBoCglvw_wcB" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">this one </span></a> is a slip, and found on ETSY.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<img alt="Shirt Extender White Scalloped Lace" src="https://img0.etsystatic.com/162/0/11570426/il_570xN.1070193442_ekcb.jpg" /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
You can also find <a href="https://www.graceandlace.com/all/scalloped-lace-top-extenders/?gdffi=20b81e61a8ea4e769231f7881267a657&gdfms=AD07F84F83384661B7B5E6E1DEBF7D08&gclid=CjwKEAjw-LLKBRCdhqmwtYmX93kSJAAORDM64jkN84-adlisTlCXxTvfN0rkqhfDuD99JGI1fle5ohoCJX7w_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">tanks </span></a>that are extenders. I found this EXACT one at a local boutique.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<img alt="Stone" src="https://cdn1.bigcommerce.com/server2500/x81v3/products/205/images/4890/topextender_creamscallop3_c__71398.1455314732.1280.1280.jpg?c=2" /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Pictured below is the one I am wearing (up above) and here is the <span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://www.anthropologie.com/shop/linen-lace-tee?category=SHOPBYBRAND&color=004" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">link</span></a>.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;">Comes in 5 colors.</span> It's made by Deletta, available at Anthropologie and I suggest you buy a size down.<br />
<br />
This is a MEDIUM, and I bought it because I thought it would have room to move like the model pictured below, but mine stretched. But that's not a problem, I promise, it still looks great.<br />
<br />
<img alt="Thumbnail View 1: Linen & Lace Tee" height="320" src="https://images.anthropologie.com/is/image/Anthropologie/4112226854113_004_b?$a15-pdp-detail-shot$&hei=150&fit=constrain" width="211" /><br />
<br />
I now have about 5 shirt extenders that I can add and am looking for more.</div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
I'll keep my eye out for you too.</div>
Molly Ann Quigleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13866857360904191405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7224613765716619909.post-78600399324610529942017-06-20T15:00:00.000-07:002017-06-21T08:50:15.275-07:00What Types of Jeans Will Fit Your Shape<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8bvYq5yRamHgOpNcd6fk2Yx6vpDXrR3k4h0eQYikEyFqIgb6FKy0O6UStL93Zl-9N0DbSJ_yTEW3w3SAEmpxgB7Om52cE0otBxYSlWnxM0OkMW6XG8fyvb5_8QDNCLEdNDSE_25M-QETK/s1600/Yellow.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8bvYq5yRamHgOpNcd6fk2Yx6vpDXrR3k4h0eQYikEyFqIgb6FKy0O6UStL93Zl-9N0DbSJ_yTEW3w3SAEmpxgB7Om52cE0otBxYSlWnxM0OkMW6XG8fyvb5_8QDNCLEdNDSE_25M-QETK/s320/Yellow.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gap jeans - come in every color and last a long time</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
These are my <b><u><span style="color: #3d85c6;">tried and true experiences</span><span style="color: orange;"> </span></u></b>of jeans from watching women try them on to trying them on myself. Of course, there are exceptions to every rule based on how YOU like your jeans to fit.<br />
<br />
<h3>
<u>Hourglass or Pear-Shaped Girls (Smaller waist and Larger hips)</u></h3>
<div>
I'm one of these girls. And universally, I have found 4 jean brands that fit me the best: <b><span style="background-color: white; color: #3d85c6;">Citizen Jeans, GAP jeans, Pilcro (which is the Anthropologie brand), and some cuts of Paige denim</span></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #3d85c6;">.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> Current Elliott </span>is not bad either, but only the boyfriend cuts.. Not every cut of Gap jeans, fits this type, but there are many that do. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
<b><u>Athletic Build (Long and lean with waist and hips almost the same)</u></b></h3>
The brands that will knock it out of the park for you are<b> </b><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>J Brand, J. Crew, Mother, Current Elliott, Seven jeans and Gap</b>.</span></span> I know I mentioned Gap above, but I swear they have a fit that will work with your body type.<br />
<br />
You'll notice, I only described 2 body types. That is because if you are slender, the athletic brands will fit you will and so will every other jean out there. Curvy, pear-shaped and hourglass - all jeans will fit you the same.<br />
<br />
<h3>
<u>Curvy Frames that are not like the ones above</u></h3>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #3d85c6;"><b>NYJD denim</b></span><span style="background-color: white;"><b> </b>is A-MAZING and so is</span><span style="background-color: #3d85c6; color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3d85c6;"><b>Cookie Johnson's CK denim </b></span><span style="background-color: white;">line</span>, Cookie is Magic Johnson's wife and boy is her denim premium. This line looks amazing on pear-shaped women and skinny women as well. It is just fantastic.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Not every denim out there is mentioned, because I don't have experience with EVERY denim line, and there are also denim lines that I don't like, because the denim is fantastic, but the fit not-so-much.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Most I have ever paid for a pair? $225.00 and worth every.single.penny.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Places I find jeans? I mostly buy mine at the Gap or thrift premium jeans <span style="text-align: center;">at second-hand stores. I started doing the latter because because I could find a wide variety of makers, they are already broken in and I find a lot of amazing deals. Like the jeans with hand embroidered birds on them that were sold at TOOTSIES when I worked there and sold for $425.00. Two years later, I found them for $56. People stop me at the gas station while pumping gas to praise them, they are that beau-ti-ful.</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I'll suggest some national places to buy next time and places to get help. I'll also suggest some local Houston women that I think are good at listening and helping you find the jean that is right for you.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizJrdONE--OwsiypvZ3pmAcPT8_6pRTPiFI6vQg-q8U8P5fwaSYvjJ4oXyZOrsi4OtTZh9RRbbBhNILCWS6rkux2w248U91kskHqOg_WDRiS2kGrZfEf_uen7VyCVYDZJUeqE7uN6YBdn1/s1600/Pilcro.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="791" data-original-width="791" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizJrdONE--OwsiypvZ3pmAcPT8_6pRTPiFI6vQg-q8U8P5fwaSYvjJ4oXyZOrsi4OtTZh9RRbbBhNILCWS6rkux2w248U91kskHqOg_WDRiS2kGrZfEf_uen7VyCVYDZJUeqE7uN6YBdn1/s320/Pilcro.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PILCRO jeans - Anthropologie jean - come in solids & patterns</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Molly Ann Quigleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13866857360904191405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7224613765716619909.post-78508307721869920592017-06-19T17:00:00.000-07:002017-06-19T17:00:17.444-07:00Things You Thought You Knew About Your Jeans<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDWMQxr0YVWZRlvOWRiZuKwmkX_8RIXpYNGEPH8wROHt7cimw95Ltj0Lz0A6zSenU855_u1x3mo0zZ2g2SHvPdaaR6-u2NDvbUvs-oagGSmOF62iNIqcetIrMYqG-AOb8zZqqD316_2Vxw/s1600/jeans+Molly+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDWMQxr0YVWZRlvOWRiZuKwmkX_8RIXpYNGEPH8wROHt7cimw95Ltj0Lz0A6zSenU855_u1x3mo0zZ2g2SHvPdaaR6-u2NDvbUvs-oagGSmOF62iNIqcetIrMYqG-AOb8zZqqD316_2Vxw/s400/jeans+Molly+2.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paige Denim jeans - found at a secondhand store</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Nothing feels better than a great pair of jeans.<br />
<br />
But do you know how to fit yourself? Do you know their proper care?<br />
<br />
Here are a few tips:<br />
<br />
1. <u><b>Buy them as TIGHT as you can</b></u>. <br />
Jeans stretch more than a lot of fabrics. Customers often complained that they bought a pair of jeans at the store, they looked good there, and then after they wore them, they got baggy in the leg, especially under the butt, and in the waist. They also lost shape in the thigh. I explained that they need to buy them according to the stretch, which I'll explain next.<br />
<br />
2. <b><u>Know how much stretch is in them</u></b>.<br />
Look at the tag. Premium jeans will have 2%, but most jeans have 1% and most jeans that won't ever look good on you have 0% (so please don't buy these unless you are gardening in them). If it is two percent, and you are a 6, buy a 4 for sure. If 1%, then use your best judgement.<br />
<br />
3. <b><u>Limit how often you put your jeans in the dryer and for God's sake, NEVER dry clean them.</u> </b>You might dry your jeans all the time to get them back into shape. I do the same thing sometimes, but it's not good for your denim or for the stretch in the denim. The more premium the denim the less you should put it in the dryer. So, I dry the ones from the GAP, but not my Citizen jeans.<br />
<br />
<b><u>4. Jeans can go in the freezer.</u></b><br />
I got to be good friends with the JOE'S jeans rep in Houston. He and I would talk a lot of nerd talk about jeans. Jeans should not be washed often, and really probably never (I know you are grossing out now). <span style="background-color: lime; color: #38761d;">If you spill something on your jeans, put them in a baggy in the freezer over night.</span> Tomorrow morning, pull them out and that gunk on them will just flake off. if it is something oily, you need to wash them. Pairs I have with embellishments on them, freezer treatment only and I promise, they look great.<br />
<br />
<b><u>5. Size does NOT matter.</u></b> I have jeans in my closet that fit that are size 10 and size 4, and I am probably closest to a <span style="text-align: center;">8. Nothing annoyed me more than someone refusing to BUY a pair of jeans because they were not going to go a size up, i.e. they thought they were a 4, but won't buy the brand if they fit in a 6. Silly rabbit.</span><br />
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Later, I'll tell you what jeans fit what types of bodies, where to go and where to get help.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Molly Ann Quigleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13866857360904191405noreply@blogger.com0Houston, TX, USA29.7604267 -95.369802828.8787477 -96.6606963 30.6421057 -94.0789093tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7224613765716619909.post-74198748981930664582016-12-30T10:07:00.000-08:002016-12-30T10:07:06.024-08:00Obituary for Joseph Valentine Quigley<div class="p1">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRhyK_BWvKa5ZOGI_BogRQ4TR6PHcc19SapmBH2ck04VkbKaASIG42obaVUQYHT4Z2e5E6VkEDPuGBCPOBvc3G22JZd6TyZMp8EEnCQTZGWlPEGu17s5cuHEgCkC0y9SnV6agmxhtBS0Lp/s1600/IMG_0251.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRhyK_BWvKa5ZOGI_BogRQ4TR6PHcc19SapmBH2ck04VkbKaASIG42obaVUQYHT4Z2e5E6VkEDPuGBCPOBvc3G22JZd6TyZMp8EEnCQTZGWlPEGu17s5cuHEgCkC0y9SnV6agmxhtBS0Lp/s320/IMG_0251.jpg" width="180" /></a><br />
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<h2>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Joseph Valentine Quigley<br />1931-2016</span></h2>
</div>
<div class="p2">
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Joseph Valentine Quigley passed away peacefully at home December 25, 2016. Born February 14, 1931 in Indianapolis, Indiana to the late Catherine and Joseph Benedict Quigley, he attended Cathedral Grade School. During his eighth grade year, he went onto Saint Meinrad Seminary in Saint Meinrad, Indiana to prepare for the priesthood. Years later, he graduated from Butler University with a BA in history, and attended law school at Notre Dame University in South Bend, Indiana. After one year there, he met Clarissa Jan Lux and they were married June 11, 1955 in Shelbyville, Indiana. He later received his MBA from Indiana University.</div>
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Joe joined the ranks of IBM and enjoyed many years of employment with them. He went on to work at other Fortune 500 companies, notably Smith, Kline and French in Philadelphia, now Smithkline Beecham and RCA, now General Electric, in New York City. In 1976, Jan and Joe moved to Houston with their six children to take a Vice President position in Planning and Development with Gulf Oil (now Chevron). He later started his own firm, known as Quigley & Associates, which was a consulting firm that specialized in strategic planning working with companies such as Phillips Petroleum, Brown & Root, BFI, Outboard Marine Corporation, Pratt & Lambert, and the list goes on.</div>
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Joe enjoyed public speaking, was a gifted writer and had an incredibly beautiful signing voice. He wrote a business book titled <b><span class="s1">Vision</span> </b>that was published by McGraw-Hill. Along with tennis and running, he loved a good book or a collection of poems, and was especially fond of short story anthologies. He was passionate about Notre Dame football, even at lullaby time, when he sang the fight song to his children in a hushed voice. He loved traveling to far off places and he never met an oyster he didn’t like.</div>
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His generosity and hard work will always be remembered, along with his ability to problem solve and help those in need. He believed in giving back and was passionate about helping non-profit organizations. He was a Board Member of St. Joseph Medical Center, The University of Saint Thomas, Strake Jesuit College Preparatory and Saint Meinrad Seminary.</div>
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He is survived by his loving wife, Blanca Gonzales and her children, Danielle "Dani" and Sal, and siblings, Mike, Jerry and Kitty and the late Danny and Mary Ellen. He was father to Karen Quigley Micciulla, Joseph Shaun Quigley, Kathleen Quigley, the late Tara Quigley (Shaw Cranfield), Beth Benefield (John Cahill) and Molly Quigley (Bob Truscott). He was also a devoted grandfather to Alyssa, Max, Faith, Noah, Ryan, Aaron, Julian, Paige, John, Matthew, Jake, and Lucy, and an uncle to countless nieces and nephews.</div>
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There will be a funeral mass on Monday, January 2, 2017 at 2:00 p.m., at the Co-Catherdal Church of the Sacred Heart, 1111 St. Joseph Parkway, Houston, Texas.</div>
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Molly Ann Quigleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13866857360904191405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7224613765716619909.post-63804439223062393602016-07-26T11:35:00.001-07:002016-07-26T11:35:12.754-07:00What To Do With 4 Bushels of Blackberries<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1zIQw18oKvMk8DXHWRtOb1g0Fv7duIMeFY07XmEOyW0uywyeIsitucw-TShqb3Dx1QqC011rcjaA73plZoxmMTZw0Zo7RDx2eZG7HYh0d9BVCB7MlOE0qgrkvUMmukvpbTsk5hQiY-06z/s1600/IMG_1438.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1zIQw18oKvMk8DXHWRtOb1g0Fv7duIMeFY07XmEOyW0uywyeIsitucw-TShqb3Dx1QqC011rcjaA73plZoxmMTZw0Zo7RDx2eZG7HYh0d9BVCB7MlOE0qgrkvUMmukvpbTsk5hQiY-06z/s640/IMG_1438.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Blackberries in the bucket - ripe. The red ones on the vine - not ripe yet.</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I</span>t all started with an Instagram picture of my friend, Sharon Rupert Dunaway, picking berries in Houston in July somewhere near Houston, Texas. With camp out for the great Lucille, I started making a <b>Summer Bucket List</b> and decided this must be on it. I found a great downloadable one to use thanks to <a href="http://whitneyenglish.com/daydesigner/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><b>The Day Designer</b></span>,</a> Whitney English, that you can get<a href="http://daydesigner.com/products/summer-2016-bucket-list" target="_blank"> <b><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">here </span></b></a>for free. <b><span style="color: #b4a7d6;"> </span></b>Her organizational tips, list and planners have been beyond helpful, but that's another post entirely.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">W</span>ith the idea of sunshine, hats on our heads and buckets in our arms, I started researching which farms had what and what hours they were open, etc. and landed on <a href="http://p-6farms.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><b>P-6 Farms</b></span></a>, in Montgomery, near Conroe, Texas. Let me save you the time and trouble for the novices, like myself, to know that July in Texas means the only berries still available to pick are blackberries. When the lady at the front counter says, "Stay at the front of the rows," just politely ignore her since it is almost the end of the season and all the blackberries at the front have been picked already. Go to the farthest row and head to the back.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">My 84 year old mother picking blackberries</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Pro Tip: </span>Pay attention to the prices before you start picking. Because . . . we picked 4 buckets and when they rang me up, imagine my surprise at $65.00. I was more than happy to give that to the farm, well deserved, but what I don't like to do is waste food. An opportunity presented itself to figure out what to do with these. My mom and I got home and she diligently cleaned them all, while I made dinner and dessert, which was a cobbler from our day's bounty.<br />
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Below are all the recipes I found and used with pictures and links. I made other things and I still have 2 galloons in my freezer. As many of you know, I am new at the culinary arts, but I love a challenge and this made a very memorable July for me and my family</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This was so pretty, you could not begin to take a bad picture of it</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.bakedbyanintrovert.com/fresh-blackberry-ice-cream-no-churn/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><b>Blackberry ice cream</b></span></a> </span>you can make without a churn. I received this from the fabulous Amy Huff, who saw my plentiful supply and was more than ready to lend me a helpful hand, plus she introduced me to the blog it came from, <span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-size: large;"><b>Baked by an Introvert</b></span>, and what can I say, but that I identify with her completely. #introvertsunite</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">N</span>ext on the list, I looked for cocktails and this <span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.missinthekitchen.com/blackberry-mint-julep/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><b>blackberry mint julep</b></span></a> </span>was it. I loved making the simply syrup for this (in the picture on the left), but the cocktail on the right made for some messy business in the kitchen, and my white porcelain sink. Taking the blackberries and pushing them through a sieve does not only stain you, but everything else it touches. Muddle next time and live with the seeds is what I say, and wear black when you are doing it.</div>
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I loved this <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/348578/blackberry-mint-julep" target="_blank"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><b>Martha Stewart drink recipe</b></span></a> called Blackberry Mint Julep. You have to do the sieve thing with the blackberries for this one, as well, so you might as well do a very large batch and then try both. I preferred one over the other, since they both have completely different tastes.</div>
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<a href="http://www.familycircle.com/recipes/desserts/cakes/john-besh-blueberry-cobbler-recipe/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">J</span>ohn Besh's cobbler</b></span> </a>from My Family Table, a cookbook that I love, love, love because I am most interested right now in Southern fare (things like grits & seafood dishes are tops on my list). I have made this before and you can use any type of fruit, but unfortunately this time, it was a bit mushy the next day due to the ripeness of the berries. Note to self: add cornstarch next time.<br />
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By far, the best thing under the sun, was<a href="http://www.howsweeteats.com/2012/06/grilled-fontina-blackberry-basil-smash-sandwiches/" target="_blank"> <span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-size: large;"><b>this recipe</b></span></a>, called Grilled Fontana + Blackberry Basil Smash Sandwiches. If the name alone doesn't compel you, the pictures will. When you make it, pleasssse, have no shame or guilt. God did not put these things on this earth and the blogger who put them together,<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><a href="http://www.howsweeteats.com/about/" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-size: large;">Jessica Merchant</span></b>,</a> for you to do anything but savor them. Amen.</div>
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Molly Ann Quigleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13866857360904191405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7224613765716619909.post-70250123243098680392015-05-17T08:31:00.000-07:002016-07-26T12:07:13.303-07:00What's Your Goal - To Be a Blogger or a Writer?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;">A good friend, and even better writer, asked me the other day what advice I would give her about blogging, as she launches her very own blog. You're not Chicken Little if you dare to put your words out in the world, so I applaud the many who do. Before you think about the business of your blog, I implore you to . . .</span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: x-large;"><b>Make your blog</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: x-large;"><b>your </b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: x-large;"><b>personal playground</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: x-large;"><b>and laboratory</b></span><br />
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You've probably started a blog, because you have something to say. Something compelling you want to write about and share your knowledge with others. Before you start, understand your goals for blogging.</div>
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<li><span style="font-size: medium;">Are you blogging to be a professional blogger? This means you derive income from your blog. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">Are you blogging to market your business? This might look like short posts to talk more about what you can offer to others.</span></li>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">If you google tips on blogging, you will find these "gems" of wisdom repeated over and over: </span></div>
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<li><span style="font-size: medium;">stick to a schedule</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">be consistent</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">have something of value for your reader</span></li>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">A beginning blogger might go on Facebook looking for advice on blogging, <i>and readers, not bloggers, give advice - </i>they, of course, mention the schedule and consistency. Why? Because they benefit from you it. But ask yourself - DO YOU?<b> You are not getting paid for this, most likely, so <u>I'd rather you think about why you are blogging than why you need to be consistent. </u></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl3ZRcnreZOoXquaxFqXG6Md3YxLaApGUPKpqvTxbD4zoKu5Av682pwCS2jH8TYbJffgiTuxpq8fkLIl_AcfVpMzyhIkSOVGIsj-PaL_iw1qGGO8-9uJnFiAFlzMO8LtfsiV2YXP1C2fKX/s1600/IMG_7074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl3ZRcnreZOoXquaxFqXG6Md3YxLaApGUPKpqvTxbD4zoKu5Av682pwCS2jH8TYbJffgiTuxpq8fkLIl_AcfVpMzyhIkSOVGIsj-PaL_iw1qGGO8-9uJnFiAFlzMO8LtfsiV2YXP1C2fKX/s320/IMG_7074.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: medium;">Readers, who have never done a blog, have no earthly idea what goes into just one post. It is not just composed of writing - there's photo editing, word editing, research, etc. </span><span style="font-size: medium;"> The amount of hours it takes me to do one post like this <span style="color: #3d85c6;"><a href="http://littlelucyandscooter.blogspot.com/2015/03/hey-mom-where-did-your-creativity-go.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">interview</span></a>,</span> of a website highlighting moms and creativity, might take 5-6 hours. An interview like <a href="http://littlelucyandscooter.blogspot.com/2014/09/artist-hope-wallace-karney.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">this one</span></a> takes about 7-8 hours. And I'm not getting paid a nickel for any of it, which is not a comment made to complain. It's a comment made to help you understand the time involved, in order to help you align your time and energy with your goals.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">The three main reasons people give up on blogging are:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-size: medium;">The amount of work it takes.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">No income is being derived from it.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">No one is reading it.</span></li>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Here is how I made my blog work for me and pull a profit.</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I keep no schedule.</b> Why? Because I am a freelancer and work at a variety of things where my schedule changes weekly. I may have more time one week to post than another.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I try things out</b>. <a href="http://littlelucyandscooter.blogspot.com/2015/03/bathroom-dairies-condemned.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Bathroom Diaries</span></a> is the one that I love the most right now. If someone thinks it's weird, what do I care? I'm not doing this as my real job. And I love interior design, so this enables me to do something quick, fun and that makes me smile.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><b>If I have something to say, I say it.</b> My blog is not about mental illness. But if I have <a href="http://littlelucyandscooter.blogspot.com/2015/03/bathroom-dairies-condemned.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">a subject nagging at me</span></a>, I write about it and move on.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">I use it as a vehicle to promote things I love, like artists, and learn from them. </span> </b>Interviewing creative people is my crack.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I keep blogging</b>. I love the visual and written memory of my days here on this planet for myself and for my kids.</span></li>
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<span style="font-size: large;">When someone reads my blog, and takes a moment to comment, that is money to me. But even if they don't, I keep going, because I enjoy writing. <b> I want to be a paid writer, not a paid blogger. </b></span></div>
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Molly Ann Quigleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13866857360904191405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7224613765716619909.post-37351382884468988402015-05-05T17:38:00.000-07:002015-05-05T17:38:05.995-07:0010 Most Popular Questions Regarding Louis Vuitton<span style="font-size: large;">Working in retail since I was in high school, when people ask me where I've worked, and I mention Louis Vuitton, I seem to get the same questions asked. I thought you might be interested in what they are, and what the answers would be.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">1. <b> Is their stuff leather?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Everything Louis Vuitton makes has a component of leather on it. Some bags, like the EPI leather line, are composed entirely of leather. But what most are referring to when they ask this question is the<i> brown signature fabric with the LV stamped on it</i> that you see everybody carrying. This is composed of cotton canvas that has a PVC coating on top. Things like the handles on these bags are made of an undyed, natural cowhide, known as Vache.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">2. <b>Did you get a really good discount?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The answer is yes. The best discount I ever got in 32 years of working retail. How good was it? When I started in 1998, I could get wallets for $25.00, Speedy bags (<i>originally designed for Audrey Hepburn, don't you know</i>) for about $100.00 and when shoes were first introduced, a pair for $49.95. It's not this good anymore, or so I hear.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">3. <b> They burn all the stuff that doesn't sell, right?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Wrong. All the prices I mentioned, in my answer to question 2, are great for employees because discontinued items, damages, etc. are sold to the employees. These are known as RTVs (Return to Vendor).</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">4. <b>I heard they were now producing in China.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Ummm . . . no. They have a factories in the US, France and Spain last time I checked. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">5. <b>How can you tell if a bag is real or fake?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We got asked this question so much, especially by phone, that I wanted to scream. There is no formula I can explain in 2 minutes that could convey how we know. With the large amount of products manufactured, there are specific linings used in certain products, types of stitching, hardware that cannot be replicated, etc. I could look at your specific bag and tell you 15 ways it differs from the original. With so many knock-offs out there, I can't give you an explanation <i>by phone. </i>But, if you go into the store, and compare to the real thing, you'd be amazed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">6. <b>They have a Lifetime Warranty?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">What has a lifetime warranty? Name one thing that is used every day that has a lifetime warranty. It's not going to be a wallet or handbag, I can assure you.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">7. <b>What was it like to work there?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Awesome. Incredible. And hard work. <i>But good hard</i>. The pace is tough, you are on your feet the whole time, and it is <i>always</i> busy. But I like being busy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">8. <b>When do they have sales?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Never. This is why as a retail manager it is a dream to work there - <i>no markdown's ever</i>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>9. How do I clean my bag? </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Depends on which bag you are talking about. If it is white spots on your signature canvas . . . that is probably from bumping against the wall with the bag and it is paint. A Magic Eraser or a very slight amount of Windex on a very wet paper towel will take it right off. Your cowhide handles? Can't really be cleaned. You can use saddle soap, which will darken the leather, but if they have gotten too dark, you can also get new handles put on for a fee and have a basically new bag.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>10. I just carry a fake, because you can't really tell the difference anyway.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Let me be frank here - you are no longer my friend. Why? <i>Because you are supporting illegal activity.</i> Read the book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Deluxe-How-Luxury-Lost-Luster/dp/0143113704" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Deluxe,</span></a> and then we will talk about the fact that you are supporting terrorism, illegal drug trade and a variety of other activities that use the sale of counterfeit goods to support and money launder their business. I saw raids on these businesses. And you contribute to it by having the vanity and ego to want the bag, but to not pay for it through</span><span style="font-size: large;"> the proper channels. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">My stance is unpopular, I am sure, but I stand behind it 100%. Buy real or don't buy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I hope that answers many of your curiosities. </span>Molly Ann Quigleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13866857360904191405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7224613765716619909.post-32897605673613837552015-04-21T05:52:00.000-07:002015-04-21T05:56:38.597-07:00NOLA Art & Gallery Love<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">When we arrived in New Orleans last week, it was </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">the day before the French Quarter Fest</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The festival brought in artists from all over the country, </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">lining their work around </span><span style="font-size: large;">Jackson Square and </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">adjacent side streets.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">This artist's work above, <a href="http://epauljulien.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Epaul Julien</span></a>, was among</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">my favorites. </span><span style="font-size: large;">His photographs use a gold leaf/resin process.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I wish you could see the patina of the gold in the photos.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Simply exquisite. The juxtaposition of the reclaimed</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">lumber frame against this rich texture was intriguing.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3IVb4lh43rSWN3Mea8hYJjfJqo4kB-qw7bMb4IL93rXcKHELqAOvlMThS-zdeAIbe-eRfVuwrNVQdO_jTTXg1TcgoBbYs2ht3_XARuYz64imnPT_gzH__2bPERee0tGsFlpGVa6hkfnFF/s1600/IMG_8161.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3IVb4lh43rSWN3Mea8hYJjfJqo4kB-qw7bMb4IL93rXcKHELqAOvlMThS-zdeAIbe-eRfVuwrNVQdO_jTTXg1TcgoBbYs2ht3_XARuYz64imnPT_gzH__2bPERee0tGsFlpGVa6hkfnFF/s1600/IMG_8161.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Next to him was an artist who did geographical maps on reclaimed lumber. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Her process involves building a frame out of wood, painting and staining the planks, varying the planks by adding vintage fabric and then somehow adding the map to the top </span><span style="font-size: large;">of the boards. The map has a raised texture and </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I couldn't </span><span style="font-size: large;">help but think this looked quite Anthropologie-ish.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I wish I could find her card. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I probably threw it in a pocket . . . somewhere.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The piece below with the man and his kite,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">actually moves. It's as if you feel wind blowing.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> How someone could <i>carve, paint, build</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>and then make it movable</i> is well, beyond me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I learned a new term, as it is known as </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">a <b>Mixed Media Automatron</b>. </span><span style="font-size: large;">I fell deeply in love</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">with this artists work. His name is <span style="color: #3d85c6;"><a href="http://www.tomhaney.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Tom Haney</span></a>,</span> from Atlanta,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">and the gallery in NOLA where I saw this is <a href="http://www.redtruckgallerynola.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Red Truck Gallery</span></a><span style="color: #0b5394;">.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My boss, Susan Jackson, alerted me to the next artist's work.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Chris Roberts-Antieau has her own gallery, and I'm not</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">quite sure you can categorize her art or her by simply </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">saying she is a fiber artist. Much of her art does involve</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">using a needle - quilted, embroidered, etc., but the vibe</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">of the gallery and the humor in the work is </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">something extraordinary.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Take this squirrel with the mustache. Part of an</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">installation called "Phantom Limb Illustrated."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hanging from the ceiling are various false legs</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">with wings on them. Below the legs, is a wooden</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">landscape with all types of taxidermy animals</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">like Mr. Maximillan Squirrel (the name I gave him).</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">There is a lot going on in this gallery.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I went back about 5 times. This artist has a prolific</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">body of work. I even got to go back in the offices</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">and in a behind the curtain gallery.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Chris had subject matters that just kept making me laugh</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">out loud. Like "James Brown's Legs" and a piece</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">thanking little people in film with depictions of</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">a flying monkey, R2D2, Yoda, E.T., etc.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg60OkC7s9FvR174UUItsCCwBxwYQ-pBYBAi9FqK2u7vBiMzSJnOp7fS6WsP55Zt6xRHF8VA2M2OIAgdOX5qNAVdRyYc4btszJJ2faAFyuiWV4K2lcMPUCoCRAGBnE3PmcsRxNAEjOpnFQE/s1600/IMG_8282.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg60OkC7s9FvR174UUItsCCwBxwYQ-pBYBAi9FqK2u7vBiMzSJnOp7fS6WsP55Zt6xRHF8VA2M2OIAgdOX5qNAVdRyYc4btszJJ2faAFyuiWV4K2lcMPUCoCRAGBnE3PmcsRxNAEjOpnFQE/s1600/IMG_8282.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglVQ2gXW9M5ICZyWLxLjofEv7MwampDBLx9VgWaUKOYCr0tpQiaBhJzZ6Xucl_ZI24MeX2k9nKEZVgOK0aufC-wRf1OzGNJJvT5IeR04ymLVAQR_WKnYLFU1mD4oSLbBSp5PkNRJ4nOvoL/s1600/IMG_8284.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglVQ2gXW9M5ICZyWLxLjofEv7MwampDBLx9VgWaUKOYCr0tpQiaBhJzZ6Xucl_ZI24MeX2k9nKEZVgOK0aufC-wRf1OzGNJJvT5IeR04ymLVAQR_WKnYLFU1mD4oSLbBSp5PkNRJ4nOvoL/s1600/IMG_8284.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I could have shot 1,000 pictures just in this space.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">You can find Chris' work at Antieau Gallery, which is at 927 Royal Street. Chris is a woman, <span style="background-color: white;">by the way,</span> and has reddish hair.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Look for her, as she is often there, and is one of</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">those artist who doesn't tell people about her work.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>She's more interested in what you think about it.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
Molly Ann Quigleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13866857360904191405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7224613765716619909.post-86242961268170884692015-04-20T01:46:00.001-07:002015-04-20T01:46:15.703-07:00A Cure-All for Creative Blockage<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsBJ7wKkhKJTswp5jcCyhxsTIBCjsJ5jRCJ5wqXws2nktu50EPIqtVTL5-fHviMYJBj0iGGXeZQgX3ldksGivasY8CI7g-swMI-V6B_lgoUFXko3pXiH7iinmsmIyzs2qGX1kpYrjVssmK/s1600/IMG_8426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsBJ7wKkhKJTswp5jcCyhxsTIBCjsJ5jRCJ5wqXws2nktu50EPIqtVTL5-fHviMYJBj0iGGXeZQgX3ldksGivasY8CI7g-swMI-V6B_lgoUFXko3pXiH7iinmsmIyzs2qGX1kpYrjVssmK/s1600/IMG_8426.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Having conversations with artists and interviewing them, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">certain themes pop up on a regular basis.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Learning to "<i><b>follow your intuition</b></i>" seems to be</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">one of them.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">When I walk by a place now that intrigues me,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I finally have learned to listen to the voice</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">beckoning to take 5 minutes and walk inside.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqtQiEvuypwmyIrBo3flI6u2UcPuCu1MWAQss8UGP-MYfj_Pt8RrcFnhiGYW0wnHHQCAOs4s1XIfIjmW7DkwQ9x3iBM4egCzU_ag260wY_D-6RcNn65BdPIiVo_51mPR9Lob0WLiY_Po0L/s1600/IMG_8415.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqtQiEvuypwmyIrBo3flI6u2UcPuCu1MWAQss8UGP-MYfj_Pt8RrcFnhiGYW0wnHHQCAOs4s1XIfIjmW7DkwQ9x3iBM4egCzU_ag260wY_D-6RcNn65BdPIiVo_51mPR9Lob0WLiY_Po0L/s1600/IMG_8415.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">For a whooping $5.00 admission fee, you can peruse</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">a large room filled with these medicines and cure-alls</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">from times past. Look at the packaging or</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">just marvel at how much science has changed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlDYXrYQbUoJCt6BKWOiMi3cxz5ugPOjcqPU70_YDl7k0bvhFk1hKmwSyB1B4RIh5FdKdY2d_PPY7aDqV76HWDFLb7L3fNNJS5UYqv4_JKqfuHbv9FW4eVxXJbNOEiedamY1usWdlC9EEF/s1600/IMG_8421.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlDYXrYQbUoJCt6BKWOiMi3cxz5ugPOjcqPU70_YDl7k0bvhFk1hKmwSyB1B4RIh5FdKdY2d_PPY7aDqV76HWDFLb7L3fNNJS5UYqv4_JKqfuHbv9FW4eVxXJbNOEiedamY1usWdlC9EEF/s1600/IMG_8421.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Not much of a needle girl myself, but </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I'll take the leather case these came in any day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbF7QMU2zQb0Cfeu_GzSIRhmR5zMB63kzejuZwimt9o6dmLgH94KGdf3g4S8bOTSsk_NiwOuzmam2OIZOwOO6leOpMqgi0tIdxWkcW0y2RWKw5UssBo2n3h0VmujGLBYSlnTJHLDe5ISLN/s1600/IMG_8419.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbF7QMU2zQb0Cfeu_GzSIRhmR5zMB63kzejuZwimt9o6dmLgH94KGdf3g4S8bOTSsk_NiwOuzmam2OIZOwOO6leOpMqgi0tIdxWkcW0y2RWKw5UssBo2n3h0VmujGLBYSlnTJHLDe5ISLN/s1600/IMG_8419.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhuxHV_wrc4kbW20OD0qDJdS3q_2nnvoi5SqqiGN-TdykhI3FgaEfkeaVhh_CTOJrKypqNj2MHloESFZ74GLLwnh4gHA6XZK5YGbOYliAU7V0IhFDUWDKc3S-ZHEXleq8zyEXSnLSlIas9/s1600/IMG_8416.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhuxHV_wrc4kbW20OD0qDJdS3q_2nnvoi5SqqiGN-TdykhI3FgaEfkeaVhh_CTOJrKypqNj2MHloESFZ74GLLwnh4gHA6XZK5YGbOYliAU7V0IhFDUWDKc3S-ZHEXleq8zyEXSnLSlIas9/s1600/IMG_8416.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I think I want a wall like this at my house.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I'd fill jars with beach water and sand, while labeling</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> each bottle with the name of the beach and the date.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWMo-Vry14KijAp69zqycSaByrNd0eOHKDXGS_Xddup2x8u0c51OF-TK0Yt8sGwZT7cVsYdj0ju6unM6eBRQUHT_SPF009nTw3eMe9QRbeHFZAWnyBVB6IgxmA3ugQd4GBTcXxYCXHnYVF/s1600/IMG_8412.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWMo-Vry14KijAp69zqycSaByrNd0eOHKDXGS_Xddup2x8u0c51OF-TK0Yt8sGwZT7cVsYdj0ju6unM6eBRQUHT_SPF009nTw3eMe9QRbeHFZAWnyBVB6IgxmA3ugQd4GBTcXxYCXHnYVF/s1600/IMG_8412.JPG" height="580" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Lead nipples. Oh my goodness.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">"The sweet taste of lead," really?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5tkGgWaCuoVuZY7NsUGIOk8g83wg2npKL1Vq2h-E_fcJU5NxDvBsM3pD4S7dE1RFCCzCuJw4s505VunYXPn6STBcCXgV1xaLaU-hUoAWgrF4h1xwpnF8dd44dm3y0WQaDf1BKquX5NZoO/s1600/IMG_8432.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5tkGgWaCuoVuZY7NsUGIOk8g83wg2npKL1Vq2h-E_fcJU5NxDvBsM3pD4S7dE1RFCCzCuJw4s505VunYXPn6STBcCXgV1xaLaU-hUoAWgrF4h1xwpnF8dd44dm3y0WQaDf1BKquX5NZoO/s1600/IMG_8432.JPG" height="640" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The type styles, the packaging, the old bottles . . .</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">some people might get energized by a candy store</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">or a bakery - give me this set up any day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ5Iy5bXmwOS_Jb2YXzibPQYg8kEBcwr8Qp-YeNtYZWg0qQWCiDxSpT4UaYS3khwO2Jn1jj2rbYmBiN0vKkgHmbKxAPmhhpbbBxz1rw-N0WyighA7zhW2X0c3AGF8IhWHdjeDeT3frnSeq/s1600/IMG_8405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ5Iy5bXmwOS_Jb2YXzibPQYg8kEBcwr8Qp-YeNtYZWg0qQWCiDxSpT4UaYS3khwO2Jn1jj2rbYmBiN0vKkgHmbKxAPmhhpbbBxz1rw-N0WyighA7zhW2X0c3AGF8IhWHdjeDeT3frnSeq/s1600/IMG_8405.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I don't know about you, but I kept thinking about how</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I could smuggle this glass piece and walk out with it.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrf1Q6m8LXfy5x2lE1V2vWV6euGBlqi1Mag4B-UlvS2kmDG1FCCsP19yzwzauWQY7BbwpgGQXAezOCq74iA1UoTLTxzGJA8d6vpx8sbTazg5y38Wul7JkKsblGmWYAmkbRB4TB63dgA3MP/s1600/IMG_8414.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrf1Q6m8LXfy5x2lE1V2vWV6euGBlqi1Mag4B-UlvS2kmDG1FCCsP19yzwzauWQY7BbwpgGQXAezOCq74iA1UoTLTxzGJA8d6vpx8sbTazg5y38Wul7JkKsblGmWYAmkbRB4TB63dgA3MP/s1600/IMG_8414.JPG" height="444" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Cocaine Toothache Drops - wow, yes, probably</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">a very instant cure.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNLqhr0ZV8wBPYDSRlHhrFjaJwSrF6jbr0lgNJ27sSvxqV9jGtxiuf67sBF-Dazp6Wj-iFl_j3YisS3Lqb3lQL9vUxAfej0k5rgfdcFnGv5oHJGuf89B1vIWmsR6Hzbrt5XGv4105YZqmf/s1600/IMG_8413.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNLqhr0ZV8wBPYDSRlHhrFjaJwSrF6jbr0lgNJ27sSvxqV9jGtxiuf67sBF-Dazp6Wj-iFl_j3YisS3Lqb3lQL9vUxAfej0k5rgfdcFnGv5oHJGuf89B1vIWmsR6Hzbrt5XGv4105YZqmf/s1600/IMG_8413.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Often, stopping in a place like this, creates a flow</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">of ideas for writing that otherwise would have laid dormant.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It's as if one part of the brain gets sparked and </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">helps rewire another part.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNWuN5enSxZU8ZCEP44rfiQ98TfUlxFtKt389P4b7fKCaNidexz6TNE20L9GlfPhvkUiPTUW3aB-l0FYKC0CfHYFrRfiAHaS35pF7PYjtzukWHU2R_14KmrvKj5P6d4VGzpFOA2iXp8VC5/s1600/IMG_8409.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNWuN5enSxZU8ZCEP44rfiQ98TfUlxFtKt389P4b7fKCaNidexz6TNE20L9GlfPhvkUiPTUW3aB-l0FYKC0CfHYFrRfiAHaS35pF7PYjtzukWHU2R_14KmrvKj5P6d4VGzpFOA2iXp8VC5/s1600/IMG_8409.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">For more information, packaging and bottle porn,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">check out their <a href="http://www.pharmacymuseum.org/" target="_blank">website</a>. They are located at 514 Chartres Street,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">which is not far from Jackson Square - about two blocks or so.</span></div>
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Molly Ann Quigleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13866857360904191405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7224613765716619909.post-20703643218275655742015-04-07T06:44:00.001-07:002015-04-07T06:44:19.657-07:00Today and Tomorrow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1FQ93TOqwByDefz2T47aDYk0RwQJJW4RUB40DHE-o0v8u8riNs2lTNHkN_zyU3AOjpWDHTajccbxjxZXCUlBLYiu6q-yZnAnxXbjuLHrPj1o5N276hJIyCkII_QguVowr9Kyh5czOJv14/s1600/IMG_8081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1FQ93TOqwByDefz2T47aDYk0RwQJJW4RUB40DHE-o0v8u8riNs2lTNHkN_zyU3AOjpWDHTajccbxjxZXCUlBLYiu6q-yZnAnxXbjuLHrPj1o5N276hJIyCkII_QguVowr9Kyh5czOJv14/s1600/IMG_8081.JPG" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; text-align: start;">I don't have much to say today, but I have <i>a lot to share</i>. I might have more tomorrow, when I post another Bathroom Diaries (hee hee). Because <i>you know</i>, <b>this is my creative playground</b>, and I can write about a-n-y-t-h-i-n-g I find interesting. And I guess you like it too, based on stats and comments and the hugs you give me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; text-align: start;">The <b>training for the AVON 39</b> has kicked up to official levels of lunacy. I walked 30 miles this past weekend. And saw that heart on the ground (pictured above) at about mile 18. Thank God - I needed that boost. The race is in two weeks btw. Wish me luck.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My sister, <a href="http://littlelucyandscooter.blogspot.com/2015/01/heavy-metal-and-girl-named-kathleen.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Kathleen</span></a>, who is an artist, had our family over for Easter Sunday. Her house has all these interesting vignettes in it, not to mention flowers. You could even say - flowers galore.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The woman Kathleen bought her house from was a master gardener. </span><span style="font-size: large;">And it shows. Have you ever seen an iris that color?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Kathleen recently added bookcases in her Gallery to show her work. </span><span style="font-size: large;">She is also doing a show soon at </span><span style="font-size: large;">Brookwood</span><span style="font-size: large;">, if you want to try to catch it and see a large amount of her things at once.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Even the clover blooming on the grass in her backyard is</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">well . . . picturesque. I used no editing in any of these photos,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">that is how beautiful everything is at her studio.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">One little girl even found a roly-poly who she became</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">instantaneous friends with and had a hard time letting go.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Some of Kathleen's work in progress for her next show.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And up in the corner, you can see my mom taking a stroll</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">around Kathleen's place looking at the flowers with Chuck.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Chuck used to work for Tara (my sister who was a florist) </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">when she had large events.</span></div>
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He is an artist, and now collaborates with</div>
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Kathleen at times and is Kathleen's neighbor.</div>
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Surrounded by flowers, working with Chuck, I think Tara</div>
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would be pleased at how Kathleen's new life in Texas is working out. Hope you had a lovely Sunday too. Hugs.</div>
</span>Molly Ann Quigleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13866857360904191405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7224613765716619909.post-84788387870706248792015-04-02T07:09:00.000-07:002016-04-08T10:25:55.982-07:00Kelley Devine - The Highs and Lows of Being An Artist<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">"There is no part of this job that is not a lot of work" was what kept ringing in my ears after leaving Kelley Devine's studio last Friday. The myths of being an artist, specifically a painter, swell in the minds of people - people who might want a different job and think all they are lacking to be a painter is talent. They might fantasize about setting up a canvas and slowly painting the day away, much like doing yoga, while breathing in and breathing out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">But the life of a painter is something Kelley told me that she doesn't wish for anyone. The struggles she has gone through to get where she is today are something any freelancer or solopreneur can understand and applaud.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-size: large;"><b>"Think twice before doing this. <i>I love it</i>, but I wouldn't wish it on anyone. I have a bi-polar life. I'm not bi-polar. My life is. Welcome to the highs and the lows."</b></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Here is an example of a low</b>. Kelley had a one night show in the gallery of her studio. Her husband was flying in from out of the country to be at it. 200 people had replied they were coming. And it rained. It didn't just rain, it was a monsoon. All that work - all that money she was banking on, now washed away. And to top it off, she felt as if she was failing in front of the one person she wanted to see her succeed the most - her husband. After this, her rule was <b>no more one night shows</b>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Here is a high</b>. Last year, her business tripled. So much so, she was unprepared for the success.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-size: large;"><b>"You have to do so much to get by, that when you do start making money, it's a surprise."</b></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Quickbooks is now her friend. She had to stop, while riding this exuberant wave, to buy it, learn it and set up a system. Now when pieces sell, the exact amount for taxes is taken out. Every artist I have represented has found themselves in this exact same situation. <b>It's hard to be an artist, an accountant, a marketer, a photographer, and everything else it takes to be successful.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-size: large;"><b>"Sometimes I give a piece to a place like <a href="http://www.maxswinedive.com/" target="_blank">MAX's Wine Dive</a> and then I remember, I forgot to take a picture of it or make the label. That type of stuff takes a lot of time. I have to stop thinking like an artist and think of it as a business. Then, when that's done, pick up my brush and think like an artist again."</b></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;">When I ask her what was the hardest thing she did when starting this, but is now one of the easiest . . . it's something all creatives struggle with and that is <b>talking to people about her work</b>. When people would show up at her studio or she had to talk at a gallery, she used to feel uncomfortable. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-size: large;"><b>"Took me awhile to get used to talking to people that came in the studio. 90% want to know the story behind the painting, and others just hand me cash and I get out of their way. Once you do start talking to them, you have to learn to shut up. You have to learn to read people."</b></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;">Maybe selling water door-to-door in her twenties might have built up a lot of the muscle needed to read others and talk to the general public. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-size: large;"><b>"It's hard to put yourself out there and get kicked in the teeth. And for no particular reason. When I started I did not have thick skin, now I have (<i>as she knocks on the chair she is sitting on</i>) skin as thick as this."</b></span></blockquote>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFqNVtL9Lai_wxQ_YBHOpRZ83om0ixy7UspO5LywirdTdwt5yhGxxum9NaSevvOrZMv8KUI6WUZKECopI0QQzSeV7sZJlzZvUQ7U9kgA32kYYzzbdTlqbxpN3sfBbKAkshRlSZdxVlG5_3/s1600/Antelope++low+res.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFqNVtL9Lai_wxQ_YBHOpRZ83om0ixy7UspO5LywirdTdwt5yhGxxum9NaSevvOrZMv8KUI6WUZKECopI0QQzSeV7sZJlzZvUQ7U9kgA32kYYzzbdTlqbxpN3sfBbKAkshRlSZdxVlG5_3/s1600/Antelope++low+res.jpeg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Part of that skin thickening is having <a href="http://winterstreetstudios.info/2012/?p=470" target="_blank">your studio</a> accessible during one of <a href="http://winterstreetstudios.info/2012/" target="_blank">Winter Street Studios</a> open studio nights when the general public is walking through to see your work and meet the artist. People will come in, look around, say nothing and leave. Sometimes that might happen 5-10 times in a row for the first hour and as an artist sitting there, waiting, it can be excruciating. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Meeting Kelley 5 years ago, I see the growth in her confidence not only about her work but <i>the worth of her work</i>. </span> <span style="font-size: large;">Artists normally have two problems when it comes to their work: talking about it and pricing it. When I ask Kelley about that, she says . . .</span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-size: large;"><b>"People often ask for discounts. I don't give discounts. I now say 'This is what my work is worth. If you love it, buy it.' And I no longer hold my work. People would come in and ask me to, and I would to be courteous, but now, I just say 'I don't do that.'"</b></span></blockquote>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwUFt9v94emoafaKbv0Wq90LGTMqWr-z2F07YhYlg_jwW7k2RF-7GuYMw10VTckeGYTwmYOJ4QziOvVWNrIa7LPKFFPz1p65W4bIV24ft_YASzpXh5p-TENH8GP50cT80gdyJ0qQ15SOmW/s1600/They+say+web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwUFt9v94emoafaKbv0Wq90LGTMqWr-z2F07YhYlg_jwW7k2RF-7GuYMw10VTckeGYTwmYOJ4QziOvVWNrIa7LPKFFPz1p65W4bIV24ft_YASzpXh5p-TENH8GP50cT80gdyJ0qQ15SOmW/s1600/They+say+web.jpg" width="490" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Kelley is the mother to one boy, Nate, and one girl, Elle. When I ask if they like to draw and if she encourages them to be artists, she says . . .</span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-size: large;"><b>"Nate still likes to draw, more like an engineer. He also does a lot of origami. Elle normally draws things more socially oriented. And I encourage them to be doctors. This life is not for everyone."</b></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Kelley is also a competitive bike racer. I've seen her fly around the track at Memorial Park at speeds where I think - one poor move by any biker and you are going to the hospital. Yet, she thinks her art is more dangerous than her hobby.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-size: large;"><b>Painting is like bike racing. You can't slow down, because someone else will go faster. It's really competitive, because there is no stopping. Just because you got paid today, doesn't mean you will tomorrow.</b></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;">Being represented by <a href="http://espersongallery.com/" target="_blank">Esperson Gallery</a> in downtown Houston has helped Kelley's work get noticed. They were the link that got her pieces in the new <a href="http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/houdj-jw-marriott-houston-downtown/" target="_blank">Marriott downtown</a>, an installation worth making the trip to see. <b>Kelley was impressed with how the staff at the hotel is required to learn about the artwork</b>. When she walks into the lobby, people at the front desk say, "Hi, Kelley." </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">When I ask about hiring help or an assistant, we look at how that would work. What they might be able to assist with, what might take too long to teach or what might be too hard to teach. An example of the hard to teach might be stretching her own canvas for all of her paintings, because if she buys it ready-made, it has to much 'give' to it and is difficult to paint on. It's hard work, and on her best days, she can only get 3 canvases stretched in a day. </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfpRAhBbB4JrHLCw4TGHiPW9JTq3l25SkqwtD3O8iwevDjAfSJWtINsdywj0Xe3q-2dCg0vzOs20N_KItJbf4_wxpD6MOC2X6krirJEoU2CKOI87f_gdfzO0EGfEeGIvEZ37LjHxpNR7_i/s1600/IMG_7999.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfpRAhBbB4JrHLCw4TGHiPW9JTq3l25SkqwtD3O8iwevDjAfSJWtINsdywj0Xe3q-2dCg0vzOs20N_KItJbf4_wxpD6MOC2X6krirJEoU2CKOI87f_gdfzO0EGfEeGIvEZ37LjHxpNR7_i/s1600/IMG_7999.jpg" width="446" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Kelley's inspiration wall of sorts in her studio</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>There are two things I always love and admire about artists: their generosity and their candor. </b> When I first started doing this, I was amazed how they open up and tell me anything and everything. Kelley is no exception. She clearly loves what she does. But she doesn't sugarcoat the struggle of what it took to get to this point. Supporting two children on her own for many years (she is recently re-married) as a full-time artist, made her often think - I need to give this up and get a damn job - to I can never give this up and get a damn job. I think we can understand her comments of having a bi-polar life. Keep going Kelley.</span><br />
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Molly Ann Quigleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13866857360904191405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7224613765716619909.post-33287909563435552802015-04-01T07:09:00.000-07:002015-04-01T09:04:02.667-07:00Bathroom Diaries - Bayou Bend & Raven Grill<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">I don't mind saying I like <i>good</i> interior design.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I'm not unusual. But you know what is unusual?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Good Bathroom Design</b>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">If you missed my last post on this, please look <a href="http://littlelucyandscooter.blogspot.com/2015/03/bathroom-dairies-condemned.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">here</span></a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And <i>gentleman</i>, please take note of the following when</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">creating bathroom design. <span style="color: #6fa8dc;"> <a href="http://www.theravengrill.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">The Raven Grill</span></a> </span>has numerous</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">small touches I want to thank them for.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9pK-1c54A3E3dDu8bSU8RVqTsElvUDp6AlGVtxDO_wWOHSYMLvogv34ZRDNL3TF7jv1mXbq2RnjwEMFNXAElL3nDlvlgnd5_j4gsUwaLi7KdhQE69UDux_KZlofeKaPe6aUID6lKhv3w6/s1600/IMG_7915.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9pK-1c54A3E3dDu8bSU8RVqTsElvUDp6AlGVtxDO_wWOHSYMLvogv34ZRDNL3TF7jv1mXbq2RnjwEMFNXAElL3nDlvlgnd5_j4gsUwaLi7KdhQE69UDux_KZlofeKaPe6aUID6lKhv3w6/s1600/IMG_7915.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I don't know about YOU - but don't ya</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">think having <b>a shelf <i>like this to put your purse on</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> in every ladies' room </span><span style="font-size: large;">should be a law? </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Having a hook or a shelf, </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">instead of </span><span style="font-size: large;">the floor (yuck)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">is always appreciated.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuzntemSL6xyimVzw2f2k0wRpph8IFMmsYfnWFtvGXcWZE1iP09pNrKWae4sHpUrZYZA7MlX052QYYoGYVZ20cxd1YeXZw75K5DIVasZZJxqlg2Vjp-Nk1m9hPMgTDvRX1wsBw2SJ-vtxA/s1600/IMG_7916.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuzntemSL6xyimVzw2f2k0wRpph8IFMmsYfnWFtvGXcWZE1iP09pNrKWae4sHpUrZYZA7MlX052QYYoGYVZ20cxd1YeXZw75K5DIVasZZJxqlg2Vjp-Nk1m9hPMgTDvRX1wsBw2SJ-vtxA/s1600/IMG_7916.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And <b>a stool by every sink</b>, so you don't have to </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">hold your toddler up to wash their hands?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And get your dress all wet. And theirs.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcrUeHl4W6q9EDs9mDb-VOAts5_mDbeuosFDTpDBsH7vh2Z28oxdKz37nazyjDuZJDPNh4Z7xoCeA6i-QvylrC2mqXZ4r1PFDWgpPEpsaivERfBdydIH5Gv6pK5Th62iofr2XhxFoL652Z/s1600/IMG_7917.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcrUeHl4W6q9EDs9mDb-VOAts5_mDbeuosFDTpDBsH7vh2Z28oxdKz37nazyjDuZJDPNh4Z7xoCeA6i-QvylrC2mqXZ4r1PFDWgpPEpsaivERfBdydIH5Gv6pK5Th62iofr2XhxFoL652Z/s1600/IMG_7917.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And a <b>beautiful lamp</b> next to the sink so</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">we can look in the mirror without fluorescent lighting?</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZilKtFDmW6vSXnwPze42l355-i41i-tXXbm4QGJe9kc4V8akEh00ltebsq_5yaXnrVHuFNPM13ovNnnVgiLQJnm-9kaxofDzbu6G4G00KYR6B09yHY9KAhQM9u-iNTZUvMdk6ttPL2smZ/s1600/IMG_7919.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZilKtFDmW6vSXnwPze42l355-i41i-tXXbm4QGJe9kc4V8akEh00ltebsq_5yaXnrVHuFNPM13ovNnnVgiLQJnm-9kaxofDzbu6G4G00KYR6B09yHY9KAhQM9u-iNTZUvMdk6ttPL2smZ/s1600/IMG_7919.jpg" height="640" width="266" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And <b>a mirror </b>that tells us . . .</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">"You look very pretty!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Whoever did this bathroom, I want to</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>give you a hug. You are thoughtful.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And then over at <a href="https://www.mfah.org/visit/bayou-bend-collection-and-gardens/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Bayou Bend</span></a>,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I want to covet their counter material.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT8rpaFFycbfHxtGGGOkA0DjHmBiybHnWh1gXkg5aqkrz4jaRr49VhEN0aVED3LYkKycaixRYnRe7MX58Wv4qpJ0nqE5H0goB4QXa1-bCM7Eekl6i0pi37CTWDXumlzZplUC0G26uq5Bmh/s1600/IMG_7872.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT8rpaFFycbfHxtGGGOkA0DjHmBiybHnWh1gXkg5aqkrz4jaRr49VhEN0aVED3LYkKycaixRYnRe7MX58Wv4qpJ0nqE5H0goB4QXa1-bCM7Eekl6i0pi37CTWDXumlzZplUC0G26uq5Bmh/s1600/IMG_7872.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I have never walked in and seen a better </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdvTGRQqhgfxS0JU5wtSak3tf8xqGKR3rQWYwvARjGHTH5s-FlaEV8ZhBSkuJRr9tIpVEFwuKqKzcsXOMiKPwt54dSvh2sPn0tGpOKki_1PVSwghFc5LGZA7P0jkMaFuIj6OpC-I6Q0ee8/s1600/IMG_7873.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdvTGRQqhgfxS0JU5wtSak3tf8xqGKR3rQWYwvARjGHTH5s-FlaEV8ZhBSkuJRr9tIpVEFwuKqKzcsXOMiKPwt54dSvh2sPn0tGpOKki_1PVSwghFc5LGZA7P0jkMaFuIj6OpC-I6Q0ee8/s1600/IMG_7873.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwUYGt0itesrDsAU2FbNcG7FwRviSI9lzQ-CnfHo6wxpH4kdZIglWcudQCdgAB_tmRyykY0ykubRZ7erJkftzQDyGkITLSrPQCoEmNwi-c1vqyRrRwQ4vAVt3Rbmr8jT23cPr1-NCot34x/s1600/IMG_7874.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwUYGt0itesrDsAU2FbNcG7FwRviSI9lzQ-CnfHo6wxpH4kdZIglWcudQCdgAB_tmRyykY0ykubRZ7erJkftzQDyGkITLSrPQCoEmNwi-c1vqyRrRwQ4vAVt3Rbmr8jT23cPr1-NCot34x/s1600/IMG_7874.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is the edge of the surface, which had me more confused.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I am in design showrooms a lot, but I cannot tell what</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">type of material this is - can you?</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilaNs0XpDq8YehCNPekPrB31VhU6ynp-XMNexketDvMshWsK1fOtQ80rmTOd4QSKwl97U8Mn9g1HLuNr4KQlrXdy0J7ktGhnqhs-Z-BUyBJAxwcGBDtHRa5ze6ue-Xmwdu0U20GgWad57S/s1600/IMG_7882.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilaNs0XpDq8YehCNPekPrB31VhU6ynp-XMNexketDvMshWsK1fOtQ80rmTOd4QSKwl97U8Mn9g1HLuNr4KQlrXdy0J7ktGhnqhs-Z-BUyBJAxwcGBDtHRa5ze6ue-Xmwdu0U20GgWad57S/s1600/IMG_7882.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">If you are unfamiliar with Bayou Bend or</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">haven't been in awhile, you might head that way</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">now, because the Springtime is the best time to see.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhklFyl_XkRcNXGER3opbsDGEyt9q5cdi2h76bjbWmcwg9w6rDtHFWyHu1mrE0MGPu3trUAmtZHZVBu1BTnSzHW92ynPyADorAeltwWr0xq8lkKXBJdHLtrAuNOrk88tAWw-G4SSA42lfbj/s1600/IMG_7884.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhklFyl_XkRcNXGER3opbsDGEyt9q5cdi2h76bjbWmcwg9w6rDtHFWyHu1mrE0MGPu3trUAmtZHZVBu1BTnSzHW92ynPyADorAeltwWr0xq8lkKXBJdHLtrAuNOrk88tAWw-G4SSA42lfbj/s1600/IMG_7884.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<br />Molly Ann Quigleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13866857360904191405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7224613765716619909.post-72177477519561547862015-03-24T10:43:00.000-07:002015-03-24T10:43:11.506-07:00Paper, Stationery, Calligraphy - Oh My<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">In a former life, I designed things like these . . .</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">business cards (my favorite <i>consult time</i> with people), </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">custom monograms (</span><span style="font-size: large;">probably my favorite <i>thing to design</i>), wedding programs, invitations, basically anything to do with paper.</span></div>
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(Sources: business card is SMOCK, correspondence card is Vera Wang for William Arthur, and wedding program is Crane & Co.)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZAx8uya4rEk86XWJ5KhdNnV_iuhxkaedVpHeUgiQN4msZS2K-eYVds-SEEWG65NjlVPMgMqKC6opzqbGtq73JIn7nQ4x_XIAfSKTAJr9UEAKRvAqoiOK8dk0ImoK5sEQUXvPepfVZqlkt/s1600/IMG_7972.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZAx8uya4rEk86XWJ5KhdNnV_iuhxkaedVpHeUgiQN4msZS2K-eYVds-SEEWG65NjlVPMgMqKC6opzqbGtq73JIn7nQ4x_XIAfSKTAJr9UEAKRvAqoiOK8dk0ImoK5sEQUXvPepfVZqlkt/s1600/IMG_7972.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now, I get excited when planning my own soirees.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Not because I like to cook. I don't.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Because I like to send invitations.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>And cards. Letters. Folded notes.</b></span></div>
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(Source: Anna Griffin designed by Lucia Lupia)</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here are my business cards.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Yes, I ordered two different stock colors from <a href="http://www.crane.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Crane & Co.</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Both are engraved with copper ink, </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">but depending on who the recipient is,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">depends on which color I give them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I've been posting old samples of my stationery collection</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">on <span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><a href="https://instagram.com/onlinedatingcheerleader/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Instagram</span></a>, </span> using the hashtag, #athankyounoteaday.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> And actually getting followers. Go figure.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I started doing it for my own personal cataloging and</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I guess it has sort of grown into a way for me to share</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>my greatest passion: P-A-P-E-R</b>.</span></div>
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(Source: Crane & Co. engraved on handmade rag paper)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikIgBqAYOmjZSLQDcMVgDon7wJQCirIyxKNfQjGc9260GcF5l0Q6P7xaPNLc2rLjbxaSGgwMmQP5hvWAKuHEbblKyrUnR84n5wECE4jwP8rysi-Kr2E76ToIhcticdwXhv5jsjRwJrm7L7/s1600/IMG_7703.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikIgBqAYOmjZSLQDcMVgDon7wJQCirIyxKNfQjGc9260GcF5l0Q6P7xaPNLc2rLjbxaSGgwMmQP5hvWAKuHEbblKyrUnR84n5wECE4jwP8rysi-Kr2E76ToIhcticdwXhv5jsjRwJrm7L7/s1600/IMG_7703.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I've saved old cards like this one from my grandmother,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">but I wish I had saved more. I have a stack from my</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Great Aunt Ginny, tied with ribbon, that I will save in a fire.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And I have boxes of letters from my dear friend, <a href="http://littlelucyandscooter.blogspot.com/2010/08/trading-paper-can-be-lasting-ritual.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Mary Lou</span></a>,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">who I did a paper exchange with for many years.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We even invited Katie, from <a href="http://katie-co.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Katie & Co.</span></a>, to join us years ago.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In fact, one of my <span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><a href="http://littlelucyandscooter.blogspot.com/2008/11/highlight-of-katie-coa-new-stationery.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">very first blog post</span></a>s</span> was </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">about Katie's </span><span style="font-size: large;">stationery store (pardon the dinky pics - it was 2008). </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The only place I recommend, </span><span style="font-size: large;">as the girl knows design.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Mary Lou sent me New Year's cards, Valentine's Cards,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">not-to-mention all the other Holidays. Plus notes showing off her </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">new stationery or saying something like "looking forward</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">to our lunch on Friday." <b>She was <i>the</i> example of note writing.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I'm not as good a letter writer as she was,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">but I long to be.</span></div>
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(Source: Vera Wang Fine Stationery)</div>
Molly Ann Quigleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13866857360904191405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7224613765716619909.post-83336960160629383012015-03-23T17:45:00.002-07:002015-03-23T17:45:54.741-07:00Unposed Moments From Yesterday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjywChO3au-MQOXUAhucGl0OFtlYI2pzMt6XVAFEg-jC-5KDW-PQnnXlIGYLmrNQbMrDZu954xuv-bnDWJbUs67-cOG5paXIbBJNetS9dOqIx6a0L6m8cBYYzfVeGFlW-9mL2sn4P13ixVw/s1600/IMG_7907.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjywChO3au-MQOXUAhucGl0OFtlYI2pzMt6XVAFEg-jC-5KDW-PQnnXlIGYLmrNQbMrDZu954xuv-bnDWJbUs67-cOG5paXIbBJNetS9dOqIx6a0L6m8cBYYzfVeGFlW-9mL2sn4P13ixVw/s1600/IMG_7907.JPG" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So impressed with this brave step forward from Starbucks.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Their "Race Together" campaign had me thinking this week.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I had some interesting writing assignments to work on - </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">a business consultant's new website, </span><span style="font-size: large;">and writing a </span><span style="font-size: large;">Kickstarter</span><span style="font-size: large;">, </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">for a local R&B Singer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Walking with Scooter - the gold standard among dogs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">If you have never had a dog, believe me when I tell you,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Everyone would have a dog, if they could have one like Scooter.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hanging out this past week with this kid.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Some visits to Goode Co. Tacqueria when the weather</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">gets this beautiful are mandatory.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I love capturing the shake dripping, him grabbing his ear,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">his DS (which will be obsolete 10 minutes from now).</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My mother-in-law, Susie, was visiting from Oregon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">She's what I have dreamed of for a mother-in-law for let's say, <i>my whole life</i>. She tells me things like I have pizazz, that my house looks ORGANIZED (I asked her to say that louder so my husband could hear), that I'm a good mom. She was an early childhood development expert making her infinitely patient with the littles.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I'm sad to see her leave tomorrow.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCwGOABCcaq91GuwjbHtWrxdF1aQrK1LmVfil-6zrragQHULqWgP32MUN5VkI1wAfsmcxVoUZrkWKUGcmPHzDD6IY2McPR2KC18u6ab0F9KteKGhwZ7lFqSvaAnVTt_AeEexhWrcPXkF0B/s1600/IMG_7929.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCwGOABCcaq91GuwjbHtWrxdF1aQrK1LmVfil-6zrragQHULqWgP32MUN5VkI1wAfsmcxVoUZrkWKUGcmPHzDD6IY2McPR2KC18u6ab0F9KteKGhwZ7lFqSvaAnVTt_AeEexhWrcPXkF0B/s1600/IMG_7929.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Something I saw on my walk yesterday.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I love the cone shapes of the kale and the boxwood, don't you?</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi18k94MD2h8Ttt_lB_kvUiXy2JbvPW3lHZX7wfSEKoRzu4OUIgs8rfhscZq6aMiHnY427UZu2TYfZTbfrY1lJ4hTzFoE1b_DswtHMwYJV-psO3HDVnfgrjfPAS4hynOvE7gQvPszSFiRfY/s1600/IMG_7935.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi18k94MD2h8Ttt_lB_kvUiXy2JbvPW3lHZX7wfSEKoRzu4OUIgs8rfhscZq6aMiHnY427UZu2TYfZTbfrY1lJ4hTzFoE1b_DswtHMwYJV-psO3HDVnfgrjfPAS4hynOvE7gQvPszSFiRfY/s1600/IMG_7935.JPG" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">A sign I definitely want to hang on my chair at Starbucks.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I'm an introvert. I like my space.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieq8J_sGt9Cgrx15Lwq8-ha0APRlFO4Rxm6t-866qbXlfByteHTKDla59ZT-9G1Wwomu-rKKx9LxJtgt4yJdducxmSpdMiorSYYmmXlL8rDFjdXDtt6YPh96FAeBhCYcc_PRIOfGqZ5JhH/s1600/IMG_7948.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieq8J_sGt9Cgrx15Lwq8-ha0APRlFO4Rxm6t-866qbXlfByteHTKDla59ZT-9G1Wwomu-rKKx9LxJtgt4yJdducxmSpdMiorSYYmmXlL8rDFjdXDtt6YPh96FAeBhCYcc_PRIOfGqZ5JhH/s1600/IMG_7948.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The window display at The Jung Center.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Notice the label names on the library card drawers.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzpjf1zgzy40aTAqU1QYqsYny0HYL0iI4z66ldoRIzX0QLPntj8bTEfkrCz6M8iGDzIBYrC42El1j2OKQWaJehxk4iPMWwZq4niGIrAFH1RoDI6XfuoRV6n04MrEC4nsyt3k1HYHhgEBJ9/s1600/IMG_7964.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzpjf1zgzy40aTAqU1QYqsYny0HYL0iI4z66ldoRIzX0QLPntj8bTEfkrCz6M8iGDzIBYrC42El1j2OKQWaJehxk4iPMWwZq4niGIrAFH1RoDI6XfuoRV6n04MrEC4nsyt3k1HYHhgEBJ9/s1600/IMG_7964.JPG" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">My training for the Avon 39 mile race is going well.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">This Saturday, I will do 17 miles and Sunday 8 miles.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">My friend Monica, told me, "If you </span><span style="font-size: large;">follow the training plan, you will do fine. You will wonder when you do 12 miles for the first time and 6 the next day, how you will do 14 and 8 the next weekend, <i>when you feel you barely made this one</i>, but you will." Thanks Monica. I no longer worry.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5z3la2Y39EP7pzgjV69AaXFKUTunuAEb6Pi941I5WrrnUtYBrbohT8ct-jjxxnUpfeXFyu81fAXKTxnCR6rfWn87rMtHRi0a1TJSVu0DsyNPKMfYQBxuxeuhQe1qhl83oSeIr2vrveAY3/s1600/IMG_7953.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5z3la2Y39EP7pzgjV69AaXFKUTunuAEb6Pi941I5WrrnUtYBrbohT8ct-jjxxnUpfeXFyu81fAXKTxnCR6rfWn87rMtHRi0a1TJSVu0DsyNPKMfYQBxuxeuhQe1qhl83oSeIr2vrveAY3/s1600/IMG_7953.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Sort of looks like what I think London would . . .</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">love seeing things like this on my walks that make</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">me feel I am in an unknown, foreign land.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbe0hdhtaUT-MLEJLtgJFL_QopeAIY6D4j8oQ6Xuygt_tZnmOLexG2EKyt5KmgD-ytokg7U7hS4ceRjtEjyBAnV3bCokmMz2kG-yAzcCbnMUVyOZzq3f3MTUXx0jiCxsMrpMhNU2t16iQj/s1600/IMG_7963.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbe0hdhtaUT-MLEJLtgJFL_QopeAIY6D4j8oQ6Xuygt_tZnmOLexG2EKyt5KmgD-ytokg7U7hS4ceRjtEjyBAnV3bCokmMz2kG-yAzcCbnMUVyOZzq3f3MTUXx0jiCxsMrpMhNU2t16iQj/s1600/IMG_7963.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I saw this Guerilla Art pole with the MFAH (The Museum of </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Fine Arts, Houston) stickers for admission</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">that people had slammed on here.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I sort of want one.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLdEArGEartIpzej9Y879vtkXyLn9yM6xOBMZe1XtQYOD00UeX-BNVdYNh5X8zcFA1tUeSrzwxknkaeh5z9GNjDND5rS2_K5JldaTUzlm4UrOpfN-QeuGL4KuL-WOFE-CMTGUkqe-dlEDZ/s1600/IMG_7863.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLdEArGEartIpzej9Y879vtkXyLn9yM6xOBMZe1XtQYOD00UeX-BNVdYNh5X8zcFA1tUeSrzwxknkaeh5z9GNjDND5rS2_K5JldaTUzlm4UrOpfN-QeuGL4KuL-WOFE-CMTGUkqe-dlEDZ/s1600/IMG_7863.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And then there's these two.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Biggy and Marc.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I don't know who loves who more.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0iLLf4pR_THW9OqNxEcKuSX0WjA7LBviGUV2IDFbA5PSbMmOSqF8tOKqdyu5qo5bMEsW_cjE8Hqrysgu7_LB-Qm7JeBCREiz7EEA-IP7PHlvtNcacYTsi4u2da3QGVOJXkGzrh6cOnpgB/s1600/IMG_7868.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0iLLf4pR_THW9OqNxEcKuSX0WjA7LBviGUV2IDFbA5PSbMmOSqF8tOKqdyu5qo5bMEsW_cjE8Hqrysgu7_LB-Qm7JeBCREiz7EEA-IP7PHlvtNcacYTsi4u2da3QGVOJXkGzrh6cOnpgB/s1600/IMG_7868.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">But this is the picture I loved more.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I don't know why.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Sometimes the unposed ones,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">tug at my heart.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
Molly Ann Quigleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13866857360904191405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7224613765716619909.post-6654536306863703132015-03-19T18:40:00.002-07:002016-03-23T07:06:13.911-07:00Bathroom Diaries - The Condemned<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9OXAbCsSwWqgT4tYwzesrOIm0eVdDB7tjPRNyXXzZucvtuG-iMc1L9hkYJhM-SiT-PHaJV3TWU7I7MzYy60v3Arh0M1rSOAdJlEcZXgcsRL_qfwoq-srdhg-oKaWjH1f8_2JuxYmL-A85/s1600/IMG_3866.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9OXAbCsSwWqgT4tYwzesrOIm0eVdDB7tjPRNyXXzZucvtuG-iMc1L9hkYJhM-SiT-PHaJV3TWU7I7MzYy60v3Arh0M1rSOAdJlEcZXgcsRL_qfwoq-srdhg-oKaWjH1f8_2JuxYmL-A85/s1600/IMG_3866.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Common Bond Bakery</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Occasionally, I am completely baffled when...</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I walk into a bathroom of a swanky hotel,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">or talked-about restaurant, etc., and find</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">a complete hole-in-the-wall powder room that is</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">ACTUALLY a part of the establishment but seems like</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">it was designed by the <b>drunk uncle of the owner</b> who </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">ran out of money when it came to designing this restroom.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I feel especially qualified to make these comments as</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I work for an interior designer part-time, and am in tile </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">showrooms weekly, see costs and know how little it </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">takes to create a well-designed space.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">For a restaurant that has spent <b>this much money on branding,</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>packaging, and merchandising</b> to even do a wall as if an Anthropologie </span><span style="font-size: large;">visual merchandiser laid it out . . . </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhawmCLbr-C8usFeP1uHViOiOJzwSzcWtVuoMy2gusOUUjv7jTS-UhATIk0jRMQh81aXjDZBXDQcAwkd_vFkw5HlIom4dg0IncG6U5sfc0jgcsd3cV6FIYnQx6of3fbhi9EeBQFHZlFa-fc/s1600/IMG_3864.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhawmCLbr-C8usFeP1uHViOiOJzwSzcWtVuoMy2gusOUUjv7jTS-UhATIk0jRMQh81aXjDZBXDQcAwkd_vFkw5HlIom4dg0IncG6U5sfc0jgcsd3cV6FIYnQx6of3fbhi9EeBQFHZlFa-fc/s1600/IMG_3864.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Imagine the surprise of walking into the ladies restroom to find </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">nothing on the walls; no art, not even wallpaper.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRv0FkhBDQ-UKkz6xEsTbQMCDv24i8jCd-i2k0P6I7O6jZ90KE3FGbPTnTrrEQb_YdLhi9yloQk16NAWZsCsNCtOT9FPa-Yl1WCibjE_GN-RTxSUAMZCV0xYpoWHWPT_o0DgI4VJPx8QdU/s1600/IMG_3856.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRv0FkhBDQ-UKkz6xEsTbQMCDv24i8jCd-i2k0P6I7O6jZ90KE3FGbPTnTrrEQb_YdLhi9yloQk16NAWZsCsNCtOT9FPa-Yl1WCibjE_GN-RTxSUAMZCV0xYpoWHWPT_o0DgI4VJPx8QdU/s400/IMG_3856.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Instead of a sign about hand washing framed with</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">beautiful typography, there's this -</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidnCr-XDhLPRC8zydZ05TuoVQc3zvKEO_OaWF3AHr8CavCNdWy52ATs30e9foyUvlOxIe9e8hMJntrIJk0p8VUS0D_s5Uz-FI9HlGKTgYXEpe9X1Apn1ptxXXY03rCyCmA1k9wpe36Hh6C/s1600/IMG_3855.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidnCr-XDhLPRC8zydZ05TuoVQc3zvKEO_OaWF3AHr8CavCNdWy52ATs30e9foyUvlOxIe9e8hMJntrIJk0p8VUS0D_s5Uz-FI9HlGKTgYXEpe9X1Apn1ptxXXY03rCyCmA1k9wpe36Hh6C/s400/IMG_3855.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Pretty flowers? Well . . . there <i>was</i> this.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Which happened to be</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">the only decoration.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq0kzovUghb7P41PHMoDupd9PTZ6f-ampwBSkh8u2KhsfHKL__bSe4yXw-xdPSlo7WwUU5H6e4PJsUfKI_IkneAZkrf8YNnxQKT6XivD2DSexuzqlxAfKVbwAAQrB3B30PX4Y8EEtKAPk-/s1600/IMG_3857.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq0kzovUghb7P41PHMoDupd9PTZ6f-ampwBSkh8u2KhsfHKL__bSe4yXw-xdPSlo7WwUU5H6e4PJsUfKI_IkneAZkrf8YNnxQKT6XivD2DSexuzqlxAfKVbwAAQrB3B30PX4Y8EEtKAPk-/s400/IMG_3857.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">When I used to post pictures on my Facebook feed</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">about the lousy state of bathrooms I run across, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I started doing this for 3 reasons:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">1. To open a discussion on something overlooked</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">2. To photograph small spaces - I like a challenge</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">3. To get the privilege to re-do one of these</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Somebody, give me your budget and let me improve</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">your facilities. I promise I can do better. </span></div>
Molly Ann Quigleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13866857360904191405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7224613765716619909.post-89467005419809619252015-03-17T12:54:00.000-07:002015-03-17T12:54:24.681-07:00Today And Tomorrow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span id="goog_42013783"></span><span id="goog_42013784"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Today . . . </i>when you get a picture like this . . . you can be excited.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">When you realize you're actually married to someone like this, you can be excited about <i>tomorrow</i>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9508YjRzMBFEfeUamc0V0z7ft8PzT4xR3hPKyeHfiP8RZSn9d0zcigqZnVSsKIlOJE94Tfk5aqh1YVp83YU0VslN3VXG_jFNDcv9y7kL5-nXEuxfilNu71VPgdQ1c4dwidiSusp7DsNXB/s1600/IMG_7853.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9508YjRzMBFEfeUamc0V0z7ft8PzT4xR3hPKyeHfiP8RZSn9d0zcigqZnVSsKIlOJE94Tfk5aqh1YVp83YU0VslN3VXG_jFNDcv9y7kL5-nXEuxfilNu71VPgdQ1c4dwidiSusp7DsNXB/s1600/IMG_7853.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Today</i> . . . when you see a family this fun,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Today</i> . . . you can pull out paper and re-purpose an old memory,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Today</i> . . . you can open a letter from a love one who</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Just to feel their warmth again.</span></div>
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Molly Ann Quigleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13866857360904191405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7224613765716619909.post-89851632226330751122015-03-16T11:25:00.000-07:002015-03-17T07:11:17.232-07:00Hey Mom - Where Did Your Creativity Go?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg21dvzTsCKr1_-W_G8XKmyIn9VkWRFb49Fva26zqKEb8kSgzYv65aD48oIzPoDKeoc6Fi_zgNuQLY-JYm4duAKcsC8ZV3aVVKQtl5L3sZ1yWo-kjJ2Zoj0znm7rNT-sppFLdjBluTcsu5/s1600/princesscrafts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg21dvzTsCKr1_-W_G8XKmyIn9VkWRFb49Fva26zqKEb8kSgzYv65aD48oIzPoDKeoc6Fi_zgNuQLY-JYm4duAKcsC8ZV3aVVKQtl5L3sZ1yWo-kjJ2Zoj0znm7rNT-sppFLdjBluTcsu5/s1600/princesscrafts.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Interviewing people that are creative is my passion, although sometimes a selfish pursuit. <b>I long to hear about their practices, rituals, and roadblocks, if not to sometimes prepare and make myself a better creator. </b> Imagine my luck to meet a woman who spotlights mothers and their artistic pursuits.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">When I met <a href="http://mommikin.com/about/" target="_blank">Larissa Pickens</a>, it was through an email asking if I would like to be interviewed as a featured mom on her website, <a href="http://mommikin.com/" target="_blank">Mommikin</a>. A few weeks ago, I got the opportunity to interview her and <b>ask more about her 'real' job, why she had the impulse to interview moms about their artistic endeavors, and how she balances kids and creativity </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">The first thing I wanted to do when I started researching was read the <b>Mommikin mission statement </b>created by Larissa and her co-founder, Lina Fenequito:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt9FfO2veG6mPfMEItd6m50BexuN7kM6PuQlglmwI8Z1Xv1bsDQ_HGdukBxXbSb0ot88G5n4gmq_ILb7xypdZ0wAgpVBEY4T1rebnfXBk7wNpOJmbNNNVVx04E4MYk_cOwfaZK8zGieVFQ/s1600/IMG_9365.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt9FfO2veG6mPfMEItd6m50BexuN7kM6PuQlglmwI8Z1Xv1bsDQ_HGdukBxXbSb0ot88G5n4gmq_ILb7xypdZ0wAgpVBEY4T1rebnfXBk7wNpOJmbNNNVVx04E4MYk_cOwfaZK8zGieVFQ/s1600/IMG_9365.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Our<span class="comment-text " style="box-sizing: border-box;"> mission is to celebrate creative moms. </span></span></span></h3>
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<span class="comment-text " style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Together, we're creating a community of moms who seek creativity and want to support and inspire each other! </span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">When I asked Larissa to </span></span><span style="font-size: large;">describe the ultimate purpose of the site, her words were </span><span style="font-size: x-large; text-align: center;">" to be a creative space to gather stories, build community and help moms get a toe hold back into being more creative." </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"> The features and articles are there for moms to see other moms sharing <i>how they get the job done</i>. Not just by being moms, but by being artists, as well.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;">When we become moms, so much of our former lives has to fall away. It's hard enough to get our legs shaved, much less think about our long lost creativity. <b>What Mommikin can do for you is help you find your tribe along with helping you find the impetus to create again. </b> We worry so much about our kids creativity, what about ours? </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">On the Mommikin blog, some of the things you can find are:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-size: large;">Articles that are Creativity Boosters and How To's</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Career resources</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Featured MOM stories</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Workshops - like the current one called <b><a href="http://mommikin.com/workshops/" target="_blank">Write Anyway</a></b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Retail with carefully curated items consisting of kits, accessories and books</span></li>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Larissa is first a freelance web designer (with a client rooster that has names like Calvin Klein, Estee Lauder and Conde Nast) and thinks of herself as a writer second. With graphic design, she explains that everything is precise and with writing, <b>she is learning again how to do things free form. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This free form style reminds her of a creative process she enjoyed in her late 20's - throwing clay on a wheel. Anything she did in this process was experimental and in a relaxed atmosphere. She would throw a new glaze on, completely unsure of the end result, and compares this to the thrill of opening a present unaware of what's inside. Interviewing others and pursuing writing has reminded her of how the beginning and the end can start one way and end up with that same surprise at the end. Writing has also </span><span style="font-size: x-large; text-align: center;">"enriched me as a reader - and made me more aware of how I tell the story."</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And how has motherhood changed her? Does she feel more productive after kids? "Well, I get a lot more crammed in. <b> I miss staying up all night and jamming to get a job done or finish the idea that came spontaneously."</b> Being a mother to a two year old boy and a 4 year old girl, some of the perks of working from home might be to be able to throw a load of clothes in the washer, but it also means working again from 9:00 pm to Midnight, while the kids sleep, in order to meet deadlines.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1426516122363_146454" style="background-color: white; line-height: 25.2000007629395px;">Since Larissa lives in a </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 25.2000007629395px;">1300 sq foot apartment</span><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1426516122363_146441" style="background-color: white; line-height: 25.2000007629395px;">, I thought she might share my small house syndrome (I live in 1600 sq feet). </span><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1426516122363_146444" style="background-color: white; line-height: 25.2000007629395px;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1426516122363_146441" style="background-color: white; line-height: 25.2000007629395px;">By </span><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1426516122363_146451" style="background-color: white; line-height: 25.2000007629395px;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1426516122363_146450">big city</span></span><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1426516122363_146444" style="background-color: white; line-height: 25.2000007629395px;"> apartment standards, my house is rather large, although by Texas standards simply - strange. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #595959; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: medium; line-height: 25.2000007629395px;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">I mention this because most of the people I interview have no designated spaces to create, but they never let this deter them. They taught me years ago, you can't wait for the perfect space to have the pipe dream of 'when you get the space, then you'll create.' <b>Larissa has no designated work area, and does not see this as a challenge what-so-ever, since she's never had one. </b>She works from her laptop, has one notebook she writes everything in, including To Do Lists, sketches, story ideas, etc. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">When I ask, "Is it the same type of notebook?" </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Some writers are superstitious about these things. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">She says, "Nope. I use whatever. Right now, I have a kitty cat one that looks like I am about 12."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"Have you ever lost it?"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"Well, sometimes I find it hijacked by my daughter, Helena, buried in her room."</span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Larissa has not waited for the right time to start a website, she's doing it with a full-time job and 2 young children. She's not waiting for right space to do it from either. I don't know about you, but damn, I find this exhilarating.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Go to her website, get some much needed motivation by the tribe of featured moms, and <a href="http://mommikin.com/join-us/" target="_blank">subscribe</a> to get creative updates in your mailbox weekly. If you missed the interview she did with me as the <a href="http://onlinedatingcheerleader.typepad.com/" target="_blank">Online Dating Cheerleader</a>, you can find it <a href="http://mommikin.com/project-view/dating-cheerleader-molly-ann-quigley-comes-perfect-words-find-love/" target="_blank">here</a>. </span><br />
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Molly Ann Quigleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13866857360904191405noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7224613765716619909.post-21859352479940779852015-03-12T09:32:00.000-07:002015-03-12T09:32:43.071-07:00Writing, Recording and Processing<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAU_ggHzx8Wsio_5HQS79mKtdUIdtU8GESfjk9c2s5uYTfFskuwWRr9aTm7AOPgvXh_YrLPAsbRHDOdq1FWW67t6P0NtmUWEwae5vbgHKEVW-lFaqY1shufplJVPqy6_u_cl4pg6_fD-dF/s1600/IMG_7786.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAU_ggHzx8Wsio_5HQS79mKtdUIdtU8GESfjk9c2s5uYTfFskuwWRr9aTm7AOPgvXh_YrLPAsbRHDOdq1FWW67t6P0NtmUWEwae5vbgHKEVW-lFaqY1shufplJVPqy6_u_cl4pg6_fD-dF/s1600/IMG_7786.JPG" height="497" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A collection of some of my journals - all filled to the last page with writing</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I was inspired to write a post today based upon reading one of my favorite bloggers, <a href="http://dispatchfromla.typepad.com/">Mary Ann Moss,</a> yesterday. She referenced going back through some of her journals to reread them, catalogue them and even...good God...throwing some out (which I am actually all for, btw).</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">In my youth, I <b>collected blank books</b>. I did not know what I was going to do with them, but I always felt the need to buy blank books and fancy stationery. The stationery I used, but the blank books remained dusty, but always in a special place.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi44uw6nohd9iuUfnAvOpXa4UOHb6o1EiCVCcgsdY6cmbm4uGLlhPWjP1a-SRuuPP5psUA_3RDg1zy_z-PdTY_MniwZSfBO2SrtgFOsiz2sCuOO6834Eco-LkYWLK8T2P8KO7_dFUH0qbeX/s1600/IMG_7791.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi44uw6nohd9iuUfnAvOpXa4UOHb6o1EiCVCcgsdY6cmbm4uGLlhPWjP1a-SRuuPP5psUA_3RDg1zy_z-PdTY_MniwZSfBO2SrtgFOsiz2sCuOO6834Eco-LkYWLK8T2P8KO7_dFUH0qbeX/s1600/IMG_7791.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Some journals I made and are falling apart - I love that</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The only times I started journaling in college were during break-ups or during some other depressing situation in my life. Rereading those feeble attempts at journal writing were painful. Quite frankly, who wants to reread/relive all that? This is when I developed the habit of <b>tearing pages out and retrying the whole thing</b>. And for years, I think that some of these journals started like this, only to be resurrected again and again with the same attempt the next time some difficult situation presented itself.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Those poor blank books. </b> They wanted to be full of poignant moments and beautiful words. I desired desperately to be a keeper of journals in order to record my life. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">Why was it that every time I tried, </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">I not only could not keep the practice up </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">but I never wanted to reread a sentence of the stuff I wrote?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I think it is because there are two types of writing for me. <b>The type that is a record of my days here on earth</b>: the joys, sorrows, disappointments, frustrations, successes, or sometimes just simple stream of consciousness. This is what my journals look like now. And t<b>he type of writing to help myself <i>process </i>a situation,</b> not necessarily to record it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">When I went through a divorce years ago, I wrote all the time. And I threw all that stuff out. <b>I no longer needed to carry it around with me because it was over, done with, and I never wanted to be reminded of it again. </b> The only way I benefited from writing all that was getting my feelings out. I would receive very little, if any, benefit from rereading everything I wrote.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I think this is the reason many people fail at journal writing. <b>They start at a bad time </b>and their book becomes a bunch of negative feelings or complaints. And then the whole experience becomes negative.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Give yourself permission to write for the sake of writing</b> and to purge whatever you don't want to relive again. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">It frees you up to write more authentically if </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">you know you are writing just to get</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;"> your thoughts on paper and not for prosperity.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1wCysfwvR7C6eAZtC3jSPeFSu5kwEquuTUm-EPdo747YTPNVvvT7tHDpEF-XfUiI_lUkXYOsdLXvLa3HkADe5sZUm2hFhxH0X3Yle8Wt3qYu5IPh6s046PnhRZouKlR_HF-RbPnaJqvQR/s1600/IMG_7692.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1wCysfwvR7C6eAZtC3jSPeFSu5kwEquuTUm-EPdo747YTPNVvvT7tHDpEF-XfUiI_lUkXYOsdLXvLa3HkADe5sZUm2hFhxH0X3Yle8Wt3qYu5IPh6s046PnhRZouKlR_HF-RbPnaJqvQR/s1600/IMG_7692.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Molly Ann Quigleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13866857360904191405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7224613765716619909.post-36534257762288908802015-03-10T13:28:00.001-07:002015-03-10T15:14:20.078-07:00Purge Is The Word<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_zTFUcHwC3DV-Ake5o4p3pGRwYkYAUyB3WiE7RfSYCevy0ENw3f9hS9kvRXHP8WCtSeFDRQRVVDS8k7lEkzXUmmJitFCd_yOd5fDB1T1tdCNSMgBTXoo4t8bOdOoJLxZWKIwrY9Wycyhi/s1600/IMG_7473.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_zTFUcHwC3DV-Ake5o4p3pGRwYkYAUyB3WiE7RfSYCevy0ENw3f9hS9kvRXHP8WCtSeFDRQRVVDS8k7lEkzXUmmJitFCd_yOd5fDB1T1tdCNSMgBTXoo4t8bOdOoJLxZWKIwrY9Wycyhi/s1600/IMG_7473.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">At the beginning of this year, I picked a word to work on as a theme/project/intention for 2015. Inspired by <a href="http://aliedwards.com/blog?tag=One+Little+Word%C2%AE" target="_blank">Ali Edward's One Little Word</a>, I chose the word PURGE.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Last year, this was the word I wanted to choose, but I chose COMPASSION instead. One of Ali's techniques for deciding on your word is to look it up in the dictionary and/or a thesaurus. And last year when I read the words attached to PURGE, I shuddered.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Words like . . .</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: large;">murder, eradication, ejection, catharsis, clarification, cleaning, cleanup, reign of terror, suppression and SCREECH . . .witch hunt</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">were used to describe this word. And 3 months into this, I can see why. Getting rid of your stuff is like a witch hunt and murder. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I invested time and money into reading and re-reading two books to get me into the mode of doing this and doing it once and for all:</span></div>
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<span class="a-size-large" id="productTitle" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.3 !important; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Life-Changing-Magic-Tidying-Decluttering/dp/1607747308" target="_blank">The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing</a> by Marie Kondo</span></h1>
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<h1 class="a-size-large a-spacing-none" id="title" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 21px !important; line-height: 1.3 !important; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
<span class="a-size-large" id="productTitle" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.3 !important; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/7-Experimental-Mutiny-Against-Excess/dp/1433672960/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1426015761&sr=8-1&keywords=jen+hatmaker+seven" target="_blank">7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess</a> by Jen Hatmaker</span></h1>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I started sharing things that I purged on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/molly.a.quigley" target="_blank">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://instagram.com/onlinedatingcheerleader/" target="_blank">Instagram</a>. My motivation for doing this was strictly to hold myself accountable. <b>And out of all the things I have posted in my lifetime, these were the posts that people really started to connect to </b>- I received messages of thanks for the push and for more information; people giving stuff away saying I inspired them; messages asking for the book title that I was using to help me, etc. In my own small way, I was helping others to purge too. And the more positive messages I received from them, the more it keep me going. People even gave me stuff, just to say thanks.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_VNcWM7MTSgSHTsavTYNMQv_sktBgdkkgIYFBvYb2O2RHrU_XmE2r8sd3keSL5a6RYguYFk3lz8oR7AbpMyHrP3h3IpOeO_HOEbf4Xcc-QCk2tspvzjph4GIHsz0t_j_5rSbMG7oN2o4z/s1600/IMG_7475.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_VNcWM7MTSgSHTsavTYNMQv_sktBgdkkgIYFBvYb2O2RHrU_XmE2r8sd3keSL5a6RYguYFk3lz8oR7AbpMyHrP3h3IpOeO_HOEbf4Xcc-QCk2tspvzjph4GIHsz0t_j_5rSbMG7oN2o4z/s1600/IMG_7475.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Some things people sent to me</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I have been purging things like crazy since the beginning of the year - clothes ( you can read more about this process <a href="http://allwaysinfashion.blogspot.com/2015/03/how-to-dress-happy.html" target="_blank">here</a>), books, shoes, art supplies, beauty products and now jewelry. I gave a bunch of clothes and costume jewelry to <a href="http://www.vitaliving.org/" target="_blank">Vita-Living</a> that I hoped they could use for Arts and Crafts time. I gave nicer beads to my friend <a href="http://littlelucyandscooter.blogspot.com/2014/08/portland-graffiti-captured-by-amy-huff.html" target="_blank">Amy</a>, who makes some of the coolest stuff in the world, and to other beaders, like my sister, Beth. I have given old glasses to <a href="http://members.lionsclubs.org/EN/serve/sight/index.php?gclid=Cj0KEQjwrPqnBRD56dGe1o_WlZsBEiQAb5ugt7YfqBp7yDv7V7Dh6UjEsQhntu_DAaqD9tRCPE-aDHsaAgFI8P8HAQ" target="_blank">The Lions Club</a>, and tons of books to the Houston Public Library. What has become enjoyable for me now is pulling out something</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-size: large;"> I don't use</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"> I don't need</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">or I don't want</span></li>
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<span style="font-size: large;">and then thinking of who could. As a start up writer, I'm not making a lot of money, so giving money right now to worthy causes just isn't possible. <b>But I can give my time and my things and feel splendid.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Speaking of free things, if you would like a chance to win these Moonstone and Freshwater Pearl earrings (retail value $80), go to my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Little-Lucy-and-Scooter/128205875065?ref=hl" target="_blank">Facebook page </a>and add a comment. Whether you live near of far, I'll mail them to you. And I'll be giving away more. My little ears have decided to reject any metal I put near them, so what better way to get rid of some things? I can pass them on to you at no charge and we just keep the cycle of giving away what we don't need going.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4EiiqJ0xCNN6MRTsoTEVe-yZeehl4ToHtwBGWOsRJ_TzoMj6FRBRSY56bMvPiTDoWmAm6r2UK90y1kNomwxadjsWw26hNbmuen5XLiAFln2jDqqJ72vFiKl9wq3HSDiyiqZIGkQj17wEb/s1600/IMG_7766.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4EiiqJ0xCNN6MRTsoTEVe-yZeehl4ToHtwBGWOsRJ_TzoMj6FRBRSY56bMvPiTDoWmAm6r2UK90y1kNomwxadjsWw26hNbmuen5XLiAFln2jDqqJ72vFiKl9wq3HSDiyiqZIGkQj17wEb/s1600/IMG_7766.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"> These earrings are yours - just for reading</span></td></tr>
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Molly Ann Quigleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13866857360904191405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7224613765716619909.post-26392719094942704912015-02-26T07:56:00.000-08:002015-02-26T07:56:20.556-08:00How To Start A Journaling Practice<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvSKrHsBzc_ylo0UgGkMMJ5ZIEl2blyRJC1QwurM4_A0kV-S9KvzI3L4wYw2ewVuCt6cq6KWeLJI4Y8Tr_6i3YsnM4ku3Bl_ycrqXH796mJq2jT5RZYzA27Mo1Ckm3Ve0BF842HybwiOdY/s1600/IMG_7073.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvSKrHsBzc_ylo0UgGkMMJ5ZIEl2blyRJC1QwurM4_A0kV-S9KvzI3L4wYw2ewVuCt6cq6KWeLJI4Y8Tr_6i3YsnM4ku3Bl_ycrqXH796mJq2jT5RZYzA27Mo1Ckm3Ve0BF842HybwiOdY/s1600/IMG_7073.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I journal every day. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Every. Single. Day. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This might sound impressive, but it's not. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>I didn't mention how <i>many minutes </i>I journal, or how many pages I write, or <i>what</i> I write . . . which varies. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I wrote 3 pages this morning. The last time I did that was about a week ago. Well, if I write every day - then what did my other entries look like?</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-size: large;">Sometimes I write lists of things to do - I just have to get the junk out of my head before I can write anything for anyone.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Ideas on blog posts are a favorite thing to capture.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">I might print out a FB post I wrote and cut and paste and tape into my book (yes, tape - I'm not archiving my journals).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">I might sketch something quick.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">A good TV show or song I hear on the radio is often thrown in there, normally on the tops of pages, so the next time I am in iTunes or looking for something I grab my book and find it.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Dreams - not the ones I have in my sleep - but the things I want to do with my life, the vacations I want to take - sometimes these are my favorite entries. </span></li>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In other words, every time I have my journal in hand, I am not writing stuff about my feelings, etc., more the stuff of my life. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I am recording moments, thoughts, things going on in the world, problems I am facing and so many other things that I get excited to pick it up and throw who knows what into it.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzwJPLR_8bamuTseGMMbtxzYcPJdpzyTIFgeUlaet4zgTFgLO9ZmVfzrkYPiOeDAI8vx78KqHq9WclE-Ak90i4gwQVswxHKQOMxKTkGYKDaT4HfMR-t6DKd7a_z9jXlT7-Vg3QOjeoc8jE/s1600/IMG_6369.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzwJPLR_8bamuTseGMMbtxzYcPJdpzyTIFgeUlaet4zgTFgLO9ZmVfzrkYPiOeDAI8vx78KqHq9WclE-Ak90i4gwQVswxHKQOMxKTkGYKDaT4HfMR-t6DKd7a_z9jXlT7-Vg3QOjeoc8jE/s1600/IMG_6369.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Why I think people start this practice and fail is because they put large demands on what their</span> <span style="font-size: large;">practice will look like.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b></span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;">They set an intention to journal 30 minutes every day, and might succeed for 2-3 days, then stop, and never write in the journal again. I have been at countless journaling classes or seminars where people admit to having all these empty journals lying around their house with exactly 3 pages written in them, and the rest is empty.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #93c47d; font-size: x-large;">Here are my tried and true thoughts </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-size: x-large;">on how to start a practice.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Don't time yourself. </b>At the beginning of starting your practice, you might want to set a time goal, thinking you'll aim to journal for 30 minutes. That's fine. If you sit there in that 30 minutes and write nothing, that's fine too. You are just learning to set aside time for yourself. Thinking of it this way might help you succeed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Write whatever comes to you.</b> This means you might bitch, write a list, write about the fact that you have nothing to write about, describe the awful shoes the woman next to you at Starbucks has on, but write anything and everything. Look at the blank page and fill it up with the crazy stories from the news or why you hate, and always will, fanny packs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Don't judge yourself.</b> It is normal at the beginning of any practice, whether it is starting an exercise routine or starting to date, we all want to be good at it. But you won't be all of the time. In fact, most people start journaling and their journals might have nothing but bitching in them. That is okay. That is great. It takes awhile to find your voice.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Worry not whether someone will read it.</b> This is a tough hurdle for most people. And it took me many years to completely let this go. Some strategies for handing this are:</span></div>
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<ol>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Keep your journal in a hidden or secret place</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Journal online with a program that is password protected</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Make a plan with a friend that if something should happen to you, they are the ones to remove your journals - I have this and once this arrangement was made, man, I write everything.</span></li>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Just write</b>. To get me to do this, the book that encouraged me was Julia Cameron's <u><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Artists-Way-Julia-Cameron/dp/1585421464#" target="_blank">The Artist's Way</a></u>. The book is a 12 week program that makes you start every morning with 3 written pages. I love a good 8-12 week course on pretty much anything. I got up every morning while I had an infant, went to Starbucks at 5:30 a.m. (while everyone was still sleeping), wrote my three pages and came back home and got the kids ready for the day. It killed me, but it was only for 12 weeks, right? You can do anything for 12 weeks, I kept telling myself. I wanted to be an artist then, yet little did I know, it was really teaching me to be a writer. Do I still write 3 pages every day? No. But when I have an especially busy day of writing ahead, yes, I start with this exercise. It works. Trust me.</span></div>
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Molly Ann Quigleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13866857360904191405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7224613765716619909.post-8648065740766288502015-02-24T14:09:00.000-08:002016-06-14T10:11:39.371-07:00Why We Should Talk More About How Mental Illness Feels<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Last year, I watched producer Dana Perry accept an Oscar and describe how she lost her son, Evan, to suicide. She </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">pleaded to an audience of millions to talk about suicide. I'm glad she was brave enough to share her story to raise awareness. </span><i style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold;">I often feel our society doesn't really talk about suicide, depression or mental illness or have the tools to do it. </i><b style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large; font-style: italic;"> </b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">To talk about mental illness, it might help to know more about what it </span><i style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>looks like</b></i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">, or what it</span><b style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"> </b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b style="font-style: italic;">feels like, </b>especially </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">for the mentally ill person or their family. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhST6FIc_Irlk5Ygv2gDWJ_1OsuRDr_caOTfosR9f_hQkEL4xWkEkQ_i_zowWc3AxRLx8ynC_wqtEU_YZq6cD61qLtvp1t8NPrZE5yMitxmj2wusMoUKreALMRnh3jbH-hrRicQZYalvoHb/s1600/IMG_5075.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhST6FIc_Irlk5Ygv2gDWJ_1OsuRDr_caOTfosR9f_hQkEL4xWkEkQ_i_zowWc3AxRLx8ynC_wqtEU_YZq6cD61qLtvp1t8NPrZE5yMitxmj2wusMoUKreALMRnh3jbH-hrRicQZYalvoHb/s1600/IMG_5075.jpg" width="480" /></a><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">When Robin Williams died, there was an onslaught of people getting on Facebook talking about "If you need help, please get it." </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">These statements always strike me as caring, yet perplexing. </span><b style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;">When someone is clinically depressed to the point of contemplating suicide, getting help is sometimes the last thing they know how to do.</b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">This is why. Walking into a depressed person's house, you might see them unwashed, trash and filthy dishes piled up, mail unopened and phone messages unanswered, etc. Their daily tasks are too much for them, which now renders their home in total disarray. If someone is this bad off, can you imagine how hard it would be for them to ask for help? <b>They are no longer functioning like you and me, so we can't expect them to ask for help, we have to get them help. </b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Depression can feel like walking around with 5 wet blankets hanging on you.</b></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I saw these clinically depressed behaviors in my father my entire life. My father is bi-polar, often referred to as manic depressive. He has 'highs' from the mania that make him incredibly productive, which led to a successful career as a Fortune 500 strategic business consultant and published author. He also has 'lows' that trigger depression that render him depleted, exhausted and unable to function. There is a spectrum tool used when describing bi-polar behavior, and a psychiatrist will often ask, "Are you more depressed then you are manic?" Which side of the spectrum do you gravitate towards?" For my father, it was the manic side with the depressive side coming after an especially manic spree.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> <b>This is what the mania looked like for my dad.</b></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Hypomania - an exuberant feeling that was addictive and made him enjoy and seek manic moods.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Inability to sleep for days at a time.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Paranoia - thoughts about people making fun of him, thinking they were better than him, or people trying to take advantage of him.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Unreasonable ANGER and irritation- this could be triggered by very small things, taken out on an innocent bystander and hard to witness or be the target.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">An unbelievable amount of creative energy in generating new ideas, projects or solutions to things.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Grandiose behavior where he made poor choices believing that consequences did not apply to him.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>When he was depressed, it often looked like this:</b></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">He slept and was in his bed for 2-3 days at a time, sometimes more.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">His taste buds were off, he had no appetite and would often not eat for days at a time.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">He had chronic aches and pains.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">He did not leave his bed to do anything except use the restroom. His hair would be unwashed, his teeth never brushed, his face unshaven.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">He was kind, contemplative, slower when he started pulling out of it. Reflective even. But at the initial onset of the depression, unable to think, talk and just wanted isolation.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">For years, we never talked about my father's erratic behavior, his temper, his mood swings. We were too frightened as children and too ashamed. Mental illness had a stigma, and, for my father, was a weakness. It was his personal secret and our familial secret. We also didn't have the tools to even know how to approach the subject. It wasn't until about the late 70's or early 80's that my father got some help. The only reason he did was because the depression was so bad it rendered him unproductive. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>He could live with the mania, but he could not tolerate the depression.</b></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The solution for this disease back then was a mood stabilizer and the one that worked best for him was Lithium. It still works best for him. As a geriatric person now, my father faces some of his most difficult moments as the disease progresses at a rapid pace, making the disease hard to live with <i>for him</i> and for the person taking care of him.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>I've listened to popular culture use and mis-use the word <i>'manic' </i>and '<i>bi-polar.' They become inter-changeable words for saying someone is an asshole or crazy. </i></b></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>This is how we talk about mental illness - by labeling one another with terms that we know nothing about. </b>We don't wonder what it would be like to live with his illness.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>For me, one of the hardest things about his disease was watching him continue to deny it. </b> Some bi-polars do this, and it can be a symptom of their disease. They question whether they have a problem, because they get into a hypomanic mode where their euphoria level is so high, that they no longer believe anything is wrong with them and stop taking their medication.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">To watch him not be compliant with his medication and his treatment is frustrating and exhausting. What does the term compliant mean? It means taking your medication and keeping your psychiatrist appointments. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>As hard as his continuous denial was to watch, it became even harder to see the wreckage caused by his disease. </b> His lost relationships with his kids, his divorce from my mother and his wife of 40 years, and his friendships.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>If we talked more about how mental illness feels and what it looks like, rather than about what people should do if they get in crisis, I believe the conversations we have could generate more help for others and more compassion.</b> I feel terrible sadness for my father, who due to chemical imbalances in his body, has lived a challenging life. And if my words help illustrate a picture of the difficulties a person and a family faces with these challenges, then my dad's encouragement for me to be a writer has been fulfilled. </span></div>
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Molly Ann Quigleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13866857360904191405noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7224613765716619909.post-43850235965562301142015-02-11T09:18:00.002-08:002015-02-11T09:18:51.441-08:00Folk Artists Don't Break Rules, They Don't Know The Rules<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBf8HOaQ-7i3S7NyQadtfwf2alN3o03lpFFGy1KJq3R4s_j_EoTHv3kSBl9-jwRHvM1qOn74HozNk4BOsDeHbaHkYMdTJOSUBCLV3GLqmqc3xKDdv92jCZDUpqeoditkkFpkfoPkE9xMDl/s1600/IMG_7354.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBf8HOaQ-7i3S7NyQadtfwf2alN3o03lpFFGy1KJq3R4s_j_EoTHv3kSBl9-jwRHvM1qOn74HozNk4BOsDeHbaHkYMdTJOSUBCLV3GLqmqc3xKDdv92jCZDUpqeoditkkFpkfoPkE9xMDl/s1600/IMG_7354.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Shock and awe describes my feelings walking into the home of folk art collectors Victoria and Jay Wehnert. Their house, sitting on a rather sizable lot by the Houston Heights neighborhood standards, looks like a historic home in a faraway small Texas Hill Country town. One swing of the front door and a brief peek inside, I felt as if I was stepping into a jewel box, unable to decide which jewel to gaze at first.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkjGawd7dS_h9pvLGNO5PNo2B4Trz8ywOeA-iaCK1sOqK6ORyTnzW0aohYu451CiJVVnUReTa742Ckn3f31X5mbDaDE0Ati3iAsaNRoPr6KS5J-rwKk1DU8WAmCH_CITTMDjdR0dslNI3z/s1600/IMG_7378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkjGawd7dS_h9pvLGNO5PNo2B4Trz8ywOeA-iaCK1sOqK6ORyTnzW0aohYu451CiJVVnUReTa742Ckn3f31X5mbDaDE0Ati3iAsaNRoPr6KS5J-rwKk1DU8WAmCH_CITTMDjdR0dslNI3z/s1600/IMG_7378.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I was standing listening to Jay speak. I heard words coming out of his mouth. I know I did. And words were coming out of mine. But I could not concentrate, as my blood was pumping from the sheer excitement of what I was about to discover. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Never had I been in a home with this vast of a collection, curated and grouped with such interest, as if each salon style wall was grouped by a professional team setting up for a magazine shoot.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCEH9uOqJ6mbQoGrQaqI-rfNQL77aFIN1xDyAafbwhk_SDLnrN3kRBISuwO9HcTBm2VVAuzztLL15p2xQLj0Zy1yXuvbRqrEq1cwHBddX3PApxogoBTQuhO1JnMoUKX154WdoA-Hn7-68X/s1600/IMG_7345.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCEH9uOqJ6mbQoGrQaqI-rfNQL77aFIN1xDyAafbwhk_SDLnrN3kRBISuwO9HcTBm2VVAuzztLL15p2xQLj0Zy1yXuvbRqrEq1cwHBddX3PApxogoBTQuhO1JnMoUKX154WdoA-Hn7-68X/s1600/IMG_7345.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Even their kitchen is surrounded by their collection</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The first thing Jay wanted to discuss was the fact that their collection is composed of 3 types of art:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-size: large;">outsider art</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">self-taught art</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">folk art </span></li>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, what's the difference between these terms? The significant difference, as Jay describes, is that folk artists create items that have a <i>utilitarian</i> purpose: a potter makes a bowl to use, a quilter makes a cover to warm someone, a carver makes a decoy for hunting. When they are making these items, the artists know their work is part of a craft history. An outsider artist doesn't know they are an artist. They are creating for more personal and internal reasons. Their creation has no intended audience, and it is for their own personal use.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh18weeVaTjVBEIif0LPIyZmoST6KCDJpy35gNdceoHoA3oNRZARHIlxqPHJEXw2Q7NixNzCfEeF95nJZk7ZONIvpTX9d7kkNmaRtkANVdwtRrPBLwvpfpmIYE5aAIV01858c8416r412qe/s1600/IMG_7332.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh18weeVaTjVBEIif0LPIyZmoST6KCDJpy35gNdceoHoA3oNRZARHIlxqPHJEXw2Q7NixNzCfEeF95nJZk7ZONIvpTX9d7kkNmaRtkANVdwtRrPBLwvpfpmIYE5aAIV01858c8416r412qe/s1600/IMG_7332.jpg" height="320" width="220" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Tramp Art cross</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Ntekd-PZj4VwCW0f2XvkHsWThP2-aFwl24tqlTfUvz2ZmExBvXEoHGO7a9j1nQZpREboh02tlGDjg4vefKhftZBGKD9vDsLUb3t8a7An3-78_tPoAclgjXCcfOLE22SZNU5gGNh0Zegf/s1600/IMG_7337.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Ntekd-PZj4VwCW0f2XvkHsWThP2-aFwl24tqlTfUvz2ZmExBvXEoHGO7a9j1nQZpREboh02tlGDjg4vefKhftZBGKD9vDsLUb3t8a7An3-78_tPoAclgjXCcfOLE22SZNU5gGNh0Zegf/s1600/IMG_7337.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Matchstick cross</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Types of art that they collect:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Tramp Art </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Matchstick Art</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Coin Art</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Memory Jugs</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Not to mention stamp art, gum wrapper chains, bottle cap art, popsicle art, beaded fruit, and so much more.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4HOr3Rk3ziJKGd1ctzziTCE8uN_tYLAEDiYruYS0i418pwKm5QZp4fN2nElpkF-tnpDB6023RZrmbjjJHL53eoXuP46ujY_RDR9A7Ehps8096EkEhvuoQEDaJdj5Dkatwrs4QFD9dSgLC/s1600/IMG_7368.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4HOr3Rk3ziJKGd1ctzziTCE8uN_tYLAEDiYruYS0i418pwKm5QZp4fN2nElpkF-tnpDB6023RZrmbjjJHL53eoXuP46ujY_RDR9A7Ehps8096EkEhvuoQEDaJdj5Dkatwrs4QFD9dSgLC/s1600/IMG_7368.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Coin Art in the shape of a bald eagle</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUR7Fv-R8f0jK_5QWXY1_eCsoH_K9KxXXP84VVNrdoiABdSsahVxOMR51AMkzlLPbnFbyuK11sFu8RZrHNxHTifer4BAREu4qVsx2x08jhkgBRm1VBmptSfg9WwDIuNVQRvDtAAqBQailI/s1600/IMG_7369.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUR7Fv-R8f0jK_5QWXY1_eCsoH_K9KxXXP84VVNrdoiABdSsahVxOMR51AMkzlLPbnFbyuK11sFu8RZrHNxHTifer4BAREu4qVsx2x08jhkgBRm1VBmptSfg9WwDIuNVQRvDtAAqBQailI/s1600/IMG_7369.jpg" height="640" width="402" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Memory Jug - Their collection of these made me want to distract him and walk out with them</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">One artist I recognized when looking around was an evangelical preacher named Reverend Howard Finster, whose work is part of the permanent collection at The High Museum in Atlanta. Howard created to communicate his Evangelical messages about God, his personal visionary experience and to tell others about his relationship with God. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikuE0KEj0J85FTw5H-xBvyRnfiua4DGMnT8wZbpZToFoVeqae62E8K0l73wWZ6U0L4t4ksyimcQNrKmgz09yZgRtmSVhWelvCstKuVWgRYTYxSBwsOZpS-abj4On33_zptdWIJhyIjDNqO/s1600/IMG_7366.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikuE0KEj0J85FTw5H-xBvyRnfiua4DGMnT8wZbpZToFoVeqae62E8K0l73wWZ6U0L4t4ksyimcQNrKmgz09yZgRtmSVhWelvCstKuVWgRYTYxSBwsOZpS-abj4On33_zptdWIJhyIjDNqO/s1600/IMG_7366.jpg" height="320" width="269" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3fligNPRT02TocUhP3TLTxy_EU8c7bmhJqnKA5J7qWgoXz-4VSEQPQq8jqu_dJfTpvWGo1EXMsBLwOX5xCmEZa3U4ibAq7flT4dmPFzd0XWbZL3I0pCvAWOmnlmWJcsh6f-S1SpRtnF-t/s1600/IMG_7365.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3fligNPRT02TocUhP3TLTxy_EU8c7bmhJqnKA5J7qWgoXz-4VSEQPQq8jqu_dJfTpvWGo1EXMsBLwOX5xCmEZa3U4ibAq7flT4dmPFzd0XWbZL3I0pCvAWOmnlmWJcsh6f-S1SpRtnF-t/s1600/IMG_7365.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHwRkwfT52H6xuZ8KyRLic3YVVEzUKxdHt6Y8I3XJFK60k4-fLZGpV_vbqD1ScDI0UNt3DnB4wVpkW0DMzF-rFM39Y48csYSDzSda19_hinAWL1DUAzV-YJi8jesjQ-UJTUzhAoE0VRfLO/s1600/IMG_7372.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHwRkwfT52H6xuZ8KyRLic3YVVEzUKxdHt6Y8I3XJFK60k4-fLZGpV_vbqD1ScDI0UNt3DnB4wVpkW0DMzF-rFM39Y48csYSDzSda19_hinAWL1DUAzV-YJi8jesjQ-UJTUzhAoE0VRfLO/s1600/IMG_7372.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">What Jay pointed out about the telephone pictured above by Howard Finster is that it may appear funny to us, but it's not a joke. The art is serious and we have to be able to go beyond our amusement of it, and see the endeavor. Howard wanted people to be able to reach God.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">They also have numerous pieces by "The Baltimore Glassman," Paul Darmafall, who they found creating his pieces while living on the streets. He wanted to put his messages of independence and health out into the universe. <b>This meant depositing them in trash cans and hanging them on chain link fences. </b>The idea that someone would hang his work in their home was foreign to him. When Jay started buying his work, Paul's concern was whether the piece was hung close to a window because "fresh air is important."</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYf5vcGBP3IMNGz7OcYbi1wAqesbo1Su6q4WB7o1doDtS8f_oXWVEhMBuIv89bCswKNJWJYaRUm47xv4nu7cXrdZlPLblVsnFrVMgaohsmA3o3oXghNFvffZ6Vk1dBi64IX-vht7cYKR8h/s1600/IMG_7359.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYf5vcGBP3IMNGz7OcYbi1wAqesbo1Su6q4WB7o1doDtS8f_oXWVEhMBuIv89bCswKNJWJYaRUm47xv4nu7cXrdZlPLblVsnFrVMgaohsmA3o3oXghNFvffZ6Vk1dBi64IX-vht7cYKR8h/s1600/IMG_7359.jpg" height="640" width="368" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Glass piece by "The Baltimore Glassman"</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhizneBX43-jqG63RhxzEvdTOlPa-QXEDcosx9ZeeCShfV-Hog4EwROhObVBkFjSU_COsM_avy2fuKDAWeZ6ThgVE-AeeC3ddutLSVnUMnPpRXjAkcKNijwo8HwI5n1V32OpwfVHLHFlxnu/s1600/IMG_7360.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhizneBX43-jqG63RhxzEvdTOlPa-QXEDcosx9ZeeCShfV-Hog4EwROhObVBkFjSU_COsM_avy2fuKDAWeZ6ThgVE-AeeC3ddutLSVnUMnPpRXjAkcKNijwo8HwI5n1V32OpwfVHLHFlxnu/s1600/IMG_7360.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Types of messages he was putting out to the universe</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2pw7kk3_VFsXAPO_ZofivSycjO2k_TcSoq3fJBvw2JfS7jWE6CQyOPn24FZcuQrF6_73WwVdD_-JrdV3ON1kNyQYYxZuaJvH0GMWGpIZWieRYfCHTekj2IYZYHOREEh7H1pU1jjttNz8j/s1600/IMG_7367.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2pw7kk3_VFsXAPO_ZofivSycjO2k_TcSoq3fJBvw2JfS7jWE6CQyOPn24FZcuQrF6_73WwVdD_-JrdV3ON1kNyQYYxZuaJvH0GMWGpIZWieRYfCHTekj2IYZYHOREEh7H1pU1jjttNz8j/s1600/IMG_7367.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2pw7kk3_VFsXAPO_ZofivSycjO2k_TcSoq3fJBvw2JfS7jWE6CQyOPn24FZcuQrF6_73WwVdD_-JrdV3ON1kNyQYYxZuaJvH0GMWGpIZWieRYfCHTekj2IYZYHOREEh7H1pU1jjttNz8j/s1600/IMG_7367.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">What are the initial reactions of people when they come into your home?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">They are probably a little overwhelmed. Once their brains settle down, they are interested in the stories of the artists and how they came to do what they do.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Since space is rare in your home now, how does your collecting continue?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">By asking ourselves two questions. One, where is it going to go? And two, what is it going to relate to? After being married for thirty years, Jay and Victoria consult and collaborate on everything in the collection.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOJZmQwC6xMx1P57ALzTb1InU5iLG5duU70cvTD31cn0pqCBEz0J29-GV1szW7GrGC_62fi6ZJToUf3NShMFRzcVJTRNVFgE0qj8X85r90Fp9l3SmpPGeqCMut42EX7hNjvx5gN5RG_KWh/s1600/IMG_7396.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOJZmQwC6xMx1P57ALzTb1InU5iLG5duU70cvTD31cn0pqCBEz0J29-GV1szW7GrGC_62fi6ZJToUf3NShMFRzcVJTRNVFgE0qj8X85r90Fp9l3SmpPGeqCMut42EX7hNjvx5gN5RG_KWh/s1600/IMG_7396.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a>
<span style="font-size: large;">Jay is a former speech pathologist, who now represents a small group of contemporary artists who share many of the qualities of folk artists, as their perspectives are also on the fringe. In 2011, he started <a href="http://intuitiveeye.org/About" target="_blank">Intuitive Eye</a>, to expand on his interests and activities in the world of art. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #645656; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unciode', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #645656; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unciode', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Along with his wife, Victoria, he has collected Outsider, Self Taught, Visionary, Folk and Contemporary Art for over 25 years. Through Intuitive Eye he has developed collaborative relationships with artists, galleries, institutions and collectors to present the best of the art that fascinates him.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #645656; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unciode', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"> </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I want to thank Victoria and Jay for graciously welcoming me into their home and allowing me to take pictures of their private collection and share them with you. And to my high school friend Vivian Norris, who was kind enough to connect me to Jay, I owe you some guacamole.</span><br />
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Molly Ann Quigleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13866857360904191405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7224613765716619909.post-7227819572924596872015-01-21T19:14:00.001-08:002015-01-21T19:14:50.578-08:00How I Write for Artists & Why I Love Doing It<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0m8kYkOeVppm5nRz5pIaTulg0YfyFfL_x_6sxE7qSXBKBWFvQVQnOIgOJRJsOwdqtqGbTxSCk0HdZCp6cDdB4DtwXDFAxjts_H-x5_37o2UKNpA_g8wmKtaloHbU7cuPhw8cAEixO1-QO/s1600/IMG_6265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0m8kYkOeVppm5nRz5pIaTulg0YfyFfL_x_6sxE7qSXBKBWFvQVQnOIgOJRJsOwdqtqGbTxSCk0HdZCp6cDdB4DtwXDFAxjts_H-x5_37o2UKNpA_g8wmKtaloHbU7cuPhw8cAEixO1-QO/s1600/IMG_6265.JPG" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Recently, I was hired by a local artist/entrepreneur named Angela Smith to rewrite her LinkedIn page for her company, <a href="http://www.purlandloop.com/" target="_blank">Purl & Loop</a>. Angela, a former Houston real estate agent, who had little time for creative pursuits, had dreamed of the idea of producing needlework kits. She saw a niche in the market of fiber kits, <b>envisioning creating kits that had <i>every item you needed included with clear instructions</i>. </b>With a full-time job, she had limited time to create, and ordering kits that required her spending time sourcing more materials, instead of creating, were frustrating.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I went to Angela's place of business, interviewed her for 2 hours, going through her operations and looking at her product line. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">This is how her LinkedIn profile read before we met.</span><br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Purl & Loop provides contemporary needle arts kits and supplies with a focus on crewel embroidery, knit & crochet, and needle felting to the time pressed individual. We also have some magnificently inspiring books loaded with quick gratification projects and ideas to spark your modern creativity. We seek to the primary resource to those who want to spend more time creating and less time searching for all of a project's components.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">After talking with her, I realized she was doing much more then selling online retail kits, she was selling products she was designing and manufacturing through wholesale markets, like the wooden loom pictured below. These handmade birch looms are made here in Houston in her studio. Who knew?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_KcZs3wT25F-K_jxg7sKbGUo48SaMNkuDONOmZQ9BXH_QmNoguh-M_x29ANTUUNwTa9_y-wA4bwtlV-ACUpwz5k_fCu1WfWZsV15wTxhdVljcOunzkQ37zPst-MAxodkoXb7pg3MzoitP/s1600/IMG_6254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_KcZs3wT25F-K_jxg7sKbGUo48SaMNkuDONOmZQ9BXH_QmNoguh-M_x29ANTUUNwTa9_y-wA4bwtlV-ACUpwz5k_fCu1WfWZsV15wTxhdVljcOunzkQ37zPst-MAxodkoXb7pg3MzoitP/s1600/IMG_6254.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">This is how we changed the first paragraph:</span><br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Purl & Loop specializes in creating contemporary fiber art kits for the online retail & wholesale markets. Focusing on knitting, needle felting, and weaving, our mission is to create kits that provide every component needed to complete our projects, which makes the consumer/crafter spend more time creating and less time sourcing materials.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I added an additional paragraph to her LinkedIn profile elaborating on what her responsibilities were, and how her MBA, that focused on operations, was used to create a whole new aspect of her business. </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9tkl1J3x61_2hRt3QasXdG9Ag3PahgoTdquPOAjHHSOFM-1zBJDENfx_3rLjgMkBndmhLRf_OfAH4OWlFZQkm9YLicXs5ML7YknQ9m7HiwYYhewp2HYt2xlQNqOXst8fM3QjauHIdyFdS/s1600/IMG_6258.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9tkl1J3x61_2hRt3QasXdG9Ag3PahgoTdquPOAjHHSOFM-1zBJDENfx_3rLjgMkBndmhLRf_OfAH4OWlFZQkm9YLicXs5ML7YknQ9m7HiwYYhewp2HYt2xlQNqOXst8fM3QjauHIdyFdS/s1600/IMG_6258.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is another type of loom she produces made out of acrylic.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: large; line-height: 17px;">Here is the copy for the second paragraph...</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17px;">Responsibilities include conceptualizing & designing both the kit and finished project, writing/editing copy for instructions, sourcing supplies, streamlining production and creating packaging. To establish and maintain an effective website, studio and wholesale business, along with profitable trade shows, Angela utilizes constant resource management skills including, but not limited to, cash flow management, appropriate staff planning, supply chain management, freight considerations, and photographic styling. Purl & Loop manufactures, assembles and hand finishes their looms and kits in-house with supplies purchased from US or North American companies. Graduating with a Masters of Business Administration, with a focus in operations, Angela has been able to utilize her education to create and merchandise her product, market her company, hire and efficiently utilize productive staff.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17px;">Along with selling inspiring books loaded with projects on her website, Angela has produced how-to video tutorials to spark modern creativity amongst her customers.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I was also able to help Angela with the Bio of her on the website page. This is sort of my dream job, listening to people describe the spark that got them started, the steps of how they got things going and watching them tell me about what they feel passionate about.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">If you need some help writing about yourself, or what you do, I am here to listen, feel your passion and help you communicate that belief.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Molly Ann Quigleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13866857360904191405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7224613765716619909.post-49012358482784562692015-01-12T13:19:00.002-08:002015-01-12T13:19:25.114-08:00How the Teepee Fits in The House & Where to Find One<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is Lucy's room. I used to wish it was all linen colored, with pale, pale pink accents and a lot of white (aka something I saw in The Restoration Hardware Baby & Child catalogue). After reading Myquillyn Smith's book, </span><a href="http://www.thenester.com/landing/the-nesting-place-book" style="font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">The Nesting Place</a><span style="font-size: large;">, I took a hard look at myself, and decided this is what I have, and I will make it work.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It sort of helps to have books that match your decor.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And btw, Lucy seems to like these books, as much as I did.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I am embarrassed that I had linens from <a href="http://littlelucyandscooter.blogspot.com/2014/07/carol-hicks-boton-oh-how-i-love-thee.html" target="_blank">Carol Hicks Bolton</a>, </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">and was thinking about re-doing them (really?). </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> A doll house I got for Lucy by selling one of my purses.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Seriously. I sold a purse for this house.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> This was the tent that Lucy received from Santa.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It is made by a company called <a href="http://dollyandfrances.com/in-stock-teepees/" target="_blank">Dolly and Frances</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The tents are one-of-a-kind and have hand-painted details (like the fairies on this tent), utilize vintage fabrics & are true works of art.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Installation, or should I say set-up, takes all of 25 seconds.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I try to limit the amount of stuff in her room.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">With focus on handmade items and well,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Pee-Wee Herman memorabilia and PEZ containers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">There isn't tremendous space, but the tent fits in nicely, serves wonderful purposes and I'm so very proud of the space.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I don't need crown molding, a new chandelier, or anything else</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">to make this space more complete.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.thenester.com/landing/the-nesting-place-book" target="_blank">Get this girl's book.</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I love promoting artists.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Today I promote the work of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DollyandFrances" target="_blank">Dolly and Frances</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Two girls making tents that make little girl's dreams come true.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And one <a href="http://www.thenester.com/meet-the-nester" target="_blank">Myquillyn Smith</a>, who has taught me</span></div>
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<span style="color: #7f6000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">"It doesn't have to be perfect,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #7f6000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">to be beautiful."</span></div>
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Molly Ann Quigleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13866857360904191405noreply@blogger.com1