tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16470524872727466132024-03-13T15:41:52.493-04:00ampers&LIFE (AS I SEE IT) FROM A SMALL, NEW ENGLAND MILL TOWNKimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08303105147840093802noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1647052487272746613.post-4938419845692680262010-01-12T13:36:00.002-05:002010-01-12T13:46:33.320-05:00What's Your Type?<span style="color: orange; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong>YOUR TRUE CHARACTER, REVEALED</strong></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoNGCj_Skta8I274otX9ph7WQUOfvVgL2oSubQsIVPrCUqmkjdMWsfFm4venTfCRUxLQ2hn99vP2wOfj-9QcOsc5dpaZHC4FfC1IK1cKj3-aJ0mO1y_vsKPlDZqpEzfoXSoEHMRDszfQI/s1600-h/archer_hairline.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoNGCj_Skta8I274otX9ph7WQUOfvVgL2oSubQsIVPrCUqmkjdMWsfFm4venTfCRUxLQ2hn99vP2wOfj-9QcOsc5dpaZHC4FfC1IK1cKj3-aJ0mO1y_vsKPlDZqpEzfoXSoEHMRDszfQI/s320/archer_hairline.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I came upon this fun, holiday quiz, <em>What Type Are You?</em>, from the folks at <strong><a href="http://www.pentagram.com/">Pentagram Design</a></strong>, I couldn't resist giving it a try. I was curious to see just how accurate they'd be in matching my personality to a particular type face. After a series of four simple questions, they analyzed my answers, and pegged me as an "Archer Hairline" type of gal. The font is quiet, simple but elegant, with surprising details revealed when scrutinized more closely. I have to say, that <em>does</em> suit me.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Give it a try <strong><a href="http://www.pentagram.com/what-type-are-you/">here</a></strong> (the password is: character) and find out your <em>true type</em>!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br />
<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">The above image is a screen-grab of my "diagnosis," courtesy of Pentagram (thanks, Pentagram!)</span></em></span>Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08303105147840093802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1647052487272746613.post-69579297532313686542010-01-02T08:00:00.009-05:002010-01-04T19:00:58.698-05:00Helvetica<strong><span style="color: #ff6600; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;">ACCEPT NO SUBSTITUTES</span></strong><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl1vmgqUCTr9RZyVUaFskEK5u3CJGQjoY57wx-F8qrBRU5US6ddEQOnbXQ65bFzWaad_IzS5o4ax2BDgaz1u5wiPA4nuJUpW63WgYy8sCMubWfVpMDKyVr3E4Bi_vyCxxBO10dgnJKLLQ/s1600-h/helvetica.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl1vmgqUCTr9RZyVUaFskEK5u3CJGQjoY57wx-F8qrBRU5US6ddEQOnbXQ65bFzWaad_IzS5o4ax2BDgaz1u5wiPA4nuJUpW63WgYy8sCMubWfVpMDKyVr3E4Bi_vyCxxBO10dgnJKLLQ/s320/helvetica.jpg" /></a><br />
</div> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
It's no secret; <strong>I love type</strong>. There's something about letterforms that I find absolutely mesmerizing. As a I child, I would spend hours pouring over type specimen books, drinking in their subtleties of form. And my favorite was always Helvetica.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Later on, when I was off at college studying typography, I learned that Helvetica was the favorite of a lot of other folks, too. In fact, its use is "universal." (Pardon the pun, typophiles. :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>Think you DON'T know Helvetica?</strong> Check out this PBS short video: </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;"><a href="http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/helvetica/previewpop.html"><strong>Helvetica</strong></a>. It's actually a clip from a movie about the type face. (<em>See? I told you there were a lot of other Helvetica enthusiasts out there!</em>)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>Think you DO know Helvetica?</strong> Try this<strong> </strong><a href="http://www.ironicsans.com/helvarialquiz/"><strong>fun game</strong></a>, where designer David Friedman found 20 logos originally designed with Helvetica and swapped them out with Arial (blasphemy!). Your job is to pick out the original. Have fun! (<em>I got a perfect score! How about you?</em> :)</span>Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08303105147840093802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1647052487272746613.post-37952205541025294802009-12-31T08:00:00.005-05:002010-01-08T13:20:57.849-05:00Snow Angels<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong>FOR THE LOVE OF WINTER</strong></span><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a alt="snow cloud" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVu49pkUxUWSK_vxf3Oc3AdgXj06U5qreWugdMh54g9Pevbr9_OaefR2suaxniiG7HG_FgCmGs4sK_nhGHTIq1M-H1ctJJHgOAG3x9g6DIX0PoKHARWLESKgdq7s3o_UJyUlx7Z_8YyA4/s1600-h/cloud_snowangels_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVu49pkUxUWSK_vxf3Oc3AdgXj06U5qreWugdMh54g9Pevbr9_OaefR2suaxniiG7HG_FgCmGs4sK_nhGHTIq1M-H1ctJJHgOAG3x9g6DIX0PoKHARWLESKgdq7s3o_UJyUlx7Z_8YyA4/s400/cloud_snowangels_1.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">a flash of red,</span><br />
</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">a shiny sled goes by</span><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">two brothers tumble off</span><br />
</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">with runny noses</span><br />
</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and snow-covered hats, laughing</span><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">they jump to their feet</span><br />
</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and race back up the hill</span><br />
</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">to take another run </span><br />
</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(what fun!)</span><br />
</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">another streak of red, a flash of blue<br />
</span><br />
</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(so cute, with rosy cheeks)</span><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">then shrieks—of delight—</span><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">impromptu snowball fight!</span><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(and that's my cue...)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">i sneak inside the house,</span><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">it won't be long<br />
</span><br />
</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">before they tramp inside with frozen toes</span><br />
</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and shed their clothes:</span><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">four soggy mittens,</span><br />
</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and two pairs of boots,</span><br />
</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and snowpants, and jackets, and hats, and scarves,</span><br />
</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">in one great puddle</span><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">on the kitchen floor</span><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">i greet them at the door<br />
<br />
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">with two big hugs</span><br />
</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and two hot mugs</span><br />
</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">of cocoa to warm their cores</span><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>momma, ben put snow down my back</em>,</span><br />
</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">says russ, with a chocolaty pout;</span><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">from ben, a devilish grin—</span><br />
</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">big brothers <i>always</i> win...</span><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">their happy chatter fills</span><br />
</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the room with warmth,</span><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">my heart with joy;</span><br />
</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">each one is such a special boy</span><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">with ruddy faces and tousled hair</span><br />
</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">they melt my heart,</span><br />
</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">they light my soul</span><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">i wonder<br />
if they know,</span><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">my angels</span><br />
</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">in the snow</span><br />
</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>Note:</strong> The typographic cloud graphic above (my "snow cloud," if you will) was created with a wonderful (but addictive) program called <b><a href="http://www.wordle.net/">Wordle</a></b>. The poem, by yours truly, harkens back to a snowy day—a very long time ago...</span></span></i><br />
</div></div>Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08303105147840093802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1647052487272746613.post-15259251616763926352009-12-30T07:46:00.004-05:002009-12-30T09:54:32.590-05:00My Kind of Humor<strong><span style="color: orange; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(TYPE TEE HEE! :)<br />
</span></strong><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj53rxWX0JpQyhyphenhyphenTwfBL-urYG2fJam_zkvyPei1imNfDeksVqwG40N5uY3bpNV70xSNozYYdZlAyoKKQw-apwkLIbX4zrnk0ksrmBEU7AMa4mvHBLnkhwcHz-tA1Ob9RoHVaxxA-hO63JQ/s1600-h/haikutshirt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj53rxWX0JpQyhyphenhyphenTwfBL-urYG2fJam_zkvyPei1imNfDeksVqwG40N5uY3bpNV70xSNozYYdZlAyoKKQw-apwkLIbX4zrnk0ksrmBEU7AMa4mvHBLnkhwcHz-tA1Ob9RoHVaxxA-hO63JQ/s320/haikutshirt.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong><em>"Haikus are easy</em></strong></span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong><em><span style="font-size: small;">But sometimes they don't make sense<br />
Refrigerator"</span><br />
</em></strong></span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
Get your type tee </span><a href="http://typetees.threadless.com/product/623/Haikus_Are_Easy_But_Sometimes"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">here</span></a>!<br />
</div>Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08303105147840093802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1647052487272746613.post-62735635025853019512009-12-29T10:11:00.009-05:002010-01-04T18:56:48.436-05:00It's Been a While...<span style="color: #ff6600; font-family: verdana; font-size: 85%;"><b>RESURFACING</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It looks as though I kinda fell off the face of the earth some time in late August.<br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That sounds about right, time-wise, given the fact that, in early September, my cardiologist started talking to me about open-heart surgery (a septal myectomy, to be exact) as the next step in trying to get a handle on the severe symptoms—shortness of breath, dizziness, extreme fatigue, and lack of stamina—I'd been experiencing for the past couple of years. Seems as if my heart condition (a genetic one, called <a href="http://www.4hcm.org/">hypertrophic cardiomyopathy</a> or HCM) was getting worse and worse, and seriously affecting my quality of life.<br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well, long story short, after a roller-coaster of an emotional ride trying to figure out what I should—<i>HAD!</i>—to do, I underwent surgery in early November, and am now recuperating—slowly but surely. I hope to post more on my experience in the weeks ahead. Until then, please know that it's good to be back (<i>to be alive!</i>) and I'm looking forward to all the possibilities the future might hold.<br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here's to a healthy and happy 2010!</span>Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08303105147840093802noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1647052487272746613.post-69792873848171140112009-08-21T10:13:00.025-04:002009-12-29T19:44:09.119-05:00Busy Work<span style="color: #ff6600; font-family: verdana; font-size: 85%;"><strong>AND SEW ON, AND SEW FORTH</strong></span><br />
<br />
<img alt="Baby bibs, side one" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372512704315668354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe_1f255ipG3Zfp2p4e7V5U8Q9zkTwoFCiBZhIR-g1ZIGtFvkd34PCqERiM0BnoKLBGUs-PqRYFO8rxKkM0M6H-YNTGzcur3GRdwDtzWC6ZfP9iuL37yMctCRxN5H9613TvHTUeWvHzLY/s320/Bibs_1.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 217px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><br />
<div><span style="color: #663366; font-family: georgia; font-size: 130%;">Baby Bibs!</span><br />
</div><div><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana;">My niece, who just moved to Johannesburg, is expecting her first baby, a girl, <em>Liliana Grace</em>. She's asked her relatives stateside for homemade items for the baby; something small and easy to stuff into a suitcase. (It's <em>really</em> expensive to ship stuff to South Africa!)</span><br />
</div><div><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: black;">Now, we are a crafty, creative bunch for sure. As I type: my step-mom is making a quilt; my sister is "crocheting like a madwoman" as I understand it, working on a little oufit; my brother, cabinet-maker extraordinaire, is working on a wooden box which I'm sure will be a treasured family heirloom some day; a couple of my neices are working on blankets; and my other sister (the grandmother-to-be) is sewing everything under the sun—except for baby bibs, 'cuz that's what I promised to make. (She is a professional seamstress, and costume designer, and has the most amazing fabric stash I have ever seen! But since she's in FL and I'm in NH, I had to hit up the fabric store...)</span></span><br />
</div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;">My goal was simple: I had eight weeks to make seven bibs, one for each day of the week. But then, after drooling over all those "quilter's quarters" at the fabric store, and having a tough time narrowing my selection down to only seven prints, I decided I'd make the bibs reversible, and picked out 14 instead. I figured I could mix and match the left over scraps for appliques, ruffles, and such. I didn't have a pattern, so I bought an 89 cent bib, scanned it into my computer, and traced it in Illustrator. I added a seam allowance and printed out a template. I was ready to roll....</span><br />
</div><div><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;"><br />
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;">My head was swimming with ideas, so I dove right in. Now, I am no professional seamstress, and sometimes my creativity gets the best of me on projects. On the first bib, I got totally carried away making applique flower petals at the neckline (so when it's on, the baby's head looks like the center of a flower). It is so-o-o cute, but it took me three weeks to complete! (I don't have a whole lot of spare time between running a business, chairing a non-profit, planning a remodel <span style="color: black;">of a second home, and basic family & household obligations....)</span></span><br />
</div><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span><br />
<div><br />
</div><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;">Okay, so three weeks for one bib meant I only had four weeks to complete the other six! <em>My weekly bib quota had suddenly gone wa-a-y up!</em> No problem (as long as there are 24 hours in a day, I still had plenty of time...). I dragged those bibs cross-country to LA with me last month—and down to Long Island, too—and they've been back and forth to the Lakes Region several times. By the time I ship them to FL, and then my sister carries them to Africa, they will be some well-traveled bibs indeed.<br />
<br />
</span><br />
<div><span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
</div><div><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;"></span><img alt="Baby bibs, on the flip side" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372512989938321266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHrzhtoIGn7JIRHT0DYWRRnT83IUFA6g_JneSKPguE_NJKkp7CpYrxkWN8Sh8wW8OzXExix_w4yuyksx-4aTT9wD2jFu5RFVkPfa6k8UKLsHpT1595sjzeHHrLadxhdPQFj4BrE3fFHKs/s320/Bibs_2.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><span style="color: #663366; font-family: georgia; font-size: 130%;"><br />
Down to the Wire</span><br />
<div><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;">Well, there's only one week left now, before my sister flies off to Africa with her second suitcase stuffed with baby gifts, and I am still not finished with the bibs. (And I still have to ship them down to her in FL, too!) I have been pulling all-night sewing sessions this week, staying up into the wee hours of the morning. Last night, I was finally able to pack away the sewing machine, and finished slip stitching all the openings. All that is left are the embellishments and Velcro closures. (<em>I continued to get carried away on a couple of other designs—adding embroidery, ruffles, bows, etc.—but the last four are decidedly PLAIN. Such a shame, as I had SO many more ideas!</em>) I found some nifty buttons to dress the last ones up a bit, so they'll look nice, too. Of course, four bibs actually means <em>eight</em> sides because they're <em>reversible</em>—me and my brilliant ideas!—so I've still got a lot of hand-sewing to do, but I think I'm going to make it.</span><br />
</div><div><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;"><br />
</span><br />
<div><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;">People just better not look too closely at the handiwork (as I said before, I'm no seamstress). I'm hoping that they won't fall apart in the wash! But I figure, I'm sending seven of them, so the odds are with me that a few will withstand the test of time anyway. And one thing's for sure: <em>Baby Lily</em> will be the best-dressed little drooler in Jo-burg! :)</span><br />
</div><div></div><div><br />
</div></div></div>Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08303105147840093802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1647052487272746613.post-66370974532108428782009-07-30T10:20:00.013-04:002010-01-05T11:29:58.472-05:00Can I Get Bacon with That?<span style="color: #ff6600; font-family: verdana; font-size: 85%;"><strong>YES, YOU CAN!</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #ff6600; font-family: verdana; font-size: 85%;"><strong><br />
</strong></span><span style="color: #ff6600; font-family: verdana; font-size: 85%;"><strong></strong></span><img alt="Mmmm, bacon!" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364259291311884418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9XLKYZfQpt0ykDZw7sffzzBPcoLedLXfj9AMg5qz8sJi3W3cIdhwuQCnOM2dlePWF_GLz9Z2zKurJEqiSAGhNlzIn7l-7H5CRCw40OzrVWlzFVF_hJxCCfXVXKcWodPPq1WgfctfxFqY/s320/bacon.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 230px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /> <span style="font-family: verdana;">Who doesn't love bacon? (Well, I know a couple of people who don't, but I always tell them they're crazy….) I even wrote a short story about bacon once—actually <em>bacon and religion</em>, if you can believe it. It was an excercise for a writing class I was taking. (<em>Sorry, but I'm not quite ready to share that here, folks. Maybe some other time…</em>)</span> <br />
<span style="color: #663366; font-family: georgia; font-size: 130%;">A Virtual Side of Bacon<br />
</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Anyway, when you visit <strong><a href="http://bacolicio.us/">bacolicio.us</a></strong>, you'll see how easy it is to add a rasher of bacon to your favorite website—too much fun! (<em>Go ahead, give it a try. It only takes about as long as zapping a strip or two of that pre-cooked stuff in the microwave does.</em>) Now if they could only capture that smell somehow…mmmm, bacon!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>PS:</strong> For you true bacon enthusiasts, check out <em><strong><a href="http://bacontoday.com/">Bacon Today</a></strong></em>! :)</span>Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08303105147840093802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1647052487272746613.post-91475472733211786022009-07-29T09:55:00.015-04:002009-07-30T10:23:38.159-04:00Those Were the Days...<span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><strong><span style="color:#ff6600;">(UNFORTUNATE) ADVERTISING THROUGH THE AGES</span><br /></strong><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><p><span style="font-size:85%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 262px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363880761649606098" border="0" alt="Plastic-Wrapped Babies Anyone?" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyaWXZ-9yes3L-PNMmh3rye8A9uTBI2eLc74GgzYzK4fBkWhQwZYzvNUNPEh6IW29PuV9DAOXFMah2Aw_5BrtkJd9_k-zp53OX_tM0xU6wUqNokcgYZUOSqIDJ-yU-_SBmv6Yfbgxj850/s320/DuPont-Cellophane-babies.jpg" /> </span></p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;color:#663366;">Oh, the Irony!<br /></span>This morning I came across an interesting online article at <a href="http://consumerist.com/5306170/top-10-ironic-ads-from-history"><strong><em>The Consumerist</em></strong></a>, heralding back to the simpler times of yesteryear, and remembering some of the ad campaigns which ran, toting life's most modern conveniences: Mother's Little Helpers? Lead Paint? Asbestos? It's all there—and more…<a href="http://consumerist.com/5306170/top-10-ironic-ads-from-history">read on</a>.</span></p>Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08303105147840093802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1647052487272746613.post-16977953770565694032009-07-21T12:00:00.013-04:002009-07-29T12:33:54.609-04:00Summer in the City<span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#ff6600;">TOTO, I'VE A FEELING WE'RE NOT IN KANSAS…</span></span></strong></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /></span></strong></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></strong></span><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 313px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360953598162220722" border="0" alt="LA Palms" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUA2k5jANZ3C3LEnXl9U5g6B1xeVrPuwMpM1J4SpzilqHwtSpAvVrPJhZu347bsGrypGBqRl-nzbU63gH7IBPCHKQdGw_WRlN0ROnVJTIXAbu8v6vk6Csu-LsMfzve0BBtG5oEcjmnLEI/s320/la_palms.jpg" /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I've just returned from a long weekend in <strong>Los Angeles, CA</strong>, which is, pretty much, located on the <em>exact opposite</em> corner of the US from where I live (and similarly, is an <em>exact opposite</em> to the type of place I call home, here in New Hampshire).</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Despite claims by folks we chatted with, that "they were everywhere," I didn't see a single celebrity all weekend. <em>(Of course, I'm not much of a "star gazer" anyway, so it is entirely possible that I could have bumped right into one without having any idea who they were! :)</em> And, admittedly, we didn't actually spend any time in Hollywood itself—nor did we go anywhere near Burbank….<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">This was my first visit to LA (other than passing thru LAX on journeys elsewhere). My SO had business to attend to the first two days, so I mostly relaxed poolside at our hotel (or hid away in a spare office in <strong>Century City</strong>) and caught up on some reading. When the work day was done, we drank Mai Tai's at <strong>Trader Vic's</strong> and enjoyed a delicious meal at <strong>Wolfgang Puck's at LA Live</strong> one evening, then dined on sushi and took in breathtaking views of the city from the famous <strong><a href="http://www.yamashirorestaurant.com/history/">Yamashiro Restaurant</a></strong>, perched high in the <strong>Hollywood Hills</strong>, the next. We took a spin down Rodeo Drive and Sunset Boulevard, then left <strong>Beverly Hills</strong> to head down the Pacific Coast Highway to <strong>Manhattan Beach</strong>. Checked out Harbor Boulevard and the pier, then ventured further down to <strong>Redondo Beach</strong>, where we sat oceanside at <strong>Joe's Crab Shack</strong> for some fresh shellfood and cold beers after strolling the ocean walk. We were just in time for an outdoor concert on the boardwalk (featuring Open Wide, an "all-dentist band"), followed by a gorgeous pacific sunset.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">It was one of those whirlwind trips, and just as I was getting used to West Coast time, we were flying back east, only to confuse my internal clock all over again. All in all, we had a wonderful time on our brief tour of LA, and I'd love to return some day to see more of what the <em>City of Angels</em> has to offer.<br /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span>Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08303105147840093802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1647052487272746613.post-11732517510999063202009-07-07T10:56:00.014-04:002009-07-09T11:08:52.596-04:00Olympic Park Ampersand Sculpture<span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#ff6600;"><strong>SHOW ME A SIGN...</strong></span><br /><p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/striatic/2576151121/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 180px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355744928558594914" border="0" alt="Love and Loss Sculpture" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivJDgUBZQS4BY37Oom8691s1Owv97e55r3Gu3VNPybWhb0JxTtLgse8uFL55QMXgaieKtoD2KXiZznI6PaOmObSZ14A1QmGNtwIc1zxWHSlAo3DG-UTELhCRnknvQqFFlur3NdqvtThSg/s320/loveandloss.jpg" /></a> <span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#000000;">I've always wanted to visit Seattle (almost made it in May, when my SO was traveling there on business, but one of those pesky paying jobs I get from time-to-time got in the way....). Anyway, now that I know Seattle's got a <strong><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/striatic/2576151121/">rotating ampersand sculpture</a></strong> (<em>how awesome is that?!?</em>), I figure getting there has gotta be my destiny now!</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#000000;">Click on the photo or the link to enjoy a "short long photo" of the ampersand by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/striatic/"><em>Striatic</em></a>, found on Flickr. (Note the beautiful lighting and red-against-gray colorscape—very nice.) See you in Seattle some day...look for me by the neon red ampersand!</span></p>Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08303105147840093802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1647052487272746613.post-59708176217525121182009-07-06T12:14:00.016-04:002009-07-29T12:35:40.453-04:00The Rather Difficult Font Game<span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#ff6600;"><strong>TOO MUCH FUN!</strong></span><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 206px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355386038792713058" border="0" alt="The Rather Difficult Font Game" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBFtBCwxIFPObNu823vgDh5iaiIm5QMKKeHxDUKnoERDUFowsG_4Je31V-m3bV1r_J8c78DNeAMSp0mPR7AuQsyUvzwtxRDdKdy_EntaRozaGZDUysdbUcPoWR56ucBIY8JqK7cMsEJiQ/s320/fontgamescore_kf.jpg" /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Okay, I'm "easing back into things" here at the studio after a much needed long weekend of fun visiting friends and family down on Long Island (in the sun, no less!) So I couldn't resist taking a stab at this game I came across this morning on one of my favorite blogs, </span><a href="http://ilovetypography.com/"><strong><span style="font-family:verdana;">I Love Typography</span></strong></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">, called "The <em>Rather Difficult</em> Font Game." (And hey, it's still work-related: I'm honing my type identification skills, right?!?)<br /><br />Now, I've been a typophile since way back in Junior High, and used to think I knew a thing or two about type identification. But lately, with all the new foundaries emerging, and programs which let folks design and sell their own fonts, I'm not always quick to recognize a new font I come across, and I was starting to wonder whether or not I was still as "up on things" as I used to be.... Well, I'm happy to report that I've still got it. (Check out the <em>Rather Impressive</em> Hall of Fame top scorer, above—it's me! :) There were only two fonts I missed (aarrgghh!). I only played one round, and it says the fonts change each time you play, but I figured, why mess with success? I'm in the number one spot (for now anyway), so I'll leave it alone.<br /><br />The game <em>is</em> "rather fun" though (fun for type lovers anyway). Give it a try </span><a href="http://ilovetypography.com/fontgame/"><strong><span style="font-family:verdana;">here</span></strong></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">. Then, get back to work!</span>Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08303105147840093802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1647052487272746613.post-90995554711764505422009-06-29T19:28:00.008-04:002009-07-01T11:35:33.620-04:00Vote for the Newmarket Farmers' Market<span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong><span style="color:#ff6600;">WITH YOUR HELP, THEY COULD EARN A CASH PRIZE<br /></span></strong><br /></span>Have you been to the Newmarket Farmers' Market yet? (What's that? You hadn't heard that there <em>was</em> a farmer's market here in Newmarket!?! Well, it's been mentioned on my blog a time or two, and you can learn a lot more about it over at <em><a href="http://www.newmarkethappenings.blogspot.com/"><strong>Newmarket Happenings</strong></a></em>, the Lamprey Arts & Culture Alliance's blog.) Local farmers and vendors offer a terrific selection of fresh, locally-produced foods—and other great stuff!—<strong>every Saturday morning from 9 AM–1 PM</strong> (no market on July 4) in the parking lot of the historic Stone Church meeting house. You've got to check it out!</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">And, of course, if you <em>have</em> been, you already know what a great little market we've got here in town. So I shouldn't have to ask you twice, then, to give them your vote. (Just click on the graphic below.)<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><p align="center"><a href="http://www.care2.com/farmersmarket/28473/?refer=4416.04.1245801312.226310" target="_blank"><img alt="love your farmers market contest - help your market win $5,000 - vote today!" src="http://dingo.care2.com/contest/farmersmarket/banners/300x250.jpg" /></a></p><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;color:#663366;">Please Vote</span><br />By clicking on the graphic (above), you'll be connected to "care2care," an organization who, along with "Local Harvest," is running a contest amongst farmers' markets to promote fresh, local, healthy foods. The winning farmers' market (that is, the one with the most votes) wins a $5,000 cash prize! All you have to do to is give the Newmarket Farmers' Market (Newmarket, NH) your vote. It's quick and painless, with no strings attached—and <strong>it could help the Newmarket Farmers' Market to win $5000</strong>! Please vote today (and tell your friends)!</span>Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08303105147840093802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1647052487272746613.post-58168228735265929732009-06-17T17:33:00.026-04:002009-12-29T11:06:54.339-05:00Double Daggers<span style="color: #ff6600; font-family: verdana; font-size: 85%;"><strong>GOTTA LOVE THE GLYPHS, NO. 1</strong></span><br />
<img alt="Double Daggers" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348413337275256994" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghKCFflYTZ5KhCGGxlwuieLq01SBbA2NuzSWQ-3mWH_vpP5ch4HY2v_c8OInTuBYJY-qNnZ-1tkG0MzSIXw-QpcS_irr5m7Lczdg6WFHhRy05F1Y-d4nCNT7QZU1T4Zjo5w0qBjAv5GGo/s320/daggers.gif" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 306px;" /><span style="color: #663366; font-family: georgia; font-size: 130%;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #663366; font-family: georgia; font-size: 130%;">A Beautifully Designed Anicillary Character Gives Me Pause<br />
</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Yes, it's true, the name of my business, <em>Ampers&® Studio</em>, is centered around, and includes, an <em><strong>ampersand</strong></em> (&) character. Not so surprising. I am, after all, a typographer. And what typographer doesn't love ampersands? I've written about them <strong><a href="http://www.ampersandstudio.com/ampersand1.html">here</a></strong>.</span> <br />
<span style="font-family: verdana;">But in this instance, the letterform giving me pause is that third-order reference mark used in punctuation, a.k.a. the <em><strong>double dagger</strong></em> (‡), pictured here in a graphic I came across on <a href="http://www.typography.com/">Typography.com</a>. (<em>And isn't it lovely?</em>) The graphic accompanies an article about <em>Reference Marks</em>:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana;">"Daggers come from that archipelago of typographic symbols known as reference marks, which refer readers elsewhere for explanatory or exegetic notes. The traditional first-order reference mark is the <em>asterisk</em> (*)…."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana;">And that, my friends, makes fascinating reading for typography fanatics such as myself (seriously). If you love type, too, you might enjoy reading more from <strong>H&FJ News'</strong> article, <em>House of Flying Reference Marks, or Quillon & Choil</em>, <strong><a href="http://www.typography.com/ask/showBlog.php?blogID=190">here</a></strong>.*</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #663366;"><span style="font-size: 130%;">A Dire Dagger Dillema</span><br />
</span></span><span style="font-family: verdana;">This glyph, in particular, happened to catch my eye because of a situation in a recent project I'd been working on. You see, an <em>asterisk</em> had already been used within the project's text, as had the <em>dagger</em> (the second-order reference mark). So when my client requested to add in a <em>third</em> reference set, I used a <em>double dagger</em>, which is standard operating procedure in typography.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana;">Well, as it happens, the <em>dagger</em> had been used to indicate those <em>deceased</em> individuals mentioned within the text (which, if you think about it, is kind of ironic...). Anyway, to use the <em>double dagger</em> as a reference for a distinguished position held, even though proper, somehow didn't seem right. <em>Further, it was difficult to tell who had been honored and who had passed on!</em> (This would not do at all.) So instead, I threw the rules of typography right out the window (gasp!), and went with a lovely <em>lozenge</em> or <em>diamond (◊</em>), which seems like a much more distinguished mark to use for signifying a distinguished position. So forgive me, my mentors—who taught me the differences between, and proper usage of, EM- EN- and regular ol' dashes—I know the situation called for a <em>double dagger</em>, but "sometimes you just gotta do whatcha gotta do, eh?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 85%;"><em><strong>*</strong>Check out the asterisked bit at the end of <a href="http://www.typography.com/ask/showBlog.php?blogID=190">H&FJ's article</a>, an advisory notice from the</em> New Oxford English Dictionary<em> on pronunciation. (Don't you just love it? :)</em></span>Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08303105147840093802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1647052487272746613.post-71424872499602221502009-06-12T10:15:00.019-04:002009-07-01T11:34:32.278-04:00The Emerald Isle Through an Artist's Eye<span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#ff6600;"><strong>INSPIRING WORKS BY INSPIRING ARTISTS, NO. 4</strong></span><br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346454982142604370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 257px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="Sheep, 8x8 oil, by Stella" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDHOdfyA1AP4ASn6F0YnjwunTkZVW2SSuHn9PZhGNKDo45RBvdDROkovIegcx5MM9LxED59uz4TRFEKPLByhaMJj3RK76Ln117U55ao-ySR-aWregVF2GxRuS4YOsvQQQFR2PrPYng-7I/s320/sheep_stella.jpg" border="0" /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;color:#663366;">Candace Reed Stella Returns<br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000000;">Only recently returned from a trip to Ireland, local artist-teacher <strong>Candace Reed Stella</strong> has been inspired—<em>okay, and perhaps challenged a bit, by yours truly when I asked her if she could handle an impromptu show for our upcoming "NH Wines" tasting/educational</em> <em>event ;)—</em>to create a series of small canvases based on her journey. This will be her second solo show here at Ampers&.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;color:#663366;">How Beautiful!</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000000;">The brushes must be a-flyin' over at Candace's because in the last couple of weeks she has painted and posted photos of several gorgeous pieces on <strong><a href="http://artbycandacerstella.blogspot.com/">her blog</a></strong>, that are hauntingly beautiful in their simplicity of palette and capture the true spirit of the Irish countryside perfectly. I've been fortunate to have visited Ireland a few times, and I found my mind pleasantly drifting back over the western coast of Ireland when I saw her new canvases.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;color:#663366;">Show Opens June 20 (sneak preview on 6/19)</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000000;">In celebration of summer's arrival, Candace's exhibit officially <strong>opens on Saturday, 6/20, from 11-2 PM</strong>, with light refreshments offered. This coincides nicely with the <em>grand opening</em> of the <a href="http://www.localharvest.org/farmers-markets/M28473"><strong>Newmarket Farmers' Market</strong> </a>(every Sat, 9-1, in the parking lot of the historic Stone Church Meeting House) and the kick-off of the <strong>Music on Main Street</strong> series—now in its second season (with live music by local musicians, every Sat. through Labor Day, from 11-2 PM at the bandstand downtown).</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#000000;">A <strong>sneak preview</strong> of Candace's works (<em>and hence, my aforementioned "challenge" to Candace</em>) is afforded those guests who sign up to attend a very special <strong><a href="http://ampersandblogger.blogspot.com/2009/05/nh-wineries.html">NH Wines wine tasting/educational event</a></strong>, featuring local wine expert <strong>Carla Snow, CSW</strong>. <strong><a href="http://www.thebluetree.com/details.cfm?ProdID=136&category=">Click here</a></strong> for more info on Carla's new book: <em>Wine & Dine with New Hampshire</em>, featuring six NH wineries.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#000000;">The show will run through Thursday, July 2, in the <strong>gallery at <a href="http://www.ampersandstudio.com/">Ampers&</a>,</strong> with weekday hours from 2-6 PM each T, W, & Th afternoon. Hope to see you there!</span></p>Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08303105147840093802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1647052487272746613.post-19452656127196420732009-06-05T09:22:00.021-04:002009-06-25T10:19:01.232-04:00It's Hip…It's Happenin'…It's Now!<div align="left"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#ff6600;"><strong>THE 2009 NEWMARKET HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR PORTFOLIO EXHIBITION IS UP AT AMPERS&</strong></span><br /></div><br /><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343848112604183938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGBy-poXYx9IR7Rq0oq36jOf_gMM8ZhAUZbcUlpfyvUYc44-UNxH9hLCHsWaJiZI_j-nsaJi77YrT1lrxMNOHTwELbnnEI8eK36eW7qoLj6UuaEyjzd-_orZkqeU8TidgAeVSHw7n73mk/s320/hummmingbird_mongeon_72dpi.jpg" border="0" /><em><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Detail of large format painting, by Kendra Mongeon<br /></span></em></p><span style="font-family:verdana;">I'm always amazed by the distinctive change in moods evoked by whatever art hangs on the soaring navy blue walls in my gallery space…. And for one week only (June 4-11, 2009), I'd have to say the feeling in here is decidedly one of energy and youth. </span><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343848645799220898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibrbzUFmegbKG_cvj97w27yUuYOKJ1P9gFLevbtCJaNCu3TFKRDKV2WnTgJ1B8FdBZ_va_d5hOaAwDIKNvRwRDQidsT8UgWK9PuCn_FV15cYRQjv1EOchea4d0B2Cs8SR3z1DoN8xI5D0/s320/feet_goodwin_72.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Detail of photo collage, by Kalie Goodwin</span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:verdana;">The second annual student portfolio review—sponsored by the </span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong><a href="http://lampreyarts.blogspot.com/">Lamprey Arts & Culture Alliance</a></strong> </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">(LACA)—is held each year to honor artistically-inclined members of Newmarket HS's graduating class. In addition to showcasing their works—including ceramics, photography, paintings, prints, and charcoals—participating students get a chance to win a $100 check from LACA, towards the purchase of art supplies. This year's lucky winner, selected in a random drawing, was Dana Wergen.</span> </p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343849623535615714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6YoVnb1FpWPNGgXaKG9oP0U_yGMj5JTagISjLl42Ubu8nwBgCKKDHXLRShcqTHrkCaWDyHrOedI3a3CwJXEBJ2gUIvnokwZp4JTCZX3ySZTUER-DqfI3BozJX83zRXZrC08ENwiG2ssQ/s320/wergen_blake.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><em>A happy D. Wergen, holding her $100 check,<br />with art instructor A. Blake</em></span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Chock full of colorful, creative expressions by twelve budding artists, this show is truly a feast for the eyes and senses. Participating Seniors include: <strong>Danielle Dodds</strong>, attending Great Bay Community College to study Liberal Arts/Vet Tech; <strong>Kaylie Goodwin</strong>, attending New England School of Photography to study Portraiture; <strong>Jordan Greenfield</strong>, attending University of Vermont to study Nursing, with a minor in Art; <strong>Jaclyn Jensen</strong>, attending Boston College, with an undeclared major; <strong>Kendra Mongeon</strong>, attending Great Bay Community College to study Liberal Arts; <strong>Emily Roulo</strong>, attending the New England Institute of Art to study Graphic Design; <strong>James Rosa</strong>, attending Marine Maritime Academy to study Marine Engineering; <strong>Samantha Scott</strong>, attending Great Bay Community College to study Vet Tech, with a minor in Art; <strong>Michael Sheehan</strong>, attending Great Bay Community College to study Art Education; <strong>Emily Small</strong>, applying to Emerson College to study Film Production; <strong>Danarae Wergen</strong>, attending Great Bay Community College; and <strong>Lindsey Wood</strong>, attending Sage College of Albany to study Graphic Design.<br /><br />Props must go to <strong>Ms. Annette Blake</strong>—NHS Art Teacher extraordinaire—and her crew of friendly volunteers who came in on Thursday after school and, in a flurry of activity, worked together to install the show in record time. Last night we held a reception for family, friends, and neighbors, and with over 70 people in attendance, the gallery was a bustling hub of happy, smiling visitors—all gathered together for a pleasant evening of community celebration.<br /><br />Dont' miss out: stop by next week (open T-W-TH afternoons, from 2-6 PM each day) to check out these talented students' artwork—and be inspired!</span></p><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343851763338188738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 218px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgauSalE2xARCo6GlBkD-MBwOgI-uXdZFJ-s35gkA5IY8Cqo2UxHxBjMOqmErLzejhb24sYWHXBJA7CBN0O-fbsiYRdvLs3tbyVploo2LEwj5cxx_2J_alZYjqMoS0f4tFtxoyKOu-KWX8/s320/NHSgathering.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><em>At the reception, on June 4th</em></span><br /></p><p align="left"></p>Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08303105147840093802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1647052487272746613.post-10394640370739025472009-05-28T09:51:00.021-04:002009-07-02T15:46:00.635-04:00NH Wineries<span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#ff6600;"><strong>YES, I SAID <em>NEW HAMPSHIRE</em> WINERIES (SERIOUSLY...)</strong></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#ff6600;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#ff6600;"></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#ff6600;"></span><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 205px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346482359578975938" border="0" alt="Carla Snow, CSW, of A Grape Affair" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4WrkVgGJietkItjgjL49dq_dkENXhYzxaU0wYuWY451g4kyjzlxebDBDAi6Ycm5isy49nN-U_r89tkrH35tncH4imW_mmAvvYrndbbrJCDOJ-8343ddnkwaw9XQlOc1lcHsMXtF60yBU/s320/carlasnow.jpg" /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;color:#663366;">Carla Snow Returns to Ampers&</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000000;">On Friday, June 19th (7–9 PM), the Lamprey Arts & Culture Alliance will host another of their popular wine tasting/educational events, with <strong>Carla Snow, CSW</strong>, of <em><a href="http://www.agrapeaffair.com/"><strong>A Grape Affair</strong></a></em>, here in the gallery at Ampers&.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#000000;">Snow has written a new book, <em><a href="http://www.thebluetree.com/details.cfm?ProdID=136&category="><strong>Wine & Dine with New Hampshire</strong></a></em>, offering an in-depth look at New Hampshire's <strong>award-winning wines, ciders, and meads</strong>, and the pioneer companies who create them: Candia Vineyards, Farnum Hill Ciders, Flag Hill Winery and Distillery, Jewell Towne Vineyards, LaBelle Winery, Piscassic Pond Winery, and Zorvino Vineyards. </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#000000;">Full of wonderful photography, interesting info on wineries<em>—located right here in New Hampshire!—</em>and a recipe section, too,<em> </em>it makes a terrific gift for wine enthusiasts and NH natives alike. Copies will be available at the tasting for purchase ($19.95) and signing by the author.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 160px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346484862568813394" border="0" alt="a spread from Snow's new book on NH Wineries" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Un84XP0roxYGnhDkWpfbEnR9r5DHFlTkJTWcV3wG61xgXXijzA-qT6Y8Vi0Hpy0y4_46aRIqK_KMfJjHh1_cFtcVfAB-jNFhsaC14ZPU-XoCWZdxXH6Eq6fX6WnmgXJcfl1Xvn2zvvE/s320/winebook1.jpg" /><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#000000;">At the LACA event, Carla will present from her book and share six samples for tasting; cost is $28 per person, including samples, wine/cheese, and two hours of interesting and entertaining discussion on NH Wineries. Call 659-6823 or 969-4768 for reservations.</span>Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08303105147840093802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1647052487272746613.post-59800036178605752642009-05-26T09:53:00.013-04:002009-08-04T10:07:32.761-04:00Ampers& Web Site Review<strong><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#ff6600;">SITE SCORES 17.5 OUT OF 20—NOT BAD!</span></strong> <strong><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#ff6600;"><br /><br /></span></strong><strong><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#ff6600;"><a href="http://www.ampersandstudio.com/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 158px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340134030121023506" border="0" alt="ampers& web site" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVk4BSLUuydaRcWgrli0v__1oIIEr-_yLzTCTpsDo0RkqH33xxefMSmLbI7evxBpCQGp3hZDJ6xUKRU4FYmtXcduG2KFgkb4sRlKmZGyq8aBicVO_PHj6mRl1q6xRTFKehdFVPfMOtMIw/s320/ampersand_web.jpg" /></a></span></strong><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">This past weekend, I ran into some friends I hadn't seen in quite some time, and they congratulated me on my recent web site award. My confused reply, "What are you talking about?"</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Needless to say, I was curious, and they didn't have much more info, as they had heard it from another mutual friend of ours.... So, when I got back to the office this morning, I did a Google search, to see what I could find. (I didn't find any mention of an award, so if someone knows more about that, please share.) What I did find though, was that, apparently, back in February of this year, my website had been reviewed in a local newspaper (<em>see the review online at </em><strong><a href="http://www.seacoastonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090219/ENTERTAIN/902190325&emailAFriend=1">seacoastonline.com</a></strong>), and scored a respectable 17.5 out of 20. (Who knew?!?)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Anyway, thank you John Shore, for your kind words. It's always nice to be recognized and to hear that someone notices and appreciates your design efforts. Cheers!</span>Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08303105147840093802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1647052487272746613.post-32710671806033592682009-05-21T12:28:00.020-04:002009-05-21T18:10:56.693-04:00Ode to Purple Lilacs<span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#ff6600;"><strong>NEW HAMPSHIRE'S STATE FLOWER</strong></span> <span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#ff6600;"><strong><br /><br /></strong></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#ff6600;"><strong></strong></span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338347784473645922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="NH: where the purple lilacs grow…" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijdKH7DInXt-I-gYyfVMYHlNSYZqbH1y7B5eInD8Z1htatG8mjWkhOH6sLGAyZBEKnFqyt9fTAdoLZvbsoUf0cf1OVLC5RkGFQH_0nX5xT6dLA8CzFYkG9a16K7muAiQX2EdtTyKthRbE/s320/lilacs1.jpg" border="0" /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;color:#663366;">New Hampshire Natives<br /></span><span style="color:#000000;">Who doesn't love the wonderfully fragrant bouquet of lilacs, wafting on the breezes across New Hampshire, in the month of May? Always one of my favorite flowers (<em>so lacy and delicate, in varying shades of one of my favorite colors!</em>), each spring I eagerly await the budding of the lilac bush outside our home, transplanted from a neighbor's yard—24 years ago—in celebration of our first home and the birth of our first son.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000000;">There's nothing quite like sitting out on the porch on a sunny day, and taking in that familiar fragrance carried on the warm spring breeze. My whole family looks forward to this small window of time (two weeks at most—and early this year!) when we can throw open the windows and let the heady fragrance in; we hack off a few glorious bunches for good measure, and bring them inside, allowing their luscious scent to seep from room to room. It's a comfort, and a reminder—of family, of home, and of childhood memories.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#000000;">I'm a New Hampshire girl (<em>born and raised and forever true</em>). When I was young, we used to sing a happy song about NH and lilacs at summer camp, which captures the feeling perfectly:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><em>I want to wake up, in the morning,<br />where the purple lilacs grow;<br />where the sun comes a peepin'<br />into where I'm a sleepin'<br />and the songbirds say, "hello!"</em></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><em>I want to wander, through the wild woods,<br />where the fragrant breezes blow,<br />and drift back, through New Hampshire,<br />where the purple lilacs grow.</em></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="color:#000000;">I couldn't have put it better myself. </span></span>Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08303105147840093802noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1647052487272746613.post-29331438556913158802009-05-11T17:04:00.014-04:002009-06-25T10:20:50.412-04:00High Flying Flags<span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#ff6600;"><strong>WATCH FOR THE FLUTTER FLAGS!<br /><br /></strong></span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335813450744150530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 280px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="New flutter flags signal LACA gallery events!" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjglKKD3tbBR1IIJ7-Yq9h84rLD91CnR41yJU8zzr_B0Y2zs9zuqKNOLiSuuhMhpqoH92CLYK-JH_fBk2aTtLGnkZ7cPtDH4vIPZyZzjKePFLbqVg-zmPWkdgqY-K_wa4cwsK89if1NYbI/s320/flutterflags1.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div><strong><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#ff6600;"></span></strong></div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Even though it's situated on Main Street—in the heart of downtown Newmarket—my studio/gallery is located in the lower level of a huge mill building, <em>below</em> street level. Which, quite frankly, has proven to been a real challenge when trying to attract patrons to our <strong><a href="http://www.ampersandstudio.com/gallery_schedule.html">frequent LACA events</a></strong>.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Recently, we purchased some royal blue "flutter flags" on 20 foot poles to post outside my shop windows. The flags are tall enough to see from the street above, stand out nicely against the red brick, and attract the eye with their motion, too. A smaller, matching "open" flag was also purchased, for posting at street level, near the <em>Rivermoor Landing Condominium</em> sign.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Because the tall flags will only be put out during events, people won't get overly accustomed to seeing them, day in and day out. So, hopefully, when they <em>do</em> notice the brightly colored flags, fluttering in the breeze, they'll know instantly that <em><strong>something is happening in the gallery at Ampers&.</strong></em></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Problem solved? We'll have to wait and see.... So far, LACA has used them for two events and gotten some good feedback. Keep your eye out for the flags on your next trip through town, and let us know when/if you notice them. Or, better still, let them compel you to stop on in and have a look around!</span></div>Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08303105147840093802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1647052487272746613.post-14797230337599302452009-05-06T16:59:00.012-04:002009-06-25T10:34:52.631-04:00Arrangement(s) in Grey and Black<span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#ff6600;"><strong>HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332824020991876610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 278px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="Arrangement in Grey and Black, No. 1" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcTFIxjQTET3Vh0w5NNalk_LCvll0MEBqmK7n3XTHdX48c8vkZfYqRxo7eUQTLAw5bT4bFZDsQ7YwUZqTBDaeF9_WfqhSbu2tzZbReo4EHrM4XjUMjAs8493rV5OPeDUnqnX9cQUi1fjo/s320/WhistlersMother.jpg" border="0" /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;color:#663366;">Did You Know…?</span><br /><em><strong>Arrangement in Grey and Black, No. 1</strong> </em>was painted by American artist James M. Whistler in 1871. However, the sensibilities of its Victorian-era viewing audience simply could <em>not</em> accept what was apparently a <em>portrait</em> being referred to as a mere "arrangement"—particularly as it was of his own mother! Thus the explanatory "Portrait of the Artist's Mother" was added and <em>Arrangement in Grey and Black: Portrait of the Artist's Mother</em> became the new official title. It was from this revised title that the work acquired its popular (albeit incorrect) colloquial name, <em><strong>Whistler's Mother</strong></em>.<br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;color:#663366;">Celebrate Mom! Celebrate Spring!</span><br />There's been a flurry of activity at the gallery this week, in preparation for an upcoming special exhibition, our <em>own</em> "Arrangements in Grey and Black," which will feature a collection of <strong>black & white photography</strong> by <em>Seacoast Camera Club</em> members, alongside a selection of <strong>colorful floral shots</strong> by <em>Russ Simon</em>. The exhibit (in honor of Whistler's mother—and moms everywhere) will be the anchor show for the Lamprey Arts & Culture Alliance's 4th annual <strong><a href="http://www.lampreyarts.org/laca_artwallk_0509.htm">Mothers Day ArtWalk</a> </strong>celebration (Sat & Sun, May 9 & 10) in downtown Newmarket.<br /><br />The ArtWalk features <strong>business specials</strong> being offered by ten downtown merchants (all of whom will be displaying <strong>student artwork</strong> in their establishments); live music by the <strong>BrandyLeif Quartet</strong> at the bandstand on Saturday (12-3); <strong>free mimosas & pastries</strong> (while they last) at the gallery at Ampers&—and <strong>10% off</strong> all merchandise (12-3 both days); and, weather permitting, <strong>easel artists</strong> set up along Main Street.<br /><br />If you're in the area, swing on in to town and check it out!<br /></span><br /></span>Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08303105147840093802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1647052487272746613.post-4048429625341192322009-04-29T17:51:00.014-04:002009-05-21T12:25:12.752-04:00Winter, Fare Thee Well<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1hAHK4_LPvhxvP-ZeEFWeVx0vHbvVABNy12hh-tb18v03ZNpOAtIf02SedSJnqxni5vxU9Dj5anc8pN4e7guDb76LLVHAEc0p1aC-42W4_hWb6_kTApZa5a-lj4-dJZpEWeIlM9Qohp0/s1600-h/blog_crocus1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330239856670428594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 236px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="Winter Beds Awaken" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1hAHK4_LPvhxvP-ZeEFWeVx0vHbvVABNy12hh-tb18v03ZNpOAtIf02SedSJnqxni5vxU9Dj5anc8pN4e7guDb76LLVHAEc0p1aC-42W4_hWb6_kTApZa5a-lj4-dJZpEWeIlM9Qohp0/s320/blog_crocus1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><p align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5RQcp-Y5RqExgbv43UMqP2hGiErx55BazkmEL8QHHqiHxI-6uXBPFfWvlc5VutAYf0w3LN5u2XUxyu5EA4Zklg3B8KHCgw8E300AmU8mNA_JPtnIKpftodApHYCEj5v_JfSFmO_Zqdsg/s1600-h/blog_crocus1.jpg"></a></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#ff6600;"><strong>WELCOME, SPRING!</strong></span><br /><br />Tired gray piles<br />of granular snow<br />sit slumped by the roadside<br />waiting to melt<br />in the warm noonday sun.<br /><br />Beneath them<br />the slender<br />and varicose<br />leaves of crocus<br />tentatively, cautiously,<br />poke their heads up<br />through the soil.<br /><br />With each day,<br />the piles recede<br />and the grasslike blades<br />grow taller.<br /><br />Eventually<br />(finally!)<br />the snow does melt<br />and the crocus do<br />pop out<br />as if to say,<br /><br />“Welcome, spring!”<br /><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">I was inspired by April's being National Poetry Month, and by the <strong><a href="http://ampersandblogger.blogspot.com/2009/04/welcome-spring.html">crocus photos</a></strong> I took recently, and the unseasonably warm & sunny weather we've been having of late, to write and post this poem today.</span></em><br /></p>Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08303105147840093802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1647052487272746613.post-89428786833730757142009-04-22T19:05:00.028-04:002009-06-25T10:36:18.405-04:00Happy National Poetry Month<span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#ff6600;"><strong>FORGOTTEN MEMORY<br /></strong></span><br /><br /><p><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330247882145327826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 100px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="bringing all the arts—and the community—together" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBJq8Rc6Vw6rXa8eS2qiNAjIUskuZIgdarg1dqRDaH-6J4mRC2gNMbN6sob3eri2Teqv0RXtKi4ruT6Ma0EeUNHvgOtnGx3xuOGDNdA6gpqO05Q5AfTw0E4mCSy0iaGBrfdUuQeSABy_g/s320/laca_logo.jpg" border="0" /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;color:#663366;">LACA's <em>Spoken Word<br /></em></span><span style="font-family:verdana;">Last week I planned to attend the April installment of the Lamprey Arts & Culture Alliance's <em>Spoken Word</em>, and to take a photo or two for mine and <strong><a href="http://lampreyarts.blogspot.com/">LACA's blog</a></strong> while I was there.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">As you'll notice, there are no poetry reading photos posted here. </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">That's because I was at work on a design project (totally immersed, in what I call "the zone") and completely lost track of time—again. Fortunately, I finally remembered where I was supposed to be, closed up shop, and dashed across the street; arriving in time—camera in hand, even!—to enjoy the last hour or so of readings. Not so fortunately, I <em>forgot</em> to bring along the camera's <em>memory</em> stick.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">How ironic (and yet pathetic at the same time! :)</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">The poetry reading was awesome, however. Such a talented (and fun) group of individuals! And the surprising thing is, if you happened upon most of them on the street, you'd never guess that they wrote poetry. So if you find yourself with some free time on the second Thursday night of the month, make your way to <strong><a href="http://www.crackskulls.com/">Crackskull's</a></strong> in downtown Newmarket, NH, grab yourself a chai tea, pull up a chair and have a listen. You'll be in for a treat. Better still, bring along one of your own written creations—or a favorite poem by another poet; everyone is welcome and encouraged to share.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;color:#663366;">Poetry on the fly<br /></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">So, since I didn't get to put up photos from our Spoken Word, check out this wonderful "street poems" video shot in Dublin—what fun!</span></p><p><br /><object height="300" width="400"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=4515261&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=ff9933&fullscreen=1"><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=4515261&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=ff9933&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="300"></embed></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/4515261">street poems :: dublin 2009</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user421260">ze frank</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</p><p></p><p></p>Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08303105147840093802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1647052487272746613.post-28804849499922312682009-04-10T16:08:00.024-04:002009-06-25T10:34:06.721-04:00Bella Vita: Paintings from Ascoli Piceno<div align="left"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;color:#ff6600;"><strong>INSPIRING WORKS BY INSPIRING ARTISTS, NO. 3</strong></span></div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Only one more week before <em>Bella Vita</em>, the current show in my gallery, comes to an end.<br /><br />Created in the <em>plein air</em> style, by University of New Hampshire Fine Art Graduates <strong><a href="http://jasonbombaci.blogspot.com/">Jason Bombaci</a></strong> (BFA '07) and <strong>Kathi Smith</strong> (MFA '08), the show is a wonderful combination of works from an art history/art study class they attended in Italy during the summer of 2008.<br /></div></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><div align="center"><br /></div></span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323178021226577714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 263px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMWJYabus4PqgXj-83Qmf5haObXTj_gBzzt0WOoaJwS00lygQhaVm46y6ppRqyM2Mt8Y6zWr-QvsOss_DAlcc-3DTFSZfXCDyab_L-hU1OOLqp2T0dTtf9g4vPcuHmDfMKMexqzyD_ZWs/s320/j_bombaci_detail_georgiaswi.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="size: 85%;font-family:verdana;" ><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Detail of <strong>Georgia's Window</strong> by Jason Bombaci</span></span></em><br /></p><p align="center"></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323177118057761138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 263px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDwbdrR8Mfuvx4iyPZUVGdYCRTaBrf5gWAqseh7yhzGc8C8gsb3txpHZmx_ZZzdh2bRx8hPL6z1RGhabaWw6-JTMWDbpuZapnC3hUFr-wm6bv5bnpXVb5LpoANtLCmFNMRAoVXOKWo4bM/s320/kathi_smith_pinkbalcony.jpg" border="0" />Pink Balcony</strong> by Kathi Smith<br /></span></em><br /></span></p><div align="left"><span style="font-family:verdana;">In addition to the 28 yummy paintings on display, visitors have also been treated to glimpses inside Smith's journals, which are works of art unto themselves.</span></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323170180856772482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 263px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmnwlfTK_-9D3pZydj4FzUzdA9UeVc5pJkI6sGhWX17XFQoCT9NgEcWaKdWn3K2Fo-IiFszipp0RnT3slABD19Ny26aYCfK-z15gnRz7nVSDnmnyAJpmt-nJPDVrCU-q_-6hMVdntXXsY/s320/kathi_smith_journal.jpg" border="0" /><em> A spread from one of Smith's art journals</em></span><br /><p></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">It seems no one can resist the juxtaposition of Bombaci's warm and cool color palettes and his uncanny ability to portray light and shadow in his works. Or Smith's seemingly effortless and spontaneous brush work in response to changing light. Both artists have sold paintings from the show—six in total, which is remarkable given the current economy. As always, our little non-profit gallery is grateful for the public's show of support for the</span> arts in our community.</span></p></div><br /></span>Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08303105147840093802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1647052487272746613.post-30612471384091803092009-04-08T11:15:00.028-04:002009-05-21T15:50:41.600-04:00Welcome, Spring<div align="left"><span style="size: 78%;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#ff6600;" ><strong>MY CROCUS ARE UP…<br /></strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">…and I saw a Robin the other day. Two telltale signs that spring has, indeed, arrived here in New Hampshire.* Since our neighbors across the way (those who live on "the sunny side of the street") already had daffodils in bloom while we still had two-foot snow piles, we had my son rake out the piles a bit, to help with the melting. And lo and behold! There were the crocus poking out to greet us—in all their purple and yellow glory.</span> </div><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><p align="center"><em><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323156033067844338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 281px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3h1nFisEEy780yA6YxxVlJrGmOJwouV0xWwBAJRMbp931elVt0HyQj7yH2yICHeJ3giRul5XLia9ZVEWl19pUodxiSrqln0PU7vyE20VvRKjVnZTgmFI-0vhoYQwA7eBiyu58iWY7NZU/s320/crocus2.jpg" border="0" /> <span style="font-size:85%;">First signs of spring</span></em><br /><br /></p><p align="left">Now I am itching to get into my gardens, clean out the beds, divide some overgrown perennials, put out the ornaments, spread the mulch, plant the annuals...<br /><br />On Monday morning, I raked and hauled leaves out of one half of one bed before the rain came. It was about all I could handle anyway, before being totally out of energy and breath (and having to get ready for work). At this rate, it's looking like it could take me a while to get them all ready for spring planting, but that's fine with me. It's the simple act of being out there, puttering about, that's the real joy of having a garden in the first place. So, welcome spring!</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323152659087954162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 281px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC2bHt1buHVTQjUsb_A7Dpkqd4W9GbjRqGTxK8NNO9oMu0jq3JqT9bGFdYU07-xLpKIDbE7a1X1ZKSEyjMFXizm5IUMufPR7EUQaj7OZ6Rk88h03ubH99hzgDRm0Pu9T7UwKeM2tVZY1U/s320/crocus3.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="align: center;font-size:85%;" ><em>Oh, sunny day!</span></em><br /></p><p></p><p align="left"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">*I would be remiss not to add that <strong>winter</strong> is my <strong>favorite</strong> season and as much as I like playing in my garden, I, for one, am not happy to see the snow go. You see, I am an avid snowboarder and, even though it's spring on the Seacoast, there's still plenty of snow up on the slopes. Cannon got four inches last weekend and their season is still going strong. Plus, next weekend is the annual Reggae Fest at Sugarloaf (always a good time, mon!). So, even though I welcome spring on the one hand, I still say "let it snow!" :) </span></em></span></p>Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08303105147840093802noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1647052487272746613.post-91006674062991342032008-12-17T09:52:00.021-05:002009-06-25T10:33:22.878-04:00Patricia Kaufman, master of energy and light<div align="left"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;color:#ff6600;"><strong>INSPIRING WORKS BY INSPIRING ARTISTS, NO. 2</strong></span></div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:78%;color:#ff6600;"></span></strong></div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:78%;color:#ff6600;"></span></strong></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:78%;color:#ff6600;"></span></strong></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></div><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><div align="left"><br />I've already posted one piece on an artist who inspires me, and I have plenty of others to include on that list. (That's one of the best things about running a local gallery: you get to meet so many wonderful and talented people!)<br /><br />The wonderfully talented person I'm focusing on today is <strong>Patricia Kaufman</strong>. Her painting, "body of water" (below), actually hangs above the desk in my studio. (<em>lucky me!</em>) She surprised me with it one day—as a gift and a thank you—for opening and running the "first-gallery-ever" in our small New England mill town. I am honored to have it—and to have Patricia as a friend and neighbor, as well—and also, to be able to contemplate the truly amazing energy this painting evokes, each and every day. </span><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:78%;"></span></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280775821474998466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 250px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGGBpprBSCtS-qyrIS3lzbXV6cXDQWbipWPXpIBiA2bq_mleQ6fbb4wIfaN99c1ByTuKlW5CXqB7RO4wrdzMo3_Z6yKk_s8tmL_8PsXvinojFuikCO-ZsNvhFo_3v18AbaUbLgN3IODtY/s320/patricia_kaufman_bodyofwater.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><em><strong>Body of Water</strong> by Patricia Kaufman<br /></em></p></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:78%;"><em></em></span><p><span style="font-family:Verdana;">One can almost meditate to Patricia's works, and feel the universal energy that flows from her mind's eye, through her brushes, and onto the canvas. (I often get goosebumps when I look at her paintings.)</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Her work is special, and so is she. Patricia gives freely (both of herself, and her time) to many causes within our community, and children have always held a special place in her heart. Recently, she has made two separate pilgrimages to remote mountain villages in South America, bringing much needed school supplies to the children there. She's also offered special shows here, where 100% of profits from sales of selected pieces have gone to such causes. In return, she is inspired by the people she meets and the colorful cultures she experiences, and uses this imagery in her art to create an amazing body of work. Patricia's most recent collection of paintings and collages (<em>to which I and two other friends were specially treated to a private sneak preview, before it was exhibited publically</em>) can be found at the <a href="http://www.bowersockgallery.com/"><strong>Bowersock Gallery</strong></a> in Provincetown, MA.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Be sure to check out her work, and see what I mean when I say her paintings show an incredible mastery of capturing energy and light. They are both radiant and humble at the same time—very much like the artist herself.</span> </p>Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08303105147840093802noreply@blogger.com0