July 31, 2023

Archive

A Bride’s “Flowers of Joy”

(This piece is X-posted from my studio newsletter blog as it also contains an amount of personal contemplations…) __________ The saving of a bride’s bouquet is nothing new and there are a number of ways to do that, depending on desired result, the type of flowers and especially, cost. When I was first married on June 1, 1985 in a very simple wedding (like many young couples then and now, we didn’t have two pennies to rub together, so-to-speak) someone...

Name-Calling, and Naming Names

Moms tend to keep lists, of many things. I’ve had a long list of names–112 to be precise–printed out and moved from surface to surface in my office for a couple months now. This list was compiled by a mother, who asked for other moms in our group to add names and a few details to go along with the name, for the purpose of prayer. I suppose many would dis, dismiss and name-call such women as Karens. Whatever that...

Standing Up For KAREN

I was in 7th grade, and a mousy white girl. I was in some type of elective where me and six other girls, seven in total, were sent out of a classroom into a communal area to work on/practice some type of play we were to create. Our group consisted of two black girls and five white girls. Our names/demographics in alphabetical order were: Ann (white)Bonita (black)Eileen (white)Jenny (white)Rosie (white)Sandy (black)Valerie (white) Not that this matters, per se. But these...

Becoming Karen

I’ve known a lot of Karens in my lifetime. Karens come in all different sizes, shapes and personas. Most, if not all, of the Karens I have known are generally good, decent, caring people. I always think that the meaning and origin of a name is interesting and important. While these days internet searches sometimes bring up conflicting information about a name’s meaning/origin, the three sources below are fairly consistent that the name Karen is Danish/Greek, meaning “pure, clear, child...

Tree of Trilling Sparrows

(Above)Tree of Trilling Sparrows Original Acrylic/Artwork/Collage for SaleSize: 36 x 46 inchesPrice: $600 (plus shipping) The short video below gives a glimpse into the creative process and completion of a recent original art work for sale, and includes images from a “sparrow making party” with my son and two friends! “Spiro the Sparrow” is a little bird character that I intend to use in my next children’s book and am gradually working on the accompanying artwork. In the story, Spiro needs to be...