Today, may we turn away from the chaos and listen for the answer . . . .

“What you feel deep within you is more important than what you think you feel.. 
Reaching that deep within place is not too difficult; you just need to cut off the chaos,
Go on a walk, spend some time with nature, listen to music, do something you really enjoy doing and not do it only because you have to.. 
Some people like to paint, some women like to clean the house, it helps them clear their mind! 

Once you are at that deep within place answers will come automatically...” 
― Arti Honrao

Looking for answers in my never ending car search, hoping to cut myself off from the chaos and noise - in nature and my studio . . . 

 

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Today, be PHENOMENAL!!! in honor of the phenomenal Maya Angelou

Phenomenal Woman

BY MAYA ANGELOU

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.

I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size   

But when I start to tell them,

They think I’m telling lies.

I say,

It’s in the reach of my arms,

The span of my hips,   

The stride of my step,   

The curl of my lips.   

I’m a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,   

That’s me.

I walk into a room

Just as cool as you please,   

And to a man,

The fellows stand or

Fall down on their knees.   

Then they swarm around me,

A hive of honey bees.   

I say,

It’s the fire in my eyes,   

And the flash of my teeth,   

The swing in my waist,   

And the joy in my feet.   

I’m a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That’s me.

Men themselves have wondered   

What they see in me.

They try so much

But they can’t touch

My inner mystery.

When I try to show them,   

They say they still can’t see.   

I say,

It’s in the arch of my back,   

The sun of my smile,

The ride of my breasts,

The grace of my style.

I’m a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That’s me.

Now you understand

Just why my head’s not bowed.   

I don’t shout or jump about

Or have to talk real loud.   

When you see me passing,

It ought to make you proud.

I say,

It’s in the click of my heels,   

The bend of my hair,   

the palm of my hand,   

The need for my care.   

’Cause I’m a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That’s me.

Maya Angelou, “Phenomenal Woman” from And Still I Rise. Copyright © 1978 by Maya Angelou. Used by permission of Random House, Inc.
Source: The Complete Collected Poems of Maya Angelou (Random House Inc., 1994)

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may this dress help set us free . . .

Re-examine all that you have been told, 

dismiss that which insults your soul.

- Walt Whitman

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May this dress remind us to be gentle with ourselves!!! xxxxxx

I always feel that gentleness is a good reminder as we head back into reality/our work week after the long weekend . . .

however,  this post especially goes out to my dear friend and part of this daily dress community who is dealing with a great loss.  This weekend she learned that her husband and the father of her three children did not survive a river rafting accident, after a week of searching.  

Please keep her and her family in your hearts and prayers, 

I can't even imagine . . .  

I made this little dress when I was learning needle felting, at Sheep Skate Yarn and craft,
during the dedham open studios. I love the process!! One more addiction! xx 

“Be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars. In the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul.”* ~Max Ehrmann

*“Desiderata"
Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly, and listen to others,
even to the dull and ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be
greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career
however humble;
it is a real possession in the
changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you
to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself.
Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit
to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore, be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul.
With all its sham,
drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.”
― Max Ehrmann

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from the mouth of babes . . . "No wars, no fights, no guns; Forever peace!"*

* from International School of Kenya, primary school, Nairobi, Kenya

Mothers, fathers, why do you fight
when everybody is someone’s child?
Utsjoen saamelaislukio, Utsjoki, Finland**

(**both these quote are from the UN's The Peace Poem, 

read more about the poem below)

Remember, each one of us has the power to change the world. 

Just start thinking peace, 

and the message will spread quicker 

than you think.

Yoko Ono

Once again, on this holiday for remembering the men and women who died while serving in the country's armed forces, I continue my campaign for peace!!

Peace of mind, peace of soul, peace of heart, peace among families, peace among neighbors, peace among friends and enemies and peace on earth!!!

Every moment I am aware of so many who live in constant terror of pain, torture, hunger, death and more; from the hands of strangers, oppressors, enemies and/or sadly dealt out by people they trust and love.  

Today I wish to remind us that we, each one of us, can and has the power to create peace.  There are so many levels on which we need to seek peace and change our cultural acceptance of these violent acts! 

Below is the introduction and some verses from the United Nations' Peace Poem. (click this link to visit the entire poem.)  It is an example of what I have known and believe, children know the horrors of war and know the need for peace, for them it is a no brainer.  What happens as we grow older that causes us to be more accepting of war and terror?!?  I read yesterday about how we teach toddlers to use words, to share, to not use force or not to hit, and they learn.  A kindergartener knows not to hit but somewhere in later years violence becomes ok, as an acceptable evil.  

Read these words from students from around the world and then speak up for peace!!!

Kofi A. Annan's preface for the Peace Poem

In their wisdom, the children whose intermingled voices gave birth to the Peace Poem know that peace is far more than the absence of war. Children know that peace comes from the heart; it lives in the way we see others; it survives in the respect we show our neighbors every day. They also know, often better than adults, that today’s world is a global village and that we are all neighbors.

Ce long poème consacré à la paix, fruit de la réflexion et de la conviction de milliers d’enfants de par le monde, est pour moi comme une guirlande d’espoir qui, par la vertu des nouveaux moyens de télécommunication, ceint notre planète, en se riant des nationalités et des frontières.

Sepamos escuchar a los niños poetas. Sus palabras sencillas y elocuentes nos recuerdan las verdades esenciales, pilares sobre los que sustentan la paz y la concordia : conocer y aceptar a los demás y, en ellos, reconocer nuestra humanidad común.

Peace is the sound of my mom’s heart
when I come in the door safe at night.
Colbert Elementary School
Boca Raton, FL, US

Apologize when you are wrong
It will show that you are strong
Dinkelmeyer School
North Bellmore, NY, US
Don’t fight about your colour.
Love each other like brothers and sisters.
School of the Nations, Primary Section
Macau (Portugal)

May peace be scattered
Like pebbles in a dancing pond of rain
Turquoise Trail Elementary School
Santa Fe, NM, US

Peace in the world is peace in your heart.
If we do not have peace, the world will fall apart.
Dighton Middle School
Dighton, MA, US

Peace is the soft beating of a child’s heart
In the womb of happiness and security
Parktown High School For Girls, middle school
Parkview, South Africa

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.

Margaret Mead

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Today celebrate the happiness and joy of our loved ones!! x

Wishing two of my loved ones 

a very happy and wonderful anniversary!!! 

To Patty and Bob Fitzgerald,  Congratulations!!! xxxxxx

 . . .  and as happens so many times, as I was investigating the correct wording of this quote (that I have used many a times), I stumbled upon a more extensive version of the quote and needed to share it.  

The beginning of the quote is more familiar and can be found on cards, mugs, etc. . . and is a wonderful and loving sentiment. However after being on the receiving end of jealousy, a few times,  I felt that I needed to post the entire quote.  Too many times jealousy is described as an example of how much the person loves you, and that is COMPLETELY wrong!! And for those young-ones heading into this wonderful and exhausting world of matters of the heart, please remember jealousy is not love!! x

Love is that condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own... Jealousy is a disease, love is a healthy condition. The immature mind often mistakes one for the other, or assumes that the greater the love, the greater the jealousy.

Robert A. Heinlein

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May this dress help us get away, escape . . .

Some folks like to get away

Take a holiday from the neighborhood

Hop a flight to Miami Beach

Or to Hollywood

But I'm taking a Greyhound

On the Hudson River Line

I'm in a New York state of mind

'new york state of mind' ~ Billy Joel

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let us make today, be the day, that our life really begins . . .

I felt that this is a good reminder as we head into the Memorial Day weekend! peace ~

“The best day of your life is the one on which you decide your life is your own. No apologies or excuses. No one to lean on, rely on, or blame. The gift is yours - it is an amazing journey - and you alone are responsible for the quality of it. 

This is the day your life really begins.” 

Bob Moawad

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May this dress bring us GREAT love!!!

for all of those, near and dear, who are really needing a miracle!!! XXXXX

sending great and plentiful love!!! XXXXX

Where there is great love, 

there are always miracles.”

Willa Cather

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today, let us be gentle with ourselves . . .

"For some reason, we are truly convinced that 

if we criticize ourselves, the criticism will lead to change. 

If we are harsh, we believe we will end up being kind. 

If we shame ourselves, we believe we end up loving ourselves. 

It has never been true, not for a moment, 

that shame leads to love. 

Only love leads to love."

 Geneen Roth

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May this dress be a reminder when we are facing a setback . . . .

Failure is the condiment 

that gives success its 

flavor. ~Truman Capote

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May this dress remind us of our infinite wisdom

this dress I made while waiting at a car dealership during my quest for a new car

“You are one thing only. 

You are a Divine Being. 

An all-powerful Creator. 

You are a Deity in jeans and a t-shirt, 

and within you dwells 

the infinite wisdom of the ages 

and the sacred creative force of 

All that is, will be and ever was.”  

Anthon St. Maarten, Divine Living: The Essential Guide To Your True Destiny

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may this dress remind us of our unique magic!!! x

“You are unrepeatable. 

There is a magic about you 

that is all your own.”

D.M. Dellinger

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May this dress show us the work we 'should' be doing!!

(look closely . . . )

“The work you do while you procrastinate

 is probably the work you should be doing 

for the rest of your life.” Jessica Hische

Well today (yesterday?) is the anniversary of the beginning of the Daily Dress Inspiration!! 

It was May 16th, 2013 , right here on this blog, that I stated:

   "My intention for this blog is to, on a fairly regular basis, 

post positive, inspirational and thoughtful quotes or ideas, 

with or without an accompanying dress."  

And I believe that I have posted everyday for the last year,  (there is one day that is a little fuzzy, either I posted very late of very early, hence why I'm officially calling the anniversary today). 

I started this practice as a way to help me cope with an emotionally rough period of my life.  

I found solace in the words of sages, prophets, poets et al.  I have read that the popularity of quotes come from the revelation that others share certain experiences, certain feelings; that one's own experience might be more universal, creating a common thread between you and the rest of humanity.

This practice has been an amazing experience for me, one that has opened my heart and mind to many inspirational thoughts, ideas and wise individuals.  This practice has also connected me with so many wonderful like minded travelers on this roller-coaster of life, who have given me so much in return. 

Where this practice goes, I don't know, though I can't imagine not doing it.  I do know that I love it which is why I choose this quote for today!!

I always think of this quote when I am creating my posts, because this is what I do when I procrastinate! Heck this is what I do all the time ~ make dresses, draw dresses, make art, spread love!!!  And with the recent developments of the past year, I am in need of a job/career/work ?!?! 

But for now I want to express my utmost gratitude for your company during this past year; 

your love, your support and your presence!! This practice would not be so enriching without this lovely community!! thank you & peace ~

Virginia

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may this dress remind us to trust ourselves, trust our gut and trust our heart!

Trust yourself.  

You know more than you think you do.  

Benjamin Spock, Baby and Child Care, 1977

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May this dress bring us deep peace! xx

'departure' wells beach, ME (2006)

OLDE GAELIC BLESSING ~

DEEP PEACE OF THE RUNNING WAVES TO YOU

DEEP PEACE OF THE FLOWING AIR TO YOU

DEEP PEACE OF THE QUIET EARTH TO YOU

DEEP PEACE OF THE GENTLE NIGHT TO YOU

DEEP PEACE OF THE SHINING STARS TO YOU

MOON AND STARS POUR THEIR HEALING LIGHT ON YOU

DEEP PEACE OF LOVE ... LIGHT OF THE WORLD TO YOU

today's posting was inspired by this blessing 

on the wall of my first Qi Gong class ~ 

at the Open Spirit Center in Framingham!

just lovely!! 

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May this dress remind you to cherish your dreams . . .

what are your dreams today???

“Cherish your visions and your dreams 

as they are the children of your soul; 

the blue prints of 

your ultimate achievements.”

Napoleon Hill

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May this dress guide us to be whole!!!

(fyi, my lovely daily dress cohorts - i've totally fallen in love with 

hand drawing and photoshopping dresses!  so you may be seeing a lot of them :D )

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May this dress be our lamp for today . . . peace

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May this dress bring us peace and love and flowers !!! xx

Mother's love is peace. 

It need not be acquired, 

it need not be deserved. 

Erich Fromm

To celebrate this lovely and wonderful day* I wish to offer all a gift.

Below are some photos of an amazing mother, Mother Nature.

I have downloaded these photos at a high resolution so that 

(fingers crossed) you can print them for yourself or 

to give to someone (like a mom!!!) xx

*The real story of Mother's Day!!

this day to celebrate Mothers started as a day to 

demand peace!!!! 

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may this dress remind us of our unique expression . . .

There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and there is only one of you in all time. This expression is unique, and if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium; and be lost. The world will not have it.

It is not your business to determine how good it is, not how it compares with other expression. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open. You have to keep open and aware directly to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open.

No artist is pleased. There is no satisfaction whatever at any time. There is only a queer, divine dissatisfaction, a blessed unrest that keeps us marching and makes us more alive than the others.

Martha Graham

Today's post was inspired by the haunting and beautiful performance that i experienced last night by artist Andrea Lucia! The evening was called "Eschaton" which is describes as a 

'journey of the voice through her appearances, disappearances, and the acts of othering herself.  Her becoming is sung, spoken, written, embodied, and revealed.  Throughout she is haunted by recurrent decreations. She unforeseeably grows a resurrecting power through her ability to gain freedom of motion.  As from the earth to the imagination, she gives of both her sound and silence to explore.'

Last night's performance was a wonderful example of putting everything out there!! So even though I have posted this quote before, as I searched for other quotes about expression, my heart kept returning to Martha Graham's words, as this quote depicts the quintessential spirit of last night!!

Thank you Andrea!!

Peace

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May this dress remind us to listen HARD . . .

 . . . to our soul's desires . . .

“Put your ear down 

close to your soul and listen hard.” 

Anne Sexton

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