may these dresses celebrate the wonders of friendships . . . .

Amicitiae nostrae memoriam spero sempiternam fore - Cicero
“I hope that the memory of our friendship will be everlasting.”

Today was my official last day as the middle school art teacher at Dana Hall :( 

It was a day full of emotion, hugs and some tears, but all in all a lovely day. A perfect ending for a most amazing experience. And with that experience in mind, I am posting this dresscard, as I am hoping that this adventure will be everlasting: the friendships, the connections and all the experiences. 

During my stint as substitute I was blessed by being connected to Latin teacher supreme, Ms. Wellington. She was my co-hort in crime and my co-advisor for a wonderful group of 8th graders. Ms. Wellington made these past months wonderful, always patiently answering my constant stream of questions. She even brought her daughters to see my show, 'breaking open' - swoon.

She and my advisees surprised me today with a little good-bye party, complete with this awesome poster with dresses from all the girls and a dress made out of brownie cupcakes, made by one of my advisees and they were so, so good!!! As I said above, a perfect ending to an amazing experience.  And hopefully 'ending' is not the appropriate word?!?!?  there has been much talk of 'on-call' sub and one never knows. . . .

But I am aware that this experience is ending and I want to acknowledge how truly blessed I am to have this opportunity, especially at this time of serious transition in my life!! 

I am cleaning up the art room, getting it ready for the art teacher, collecting my coffee cups and clearing off her desk.  I'm not sure what is in store, but I know that i am truly grateful for these past months, being part of this very supportive community!! and hoping that these friendship are everlasting!!! 

Thank you & peace ~ 

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may this dress accompany you as you go!!!

“You have brains in your head. 

You have feet in your shoes. 

You can steer yourself 

any direction you choose. 

You're on your own. 

And you know what you know. 

And YOU are the one who'll decide 

where to go...” 

 Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Places You'll Go!

Today's daily dress inspiration was inspired by my 7th graders' perspective drawings. I am creating a bulletin board to to showcase these beauties and I wanted to title the board, 'Oh, the places you'll go', because each painting represents a new and exciting adventure!!!

Each student created a 'road' or pathway, working with perspective.  Once the trees and buildings were  basically correctly drawn, I have let them go wild with the watercolors.  I am getting wonderful results.  The variety is lovely - different skies, different seasons and some have varied the middle 'pathway', making it a river or railroad tracks.  

Oh' the places one can go with art supplies!! 

Happy Friday!!

peace

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May this dress accompany you on your next adventure . . .

"The big question is whether you are going to be able to say a hearty yes to your adventure."

 Joseph Campbell

For many this week is the beginning of a new school year - a definite adventure.

For me, today is my first official day as the substitute art teacher at the middle school @ Dana Hall, a big adventure as well as an amazing opportunity.

I am super excited to be back in the classroom, however this new schedule may affect my 'daily' posting, especially the morning postings :)

But know that my intentions are good. I love this practice, it has become my morning meditation of sorts.

In fact this past weekend I posted my 100th daily dress post, 100 in a row!!!!! :)

So im giving a bit of a heads up, in case I miss a day here or there. 

But know a dress will be on its way!

And now I'm off to say a hearty YES to this awesome adventure and meet some wonderful girls - peace

may this dress celebrate YOU and your precious life!!

'ribbon dress' (2008) part of the collection at the Dana Hall School

"What will you do with 

your one wild and precious life?"

Mary Oliver

for today I picked one of my favorite 

dresses from my dressproject, 'ribbon dress'

to create the skirt I stamped 

positive and inspiring quotes 

on ribbons and strips of fabrics.

this was a time-consuming process, however

I loved the meditative process of 

individually stamping each letter of these 

words of wisdom.

this dress contains many of my favorite quotes ~

from Mary Oliver, Kiki Smith & 

Thoreau, to name a few.

(a bit of a precursor to my dresscards)

this dress is part of the 

Dana Hall School's art collection, 

it is exhibited in their library. 

I feel that it is a perfect home 

for this dress, 

as it emanates  positive and 

affirming ideas.

 I wish to share my favorite poem by Mary Oliver ~ 

Wild Geese

You do not have to be good.

You do not have to walk on your knees

for a hundred miles through the desert repenting.

You only have to let the soft animal of your body

love what it loves.

Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.

Meanwhile the world goes on.

Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain

are moving across the landscapes, 

over the prairies and the deep trees,

the mountains and the rivers.

Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,

are heading home again.

Whoever you are, no matter how lonely, 

the world offers itself to your imagination,

calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting 

over and over announcing your place 

in the family of things.

from Dream Work by Mary Oliver 

published by Atlantic Monthly Press

© Mary Oliver

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