Be the light ...

“Light is to darkness what love is to fear; in the presence of one, the other disappears.

 Marianne Williamson

I have posted this collage on my P.O.P. site (society6 and Redbubble) and I will donate the entirety of my portion of the sale of this print, 'be the light ... ' to UNICEF to help the children in the Ukraine.  

print on society 6:

https://society6.com/product/be-the-light6628744_print?sku=s6-23296111p4a1v45

Print on redbubble: 

https://www.redbubble.com/i/art-print/be-the-light-by-Virginiacreate/103391524.1G4ZT?asc=u

Click here to go directly to UNICEF's site to donate directly:

www.unicefusa.org

When I sat down yesterday to create this month's collage for my #virginiacreates monthly calendar - this collage came quite clearly to me.  I didn't struggle with it or question it, which usually happens with most of my work.  But this piece seemed to flow. 

 I was listening to an interview with the lovely and talented Anne Lamott (see link below) and she was speaking about the importance of being the light - especially for creatives - and so I named this collage, 'be the light ...'  However as I was putting together my March calendar page I started seeing that this piece speaks to the heart-breaking situation in the Ukraine.  

As I do with many of my collages I cut shapes from  pages of different foreign text.  I am always picking up foreign books when I see them!! Unknowingly I used pages from one of my book that is in a Slavic language.  This particular book seems to be about Walt Disney and is in some East Slavic language though I am not sure which language. I love to use text in my work and especially text using different alphabets.  I find lettering/text/language so inspiring and beautiful of many levels.  

 

Also when I first sat down to make this collage I felt the need to stamp a peace sign, something that I don't always do, but yesterday it felt important.

I mention all this because I really wasn't consciously thinking about the Ukraine crisis, but as I look at the finished collage I feel like it speaks to the crisis, peace & light with a slavic text sprinkled around.  And this is an idea that Anne Lamott talks about, that we, as creatives, need to be open so that we are receptors of the world and that it what feeds our work.

A Conversation with Anne Lamott - 2007:

Best-selling author Anne Lamott returns to San Diego with more hilarious tales of her life as a mother, daughter and writer who is drawn to the struggles of imperfect characters. The humor of host Dean Nelson puts the normally reclusive Lamott at ease and the two keep the audience laughing throughout this edition of the 2007 Writer’s Symposium by the Sea, sponsored by Point Loma Nazarene University. [4/2007] [Show ID: 12220]

https://youtu.be/PhP5GmybvPM

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Choose love!

What a thoroughly wonderful quote, for now and for always!!!

We're all in this together. 

Choose love.

Jo Dee Messina

Jo Dee Messina is a local girl for those of us in the Boston area, 

if wikipedia is correct: 

Born August 25, 1970 (age 49) Framingham, Massachusetts, U.S.

and there is a bit of her bio below with a link to her website.

And I am happy to say that society 6 is still offering

 Up to 40% Off Everything – Free Shipping on Orders Over $99 

and I have uploaded this design, 'in this together ...' as well as designs featuring some of these wacky characters

And to help folks navigate my Society6 shop, I am in the process of putting all products from each design (as I have 90 designs posted on my shop) into their own collection.

The first design to have its own 'collection' is 'in this together ..'

the link is below!! 

 

link to the entire 'in this together ...' collection on my Society6 shop 

peace and be well!! 

https://society6.com/virginiafitzgerald/collection/in-this-together?curator=virginiafitzgerald

Jo Dee Messina is a seasoned veteran in the music industry, always evolving and reintroducing herself and her sound as she gains new experiences in life. Jumpstarting her career, Jo Dee’s breakout song, “Heads Carolina, Tails California,” made her a household name. Following the success of her debut, Jo Dee posted nine No. 1 hits, sixteen Top 40 songs, sold over five million albums worldwide, and was honored by the ACM Awards, CMA Awards, and GRAMMY Awards. As Jo Dee’s résumé grew, she proved to be a trendsetter and history-maker, becoming the first female in country music history to celebrate three consecutive multi-week, chart-topping songs.

https://jodeemessina.com/2019/bio/

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Happy Father's Day to all the heroes, adventurers, story-tellers, and singers of song!!

"Dads are most ordinary men turned by love 

into heroes, adventurers, story-tellers,

 and singers of song."

Pam Brown

check out my dapper dad, sporting his bow ties!!

my dad is my inspiration for my newest design on @society6 called  'dapper dad ...'

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breathe, deeply, repeat ....

A friendly and needed reminder for us all!!

this print is available on my society6 shop*

As the holiday season approaches and the days are getting darker quicker, making it feel like time is just vanishing, it is very important to remember to breathe!!!

Stress and anxiety are truly unhealthy and can cause serious health issues, so don't get caught on the gerbil wheel. Take time for yourself, even if it is just a minute to sit quietly and breathe.

Quieting yourself is also a great way to approach a quiz, exam or paper.  This is also the time when trimesters are ending and midterms are common.  When it feels like the work load is piling up and you can't think, that is the best time to sit back, breathe deeply and let go.

From personal experience, I can attest to the myriad of negative results caused by stress.  Stress lowers your immune system, making you more vulnerable to germs and viruses (yuck!).

Stress can affect your thinking. Have you ever taken a timed quiz, and while you are timed you can't remember the answers only to have them all flow back into your brain once the clock had stopped?? 

Lastly, you are not at your best when stressed.  Just think about how when you are running late and getting stressed out, these are the times that you more often than not, will lose something or forget something?!? 

So for today, a friendly reminder to us ALL - 

take a moment (even when you feel like you don't have a moment to spare) take a moment to stop, to breathe, breathe deeply, to exhale, exhale fully and let go of stress (as much as possible). XX

love, mom

* if you would like to have this friendly reminder that you can have around your house, check out my society6 shop, where you can get a print of it, or get it on a mug or clock or even a blanket. 

I am a big fan of the visual reminders!! :)

click here to go to shop

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how to pick a good piece of watermelon ....

'wacky watermelon ...' tapestry from Society6
& today they are having a 20% off sale

Before summer is just a ghost-like memory I thought I'd share with you a trick I learned from Yasmin masi about how to pick a sweet and juicy piece of watermelon from the grocery store, and it has never failed me.  This works when you are buying cut watermelon because you need to see the fruit, and it is very simple.

You want to pick a piece of watermelon that was a crack in it* see picture below.  I think of it as the watermelon has just bursted because of all its yummy flavor.  Just one piece of kitchen knowledge that i wish to pass along to my girls.

*note the crack of flavor

 Happy Labor Day!!
love, mom

Click here to go to my Society6 shop 

to take advantage of their Labor Day sale.

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day71: the power of love

"One words frees us of 

all the weight and pain of life: 

That word is love." 

Sophocles

dear girls, the results of the 2016 presidential election shattered me!! for so many, many reasons, but the biggest reason is what it means for you two, my most amazing and loved daughters.  this is not the state of the world that i would have EVER wanted for you, for ANYONE! but alas, here it is ....

it has taken me days for me to figure out how to continue my '100days of motherlove' to you.  each time i start a post it turns into a 'rant' which is not what i want these posts to be.

however, the truth is that our world has been changed drastically, and not in a positive way.  humanity and basic human rights took a major hit.  i believe that we are now need to step up, to be vigilant, protecting our beliefs that all humans should be treated equally and with respect and dignity.  this is not a new concept for this blog.  however, after election day this message feels so much more urgent and critical that i was paralyzed for a bit, but it would not stop me.

yet with so much to say, to do, to grieve, to mourn, to rally for, to rage against, where to begin??? well ... I decided to begin with what gets me up every morning, what I believe in, whole-hearty ...
today I am beginning with the power of LOVE!!!!

LOVE a simple short word that is so powerful and transformative. it is both verb and noun, an action and a state of mind/heart/soul/spirit.  I firmly believe in the power of love and for today I wish to reenforce the power of that belief to you both!

last night i was part of a peace rally here in natick, in response to nasty things that have been happening since the election.  of course our dear friend heather was there, and we started to singing the chorus of 'all you need is love' by the beatles.  it moved me to be singing a beatles song, as i held my rainbow peace flag high.

two members of the beatles, john lennon and george harrison, were very vocal about peace and love and created many beautiful songs celebrating the power of these forces.  since i have shared lennon's 'imagine' on this blog many times, today I turn to the beautiful George Harrison, who left this world with many messages about the power of peace and love. i ask you to take a moment to sit and listen to this song, it has given me a sense of hope, see what you think
.... love, mom

click here if video link isn't working: https://youtu.be/fLsKWWF94cw



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happy monday everyone .... pass the coffee

this morning as I perused my desk and thought of my 'to-do' list I felt so grateful my morning cup of coffee, so I felt that others may feel the same.  And as I was eating my graphic for this blog I was torn between two sentiments so I am posting them both.  I plan to post this one of these versions on my Society6 shop, so I would LOVE to know if you have an opinion of which one to post?!?!? 

& happy monday!! XXXXX

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Today, let us LOVE!!!

'flowerpower/love ...' acrylic on canvas

“You don't love someone for their looks, 

or their clothes, 

or for their fancy car, 

but because they sing a song 

only you can hear.”

Oscar Wilde

this painting and other 'flowerpower' pieces are now being shown at 

TreeHouse Studios

84 Court Street downtown Plymouth MA.

this design is also available on Society6!!

use this link to receive free shipping and $5 off beach towels. promo ends this evening.https://society6.com/virginiafitzgerald

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