Remember within us is invincible love and so much more ...

“My dear,
In the midst of hate, I found there was, within me, an invincible love.
In the midst of tears, I found there was, within me, an invincible smile.
In the midst of chaos, I found there was, within me, an invincible calm.
I realized, through it all, that…
In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer.
And that makes me happy. For it says that no matter how hard the world pushes against me, within me, there’s something stronger – something better, pushing right back.

Truly yours,
Albert Camus”

if you have received this post as an email
click below to visit the entire blog, blog link
or click here to join the dailydress project group on FB https://www.facebook.com/groups/bookofmotherlove/

May this dress remind us that we can still rise ....

“You may encounter many defeats,

but you must not be defeated.

In fact, it may be necessary 

to encounter the defeats,

so you can know who you are,

what you can rise from,

how you can still come out of it.”

Maya Angelou

I must confess these past weeks have been agonizing to my soul.

With so much strive, even about fairies and masks?!?!

So I retreat to the counsel of wise beings,

 to find solace in their words, 

and no one fits that honor like Dr. Maya Angelou.

Wonder what she would say 

in this bleak time in humanity's history??

peace ☮️

if you have received this post as an email

click below to visit the entire blog, blog link

or click here to join the dailydress project group on FB 

May this dress give us the courage to change what we can not accept ...

a short bio and link to read more about:

Angela Yvonne Davis: 

American communist, political activist, academic, and writer who advocates for the oppressed

Angela Yvonne Davis (born January 26, 1944)  emerged as a prominent counterculture activist in the 1960s working with the Communist Party USA, of which she was a member until 1991, and was briefly involved in the Black Panther Party during the Civil Rights Movement.[4]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angela_Davis

“I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change. 

I am changing the things I cannot accept.” 

Angela Y. Davis

if you have received this post as an email

click below to visit the entire blog, blog link

or click here to join the dailydress project group on FB 

May this dress remind us not to worry ....

a short bio and link to read more about:

Corrie ten Boom: Writer, watchmaker, shero*, lifesaver

Cornelia Arnolda Johanna "Corrie" ten Boom (15 April 1892 – 15 April 1983) was a Dutch watchmaker and later a writer who worked with her father Casper ten Boom, her sister Betsie ten Boom and other family members to help many Jews escape the Nazi Holocaust during World War IIby hiding them in her home. They were caught and she was arrested and sent to Ravensbrück concentration camp. Her most famous book, The Hiding Place, is a biography that recounts the story of her family's efforts and how ten Boom found hope while imprisoned at the concentration camp.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corrie_ten_Boom

*shero: a woman regarded as a herohttps://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shero

Worry does not empty 

tomorrow of its sorrow. 

It empties today of its strength. 

Corrie Ten Boom

if you have received this post as an email

click below to visit the entire blog, blog link

or click here to join the dailydress project group on FB 

May this dress help us to RISE!!

“You may encounter many defeats, 

but you must not be defeated. 

In fact, it may be necessary 

to encounter the defeats, 

so you can know who you are, 

what you can rise from, 

how you can still come out of it.” 

Maya Angelou

if you have received this post as an email

click below to visit the entire blog, blog link

or click here to join the dailydress project group on FB 

May this dress remind us to focus on our blessings, not our problems ...

“Live your life with purpose. Focus on your blessings, not your misfortunes. Focus on your strengths, not your weaknesses. Be yourself and don't wait for the approval of others. But most importantly, have a positive and humble mindset no matter what situation you are in. Count your blessings, not your problems, and you will realize how beautiful your life truly is.” 

Troy Amdahl

if you have received this post as an email

click below to visit the entire blog, blog link

or click below to join the book of motherlove group on FB https://www.facebook.com/groups/bookofmotherlove/

May this dress bring us confidence, strength, clarity and perseverance ...

“Life is not easy 

for any of us. 

But what of that? 

We must have perseverance 

and, above all, 

confidence in ourselves. 

We must believe that we are gifted for something, 

and that this thing, at whatever cost, must be attained.” 

Marie Curie

if you have received this post as an email

click below to visit the entire blog, blog link

or click here to join the dailydress project group on FB 

may this dress give us faith ...

“It’s not the absence of fear, 

it’s overcoming it. 

Sometimes you’ve got to blast through 

and have faith.” 

  Emma Watson

if you have received this post as an email

click below to visit the entire blog, blog link

or click here to join the book of dailydressproject group on FB https://www.facebook.com/groups/bookofmotherlove/

Remember the power of deep love!!

Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, 

while loving someone deeply gives you courage. 

Lao Tzu

if you have received this post as an email

click below to visit the entire blog, blog link

or click here to join the book of motherlove group on FBhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/bookofmotherlove/

May this dress bring you strength ...

“That which does not kill us 

makes us stronger.”

Friedrich Nietzsche

if you have received this post as an email

click below to visit the entire blog, blog link

or click here to join the book of motherlove group on FB www.facebook.com/groups/bookofmotherlove/

may this dress bring us all amazing strength ...

As we advance in life 

 it becomes more and more difficult, 

but in fighting the difficulties 

the inmost strength of the heart is developed.

Vincent Van Gogh

if you have received this post as an email

click below to visit the entire blog, blog link

or click here to join the book of motherlove group on FBhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/bookofmotherlove/

Make yourself proud and empowered!!

You have this one life. 

How do you want to spend it? 

Apologizing? Regretting? 

Questioning? Hating yourself? 

Dieting? Running after people who don’t see you? 

(no!, mom)

Be brave. Believe in yourself. 

Do what feels good. Take risks. 

You have this one life. 

Make yourself proud.

Beardsley Jones

This quote speaks to SO many choices and actions that we make in a day that can drain the our energy and undermine who we are.  It is so important to be mindful of the way we act and the choices we make and how they reflect who we are.  

One way that we can help be more true to ourselves is by being aware of how, when and why we apologize.  An apology is important if it is warranted, but too many times we, especially women, will apologize when it is not necessary or even appropriate.  Many times the apology undermines our ideas, our contributions and ourselves.  

Watch the below video by Pantene, it is quite eye-opening and demonstrates ways of communicating without using the undermining 5 letter word, sorry.

How do you want to spend your one precious life?? 

love, mom

if video is not working, click here

if you have received this post as an email

click below to visit the entire blog, blog link

or click below to join the book of motherlove group on FBhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/bookofmotherlove/

day56: you can always rise ...

'dress of bread ...' (2010)

“You may encounter many defeats, 

but you must not be defeated. 

In fact, it may be necessary 

to encounter the defeats, 

so you can know who you are, 

what you can rise from, 

how you can still come out of it.”

Maya Angelou

It is the difficult times, the challenging times that are what really define who we are and what we believe in.  That is hard to write, because as a mother I really do not want you to have any difficult and challenging times, but then I know that it is a part of growing.   I know that it was in the darkest hours that I learned more about myself.  That is why there are SO many, many different quotes about getting through the tough times.  

But I hope you take away from this quote and the knowledge that there will be hard times in your life,  that these trials, setbacks, broken hearts, betrayals are opportunities for self knowledge and personal growth. These encounters will teach you things about yourself, your surroundings, your friends, your truths and your beliefs.  

But please don't go out and create a difficult experience because that is not how this works. Your challenges will come to you when and where you need them.  Those are the hurdles that you need to learn to jump over, those will be your life lessons.  They won't be easy or fun, but you will survive! and you will be stronger and wiser for that experience!!

   And ALWAYS remember that I believe in you whole-heartedly!!

I know that you will rise and survive!! 

 and that you can ALWAYS call me!! love, mom

if you have received this post as an email

click below to visit the entire blog, blog link

or click below to visit FB daily dress inspiration group FB link

day31: you don't need to go it alone ...

Don't be afraid to ask questions. Don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it. I do that every day. Asking for help isn't a sign of weakness, it's a sign of strength. It shows you have the courage to admit when you don't know something, and then allows you to learn something new. 

Barack Obama

Asking for help is a wonderful practice and for some reason many of us feel that it is some kind of sign of weakness.  

(I think it has something to do with the 'puritan ethic') 

But asking for help is a wise and powerful act, on many levels.

One thing that I have learned is that people have different skills and different interests. So, for example,  there may be someone who understands a subject that you are having trouble with and they can help you understand it better.  Or someone has been through a tough experience and has learned some coping mechanisms that they can share with you.

I also LOVE how President Obama points out that by asking for help you open yourself to learning something new! 

(And you know I love anything to do with learning something new!) 

So if you find yourself struggling with a class, an emotion, a situation, a relationship, a decision ... don't get overwhelmed!

 go find someone who can help, be it a friend, a teacher, counselor or professional.  

You don't need to do this 'life' thing on your own!!

love, mom

if you have received this post as an email

click below to visit the entire blog, blog link

or click below to visit FB daily dress inspiration group FB link

May this dress remind U of your incredible strength and brilliance my dear Maya!!!!

this weekend my Maya graduated from Natick High.  

A milestone and the beginning of a new phase of this amazing woman's journey.

I dedicate this dailydress inspiration to Maya!!!

Go forth and play, learn, breathe, love and 

conquer!!!

I love you to Pluto and beyond! XXXXXX

if you have received this post as an email

click below to visit the entire blog, blog link

or click below to visit FB daily dress inspiration group FB link

May this dress give us strength for our personal journeys ....

'treacherous ...' (2008)

It is not the mountain we conquer 

but ourselves. 

Edmund Hillary

if you have received this post as an email

click below to visit the entire blog, blog link

or click below to visit FB daily dress inspiration group FB link

may this dress remind us all of the strength and power we hold within!!

'dress of invincible summer ...' #dailydressseries 7feb16 20F 7:55am

In the depth of winter 

I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer.' 

Albert Camus

if you have received this post as an email

click below to visit the entire blog, blog link

or click below to visit FB daily dress inspiration group FB link

May this dress bring us Strength and Dignity!

She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.
proverb 31:25

"that which does not kill us makes us stronger"

Friedrich Nietzsche

peace

if you have received this post as an email

click below to visit the entire blog, blog link

or click below to visit FB daily dress inspiration group FB link

may this dress bring us strength and resilience ...

©virginiafitzgerald2015

we may encounter many defeats

 but we must not be defeated.

maya angelou

if you have received this post as an email

click below to visit the entire blog, blog link

or click below to visit FB daily dress inspiration group FB link

May this dress bring us strength ...

You have power over your mind ~ 

not outside events. 

Realize this, and you will find strength.

Marcus Aurelius

thank you Kristin Hughes-Craig for this haunting photo of model  Melanie Moore and 'dear jeff ...' , taken during David Lee Black Studios' 'create your own vision' workshop last November.

the story of 'dear jeff ...':

This dress is a commissioned sculpture for a man, Jeff, who lost his fiancée in the events of 9/11/2001. She had flown to New York early that morning to attend a business breakfast at the Windows of the World restaurant.

On the 10 year anniversary of this tragedy Jeff felt that it was time to let go of his box of memories. He contacted me and asked me if I could create something from his collection of letters and cards and remnants from the tragedy. I was honored to have been asked and accepted the task.

Jeff handed me a large box full of letters; notes between the couple during college, cards of encouragement for new jobs, the announcement about their engagement, articles about 9/11, the missing person flyers, and then an abundance of condolences cards, from friends, family, coworkers, communities and even strangers. These communiques played a huge role is Jeff's recovery; the power of a caring community.

When Jeff approached me, he didn't want a memorial of his fiancée and her death. He wanted a sculpture that would portray the importance of community, and the positive growth that can come through adversity, as well as a celebration of Amy's spirit. 

The essence of this dress is similiar to the story of the phoenix, who rises from the ashes renewed after apparent disaster or destruction. peace

if you have received this post as an email

click below to visit the entire blog, blog link

or click below to visit FB daily dress inspiration group FB link