We're Back - With Bells On!

The self-imposed approximately two-month sabbatical is almost over. Yippee! Ring those bells!  I've missed blogging - the writing and the reading. 

We've spent the last two months concentrating on other ventures: building inventory in our two new businesses, Kudzu Keepsakes (www.facebook.com/kudzukeepsakes) and Spitting Images Gallery (www.facebook.com/spittingimagesgallery.) Loads of fun!

At Kudzu Keepsakes, we specialize in antiques, uniques and vintage items of all sorts.  Roseville Pottery to Spode's Billingsley Rose china, buck saws to wagon wheels, vintage clothing to license plates/tags, Quimper pottery to cut-to-clear cased crystal. 

 

Celebratin' - Novels, Horns, Peanut Butter & Banana Pudding

Have you celebrated yet? 

            November is National Novel Writing Month.  I’m guessing you probably didn’t hunker down and write a novel this month.  At least not yet.  I didn’t either.

            It’s also National Life Writing Month.  Now I’m not certain exactly what that means; after all, we can’t script our lives.  And we can’t rewrite our lives, although many of us might like to rewrite certain chapters in our lives.

 Perhaps this is supposed to be a time to write your autobiography.  Did you do that?  No, I didn’t either. 

But I did finally realize one of my dreams: I got a book published, so I’m officially an “author.”  Yippee!

Yes, it’s a small book.  It’s not scholarly (no surprise there, huh?)

May I share? 

See, I subscribe – at least today – to the old proverb: “He who tooteth not his own horn, his horn not get tooteth.”  So, yes, I’m sharing, i.e. tooting my own horn. 

But I’m also tooting the horns of 18 others.

The book is Don’t Pick Up The Ham With Your Fingers: A Little Book to Do Momma’s Naggin’ For Her.  (I’m better at naggin’ than at tootin’.  Did I just actually write that????)

The book of humorous and occasionally serious naggin’s is illustrated throughout by work from 18 talented folks, ranging from a sixth-grader to retiree.  I am overwhelmed by their talent.

These folks, all South Carolinians, are from Prosperity, Aynor, Chapin, Surfside Beach, Summerville, Greenville, Charleston, Mt. Pleasant, Conway, Myrtle Beach, Columbia, West Columbia and Lexington.  Maybe there's a future Grandma Moses, Jasper Johns, Andy Warhol or even Michaelangelo in there!

We’re doing our first book-signing this week.  It’s a new adventure for most of us and we’re having fun.  And, yes, of course, we hope YOU find a copy somewhere.

By the way, November is also National Peanut Butter Lovers Month and Banana Pudding Lovers Month. 

I celebrate those all year long!

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Writing, Drawing and Facebook

I think Facebook is great.


Yes, it has its critics. Yes, it can be time-consuming. Yes, it can be annoying.

Yes, things can go wrong, but, hey, so can life. We can’t go through life avoiding everything that might go wrong. Otherwise, who would ever drive a car? 




Anyway, back to Facebook. Some folks say it is impersonal. I find it just the opposite. I’ve found long-lost friends. We stay in touch in ways we very likely would not do by phone and in ways we’ve never done by letter.

I’ve saved the many wonderful and even funny messages posted on Facebook when Rod, my brother, died just over a year ago. They are a treasure to read from time to time.

That's just one example of how I've found Facebook to be personal rather than impersonal.

The reason Facebook is on my mind right now is that I’m finally writing a book. Actually, I’m working on three books at once, with two others in the wings.

For years I’ve wanted to write a book and even had one planned out in my mind but just never got around to doing it. Once I decided to actually do it, the one that had been thought-out got put on the back burner as I worked, i.e. had fun, on three others.

I love to write; I cannot draw. I can’t even produce a stick figure. Or a ball. Or a star.

So, since the first book needed lots of artwork, I posted a note on Facebook that I was looking for illustrators. Wow! I was totally amazed at the responses.

And now, this little gift/novelty book is nearing publication with illustrations by 16 talented South Carolinians. They are from all across the state and range from young students to retirees.

I’ve met only three of the 16 face-to-face but, thanks to Facebook, I feel like I know ‘em all!




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Do You Know Someone Who Can Draw?

Do you know someone who can draw?  Someone who might like to get published and get a SMALL stipend?

Looking primarily for students but open to anyone.

Will select at least ten (10) illustrations to feature, maybe more, in book to be published this fall – just in time for holiday giving.

Deadline for submissions: 3 pm, August 31st

For details, contact me by e-mail: oxymoron13@aol.com. Subject line: Book Illustration.

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WW: Presidential Portraits and More

These are pictures I took last year in the Smithsonian's presidential exhibit.  Some of the artwork is truly amazing.

Have you ever had your patience tried?  Did you have to wait a long time for something?  Read this that was displayed next to one of Thomas Jefferson's portraits.  Yes, that was a different time - before people were used to getting things right away.

This is a close up of a section of the previous portrait.  The hands are so life-like, don't you think?

These are life masks of Abraham Lincoln.  The one on the right was done two weeks before his death.

These sculptures are of President George Herbert Walker Bush.  He's throwing horseshoes.

Click the links to view other participants in Wordless Wednesday and Wordful Wednesday.