A GREAT INTERVIEW!

Had the fantastic experience again of interviewing a very creative individual, Margo Davis, a hair designer and teacher who has the background in art and an extensive education as a hair stylist. Margo is one who is a gifted teacher, as well. It is always a delight to meet someone new and share a creative moment that inspired the article featured in the December, 2013 issue, FORT SCOTT THE MAGAZINE. 

FORT SCOTT THE MAGAZINE 

MARGO DAVIS   

Ever wonder who does the art for novel covers-- I did!

   

 Jon Paul is  award winning fine artist whose work has appeared on many romance novels. Frankly, I was curious about who does the beautiful work portrayed on a favorite novel genre and was delighted to find Jon's work. You can look at his gallery of  gorgeous illustrations at his gallery web site:

http://artofjonpaul.com

VIDEO INTERVIEW   

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RM5TmuWhjk

Décor de Provence: Carolyn Quartermaine

Décor de Provence: Carolyn Quartermaine: Carolyn Quartermain is a London-based designer and stylist! She designs beautiful fabrics made of silk and floaty chiffons in magical color...

Diamonds + Wood: Richard Avedon - Opening Credits: Funny Face (1957...

Diamonds + Wood: Richard Avedon - Opening Credits: Funny Face (1957...
Love the opening photos in Funny Face by Richard Avedon! Just came across this blog of them!

The word is ELAN ( such a great eye for design he had)!

Well, for some unknown reason I cannot access my facebook account; however, I can send them my ID to return. Somehow, this floors me and it is true I use my maiden name which I have access to via divorce, but it is really disquieting to me to explain all of this and send proof to facebook, although I have it!!! Of course!!!!! Still, it is what it is these days. I'm a tad disheartened that it may be due to some report ( and I believe I know the motive and the person). I'm not going back to facebook just yet.  I will miss my friends acquired there through like and loving what they post. It just is daunting to deal with right now while entering a new MFA program in Art History. It is too too and, therefore, I shall blog here and when I have time to do whatever facebook does to restore my account I shall. Oddly enough my pins on pinterest are posted, there, as I post-- who knew?  So, there you have it. I'm "me" and I feel violated by having to prove it. *Groan* 


ARTWORK by "me", a.k.a., Cheryl Greenfield   Spring 2010, pastel

MUSIC BOX

A music box is inside my mind
melodious tune plays it's meter
sharps and flats, rests...Listen.
Musical organization here.
Time stamped irreversible as old letters with
postage stamps remain a moment; my father's
letters from France in WW ll bear such resemblance
in beautiful script with words in code like 'Nancy'
to indicate to his parents his present location.
My own melody in time remembers back to the age of two toddling in a yard going towards a door;
doorways are significant of time and turning points
as are keys... playing the piano on only black and white? Sharps and flats... yet the melody and the tune in intricate sounds and colorful variety of melodious mixtures of sound weaving
intrinsic and all the other instruments join in.
And there is this in our own music box within. All this
awareness of entering or leaving ...as the music box tune plays it's refrain... the lid opens and shuts like
unexpected knocking on doors; people come and go
some are family, some are friends, or people we do not
ever really know as in just the playing of different tunes
over the wave lengths of memories stored which are
ever reminding us of sense of place and belonging.
People become important to us; yet, often, we are
not important to them... some selfish longing there
or indifference to feelings of who we truly are
Who we are can change ... our personalities
we manifest-- it all depends. Our music box plays on.
Supplication for many who do not get the gist of us
prayer in longing and petition for scars and weaknesses
All, encompass thoughts which beat to the drum
of our heart both physical and figurative,,...beat, beat, beating in repeating varying sounds.
Who hears my plaintive cries or delights in exuberance
Who matters therein? Who really stands there?
What conductor of my soul is there?
What is the melody of an epiphany ? An enigma? A dream?
Who cares enough in the worst of crescendo crisis?
Who soothes our weary soul's at end of day dance?
Smiling lover with whom we are entranced in tune?
Smiling children playing and dancing their childish gig?
All from our internal strands . People are in our music.
The cacophony of places, events, blaring significant
Dancing with the melody of time and space in the 

solace of the mind...
Dancing with tear stained face, dancing for joy
Dancing with bright eyed child-like glee...
wonder and exuberant voice sounding
Dancing through the dark spaces and rainbow places.
Finding the voice whispering of love and rapture
Finding another's melody to capture intensity ...
in that longed for soul mate if such exists?
Who harmonizes with our unique melody...my tune laments?
Would they orchestrate or conduct the melody playing within flashes of kinetic energy in Sforzando?
A conductor of new lyrics or melodies at variance
but blending with our own tempo lulling ever more softly
sense of decrescendo softly pulling at our heart strings
chords and then there are at times choirs singing
unknown energy and there are the rhapsodies like
those letters from long ago... Lyrics written to musical notes,
melodies played on the instrument of our being
and to the tune that is unheard but that which plays;
moreover, the quality of the score and panorama mind's
eye that responds to sounds of that enters in
a plaintive siren calling melody ... or the vigorous moving orchestra unleashing strings, percussion, and the bird like sound of the flutes and horns in sequence?
an ever unfolding sense of eubstance which
holding us captive to our own unique song
we undeniably listen to as the band plays on
or the orchestra ripples through air
So yielding we listen there
our throes of emotions emulating with melodious
melodies enhancing moments with drum like
heart beats pulsating tones as poetry
in rhyme and meter, the vocabulary,
captivating our mind and heart to crescendo.
Dance to the various rhythms
Dance to the integral force actuating our minds.
Listen to our inward yearnings, wistful voices, memories
chords whispering ... played aloud tempo increasing
Dancing emotively, happily outwardly to the eternal tune within!
--Cheryl Greenfield, July 10, 2012 ( just working on various themes here to organize later... a poem in progression only)

The Beginning of the Book

         The first novel begins and it is a historical one during the Regency Era as that is a favorite time period researched by me , of course, due to my love for Jane Austin in particular. The heroine is unique and she meets her hero in an unexpected encounter. The scene is set and it will be added to as I do additional research on various aspects of Regency society and manners of the day along with actual persons to lend authenticity to this romantic tale with a couple who have certain temperaments and strong-willed natures. I look forward to sharing more as the novel develops. Meanwhile, I'm researching more history and looking for image types to construct the main characters and protagonists along with the particular settings where the scenes unfold.

Photo: Brighton Royal Pavilion: 

    The primary  " focus  is on the pre-Victorian period from 1811, when the formal Regency began, through 1837 when Queen Victoria succeeded William IV. If, however, Regency era is being contrasted with the Eighteenth century, then the period includes the later French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars.

The era was a time of excess for the aristocracy: for example, it was during this time that the Prince Regent built the Brighton Pavilion. However, it was also an era of uncertainty caused by several factors including the Napoleonic wars, periodic riots, and the concern (threat to some, hope to others) that the British people might imitate the upheavals of theFrench Revolution."

Source: British Regency - Wikipedia

Mrs. Jack | Kate Hines Jewelry

~A  Great READ



Mrs. Jack | Kate Hines Jewelry

all things paper: Quilled Flowers: A Garden of 35 Paper Projects - B...

all things paper: Quilled Flowers: A Garden of 35 Paper Projects - B...: Alli Bartkowski has done it again... created another beautiful book - Quilled Flowers: A Garden of 35 Paper Projects . Despite claiming no ...

8 Flat Belly Shortcuts | Yahoo! Health

8 Flat Belly Shortcuts | Yahoo! Health

French Heart: Win 'The Gospel According to Chanel'~

French Heart: Win 'The Gospel According to Chanel'~: Karen Karbo's chic little goldmine provides twelve essential nuggets of wisdom for the modern gal. Gleaned from the common sense that rocke...

Weathered Resilience

Muscles relaxed in the warm sun and on the sand
Eyes transfixed on the hues; varying shades of blues
Gulls flying over crying out their delights and peace ensues
after meeting waves of the ocean's power
pulling tangibly and resisting undercurrent
and residual strength renews now.
Dealing with the intangible elements
Past tense ,present tense these moments
periods of intensity and  resistance
Like finding the oyster's shell for instance
mirrored in the sheen resultant pearl
 a treasure cultured by wear
and pure
fresh water pearl
the oyster's gift
in a living organism
to safeguard against the foreign substance,
                      
Life and happenstance
arms en-wrapped  folded against the elements
then spontaneously flung high overhead
Hands reaching toward the sky
 in joyful  expressive resilience
grasping the exuberance
exultation in the moment in this instant 

in a cry of a sea bird, in the finding of a pearl,
in the manifestation of a myriad of senses,
each in their place and substance
holding them to heart qualities formed by resilience
a gift of time and environment
this
gradation and molding of substance
seemingly indifferent wonderment
wonderment at time's  crucial gifts
 and this substance -- the integrity of resilience!
--Cheryl Greenfield April 18, 2011 Revision of material, August 29, 2011.

--Cheryl Greenfield, April 18,2011   @ copyright material.All rights reserved.

E. E. Cummings : The Poetry Foundation

E. E. Cummings : The Poetry Foundation

New Posts and...

Realize I haven't been posting due to many factors, however, I fully intend to be doing a whole blog make-over this week and make it fresh daily! It is not easy for any of us to deal with ongoing continuing unrelenting stress; moreover, it often can just simply make us stop in our tracks and force us to balance, prioritize and revitalize... that, in effect, is what has been going on with me.

Well, will begin this renewal here within the next few hours and days. This spot served it's initial purpose, but there is more I wish to accomplish in this spot as there are so many things to see in beauty and in perspective... and my perspective is progressive. Hope you will continue to follow as this unfolds. I look forward to sharing with you!

It’s Only Sunny Side Up for Sunnye

                        Sunnye Gail Bates

By Cheryl Greenfield, Photographer: Nv Photo

  “Sometimes I even admire myself for getting in the face of diversity and screaming "get out of my way...I have work to do"— Sunnye Gail Bates

   The word resilience is a definition for the ability to process adversity and rise above it or to rebound, essentially. Very few of us are dealt the hand Sunnye Gail Bates was given in extreme life threatening  health situations in youth; moreover, it is true very few of us could have handled it the way Sunnye has in all her reactions and continues to do  still maintaining creative energy and achieving success as an entrepreneur. In her own words she describes her feelings about her launch of her business after a severe health event and a recent auto accident:

I am a self-taught graphic designer.  I design and solder all of the jewelry in my store.  I also design and print t-shirts.  I screen print and digitally print the shirts depending on the customers need and design.  I started digitally printing shirts in September 2010 and by April 2011 I had enough business coming in that I had to purchase another digital printer!  My creative mind then led me to pillows, hats, tote bags, dish towels and much more! Even with a broken back and wrist and a left foot in a walking boot for 5 months, I've never given up.  I've continued to work, to design, and to be thankful for the creativity that I've been blessed with.  My mother has always told me, "believe and succeed" and without that upbringing I would have thrown in the towel a long time ago.

   Another important thing about her situation in life is that it is always progressive. This factor is evident in her products for her business; furthermore, it also points to her determination for the future projection for her store for she is always looking at trends and using her own ‘style’ as she went on to  sa“Love incorporating vintage int

o my products!”

Then, when asked about her inspiration and creative influences this is what she maintained had really helped her. "It is my family who is the greatest inspiration."

      What particularly inspires one about Sunnye is this fervent drive for her loved ones, her passion for her work and her love for life! Furthermore, it is very evident in all that is reflected in her approach to adversity;moreover, it shows in all her beautiful unique creations.

   

 Frankly, it is an attitude all of us can be inspired to cultivate! The fact that she is has survived breast cancer twice at such a young age is truly remarkable. In addition, right in the midst of her last illness she became engaged to her best friend and love, Randall Bates, whom she married recently in November in Montana. Her approach to love and to life is evident in her wedding photo as it 
simply radiates sheer joy.

   However, after this joy she came home only to be involved in the auto accident three weeks later that caused the injuries mentioned for which she has had extensive surgery. Still, while in recovery mode, she is rebounding even in the agony of pain from those injuries! More importantly she is presently expanding her business and finding joy in this creative process. Her business is being launched to hit boutiques across the country along with her new website.

   Her remarkable resilience and rebounding quality are seen in these words of where she is at in this present moment in time:

I have now hired a sales representative that is launching a nationwide campaign to market my products.  We have named the line "An Altered Ego".
    

When asked again about her key inspiration and why she feels she is able to be so resilient she answered with these inspirational thoughts:
 

My dad always taught me that nothing is worth having if you haven't worked for it...and I don't think you'll find too many people that will say that I haven't lived my life by those words.  I love my job and the work that I do.  I look forward to the growth that we are about to encounter...it's truly a dream come true!

  
   Certainly, Sunnye’s dreams continue to come true in every respect in truly exciting and creative ways as she truly looks at life as only sunny side up!

 The new website is:

http://www.analteredego.com

 

Poem: Inbetween

That place in between dreams
lightening storm and wind thrashing trees
glimmering of light
sound crashing mesmerizing activity of power
between wakefulness and stirring
...awe inspiring activity
wherein my mind encompasses breadth and heighth
width and extremity
heart, mind, self inward soul stirring
awareness, here
Glint of power and might
self acknowledgement of fragility
woven in threads of strength a fabric worn
by sheer tenacity
throwing heart and soul (self) to the leap of faith
a single glance, a single tear, a perfect place
between this and that place
balancing act of priorities and immensities
mitigated by knowledge intrinsically
awakening to replenishing rain
and stream of tear sliding down in humility
joy of resilience
earth embracing, prayerful intensity specific,
Always!

-- Cheryl Greenfield May 9, 2011

Photo credit google images

~Gifts

How I have always loved Victoria
   and today in the mail, received three older issues from 1996 from my Aunt Dorothy. From the first issue in in the 80s I was entranced and captivated. The then editor in chief, Nancy Lindemeyer, brought such a sense of taste and beauty. The opening 'Dear Friends' section always featured the lovely water colors of an artist in France, Aude Kamlet, and there was the outstanding photography of Toshi Otsuki... which just sent me to another place in perception from his flawless eye through the lens.  Thus, this gift was so eagerly opened as she mentioned she had some older editions she was sending. Who knew she loved this magazine as I did? When things were difficult and challenging as a single parent of four sons on a tight budget, this magazine was like a dear friend whom I enjoyed a cup of hot tea with : moreover, I  felt like I was having scintillating conversation even though this was reading lines on pages and absorbing beautiful, gorgeous photos and substantially written articles. In fact, I used many images in my design notebook for Art Education. Dr. Moody gave me high marks for my over-all design, but admittedly the ideas rolled and images within my mind and remembered exactly from several stacks of saved magazines I had from the first images. Unfortunately, I loaned them out to someone and they were never returned...so, to get this special gift was so heart warming and who would guess the issue with the little girl pictured on the front cover in the plaid dress was one of my all time favorite images-- and that was the first one that appeared to me on opening the large envelope! How precious to me, this gift! 
             
How important it is to establish connections with our relatives who are older and in other places...they lend us something from ourselves. After all usually we share the same DNA. In this respect, I hope so as my aunt is 81 and has longish flipped golden bob, golden tan, wears a white pair of  capris , white sweater, and white style maker sandals with beautiful pedicured nails! One would never guess her much older than fifty. Something to look forward to, that!  At any rate, it is a way to touch someone. Imagine my surprise to find out she has saved drawings of home designs since I was thirteen years old... that she was ...she said 'astounded' by in that to her knowledge I had not been in homes like that. Well, of course, I had in mental travels at my maternal grandmother's house with all her pristine collections of magazines: Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Town and Country, and  , lastly, issue upon issue of National Geographic.

So, the beauty savored today from these issues still in mint condition and a gift from the heart from an aunt who stays in tune with dress, style, and race car drivers. *smiles* 

                     The best sort of gift is personal and related to something you like or enjoy.
                                      ~Thank you, Aunt Dorothy, for this gift and, also, the
                                                          personal card and note within...
                                                                a gift in itself to be cherished!

                                                                     ~Aunt Dorothy~                   

Writers and how they grab creative writing time

http://www.mastersdegree.net/blog/2011/20-acclaimed-authors-and-their-unique-writing-rituals/

Inspiration For A Room Of 'My' Own

Sometimes we need to recharge our batteries and get a new view around us... that more reflects who we are in the present. There are so many inspirations around us and I believe in looking for those things that draw and attract us; moreover, it is those things that make us feel in an intrinsic way. Such occupation is helpful for us to relate to where we are in our own unique space. In fact, that is what I'm doing right now by collecting those pictures from magazines, the Internet, and books on design and art that appeal to me on levels of interest.

Color and texture always move me along with simple lines. Always, there must be the feeling of vitality and life (as in fresh flowers in a vase) or oranges in a bowl perhaps with cloves stuck in the peels for a savory aroma during the winter months. At any rate, it is what gives me pleasure this particular occupation and it is pleasurable to my senses and love for design elements. My own room has to be a big mix for what I am doing right now and that would be writing, drawing, painting, reading, designing, and at last sitting drinking some hot cup of java , tea, or hot chocolate before bedtime. Drinking  countless cups of coffee and tea are part of my day, usually...and I enjoy the aroma of freshly made hot anything (*smiles*, here)!

So,in this present moment I'm taking time out and collecting for inspiration and I'm sharing some photos of what is inspiring me right in this moment of time.

Photograph by Simon Mc Bride

from the book, 'Restoring A Home In Italy' by Elizabeth Helman Minchilli

Photograph by Simon Mc Bride

from the book, 'Restoring A Home In Italy' by Elizabeth Helman Minchilli

Cheryl Greenfield photograph

 Elle Decor

How to Make a Gift Bow from Recycled Materials | eHow.com

How to Make a Gift Bow from Recycled Materials eHow.com