mum’s the word
“Compassion for our parents is the true sign of maturity” said Anais Nin. I’ve been learning this a lot lately. My mum has been through some scary emergencies this year, and that she’s here for another Mother’s Day is nothing short of a miracle. I found some old pix from my first photo album, apparently the result of getting my first camera for Christmas in 1969. With one of these, I’ve made this card for my mum, in recognition of her style. I had a notion that my sense of style was all mine, but when I came across a picture of my mother in a polka dot...
Read Moreo say can you see
I have so much to process from our recent trip to Washington, DC, I don’t know where to begin. We traveled with friends, saw old friends, and plenty of art and monuments in between. The change in administration and spring blossoms drew crowds just like us, so we didn’t get our White House tour tickets. But it’s the very first sight we needed to see upon arrival. Isn’t is beautiful? The next day was sunny and sublime, taking in the glories of the National Mall. Both my daughter and I took photos of Alexander Calder’s “The Gwenfritz,” a 35- ton stabile...
Read Morefiber fashionistas
Inspiration was all over the place last week. Marty went to the AIGA’s mixer at Angela Adam’s shop and studio on Congress Street in Portland. We’ve been Angela fans for a long time, but he came home raving about the cheerful environments, friendly folks, and visionary design plan. Leave it to an island girl to know where beauty and function meet. That’s Angela (North Haven girl) in the middle above, flanked on the left by staff Lily Van der Steenhoven (Peaks Island girl) and visitor Craig Davis (island photographer) on the right. I heard Angela speak back in the fall...
Read Moresome bunny loves you
I spent an evening this past week making a card for Nana, alongside my daughter. Card making is a regular side-business around here. We are a family of corresponders, believers in birthdays and holidays, and snail mail stamped with love. I made the above collage with some imagery from the forthcoming Nest, Nook, and Cranny by Susan Blackaby. Did my research on jackrabbits, thank you very much. And just added some embellishments from my ever lovin’ stash of paper patterns, along with some choice rubber stamping. But in a matter of moments, I was OUTDONE by my daughter, who has become...
Read Morenew eyes
How did this happen already? Today I have been on Peaks Island 17 years! I take anniversaries seriously, or at least give them a moment for celebration, reflection, and a deep sigh of gratitude. Ahhhh, island life. What a trip it’s been. Marty and I traveled from San Francisco via Daly City (could barely make it out of city limits on the first day of the move), Los Angeles (thanks, Ged), Quartzite, AZ, Albuquerque, NM, Oklahoma City, Nashville, Pittsburgh, Old Saybrook, CT, and then…Portland. We showed up for the very first ferry at Casco Bay Lines at 5:45 AM, but no Mayflower...
Read Morethe goddess tour
Bravo to Acorn Productions! They have pulled off another great presentation of Maine playwriting. This year’s Maine Playwright Festival included seven short plays and two full-length plays. I was in the front row for The Goddess Tour, ready to applaud my island neighbor and good friend, Peg Astarita, who played Boo, one of six women gathered at an Irish inn on the Burren of County Clare. Peg is a goddess in her own right, creator of divine figures such as the one above. Thanks, Kathie Schneider, for this photo. Also in the cast was fellow islander, Stephanie Eliot, who played half of a...
Read MoreVisit JamieHogan.com
