The Summation of Me

This is the summation of Me.

It is written by Me and about Me. 

It is heartfelt.  It is true. 

THE SUMMATION OF ME

I am weird, I am different, and oddly unique.

I defy explanation and casual stereotypes.

I am fleeting, aloof, and enigmatic!

I am never at all times in the world, or of the world...

     ...but I manifest as the mood strikes me!

I emerge when other souls need me.

I am what they need and want me to be...

     ...and yet not what they think I am!

I am divergent and dichotomous by my very nature.

I give and I take from the experience of life...

     ... with much joy and verve.

I impose high expectations on myself and others.

I have an inborn knowing of what is...

     ...and an outward longing for what is not!

I am restless, yet content.

I am outwardly expressive...while being ardently introspective.

I proceed with caution and engage with reckless abandon.

I shine like the Sun and phase with the Moon.

I bridge the gaps in my world between fact and fantasy.

I am powerful and strong, yet malleable and yielding.

I am the expert observer, the universal detective.

I am not at all what I seem...yet I hide nothing.

I am at once driven and focused, yet multi-directional.

I am a soul with a keen intellect and a deep felt passion for life.

I walk a solitary path while seemingly at one with the masses.

I become what others need, yet I never change who I am.

I am a magical soul entity.

I cannot be explained.

I can only be conjectured at best.

I am just what I have always been.

And everything you imagine me to be

Bohemian Vibe

Welcome to Bohemia!  What is Bohemia?  It's a state of mind, a way of living, and an aesthetic that embraces a footloose and fancy free attitude!  Bohemia is a place where we let our hair down, run barefoot, embrace creativity and commune with nature.  It's not a destination, although it certainly could be....but rather it is the art of living life with joy and abandonment. We live in a world that is 'switched on' 24/7!  We have too much to do and never a enough time to do it.  And we're faced with an an 'out with the old....in with the new' attitude that fosters ever-decreasing attention spans.  We've lost touch with the wisdom of our ancestors.  We forsake the life-giving sustenance of Mother Nature.  And we are forgetting how to unleash our creativity to better our quality of life.  In our quest for newer, better and more, more, MORE....we've begun to undervalue the need for relaxation and replenishment of the soul.  But rejuvenation of the spirit is paramount to health and happiness!

So we are beginning to see a much needed shift towards filling our lives with more quality and less quantity!   Bohemia embraces the importance of 'quality living'!  We learn to appreciate and draw upon our talents as artisans and free thinkers.  We strive to bridge the gap between the olde world and the new.  We endulge in the need for respite from an over-demanding world.  And we are eager to live the beautiful life....a life that is lived fully and appreciated on a daily basis.

Bohemia celebrates creativity, individuality and the kaleidoscope of colors and rich details which surround us.  It celebrates the beauty and inherent mysticism of nature.  But most importantly, Bohemia celebrates La Joie de Vivre! 

So relax into a Bohemian Vibe and enjoy a Slow Groove!  If you have the time to linger, then you must come and dance with me "Under a Gypsy Moon".  And please feel free to look around my blog for other Gypsy/Bohemian inspired posts, images and stories!  

~ Namaste....The Artful Gypsy

iCreate

Sometimes I wonder if 'creativity' is more than just a gift that one is born with.  I was always told it was my gift, it was that certain thing that made me special and unique....and I do believe that.  But then sometimes when I've been up for two days straight, because I am on what I call "a creative bender"....well then I can't help but wonder if creativity is also an 'illness' or an 'addiction'.  Because when I am in that 'creative zone', I really can't stop.  I will forgo food and sleep just to finish whatever creative project I am engrossed in, almost as if the world is in immenent danger of collapse if it does not receive my finished art project.  And honestly....that's just a bit insane!   But 'creativity' can also be 'therapy'.  When I am feeling low, I often have a great need to lose myself in a creative project.  This submersion into the creative realm is my 'zen' place.
It acts as a means of 'catharsis'...and is very healing.

But then think about that for a minute....the 'gift' of creativity, morphs into a  curse of 'addiction' while also being the very same 'catharsis' that soothes the spirit so that it can overcome 'illness' and return to the place where its 'gifts' are fully functional.  Wow!  That's really mind bending!  But then again...that's just what creativity is supposed be right....Mind Bending!!  :o) And speaking of creativity....this is my latest project!  As a new iPhone owner and creative soul....I just could not bear to protect my new phone with a generic case that everyone else has.  So I did what any good creative person would do.....and set about designing one of my very own.  I used one of my favorite art pieces called 'Autumn Equinox', and pulled from it to create a customized phone case that showcased some of my favorite things....color, autumn, owls, changing leaves, the moon and the night sky!  I wasn't sure how the case would look in person...but when it arrived I was absolutely delighted at how great it turned out!  Here's to originality, creativity

and the impending return of Autumn! 

La Boheme Inspiration

I absolutely love a Colorful, Eclectic, Funky, Bohemeian Decor, and I try to infuse these ideals into my own work, lifestyle and home decorating.  But here's the thing....there are SO many things that spark my imagination and get my creative juices flowing, that I sometimes find myself completely overwhelmed by all the visual stimuli.  So I've found that one of the best ways to focus in on a project, design idea, or photo shoot, is to create a 'Vision Board'!  I LOVE VISION BOARDS!  Not only do I love creating my own vision boards, but I also love to view other people's visions boards as well.  I simply love to get inspired!

If you haven't created an Inspiration File or Vision Board before, no worries....they are really quite simple to do.  There are many ways to group ideas and images on a vision board.  And in all honesty, grouping really helps you to focus in on what you're hoping to create.  My favorite methods for grouping items on a vision board are by Color, Season, Holiday, Theme and Concept.  Lucky for us, with the advent of technology, we are now able to make digital versions of our Vision Boards.  There are even websites that you can join like Pinterest, We Heart It and others, that give you your little space on the web to 'virtually' pin photos from the internet right onto your own little 'virtual' bulletin board.  How cool is that?!  But you can also achieve the same thing in a video format as well, at sites like Photobucket and Slide.com.  And again, it's as easy as creating an account and loading up your files.  Plus, they give you lots of ways to personalize your slideshows and share them with others.
So today I want to post my own virtual Vision Board in a slide show format.  I've been collecting images of Bohemia over the last few years and keeping them in a file on my computer so that I could look back for ideas when decorating, designing, shooting or throwing parties.  So this vision board is titled "Bohemian Inspiration", because that is exactly what it provides for me....INSPIRATION!  It inspires me to live creatively and to follow my dreams.   All I have to do is sit down at my computer with a nice hot cup of coffee and let it play.  And by the time it's over, I am happily filled to the brim with a plethora of creative ideas and colorful dreams.  This post was made with you on my mind Celia...I hope you enjoy it!  And I also hope it inspires others to follow their bliss and live creatively! Namaste!

You are Cordially Invited to my MidSummer's 'Faerie Day' Soirée!

Well it's June 24th, and today is officially 'Fairy Day'! So what does that mean? It means that "It's a day for Fairies, magic, and wishes to come true. So for one day...put aside the cynicism of the modern world, embrace the possibilities of the unknown....and believe in Fairies!" 

Do you believe in Faeries? I do of course, but then again I also believe in Ghosts, Leprechauns, Father Christmas and The Great Pumpkin. Ah heck....I'll believe in anything if it adds a little magic, creativity and wonderment to my world.  So today is the perfect day to join in the celebration of the Faerie Folk! 

  

When I was a young girl, my Grandmother used to take me to the library. Oh how I loved to spend the day at the library, because it wasn't just any old library....no, it was a magical portal to the lands of enchantment. It began to occur to me that 'magical' books always seemed to find their way into my eager lil' hands. Oh I didn't actively know to seek them out mind you...
I just happened upon them in my searching,
as if some magnetic force was drawing us together. But there were 2 special books that I never forgot, and they were "Faeries' and 'Gnomes" by Brian Froud! I read and studied those books from cover to cover, and I whole heartedly believed that every last word and picture was 100% real! I remember one day in particular when I read about Faerie Rings and Oak Trees....and I became convinced that I would be able to find signs of the Faeries beneath the big old Oak trees on our property. So I set out with my tools and my book....and I spent the day hunting, and waiting, and wishing very hard that I'd find one. Although admittedly I was also a good bit scared at what I would do if and when I actually stumbled upon them. The years have blurred my memory some, but I'm quite certain that I was successful at locating signs that the Faeries were indeed close at hand, and I'm pretty sure that I almost caught sight of one or two. Yes, I loved those two books SO WELL in fact, that I gave up my Library privileges entirely. For I refused to take the books back to the library. The fines kept piling up, and their threats of revoking my library card finally became a reality. But I didn't care. As I just could NOT bare to part with those books after being exposed to all of the magical secrets they'd given up to me. And of course it never even once dawned on me that the books could be found anywhere else other than the library. So I became a "Literary Fugitive" of the County Library System until many years later when I finally married and was able to change my last name! But the criminal record was but a small price to pay for entrance to the Enchanted Land of the Faeries!So to celebrate this most auspicious of days today, I invite you to a Midsummer Faerie Féte! Come join in the revelry and merriment as we wave a fond farewell to Spring and embrace the Summer Season with open arms. Please come take your seat at our Garden Fairy Table.
(And feel free to click on the images to view them larger!) We have a splendid lil' spot set especially for you,
with fresh ferns from the Fern Grotto! Our Midsummer Buffet is filled to the brim with fresh herbs and vegetables straight from the garden, and many delectable treats,
sure to satisfy any Faerie's sweet tooth. Ahhh...Midsummer! All Faeries know that Midsummer offers up Mother Nature's sweetest and most succulent Fruits of the Season. Faerie Berries are a feast for the senses and they come in a kaleidoscope of colors
to please the palate and the eyes!

One of the most scrumptious ways to serve Faerie Berries is in a Perfectly Pink Raspberry Punch. Cool and refreshing on those balmy Summer Days! Let's not forget the Sweets and Treats, as it's common knowledge that most Faeries are born with an insatiable 'sweet tooth'! We have mini Lemon-Blueberry and Chocolate Muffins that are just perfect for snacking. Or how about some dainty little Faerie Cakes....
petite and sweet and perfect for Pixies! And a Faerie Birthday Cake topped with the plumpest of strawberries, and candles for wishing. Yes, even Faeries believe in the power of 'Wishes'! Oh, and don't forget my personal favorite....Toadstools! But these aren't just any ole' Toadstools! For these are baked with a smidgeon of Faerie Magic and a pinch of Pixie Dust, mixed in with sweet Merengue and
Deep Dark Chocolate! So Yummy and So Cute!

With bellies full and the Faerie Festivities drawing to a close, it's time to bid your fellow Faeries adieu! For Twilight is falling fast and the Fireflies are starting to twinkle their lights in the Hedgerow. But no Seasonal Solstice Soirée is complete without Pretty Pixie Party Favors to carry home! And what better way to transport yourself back to the Realm of Faerie, than a lovely scented Butterfly Candle in the Fragrant Flower Scents of Lavender, Honeysuckle, Gardenia and Sweet Pea! Yes it's true that Midsummer presents the perfect opportunity to embark on a Flight of Fancy in the spirit and celebration of the Faeries who Enchant our Gardens, and usher in the Seasons of the Year. And who wouldn't love to attend a Festive Midsummer Celebration filled with the Mirth and Merriment of a Fine Faerie Feast?! Both Young and Old alike can appreciate a Magical Escape into the Realm of Imagination and Wonder! So this has been the perfect day to embrace the Faeries with our open hearts....but more importantly with our open minds!

All you have to do is BELIEVE!
"Tula, vasa ar' yulna en i'mereth. 
Lissenen ar' maska'lalaith tenna' lye omentuv!"  

(All Images © Wendy A. 2011)

The Artful Gypsy's Bohemian Marketplace Now on Etsy!

 
So I haven't posted here since the winter holidays because I've been busy with an assortment of different things that have taken up all my time.  Spring in Florida has all but come and gone in the blink of an eye.  It was too cold, then it switched to being too hot just like that.  There was no long stretch of perfect Spring weather like there was the year before, and that has been disheartening.  I do have lots of photos and images to post, but it seems that I never have enough time to do all that I want to do.  Is it me....or does time seem to have sped up in recent years?

I know they say that it speeds up as you grow older.  But I mean it feels as if it has sped up for real....for everyone young and old.  Remember being a kid and the days seemed to drag on forever?  School seemed as though it would never get out for the summer, then the summers seemed to drag on endlessly.  I thought I'd never reach 16 so I could drive, or 21 so I could drink legally....but they did eventually come and then they screeched away at the speed of light.  But my children agree...they feel that time is short and that days, weeks and months speed by.  How come they feel it too?  Could it be a real phenomenon?
 
There are some articles about it that say that our days are actually shorter in time than they used to be due to some change in the earth's vibrational rate.  I suppose there are any number of theories, but there is no denying that time is one of the most elusive substances we have (or don't have in my case).  Of course when you are an artist, time seems to work differently than it does for others.  Making one piece of art can take hours, days, weeks....even a month if the circumstances are right.  What seems to others like time you've wasted loafing on your computer....is actually you working diligently on your next creative manifestation.  And sometimes we give up sleeping just to buy ourselves some more time.  I can always sleep tomorrow I tell myself.

 

One of my latest projects that I've been working on is a place online to sell my art and photography.  I have several websites of course, but I do not sell my work from those sites.  And I have several stock agencies that sell my work for me, but they only have selected pieces.  Writing two blogs, aside from taking up another chunk of my time....has put me in contact with people who have inquired about purchasing my art, photography and poetry.  So I finally stole some time away from other things and created my Etsy store.  Etsy is an on-line marketplace for all things handmade or vintage.  Having no place previously on the web to showcase my art, I thought it the perfect environment.  I've been telling people that I create art, but I think they may not have believed me since there is no place other than my blogs for them to see it.

I just started this weekend, so I don't have nearly everything in there yet.  But I started with simple 8x10 graphic art illustrations because it was easy to get them listed.  I continue to add things every day.  So I am asking all my friends, family and fellow blog kin...to please help me get the word out.  If you can forward the links to others, or tweet it or blog about it, please do....as I would be eternally grateful.  If you know anyone who loves Halloween or Arts and Crafts, please let them know since Halloween art is one of my specialties.  And keep it in mind in case you need unique hand crafted gifts for giving.  I've included a few images with this post and I'll post more, but there's plenty in the store and more being added everyday.  Please help me spread the word.  Thank you!  :o)
My Etsy store is called The Artful Gypsy's Bohemian Marketplace and the address is:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/artfulgypsy

Where Did the Time Go?

Well, as I am wont to do....I got myself involved in too many activities at once and found myself coming up short on time to manage them all.  So as Summer set in, I had to let something slide for awhile in order to make any progress at all.  Sadly, as you may have noticed, the Artful Gypsy blog was one of those things.  And this pains me because I worked so diligently on getting it all set up.  I had high hopes of managing 2 blogs, along with a multitude of other projects.  But alas, I just couldn't do it.  But I have returned now to give this blog some over due attention and love. 
A quick synopsis of my summer is that it was hot and VERY rainy.  I read a few great books that became a much needed diversion away from the long tedious summer heat.  I know that summer is Florida's big draw to most folks.  But when you live here....it just seems to be stifling and boring.  The ONLY thing that makes it even remotely bearable for me, is the extreme anticipation I feel towards the Autumn months that follow. 
 
For I am an Autumn person through and through.  Ask anyone that knows me and they will attest to that fact.  In fact, I live all year long....just to experience Autumn once again.  This past Autumn was a strange one however.  It came upon me so fast and furiously that I was caught completely off-guard.  I had so many grand plans and yet very few of them came to fruition.  In fact, that could be said for this entire year.  It has been a strange year indeed.  But the many activities that usually fill up the most wonderful month of October, did not all transpire this year.  Besides the fact that I was ladled with an on-going work project or two, we also had a bout of illness in the family.  The flu was present, but we aren't sure what type of flu it was.  Everyone recovered quickly thank goodness.
  
I ran out of time to decorate for my favorite holiday, Hallowe'en....and that made me quite sad.  Our annual pumpkin carving party did not make the agenda this year either for the first time in about 5 years.  The only thing we did manage to accomplish, and just barely at that.....was taking a fabulous, although stressful trip to New England and Montreal, Canada.  That would prove to be the highlight of my Autumn.  We hit Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and Canada.  We visited many wonderful towns such as Salem, Boston, Woodstock, Hanover, Peacham and Montreal.  And we timed it perfectly...the leaves were at peak and the color was bursting.  I was able to get some gorgeous photographs and I will share some of them here.  So the month was not a total loss, but it sure could have been better. 

As a result of my Autumnal disappointments this year....I have vowed to be ultra prepared next year, so that I can really enjoy my favorite time of year without being stressed, ill and over extended.  November arrived in the blink of an eye and will be gone in the blink of another.  I am constantly stricken by the awareness that time is moving now at warp speed.  Months flip by like days and there are never enough minutes in the day to do all that I wish to do. 
 
And the dreaded Winter is knocking on the door once again.  Don't get me wrong, Winter has it's moments, and the holiday season is something to look forward to indeed.  But once New Year's is over....I fall quickly into my seasonal blues.  This happens every Winter like clockwork.  Maybe it's the time change, or the cold weather.  Maybe it's the barren trees and brown grass.  But Winter is not my favorite season.  Perhaps if I lived where there were some snow, so that I could enjoy a Winter Wonderland for a change.  But in Florida, Winter is rather anti-climactic.  And just as I do in the summer, I bide my time, spending a lot of it indoors, waiting for the threat of the last frost to be gone so that we can go to work in the back yard.  Because that is where I like to live come Spring.  The rebirth of nature after her long winter's nap is second only to the Autumn for me!

I love all the seasons however....I really do!  I just long to live in a place where I can experience them all.  I love to live my life from season to season and holiday to holiday.  And speaking of holidays, we have the lovely Yule season coming up and I am going to try and relax and enjoy the spirit of the season this year without stressing too much.  We wanted to spend Christmas in a cabin somewhere out West.  A cabin that was surrounded by snow.  But we started on the planning too late this year, so we'll have to try for that again next year perhaps.  But I am looking forward to dusting off the Christmas CD's once again.  Are you in the mood for Christmas carols and egg not yet?  :o)

Creative Concepts

~  "Live life with passion, and have a love for all things fun and creative!"  ~

~  "The creative adult, is the child who survived."  ~

I learned a great deal of what I know about photography from my mentor.  He was a fabulous teacher who really taught us how to 'see creatively'!  And some of my favorite assignments were when we were instructed to use our photography to illustrate a concept.  For instance he would tell us to illustrate the concept of "loss" or "isolation."  This is a method that is used very frequently in the advertising and marketing fields, who also happen to be large buyers of 'stock' photography. 

I got my first taste of how to relate through images and words in college.  I majored in Advertising/Public Relations, and often we had to present marketing campaigns with both written and visual elements included.  We had to 'communicate' to our clients and their marketing demographics.  I always loved those classes, especially the photojournalism classes.  And the  'concept' idea in photography just naturally appealed to me when it became an assignment.  So during one of my fun, colorful, tropical periods...I decided to take a very fun, colorful prop that I just happen to love...and attempt to use it to illustrate some concepts.  My prop of choice was the beloved, yellow 'Rubber Duckie'....and I wanted to share with you some ideas of what you can communicate photographically through the use of a fairly inexpensive prop like a rubber duck.

First up are a few concept shots.  So I'll show you the image, and directly above each shot, I'll share with you the intended concept.  You can decide for yourselves if you think I successfully accomplished the connection between the image and the concept.  Concept shots are a lot of fun!

DARE TO BE DIFFERENT

 

GO YOUR OWN WAY

 

GOING AGAINST THE FLOW

 

TAKING THE LEAD

 

STAND OUT IN THE CROWD

 

BE UNIQUE!

 

The ideas are as limitless as your own imagination.  My personal favorite is the last one.."Be Unique"!  Actually most of those concepts are ones that I relate to on a personal level.  It took me a long time to learn to appreciate my gifts and relish how I was different....rather than bemoan the fact that I was not the same as everyone else.  So these are important concepts that I try to instill in my children and encourage in others every chance I get.  :o)

Additionally, I've posted a  few other images that I thought might make for good greeting cards.

The 2 images above and below, would make great Anniversary cards, Vacation, Love or Valentine's Day cards.  They basically speak of love...but it just happens to be between Rubber Ducks instead of people.

 

And this last one was just an out-take from a regular photoshoot.  But it also turned out beautifully, and could be used as a Shower Invite/Card, Baby Congrats or Expecting Parents card.

And any of these would look great framed and hung up in a kid's bathroom, playroom or nursery.

Seeing creatively, can sometimes mean exploring concepts and thoroughly working your subject matter.  So look around to find an object that captures your eye, and see how many ideas you can generate from it.  The end result may be pleasantly surprising.  But more importantly, it allows you to enjoy the creative process along the way.  And your photographs can be more than entertaining or aesthetically pleasing....they can also tell a story, make a point or convey a message or sentiment..

Have FUN and do something CREATIVE today!

Everyone Is Beautiful!

I found this video...and I agree...everyone IS beautiful!   As a photographer, I've trained my eyes to look for beauty and I've gotten very good at finding it...just like the video says.  I also believe that it's of the utmost importance to know the true benefit of a kind word and a positive affirmation.  We have multiple chances every day to make an impact in other peoples lives....those we know and those we don't.  And the most fundamental and simple act of kindness available to us, is to find the beauty in another, to seek and find their positive attributes, and to extend a kind word or affirmation to let them know that they matter in this world.  Your compliment or acknowledgment can be the one thing that makes their day worth while.  It can be just the catalyst they need to believe in themselves and pursue their aspirations.  And sadly, it may be the only positive thing they've heard in a long time.  Or perhaps it's you that just needs a gentle reminder of the things that make you special and worthwhile.   So why not challenge yourself to pay forward a little kindness each and every day....as like attracts like!  And never forget that true beauty radiates from within!

The Lucky Ladybug

Ladybug, Ladybug, fly away home,
Your house is on fire, and your children all gone
All but one, her name is Ann,
And she crept under the frying pan!

This was my Mom's version of the old nursery rhyme.  It was read to her by her Mom, and she read it to me.  I read it to my children, and I hope that they will one day read it to theirs as well.  It seems as though nursery rhymes aren't as popular as they once were.  I wonder why?  They don't really teach them in school anymore, so they are only passed down through books or by oral tradition.  My Mom taught us many nursery rhymes when we were young...but Ladybug was always a favorite of mine.  Although it does seem rather tragic if you really think about it, but I like Ladybugs, so this one appealed to me.   Lil' Miss Muffet and her creepy Spider however...did NOT!

So why DO we like Ladybugs?  Well at first glance, they are rather decorative by design.  Their brilliant shades of red and orange with black spots, make them stand out beautifully amongst the green foliage.  And on top of being a pretty bug, they are also good garden helpers...eating other bugs that cause damage to our plants and vegetables.  Attractive and helpful....what's not to love?  But some of our fondness for the 'little lady', actually stems from Ladybug Lore.  Yes, it seems there are many wide held beliefs about the Ladybug all over the world.  For instance, in my own family, we always say that if a Ladybug lands on you, it brings good luck.  In England, finding a Ladybug means you'll have a good harvest.  In Sweden they believe that if a Ladybug lands on a young maiden's hand, she'll soon be getting married.  And in France, it's believed that if a Ladybug lands on you when you are sick, she will take the sickness with her when she flies away.  So it's no wonder why everyone loves the Ladybug.

We were in north Georgia one year, enjoying the scenery at a state park...when all of a sudden Ladybugs started appearing everywhere.  In a few brief minutes, there were millions of ladybugs flying around and landing everywhere.  We weren't sure what to make of that phenomenon, but a local resident told us that they swarm or migrate once every year.  And apparently that was our 'lucky' day...as we were witness to an incredible act of nature.  I'll always remember that day.  And I'll always love the Ladybug for one other reason as well.  One of the last times I spent with my Dad before he passed away, involved he and I and a Ladybug.  I was at his house with my kids for a visit.  And I had my new camera with me.  So while my Step-mom watched the kids, my Dad and I wandered around his yard, and down by the lake he lived on, to find some photo opportunities. 

And as 'luck' would have it, while we were on the dock, a Ladybug flew up and landed on the old wood of the railing.  I was excited to have a pretty red Ladybug to shoot.  But I couldn't get it to stay in one place long enough to get a shot in.  So I enlisted my Father as my photographer's assistant...and we spent a good hour or more carrying the Ladybug around from place to place in the yard to photograph it.  Dad was responsible for corralling the bug to keep it in the right place, so that I could shoot.  If you knew my Father...you'd know why this was so funny and so unprecedented for him.  But he was as serious about his job as I was about mine.  He even started suggesting new locales and backdrops.  In fact, the close up photo of the spotted Ladybug below on the leaf and wood, was one of his own 'set designs'!

That day will always stay in my memory because it was one of the few times that my Dad and I spent quality time together doing something so silly and spontaneous.  We laughed when the Ladybug would escape and mess up my shot, because I kept playfully threatening my Dad that I was going to have to fire him if he couldn't perform the very basic tasks of his new job as photographer's assistant and Ladybug handler!  I laugh even now, because my Dad was a big, strong man with big hands...and to watch him become so enthralled with that tiny Ladybug was a rare and simple pleasure.  Ladybugs have always been around me.  They land on my family and I quite regularly, and we are always thrilled to be the recipients of some good luck.  And speaking of 'Ladybugs'...I wanted to dedicate this entry to my dear friend Melissa in California who is expecting another little 'lady' of her own soon.  She and her daughter have nicknamed her their 'little ladybug'.  And I am very thrilled for Melissa and her family, as I anxiously await the arrival of the little 'Ladybug'!  :o) 

The Optimist Creed

"As for myself, I am an optimist....
for there seems little use in being anything else."

"I can't change the direction of the wind,
but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination."

The Optimist Creed

Promise Yourself-

To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.

To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet.

To make all your friends feel that there is something in them.

To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.

To think only of the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best.

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.

To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.

To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.

To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.

To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble. 
 

The Bohemian Way

What is Bohemia?   I will quote and paraphrase a lot here from a book I love, titled "The Bohemian Manifesto", by Laren Stover, because I don't think I could possibly explain it any better than she did in that book.  And I will attempt to illustrate my vision of 'Bohemia' through photos.  But I preface this explanation with the understanding that there are no hard and fast rules that govern Bohemia, so this is merely a glimpse into what is first and foremost, a state of mind, and a way of living life beyond convention.  It is also more than just an attitude. It's a freedom of ideas, clothing and behaviors that lay gently outside the norm. 

And just who are the Bohemians of the world?  Well, we are artists, gypsies, philosophers, dreamers, vagabonds, mavericks and yes, even radicals and deviants.  I consider myself to be a bit of a Bohemian.  Maybe not quite the vagabond type that likes to wander from place to place, because I rather enjoy having a place to call home.  But I'm a Bohemian just the same, for many reasons....perhaps a 'Bohemian Lite'.  Oft times, Bohemians defy definition due to the unmistakable quality of being 'free spirits'.  But it's usually those same 'free spirits' who set the trends, invent the art, start the movements and break the rules.  Bohemians creatively integrate ideals, clothing and philosophies into everyday life with a certain "je ne sais quoi" all their own.

A true Bohemian is a connoisseur of texture, color and sensation. 

We experience exhilaration by....

observation, creation and the experience itself. 

We find poetry and art in everyday things....

like the form of silhouettes against a sunset....

the hunt for vintage treasures at an antique fair.....

the succulence of flowers in the rain.....

the play of light on colored glass.....

the art of random objects.....

or beauty in the contours of a face.

We see enchantment and infinite possibilities all around us.  We love to create an 'effect,' and we cherish the 'presentation'.  We dislike authority and loathe the status quo.  And our idea of hard labor is selling poetry, art, photographs, music and plays.  We live in splendor...the splendor of the creative mind....and it requires free thinking, ingenuity, and moxie! 
To delve a bit deeper, Bohemians have an aesthetic that is sometimes misunderstood by mainstream society.  We enjoy mixing antiques and flea market finds into our homes.  One man's trash is another man's treasure.   We surround ourselves with things we love and that have sentimental value, as well as things that inspire us creatively.

Candles, incense and eclectic music are staples in a Bohemian abode, as are art supplies and animals....possibly all intermingled in a creatively chaotic way.  Since we often keep unconventional hours...we also tend to prefer unconventional forms of lighting, such as sunsets, twilight, street lamps, star light, neon signs, moon light and candles.  Many a musician, writer and artist has stayed up all night....choosing the manifestation of his creative visions over food and sleep. 

And our clothing can sometimes be as unconventional and free flowing as our attitudes and ideals.  Whether we style ourselves like a Gypsy, a Dandy or a Beatnik....it is usually put together randomly and creatively, but far from the sensibilities of the fashion police.  You almost always see Bohemians wearing hats of every kind and jewelry, scarves, or flowers in their hair.  Long hair, facial hair, unkempt  hair, tattoos, piercings...it's all game for exploration.  For Bohemians take great pride and delight in being different and unique.  Not for attention...but rather for distinction or rebellion.  And we thumb our nose at being defined,  refusing to conform to others' expectations. 

We are quite content in our eclectic, creative, vibrant worlds of art and poetry and imagination.  In fact, it's quite possible that no one other than, 'other Bohemians',  really understand us at all...and that's the way we like it!   It's a fact that Bohemians have been around since the beginning of time, and they'll be here until the end of it.  And it is this Bohemian lifestyle that remains a harbinger of something mystically lacking from today's corporate-fed society.  I encourage you all to do something creative (anything at all) and embrace the Bohemian within today.  Namaste!