Author and Artist Marianne Richmond

A little help, please!

I am working on ... or more accurately, wrestling with a new book called Beautiful Brown Eyes.  There will be the companion Beautiful Blue Eyes, too, but first things first.

You see, in the sales process, I often sell a book based on just a cover ... or a single spread.  If a buyer "bites," then begins the process of completing the book.  Sometimes this works just fine.  Other times, like now, I struggle.

The thought about this book is that one's eyes show a myriad of things about one's heart.  That's as far as I've gotten.

Here's my question for you ...

What do you see about someone's heart when you look into his or her eyes?????  If you are reading this ... please give me your thoughts.  I could use them with my deadline looming.  :-)

Fabric Journals at Art Camp

A favorite project through the week was making these very cool journals -- painted fabric over cardboard ... and bound with rubber bands and a stick!  All the kids loved this process, especially these fine young gentlemen!  

Quick Directions: 

1) Cover a fabric scrap with acrylic craft paints.  Add a second layer of stamping, writing, more paint, etc.  The more layers, the better!

2) Create the front and back with chip board.  Add holes.  Insert 3-hole-punched paper.  

3) Bind with rubber bands and a stick (this idea for binding came from Anna Reyner (artandcreativity.blogspot.com)

(that rocket ship appears to be trouble ... heading for the water!)

Art Camp!

This week, I am hosting 11 kids in my studio for Art Camp!  We are doing a bunch of projects including mixed-media self portraits, creating Art & Writing Journals, collage ... and making jewelry.  Just finished the second day -- and wanted to share the self portraits with you! 

If it were only this easy...

My son was a fox for his school play.  Put a picture of a fox around your neck  ... and — abra cadabra — you're a fox!

Imagine if changing our persona were that easy!  Artist, inventor, teacher, millionaire.  Pilot, marathon runner, Hollywood actress.    Put a sign around your neck -- and that you are!  What would your sign say?

#3, #2, #1 ... and #4

Snapped this photo as our family took a walk at a local park last week.

I love watching the kids from afar ... when they're just 'being' as opposed to 'interacting."  All four of 'em, born within 6 years.  Each one, so full of life and personality and busyness.  I look at them, too, with their siblings.  These are the siblings they will carry with them for life, reflecting on their shared memories of being part of our family.  Remember when Adam stuffed the rock up his nose?  Remember when Cole got hit in the face with the baseball?  Remember when Julia swallowed a quarter?  Remember when Will stuck his finger in the light socket?  Remember how mom always wanted to go on those walks?

48 hours of me-time...

I was given a precious gift this Mother's Day:  time alone.  My dear husband took our four children camping — along with 130 other dads/kids.  What does a mom do with nearly 48 hours of me-time?  It's a question that almost paralyzes a women used to doing, doing, doing.  So ... on Friday afternoon, after they left, I cleaned my desk at work.  I know, still cleaning, right?  But this was for me, a tiny move toward a more organized work space!  Invited some girlfriends over for movie night and Chinese Food.  Stayed up way too late reading People Magazine but guess what?  I didn't have to wake up at any certain time!  So Saturday morning found me in my robe 'til noon.  Figured I should get some fresh air ...so I did a few errands - had my 15% off at Kohl's.  Bought myself a pretty new something.  And  new piece of luggage!  Figured this working girl needs a piece of luggage made in this decade.  Had about 12 hours of me time left at this point (sleep excluded).  I went to my neighbor's house (whose husband was also camping) and we painted!  Not walls but canvases!  I have been working on a painting for, oh, about 3 years.  I completed it.  Done.  Finished.  Ready to hang.  Sunday morning came, along with 4 campfire-smelling kids ... a very messy van and about 8 loads of laundry.  Just to remind me that it was, indeed, their existence that qualifies me to claim this holiday.

Mom

I've written a bit about my mom's Alzheimer's Dimentia.  Sad detour in the journey this week as my mom fell while getting out of her chair above.  Honestly think as he was getting up, she kind of just kept going ...  Dad called the ambulance and she stayed about 3 days there... as they tested her for this, that and the other thing.  While my dad -- also in his 80's -- was at the hospital, he decided to go for a stroll around the hospital hallways.  Mid-walk, he decided he was going to leave the hospital and go home.  (didn't mention that to anyone.)

He didn't get far, however, as he tripped while walking to the parking lot.  Fell down and hit his head and got 8 stitches in his forehead.  Smashed his glasses, too.  Lenscrafters can't make tri-focals in an hour -- so he will be waiting for nearly 3 weeks a new pair of specs.

Mom was then transferred to a rehab center.  She is confused, sad ... and missing her humble apartment.  It's hard to be faraway when life takes these turns for people we love.  Fortunately, my brother and my parents' caregiver are nearby.

While I find her journey heartbreakingly sad at times, I think she is mostly unaware of her demise and it's emotional impact on those around here.  That said, there are many gifts to be found during this final chapter ... lessons on how history fades to what's present.  How those disappointments of childhood don't seem so major ... and how, no matter how you feel about her, you have just one mom.

Celebrating moms everywhere ...

One-of-a-kind Gift for Mom

Hi all.  It's been a while since I posted pre-Spring Break.  Since then, our family went to California and had an awesome adventure.  We all took snowboarding lessons, visited the city and ocean and created wonderful family memories!   And now here we are, and it's nearly May!  Time for "Mom Month."  We do have a wonderful book called Dear Mom, a Message of Love, that makes a wonderfully special gift.

This book is from our scrapbook-made-simple line that allows you to put your photos right over ours!  The book is written in such a way that you wouldn't have to add a thing!  But we do give you ample space to add your own thoughts and feelings.

I don't like making promises I can't keep BUT I feel confident telling you this is one gift your mom will treasure forever...  Available in our online store!  Enjoy the weekend!  MR

Taking a Break for Spring....

Heading to California for a few days ...

(painted in the "I Have a Masterpiece in Me!" class by Marianne Richmond...)

 

FREE app download for iTouch™ and iPhone™ users ...

Hi all.  I recently teamed up with iKids Play™ to bring some of our best-selling book titles to the digital world in the form of "apps" for the iTouch™ and iPhone™.

iKids Play™, in conjunction with school teachers, moms and kids,  provides a positive alternative to gaming. The five-in-one application provides fun book-related activities to keep kids ages 2-10 busy while traveling, shopping, at restaurants, at sibling sporting events, or waiting at the doctor’s office.

According to founder Mark Smith, "it all came together during a coffee discussion with an elementary teacher friend.  She commented that the gaming devices did not leave anything to the imagination like coloring, drawing, and the like..." 

Each application has five activities:  Rub and reveal, coloring book, video story time, paint and read along options.

The first three people who E-mail me directly will receive a promotional code for a FREE download of the Hooray for You ! application.

In the next two weeks, two additional apps will be added:  My Shoes take me Where I want to Go and Farm Kisses.