Category Archives: Feature of the Month

February’s feature of the month is all about style – The Elephants of Style that is!

As you may have noticed from my monthly book finds here at Inner Pieces Gallery, I happen to love books.  I get a kick out of this writing thing, too.  And illustrating?  Fuhgetaboutit!

Creating an illustration about a book about writing, well that just seems natural, don’t you think?

For all you writers out there cringing at my fragmented sentences and yikes! rule breaking, you are correct.   My jumping off point for this illustration was Strunk and White’s writing guide The Elements of Style.   Once I jumped, however, I embraced what Inner Pieces Gallery is really all about.  That is, celebrating and encouraging freedom of self-expression.  So, in true IPG fashion, I self-expressed myself all over the place and The Elephants of Style was born.

What comes to mind when you think of high style?  I think of 1920’s Art Deco fashion.  A flapper dress, a zoot suit and pearly white accessories were just what these elephants needed to express their own stylish selves.

Whether you express yourself best with writing, or with fashion, or in some other way (decorating your child’s room, perhaps?) these elephants have a message for you.  Whatever you love, embrace it boldly!  Celebrate what you’re made of and your child will follow suit.

Ah yes, that’s me embracing a little punny humor there.

If this elephant print (hah, there I go again) puts a smile on your face you might also enjoy two more illustrations that complete the series:

The Art of the Smart, an ode to entrepreneurs, artists and creatives, and

 An Ewe Earth, a whimsical wink at Eckhart Tolle and fans of mindful living.  Or fans of sheep.  Sheep fans might like this one, too.

Visit Where the Wall Things Are to learn more about this illustration series as a tool for empowering children.   Or go directly to Image Kind for art prints and canvas art.  You’ll find plenty of frames and sizes to suit your individual style.

Prefer your images on a tote bag?  Find them all at Born to Be Zen.

Here’s another way to express yourself.

Simple.  Share this post!

Why is this modern paper flower blooming in the middle of winter, you ask?  Oh, what a great question!

January is right around the time that I start dreaming of Spring, my favorite season.  Yes, I DO realize that winter has barely just begun.  But c’mon, what’s a sun worshipper to do but to dream of, well, more sun?

January is also the time that my local chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, one of my favorite charities (I suspect you’ve heard of it), holds its SPECTACULAR Winter Wine and Food Fest at the Sacramento Convention Center.  This year my paper flower piece titled Petal Power is taking part in the silent auction portion of the event.   THAT means Petal Power will bring uplifting visual fun to a good home (that of the winning bidder, of course) AND will help raise funds for children battling life threatening medical conditions.  Now that’s what I call real power!

Even beyond all that, Petal Power is no ordinary paper flower.  Look a little deeper and you may notice that multiple layers of negative space create a positive, uplifting image.  Do you also believe in the power of mindfulness?   Visit my Lacuna Décor page to learn more about the deeper meaning of this unusual style.

You may also have noticed that this modern paper flower in pinks and whites makes a beautiful statement in any girl’s room, teen’s room, or nursery.  Keep in mind, however, that Petal Power and other Lacuna Décor pieces include custom colors and personalization.  This one says “GROW!” but you are welcome to customize it with your flower-loving friend’s name instead.  Best of all, this decorative paper flower

• never needs watering or weeding,
• never dies,
• blooms all year round,
• and is a delightful way to nurture a little piece of Spring, a natural time for growth and renewal.

And for homebodies like me, or for any Make-A-Wish kids stuck indoors all day, it can serve as the perfect visual reminder of the deep and rich beauty of life.

Thank you, Make-A-Wish, for all that you do to put smiles on children’s faces.  I am happy to play a tiny part in helping wishes come true!

The MAW Winter Wine & Food Fest takes place in Sacramento, CA on January 28, 2012.

For more information or to make a donation click here.

As always, please spread the word.  Choose your favorite way to share below.

Long before Thomas the Tank Engine chugged his way into the hearts of boys and girls everywhere, the classic children’s book The Little Engine That Could encouraged hard work and optimism.   Now, when those of us raised with that empowering story say “I think I can,” we can’t seem to resist the urge to say that infamous phrase twice, at least.  I challenge anyone to prove me wrong.

If you embrace the tried and true message that what you believe you CAN achieve,

OR you happen to be raising a natural born leader who believes he or she can do anything,

OR someone you love just loves trains,

Leader of the Track might help keep the whole family on track.  Be it for belief, empowerment or joy, for the nursery or den, the office or that fabulous transportation theme room you’ve been planning, this 3 dimensional papercut design is loved by all ages.

You can delight in Leader of the Track simply for the unusual visual appeal it adds to your bookshelf or wall. More significantly, you can also secretly empower yourself with its subtle yet eloquent reminder of the power of perspective.  (More on that here.)

In case you were wondering, back in the day I DID wear out my mom’s copy of the classic song Leader of the Pack.  If you think I’m about to tell you whether that was on cassette tape, 8-track or vinyl, you’ve got another thing coming!  Let’s just say that yes, I’m that old, but no, the title of my train design has nothing to do with the woes of dating some reckless motorcycle dude.  Sorry to disappoint.  My life is simply not that… dramatic.

Getting over the fact that any thrill of motorcycle men is NOT included with your purchase, if you still like what Leader of the Track stands for, want to delight your child or family train enthusiast, enjoy the chance to exercise your living-in-the-moment muscles, and believe in filling your home with items that add meaning to your life,

click my Etsy shop link now: http://www.etsy.com/shop/innerpiecesgallery.

You will find even more layered papercut designs plus options for personalization.

Care to share this post?  Click any of the icons below.

Now say it with me:  I think I can.  I think I can…

I love supporting great causes.

One that is especially close to my heart is the Whittemore Peterson Institute for neuroimmune diseases.  My hope is that one day they and other dedicated angels will find an efficient treatment and cure for perplexing neuroimmune conditions that so many millions live with each day.

If you know someone with ME/CFS, (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) fibromyalgia, MS, or autism, for example, you see the impact that a chronic, debilitating disease can have on patients, their families, and society as a whole.  Can you imagine a time when patients finally have the chance to live full, healthy lives once again?  The WPI imagines it every day, and is working tirelessly to help make that dream come true.

This year’s I Hope You Dance benefit gala in September included a silent auction.  I am thrilled to know that my angel wings artwork “Angelic” helped bring in funds to keep the research and the new WPI clinic in Reno, Nevada going strong.

Who are the angels in your life?  The holidays are the perfect time to remember and celebrate them.  Are you looking for something new this year for your holiday décor?   Customize “Angelic” with colors to suit your décor.  You can even personalize it with a family name or word.  As nursery décor this angel wings papercut design also makes a unique and beautiful gift for the future little angel on the way.  To find  “Angelic” and more papercut artwork visit http://www.etsy.com/shop/innerpiecesgallery.

Much to my mother’s dismay, right around 2nd or 3rd grade I swore off all things overly precious and sweet.  Gone were the pink frilly dresses.  Gone was any outward expression of the girly girl in me.  Not gone, however, was my fondness for drawing and coloring butterflies EVERYwhere.  Apparently that part of me was less willing to go incognito.

There’s just something magical about a butterfly, especially through the eyes of a child.

They’re beautiful, of course, and so very… temporary.

“The butterfly counts not months but moments, and has time enough.”   -Rabindranath Tagore

I love this quote.  Perhaps children, who are naturally better at living in the moment than the rest of us, are more in tune with the butterfly-ism above.  We so called grown-ups could easily spend our entire lives running from one errand to the next, one goal or achievement to the next, and forget that all we really need for a happy, satisfying life is the moment we’re already in.

So let’s say we don’t forget.  Instead let us remember to be more butterfly-esque.  No, not in a wing fluttering, bouncing spasmodically through the air sort of way but more by embracing a childlike enthusiasm for living in each beautiful moment.  Still want to do that spazzy wing flapping thing?  That’s cool, too.

You may be decorating the nursery with a garden theme or butterfly theme.  Your girly girl may be drawing butterflies on every piece of paper she can find.  Or you may be enjoying your own personal metamorphosis that you wish to honor and celebrate.  In any case, this month’s feature design may add the perfect inspiration.  Find “B-Fly” along with other decorative designs in my Etsy shop.  To go even deeper and learn more about this style of artwork keep reading here.

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