the time is now

Beginning tomorrow I will be featured as a guest curator on Crescendoh.com.  If you have not had the  opportunity to see Jenny Doh's newest endeavor, you are truly missing alot.  

Each day I find myself anxiously following the links that each of the four curators for the week, share with you and me.  Links that may include a good book, inspiring music, fantastic recipes, or wonderful tips on how to design a new art journal out of tea boxes.  

I catch myself often being transported to faraway lands, printing out free vintage art, learning a better way to organize my workspace, or finding out there are new textures I can use in Photoshop~for free!  And, if you miss a day, there is always the archives to go back to.

If I had all the time in the world, I would never be able to hop, skip or jump around in blog land this much to learn of all the resources the guest curators/artists share so freely and willingly.  

It is simply amazing to me.

I believe Jenny says it all in an exerpt she posted today from her launch party remarks on May 21, 2010. 

CRESCENDOh was founded on a dream that had been percolating for several years. It is a dream that seeks to shout from the mountain top about how art can bring about the best in us. That art can help us cope, art can empower us to make a positive difference in the world ...

  Please go here to finish reading the post, as it is most inspiring!

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I hope I have inspired you today to perhaps "pay it forward".  Take the time to reach out when you can to a fellow artist, or to your neighbor, or to that lost looking person on the bus.  You may not know you have been entertaining an angel.  Or, maybe not....it really makes no difference.

....take my hand

.....we'll learn together.

Today, I would like to share another one of the inspirations in my life.

My mother.  

She endured a life that consisted of an alcoholic father, a home full of children (as there were 13 in her family), and many days not having enough food for all to eat.  

My grandfather was the town barber, but she grew up during the depression, and times were so tough in a small town in Texas.  She helped pick cotton, making only $3.00 a day for a 100-lb. sack.

But, she told me she did get a free meal, which meant alot to her.  

Have you ever had that need not met?  I never did. 

She and my father always made sure we had plenty to eat.

Thank you Mom.  

You took my hand, and taught me compassion. 

And, for that, I have been blessed.

(texture credit on photo above:  Shadowhouse Creations)