Mother & Child #22

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Happy Mothers Day

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AmperArt #22 Mother & Child

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I can still feel my soft yellow baby blanket with the satin embroidery and pastel colors, cradling me so lovingly in my mother’s arms.

 

This AmperArt piece, “Mother & Child,” honors that very special woman who brought each and every one of us into this world.

 

If you are a mother yourself, I wish you a Very Happy Mother’s Day.

 

My amazing mother

I am proud to tell you how blessed I am to have been born into the arms of such a wonderful mother as Leona L. DeSimone, 1916-2001.

 

Though I felt her love as an infant, as a child I favored my dad who spoiled me (being the firstborn) while Mom tried to instill some discipline. Daddy would buy me toys and bring home goodies for me all the time, and I resented my mom for being the strict one.

 

Not until after our dad died when I was 10, did I realize what a tremendous job our mother had trying to keep us all in line. I gained the deepest respect and love for my mom, especially since we were rather poor and she somehow kept us fed, clothed, and the house in order. I remember her crying when she was short of money, counting pennies to pay the bills, and walking miles to work when the buses went on strike. She did an amazing job raising four kids all by herself, including an especially spoiled brat who drew all over the walls with Crayolas (guess who).

Always smiling

Mom always had a smile for everyone, and she proved to be more popular and loved than any of her children knew, when over 200 people showed up for her funeral. We were blown away! We had the organist play the lullaby she used to sing to us, “All Through the NIght,” which you can listen to here.

 

I admire, respect, and love you, Mom.

 

Bloom & Blossom #16

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Bloom & Blossom: AmperArt #16

 

Spring has sprung!

 

Prior to titling this piece, I wanted to be sure that “bloom” and “blossom” are not redundant. According to the dictionary, while they can mean the same thing when used as nouns, as verbs flowers bloom while trees blossom.

 

The beautiful flowers in “Bloom & Blossom” were photographed by Jiri Hera, whose work is showcased on fotolia.com.

 

Be…Crazy & Different

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Let’s bring back the piece I designed as a tribute to Steve Jobs upon his passing. Because today I saw a beautiful piece of prose entitled “Be” which was posted by Marie Yates on her intriguing and elegant blogsite, Modern Design Life. You will love the simple, provocative elegance she shares with us, at moderndesignlife.com

There you will find her latest post featuring“Be”.

And here is the edition I created which pretty much parallels Marie’s latest post. You can obtain a hi-rez 11×17 version suitable for framing by clicking on the image:

Subscribe to AmperArt here to receive future AmperArt editions. They’re always fun & fabulous & free.

And be sure to check out Marie Yates’ exquisite site: moderndesignlife.com

 

Challenge & Spirit #15

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click here to download full size posterClick image to download, print and frame.

 

Several months ago I discovered a fantastic website about everything ITALIAN. That side of my heritage is most likely where I get my artistic talent and most surely my temper. (The other half is German which is probably why I’m a designer rather than a sculptor or painter, and very glad I am.)
 
They say you’re either Italian or you love Italian! So this wonderful website is for all you Italians and those who wish you were:

 www.italialiving.com

While perusing this beautiful and informative site, I came to a very heartfelt note by the website’s founder, Richard J. Michelli, that his brother Raymond, 36 years old, had just passed away. He was challenged by Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and confined to a wheelchair most of his life.
 
Then I read the sentence that tore my heart out, as it reminded me of some of my own friends who were physically challenged:

“Raymond was admired for his enduring resolve to transcend his limitations and live each moment to the fullest, as he put a smile on the face of everyone he met.” Each and every attribute applies to those friends I know personally who are so accepting, so persevering, so full of spirit in spite of their debilitating challenge. I need look no further, I realized, than the words posted by Raymond’s friends, as well as his obituary, to create my AmperArt tribute. Every single word on this piece is taken verbatim from those sources.

February, with its celebration of Valentines Day and Presidents Day, is the month of love, courage and determination. With those values in mind, I honor the incredible spirit of physically challenged individuals, in the form of my latest AmperArt piece, “Challenge & Spirit.”

You may download and print a copy of “Challenge & Spirit” for printing and framing–just click on the image above. You’ll find printing and framing suggestions here.

Join other ampersand fans and receive a free AmperArt edition each month. Subscribe here.

 

The TO DO & TO DON’T List

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Finally, a TO DO list that really works–the TO DO & TO DON’T list.

Want to feel like you’ve really accomplished something? Accomplish nothing–and cross it off the list!

Here’s a TO DO & TO DON’T list but with only a few lines on the “to do” side, which realistically is all most of us ever get through in a day. Right? The TO DON’T side can easily be filled with reminders to DON’T answer every email, DON’T read more than 3 chapters in a mystery novel when you really need some sleep, DON’T eat too much junk food, DON’T answer the telephone every time, DON’T forget to smile, and DON’T make too many lists.

Download your own TO DO & TO DON’T list and print out as many as you want to use yourself & distribute to your friends and colleagues. You might want to fill theirs in for them beforehand with DON’T borrow any more money from me, DON’T bother me when I’m playing solitaire, DON’T be late, DON’T forget to pay for lunch…

DON’T miss out on a fun & fabulous piece of art each month featuring the ampersand. It’s absolutely free. Subscribe & start your AmperArt collection now!

 

Seconds & Thirds #11

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The latest AmperArt design just arrived from the turkey farm. You can click on the image to see a larger version, but AmperArt subscribers are treated to high-resolution files for printing stylish art print posters. Strut over here for printing and framing suggestions.


 

AmperArt #11 Seconds & Thirds

Seconds & Thirds: AmperArt #11

 

Who can eat just one helping of Thanksgiving dinner?

We stuff ourselves, go play some games or watch a traditional holiday movie, then…head back for seconds.

After that’s settled, whether we can fit it in or not, we…go back for thirds. The food is just that delicious!

And then of course, there’s dessert.

Or maybe your guests are returning to the dinner table to take another look at your cheerful, charming placeholders…

 

Thanksgiving dinner table placeholder

Dinner Table Decor! Create fun & fabulous guest placeholders. Quick & easy to make. Download your free Thanksgiving Dinner Table placeholders here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What—no turquoise feathers?

Remember cutting out construction paper feathers to make your Thanksgiving turkey art in grade school?
I made a very colorful turkey with a fan of tail feathers comprised of every color of the rainbow–or at least every color of construction paper. There were blue feathers, pink feathers, green, purple & fluorescent yellow feathers. I thought the turkey was the “coolest animal in the whole wide world because it was the most colorfullest!” Man, was I disappointed to discover the truth. First no Santa Claus, then no Technicolor turkeys.
I could at least look forward to Easter, where I knew absolutely, positively that Easter eggs came in any color you wanted them to be.
 
Have a wonderful, delicious—and colorful—Thanksgiving.



Ghosts & Goblins #9

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Ghosts & Goblins is my Halloween edition for 2011. You can click on the image to see a larger version, but AmperArt subscribers are treated to high-resolution files for printing beautiful poster prints (see examples here).

 

AmperArt Print #9 Ghosts & Goblins

Ghosts & Goblins: AmperArt #9

 

 

 

Do you know the difference between ghosts, goblins and ghouls?

Ghosts are thought to be souls of the dead. They are disembodied spirits seen as vague or translucent shapes, which the white sheet costume represents. “Ghost” comes from the Old English “gast,” referring to the soul, spirit, life and breath.

Goblins are mischievous and even malicious, characterized as a grotesque  form of elf. “Goblin” comes from the German word kobold,a mischievous household spirit which is sometimes nice and sings to children, but also acts like a mean little kid hiding stuff around the house, kicking people and throwing tantrums. (Guess my parents would consider me a goblin.)

Then there are ghouls, quite disgusting creatures that feast on corpses and children. “Ghoul” goes back to the Arabic language, where “ghala” means “he seized.”

Happy Halloween.

 

#9 Ghosts & Goblins released today

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I released my latest poster today to my AmperArt subscribers. It’s #9 in the series, entitled “Ghosts & Goblins.” The poster will materialize here in a few days.

Do you know the difference between ghosts, goblins and ghouls?

Ghosts are thought to be souls of the dead. They are disembodied spirits seen as vague or translucent shapes, which the white sheet costume represents. “Ghost” comes from the Old English “gast,” referring to the soul, spirit, life and breath.

Goblins are mischievous and even malicious, characterized as a grotesque  form of elf. “Goblin” comes from the German word kobold,a mischievous household spirit which is sometimes nice and sings to children, but also acts like a mean little kid hiding stuff around the house, kicking people and throwing tantrums. (Guess my parents would consider me a goblin.)

Then there are ghouls, quite disgusting creatures that feast on corpses and children. “Ghoul” goes back to the Arabic language, where “ghala” means “he seized.”

Obtain your AmperArt posters on the day they are released. Subscribe in the big orange thing at the right. (Is it an abstract pumpkin?)

Come back here in a few days to see the latest poster, “Ghosts & Goblins.”