happy 730 thursday. five years ago today.

hubby and i = a 730 thursday

5 April, 2012
Today marks five years ago that I met my soul mate, my best friend and my hubby. Our story is a really great one for those of you who know us.

I feel very blessed in my life to have this connection that continues to inspire me, encourage my soul, delight in the silly that I adore.

Yes, my studio name is 730 Thursday. It is also the time and day I met my hubby. Both really great inspirations daily.

Everyone deserves a 730 Thursday. I am most happy for mine.

my one and only clover dog.

clover who is approaching turning 13 on April 6th. lover girl.

Soulful living with dogs. That is such a fun sentence to write and know the meaning of. I feel so connected to my dogs (children for me). This is such a sweet shot of Clover I just had to post it and gush a bit. She is such a good good girl.

Clover has stormed through a bunch of hard history with me and has always stayed by my side, tail wagging and happy to be with me. I am so grateful for her loving energy and soft soul she shares with me.

Today I celebrate Clover and all of the love she brings me daily (hourly) really. Love you Clover.

listening to my inner voice. my soul.

new quote and design by me ~ beautiful chair photo by me taken at flea market in Paris

2012 holds so much in store for me. I am making it happen. I am fueled with new energy and a great perspective I have longed for. I have always found beauty in unusual places and things. I finally get that this is special and I am listening.

I think as children we are taught things that we carry with us and we form from. I really like the imperfectness in life and in all things around me. I like the slightly off, tattered, not quite done. I feel connected to things and places that feel like this.

There is such a disconnect for me to try and to be just so. I finally feel like I do not have to be this way. Free from judgement (at least trying to not let those matter as much) Free to create and really dive into new creative passions.

My soul feels awake. I am so grateful for this. How many people never get to this happy soulful skipping along kind of awake? I continue to march on with my direct path to making myself known this year.

Thanks for coming along on this journey with me.

A cause I am getting behind. Love the animals.

artist Katherine Dunn = one of her covers = magic!

Katherine Dunn saves all of these animals. LOVE.

More artwork by the talented Katherine Dunn.

I do not get to really help animals like I would like to (yet). This artist Katherine Dunn is one of the incredible people/ artists doing just that. Saving the animals. She is raising funds to produce a book.
Visit link for more information and a video that will have you smiling and crying at the same time.

I have never met Katherine Dunn. I hope to. I just admire her and her love for animals big and small.

"Misfits of Love" is a book idea I have been working on in one way or another since I first moved to our Apifera Farm back in 2004. Here is a slideshow of how the book will look and 'feel".
My farm is a final home to many of the misfits - the old ones and the crippled ones, creatures that were neglected, abused or left as useless. Their hearts live here with me and their stories are worthy of print.
Funds will be used [see specifics below] to get this quiet little book ready for publication.
Ever since I can remember, I have had empathy for the elderly creatures, or the 'discarded", and that includes humans. Upon moving to the farm, my barnyard seemed to be a natural settling ground for wandering abandoned roosters, old donkeys, misplaced ducks and a variety of old and challenged goats. Oh, and a pig that came with a goat. And old mice in love. Many of the creatures were adopted from bad situations, rescued by another and then sent to Apifera- but some dropped out of the sky, so to speak.
We live in such a throw away society where old is not valued by the masses - but I see the beauty and soul in 'old' every day here....be it in the eyes of an old, misused donkey or the curve in the crippled legs of a handicapped goat.
When my father was dying in hospice, many states away, I was unable to go to him. Taking care of my old creatures took on an even more symbolic meaning for me. As I rubbed oil on the pig's very dry skin each day, I was reminded of my father's 85 year old legs and how dry and sore they were for him. I couldn't help him, but I could soothe this pig with my hands and she in turn soothed me with her charm and pig beauty.
This fundraising stage is to get the book 'print-ready', and having done that before, I can tell you it takes time, energy and money. I plan to work with the same editorial consultant who was a former editor at Chronicle Books to get the manuscript in tip-top shape. With 144 pages and $125 hour consulting fee, it is a major expense - but very important.  Funds will also help me get the layouts of the book prepped. Each chapter focuses on a different animal with a narrative, emotive sepia photographs and one full color art spread of a painting. Promo copies will be made at about $50 each that will be used to generate interest from publishers or help determine if self publishing is needed. My goal is to have the manuscript ready for first edits by January and first layouts will begin at the same time. I will be doing the layouts, but will need some expertise on proofs/layout print prep from consultants.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/katherinedunn/misfits-of-love-a-book-of-art-and-story-from-apife

love and light

beautiful quote from Martin Luther King Jr. 

I saw this quote this morning on facebook. I decided to quick design a little something for my studio page. I have been reading this off and on all day and I must say ~ I love this.

I was taught as a little girl to never ever use the word "hate". To this day I do not use that word. Actions can show this so strongly ~ I too try to never cross that line.

As I get older there are fewer things to not like. I tend to focus on the simple things like, waking up, going for a walk, having the people and dogs I adore healthy, being able to create for a living, still being able to learn learn learn.

I do think that love illuminates us ~ we shine brighter and share more. Just a little reflection on a most serious study of human nature.

Designs by 730 thursday here http://www.facebook.com/730Thursday