There’s some great stuff going on over there, so I hope you’ll check in. A sampling of happenings:

On Monday, September 12, I’ll be at the opening reception for “Afterwards & Forwards: A Ten-Year 9/11 Reflective Exhibit”, where one of my works will hang among a group of 18 other internationally known artists. This is a truly great honor. You can read more about that here.

“52 Weeks of Peace” is now available in book form. Endorsed by Milton Glaser (!), it’s a beautifully published postcard book with all 52 weeks. Available at Amazon. There are lots of new totes and mugs and things available as well, over at my CafePress shop.

I also have a “52 Weeks of Peace” facebook page, in addition to my Patricia Saxton / Saxton Studio facebook page, and would welcome all of you to either or both pages. Just hit the “like” button!

Otherwise, I continue to post a newly designed positive “P” word each Monday in my “Plethora of P’s” series, continue to post about art & design, and a fair dose of philosophical stuff manages to work its way in too … so…

Until I decide what to do with the Sightings Page on this blog, I’ll leave this blog open, but for all current postings, you’ll need to go here. Thanks so much!

And bring your friends! About a month ago I started a NEW facebook page, so I invite you to click on over and tap the “like” button. It’s an easy way to keep up on my posts about “creativity, life and the universe…” with a community of fellow appreciators.

A reminder as well, that while the “Sightings” page remains active, I’ve focused my writing efforts at saxtonstudio.wordpress.com, where, again, you’re more than welcome to visit and/or subscribe.

Thanks so very much for your support!

Still, I’m loathe to lose this one entirely… so I won’t. I may eventually migrate everything over to saxtonstudio.wordpress.com.  Or I may change the focus of this one. I haven’t decided. For now, it stays up.

If you’ve missed out, I’ve posted some preliminary Dragon art, posts related to my Mermaid and Fairy books, and I’ve started a new series called “A Plethora of P’s”.   And, oh! The illustrated video for my Mermaid Game too!  Lots happening over there.

While most of the “action” happens at the saxtonstudio blog, I’d still like to hear from any of you who’ve had fairy or other magical encounters… you can keep writing them in on the Sightings page!

And if there’s anything else you’d like to see posted here, rather than there, let me know.

In the name of brazen self-promotion, I’d like to start spreading the word that some terrific canvas tote bags are now available, adorned with designs from my “52 Weeks of Peace” series. One bag shows all 52 weeks, others have individual designs.

For the time-being these are available online only, through my shop at CafePress. But I have to tell you, I personally love their canvas bags. They’re sturdy and earthy and hold a lot of stuff.

They really make a great gift – practical AND fun. (oh, and yes, with a message…!)

Thank you for this, my young artist friend.

……………….

I was raised by a writer and learned early on to write out my thank-you’s. Friends may even think of me as a bit of thank-you note nut. Just the same, there’s an art to it, and over my lifetime I’ve seen the dwindling of that art. First there was the phone call, then the email note. Add to that the inundated-with-to-do’s, fast pace of people’s lives that doesn’t allow much room for proper thank you’s ~  especially challenging for people who don’t have a natural affinity for writing ~ and the way of thank you note gets lost.

But of course it’s important to realize that appreciation takes many forms. Not everyone draws a picture, or writes a beautiful note. Sometimes they say just the right words, or do something marvelously selfless and generous. People are good at heart; they show it in different ways.

Still … there’s nothing quite like a real thank-you! So I hope you don’t mind my sharing a little appreciation for a very special one, by sharing it with you.  The card is from a young girl I’ve never met, who’d received my books and toy as a gift. Hopefully the exuberant art will have brightened your day, as it did mine!

And it occurred to me this morning that my overwrought brain might indeed have its own image… so if  the inside of my head were a picture today, this is what *came to mind*.

It’s colorful, for sure. But like my thoughts, the colors are alternately colliding, competing and complementing. Kind of interesting (I think.).

Then I realized that as the day wears on, the inisde of my head will change – because nothing ever stays the same, does it. So, around noon, it might look like this:

And later still …

And if I’m lucky, by the end of the day, it will calm down to a restful glow…

In other words, how I keep food on the table and a roof overhead.

You can always see a full portfolio at saxtonstudio.com, but thought I’d share a sampling of some recent design projects. They range from branding & identity to powerpoint presentations, graphic murals to event themes, book covers to websites.

Got a project that needs to shine? Visit saxtonstudio.com and call us or send an email!

Things may get a little wild around here as I get down to work on my next children’s book …

Sweet Peace to all ~

As the “52 Weeks of Peace” series comes to its inevitable end, it’s my hope that the spirit of mindful peace will carry on long after the last posting.

I hope you’ll find peace in unexpected places ~ and nurture its presence. I hope you’ll seek it, recognize it, allow it, and share it. There’s great power there… beginning with you, me, our families and friends. It doesn’t have to be a movement you join; more importantly, it’s a movement you feel within.

Here’s to planting, growing and tending gardens of peace ~ within ourselves as well as “out there”.

Thanks for sharing this journey together. Cheers all!

PS: Because the series started on September 1st, there will be a “bonus” posting next week.

PSS: Remember, all 52 weeks are posted here!