My sister and I had a great time making costumes this year. We modified a commercial penguin pattern to make a shark for her youngest grandson, turned sweatshirt and pants into Austin Powers’ velvet suit for her oldest grandson and I made a fairy costume for the cutest baby girl in the whole world…my granddaughter Alexis.

Here are some photos of Alexis out on the town.

At the party Alexis is all smiles.

Here she is on the dance floor.

And finally…gazing up into the sky…contemplating.

After a fun evening and TWO full trick or treat bags Alexis hung up her fairy wings for the night.

I read a lot of stuff about inspiration for artists. It seems that “finding inspiration” is the trendy obsession in the art world these days. One recurring suggestion is to have a set of aspirations or positive goals that you think about each day. Another is to ask the “universe” for the things you need/want in life. Never mind the difference between need and want….lets just examine the idea of positive affirmations and statements to the universe. Why does that stuff work? Because it changes the way you think. If you believe the universe wants to give you money and recognition then you won’t be afraid to take the step that leads to it. If you combat every negative thought with a positive affirmation you will become more positive; or at least you will get to imagine the tiny cartoon devil and tiny cartoon angel arguing from your opposite shoulders.

Boogie Jack writes in this month’s Almost a Newsletter that you want to become aware of your habitual thought patterns. He points out that your thoughts ultimately determine your character. He says

Be who you were meant to be, an original. Originality, like truth, follows no well-worn path. There is an old saying people use when they have the same thought, “great minds think alike.” The truth is, great minds think for themselves, the brainwashed think alike. Other people’s thinking can be useful to learn from, but final authority is always yours and yours alone.

It makes sense then that affirmations and positive declarations to the universe do affect who you turn out to be. Seems like a good time to add some positive thinking to your daily art ritual; just make sure your affirmations are your own.

Now, how many moms can say that? My son is a tattoo artist. Takes real guts to have skin as your media. You gotta get it right the first time. Hey besides glowing, Greg also breathes fire!

You can find him on Inked Nation

I went to the Lexmark printer website today. I don’t own a Lexmark, but I decided to take a look around their project area It isn’t nearly as cool as Epson/HP/Canon but I am having a great time with their poster maker. You can register or just sign in as Guest…but check it out!

Photos soon.