November is upon us ...

Sorry that I haven't been posting here lately ~ I have been overwhelmed by everything social media and have retreated from many platforms, though not all?!? Or all least not all as of yet!

I am now posting my #virginiacreates monthly calendars on my instagram account: 

https://www.instagram.com/virginiacreates

and you can find it on my website blog, the ponderings of virginiacreates 

https://www.virginiafitzgerald.com/ponderings-of-virginiacreates 

so please look for my postings on those two locations.

I have wondering about starting up posting inspirational art and quotes as everyday reality is getting more and more challenging, however I also don't want to add even more stuff into the already loud and crazy environment that surrounds us.  For now I am still doing my monthly calendars with inspiring quotes, usually by women.  Thank you for your interest. and now here is November 2023's #virginiacreates calendar.

feel free to print and use for your personal enjoyment ~ peace

During these challenging times ~ 

it is important to remember to choose LOVE!

We’re all in this together. Choose love.” Jo Dee Messina

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Be the light ...

“Light is to darkness what love is to fear; in the presence of one, the other disappears.

 Marianne Williamson

I have posted this collage on my P.O.P. site (society6 and Redbubble) and I will donate the entirety of my portion of the sale of this print, 'be the light ... ' to UNICEF to help the children in the Ukraine.  

print on society 6:

https://society6.com/product/be-the-light6628744_print?sku=s6-23296111p4a1v45

Print on redbubble: 

https://www.redbubble.com/i/art-print/be-the-light-by-Virginiacreate/103391524.1G4ZT?asc=u

Click here to go directly to UNICEF's site to donate directly:

www.unicefusa.org

When I sat down yesterday to create this month's collage for my #virginiacreates monthly calendar - this collage came quite clearly to me.  I didn't struggle with it or question it, which usually happens with most of my work.  But this piece seemed to flow. 

 I was listening to an interview with the lovely and talented Anne Lamott (see link below) and she was speaking about the importance of being the light - especially for creatives - and so I named this collage, 'be the light ...'  However as I was putting together my March calendar page I started seeing that this piece speaks to the heart-breaking situation in the Ukraine.  

As I do with many of my collages I cut shapes from  pages of different foreign text.  I am always picking up foreign books when I see them!! Unknowingly I used pages from one of my book that is in a Slavic language.  This particular book seems to be about Walt Disney and is in some East Slavic language though I am not sure which language. I love to use text in my work and especially text using different alphabets.  I find lettering/text/language so inspiring and beautiful of many levels.  

 

Also when I first sat down to make this collage I felt the need to stamp a peace sign, something that I don't always do, but yesterday it felt important.

I mention all this because I really wasn't consciously thinking about the Ukraine crisis, but as I look at the finished collage I feel like it speaks to the crisis, peace & light with a slavic text sprinkled around.  And this is an idea that Anne Lamott talks about, that we, as creatives, need to be open so that we are receptors of the world and that it what feeds our work.

A Conversation with Anne Lamott - 2007:

Best-selling author Anne Lamott returns to San Diego with more hilarious tales of her life as a mother, daughter and writer who is drawn to the struggles of imperfect characters. The humor of host Dean Nelson puts the normally reclusive Lamott at ease and the two keep the audience laughing throughout this edition of the 2007 Writer’s Symposium by the Sea, sponsored by Point Loma Nazarene University. [4/2007] [Show ID: 12220]

https://youtu.be/PhP5GmybvPM

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Today remember that we can do hard things ...

At the end of the day, 

we can endure much more

than we think we can.

Frida Kahlo

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T'is the month for self-love!!

“When you recover or discover something that nourishes your soul and brings joy, care enough about yourself to make room for it in your life.”

 Jean Shinoda Bolen

I felt that this was a good quote for this month of love, as we must remember to be kind to ourselves, and shower ourselves with love as we would a valentine !! Self-love and self compassion are so important as only when we love ourselves, truly love ourselves, can we really love another.  

and remember that YOU are ENOUGH! 

as is! full stop!! 

sending love, Virginia

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VirginiaCreates: a bit more about 'dear jeff ...'

VirginiaCreates: a bit more about 'dear jeff ...': 

CLICK HERE TO SEE INTERVIEW    With the airing of Chronicle's piece about 'dear jeff ...' I thought it would be a good time to s...

Remember within us is invincible love and so much more ...

“My dear,
In the midst of hate, I found there was, within me, an invincible love.
In the midst of tears, I found there was, within me, an invincible smile.
In the midst of chaos, I found there was, within me, an invincible calm.
I realized, through it all, that…
In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer.
And that makes me happy. For it says that no matter how hard the world pushes against me, within me, there’s something stronger – something better, pushing right back.

Truly yours,
Albert Camus”

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May we celebrate the return of the light ...

Blessed are you
who bear the light
in unbearable times,
who testify
to its endurance
amid the unendurable,
who bear witness
to its persistence
when everything seems
in shadow
and grief.

Blessed are you
in whom
the light lives,
in whom
the brightness blazes—
your heart
a chapel,
an altar where
in the deepest night
can be seen
the fire that
shines forth in you
in unaccountable faith,
in stubborn hope,
in love that illumines
every broken thing
it finds.

© Jan Richardson from Circle of Grace: A Book of Blessings for the Seasons

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May this dress remind us of how wonderfully startling living is ...

Last night Mother Nature delivered a winter wonderland to the Boston area.  As I look out the window and watch the snow fall, I feel a child-like joy and lightness, bringing to mind these lovely words by Emily Dickinson ...

 peace

“To live is so startling it leaves little time for anything else.” 

Emily Dickinson

p.s. this #dresscollage is one of the images in my #dailydressinspiration 2021 calendar, 

which is available at 

https://www.createphotocalendars.com/Shop/virginiacreates

I have created 2 formats - a CD calendar and a wall calendar.

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Today remember to be gentle with yourself ...

...be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,

no less than the trees and the stars;

you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you,

no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,

whatever you conceive Him to be,

and whatever your labors and aspirations,

in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

 

Max Ehrmann, 1927

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may this dress bring us all love and light ...

on this first day if Hanukkah.

“Look at how a single candle can both defy and define the darkness.” 

Anne Frank.

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