30 Kasım 2012 Cuma
March 19, 2012: Ed Madden's MFA poetry workshop at USC
To contact us Click HERE
Tomorrow Bryan Penberthy and I will be guest teachers in Ed Madden's MFA poetry workshop at the University of South Carolina. We're both looking forward to the experience, meeting with the students while Ed is away in Ireland. We'll read a few poems, talk about our writing process and publication experience, and teach a brief mini-lesson. My mini-lesson will be on "The Usefulness of Silence in a Poem."
Finalists for the Cider Press Review Editor's Prize
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For the inaugural Cider Press Review Editor's Prize, eight finalists were selected in August from the hundreds of manuscripts submitted. Here is the list, alphabetically, and I'm pleased that my manuscript My Dear, Dear Stagger Grass was included:
After Jay
The Green Cup
My Dear, Dear Stagger Grass
On the Desire to Levitate
Planetary Nights
The Principle of Flickering
Significant Others
Snow White, When No One Was Looking
I'm grateful, too, that my manuscript has been a finalist in several other book contests during the three years that I've circulated it. During that time it has also been a semifinalist for The Washington Prize (Word Works) and the Elixir Press Antivenom Poetry Award, as well as a finalist for these:
The National Poetry Series
Prairie Schooner Prize in Poetry
Robert Dana-Anhinga Prize for Poetry
Cider Press Book Award
Circulating a manuscript is hard work, and I want to thank these presses/contests for their encouragement along the way.
After Jay
The Green Cup
My Dear, Dear Stagger Grass
On the Desire to Levitate
Planetary Nights
The Principle of Flickering
Significant Others
Snow White, When No One Was Looking
I'm grateful, too, that my manuscript has been a finalist in several other book contests during the three years that I've circulated it. During that time it has also been a semifinalist for The Washington Prize (Word Works) and the Elixir Press Antivenom Poetry Award, as well as a finalist for these:
The National Poetry Series
Prairie Schooner Prize in Poetry
Robert Dana-Anhinga Prize for Poetry
Cider Press Book Award
Circulating a manuscript is hard work, and I want to thank these presses/contests for their encouragement along the way.
Cider Press Review Editor's Prize
To contact us Click HERE
I'm pleased to announce--no, actually I'm ecstatic--that my manuscript "My Dear, Dear Stagger Grass" will be published by Cider Press Review after winning their inaugural Editor's Prize. The day that Ruth Foley, managing editor of the press, called me with the news I was speechless, stunned with joy. And I'm still celebrating.
Congratulations, too, to the runner-up and honorable mentions:
Runner-Up:
Snow White, When No One Was Looking, Donna Prinzmetal
Honorable Mentions:
The Green Cup, V. P. Loggins
The Principle of Flickering, Laura Donnelly
Planetary Nights, Jeanne J. LeVasseur
My Dear, Dear Stagger Grass will be released in the fall of 2013.
I've followed the recent history of the press and admire so much the work that they're doing, the authors that they are publishing. I had the pleasure of hearing Landon Godfrey, author of Second-Skin Rhinestone-Spangled Nude Souffle Choffon Gown, read last fall; I've enjoyed reading Liz Robbins's Play Button; and I fell for the poetry of Joseph Fasano, author of Fugue for Other Hands, when he won the Rattle Poetry Prize a few years ago. Landon, Liz, and Joseph are all past winners of the Cider Press Book Award.
If you're not familiar with this press, please do check it out:
Cider Press Review website
Congratulations, too, to the runner-up and honorable mentions:
Runner-Up:
Snow White, When No One Was Looking, Donna Prinzmetal
Honorable Mentions:
The Green Cup, V. P. Loggins
The Principle of Flickering, Laura Donnelly
Planetary Nights, Jeanne J. LeVasseur
My Dear, Dear Stagger Grass will be released in the fall of 2013.
I've followed the recent history of the press and admire so much the work that they're doing, the authors that they are publishing. I had the pleasure of hearing Landon Godfrey, author of Second-Skin Rhinestone-Spangled Nude Souffle Choffon Gown, read last fall; I've enjoyed reading Liz Robbins's Play Button; and I fell for the poetry of Joseph Fasano, author of Fugue for Other Hands, when he won the Rattle Poetry Prize a few years ago. Landon, Liz, and Joseph are all past winners of the Cider Press Book Award.
If you're not familiar with this press, please do check it out:
Cider Press Review website
Mark Smith-Soto has won this year's James Applewhite Poetry Prize
To contact us Click HERE
Congratulations to Mark Smith-Soto, winner of the 2012 James Applewhite Poetry Prize for his poem "Last Retreat to Topsail Beach." The winning poem and those of the finalists will be published in the North Carolina Literary Review (NCLR). Mark's poem was selected by poet James Applewhite from the work of six finalists chosen by NCLR Poetry Editor Jeffrey Franklin. Almost fifty poets submitted to the competition.
Here are the finalists:
Here are the finalists:
- 2nd place: Laurence G. Avery’s poem “Only Yonaguska”
- Honorable mention: Grace Cloris Ocasio’s “Little Girlfriend”
- Other finalists:
- Richard Betz’s “Picking Blackberries on Yellow Mountain Road”
- Samantha Lee Deal’s “North Carolina, This Will Be The Last Poem”
- Susan Laughter Meyers’s “Banding Hummingbirds” and “Beggar’s-Lice”
2013 Poet's Market
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At the end of last May, editor Robert Lee Brewer put out a call for submissions of unpublished poems, with plans to select 20 and publish them in the 2013 Poet's Market. In the fall he announced the 20 poems selected, and my poem "Wind Chimes, Minus the Wind" was one of them. How exciting for me to have a poem published in Poet's Market! Thank you, Robert Lee Brewer.
Here's a list of the 20 poets and their poem titles. Congratulations to all the other poets:
Here's a list of the 20 poets and their poem titles. Congratulations to all the other poets:
- Kelli Russell Agodon, "On Some Other Planet We're Newlyweds"
- Nin Andres, "Ghosts"
- Pris Campbell, "Sackcloth"
- Jessie Carty, "The Painter's Pantoum"
- Sage Cohen, "Dear Fritz Guest House"
- Iris Jamahl Dunkle, "Photography Lesson, Pt. Reyes"
- Terri Kirby Erickson, "At the Bowling Alley"
- Patricia Fargnoli, "When I Re-Read His Letters"
- Jen Karetnick, "Arrival: A Love Villanelle for Haiti"
- Jeffrey H. MacLachlan, "Sea Ghost, Fire of the Sea"
- Susan Laughter Meyers, "Wind Chimes, Minus the Wind"
- Heather M. Moore Niver, "Flinging the Unsaid into the Surf or Seeing You Again . . . "
- Shann Palmer, "Occluded"
- Nancy Posey, "Follow the Leader"
- Nate Pritts, "Frost at Midmorning"
- Karen Rigby, "Echolocation"
- Rebecca Givens Rolland,
- Linda Simoni-Wastila, "Greetings from Motel 6"
- Kelli Simpson, "Hands to"
- Joannie Stangeland, "As a Beginning"
29 Kasım 2012 Perşembe
2013 Poet's Market
To contact us Click HERE
At the end of last May, editor Robert Lee Brewer put out a call for submissions of unpublished poems, with plans to select 20 and publish them in the 2013 Poet's Market. In the fall he announced the 20 poems selected, and my poem "Wind Chimes, Minus the Wind" was one of them. How exciting for me to have a poem published in Poet's Market! Thank you, Robert Lee Brewer.
Here's a list of the 20 poets and their poem titles. Congratulations to all the other poets:
Here's a list of the 20 poets and their poem titles. Congratulations to all the other poets:
- Kelli Russell Agodon, "On Some Other Planet We're Newlyweds"
- Nin Andres, "Ghosts"
- Pris Campbell, "Sackcloth"
- Jessie Carty, "The Painter's Pantoum"
- Sage Cohen, "Dear Fritz Guest House"
- Iris Jamahl Dunkle, "Photography Lesson, Pt. Reyes"
- Terri Kirby Erickson, "At the Bowling Alley"
- Patricia Fargnoli, "When I Re-Read His Letters"
- Jen Karetnick, "Arrival: A Love Villanelle for Haiti"
- Jeffrey H. MacLachlan, "Sea Ghost, Fire of the Sea"
- Susan Laughter Meyers, "Wind Chimes, Minus the Wind"
- Heather M. Moore Niver, "Flinging the Unsaid into the Surf or Seeing You Again . . . "
- Shann Palmer, "Occluded"
- Nancy Posey, "Follow the Leader"
- Nate Pritts, "Frost at Midmorning"
- Karen Rigby, "Echolocation"
- Rebecca Givens Rolland,
- Linda Simoni-Wastila, "Greetings from Motel 6"
- Kelli Simpson, "Hands to"
- Joannie Stangeland, "As a Beginning"
GIFT GUIDE | Part IV
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Part IV: A Holiday Getaway.
Clockwise from top left: Sheriff & Cherry Aviators ($140); Partners & Spade S+P shakers ($45); The Getaway movie poster ($16) and The Getaway Deluxe Edition DVD ($6); Clare Vivier Overnighter ($386); Passport Case ($14); Handcuff bracelet ($250); Stanley 1.4QT classic thermos ($54); They're on to You collar stays ($16); Barbour International Trials jacket ($549).
Part IV: A Holiday Getaway.
Clockwise from top left: Sheriff & Cherry Aviators ($140); Partners & Spade S+P shakers ($45); The Getaway movie poster ($16) and The Getaway Deluxe Edition DVD ($6); Clare Vivier Overnighter ($386); Passport Case ($14); Handcuff bracelet ($250); Stanley 1.4QT classic thermos ($54); They're on to You collar stays ($16); Barbour International Trials jacket ($549).
GIFT GUIDE | Part V
To contact us Click HERE
Part V: Western Winter Wonderland.
Clockwise from top left: Izola Great Plains soap set ($19); Julian scarf with pockets in country plaid and hunter green ($32); RTH red kilt pin with fringe ($35); Rope leash ($54); Will Leather Goods Bandana Carry-All ($95); Frisk "La Pistola" charm necklace ($40); Deerskin work gloves ($23); The Barlow Knife ($42); Rioja bracelet ($24); Cork coasters ($24 for four); Industry of All Nations belt ($19); Ann Mashburn for Lucchese boots ($675).
Part V: Western Winter Wonderland.
Clockwise from top left: Izola Great Plains soap set ($19); Julian scarf with pockets in country plaid and hunter green ($32); RTH red kilt pin with fringe ($35); Rope leash ($54); Will Leather Goods Bandana Carry-All ($95); Frisk "La Pistola" charm necklace ($40); Deerskin work gloves ($23); The Barlow Knife ($42); Rioja bracelet ($24); Cork coasters ($24 for four); Industry of All Nations belt ($19); Ann Mashburn for Lucchese boots ($675).
CONTEMPORARY | Karen Kimmel
To contact us Click HERE
Karen Kimmel is the Creative Director and Chief Curator of a Nike brand activation space, the founder of Crafting Community and Kimmel Kids, an installation artist, a mother of two ridiculously adorable kids, and it goes on from there (really). What most of her bios won't tell you though, is that she has one of the most incredible sneaker collections of any lady I know.
Full disclosure, not only does Karen work for Nike, but she is married to the founder of Undefeated. Sneaker power couple! I was dying over her shoe closet, from Damien Hirst and Missoni for Converse to Liberty of London Nikes to your basic Vans Canvas Authentics, she has quite a line up. Shoes aside, Karen is so multi-talented and multi-faceted as an artist and designer and human that it's almost impossible to write something short about her. So I'll end with just a quick Karen Kimmel PSA: Wednesday morning (11/28), her One King's Lane Tastemaker Tag Sale goes live where she's selling limited edition prints, kid's toys, vintage finds and all sorts of rad KK goods. Check it out!
Karen Kimmel is the Creative Director and Chief Curator of a Nike brand activation space, the founder of Crafting Community and Kimmel Kids, an installation artist, a mother of two ridiculously adorable kids, and it goes on from there (really). What most of her bios won't tell you though, is that she has one of the most incredible sneaker collections of any lady I know.
Full disclosure, not only does Karen work for Nike, but she is married to the founder of Undefeated. Sneaker power couple! I was dying over her shoe closet, from Damien Hirst and Missoni for Converse to Liberty of London Nikes to your basic Vans Canvas Authentics, she has quite a line up. Shoes aside, Karen is so multi-talented and multi-faceted as an artist and designer and human that it's almost impossible to write something short about her. So I'll end with just a quick Karen Kimmel PSA: Wednesday morning (11/28), her One King's Lane Tastemaker Tag Sale goes live where she's selling limited edition prints, kid's toys, vintage finds and all sorts of rad KK goods. Check it out!
Q&A | Reba Cunningham
To contact us Click HERE
Ok, so Alabama is now officially on Tomboy Style map. I was just tuned into the men's store Lyonstate in Fair Hope, AL. which also has a holiday pop-up shop in Mobile, and I'm hooked. Reba Cunningham is the founder of Lyonstate—love that she's a woman running a men's store! As a former wholesale manager for A.P.C., she mixes her deep Southern roots with her years spent in New York City for a sophisticated balance that seems to be spot-on for any gentleman or gentlewoman. I'm sure she wears clothing from her store all the time. I would. Reba has, I think, tipped the scales fully into turning me into a total Southernphile (Dixiephile?)—watch out Charleston Fashion Week, I'm coming for you in March!
If not in Fairhope, AL., I would live…back in Brooklyn.
My dream holiday would be to...Argentina.
My current obsessions are...
Food: Gulf Coast seafood, like raw oysters. And around the Holidays we like to grill them in their half shells over an open flame. So delicious!
Fashion: The men's Our Legacy button down shirts from the shop. The fabrics wear really nicely over time.
Music: A rotating list that includes some Avett Brothers, Broken Social Scene, and Wolf Parade.
Retail Store: Lyonstate’s new pop-up shop that we just opened in Mobile, AL.
I channel my childhood self when I...flip through an atlas and daydream about places to see.
If I had to be outdoors all day I would...like to be on a boat.
My favorite quality in a man is...quiet confidence and a bit of mystery.
My favorite quality in a woman is...wit and realness.
I'm terrified of...extremists of any kind.
My dream car is a...1980 Toyota Land Cruiser.
My cocktail of choice is...usually a cold beer. I love the Titan IPA from Great Divide. A dirty martini never hurts every now and again though.
My celebrity crush is...lately, Jack Huston.
My beauty product of choice is...YSL Lipstick.
My friends and I like to...watch bad TV together.
If I could go back in time for one decade it would be...the 1940’s to hang out with my grandparents in their early thirties.
As a teenager I was totally into...sports—tennis, volleyball, and basketball.
I tend to splurge on…pastries, coffee, shoes, and now children’s clothes. I had a baby girl four months ago.
Rolling with the daily punches and feeling equally as confident in blue jeans and no makeup as I do in a cocktail dress...is what makes me have Tomboy Style.
Ok, so Alabama is now officially on Tomboy Style map. I was just tuned into the men's store Lyonstate in Fair Hope, AL. which also has a holiday pop-up shop in Mobile, and I'm hooked. Reba Cunningham is the founder of Lyonstate—love that she's a woman running a men's store! As a former wholesale manager for A.P.C., she mixes her deep Southern roots with her years spent in New York City for a sophisticated balance that seems to be spot-on for any gentleman or gentlewoman. I'm sure she wears clothing from her store all the time. I would. Reba has, I think, tipped the scales fully into turning me into a total Southernphile (Dixiephile?)—watch out Charleston Fashion Week, I'm coming for you in March!
If not in Fairhope, AL., I would live…back in Brooklyn.
My dream holiday would be to...Argentina.
My current obsessions are...
Food: Gulf Coast seafood, like raw oysters. And around the Holidays we like to grill them in their half shells over an open flame. So delicious!
Fashion: The men's Our Legacy button down shirts from the shop. The fabrics wear really nicely over time.
Music: A rotating list that includes some Avett Brothers, Broken Social Scene, and Wolf Parade.
Retail Store: Lyonstate’s new pop-up shop that we just opened in Mobile, AL.
I channel my childhood self when I...flip through an atlas and daydream about places to see.
If I had to be outdoors all day I would...like to be on a boat.
My favorite quality in a man is...quiet confidence and a bit of mystery.
My favorite quality in a woman is...wit and realness.
I'm terrified of...extremists of any kind.
My dream car is a...1980 Toyota Land Cruiser.
My cocktail of choice is...usually a cold beer. I love the Titan IPA from Great Divide. A dirty martini never hurts every now and again though.
My celebrity crush is...lately, Jack Huston.
My beauty product of choice is...YSL Lipstick.
My friends and I like to...watch bad TV together.
If I could go back in time for one decade it would be...the 1940’s to hang out with my grandparents in their early thirties.
As a teenager I was totally into...sports—tennis, volleyball, and basketball.
I tend to splurge on…pastries, coffee, shoes, and now children’s clothes. I had a baby girl four months ago.
Rolling with the daily punches and feeling equally as confident in blue jeans and no makeup as I do in a cocktail dress...is what makes me have Tomboy Style.
28 Kasım 2012 Çarşamba
Pastel & Mixed Media Class at the Art School of Sandy Springs
To contact us Click HERE
I am in Florida this week visiting family and I spent the ride down working on lesson plans for my winter classes. I am exited to announce that I will be teaching this winter at the Art School of Sandy Springs. I will be teaching a class on Pastel and Mixed Media. This will be a 6 week course starts January 15 9:00-12:30. Here is a description of the class:
Winter landscapes, clouds and skies, marsh scapes, bird's nests and florals will be the subjects of this pastel class. Will learn to work with prepared backgrounds. Explore the wonderful flexibility of the pastel medium. Pastel can be combined with most other painting and drawing mediums which makes it ideal for experimenting with mixed media techniques. In this class we will explore the
possibilities of mixing pastel with acrylics, oils, ink and more to create texture and special effects that cannot be achieved with pastel alone. Underpainting, oil stained underpainting, pastel dusting, texture with pastel/acrylic mixture, painting on a black surface... Al level welcome.
The painting in today's post shows one of the techniques we will be using. We will create our own pastel surface which is an excellent way to add texture to a pastel painting. If you would like to learn more about the class or to register visit the school's website here http://theartschoolinsandysprings.com/Home_Page.html
For my regular Wednesday students, our classes will resume January 16th. Look for an email soon!
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| 'Winter Magic' 8x10 Pastel on homemade surface $95 purchase here |
Winter landscapes, clouds and skies, marsh scapes, bird's nests and florals will be the subjects of this pastel class. Will learn to work with prepared backgrounds. Explore the wonderful flexibility of the pastel medium. Pastel can be combined with most other painting and drawing mediums which makes it ideal for experimenting with mixed media techniques. In this class we will explore the
possibilities of mixing pastel with acrylics, oils, ink and more to create texture and special effects that cannot be achieved with pastel alone. Underpainting, oil stained underpainting, pastel dusting, texture with pastel/acrylic mixture, painting on a black surface... Al level welcome.
The painting in today's post shows one of the techniques we will be using. We will create our own pastel surface which is an excellent way to add texture to a pastel painting. If you would like to learn more about the class or to register visit the school's website here http://theartschoolinsandysprings.com/Home_Page.html
For my regular Wednesday students, our classes will resume January 16th. Look for an email soon!
How to Keep Blogging While on Vacation
To contact us Click HERE
I have been living our of my suitcase for the last three weeks. Painting trips, workshops and family visits have kept me away from my studio and computer. But I have managed to keep up with my daily blog posts and my Daily Painting galleries. I have come up with a system of sorts to keep posting while on the road.
I have been asked how I manage to post everyday and I tell them it is just like any habit...it is a discipline like an exercise program or going to the gym. I am used to it and I make time for it in my routine and I feel like something is missing if I miss a day. So when I am out of town I want to 'stay in shape' so I make time for posting and staying connected. Here's how:
SALE PAINTING OF THE DAY
It is time for Holiday shopping and there is nothing better than the gift of original art. I am offering a savings of 20% on all paintings in my Etsy shop. I will feature a painting everyday during the Holiday Sale. Today's painting is a pastel. I created the lacy effect on the wings by starting on a black surface. I added iridescent pastel and drew the lines of the lace with the tip of a push pin! You can purchase this painting in my Etsy store here:https://www.etsy.com/listing/113147064/blue-dragonfly-5x7-original-pastel
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| 'Morning on the Lake' 5x7 pastel ©Karen Margulis |
I have been asked how I manage to post everyday and I tell them it is just like any habit...it is a discipline like an exercise program or going to the gym. I am used to it and I make time for it in my routine and I feel like something is missing if I miss a day. So when I am out of town I want to 'stay in shape' so I make time for posting and staying connected. Here's how:
- I am using the Blogger platform so what I do works for Blogger. If I know I will be out of town and have time to prepare I will write my posts ahead of time. Blogger allows you to write a post and save it as a draft. You can even schedule it to be posted when you want. (I actually don't schedule my posts but do it manually when I want on my iPhone.)
- If I don't want to bring my laptop I write the posts in advance. I only need my smart phone or iPad to publish the posts. I usually make a list of the days I will be away and spend a few hours preparing and saving the posts to draft. When I am ready to post them on the road I open Blogger,go to my list of posts, find the ones marked 'draft', click on edit which opens the post and then click 'publish' Done!
- If I am bringing my laptop and I don't have time or don't want to write my posts in advance, I just make time if I can to write a post on my laptop. For the trip I am on this week, I started my posts by adding pictures and saving them in draft then in the morning while having my coffee I finished writing. When I was on Pawleys Island a few weeks ago I posted my daily paintings during our afternoon 'wine time'
SALE PAINTING OF THE DAY
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| 'Dragonfly Magic' 5x7 pastel |
Winter Landscape... Sale Painting of the Day
To contact us Click HERE
It's Cyber Monday and I already see a few deals I am interesting in. I do need some art supplies! If you are cyber shopping today, consider choosing a piece of original art. Art makes a great gift (even for yourself!) This painting is a 6x6 pastel on Uart paper in the popular 6x6 square format.
'Winter Delight' is available by auction at DailyPaintworks.com. The opening bid is $50. CLICK HERE TO BID
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| 'Winter Delight' 6x6 pastel ©Karen Margulis |
'Winter Delight' is available by auction at DailyPaintworks.com. The opening bid is $50. CLICK HERE TO BID
A Recommended Pastel Set for Painting on the Go
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In a couple of weeks by daughter and I are taking a cruise. Of course I am looking forward to some lounge chair pastel painting. My favorite activity for the days at sea is to sit on a lounger with a small box of pastels and paper and paint some minis (2.5x3.5) I usually take a small box of pieces of a variety of pastels but I have another recommendation for an even more portable and neater alternative....Holbein Pastels Stephanie Birdsall set of 24.
I came across this set at the last IAPS convention. I was shopping at the trade show i.e. Candy Store and I discovered the goodies at the Holbein booth. I was buying a set of Gouache paints for underpainting. If I spent another $5 I would get a bonus so I was trying to decide what else I needed. Stephanie Birdsall was in the booth doing a demo with her set of Holbeins. She was a great salesperson and convinced me I needed her set. Her gorgeous painting made it an easy decision! Here are the selling points and why you may wish to give these pastels a try.
Mini original pastels make great Holiday gifts. They are available for $15 each or 2 for $25 by check or Paypal. Email me kemstudios@yahoo.com if interested.
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| Collage of Mini Pastel Originals All Minis are available for $15 each or 2 for $25 email if interested |
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| 'Landscape Impression' 2.5 x 3.5 pastel |
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| Holbein Pastels Stephanie Birdsall set of 24 |
- They are a medium soft pastel shaped into neat sticks. You can use the side or the sharper edges for detail. They look hard like a Nupastel but they go down softer. The hard stick form makes them clean to use, a bonus when painting on the go where you don't want to make a dusty mess.
- The colors! Stephanie explained to me that she selected the colors in her set to allow you to pain any subject. There are warm and cool versions of colors plus a few greyed colors, black and white. By layering these colors you have a very good selection. You can use the white and black to adjust the value of your colors if needed. Working with a limited palette is a great exercise. You will discover that you really can paint with just a few pastels!
- The box! I am not one who usually like to leave my pastels in the original box but this set is packaged so well and so compact that it is a great box to take on the go. The box has a lid plus another cardboard sleeve to slide over the box for extra security.
- Clean, good variety and portability make these pastels an excellent choice for throwing into a bag with some paper for painting anywhere you go. I am planning to do a demo with just this set to give you an idea what you can do.
Mini original pastels make great Holiday gifts. They are available for $15 each or 2 for $25 by check or Paypal. Email me kemstudios@yahoo.com if interested.
Tips for Using A Limited Pastel Palette
To contact us Click HERE
You really can paint just about anything with a limited palette! In my post yesterday I shared a recommendation for a pastel set that is great for travel or painting on the go. I talked about the benefits of this little set of pastels. You can read my post HERE
Now I'd like to share some tips for using this limited collection of pastels. I always love a challenge so I decided to paint a few small pastels to see how well these pastels worked for me. I worked small on Uart paper 2.5 x 3.5 inches. I was looking at three of my recent oil paintings for inspiration. Overall I am pleased with the flexibility of this set. Here are some tips:
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| 'Autumn Splendour' 2.5x 3.5 pastel available for $18 with shipping click here |
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| 'Nantucket Dunes' 2.5x3.5 pastel |
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| 'Crossing the Meadow' 2.5 x 3.5 pastel |
You really can paint just about anything with a limited palette! In my post yesterday I shared a recommendation for a pastel set that is great for travel or painting on the go. I talked about the benefits of this little set of pastels. You can read my post HERE
Now I'd like to share some tips for using this limited collection of pastels. I always love a challenge so I decided to paint a few small pastels to see how well these pastels worked for me. I worked small on Uart paper 2.5 x 3.5 inches. I was looking at three of my recent oil paintings for inspiration. Overall I am pleased with the flexibility of this set. Here are some tips:
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| Using the Holbein Stephanie Birdsall set of Pastels |
- You are not limited to the colors of the actual sticks of pastels. You can layer and blend them to make new colors. It works best if you put down the darkest colors first. You need to use a light touch.
- Think of the sticks of color like tubes of paint. If you have experience mixing paint just think of what colors you need to mix to get the color you want. For example if you want a blue-green for distant foliage, you won't find it in this set but all you need to do is put down a blue and layer some green. The two will optically blend to produce the Blue-green.
- Be careful not to over-blend. This leads to muddy color. A quick light layer is best. Allowing the color underneath to show will produce a cleaner color that will be optically blended. The viewer's eye will see the new color.
- Be careful when blending complements. They will neutralize one another and produce a gray. This is great for making grayed colors if you need one.
- Make use of the white and black pastels to change the value or how light or dark your colors are. For example. I wanted a pale pink sky but the only pink in the set was a saturated bright pink. I put down this pink and altered it by adding yellow. It was still too dark so I layered some white to make the pale pink I wanted. I did the same thing with black to make my green a darker value.
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| Sample Color Mixtures |
27 Kasım 2012 Salı
March 19, 2012: Ed Madden's MFA poetry workshop at USC
To contact us Click HERE
Tomorrow Bryan Penberthy and I will be guest teachers in Ed Madden's MFA poetry workshop at the University of South Carolina. We're both looking forward to the experience, meeting with the students while Ed is away in Ireland. We'll read a few poems, talk about our writing process and publication experience, and teach a brief mini-lesson. My mini-lesson will be on "The Usefulness of Silence in a Poem."
Finalists for the Cider Press Review Editor's Prize
To contact us Click HERE
For the inaugural Cider Press Review Editor's Prize, eight finalists were selected in August from the hundreds of manuscripts submitted. Here is the list, alphabetically, and I'm pleased that my manuscript My Dear, Dear Stagger Grass was included:
After Jay
The Green Cup
My Dear, Dear Stagger Grass
On the Desire to Levitate
Planetary Nights
The Principle of Flickering
Significant Others
Snow White, When No One Was Looking
I'm grateful, too, that my manuscript has been a finalist in several other book contests during the three years that I've circulated it. During that time it has also been a semifinalist for The Washington Prize (Word Works) and the Elixir Press Antivenom Poetry Award, as well as a finalist for these:
The National Poetry Series
Prairie Schooner Prize in Poetry
Robert Dana-Anhinga Prize for Poetry
Cider Press Book Award
Circulating a manuscript is hard work, and I want to thank these presses/contests for their encouragement along the way.
After Jay
The Green Cup
My Dear, Dear Stagger Grass
On the Desire to Levitate
Planetary Nights
The Principle of Flickering
Significant Others
Snow White, When No One Was Looking
I'm grateful, too, that my manuscript has been a finalist in several other book contests during the three years that I've circulated it. During that time it has also been a semifinalist for The Washington Prize (Word Works) and the Elixir Press Antivenom Poetry Award, as well as a finalist for these:
The National Poetry Series
Prairie Schooner Prize in Poetry
Robert Dana-Anhinga Prize for Poetry
Cider Press Book Award
Circulating a manuscript is hard work, and I want to thank these presses/contests for their encouragement along the way.
Cider Press Review Editor's Prize
To contact us Click HERE
I'm pleased to announce--no, actually I'm ecstatic--that my manuscript "My Dear, Dear Stagger Grass" will be published by Cider Press Review after winning their inaugural Editor's Prize. The day that Ruth Foley, managing editor of the press, called me with the news I was speechless, stunned with joy. And I'm still celebrating.
Congratulations, too, to the runner-up and honorable mentions:
Runner-Up:
Snow White, When No One Was Looking, Donna Prinzmetal
Honorable Mentions:
The Green Cup, V. P. Loggins
The Principle of Flickering, Laura Donnelly
Planetary Nights, Jeanne J. LeVasseur
My Dear, Dear Stagger Grass will be released in the fall of 2013.
I've followed the recent history of the press and admire so much the work that they're doing, the authors that they are publishing. I had the pleasure of hearing Landon Godfrey, author of Second-Skin Rhinestone-Spangled Nude Souffle Choffon Gown, read last fall; I've enjoyed reading Liz Robbins's Play Button; and I fell for the poetry of Joseph Fasano, author of Fugue for Other Hands, when he won the Rattle Poetry Prize a few years ago. Landon, Liz, and Joseph are all past winners of the Cider Press Book Award.
If you're not familiar with this press, please do check it out:
Cider Press Review website
Congratulations, too, to the runner-up and honorable mentions:
Runner-Up:
Snow White, When No One Was Looking, Donna Prinzmetal
Honorable Mentions:
The Green Cup, V. P. Loggins
The Principle of Flickering, Laura Donnelly
Planetary Nights, Jeanne J. LeVasseur
My Dear, Dear Stagger Grass will be released in the fall of 2013.
I've followed the recent history of the press and admire so much the work that they're doing, the authors that they are publishing. I had the pleasure of hearing Landon Godfrey, author of Second-Skin Rhinestone-Spangled Nude Souffle Choffon Gown, read last fall; I've enjoyed reading Liz Robbins's Play Button; and I fell for the poetry of Joseph Fasano, author of Fugue for Other Hands, when he won the Rattle Poetry Prize a few years ago. Landon, Liz, and Joseph are all past winners of the Cider Press Book Award.
If you're not familiar with this press, please do check it out:
Cider Press Review website
Mark Smith-Soto has won this year's James Applewhite Poetry Prize
To contact us Click HERE
Congratulations to Mark Smith-Soto, winner of the 2012 James Applewhite Poetry Prize for his poem "Last Retreat to Topsail Beach." The winning poem and those of the finalists will be published in the North Carolina Literary Review (NCLR). Mark's poem was selected by poet James Applewhite from the work of six finalists chosen by NCLR Poetry Editor Jeffrey Franklin. Almost fifty poets submitted to the competition.
Here are the finalists:
Here are the finalists:
- 2nd place: Laurence G. Avery’s poem “Only Yonaguska”
- Honorable mention: Grace Cloris Ocasio’s “Little Girlfriend”
- Other finalists:
- Richard Betz’s “Picking Blackberries on Yellow Mountain Road”
- Samantha Lee Deal’s “North Carolina, This Will Be The Last Poem”
- Susan Laughter Meyers’s “Banding Hummingbirds” and “Beggar’s-Lice”
2013 Poet's Market
To contact us Click HERE
At the end of last May, editor Robert Lee Brewer put out a call for submissions of unpublished poems, with plans to select 20 and publish them in the 2013 Poet's Market. In the fall he announced the 20 poems selected, and my poem "Wind Chimes, Minus the Wind" was one of them. How exciting for me to have a poem published in Poet's Market! Thank you, Robert Lee Brewer.
Here's a list of the 20 poets and their poem titles. Congratulations to all the other poets:
Here's a list of the 20 poets and their poem titles. Congratulations to all the other poets:
- Kelli Russell Agodon, "On Some Other Planet We're Newlyweds"
- Nin Andres, "Ghosts"
- Pris Campbell, "Sackcloth"
- Jessie Carty, "The Painter's Pantoum"
- Sage Cohen, "Dear Fritz Guest House"
- Iris Jamahl Dunkle, "Photography Lesson, Pt. Reyes"
- Terri Kirby Erickson, "At the Bowling Alley"
- Patricia Fargnoli, "When I Re-Read His Letters"
- Jen Karetnick, "Arrival: A Love Villanelle for Haiti"
- Jeffrey H. MacLachlan, "Sea Ghost, Fire of the Sea"
- Susan Laughter Meyers, "Wind Chimes, Minus the Wind"
- Heather M. Moore Niver, "Flinging the Unsaid into the Surf or Seeing You Again . . . "
- Shann Palmer, "Occluded"
- Nancy Posey, "Follow the Leader"
- Nate Pritts, "Frost at Midmorning"
- Karen Rigby, "Echolocation"
- Rebecca Givens Rolland,
- Linda Simoni-Wastila, "Greetings from Motel 6"
- Kelli Simpson, "Hands to"
- Joannie Stangeland, "As a Beginning"
26 Kasım 2012 Pazartesi
GEAR | Scout Regalia Bicycle
To contact us Click HERE
I felt like Fran Drescher when I saw this bike today because at first glance I slowly, and with increasing volume, said: Oh. MY. GAWD. And because I have a little cold, it was kind of nasaly too. Is this not one of the best looking bikes you've ever seen!?
The Scout Regalia Bicycle ($3900, pre-orders being taken for Spring 2013 delivery) takes its cues from three distinct bicycle typologies: a mixte bike (which we've discussed on this blog before), English-Dutch town bike, and a mountain bike. It's designed by the Echo Park (Los Angeles)-based design studio, Scout Regalia, and made in the U.S.A.
Because I don't have 4000 clams to spend on a bike, I may get my Scout Regalia fix in December—they make Gingerbread Geodesic Dome kits ($25) for all your edible holiday architectural needs. Bikes, gingerbread domes...this company gets me.
I felt like Fran Drescher when I saw this bike today because at first glance I slowly, and with increasing volume, said: Oh. MY. GAWD. And because I have a little cold, it was kind of nasaly too. Is this not one of the best looking bikes you've ever seen!?
The Scout Regalia Bicycle ($3900, pre-orders being taken for Spring 2013 delivery) takes its cues from three distinct bicycle typologies: a mixte bike (which we've discussed on this blog before), English-Dutch town bike, and a mountain bike. It's designed by the Echo Park (Los Angeles)-based design studio, Scout Regalia, and made in the U.S.A.
Because I don't have 4000 clams to spend on a bike, I may get my Scout Regalia fix in December—they make Gingerbread Geodesic Dome kits ($25) for all your edible holiday architectural needs. Bikes, gingerbread domes...this company gets me.
SCENE | Thalia Surf Shop
To contact us Click HERE
There's something about a surf shop. It's the smell mostly. Surf wax. Mmmm. I went down to Laguna Beach last week to check out Thalia Surf Shop, a place I'd been before, but not for years. My main goal was to take a closer look at Seea rash guards (more on them soon), which are great. But beyond the rash guards, I was totally taken by Thalia's edit of surf apparel. They carry Vans OTW Collection (only for men, but I still found a few pieces that could easily end up in my closet), Herschel Supply Co., Brixton and Poler Camping Stuff to name just a few cool lines. In the age of conglomerate surf brands, this little shop definitely holds their own—just wish there was more there for girls.
There's something about a surf shop. It's the smell mostly. Surf wax. Mmmm. I went down to Laguna Beach last week to check out Thalia Surf Shop, a place I'd been before, but not for years. My main goal was to take a closer look at Seea rash guards (more on them soon), which are great. But beyond the rash guards, I was totally taken by Thalia's edit of surf apparel. They carry Vans OTW Collection (only for men, but I still found a few pieces that could easily end up in my closet), Herschel Supply Co., Brixton and Poler Camping Stuff to name just a few cool lines. In the age of conglomerate surf brands, this little shop definitely holds their own—just wish there was more there for girls.
GIFT GUIDE | Part I
To contact us Click HERE
Part I: Christmas Oranges.
Clockwise from top left: GRACE by Grace Coddington ($35); Sid Mashburn African Beads ($35); Morgan Parish Moors pouch in tangerine ($160); The Hillside & Co. selvedge floral indigo discharge print belt ($55); Yu-Be skin cream ($16); Dream Collective Astrid cuff ($172); Old Fashioned Orange Marmalade ($12); Hermes "Arcs en Ciel" jersey silk scarf ($620); Johnston's cashmere fingerless gloves ($48); Hand-painted ornament ($8); Leather password book ($42); The Duffaluffagus ($90).
Four more on the way, and if you want to see last year's gift guides click here.
Part I: Christmas Oranges.
Clockwise from top left: GRACE by Grace Coddington ($35); Sid Mashburn African Beads ($35); Morgan Parish Moors pouch in tangerine ($160); The Hillside & Co. selvedge floral indigo discharge print belt ($55); Yu-Be skin cream ($16); Dream Collective Astrid cuff ($172); Old Fashioned Orange Marmalade ($12); Hermes "Arcs en Ciel" jersey silk scarf ($620); Johnston's cashmere fingerless gloves ($48); Hand-painted ornament ($8); Leather password book ($42); The Duffaluffagus ($90).
Four more on the way, and if you want to see last year's gift guides click here.
GIFT GUIDE | Part II
To contact us Click HERE
Part II: Rome for the Holidays.
Clockwise from top left: Persol Capri polarized sunglasses ($360); Chance boatneck shirt ($68); Il Bisonte green canvas convertible tote bag ($308); Piombo knit stripe scarf ($385) or similar striped scarf ($69); Frescobaldi Laudemio Extra Virgin Olive Oil ($28); Il Bisonte three piece key ring ($60); 1963 Alfa Romeo 2600 ($49,500); Porcelain espresso cups ($65 each); Florentine Rose Water ($12); Pasta Machine ($110).
Part II: Rome for the Holidays.
Clockwise from top left: Persol Capri polarized sunglasses ($360); Chance boatneck shirt ($68); Il Bisonte green canvas convertible tote bag ($308); Piombo knit stripe scarf ($385) or similar striped scarf ($69); Frescobaldi Laudemio Extra Virgin Olive Oil ($28); Il Bisonte three piece key ring ($60); 1963 Alfa Romeo 2600 ($49,500); Porcelain espresso cups ($65 each); Florentine Rose Water ($12); Pasta Machine ($110).
GIFT GUIDE | Part III
To contact us Click HERE
Part III: Go Tell It on the Mountain.
Clockwise from top left: Wool and salmon skin house shoes ($59); Pendleton "Fire on the Mountain" blanket ($220) or oversized towel ($48); Handmade copper flask ($124); Loren Stewart 14k yellow gold arrowhead stud earrings ($245); Paine's cedar incense ($9); Magnesium fire starter ($36); Classic enamel mug ($18 each); Sunpocket Sport glasses ($75) and neon glasses retainer ($5); Topo x Mrs. P Hicks clutch ($69).
Part III: Go Tell It on the Mountain.
Clockwise from top left: Wool and salmon skin house shoes ($59); Pendleton "Fire on the Mountain" blanket ($220) or oversized towel ($48); Handmade copper flask ($124); Loren Stewart 14k yellow gold arrowhead stud earrings ($245); Paine's cedar incense ($9); Magnesium fire starter ($36); Classic enamel mug ($18 each); Sunpocket Sport glasses ($75) and neon glasses retainer ($5); Topo x Mrs. P Hicks clutch ($69).
25 Kasım 2012 Pazar
March 19, 2012: Ed Madden's MFA poetry workshop at USC
To contact us Click HERE
Tomorrow Bryan Penberthy and I will be guest teachers in Ed Madden's MFA poetry workshop at the University of South Carolina. We're both looking forward to the experience, meeting with the students while Ed is away in Ireland. We'll read a few poems, talk about our writing process and publication experience, and teach a brief mini-lesson. My mini-lesson will be on "The Usefulness of Silence in a Poem."
Finalists for the Cider Press Review Editor's Prize
To contact us Click HERE
For the inaugural Cider Press Review Editor's Prize, eight finalists were selected in August from the hundreds of manuscripts submitted. Here is the list, alphabetically, and I'm pleased that my manuscript My Dear, Dear Stagger Grass was included:
After Jay
The Green Cup
My Dear, Dear Stagger Grass
On the Desire to Levitate
Planetary Nights
The Principle of Flickering
Significant Others
Snow White, When No One Was Looking
I'm grateful, too, that my manuscript has been a finalist in several other book contests during the three years that I've circulated it. During that time it has also been a semifinalist for The Washington Prize (Word Works) and the Elixir Press Antivenom Poetry Award, as well as a finalist for these:
The National Poetry Series
Prairie Schooner Prize in Poetry
Robert Dana-Anhinga Prize for Poetry
Cider Press Book Award
Circulating a manuscript is hard work, and I want to thank these presses/contests for their encouragement along the way.
After Jay
The Green Cup
My Dear, Dear Stagger Grass
On the Desire to Levitate
Planetary Nights
The Principle of Flickering
Significant Others
Snow White, When No One Was Looking
I'm grateful, too, that my manuscript has been a finalist in several other book contests during the three years that I've circulated it. During that time it has also been a semifinalist for The Washington Prize (Word Works) and the Elixir Press Antivenom Poetry Award, as well as a finalist for these:
The National Poetry Series
Prairie Schooner Prize in Poetry
Robert Dana-Anhinga Prize for Poetry
Cider Press Book Award
Circulating a manuscript is hard work, and I want to thank these presses/contests for their encouragement along the way.
Cider Press Review Editor's Prize
To contact us Click HERE
I'm pleased to announce--no, actually I'm ecstatic--that my manuscript "My Dear, Dear Stagger Grass" will be published by Cider Press Review after winning their inaugural Editor's Prize. The day that Ruth Foley, managing editor of the press, called me with the news I was speechless, stunned with joy. And I'm still celebrating.
Congratulations, too, to the runner-up and honorable mentions:
Runner-Up:
Snow White, When No One Was Looking, Donna Prinzmetal
Honorable Mentions:
The Green Cup, V. P. Loggins
The Principle of Flickering, Laura Donnelly
Planetary Nights, Jeanne J. LeVasseur
My Dear, Dear Stagger Grass will be released in the fall of 2013.
I've followed the recent history of the press and admire so much the work that they're doing, the authors that they are publishing. I had the pleasure of hearing Landon Godfrey, author of Second-Skin Rhinestone-Spangled Nude Souffle Choffon Gown, read last fall; I've enjoyed reading Liz Robbins's Play Button; and I fell for the poetry of Joseph Fasano, author of Fugue for Other Hands, when he won the Rattle Poetry Prize a few years ago. Landon, Liz, and Joseph are all past winners of the Cider Press Book Award.
If you're not familiar with this press, please do check it out:
Cider Press Review website
Congratulations, too, to the runner-up and honorable mentions:
Runner-Up:
Snow White, When No One Was Looking, Donna Prinzmetal
Honorable Mentions:
The Green Cup, V. P. Loggins
The Principle of Flickering, Laura Donnelly
Planetary Nights, Jeanne J. LeVasseur
My Dear, Dear Stagger Grass will be released in the fall of 2013.
I've followed the recent history of the press and admire so much the work that they're doing, the authors that they are publishing. I had the pleasure of hearing Landon Godfrey, author of Second-Skin Rhinestone-Spangled Nude Souffle Choffon Gown, read last fall; I've enjoyed reading Liz Robbins's Play Button; and I fell for the poetry of Joseph Fasano, author of Fugue for Other Hands, when he won the Rattle Poetry Prize a few years ago. Landon, Liz, and Joseph are all past winners of the Cider Press Book Award.
If you're not familiar with this press, please do check it out:
Cider Press Review website
Mark Smith-Soto has won this year's James Applewhite Poetry Prize
To contact us Click HERE
Congratulations to Mark Smith-Soto, winner of the 2012 James Applewhite Poetry Prize for his poem "Last Retreat to Topsail Beach." The winning poem and those of the finalists will be published in the North Carolina Literary Review (NCLR). Mark's poem was selected by poet James Applewhite from the work of six finalists chosen by NCLR Poetry Editor Jeffrey Franklin. Almost fifty poets submitted to the competition.
Here are the finalists:
Here are the finalists:
- 2nd place: Laurence G. Avery’s poem “Only Yonaguska”
- Honorable mention: Grace Cloris Ocasio’s “Little Girlfriend”
- Other finalists:
- Richard Betz’s “Picking Blackberries on Yellow Mountain Road”
- Samantha Lee Deal’s “North Carolina, This Will Be The Last Poem”
- Susan Laughter Meyers’s “Banding Hummingbirds” and “Beggar’s-Lice”
2013 Poet's Market
To contact us Click HERE
At the end of last May, editor Robert Lee Brewer put out a call for submissions of unpublished poems, with plans to select 20 and publish them in the 2013 Poet's Market. In the fall he announced the 20 poems selected, and my poem "Wind Chimes, Minus the Wind" was one of them. How exciting for me to have a poem published in Poet's Market! Thank you, Robert Lee Brewer.
Here's a list of the 20 poets and their poem titles. Congratulations to all the other poets:
Here's a list of the 20 poets and their poem titles. Congratulations to all the other poets:
- Kelli Russell Agodon, "On Some Other Planet We're Newlyweds"
- Nin Andres, "Ghosts"
- Pris Campbell, "Sackcloth"
- Jessie Carty, "The Painter's Pantoum"
- Sage Cohen, "Dear Fritz Guest House"
- Iris Jamahl Dunkle, "Photography Lesson, Pt. Reyes"
- Terri Kirby Erickson, "At the Bowling Alley"
- Patricia Fargnoli, "When I Re-Read His Letters"
- Jen Karetnick, "Arrival: A Love Villanelle for Haiti"
- Jeffrey H. MacLachlan, "Sea Ghost, Fire of the Sea"
- Susan Laughter Meyers, "Wind Chimes, Minus the Wind"
- Heather M. Moore Niver, "Flinging the Unsaid into the Surf or Seeing You Again . . . "
- Shann Palmer, "Occluded"
- Nancy Posey, "Follow the Leader"
- Nate Pritts, "Frost at Midmorning"
- Karen Rigby, "Echolocation"
- Rebecca Givens Rolland,
- Linda Simoni-Wastila, "Greetings from Motel 6"
- Kelli Simpson, "Hands to"
- Joannie Stangeland, "As a Beginning"
24 Kasım 2012 Cumartesi
Finalists for the Cider Press Review Editor's Prize
To contact us Click HERE
For the inaugural Cider Press Review Editor's Prize, eight finalists were selected in August from the hundreds of manuscripts submitted. Here is the list, alphabetically, and I'm pleased that my manuscript My Dear, Dear Stagger Grass was included:
After Jay
The Green Cup
My Dear, Dear Stagger Grass
On the Desire to Levitate
Planetary Nights
The Principle of Flickering
Significant Others
Snow White, When No One Was Looking
I'm grateful, too, that my manuscript has been a finalist in several other book contests during the three years that I've circulated it. During that time it has also been a semifinalist for The Washington Prize (Word Works) and the Elixir Press Antivenom Poetry Award, as well as a finalist for these:
The National Poetry Series
Prairie Schooner Prize in Poetry
Robert Dana-Anhinga Prize for Poetry
Cider Press Book Award
Circulating a manuscript is hard work, and I want to thank these presses/contests for their encouragement along the way.
After Jay
The Green Cup
My Dear, Dear Stagger Grass
On the Desire to Levitate
Planetary Nights
The Principle of Flickering
Significant Others
Snow White, When No One Was Looking
I'm grateful, too, that my manuscript has been a finalist in several other book contests during the three years that I've circulated it. During that time it has also been a semifinalist for The Washington Prize (Word Works) and the Elixir Press Antivenom Poetry Award, as well as a finalist for these:
The National Poetry Series
Prairie Schooner Prize in Poetry
Robert Dana-Anhinga Prize for Poetry
Cider Press Book Award
Circulating a manuscript is hard work, and I want to thank these presses/contests for their encouragement along the way.
Cider Press Review Editor's Prize
To contact us Click HERE
I'm pleased to announce--no, actually I'm ecstatic--that my manuscript "My Dear, Dear Stagger Grass" will be published by Cider Press Review after winning their inaugural Editor's Prize. The day that Ruth Foley, managing editor of the press, called me with the news I was speechless, stunned with joy. And I'm still celebrating.
Congratulations, too, to the runner-up and honorable mentions:
Runner-Up:
Snow White, When No One Was Looking, Donna Prinzmetal
Honorable Mentions:
The Green Cup, V. P. Loggins
The Principle of Flickering, Laura Donnelly
Planetary Nights, Jeanne J. LeVasseur
My Dear, Dear Stagger Grass will be released in the fall of 2013.
I've followed the recent history of the press and admire so much the work that they're doing, the authors that they are publishing. I had the pleasure of hearing Landon Godfrey, author of Second-Skin Rhinestone-Spangled Nude Souffle Choffon Gown, read last fall; I've enjoyed reading Liz Robbins's Play Button; and I fell for the poetry of Joseph Fasano, author of Fugue for Other Hands, when he won the Rattle Poetry Prize a few years ago. Landon, Liz, and Joseph are all past winners of the Cider Press Book Award.
If you're not familiar with this press, please do check it out:
Cider Press Review website
Congratulations, too, to the runner-up and honorable mentions:
Runner-Up:
Snow White, When No One Was Looking, Donna Prinzmetal
Honorable Mentions:
The Green Cup, V. P. Loggins
The Principle of Flickering, Laura Donnelly
Planetary Nights, Jeanne J. LeVasseur
My Dear, Dear Stagger Grass will be released in the fall of 2013.
I've followed the recent history of the press and admire so much the work that they're doing, the authors that they are publishing. I had the pleasure of hearing Landon Godfrey, author of Second-Skin Rhinestone-Spangled Nude Souffle Choffon Gown, read last fall; I've enjoyed reading Liz Robbins's Play Button; and I fell for the poetry of Joseph Fasano, author of Fugue for Other Hands, when he won the Rattle Poetry Prize a few years ago. Landon, Liz, and Joseph are all past winners of the Cider Press Book Award.
If you're not familiar with this press, please do check it out:
Cider Press Review website
Mark Smith-Soto has won this year's James Applewhite Poetry Prize
To contact us Click HERE
Congratulations to Mark Smith-Soto, winner of the 2012 James Applewhite Poetry Prize for his poem "Last Retreat to Topsail Beach." The winning poem and those of the finalists will be published in the North Carolina Literary Review (NCLR). Mark's poem was selected by poet James Applewhite from the work of six finalists chosen by NCLR Poetry Editor Jeffrey Franklin. Almost fifty poets submitted to the competition.
Here are the finalists:
Here are the finalists:
- 2nd place: Laurence G. Avery’s poem “Only Yonaguska”
- Honorable mention: Grace Cloris Ocasio’s “Little Girlfriend”
- Other finalists:
- Richard Betz’s “Picking Blackberries on Yellow Mountain Road”
- Samantha Lee Deal’s “North Carolina, This Will Be The Last Poem”
- Susan Laughter Meyers’s “Banding Hummingbirds” and “Beggar’s-Lice”
2013 Poet's Market
To contact us Click HERE
At the end of last May, editor Robert Lee Brewer put out a call for submissions of unpublished poems, with plans to select 20 and publish them in the 2013 Poet's Market. In the fall he announced the 20 poems selected, and my poem "Wind Chimes, Minus the Wind" was one of them. How exciting for me to have a poem published in Poet's Market! Thank you, Robert Lee Brewer.
Here's a list of the 20 poets and their poem titles. Congratulations to all the other poets:
Here's a list of the 20 poets and their poem titles. Congratulations to all the other poets:
- Kelli Russell Agodon, "On Some Other Planet We're Newlyweds"
- Nin Andres, "Ghosts"
- Pris Campbell, "Sackcloth"
- Jessie Carty, "The Painter's Pantoum"
- Sage Cohen, "Dear Fritz Guest House"
- Iris Jamahl Dunkle, "Photography Lesson, Pt. Reyes"
- Terri Kirby Erickson, "At the Bowling Alley"
- Patricia Fargnoli, "When I Re-Read His Letters"
- Jen Karetnick, "Arrival: A Love Villanelle for Haiti"
- Jeffrey H. MacLachlan, "Sea Ghost, Fire of the Sea"
- Susan Laughter Meyers, "Wind Chimes, Minus the Wind"
- Heather M. Moore Niver, "Flinging the Unsaid into the Surf or Seeing You Again . . . "
- Shann Palmer, "Occluded"
- Nancy Posey, "Follow the Leader"
- Nate Pritts, "Frost at Midmorning"
- Karen Rigby, "Echolocation"
- Rebecca Givens Rolland,
- Linda Simoni-Wastila, "Greetings from Motel 6"
- Kelli Simpson, "Hands to"
- Joannie Stangeland, "As a Beginning"
Saturday, November 17: Poets reading at art exhibit & sale
To contact us Click HERE
How I enjoyed reading with fellow poets Susan Finch Stevens, Linda Annas Ferguson, Ann Herlong-Bodman, Rick Pfann, Debbie Scott, and Marjory Wentworth last Saturday from 5 to 6 p.m. We read at the Some of Us art showing at the home of artist Peggy Howe in Mt. Pleasant. I forget sometimes how stimulating it is to be in the midst of a mix of the arts--paintings, ceramics, textiles, jewelry. And what an inspiring setting we were in, overlooking the marsh. Thanks to Peggy Howe and her artist friends for including us!
23 Kasım 2012 Cuma
UNIFORM | James Jeans
To contact us Click HERE
Lately I've been getting a bunch of emails about denim. I haven't posted much about jeans because I always feel like it's so much based on personal fit that my two cents might not be helpful. I can tell you there are a lot of great brands out there that I love: J.Brand, Current/Elliott, Levi's and James Jeans. Being that L.A. is the premium denim capital of the country, I thought I'd try and dig a little deeper. Today I visited the downtown design studio and factory of James Jeans, possibly the most under-the-radar of the brands I listed above. I specifically remember the first time I heard about James Jeans in college during the era when the premium denim market was starting to explode with brands like Earl Jean (R.I.P.) and Seven. James Jeans, like many companies that produce a really well-made product, doesn't need a massive marketing machine, their product is their PR.
For the past eight years James Jeans has stuck to its core of striving to be the best fitting top-notch premium denim on the market. They don't go for fast trends (ahem...True Religion), they just stick to what they know: a good fit and good craftsmanship. What I learned today though is that James Jeans is one of the only denim brands that hand-cuts their fits, their sizing is not done on a computer and then increased incrementally and mathematically from the model size, it's based on real bodies and I think it shows. So when it comes to recommending denim, this is one that I can say will likely fit you well, feel good, and look good.
I sat down with James Chung, the label's CEO, and his wife Seun Lim, the creative director, and asked who their idea of the James Jean woman is. They said, "She's not a fashion follower, she is self-confident and owns her own style." I can certainly get on board with that. James Jeans is also proud to make their jeans here in the USA. My picks from their latest collection:
Twiggy in Shadow Blue ($123); Twiggy in Sienna ($158); Jagger in Shadow with studs ($198).
As a super-generous offer to Tomboy Style readers James Jeans is offering a 25% off discount through 12/31/2012. Use the code: JJ010 when checking out online.
Lately I've been getting a bunch of emails about denim. I haven't posted much about jeans because I always feel like it's so much based on personal fit that my two cents might not be helpful. I can tell you there are a lot of great brands out there that I love: J.Brand, Current/Elliott, Levi's and James Jeans. Being that L.A. is the premium denim capital of the country, I thought I'd try and dig a little deeper. Today I visited the downtown design studio and factory of James Jeans, possibly the most under-the-radar of the brands I listed above. I specifically remember the first time I heard about James Jeans in college during the era when the premium denim market was starting to explode with brands like Earl Jean (R.I.P.) and Seven. James Jeans, like many companies that produce a really well-made product, doesn't need a massive marketing machine, their product is their PR.
For the past eight years James Jeans has stuck to its core of striving to be the best fitting top-notch premium denim on the market. They don't go for fast trends (ahem...True Religion), they just stick to what they know: a good fit and good craftsmanship. What I learned today though is that James Jeans is one of the only denim brands that hand-cuts their fits, their sizing is not done on a computer and then increased incrementally and mathematically from the model size, it's based on real bodies and I think it shows. So when it comes to recommending denim, this is one that I can say will likely fit you well, feel good, and look good.
I sat down with James Chung, the label's CEO, and his wife Seun Lim, the creative director, and asked who their idea of the James Jean woman is. They said, "She's not a fashion follower, she is self-confident and owns her own style." I can certainly get on board with that. James Jeans is also proud to make their jeans here in the USA. My picks from their latest collection:
Twiggy in Shadow Blue ($123); Twiggy in Sienna ($158); Jagger in Shadow with studs ($198).As a super-generous offer to Tomboy Style readers James Jeans is offering a 25% off discount through 12/31/2012. Use the code: JJ010 when checking out online.
Q&A | Aisha Muharrar
To contact us Click HERE
I'm not exactly clear on how I first met Parks and Rec writer and co-producer Aisha Muharrar, but I think it had something to do with Twitter and our mutual love for Molly Ringwald. Turns out we live just a few blocks apart so we can frequently discuss things of great importance in-person, like the best local restaurants that also serve up free wifi, cheap foot massage places, and what is happening between couples on TV shows. I usually also ask 100 questions about Parks and Rec (more specifically Ron Swanson). But today we unplugged a little and took a stroll through Griffith Park, where she told me just how important our parks really are (and that Nick Offerman really does know how to build a canoe by hand).
If not in Los Angeles, I would live in...London. For a while now, I've had a fantasy of moving to London, becoming an editor of a British magazine, and marrying a barrister.
My dream holiday would be to...New Zealand and Australia.
My current obsessions are...
Food: Scones.
Music: The Lumineers. I just went to their concert at The Fonda and they were fantastic. The cellist Neyla Pekarek is my new hero.
Fashion: MiH jeans.
Retail Store: Library in Larchmont Village.
The fictional characters I most relate to are...Identifying with fictional characters is one of my favorite hobbies. As a kid, it would have been Harriet the Spy. Then later Alice from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Emma from Jane Austen's Emma, Lisa Simpson, Diane Court from Say Anything, and probably also Lloyd Dobbler from Say Anything. And I obviously identify with Leslie Knope. Like any reasonable woman, I love waffles and Ben Wyatt.
If I had to be outdoors all day I would...head to the beach.
My favorite quality in a man is...compassion.
My favorite quality in a woman is...honesty.
My cocktail of choice is...a whiskey ginger.
The beauty product of choice is...Burt's Bees Honey & Shea body butter.
I channel my childhood self when I...go to a library or bookstore.
I'm terrified of...spoilers.
My dream car is...Cher's Jeep in Clueless. It's got 4-wheel drive, dual side airbags, and a monster sound system!
My celebrity crush is...Joseph Gordon-Levitt. I thought he was cute when I was a kid and Angels in the Outfield came out. And he still holds up.
My friends and I like to...make watching a television show a major social event.
If I could go back in time for one decade it would be...The 1940s so I could befriend Katharine Hepburn.
As a teenager I was totally into...daytime soaps. It started out as a way to bond with my grandmothers, and then I genuinely got into them.
I tend to splurge on...birthday presents. I love picking out presents for people.
My mom...is what makes me have Tomboy Style. She has an effortless feminist quality that I admire.I can't remember her ever saying, "girls can do anything boys can do." She just led by example and as a result, I never hesitated jumping into any situation that was mostly guys, whether it was comedy or anything else.
I'm not exactly clear on how I first met Parks and Rec writer and co-producer Aisha Muharrar, but I think it had something to do with Twitter and our mutual love for Molly Ringwald. Turns out we live just a few blocks apart so we can frequently discuss things of great importance in-person, like the best local restaurants that also serve up free wifi, cheap foot massage places, and what is happening between couples on TV shows. I usually also ask 100 questions about Parks and Rec (more specifically Ron Swanson). But today we unplugged a little and took a stroll through Griffith Park, where she told me just how important our parks really are (and that Nick Offerman really does know how to build a canoe by hand).
If not in Los Angeles, I would live in...London. For a while now, I've had a fantasy of moving to London, becoming an editor of a British magazine, and marrying a barrister.
My dream holiday would be to...New Zealand and Australia.
My current obsessions are...
Food: Scones.
Music: The Lumineers. I just went to their concert at The Fonda and they were fantastic. The cellist Neyla Pekarek is my new hero.
Fashion: MiH jeans.
Retail Store: Library in Larchmont Village.
The fictional characters I most relate to are...Identifying with fictional characters is one of my favorite hobbies. As a kid, it would have been Harriet the Spy. Then later Alice from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Emma from Jane Austen's Emma, Lisa Simpson, Diane Court from Say Anything, and probably also Lloyd Dobbler from Say Anything. And I obviously identify with Leslie Knope. Like any reasonable woman, I love waffles and Ben Wyatt.
If I had to be outdoors all day I would...head to the beach.
My favorite quality in a man is...compassion.
My favorite quality in a woman is...honesty.
My cocktail of choice is...a whiskey ginger.
The beauty product of choice is...Burt's Bees Honey & Shea body butter.
I channel my childhood self when I...go to a library or bookstore.
I'm terrified of...spoilers.
My dream car is...Cher's Jeep in Clueless. It's got 4-wheel drive, dual side airbags, and a monster sound system!
My celebrity crush is...Joseph Gordon-Levitt. I thought he was cute when I was a kid and Angels in the Outfield came out. And he still holds up.
My friends and I like to...make watching a television show a major social event.
If I could go back in time for one decade it would be...The 1940s so I could befriend Katharine Hepburn.
As a teenager I was totally into...daytime soaps. It started out as a way to bond with my grandmothers, and then I genuinely got into them.
I tend to splurge on...birthday presents. I love picking out presents for people.
My mom...is what makes me have Tomboy Style. She has an effortless feminist quality that I admire.I can't remember her ever saying, "girls can do anything boys can do." She just led by example and as a result, I never hesitated jumping into any situation that was mostly guys, whether it was comedy or anything else.
SCENE | NK Shop
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This may be just a little bit of a stretch for this blog, but when I love something I find it hard to not put it up here. The interior design firm Nickey Kehoe, founded by best friends Todd Nickey and Amy Kehoe, just relocated their studio and shop from Highland Ave. to Beverly Blvd. in Los Angeles.
I remember driving by a few weeks ago and almost getting in a car accident when I saw the new storefront. Inside was as much of a treat as what I saw from the road: rope bracelets, beaded necklaces, jewelry by Brvtvs, indigo dyed pillows, Paul McCobb chairs, faux taxidermy, dog beds, rugs, sconces, vintage lamps, door mats, glassware...and all of it, perfection.
If you make it in to NK Shop, you'll likely be greeted by the warm smile of Kyra Ackerman, the store's manager. She's super friendly and has great tomboy style (tuxedo shirt, rolled up jeans, black wingtips, purple laces, need I say more?). And I should know, I've been in three or four times since last Tuesday.
This may be just a little bit of a stretch for this blog, but when I love something I find it hard to not put it up here. The interior design firm Nickey Kehoe, founded by best friends Todd Nickey and Amy Kehoe, just relocated their studio and shop from Highland Ave. to Beverly Blvd. in Los Angeles.
I remember driving by a few weeks ago and almost getting in a car accident when I saw the new storefront. Inside was as much of a treat as what I saw from the road: rope bracelets, beaded necklaces, jewelry by Brvtvs, indigo dyed pillows, Paul McCobb chairs, faux taxidermy, dog beds, rugs, sconces, vintage lamps, door mats, glassware...and all of it, perfection.
If you make it in to NK Shop, you'll likely be greeted by the warm smile of Kyra Ackerman, the store's manager. She's super friendly and has great tomboy style (tuxedo shirt, rolled up jeans, black wingtips, purple laces, need I say more?). And I should know, I've been in three or four times since last Tuesday.
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