While walking along a windy street in the city yesterday I saw a man with a sign that read...
Everyone that walked by him ended up smiling, you couldn't help it. He was making comments like, "That's it, yes indeed, beautiful, beautiful!" How nice it would be to recieve smiles all day. He seems to have made a career out of being a "Professional Smilemaker". I wandered into a nearby bookstore with the smile still on my face. I'm sure it was there for at least an hour. Think what would happen if we had these people in every city around the world! If I see him again I will surely thank him for the gift. Such a simple thing.
My village was hit with a major blizzard two days ago, so I am surrounded by a sea of white. Perfect reading weather. I started reading "Love in the Time of Cholera" last night and find it hard to put down. Question for you: Why must we always let curiousity get the better of us? I have to admit to doing something that I usually FORBID myself to do...I peeked at the last page. I only saw one word, the last one. But I suspect this one word sums up the entire book. Now it is on my mind constantly. Curious? Read it and find out.
Also along the gift theme... I am always amazed at how great it feels to give a gift that you really love and feel passionate about. I'm speaking specifically about something created by a fellow artist. Just a reminder while there's still time, (don't give your money to a corporation), send it to someone who puts good energy out into the world on a daily basis! Here is my quick list (I know most of you are probably are aware of these people, but for those who aren't you're in for a treat). And it's good karma to boot!
Superhero Designs, to know her is to love her.
Ruckus Designs
Blissen, everthing handmade and good.
Pamela Barsky
Knock Knock
Ex Libris Anonymous
Frecklewonder
Posie, cute new skirts! She rocks my world.
Monster Factory, what else...monsters.
If'n Books + Marks
Sibling Rivalry
Loosetooth
Gallery at Girl at Play, if you hurry you might still be able to purchase one of the last existing prints of the Sublime Alex.
Creativity Explored
Super Fantastico
(I know there are more that will come to me in time.)
on another note:
A fun thing to do...Play the Barber of Seville while driving downtown in a large city. Pretend it's a soundtrack to what you are viewing.
(I did this yesterday and laughed my head off. The bike couriers take on a special tone of added urgency. Just picturing it again is causing me to giggle uncontrollably.)
great list! but one link is missing : the 9th exhibition -> http://www.9thexhibition.com
Wow, how have I never come across Knock Knock and Monster Factory before? Thanks for this great list!
Posted by: Tara on December 1, 2003 06:44 PMawww, thanks so much for linking my sister and I's site and sending holiday cheer our way.
I'm off to buy "Love in the Time of Cholera" tonight, I love a good book recommendation.
Thanks again Keri.
Posted by: amanda on November 20, 2003 09:12 AMKeri- I love the idea of buying something original from one of these artists! Thanks for the list. Can you also recommend links to buy holiday decor? Thanks!
Posted by: maia on November 19, 2003 06:17 PMthanks so much for linking to my site. i can't believe how many of your readers have popped over to see what i've got going on. thanks again. pamela
Posted by: pamela barsky on November 19, 2003 10:47 AMGosh, thanks for the link!
Speaking of smiles, I love other tiny on-the-street niceities (nicities?) like that. I live in Chicago and I get enough of those small, positive interactions to make me think humankind is generally good. Yesterday, I got a compliment about my new "pitch black" hair in a parking garage elevator. :) And I've lived in my 'hood long enough that the storeowners know me - a friendly nod from them makes me feel like I'm in the right place.
Posted by: Brandy on November 18, 2003 11:58 PM"Love in the time of Cholera." I read that a long time ago when I was in college. I often think of that book when I see the slivered soap in our shower. I don't know if you've gotten there yet, so I won't say anymore, I thought it was hilarious.
I don't know if I've ever commented, but I really enjoy your site and illustrations...just lovely.
Posted by: Elaine on November 17, 2003 08:30 PMYes it is indeed near Queen and John, as Robot Johnny mentioned, (for those of you living in Toronto.) He must have quite a following. A smile movement of sorts. Wouldn't it be cool if you could track the smiles and see how they continued or were passed on throughout the entire city?
Posted by: keri on November 17, 2003 01:56 PMI passed that smile-guy the other day! I had been so used to people asking me for change that he had totally taken me by surprise. My head down, I had been talking to my boyfriend when, out of the corner of my eye, I saw his sign. It was such a pleasant surprise that, instead of a smile, I burst into laughter.
Posted by: aimée on November 17, 2003 01:41 PMWell I just got back from my rockin' dentist and he told me that I had a great smile (but there were still some area's of decalcification...yikes!). I always find it incredible how much a simple smile can change the most curmudgeony of days into a brilliant rush of good. Three cheers for smiling!
(and no cavities!)
What a pleasant post. Thank you so much
Posted by: shemaiah on November 17, 2003 01:26 PMWe need a Smile-Man here in NYC!
Posted by: Allison on November 17, 2003 12:47 PMCuriosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back :-)
Curiosity is part of the human nature-and it obviously got us very far. In reading matters, I found that doing the last page thing (not that often though :-)) can enhance every bit of reading. It gives you a different perspective, and simple words, small things that you would have discovered only at a second reading give you a fuller experience, and a glimpse at the way the writer waves his plot.
Posted by: Adina on November 17, 2003 03:35 AMoh my gosh, i just started reading love in the time of chlorea too, i'm completely absorbed as well. i really am inspired when i visit your site. such beautiful illustrations. thank you for them.
Posted by: cindy on November 16, 2003 10:51 PMWas the smile-man on Queen Street near Pages? If so, I walk by that guy all the time!
Posted by: Robot Johnny on November 16, 2003 07:02 PM"forever," he said, is a relatively ambiguous sentence. in this instance, you have lost none of the mystery. but i caution you, not to do that again...tsk tsk. sometimes, we are but small children. and i find it rather amazing in life, how easily things linger in our brains that we know shouldn't be there. my worst folly of this nature occurred in a bookstore when i was partway through reading "half asleep in frog pajamas" by tom robbins, and awaiting his entrance into the room to speak. when opening the book in attempt to read the back of the jacket, i accidentally read the last sentence {which i won't give up here in the chance that someone is reading/will soon read the book} i began laughing and shaking my head, as this one gave away everything. EVERYTHING. a magnetic pull it is.
and may we smile on. i took a photo of a bumper sticker a few days ago that simply read "smile at people." often, the greatest gifts in life seem so obvious.
Posted by: jeff pitcher on November 15, 2003 02:55 PM