Admin Post: New art e-book now available from Smashwords.com

"Women in Color" celebrates women in paint, pen, and pastel. I collected some of my favorite paintings and drawings of strong heroines. Soldiers, mothers, dancers...girls can grow up to be anyone they want, no matter what color, creed or race they are. Each piece of artwork is accompanied by a short commentary outlining the creative processes behind it. 

Here's the link: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/109808 and it's $1.25 to download.

Annie

CSI: Mumville...

Yeah, apparently one of a Mum's skills is "home forensic investigator". Specifically, I have to survey, analyze, and find the culprit of various 'crime scenes', including spilled milk on the kitchen floor, ketchup in a little girl's hair, shampoo in the toilet and unraveled plastic wrap in the living room.

Unfortunately, my CSI life isn't as glamorous as the T.V. show. I'm no Gil Grissom, Catherine Willows or Horatio Caine. I don't have a crime lab or a special team. Mysterious stains on my kids' clothing are usually identified as tomato sauce from the day's lunch at school (pizza, lasagna or spaghetti). Squashed fruit bars, pop tarts and gummy bears make their marks on the kitchen floor. The crayon scribbles on the wall are examples of self-expression and not a cryptic note to solve some all-important case.

My ballistics caseload includes pieces of hot dog, cereal, green beans, and toys that end up airborne for whatever reason. If I could run all the stray pieces of hair that get stuck in the vacuum cleaner through a DNA analyzer, I'd find the same culprits time after time. And who would have thought that ramen noodles can be used as a semi-effective disguise?

CSI: Mumville. At least I own one pair of cool-looking shades.

All original writing and art copyright A. Dameron 2000-2011

Thoughts on my Daughter's Birthday...

Today, my Baby Girl turns two years old. I can hardly believe it. Where did the time go?

It sounds pretty cliche, but I look at my kids and I think, Time goes way too fast. I remember Sarah as a newborn, and when she learned to crawl and walk. I remember when she first said "Mama" and "Dada". I remember the fear that went through me and hoping that she would be "normal". Sarah was an "Oops!" baby in every sense of the word. I found out I was having her when I was 16 weeks pregnant, sick with pneumonia in the hospital, and terrified of how the rheumatoid arthritis meds I was taking at the time would affect her.

I think my obstetrician nearly fainted when he found out. Doctors usually give that particular med to cancer patients, to suppress their immune system for chemotherapy. My rheumatologist was just baffled...pregnancy just WAS NOT POSSIBLE with this med.

Like I said, major OOPS!

But life has a funny way of balancing things out in the end, I think.

Sarah loves Legos, Wedgits and building blocks. She watches the Wiggles and Thomas the Train. Whenever we go to the toy store, she goes straight for the cars and trucks and ignores the dolls. She has no fear of the big slide on the playground and could spend hours in the sandbox if I let her. She shows her dad's aptitude for building and solving puzzles, but carries around a stuffed yellow lab puppy dog. Her favorite word is the toddler favorite, "No!" Figures. But I don't mind. Her two older siblings are non-verbal autistic, so every new word she says is an exciting gift.

Happy birthday, Sarah. Mum loves you.

Minutes after her arrival

Is she winking at us?

10/5/2008

 Sarah in Sandbox, 

Labor Day Weekend 2010

Virginia Beach, VA

Sarah and her cousin Chase, being cute in the sandbox

Labor Day Weekend 2010

Virginia Beach, VA

All original writing and art copyright A. Dameron 2000-2010

Creative People!

I. The Most Creative Person I've (Personally Known)

I majored in foreign languages and education during my undergraduate years at Virginia Tech. One of my practicum assignments was in a 4th grade classroom at Murray Elementary in Charlottesville, VA. I had the honor of working with the most creative person I've known. Alex Davis was enthusiastic about teaching; she showed her love of learning through interesting projects with the kids.

Unlike many teachers, she involved her students in some decision-making. At the end of each quarter, she met with every student to discuss their grades. Beforehand, she asked them to write down a)what kind of grade they thought they deserved for the quarter and b)why. I expected them to give themselves all A's, but interestingly enough, they were brutally honest in their assessments, and were pretty accurate.

She encouraged problem solving, independent thinking and journal writing. All this within a careful structure: Every morning, she opened each class with a problem or question, and went over each day's schedule, Alex was also a superb timekeeper and usually left herself enough time to summarize what we did that day.

I thought she was a wonderful and gracious woman who was willing to open her classroom to a novice teacher. I wasn't surprised to find out she'd been nominated for Teacher of the Year that year.

II. The Most Creative Person I'd LIKE to Know
Julia Cameron in my ideal creative person. She the author of The Artist's Way, Vein of Gold, and The Right to Write, among other books. Sheadvocates a creative life by going out and doing it. Writers write, artists paint, draw, or sculpt, musicians compose and play, actors act. Enough said.

She's realistic in her expectations. Perfection isn't required. Ms. Cameron has a child-like quality that's essential for play. Her family encouraged her and her five siblings to lead lives true to their natures. Although she's dealt with bad events in her life(including a messy divorce from a well-known film producer,  and an alcohol problem), she triumphed over them. Ms. Cameron wants to help people realize their talents and dreams too.

III. Okay...how am I creative?
I can write without worrying about whether people like it or not. I keep several journals and blogs (both on and off-line). I paint, draw, and collage, and try new techniques. I seek out new places to visit and people to meet. I like bold colors like scarlet red and royal purple and unique pieces of jewelry.

I have two autistic children and every day is a creative challenge to draw them out of their isolated world. What can I do when there are temper tantrums, or a bare-bottomed child trying to escape her diaper?  Creative mom to the rescue!



All writing and art copyright A. Dameron 2000-2010

You Know You're a Writer Mum when...

...you can toss around a soft football (soccer) ball with one hand and type with the other.


...you can concentrate on editing drafts while the Wiggles, Kipper, Pinky Dinky Doo, Blues Clues or Barney is on in the background.


...you can hum/whistle/sing the theme songs of the above kid shows and do it automatically.


...you time your writing sessions based on the length of kids' shows.


...you can write and feed a baby at the same time.


...you scribble stuff while in the pediatrician's waiting room or the kids' ER.


...you can network during playdates.


... you introduce yourself to the kids' teachers as a writer


...people ask you if you ever sleep and you have to honestly answer, "I don't. Not really."


...you organize your article notes or novel ideas while sitting through a PTA meeting.


...Naptime = 1000 words. Maybe. If you're lucky.


...you can cook/wash dishes/load the laundry/fold laundry/feed baby/serve snack while on the phone with an agent.


...your kids and spouse tiptoe around the house when you announce "Mummy's on deadline."


...you don't mind driving around at 2 AM with a colicky baby, since you're normally up writing anyway.


...you read books to your kids and think, a) "I could use this idea in my story." b)"Who wrote this???" or c) "If this was MY story, I'd..."


...you base some of your characters on your kids. Not exactly on them, but close enough.


...you foster the love of reading and writing in your kids. They're the next generation of writers.



All writing and art copyright A. Dameron 2000-2010