Classes start at Trinity this week and I’ve been slowly returning to Geek Mode, thinking about computer projects for my students. It occurred to me that you might not know how easy it is to “design” in Microsoft Word. It has a ton of ready-made templates (some kinda cheesy, but . . ..), and if you’re in a hurry for a newsletter or in invitation, just go to MS Word>New>Templates and search around. They have everything from calendars to blank music sheets.

In any version of Word, go to File>New

Choose a design – you can just click to change or delete the words

As the sign in my printer friend’s office says, “Cheap – Fast- Good: Choose any Two.” This tip is cheap and fast, but it can save you when you need an instant flyer or announcement. When you’re done, you can also save as a PDF.

Here is your hot-off-the-computer invitation for the “soft” opening of the Studio on January 19th – please feel free to print it out and stick it prominently on your refrigerator <grin>.And if you see typo’s, don’t tell me – I’m nervous enough as it is! I did discover during all of this that if you just tell people about it, it has to happen and that makes it easier to get it done, knowing that your friends know. Thanks for the support! (‘Specially since I have to have a tooth pulled tomorrow – urk.)

Studio opening – you’re invited!

Every so often, I get a note from a friend that I really want to share with you all – here’s one from Paige, a writer (and much more). I think I’ll tape the quote to my work desk.

Heartiest congratulations for a sparkling 2013 in your new studio – what a great start!  I am so happy for you – and for all of us who will be nurtured in this space, and, hopefully, will be moved to nurture in response. It’s the give and take that makes life sing – the space between the notes that makes the music.

In that spirit, I want to share a quote for the New Year by Elizabeth Asquith Bibesco. Each January I start the New Year with a focus thought rather than a resolution. This is one that extends the Golden Rule and sounds like a “Beatitude” but isn’t: “Blessed are those who give without remembering and take without forgetting.”

That has two meanings, room to paint and painting a representation of a space. This is the first large painting I’ve started in the new studio (obviously not finished, but it helps me to look at a photo in progress to see where I want to go). It’s 30×40″ and I thought it would be hard to adjust to a large canvas after the 10×10″ Twilight series, but it’s not. Working title of this painting is Valley of the Shadow. I discovered a great color today by mixing burnt umber with violet. Wow.

Work in progress, acrylic on 30×40 canvas

So many good things have been coming together lately that I wanted to post Deepak Chopra’s definition of synchronicity –

Synchronicity. This is a mysterious ingredient from the unconscious that all great leaders harness. Synchronicity is the ability to create good luck and find invisible support that carries a leader beyond predicted outcomes to a higher plane. In spiritual terms, synchronicity is the ultimate ability to connect any need with an answer from the soul.

Everyone who is a subscriber by Friday, including you loyal old guys <grin>, will be entered in the face shard drawing – and just to make it nicer in case it sounded confusing, I’ll draw for two faces – will notify the two subscriber/winners on Friday evening. Thanks so much for the friendship and support!