Your Holiday Guide

If the amount of dire warnings and special offers from my inbox is any indication, the Great Day of Gift Giving is nearly upon us.

Some of you are behind the eight ball. You’ve postponed your shopping safari for the creative individual in your life and now little sweat beads are beginning to form on your upper lip when you realize you have no idea what to do.

Take a deep breath, I’m here to help.

The following is my handy dandy idea gift list for those of you who have loved ones who construct, discover and imagine.

Sadly for you, Handsome Husband is already taken. He’s one of a kind, sorry ‘bout that.

Otherwise, consider offering -

A quiet space to work. It doesn’t have to have 12 foot ceilings or north windows - although that would be really awesome. A space all ones own, even if it's just a comfy chair, is important.

Time; time to ponder, time to wonder, time to put down in whatever medium they choose the results of that wondering and pondering. Time to grow.

A self-cleaning work space. (Oooh, I wanna get me one a those. Maybe next year.)

Acceptance. Of them, of their field, of their output. 

An ear. No, not like Van Gogh. I was thinking more in terms of listening. We creative types need to vent, mostly in a way that lets the fears and frustrations and delights and victories and annoyances out. Notice I didn’t add ‘advice’ to that. Ears open, mouth shut.

Toss in a few open-ended questions. Something like; how do you feel about that? Tell me about…, or how does that..?.

Exhibits. Go! Spend time looking with your sweetie. Use a few of those open ended-questions to find out what they find interesting. 

Pick one, two, or all of the above. Wrap them in ribbons and a hug. You'r welcome.

Your Holiday Shopping Guide

With the biggest shopping season of the year nearly upon us, I’m going to add my 2 cents worth and encourage you to buy original art for your family and loved ones for your holiday giving.

Here’s why:

It’s classy. 

Anyone can go to X-mart and grab a vase off the shelf. Anyone can dash past the carrots and celery, through the underwear aisle and past the computers and bike tires to snag a bracelet that says,

"I love you just like a thousand other guys love their wives".

Anyone can join jillions of people milling through stores that can be found in any faceless mall in the world and paw through piles of merchandise looking for that one special thing that says,

"You’re just as special as 10-thousand other fellas”. 

It takes a classy person to resist all that and shop for a one-of-a-kind item for a one-of-a-kind person.

Choosy shoppers choose fine art.

Buying fine art puts you in a class of your own.  Why stand in line at a jewelry counter to buy the same rock or watch or pendant fifteen other schmucks are hoping to impress with?  Do you really want your sweetie seeing her jewelry on some other woman? Investigate a local painter or sculptor who will share a creative vision with you that extends far beyond the reaches of the cash register.

Fine art, whether thrown and baked, framed, sculpted or blown will always, always be in style. No matter what Martha Stewart is doing, no matter who HGTV puts in the screen, you will be assured of having taste.  Think about that before you paint everything according to the latest Modern Copycat magazine. Buying art that stirs something deep within, a memory perhaps, or an idea, will help it retain its interest and personal value long after you’ve re-covered the sofa and your easy chair and yanked the curtains off the walls.

"Honey, let's be different and buy one-of-a-kind, original art.  All the cool kids are doing it."

There are lots of great galleries in your area waiting just for you.  Drop by and say hello, and tell them a bit about yourself.  Let them help you in a way that no bored teenager who would rather die than wait on you can.  They'll guide you to a purchase that will have your loved ones feeling truly cherished.