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As the days fly by this seems the easiest way to update in regards to our work, our inspiration, and our merry snippets of nonsense!
Cheers!
Ryan and Megan
*The Merry Ghost*
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Monday, January 21, 2013
Week 3
FOLK magazine's blog link-up for this week prompts:
What are some things you have done but previously thought you could never do?
What are some things you have done but previously thought you could never do?
Well....I caught these fish!!!
Unfortunately, I seem to have also caught some sort of cold or winter bug (shhhh--it's not the flu!!) and next week's entry will be much more...well, everything. At present my head is stuffy and, to be frank, I'm a titch loopier than normal. But do give the other entries a peek--they are pretty inspiring.
I'm pretty excited about next week's prompt:
Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day! Appreciating the authentic American story of another hinges on understanding our own authentic American story. What is your story? How has Martin Luther King Jr.'s story influenced your own?
See you soon (achoo!),
Megan
Sunday, January 13, 2013
*A New Season*
FOLK magazine is hosting a blog link-up for 2013; there's a Journaling Agenda and each week you may link up to FOLK, as well as read the other blog entries for that week's topic....fun!!
This week's topic:
This week's topic:
What short term and long term goals do you hope to achieve this year? How are your New Year's resolutions holding up?
I'm astounded to announce....I'm mostly on track. Or rather, more on track than could be expected. New Year's Resolutions have a funny effect on me. Actually, that isn't true. There is NO effect, funny or otherwise, most of the time! The only possible effect I can think of is that New Year's Resolutions ultimately make me feel like a terrible person, as I mostly don't accomplish many of them (if any). And this is why:
I think they're a lovely idea in late December, early January. In February there's still hope for them... I think about them in April...and in July....and later, in September (they "count" all year 'round...it's true!!). And towards the end of December my New Year's Resolutions can "go green" and be recycled for the upcoming year! (My Resolutions are "sustainable"....)
However, upon reflection, I've realized that there have been informal notions I have about good changes I can make--and those have "come to pass", so to speak. So it's not entirely impossible to suppose that I could write some stuff down and make it happen--right? And honestly, FOLK's blog challenge is right in step with my goal to blog more...so here we go. Most of these were some of those "informal notions", so my list is basically organizing those thoughts:
However, upon reflection, I've realized that there have been informal notions I have about good changes I can make--and those have "come to pass", so to speak. So it's not entirely impossible to suppose that I could write some stuff down and make it happen--right? And honestly, FOLK's blog challenge is right in step with my goal to blog more...so here we go. Most of these were some of those "informal notions", so my list is basically organizing those thoughts:
I confess, writing my list on dreamy 7 Gypsies paper made the task much more palatable (I highly recommend "pretty" goals). As I created my list, it really did sort itself out. Each "main" entry is a Resolution and below are steps (goals) to get there. I'm a blog entry behind as I'd like to do this challenge once weekly AND an entry about new work from The Merry Ghost. I have started creating "editions" for the shop--February will be a bit of a crunch, figuring out Spoonflower. We're awaiting our first set of designs and of course I need to check sizing and contrast...
New work will be listed today and tomorrow, so that's on track...I realized that having pretty direct goals for the shoppe leaves me feeling less overwhelmed, and that's wonderful!
A crock-pot was purchased--hot, healthy, meals with our crazy schedule(s) should be a little bit easier. I definitely took some action in the past week as far as wellness and keeping my health on-track...the personal/family part of my list is thriving right along with the business side (and that's imperative)!
The last "goal" or "notion" on my list, under the personal/family column, is this: "Give Back"~~as a family" And below that is the following quote:
"Sometimes I'd like to ask God why He allows poverty, famine, and injustice in the world when He could do something about it...but I'm afraid God might ask me the same question."
--Anonymous
I have observed great kindness, over the years, from ALL of my parents; as a child, my Mother would invite "the least of these" over for Sunday dinner just about every week. My Father sent boxes of Christmas gifts to kids in need. Those are my roots that I need to remember--to cherish, honor, and nurture. It's become really important to me that I "grow" my girls the very same way. This past week, we did just that--my youngest and I provided a hot chicken dinner and $5 bill to a woman who is homeless and hungry.
"Random Acts of Kindness" are wonderful--but in 2013, I want to proceed with intention. And my Goals & Resolutions are simply a road map...who knew?! It's magic.
What's your most exciting Resolution for 2013? And what are your goals to "get there"? Share your road map!!
Sunday, January 6, 2013
The ghost of 2012....
The folks at FOLK magazine are hosting a "community journaling/blogging project" and we at *The Merry Ghost* are "in"! (Specifically, I, Megan, am "in" as I'm the blogger around here...).
If you haven't heard of FOLK, you have now and I definitely recommend their publication; do visit their site (and subscribe!). They are officially my only magazine subscription--and well worth the very affordable price. Each week, FOLK will have a blogging "prompt"; every monday you can read Hillary's blog entry and link your own entry as well! So here we go........
******************
Week One: Happy New Year! Write a letter to the 2012 you. Reflect on the lessons learned in 2012 and how you will apply your new knowledge to 2013.
Dear Megan,
Wow, what a year!! You moved--and moved again; a wonderful adventure, all in all. You met new people, discovered new places, made new friends and loved new family... You did an astounding amount of packing and sorting and planning all by yourself (though you ended up NOT driving the moving truck and you and everyone else concerned are probably more thankful for this than any of you realize...but someday...someday you'll do that too!) You let go of "stuff" you didn't need and felt lighter for it. Though packing your life up was hard, the feeling of accomplishment was amazing. Your whispered, doubtful, "I can do this..." turned into a pleased and happy, "I did it!!!" You had a wonderful summer...
At the end of 2011 you had found the courage to pick up muslin and pencils and paint again. Those first few pieces were oddly emotional--not in their content, but in the simple process of creating them and remembering "before". But you kept at it! A few months into 2012 there were dozens of reasons to "quit"--your workspace changed in location and weeks after the new studio was unpacked and functional you realized you were going to have to move! You learned to be flexible (and to pack a "travelling" studio and take your work along on the adventure). You learned to make do with what was on hand, and this "grew" your work.
It was incredible that you did not give up.... You're often half-afraid of success (why is that?), and you had plenty of opportunity to pack up the paints for good. But you didn't do that, and I'm really proud of you for continuing to create.
August saw the grand opening of *The Merry Ghost*, with a partner, Ryan, by your side. You were a little hesitant (you're a bit of a lone wolf). Then one morning you were completely overwhelmed with two small girls, a dog, and "the muse" who had decided to make an appearance, all in a tiny apartment... Ryan insisted it was just fine to set up a work table and two shelves in the living room for you to have a workspace in your little apartment; you realized he's a partner who values what you do, and perceives your work as a priority. It's wonderful, and you're thankful. Together you began to work...a lot! Ryan has proved aces at stuffing--he's great! His help has definitely increased the amount of finished work...
You made little ghosts and witches and dozens of pumpkins....an enchanted goblin's garden sprang up in the living room! You'd forgotten how fun it is to discuss each little creation with your girls--to make up stories and "play" with the dolls you make. This connection that revived was one of 2012's tremendous gifts...
You learned more about your brain and how it works; you're learning to organize and prioritize. (Funny, what you learned from that unexpected move and a month or two of uncertainty helped you out quite a bit!) You no longer whisper "I can do this"--you don't need to. You know that you can.
Now--let's talk about 2013! You're excited--you have a few year's worth of ideas and sketchbooks, and new thoughts and inspirations almost ever day...remember how to unpack them, sort them, and put them to good use. Remember to be thankful for your "nest" and your workspace; you learned what it's like to be without these things--don't take them for granted! Apply the same determination you've shown with creating your work to marketing your work--this blog challenge is an excellent beginning. Make this a priority, you know it's necessary (and fun!). Thank Ryan for every single dolly he stuffs. Thank him for every run to the PO, for every dinner he makes when you've worked all day and would rather eat a pop tart than pick up a pot or pan... Keep it up with the good stuff--you don't have to unpack the doubts. It's okay to throw them away.
Happy New Year!
Megan
If you haven't heard of FOLK, you have now and I definitely recommend their publication; do visit their site (and subscribe!). They are officially my only magazine subscription--and well worth the very affordable price. Each week, FOLK will have a blogging "prompt"; every monday you can read Hillary's blog entry and link your own entry as well! So here we go........
******************
******************
Dear Megan,
Wow, what a year!! You moved--and moved again; a wonderful adventure, all in all. You met new people, discovered new places, made new friends and loved new family... You did an astounding amount of packing and sorting and planning all by yourself (though you ended up NOT driving the moving truck and you and everyone else concerned are probably more thankful for this than any of you realize...but someday...someday you'll do that too!) You let go of "stuff" you didn't need and felt lighter for it. Though packing your life up was hard, the feeling of accomplishment was amazing. Your whispered, doubtful, "I can do this..." turned into a pleased and happy, "I did it!!!" You had a wonderful summer...
At the end of 2011 you had found the courage to pick up muslin and pencils and paint again. Those first few pieces were oddly emotional--not in their content, but in the simple process of creating them and remembering "before". But you kept at it! A few months into 2012 there were dozens of reasons to "quit"--your workspace changed in location and weeks after the new studio was unpacked and functional you realized you were going to have to move! You learned to be flexible (and to pack a "travelling" studio and take your work along on the adventure). You learned to make do with what was on hand, and this "grew" your work.
It was incredible that you did not give up.... You're often half-afraid of success (why is that?), and you had plenty of opportunity to pack up the paints for good. But you didn't do that, and I'm really proud of you for continuing to create.
August saw the grand opening of *The Merry Ghost*, with a partner, Ryan, by your side. You were a little hesitant (you're a bit of a lone wolf). Then one morning you were completely overwhelmed with two small girls, a dog, and "the muse" who had decided to make an appearance, all in a tiny apartment... Ryan insisted it was just fine to set up a work table and two shelves in the living room for you to have a workspace in your little apartment; you realized he's a partner who values what you do, and perceives your work as a priority. It's wonderful, and you're thankful. Together you began to work...a lot! Ryan has proved aces at stuffing--he's great! His help has definitely increased the amount of finished work...
You made little ghosts and witches and dozens of pumpkins....an enchanted goblin's garden sprang up in the living room! You'd forgotten how fun it is to discuss each little creation with your girls--to make up stories and "play" with the dolls you make. This connection that revived was one of 2012's tremendous gifts...
You learned more about your brain and how it works; you're learning to organize and prioritize. (Funny, what you learned from that unexpected move and a month or two of uncertainty helped you out quite a bit!) You no longer whisper "I can do this"--you don't need to. You know that you can.
Now--let's talk about 2013! You're excited--you have a few year's worth of ideas and sketchbooks, and new thoughts and inspirations almost ever day...remember how to unpack them, sort them, and put them to good use. Remember to be thankful for your "nest" and your workspace; you learned what it's like to be without these things--don't take them for granted! Apply the same determination you've shown with creating your work to marketing your work--this blog challenge is an excellent beginning. Make this a priority, you know it's necessary (and fun!). Thank Ryan for every single dolly he stuffs. Thank him for every run to the PO, for every dinner he makes when you've worked all day and would rather eat a pop tart than pick up a pot or pan... Keep it up with the good stuff--you don't have to unpack the doubts. It's okay to throw them away.
Happy New Year!
Megan
Sunday, November 18, 2012
*Winter Nonsense*
mushrooms walk into a light box.....
what nonsense!!
We at the *Merry Ghost* cannot seem to determine if it is Christmas or if we've fallen down the rabbit hole into Wonderland... Hopefully we'll check "D", none of the above, and remember to thaw the turkey for thursday!
Saturday, October 6, 2012
*First Snow!*
There is no snow. None. Everything is still browny-grey-green. It's just cold and bleh, no winter wonderland.... But guess what's magical about being an artist? You can create your own snowy winter wonderland!! And thus, we trooped off to the craft shop early this morning to find thee perfect snowy glitter....we found just the perfect thing and excitedly doused "First Snow's" little arms in the snowy wonderment....
It was purple. Seriously neon purple. No glimmer of white. It looked as if this poor little snowboy was being abducted by aliens...their toxic beams reaching down to entwine his wee arms and swoosh him up into a sinister aircraft in outer space.... But still, we kept on....determined to find Christmas this morning. (Yes, we're pitching this to our L.A. connections later today.)
It was purple. Seriously neon purple. No glimmer of white. It looked as if this poor little snowboy was being abducted by aliens...their toxic beams reaching down to entwine his wee arms and swoosh him up into a sinister aircraft in outer space.... But still, we kept on....determined to find Christmas this morning. (Yes, we're pitching this to our L.A. connections later today.)
"First Snow" (7" high) is created from painted, aged, muslin, his features drawn with artist's grade color-fast pencils. Fine tinsel, vintage style sequins, and a merry jingle bell seemed a better choice than coal or carrots.
We will keep you apprised on the chance of snow in our merry part of the world...
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Every day's a holiday?
Of course not! But it should be. At least that's what we think here at "The Merry Ghost"... We firmly believe that hot cocoa with candy cane sprinkles is acceptable in June and Christmas trees look lovely all year 'round. Jack o' Lanterns have a depressingly brief life-span and it's outrageous that trick-or-treating only happens once a year! Tinsel is pretty no matter what, and pumpkin orange is *always* a smashing color.
As well, Megan is the designer and usually can't think of a blessed thing she'd like to make unless it involves a pumpkin or a snowman. Anthropomorphic is good too. Should you be of like mind, stop clicking your heels. You're home--and quite welcome.
At "The Merry Ghost" Megan does all the sewing; stuffing is often a family affair. Megan paints each doll and draws each little face by hand...finishing is sometimes collaborative, if only due to Ryan's immense spirit of long-suffering and ability to cook and do up the dishes. Ryan and Megan both photograph, Megan lists, Ryan ships, and, and....viola! The dog does absolutely nothing. He's worse than a cat.
(We're making the gross assumption you might want to know about the people behind the ghost.... But in today's world of mass-produced, machine-made, absolutely everything it's a little nice to know, yes?)
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