New at Uni-T in Natick

More of my handmade cards have landed at the lovely Uni-T in Natick Center!!!

Some new designs, good for Pride and Father’s Day! Each is unique.

so happy to be back making these as long COVID made it hard to even make these?!?

peace ✌️

Let us find our courage ...

Feel free to print and enjoy!!

Develop enough courage so that you can stand up for yourself and then stand up for somebody else.

Maya Angelou

June is Pride Month!  A month to celebrate all who count themselves as part of the LGBTQ community - *see more info below. Now with all the hatred being stirred up in DC I feel that we all need to find the courage to stand up for ourselves and ESPECIALLY stand up for others.  

I was honored to be involved with the Peace Flag Movement which was started by Maggie Sky in 2016.  I helped design the flag and we created this poster that businesses would post to show their commitment to community and peace.  You can learn more about the movement by clicking here: https://commonstreet.org/rainbow-peace-flag-project/

Feel free to print and hang

The PEACE Flag Movement

MISSION

The PEACE Flag Movement works to unite the world in the fight for equity and care for all people. It starts with the flag, making the hope of change visible. And it grows when we turn education and conversation into action. Raising this flag is a promise to speak up, stand up, rise up.

SEE THE CHANGE, BE THE CHANGE

This flag makes the hope of change, visible—in flying colors. Show the world what’s in your heart! Raising this flag is a promise to speak up, stand up, rise up. Take this first step, be part of the change—every person, every promise, every flag makes a difference.

Let us all find courage to stand up to all the hatred, and to celebrate all the wonderful differences that we all have, because that is where our strengthens lie.

PEACE

click here to get a flag

*Pride Month, sometimes specified as LGBTQ Pride Month, is a month-long observance dedicated to the celebration of LGBTQ pride, commemorating the contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer culture and community.Wikipedia

bringing attention to the everyday to elevate it to the sacred ...

My roommate during my artist's retreat is very eloquent, as well as being a beautiful person inside and out. She described my work saying, “You gave a clear and compassionate vision for bringing attention to the everyday to elevate it to the sacred.”

That statement sums up my creative vision. Bringing attention to the everyday is a constant thread throughout my creative journey, from creating an international business selling jewelry and gift items made out of ‘used’ bottle caps to an 8 foot dress sculpture out of eggshells. 

Thank you Siobhan for such a succinct description of my creative process.

As I’ve mentioned earlier, in San Gimignano I started this series of site-specific mixed media collages. I created around 20 of these pieces, and was reluctant to stop.

Of course I had to bring back some of my found treasures. Needless to say, I was waiting for customs to question my need to bring ‘trash’ back with me. But that’s the point, it is not trash to me.  

Fortunately I wasn't searched or even questioned. So I have a few of my treasure with me, however I feel that an interesting element of this series is that it is site specific so I am applying to the Gallery 263's  2025 Artist in Residence to see what the streets of Cambridge might inspire! Wish me luck & peace.

For you, a reading from John O'Donohue ...

"For the Artist at the Start of Day" 

by John O'Donohue 

May morning be astir with the harvest of night;

Your mind quickening to the eros of a new question,

Your eyes seduced by some unintended glimpse

That cut right through the surface to a source.

May this be a morning of innocent beginning,

When the gift within you slips clear

Of the sticky web of the personal

With its hurt and its hauntings,

And fixed fortress corners,

A Morning when you become a pure vessel

For what wants to ascend from silence,

May your imagination know

The grace of perfect danger,

To reach beyond imitation,

And the wheel of repetition,

Deep into the call of all

The unfinished and unsolved

Until the veil of the unknown yields

And something original begins

To stir toward your senses

And grow stronger in your heart

In order to come to birth

In a clean line of form,

That claims from time

A rhythm not yet heard,

That calls space to

A different shape.

May it be its own force field

And dwell uniquely

Between the heart and the light

To surprise the hungry eye

By how deftly it fits

About its secret loss.


"For the Artist at the Start of Day" 

by John O'Donohue, 

from To Bless the Space Between Us: A Book of Blessings (Doubleday, 2008).

There were so many inspiring elements my artist’s retreat in San Gimignano which I hope to incorporate into my everyday. One I hope to continue is starting the day with an inspiration poem, blessing, prayer or prose.

Michael Dowling always seems to know what to read to his groups. This was true in all the classes that I’ve taken with him, and so true during this retreat. We, as an artist community, would meet every morning with a reading and conversation, an ideal way to start a day of creating.  One author that Michael shares often is John O'Donohue. I have found his words very inspiring.

Many times I would transcribe the reading in my sketchbook as I found that writing the words out helped me to really understand ideas and such.

I hope to do more inspiring morning reading and wish to share some here.  And more of the magic that I discovered on my retreat to come!!! 

peace

Look at the little things ...

feel free to print this calendar for y9our personal enjoyment

“Find magic in the little things, and the big things you always expected will start to show up.”

― Isa Zapata

Your #virginiacreates May calendar is coming to you a bit late because I was on an artist's retreat in San Gimignano, Italy and, blessedly, I had little WiFi.  The retreat was run by Michael Dowling of Spoke, www.spokeart.org, an amazing organization that I highly recommend you look at the work that they do!!! 

This month's #virginiacreates calendar is featuring one of the collages that I made during my retreat.  Inspired by a story that Michael shared on our first morning.  He spoke about a woman who was committed to an asylum and who collected stuff out of the trash to embroider and to create with.  The asylum staff saw this habit of going through the trash as proof of her mental sickness and medicated her.  This story broke my heart on so many levels.   I am a woman who has used trash and debris in much of her work - from an international business of making jewelry out of used bottle caps to a room sized installation centered around a n 8 foot dress sculpture made out of used eggshells. 

the magical city of San 
Gimignano   

So on my first day of retreat,  I wondered the magical streets of this medieval town with Michael's story replaying in my head.  Soon my attention was drawn to a discarded museum ticket and this series began.  Below are some more of these collages.  Most are created on 4x6 watercolor paper, though as the series progressed I was just working with my found treasures, creating unique art objects.

peace

many of the 'collages'

property of Virginia Fitzgerald

property of Virginia Fitzgerald

 

Love our earth ...

 

“When we love the earth, 

we are able to love ourselves more fully.”

 Bell Hooks, Belonging: A Culture of Place

Let's make the impossible, possible

 

“Imagination is not bound by possibilities. The creative mind will always break the shackles—making the impossible, possible.”

”

— C. Toni Graham

David, nobody cares ...

February 9, 2025

On January 20th, 2025 I started a series of collages as a way of creating some calm during the coming insanity.

'Tis the month to LOVE!!!

 

“We love because it's the only true adventure.”

Nikki Giovanni

I’m joining the #lightsoutmeta movement

I heard about #lightsoutmeta yesterday and Prudence Pickle, Herbert and I are elated to join the boycott!

Not sure how this will unfold but it gave me great joy to log off all meta apps and remove them from my phone.

I have loads to say and ponder and to share but for now I wanted to announce my decision.

and you can find me here and these other platforms:

@virginiacreates.bsky.social - https://bsky.app/profile/virginiacreates.bsky.social

https://www.pinterest.com/mizdress/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/virginiacreates/

more to come 🕉️

Find your vitality and add it to the world…

There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique, and if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium; and be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is, not how it compares with other expression. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open. You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep open and aware directly to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open. No artist is pleased. There is no satisfaction whatever at any time. There is only a queer, divine dissatisfaction, a blessed unrest that keeps us marching and makes us more alive than the others.

Martha Graham

This is one of my touchstones quotes, one that I revisit every time I’m struggling. I chose it for this year’s January calendar because during 2025 we need all positivity and creativity!

peace & blessed be 🕉️

In honor of National Poetry Month I share with you “Wild Geese” — written and read by Mary Oliver

This is one of my favorite poems from one of my favorite poets.  This poem reveled poetry in a whole new light and converted me to a poetry fan. For this I am incredibly thankful.  

'dress of poetry ...'

Because of this poem, and a 
poem penned by an insanely great writer and friend, inspired me to create my 'dress of poetry ...', one of the few pieces from my dressproject that can be worn.  

Click here to learn the story behind my 'dress of poetry ...'

WILD GEESE
by Mary Oliver

You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
For a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting —
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.

hopefully this video works, if not here is the link: 

https://youtu.be/T_nKg3TBzpU?si=MLPmx3CjLQ9SEl_u

here is the 'Wild Geese' panel in progress - on the ironing board

November is upon us ...

During these challenging times ~ it is important to remember to choose LOVE!

 

feel free to print and use for your personal enjoyment ~ peace

We’re all in this together. Choose love.” Jo Dee Messina

I am also trying to streamline my posting/social media, etc so I plan to be using my blog that is on my website -  

https://www.virginiafitzgerald.com/ponderings-of-virginiacreates

If this is difficult for you please reach out to me at virginiacreates(at)comcast.net. 

Hope to see you there ~ peace

You are both a masterpiece and a work in progress ...

 

“You are allowed to be both a masterpiece and 

a work in progress, simultaneously.” 

 

Sophia Bush

Peace, Virginia

Let's be brave this month ...

 

Courage doesn't grow overnight. 

It can be a long process. 

Greta Gerwig

peace

Ahhh August ...

 

“I suppose that’s the way we humans are, thinking too much and listening too little. Paying attention acknowledges that we have something to learn from intelligences other than our own. Listening, standing witness, creates an openness to the world in which the boundaries between us can dissolve in a raindrop. The drop swells on the tip of a cedar and I catch it on my tongue like a blessing.” 
― Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants

Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer is one of my favorite books, my desert island book, a book I return to, often.  This month I am beyond fortunate to go see Kimmerer teach, in person - a wish come true!! 

Her thoughts and words are so timely now, as we are blindly racing toward environmental disaster.  Kimmerer speaks of respect and reciprocity, for ourselves, our surroundings, our world and others.  

I highly recommend this book to all!!! 

click below to learn more on Goodreads:
Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants
Robin Wall Kimmerer

click here to find an independent bookstore to purchase Braiding Sweetgrass

happy reading and peace, Virginia

Everything is better with polka-dots!

“After all, well, moon is a polka dot, sun is a polka dot, and then, the earth where we live is also a polka dot.” 

Yayoi Kusama ~ queen of the polka dot!

This felt like an appropriate collage for this summer month - colorful and playful.  I think it would be such fun to wander around this wacky landscape. would you join me??

Lately I have been attracted to polka dots. And there is an inspiring and prolific artist known for putting polka dots on most everything - herself included.  That is the amazing Yahoo Kusama.  

Click here to watch a fun video of Kusama's career from the Tate museum for Kids!!

https://www.tate.org.uk/kids/explore/who-is/who-yayoi-kusama

Yayoi Kusama is a Japanese contemporary artist who works primarily in sculpture and installation, and is also active in painting, performance, video art, fashion, poetry, fiction, and other arts. Wikipedia

link to post

Yahoo Kusama was one of the prompts for the instagram

challenge that I did last year: 

#cupfull2022

to see my contribution to the challenge check out:

#vacupfull2022

"The challenge is ~ to create a cup!! 

Cups represent comfort, gathering, and nourishment. 

And each prompt is a variety of favorite women artist/designers to inspire."

Lastly -  but not leastly - I have added this collage,

 'for the love of polka dots ...' 

to my @Society6 shop 

AND 

they are having a 4th of July sale!!!

(hope to add it to @redbubble soon)

art print link

society6 coasters link

acrylic tray link

This month - pay attention!!

 

Mary Oliver is one of my FAVORITE poets!! So many of her poems I have as talismans that I visit when I need some solace or a pick-me-up or just to be reminded of the wonders of life.  

I just finished reading a wonderful memoir, This Is Not a Book About Benedict Cumberbatch by Tabitha Carvan, where this poem is mentioned and discussed.  It was a great read and I highly recommend it!! And it is true it is NOT about Benedict, however if you are a Cumberbitch, it is extra fun!!

Happy June and make sure you take a moment to

"all down into the grass ..."

"to be idle and blessed ..."

Poem 133: The Summer Day

Who made the world?
Who made the swan, and the black bear?
Who made the grasshopper?
This grasshopper, I mean—
the one who has flung herself out of the grass,
the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,
who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down—
who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.
Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.
Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.
I don't know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?

—Mary Oliver