This month let us remember to be gentle with ourselves ...

Desiderata - Words for Life

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

— Max Ehrmann, 1927

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Feel free to download and print this calendar for your personal use this month. to print: open up the calendar image by clicking on the calendar, then with two fingers click on calendar and your should get a menu and select download file. 

Once it is downloaded you can print as usual.

This calendar should  fit on an 81/2 x 11 piece of paper, however I always click the printing option "scale to fit".
enjoy!! 

Go placidly into 2020 ...

 a wonderful poem for a new year ....

wishing all a joyful and peaceful 2020.

Desiderata - Words for Life

Go placidly amid the noise and haste, 

and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

— Max Ehrmann, 1927

Feel free to download and print this calendar for your personal use this month. to print: open up the calendar image by clicking on the calendar, then with two fingers click on calendar and your should get a menu and select download file. 

Once it is downloaded you can print as usual.

This calendar should  fit on an 81/2 x 11 piece of paper, however I always click the printing option "scale to fit".
enjoy!! 

subscribe to receive my monthly calendar in your inbox! 

                             and only my monthly calendar, scout's honor!

* indicates required

Email Address *

 

Email Format:  html text

 

thank you & peace ...

December is upon us ....

Remember This December, 

That love weighs more than gold! 

Josephine Dodge Daskam Bacon

Feel free to download and print out this calendar for your personal use this month. to print: open up the calendar image by clicking on the calendar, then with two fingers click on calendar and your should get a menu and select download file. 

Once it is downloaded you can print as usual.

This calendar should  fit on an 81/2 x 11 piece of paper, however I always click the printing option "scale to fit".
enjoy!! 

subscribe to receive my monthly calendar in your inbox! 
and only my monthly calendar, scout's honor!

* indicates required

Email Address *

Email Format:  html text

thank you & peace ...

Happy November ...

In November, the earth is growing quiet.
It is making its bed, a winter bed for flowers and small creatures.
The bed is white and silent,
and much life can hide beneath its blankets. 

Cynthia Rylant

thank you and peace ...

the dailydress project: my computer ate my homework ....

the dailydress project: my computer ate my homework ....: "Never trust anything that can think for itself  if you can't see where it keeps its brain." J.K. Rowling Running a bit behind, but I blame technology :)

Start celebrating summer with my June calendar ...

What is one to say about June, the time of perfect young summer, the fulfillment of the promise of the earlier months, and with as yet no sign to remind one that its fresh young beauty will ever fade.

Gertrude Jekyll

Feel free to download and print out this calendar for your personal use this month.

p.s. if you are having problems downloading or printing the calendar, 

just leave a comment & email and I will send you a PDF.

Thank you & peace,

Virginia

Your May calendar and the morphing of an idea ...

download and print for your personal enjoyment.

Here is your May calendar for you to print and enjoy.  

Also, this calendar works is part of a body of work that I am currently obsessed with, 

which I call 

#100daysofwomenwonders.

This project has grown out of my dailydress blog, on which I posted quotes of women in March in honor of Women's History Month, #femininewordsofwisdom.  Then with April came the #100dayproject and I decided to continue my celebration and sharing of words/quotes of women which I named, #100daysofwomenwonders. 

As so many of my projects go, in the first few days of posting women's quotes with a mixed-media dress collage I felt the need to do more, so now I am sharing women's quotes with a drawing of the woman and a brief bio of her.  

Who knows how else these project may morph by the end of 100 days?!? I do know I am loving doing the project, finding different quotes and researching the women. My head is swimming with amazing women that I hadn't heard of.  I feel like I student again (which is a wonderful thing) and my desk is a mess of library books.  

If you want to follow along with this project there are a few ways you can:

you can follow or subscribe to my dailydress project blog
https://dailydressproject.blogspot.com
or
follow my #100daysofwomenwonders on my Instagram account, virginiacreates:
https://www.instagram.com/virginiacreates/
or
you can join
'the dailydress project ...' group on FB
https://www.facebook.com/groups/bookofmotherlove/

Also if you want a 'virginiacreate's monthly calendar in your inbox'
you can sign up here.
https://virginiafitzgerald.us6.list-manage.com/subscribe/post?u=8978699b24201ab4b3138cbdf&id=4a8fde0071


“In a world where thrushes sing and willow trees are golden in the spring, boredom should have been included among the seven deadly sins.”  
Elizabeth Goudge, The Rosemary Tree

my 'dressproject', out on the town, at the Attleboro Arts museum ...

I am pleased and honored to announce that I am 

all installation photos were taken by Abby Rovaldi

the 'artist-of-the-month' at the Attleboro Arts Month!!

For the month of April, photos from my 'dailydress ...' series will be on exhibit in their Community Gallery. The majority of the photos are printed on aluminum which allows the spirit and details of the photos to shine through,  as there is no glass in front of the image nor material surrounding the image to distract.

'eat your veggies ...' & 'don't slip ...'

“dressproject…” Series by Virginia Fitzgerald; Photography on aluminum 

Exhibition: April 3^rd – 30^th, 2019

The Museum is closed on Saturday, April 20^th

Gallery hours are Tues – Sat from 10am-5pm

My 'dailydress ...' exhibition is running concurrently with the Attleboro's
'Tempera: Nature & Narrative'
exhibition: April 6th – May 4th, 2019

Opening reception and festivities are happening this Saturday:
April 6th:
2pm – 3pm: Egg tempera demonstration by exhibiting artist Eileen Kennedy
3pm – 4:30pm: Opening reception

Free and open to all.

all installation photos were taken by Abby Rovaldi

And as with all exhibits, I needed to revamp my 'dressproject ...' artist's statement:

'ladies in waiting ...'
my photos waiting to be hung.

“With the dress, I discovered my voice, the dress became my soapbox from which I could initiate a dialogue, engage in political debate, question social protocol and excavate my authentic self.” — Virginia Fitzgerald 

Virginia Fitzgerald is a passionate artist for whom life and art merge, which is reflected in all of her work. The objective of her art is to inspire others, urging them to think about their everyday lives, examine their surroundings, and revisit their thoughts, beliefs, and expectations. Fitzgerald achieves this through a multitude of media and series of work, one of these series being her “dressproject …” 

Fitzgerald’s “dressproject …” began in 2006 in Wells Beach, ME and since then Fitzgerald has created, designed, and built over a thousand of “artdress’es.” Fitzgerald has reinterpreted the dress form in a myriad of media and materials, such as; vcr tape, rope, asphalt, ice, rubber gloves, etc. Her “dressproject …” includes sculptures, photographs, ephemeral dresses, installations, and performances.  The “dressproject …” has also prompted a “dailydress …” blog, Facebook group and products, such as “dresscard’s,”  featuring origami dresses with empowering quotes and messages.  The “dressproject …” has led to collaborative projects where Fitzgerald works with different organizations,  encouraging the participants to bring new ideas, experiences, and emotions to the project. 

Fitzgerald’s “dressproject …” is relevant to the current issues being debated today. Fitzgerald sees the dress form as a symbol for one’s essential being, their core.  The work speaks to the emotional or lack of emotional connection between people. This body of work touches many people regardless of gender, age, background and experiences, and Fitzgerald strives to create a safe place for them to reconsider their place in the world.

As an artist, Fitzgerald is dedicated to making art that is provocative, that makes the viewer stop and think, art that will prompt a reexamination of an idea or belief. She is a champion of passion, individuality, and inspiration. Fitzgerald works and lives outside Boston with her two daughters in a house full of love and creativity. She is constantly observing, questioning, and exploring her surroundings.  To learn more about Virginia Fitzgerald please visit:

www.virginiafitzgerald.com

www.dailydressproject.blogspot.com

all installation photos were taken by Abby Rovaldi

Community Gallery 

The Community Gallery is located in the lobby of the Attleboro Arts Museum’s Emory Street entrance.  For over a decade the Museum has been pleased to offer this prominent gallery space as an exhibition opportunity for both promising and professional artist members. By showcasing one or more member artist(s) per month, the Community Gallery maximizes the exposure of unique art and contact with Museum viewers. Artworks on display are new works that are currently being produced within the exhibiting artist’s portfolios.

Hope you can stop by!! I plan to be there on Saturday afternoon.  If you have any questions you can contact the Attleboro Arts Museum: 

Attleboro Arts Museum,

 86 Park St., Attleboro, MA 02703, 

508.222.2644

attleboroartsmuseum.org

thank you and peace ~ 

Big sale on Society6 and some new products!!

From today to Saturday with 30% off EVERYTHING —no exclusions! 

That's right, yoga mats, furniture, window curtains, everything—

 all 30% off!!

think gifts?!? graduation & mother's day!!!

& 

Society6 has new items!!

'love squared ...' Travel Mug
sale: $29.00 $20.30

such as a

new style 

travel mug 

(check out this video!)

hanging out @ starbuck's

Also new is wrapping paper

I got some wrapping paper & used it for my 'dresscards ...'
& it is a lovely quality of wrapping paper!!

cherry-berry jumble ... wrapping Paper
sale price: $12.00$8.40

kitty kat (blue on green) Yoga Mat
$39.00   $27.30

& yoga mats!!

#1 mum, i love you more ... Throw Blanket$59.99$41.99

And then some of the old favorites: 

 perfect for Mother Day gifts:

you've got this, love frida ... Carry-All Pouch

Buy a Set of 3 and Save!       $49.99$34.99

the earth laughs ... Coffee Mug$16.99$11.89

CLICK HERE TO GO TO MY SOCIETY6 SHOP

happy shopping & peace!

Today is International Women's Day!!

March is Women's History month and today is International Women's Day.

"The story of women's struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organization but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights."

Gloria Steinem, world-renowned feminist, journalist and activist 

International Women's Day

International Women's Day (IWD) is celebrated annually on March 8.
The day has occurred for well over a century, with the first IWD gathering in 1911.
The day is not country, group or organization specific - 

Poster for Women's Day, March 8, 1914, 

demanding voting rights for women.

Karl Maria Stadler (1888 – nach 1943)  

(Scan from an old book)

it belongs to all groups collectively everywhere.International Women's Day  is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity.No one government, NGO, charity, corporation, academic institution, women's network or media hub is solely responsible for International Women's Day. Many organizations declare an annual IWD theme that supports their specific agenda or cause, and some of these are adopted more widely with relevance than others. International Women's Day is a collective day of global celebration and a call for gender parity.International Women's Day is all about unity, celebration, reflection, advocacy, and action - whatever that looks like globally at a local level. But one thing is for sure, International Women's Day has been occurring for well over a century - and continue's to grow from strength to strength.

What's the history of IWD?

Women's demonstration for bread and peace – March 8, 1917, Petrograd, Russia

International Women's Day (IWD) has been observed since the early 1900's - a time of great expansion and turbulence in the industrialized world that saw booming population growth and the rise of radical ideologies.

The history of International Women's day is quite intriguing - click below to read more ...

In 1908 great unrest and critical debate was occurring amongst women. Women's oppression and inequality was spurring women to become more vocal and active in campaigning for change. Then in 1908, 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter hours, better pay and voting rights.

https://www.internationalwomensday.com/About

here is a video showing the details of the image I created for today's post of my 'dailydress ...' blog.

March's calendar is celebrating Women's History month!

And the celebration of women will continue on my dailydress blog, where I will be posting quotes by women daily, and whenever possible a bit of a bio of that day's woman.  

Some history behind Women's History Month:

Women’s History Month had its origins as a national celebration in 1981 when Congress passed Pub. L. 97-28 which authorized and requested the President to proclaim the week beginning March 7, 1982 as “Women’s History Week.” Throughout the next five years, Congress continued to pass joint resolutions designating a week in March as “Women’s History Week.” In 1987 after being petitioned by the National Women’s History Project, Congress passed Pub. L. 100-9 which designated the month of March 1987 as “Women’s History Month.” Between 1988 and 1994, Congress passed additional resolutions requesting and authorizing the President to proclaim March of each year as Women’s History Month. Since 1995, Presidents Clinton, Bush and Obama have issued a series of annual proclamations designating the month of March as “Women’s History Month.”

CLicK here to read to learn more:

https://womenshistorymonth.gov

Thank you and peace, 

virginia

Subscribe to receive my dailydress calendar in your inbox! & only my monthly calendar, scout's honor!

Announcing the rebooting of my dailydress project ....

Though I started making dressart and my 'dressproject'  since 2005, I started my 'dailydress project ...' on May 31, 2013.  It stemmed from a personal need to have daily positive and inspirating messages because that year was pretty intense for me. And as is my nature I wanted to share the words of wisdom that I found so I started my 'dailydress project ...' blog.

click here to go to blog

I posted daily for over a year, May 31, 2013 - July 11, 2014. Then my posts became less daily so that I could focus on other projects of my life. Then when my oldest, Maya, headed off to college I turned again to my daily posting, this time focusing the posts on topics and themes that I wanted to share with my daughters, my book of motherlove. I posted 97 days of 'motherlove', and once again life demanded my attention and my posts became more sparatic and far between.

Now loved ones of mine are going through a difficult transition,  so I am rebooting my dailydress blog!!  And honestly I couldn't be more happy! My 'dailydress' blog has been one of my favorite things to do.  I am a quote junkie, jotting down inspiring quotes whenever I see one, the more obscure the better. So if you are interested in "a collection of art, quotes, advice, recipes and life hacks to help us all navigate this brave new world ...." click this link to visit the entire blog.

I have also created a 'dailydress' project group on FaceBook, so if you are on FB please join the group! the more the merrier.

'the dailydress project ...' Public group · 384 members Join Group 'the dailydress project ...' @ https://dailydressproject.blogspot.com a collection of art, quotes, advice, recipes and life hacks to help us all navig...

click here to join the dailydress project group on FB

thank you and peace, 

February's calendar ~ love is love is love ....

“Love is love is love is love is love is love is love is love cannot be killed or swept aside.”

 Lin-Manuel Miranda

Feel free to download and print out this calendar for your personal use this month.

wallpaper for your phone

AND if you would like to receive these calendars into your inbox, 

please fill out the below form & you will be added to a monthly calendar list, ONLY!! 

and/or if you want to print at home, open up the calendar image by clicking on the calendar, then with two fingers click on calendar and your should get a menu and select download file. 

Once it is downloaded you can print as usual.

This calendar should  fit on an 81/2 x 11 piece of paper, however I always click the printing option "scale to fit". 

(see picture below)

subscribe to receive my monthly calendar in your inbox! and

only my monthly calendar, scout's honor!

* indicates required

Email Address *

Email Format:  html text

And for the new year, your January calendar!

HAPPY 2019!!

Feel free to download and print out this calendar for your personal use this month.

p.s. if you are having problems downloading or printing the calendar, 

just leave a comment & email and I will send you a PDF.

thank you and peace and 

Happy New Year!! 

AND if you would like to receive these calendars into your inbox, 

please fill out the below form & you will be added to a monthly calendar list, ONLY!! 

promise!! scouts honor :)

can be a phone wallpaper

for your computer desktop image 

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'The day it snowed and snowed and snowed ...'

I usually post this story on my dad's birthday,  

(but as things go this time of the year ...)

So without further delay,

 Happy Birthday Bob Fitzgerald 

and here is your story, 

(with a few edits in text and in the illustration from last year :)  

Enjoy!!

'The day it snowed and snowed and snowed ...'

by Virginia Fitzgerald

dedicated to my Dad,

Robert Fitzgerald

My brother and I woke to a sky full of snow, and the feel of magic in the air.

Mom was worried about a big storm, but all my brother and I saw was a day full of merriment and fun.

After breakfast, we played in the courtyard, bundled in our snowsuits, hats, and mittens. 

During lunch, Mr. Schuller, the super, came by to make sure the heaters were working and warned us that this storm was turning out to be a big one! 

Mom watched the TV, as my brother and I watch the snow. 

Daddy came home early from work. He brought some groceries and some friends who were going to stay with us since they were stranded in the city. 

Suddenly our apartment was full of adults, neighbors and friends, music and laughter. We were having a snowbound party. 

As our apartment got louder and louder, the city got quieter and quieter. The snow kept falling, blanketing the streets; no cars were moving, all was as quiet as a graveyard. 

My brother and I gazed out through the steamed-up window watching the storm subside. Daddy joined us to admire the white wonderland, and then asked if we wanted to go sledding?! 

We explode with excitement!!! Yes!!!Yes!!!Yes!!! 

Mom didn't like the idea at all! She thought it was too cold, too late, too dark.  But Daddy convinced her, as long as my brother and I promised to go straight to bed when we got back. 

We promised!!! 

And so the bundling began again, this time with extra shirts and pants and scarfs and socks.  And when we felt as if we couldn't  even move, Daddy grabbed the sled and we tottered off.

The street was so quiet and white, it felt as though we were tiny mice in a giant's castle. All around us were large looming mounds of white, the sleeping giants, casting off dark engulfing shadows, made from the bright moon beams from the towering street lamps.

As we gazed around in wonder I noticed the sidewalk had vanished under these hulking mounds. They were impassable. I thought this would end our adventure right then and there, but my dad didn't waver. 

He trudged through the snow and into the street, where it was not so deep. My brother and I had been told to never play in the street, so we hesitated. 

But Daddy waved us on, explaining that tonight was a special night, with special rules. There were no cars out tonight, in fact, nothing at all was moving so we could be in the street. 

My brother and I looked around, he was right! 

So my brother and I clamored on the sled, my brother nestled in my lap, and we were off, down the middle of Dearborn St. Warm yellow lights streamed out of every window, adorning everything with an enchanted glow. 

As I held on tight to my brother and felt the cold air on my cheeks, I heard the sleigh blades skate along the snow, my brother's quick breaths and my father's boots crushing the freshly fallen snow. 

This was pure magic; to be out so late under the deep blue night sky, to be with my dad who left his friends to be with us, and to be surrounded by such snowy quiet, in the middle of the city, with my brother safe and snug in my lap. 

Later, we clambered back up the stairs, to our apartment, with our cheeks kissed pink with the brisk winter air. And after we pealed off all of our wet coats and boots and mittens and scarves, my brother and I said our sleepy goodnights to the party. Then we stumbled in to our toasty, cozy beds. And as my cheeks and toes began to thaw, snuggled deep under my warm blankets, and I held tight to the magical feeling I had from the day it snowed and snowed and snowed.

me and my dad

the end 

my styling mom and dad at a party