a peace piece

-Finishing an art piece I've been working on. Inspired by the "Love Too" needlepoint by Paul Smith (see above) that is in Carrie Bradshaw's apartment in the Sex and the City movie, I decided to make my own version. I've been working on it into the wee hours of the morning the last few days, which has proved a very productive way to cope with jet lag that keeps me up. I can barely sew on a button, so needlepoint was out of the question. Instead, I used acrylic on canvas and paper collage. The "A" in my work is made up of various images of political murals in Belfast. Love is a great word, but if I had to pick my favorite word, it would be peace.

-While standing on a stool to hang my painting above the art deco wardrobe I inherited from my old housemate (it even has a skeleton key!), I glanced out my one window in the ceiling which usually only shows a cloudy sky. Perched higher up, I could see dozens of chimneys and hills in the distance.

-A Roma kid asking for more juice after playing hockey at our youth club and his friend tipping half of his cup into his.