KATY PERRY - FIREWORK (FULL SONG)

For today, our message is best communicated in song.

Here's to a much needed reminder and a message from an unlikely source.

Jon Sharpe's Upcoming Trip to Kenya

In just a few weeks' time, Abby's husband Jon will be traveling to Ndhiwa, Kenya on a trip that will change lives - including his own.  He goes with the mission to build desks for the students in that village, and to teach those building skills to the men who live there.  While in Kenya, 2 colleagues with whom he travels will be taking video footage that will communicate to us the incredible stories of the people of that village.

It was several years ago that Jon first met a man from Kenya, Peter Midodo, who was traveling in upstate New York.  Peter spread the word of his dreams for the village and his hope to gain the financial support that would see those dreams become reality.  In response to the great needs that Peter shared, and with increasing excitement for the changes possible, Hope for Kenya was born.

Hope for Kenya is a non-for-profit organization that pledges every penny it raises to go directly to the work in Ndhiwa, Kenya.  They have committed to building a school open to all children, building a water tower and supplying clean water to every person in the village.

Next month, when Jon visits Peter and spends time at the school and in the village, he will have made a specific and tangible difference in the lives of children and parents.  In respect and support, we dedicate this blog today to Jon, and to the people of the village of Ndhiwa, Kenya.

For more information, please see Jon's facebook page, or visit

www.hopeforkenya.org

www.thejoyschools.org

An Unusual Birthday Present

Three weeks ago, when Abby asked me what I wanted to do for my birthday, I could not think of a respectable reply.  I know that at my age (which is a delightfully young 35), the expected response would have been along the lines of, "I don't need to celebrate my birthday anymore!  That's just for young people."  Or perhaps, "Dinner and a movie would be great."  Or maybe even, "A mani-pedi and a facial, please."  But none of those answers rang true for me.  The truth was that all I really wanted to do for my birthday was have a ridiculous amount of silly, stupid, rip-roaring fun.


Fast forward three weeks.  Along with two very wonderful friends, Abby and I spent the day at Six Flags Great Escape in Lake George.  We went on every fast and crazy ride the park offers.  We even went on the SkyCoaster - the 175 foot free-fall ride, which consists of only a harness and a very strong steel cable.  And I went on it twice.  Yes, twice.  In one day.


Four girls, long past our foolish teenage years, screamed, shouted and celebrated in the most outrageous and unusual ways.  We held our hands up in the back row of the Comet.  We plunged down 190 feet on the Sasquatch.  We got absolutely soaked and shivering on the Raging River.  It was the best birthday I could have ever imagined.


So here's to unusual birthdays and fantastic friends.  May this coming year of life be as blessed as the day that kicked it off.  And may all of your birthdays make you as happy as this year's birthday made me.
http://www.skycoaster.com/home.html

Our Muse is The Muse - Uprising

As we embarked on another awesome design project geared towards the empowerment of teens, we immediately reached for this song.  It blared through the office and we could feel our creative juices flowing.  It's even more fun to ride through town with the song blaring and the windows down.  Can't you remember what it felt like to be young, rebellious and free?  It's not too late!

Here's the link to the song!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtZV5XdfqrI

Creativity Explored

Our inspiration today comes from an amazing program called Creativity Explored.  This is a San Francisco based, non-for-profit, visual arts center where artists with developmental disabilities create, exhibit, and sell art.  We are reminded once again that creativity is not limited to a certain age, race, ethic background, education level or financial status.  Everyone has been given a measure of creativity that is seeking a method of release.  Abby's creative expressions are much different than my own.  She draws, designs, gardens and generally makes everything she touches look beautiful.  I instead use words and food as my mediums of expression.  These differences prove that creativity can not be contained by barriers, boundaries or stereotypes.  So here are the pieces of art from Creativity Explored that we fell in love with.  Some are offered through CB2, a company that partnered with Creativity Explored to re-fashion the artwork into textiles for the home. Check out these websites and remember - there is creativity somewhere inside of you as well.

http://www.creativityexplored.org/

http://www.cb2.com/family.aspx?c=170&f=6054

Falling Water

We have made an important discovery.  As Abby was out and about taking pictures for a client, she stopped to photograph a stream beside her house.  There she witnessed firsthand the beauty of the falling water, the reflection of light off the rushing droplets.  With a cleansed and refreshed soul, she entered her house only to discover the beauty of the stream is reflected in the items she uses to decorate her home - mercury glass, chandeliers and shining silver.  Each of these things are reminiscent of falling water.  So today we are taking our inspiration from a flowing, life giving stream.  Here are a few of the photos she took of the stream and of the pieces that are in her home.  We included links to some of our favorite items that are like falling water you can wear!  We hope you are as inspired as we are.

Crystal Steps Bracelet

Bits and Bobs Necklace

Crystal Emerald Necklace

Celebrations as an Essential Part of Life

As I sit at my desk I can hear the squeals of delight from the other side of the office door.  Just outside this tranquil room the many preparations for a child's birthday party are being made.  Balloons are blown up, streamers hung, cakes frosted, and on occasion, an over-excited child is being calmed and cuddled.  Today is Abby's daughter's birthday, and princess pink decorations have invaded every possible space.

Easily, the greatest moment of my day was witnessing the look on the birthday girl's face as she busted through the door after school into the transformed house.  She was clearly overwhelmed and her cheeks flushed bright red.  I was reminded, in that tiny moment, that these celebrations are an essential part of life.

There are seasons when it seems we do not have much to celebrate.  But there are other seasons, thankfully, that bring us a reprieve and give us cause to kick up our heels, throw back our heads and laugh our fullest laughs.  Today we celebrate the birth of a beautiful girl.  But we also celebrate the promise and possibilities that her life holds.  We celebrate the miracle of becoming a family and all that family means.  We rejoice that pink frosted cupcakes can bring such joy.  We rejoice simply because there is joy to be found.  Today we celebrate the necessity of celebrations.  We lift off the pressures of life and work, and we smile.

Why we blog

When you own your own business, and conduct all of that business out of your home, it sometimes feels like you eat, sleep and breathe your work.  Luckily, Abby and I are fortunate enough to love what we do.  Designing and communicating is in our blood.  (If you were to stop by our office you could witness this for yourself.  You would inevitably find Abby creating something beautiful on her computer or with her hands.  As for me?  Well, I'd be talking.)  But our days are filled with work, discussions about work, and more work again.  So we have set aside this place for all the things that inspire us, yet we don't have time to focus on during the business day.  The things that make us want to create, that keep our thoughts running and our words flowing.  This will be our time spent off the clock.  And we hope that what we gather here will give you a glimpse of who we are.  That you might understand what drives us to do what we do: a love for beauty and a desire to share the thoughts and dreams that make this world tick.  As long as the ticking isn't coming from the clock.

Cory Patterson