"Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself." — George Bernard Shaw

IN THIS ISSUE

• December 2004 Journal
• What's New @ the CP
• Spotlight

DECEMBER 2004 JOURNAL

Hand Me the Turkey, Please

A couple of weeks ago I was visiting with my sister-in-law. As we chatted about life, my five-year-old niece parked herself across from me at the table, opened up a spiral notebook, and began tracing around her hand with an ink pen. I suddenly realized that it was November, and she was drawing the famous "Hand Turkey" we all delighted in elementary school for the Thanksgiving holiday.

It's fascinating to watch a child create something. My niece didn't give any analyzing thought to how she placed her hand on the paper, or how accurate her turkey rendering was. I was amused as I observed her assuredly and inaccurately trace around her fingers, finishing up a form that barely resembled a hand. Through her eyes, she drew an awesome turkey. Through my eyes, I agreed. I delighted in her uninhibited creativity, and then joined in the creative fun by tracing my own hand.

I find the whole tracing-around-your-hand-turkey concept a fitting symbol of creativity. We take the essence of one form, and with a little bit of imagination, transfer it to another. Try this: Hold up your hand in front of you. Line up all of your fingers, and then separate your thumb from the others an inch or so. Can you see the turkey?

Oh no, this hand turkey stuff doesn't end here. I've devised a way to spread hand turkeys, writing, and thankfulness all across the globe. Well, Thanksgiving is coming up soon, isn't it? You'll find my special feature in What's New below, titled "What Are You Thankful Four?" And that's besides the four-day holiday weekend coming up!

Thankfully yours,

Chris

WHAT'S NEW @ THE CP

What Are You Thankful Four? Hand Tracing Writing Activity
When's the last time you traced around your fingers to make a hand-sational turkey? Well, here's your chance again with our free downloadable turkey hand tracing and writing activity pages that will help you reflect on your seasonal thankFULLness!

Coloring Page: Fall Turkey
Be Creative Adults! (or kids) with this free downloadable turkey coloring page you're sure to gobble up!

Thanksgiving Crafts and Recipe Resources
A cornucopia of crafts and activities featuring food, recipes, turkeys, Pilgrims, and Indians. Plus, holiday decorating ideas and other Thanksgiving fare.

Decorating for Thanksgiving — Budget Friendly Decor for the Holiday
By Home Decorating Digest
Decorating for Thanksgiving on a tight budget can be simple when using elements found around your home or apartment. Here are a few tips for adding that special Thanksgiving flavor to your decor for little or no money.

Decorative Painting Smoking Technique
By Tonya Hopkins
The background of a piece of art can make or break the whole design. The smoking technique is a beautiful, unique background that will be sure to help "make" your work of art. Smoking is a simple yet elegant technique that you are sure to enjoy creating.

Stitching Memories
By Caryl Grecia
There's a new option to the dilemmas of boring photographs and failed charcoal and oil (even water-color) paintings and that is the cross-stitch portrait.

Writing for Kids — A Series of How to Articles
By Laura Backes
Learn tips and techniques for writing for a young audience, including special topic considerations, trends, research, and marketing — plus excellent instruction on general writing, story development, and editing skills.

Forget Everything You Ever Knew About Marketing — It's All About To Change
By Michele Pariza Wacek
Remember that romantic image of the writer? The one where the writer spends his days writing, never worrying about marketing or promoting himself because that was his publisher's job? Well, those days are long gone.

Three tips to improving your writing rhythm
By Michele Pariza Wacek
What I mean by rhythm is how the writing sounds. The rhythm of the words and sentences. It's a subtle aspect of writing, one not normally talked about, but that doesn't lessen its importance.

Free Printable Postcards: "Earthscape" and "Vibrance"
Fine art postcard art of a painted lush flowery field and an abstract of energetic colors.

The Girls of Summer: Rockford Peaches
I had the opportunity to visit the Midway Museum in Rockford, Illinois, to see an exhibit about Rockford Peaches, the famous female baseball team featured in the movie "A League of Their Own."

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Alexandromeda Futuristic Arts
Next time you have an old computer or broken VCR to throw away, remember that your junk may be someone else's artistic treasure. Meet an artist who utilizes computer components, clock hands, and other electronic hardware to create unusual, but magnificent works of art. Witness an amazing high tech universe of assembled sculptures, robots, and science fiction art objects by Alexander.