Brick & Mortar Friends: Maxine's Floral

Here's our big weekly "HOWDY!!!" to one of our cool brick & mortar friends . . . .

This week:  "Howdy, Maxine's Floral!"

(all photos from Maxine's website.)

Located at 8811 Roosevelt Way in Seattle, "The shop is kind of like walking into Munchkin Land in the Wizard of Oz" (according to its own website.) 

Because along with amazing floral lovelies . . . .

Maxine's also whips up all kinds of gifty-gifts . . . .

and all manner of loveliness, which spark folks "to come in to get their happy fix."  Indeed! 

Maxine's Floral has been serving the Seattle community since 1983.  Bean Up The Nose Art totally salutes your creativity, passion, and business savvy!  Which is evident not only in your fine brick-and-mortarness, but also in your cool on-line social media presence:  Facebook and Twitter (@Maxine'sFloral.)  And Bean Up The Nose Art so appreciates your addition of our greeting cards to your arsenal of goodies.  Thank you so much, Maxine's!  YOU ROCK!!  

Getting YOUR art out there in the world!

This week, Bean Up The Nose Art has been feeling the love. Folks' responses to the Marin Independent Journal's Sunday "Snapshot" article (which you can check out here) have been overwhelmingly kind. Superduper nice postings on our Facebook page. And even on OTHER PEOPLE'S Facebook pages! And great comments to the I-J website. Feels so darned excellent.

(This photo and the following: curtesy of Meghan Roberts and the Marin I-J.)

Want to know how this piece came to be?

Well.

Fabulous sales coach Anna said during a coaching session many months ago, "You have a great story!"

And so, being the adult version of the tot who'd stuck a bean up her nose . . . I sent a funny e-mail to the Marin I-J "Lifestyles" editor and flat-out asked, "Well, want to do a story about me?!?!?!"

To which she replied, "We'll put that information in our files . . . ."

So, we went about doing our work.


And then, many months later we got an e-mail: "We would like to do a story about you!" HOORAY!!!

Then, because of scheduling issues, another several months elapsed.

And THEN, we got ANOTHER e-mail: "We can do that story about you now!" DOUBLE HOORAY!!!

So, there was a phone interview, and a very terrific photographer came out to the studio. And, voila: Sunday's article and photos.

What can we learn from all of this?

1. Wow. We've got some really nice friends! Thank you so much, everyone, for your kind e-mails and phone calls and posts and links and comments in response to this article.

2. You never know how long something is going to take, or when it's going to pop back up on the screen of your life.

And, what we believe is the really big important lesson here . . . drumroll, please . . . .

3. YOU'VE GOT TO BLOW YOUR OWN HORN!!!!

Folks, we've got to drum stuff up for ourselves!!! We've all got to enter into the world with both feet, and with purpose and intent, and with that darned sort of determination to stick the bean up your nose and see what happens!

Yes, there is magic in the world. We believe in lots and lots and lots of it, and in the mystery of how things appear and reappear and pull themselves together and then rearrange themselves again.

But we also believe that folks need to enter full-force into that mystery and MAKE SOME STUFF HAPPEN.

It does not serve you, your art, or anyone to be reluctant. Nope! WE NEED YOU OUT HERE!!!

So, to get this party started, here are four quick suggestions of ways and places:

1. Post your art on your Facebook pages. Please! Really! People love to see what you're doing. It is a great, free, easy, fast way to start getting your art out in the world. (Do whatever you want re: watermarking, reserving rights, etc. We don't claim to have any expertise in that regard.)

2. Become a member of the Marin Arts Council and get your work into any of the several shows now scheduled for the remainder of 2011, and into 2012. (Click here for a list.)

3. If you write, consider entering REAL SIMPLE's 2011 essay contest. (Click here to check it out.)

4. Take an internet stroll over to the wonderful world of Inspiration at Art Chix Studio and enter their ongoing contests and swaps. (Click on "activities" there to see what they've got going on, and the deadlines.)

Voila! We're hoping you'll take us up on at least one of these suggestions :) More art = more better life. For you. And for all of us. THANK YOU FOR PLAYING!!!!

Featuring: Poetry by Askia Humphrey

Here at Bean Up The Nose Art, we love to feature the works of other artists. Often those are visual artists. But last week, we got out and about and heard the latest offering in the Marin Poetry Center's 2010-2011 Reading Series.


And heard the butt-kicking poetry of Askia Humphrey.



Before we get to his poetry, let's talk about the Falkirk Cultural Center and the Marin Poetry Center.


Located on Mission St. in San Rafael, CA, the Falkirk Cultural Center is an amazing old Victorian mansion, on grounds with a garden. It regularly hosts shows of all kinds, and is available for rental privately as well.

You can check out the Falkirk Cultural Center here.

The Marin Poetry Center is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to furthering the love of poetry. It offers a rich variety of programs and events and publications for poets and poetry-lovers. For example, a $25.00 membership guarantees you a reading of your work in Marin County, and a chance to be published in the yearly anthology. You can check the Marin Poetry Center out here.

Coolness abounds at their "Third Thursday" readings, which feature excellent local poets. Which is where we come to the work of Askia Humphrey.

Who has a day job at Avatar Community Business Center in Fairfax (which we love), and whose poetry will blow you away. But you have to come see him at readings . . . because he hasn't disseminated it elsewhere yet. Which is soon to be remedied, with an upcoming blog where he will be posting his work. For now though, you need to find him at readings . . . like the next upcoming on June 6 at the Marin City Library.


If you are very lucky, you will be there and hear him read poems like "Orpheus," in which Askia wrestles with death and loss and mortality in ways that will leave you in tears. Some of his poetry heros are William Carlos Williams, Pablo Neruda and W.B. Yeats. And those guys would be proud of Askia. Growing up in Oakland and many other venues in the U.S., Askia trained as a dancer and moved into prose, and then poetry -- which, as he related in the question and answer session after his reading, is really "language boiled down to a syrup." Yes, indeed.


Wishing you the best of luck, Askia. And wishing that all of you folks will get the chance to hear and read his work whenever possible.

Brick & Mortar Friends: Sloat Garden Centers

"HOWDY!!!"  to Sloat Garden Centers, Bean Up The Nose Art's featured brick-and-mortar-friend-of-the-week.

See that circle up at the top of the sign? (This sign is at their Kentfield, CA location.)  It says that venerable Sloat has been locally operated for over 50 years.  Whoot!!!!   

Now at 10 locations in the San Francisco Bay Area, the Sloat nurseries started at a Sloat Boulevard corner in San Francisco back in the 1950s.  In 1962, Dave Straus began working at Sloat as a 14-year-old . . . and eventually became owner.  That is some amazing work and spirit.

Not only do Sloat nurseries have terrific facilities, and wonderful plants, pottery, equipment, gifts and other great things for sale . . . but the company also participates in a variety of awesome community programs -- many of which are featured on their excellent website.  

For example, a food drive running from May 21 to 3o . . . where everyone who brings in an unopened can or box of food gets a free 4" veggie plant . . . and is encouraged to plant, grow and harvest extra veggies to donate to local foodbanks.  

The website offers a space where gardeners' groups can advertise their programs.  And a Gardener's Notebook that lets you know what should be going on in your garden each month of the year.  

The website also offers recipes.  Explains a Gardener's Reward program.  

And gives a list of scheduled events and programs at the stores throughout the Bay Area.

And gives you an opportunity to ask the Gardener's Guru questions about your own garden. 

 
That's not all.  Along with great stores, an excellent website, and its community involvement, Sloat also reaches out to folks through Facebook and on Twitter.  (Find them at @sloatgardens.)

And at the Mill Valley, Kentfield, San Francisco and San Rafael Sloat stores . . . you can find Bean Up The Nose Art greeting cards.  YAY!  

We salute you, Sloat Garden Centers, for your excellence, savvy and determination in growing your business over these past 50 years.  For providing beauty and sustenance in your terrific plants.  And for what you give back to the community, and promote through the wonderful world of web information.  (And, of course, for carrying our goodies :)  YOU ROCK!!!

* * * * * * *

Bean Up The Nose Art gives a big old gigantic THANK YOU to the Marin Independent Journal for featuring us in today's "Lifestyle" section (and for plugging that on the front page -- wow!!!). You can check it out here.  Thanks so much for this coverage, IJ!!! 

Let's talk Twitter

Do you tweet? Are you on Twitter?

That's what we're going to be out in the world asking folks, once a week.

Call it "#twitterquest."

Because Bean Up The Nose Art is unabashedly in love with Twitter. And wants to spread the love around. And make the world an even better place. Through the magic of Twitter.

So, once a week, we're going to be putting on this shirt.

It says:


And we'll be putting on this hat.

This is our #twitterquest uniform. When you see us wearing it, you'll know what it means. It means we're going to go walk right up to you ask, "Do you tweet?!?!?! Are you on Twitter?!?!?!" And if you are, we are going to tweet about your fabulousness right then and there. It will be a live tweet stream of who we find on Twitter, and where we find them.

Different venues each week. Which will be interesting and tweet-worthy itself: where do the tweeps hang out? (For those of you not yet on Twitter -- and why aren't you!?!?!? -- that is a combo of "Twitter" and "peeps" which of course means peeps who are on Twitter.)

Museums? Ballparks? Coffee shops? Car dealerships? WHO KNOWS?!?!?!? But we're going to find out, and we're going to let you know. Once a week. On our #twitterquest.

tweet * tweet * tweet * tweet * tweet

Now you might be asking, "Why do you love Twitter so much?"

Bean Up The Nose Art initially resisted all social media, thinking that it was The Scourge Of Civilization, The Downfall Of Society, and The Worst Way To Spend One's Time.

Bean Up The Nose Art was Wrong In The Worst Way.

Bean Up The Nose Art started posting on Twitter as @tamholland at the end of March. In that short time, such loveliness has occurred . . . .

The local folks who follow us have come to Art Days. Come to Open Studios. Sent bean-related gifties to us in the mail. Gone out for coffee with us and talked about ways to social network and grow groups and businesses.

BUT THAT'S NOT ALL!!

When you're on Twitter, you start building relationships with folks all over the world. The farther-away folks who follow us have bought Bean Up The Nose Art goodies from the website. Have followed and commented on this blog. Have edited our writing. Have encouraged and laughed and supported in such terrific ways.

BUT WAIT! YOU ALSO GET . . . .

the chance to exercise your writing muscles on Twitter, by posting tweets . . . and the chance to read and be entertained by people tweeting amazing, funny, heartfelt, fascinating stuff 24/7.

In other words . . . .

We thought social media represented and facilitated the worst in humanity. Turns out Twitter mostly brings what is the very best in humanity. And ironically, it makes this big old crazy complicated world a little bit smaller. Being on Twitter ends up giving you the kind of connection that we used to have walking down the streets and smiling at each other. It appears that people are too busy and stressed to do that these days. Want a real smile now? Go to Twitter!

tweet * tweet * tweet * tweet * tweet

You might also be asking, "How does #twitterquest sync with Bean Up The Nose Art"?

Well now. As our name itself reflects, Bean Up The Nose Art is all about this very spirit. Try something new! Be brave! Be curious! Stick a bean up your nose to see what happens! And then . . . . report the results to others in your own way . . . like announcing to your mom after you've put the bean up there, "I don't have a bean up my nose . . . ."

So, look for us wearing our Twitter shirt and hat. Get ready to tell us your Twitter handle. We'll be tweeting about you. Because if you are on Twitter, YOU ROCK. And if you're not yet there . . . we're hoping our evangelical verve will get you there soon. We'd love to follow you.

Hey there, Hap46stArts!

Bean Up The Nose Art happily introduces you to fellow Marin Arts Council member -- and fellow CrossFitter! - Edwin Ferran and his Hap46stArts.

Hey there, Edwin!!!

The "Hap" is for "Happy," which was what everyone called Edwin when he was growing up at the corner of 46th St. and 6th Ave. in NYC.  He drew even then.  

These days, he lives in San Rafael -- where this spring, he participated for the first time in Marin Arts Council's Open Studios.   And a fine studio he's got, indeed, on the ground floor of the house he shares with wife Susan (another rocking CrossFitter. Yay!)

Edwin began painting about eight years ago, when Susan gave him a set of acrylics.  He quickly moved into oils.  This is one of his first works.

He worked in landscapes mostly, and then began moving into more abstract and impressionistic works.

And the walls of his studio are bedecked with works of from both worlds.

Along with being an artist and CrossFitter, Edwin is also a darned kind person in his day job:Director of Learning and Innovation at a Santa Rosa non-profit that oversees Headstart, school readiness, homelessness and gang-prevention programs.

And he shares his studio space with Archie.

For all of these things, we salute you, Edwin!!!! YOU ROCK.

Open Studios Gratitude

One of the best things about having a blog is the forum it offers for expressing gratitude.  In the Cloud.  On the Internet.  Out in The World.  Where the people who have done REALLY, REALLY NICE THINGS get to be shouted about -- with links :)  

Here, Bean Up The Nose Art unfolds its gigantic "THANK YOU!" Valentine of love for folks who made it all the way out to Woodacre, CA, and partook of the two weekends of Open Studios through the Marin Arts Council.  (Even when it HAILED.  Which it did yesterday morning.)  

There were neighbors.  Lots and lots of these good people . . . including Kathy C. and Andreas, who always love the art supply garage sale portion, and buy Bean Up The Nose Art goodies, too.  Also newly-met neighbor Kris C., who shared the great story of re-uniting on Facebook with her high school sweetheart 30 years later -- and they just got engaged.  And lovely Amy R. up the hill, who teaches terrific yoga classes.  And wonderful next-door peeps Ann and Richard K., who are always incredibly generous and supportive.  And fun.  And fellow Woodacre artist family Justine Tatarsky, who does great art tiles.  And Gail W., who's a true lion in the death penalty defense community, and who also happens to live in this little hamlet.

Gym folks made the trek!  Like Brian B. and Heather K., who spent time and money, and got a lesson from Clarke on the backyard bees.  And web-dude Todd, who came out with his entire family (and who also rocks it at CrossFit).

Thank you to family support!  Brother and sister in law Julie and Al, and their friends Amy and Tom, took a side-trip in their travels and sat a spell.  It was great to see you!  And fabulous daughter Meryl and boyfriend Chris spent a day helping out, and even working on the house.

Thank you to amazing old friends who drove miles and miles and took time out of their weekends to be here and shop and visit.  SO LUCKY!!!  Like @dianamyee and @tahoer33d -- those are their Twitter handles :) -- with whom I got to talk Twitter, and reminisce about the fact that we've known each other SINCE FIFTH GRADE!  And who else was wonderful for coming on out?  Our fifth grade teacher herself . . . the amazing Ms. Rathjens, whose class transformed all of us.  And who drove up in his Magnum P.I.-like Ferrari but Jerold O., from Pinole Valley High School.   It was a blast.

As it was also lucky to spend time visiting with new friends.  Like Twitter buddy @dianefischler . . . who shared coffee and laughs and support during a particularly slow time.  Such a treat!  And Ellen C., who was so kind to Bean Up The Nose Art when she worked at Marin Arts Council, and who has now gone on to more adventures in her kick-ass life.

Bean Up The Nose Art is also grateful for the chance it got to roll out some new stuff . . . like goodie bags of random papers and ephemera and ribbons and other yumminess with which you can make your own collage piece.  So whimsical and fun to be able to put these together, and so great that they took right off.

Immense gratitude as well for the $176 y'all raised on Sunday, May 8 (Mother's Day) by buying Bean Up The Nose Art goodies -- all of which go to the Red Cross earmarked for Alabama tornado relief.  

And now, imagining magic in all of your lives, for all the good that you do for you and yours, and those that you love.  Thanks for the outpouring of kindness and love that we got to experience here these past two weekends.  It was a joy to behold.

 
Y.O.U. R.O.C.K.!!!!

Brick & Mortar Friends: Hearts & Flowers

Here's Bean Up The Nose Art's weekly, "HOWDY!!" to one of our brick & mortar friends . . . this week, Hearts & Flowers in Tiburon, California. 

Located at 1 Blackfield Drive, Hearts & Flowers' banner proclaims its gratitude for being able to serve its community for 25 years . . . and indeed, it's more like 32!!!  Owner Peggy O. founded the shop in 1979, when transitioning out of her job as a buyer for Joseph Magnin (a classy name known by those of us who grew up in the SF Bay).

Let's take a look inside, shall we?  Welcome to the triumvirate of rooms that make up this swell shop and cafe.  (Coffee?!?!?  Did someone say, "Coffee!?!!?" WE.  ARE.  IN.)

  


Peggy reports that back in the late 1970s, "the only place you could get flowers out of a bucket" was Cost Plus.  Voila.  Birth of Hearts & Flowers, where, as their website lovingly proclaims, "The best reason to buy flowers is for no reason at all!"  And we love THAT!!

Today, flowers-in-buckets abound.

As do other sweet treasures for young and grown alike.

And . . . cards! 

Yay!!!

Thanks so much, Hearts & Flowers, for carrying our Bean Up The Nose Art greeting cards in your wonderful place.  We applaud your passion for flowers, and your longevity in your community.  Great work.  YOU ROCK!!!