From the Mouths of Babes

Lesson 101 : Thoughts Are ...

Peterson and Eldridge, Associates LLC Welcomes Hense Powell

The principals of Peterson and Eldridge, Associates LLC take special pride in announcing the addition of Hense Powell, one of the most celebrated musical directors in the industry, to their team of professionals.

Hense’s incomparable fingerprint as composer, arranger, producer, band leader, song writer and teacher has been solidly affixed on the musical landscape for more than thirty-five years. He has worked with Bloodstone, Bobby Womack, La’mont Dozier, Brook Benton, Charles Wright, Brenton Wood, Nina Simone, Edwin Starr, Richard Dimples Field, L L Cool J, Johnny Bristol, Junior Walker, Solomon Burke, Dorothy Moore, Brenda Halloway, B.B. King, Junior Walker, Tyrone Davis, Little Milton, Robert Guillaume, Margie Joseph and many more. He is himself an accomplished jazz musician; a noted trumpeter and piano player.

Powell’s added presence to the team brings exhilarating opportunities and enhanced potential for Peterson and Eldridge, Associates, LLC artists and clients.

New Poem in Poets and Artists (O&S) June 2010 Issue

Open publication - Free publishing - More art

One of my poems has been included in this issue of Poets and Artists (O&S)! This one is entitled Free Wrapping with Purchase (After Christmas Sale) and can be found on page 82. As with all my poetry, I hope it provokes an 'ah ha' or a nod or a tear or a laugh, or whatever emotion it stirs. If so, I've been true to my art, true to the craft.

It is always a thrill to be included with such extraordinary artistic talents, and this time is no exception. Thumb through the issue now and please, enjoy!

Bloodstone Has New Management Team

Bloodstone


Peggy Eldridge-Love of Peterson and Eldridge, Associates LLC is pleased to announce that Peterson and Eldridge, Associates has recently been named manager of the soul group Bloodstone. Management duties for Bloodstone will be shared by Peggy and Pete.




Peterson and Eldridge, Associates, LLC

Peggy Eldridge-Love
P.O. Box 410554
Kansas City, Missouri 64141
(229)809-3069
plovewriter@gmail.com

Pete Peterson
1214 W. 4th Avenue
Albany, Georgia 31707
(229)431-0906
pretty_pete1@yahoo.com

The 'Hollywood Deception' Red Carpet Online Tour

Poetry in Motion Part Deaux

By Guest Blogger Shelia M Goss

The Hollywood Deception Red Carpet tour makes a stop on Peggy Eldridge-Love's blog. If you've been following me on the tour, you learned last week that although I have nine novels, I started out writing poetry. Peggy is one of my favorite modern day poets so since I'm making a stop here, I would like to share one of my earlier pieces of poetry. My main character Hailey Barnes from my new novel, Hollywood Deception loves poetry just like her creator.

If I Could

by Shelia M. Goss

If I could be anyone else in the world,

Guess who would it be?

I would be just like me,

but Better.

If I could love as deep as the ocean depths,

I would love deeper than any sea could be.

If I could be a star in the sky,

I would be the Sun.

Because the sun brightens up the day

when darkness passes away.

If I could be loved by someone,

I would be loved by you.

If I’m loved by you, then who would I want to be.

I would be just like me,

Why do you ask?

Because I’ve finally found you.

Shelia M Goss is the national best-selling author of six women's fiction novels: Hollywood Deception (2010), His Invisible Wife, My Invisible Husband, Roses are thorns, Paige’s Web, Double Platinum and three young adult books: The Lip Gloss Chronicles series: The Ultimate Test, Splitsville, and Paper Thin. For more information, visit her website: www.sheliagoss.com or www.thelipglosschronicles.com.

What readers are saying about Hollywood Deception:

"With Hollywood Deception Shelia Goss has done it again. Love, lies and delicious drama! Pick this book up and you won't be able to put it down. Be ready though - this fun novel is not a passive read. You'll be yelling at Hailey, relating to her, wanting to slap her and cry with her all at the same time. Hollywood Deception is an all around good read full of scandal, just the way we like it. Well done, Ms. Goss!" ~Abiola Abrams is an Author & Media Personality. Viewers also know Abiola as the host of BET's short film show and Miss Picky of VH1's Tough Love. www.abiolatv.com

“Glitz, Glamour & LOADS of Drama…Ms. Goss once AGAIN keeps me turning the pages with another ENTERTAINING, yet fictional glimpse into the fast-paced lifestyle of a celebrity.” ~ Sweet N Sassy, Book Reviewer

Hollywood Deception is Shelia Goss' ninth book. It's available in hardcover and paperback and is available in stores or online from any of the online outlets such as Amazon.com, BlackExpressions.com, Borders, Barnes and Noble, etc.

George B. Luttrell II 1969

Note: This item is now available on Etsy.

What an interesting find! I found these two prints (silk screen ?) mounted on wooden blocks today in a thrift store. They are by the noted New Orleans artist George B. Luttrell II and are dated 1969, signed boldly on the back of each. One is named in the lower left corner "Balcony 639 St. Peter". Reminds me of a similar find I made not so long ago of a Jorge Dumas "Mother and Child" - a truly awesome piece that dated from 1964 that was signed and numbered.

I've recently acquired several numbered and/or signed pieces that I am researching. A couple of signatures I can't make out, a couple of others I've found limited information on. Then there is one entitled Gotzens by Rietmeyer 1984, a Martin Tang of the Golden Gate Bridge, Pacific Edge by Walton Butts, Rough N' Tumble by Allen F. Brewer, Jr. 1960, something by C.C. Prysioc and another very nice watercolor by an artist named Eunice K. Gavan from 1988.

There are a number of "road less traveled" I like to call them thrifts where I've been finding quite interesting art. One of these days who knows what I'll dig up!

Of this one thing you can be sure!

There is NOTHING too hard for the Lord! Run with it!

Southern Journeys - Papa Jim

I just saw this excellent news clipping about the opening of the African-American fine arts exhibition "Southern Journeys" at the Appleton Museum in Ocala, Florida. A wonderful mention of Sonny's (aka Leroy Allen) portrait of our grandfather "Papa Jim"by the museum director, Ruth Grim, on the second page of the article.

http://www.ocala.com/article/20100401/articles/4011008?p=2&tc=pg

It also brings back all my own memories of that awesome giant of a man. I captured him myself, actually at Sonny's suggestion, in my poem "Papa Jim" from my book You Beckon. He etched him in pencil and I tried to etch him on the tip of my poetic pen.

Here is that poem:


Papa Jim

He came into view, a giant of a man,
as red as the Mississippi dirt he farmed,
as liquid as the artisan springs that flow
unbidden from craggy cliffs and hills
that dot his land.

We poured from the whale-shaped chevy,
road weary but bright-eyed, seeing
for the first time to remember, our dear
Papa Jim.

I think I wrapped myself around a knee, my
brother somehow landed in his arms, while
mother, his daughter, beamed that this
one man's family was, for a moment at least,
all home. Our own father, arms draped about
my sister's neck, waited for his turn.

We were Kansas hicks, not quite city, but
completely dumb to the nature of chickens,
goats and pigs. He led us into hen houses,
rode us through pastures, taught us to swim
in his muddy pond. He was oblivious to the
scent of Magnolias but they became his smell

and when my mind conjures it the box of colors
in my memory come to life.

We must have driven back across
that wooden bridge that had no rails,
surely there were hugs and waves
goodbye, and at some point his image there
standing in the middle of the road shrunk into
the distance,

surely,

but though decades have mounted
and the earth has claimed him I have
never left those sun hours spent in
the radiance of his wholeness.

Through him I am.


You Beckon - 2002 - Write On Writers, Publisher - Peggy Eldridge-Love

Putting My Hand to It

"My First Bird" Work in Satin, Peggy Love 2010"

"The Cook's Last Meal" Mixed-Media, Peggy Love 2010

It has been a month since I took the plunge. A month of seeking a sense of direction and exploring creative impulses. In truth, it has mostly been a month of just plain fun. At this point I'm not taking anything I turn out too serious. It is more giving head to whatever comes.

A couple of works-in-progress that have "come" include a mixed-media work tentatively titled "The Cook's Last Meal". It's a quasi-needle sculpted doll, stuffed, but not wired, no painted face as yet - not sure if it is calling for one. At first I was building it around a doll head I'd created sometime ago from Cernet clay, but it took on another feel; a need to be mounted on canvas with a story to tell. The dear old cook, after one too many hot days in the kitchen has keeled over on the kitchen floor. I think she'll be able to get up ... at least the hope is that she will, but she, along with her faithful old trivet, are at the moment down for the count.

"My First Bird", on the other hand, is ready for flight. The inspiration came from a thrift store find - a thick book of vintage satin fabric swatches - that were just begging for some special use. Thus, my first attempt at creating a stuffed bird. I drew and cut out a patten, rattled through my boxes of sewing notions, and let the imagination fly. What fun!

Otherwise, I am writing. Actually I'm taking a few creative writing courses to bolster my confidence and expand my skills (I hope). The triggers and the cracking of the shell of new ideas is fabulous. The words are starting to just pour forth. I'm so grateful.

That's my update. I can only hope next month is as productive and holds as much fun!

Leroy W. Allen; The Man, The Artist, The Brother

Partial image of 'Papa Jim', Leroy W. Allen, on cover of Studio Museum of Harlem Spring 2002 program

First Anniversary of 9/11 issue of Kansas City Star with watercolor by Leroy W. Allen titled 'Closer Still'

'Jessica' watercolor, Leroy W. Allen (Private Collection, Copyright J.Clark and L. Allen)

Leroy W. Allen

The Man
Coming upon this third anniversary of the death of my brother, Leroy Allen, it is the bittersweet savor of the depths of his gift as an artist, the strength of his character as a man, the love he exuded as a father, son, brother and uncle that has taken on a radiant new light for all the world to see which touches me, his sister, most.

He was a quiet, private man, who loved with the force of an ocean, was unashamed to show his gentleness, was fiercely loyal and who lived by the code that his word was his bond.

That is the Leroy we knew, and is slowly becoming the one so many others now see through the pictures he created and the words he left behind.

The Artist

There were many facets to his art. He had award winning works in oils, watercolors, pastels and pencil and charcoal. He became a noted figurative artist, but also created a body of works in still life and landscapes. His art can be found in the collections of major corporations such as Sprint, in galleries such as The Nerman Gallery of Contemporary Art, and in national fine art tours. The Kansas City Star's first anniversary of 9/11 issue was a full page watercolor of Leroy's titled Closer Still.

In several instances though, his figurative characters were members of the family. His celebrated piece, Papa Jim, is a nearly life sized charcoal drawing of our maternal grandfather, a Mississippi farmer. Another watercolor, titled By Faith, is of an elderly aunt who was blind whom he asked if she would trust him and remove her dark glasses so he could capture her essence on canvas.

Yet another extremely poignant watercolor work titled Jessica is of a beautiful little girl about to participate in a wedding, but the story behind the painting is that he poured his love and grief for our mother, following her death, into every single stroke, down to and including the shining light reflected off her tiny patten leather shoes.

Brother, Father, Son and Uncle

It is the love of this man and for this man that we, his family, celebrate his living now. He was truly our blessing.


Papa Jim is included in the fine art tour Southern Journeys (click on the second gallery image) which is just being launched by ExhibitsUSA. I had the inexpressible pleasure of seeing the drawing of Papa Jim for the first time again in December 2009 since approximately a year before Leroy's death in 2007. It was that bittersweet savor of the love of this man, this profoundly special human being, that radiated out to me as I connected with this extraordinary work and him once again. It left me with a warm, and undeniable sense of well-being.

Leroy was our blessing. He always will be.

One

Organizing the Venture

So, finally, I've done it! I've taken my leap of faith and the venture begins in earnest. The first two orders of business will be mentally relaxing and transitioning from heading to work everyday to giving myself permission to follow my creative instincts where they lead instead. The second will be organizing the various areas in my house where I can focus and concentrate on a specific "discipline" with some reasonable sanity! That is the true challenge.

The easy one I'm tackling first. Where to store and organize the wonderful collection of yarns that I've both purchased and been gifted from friends. I don't want them in the area where I sew and create dolls because the tools, the materials, the mind-set and the commitment are totally different. I find that I really tend to knit wherever I go around the house, so it is more the storage and the ability to have colors, textures, needles and hooks where they ought to be when I want or need them that this space needs to provide.

I'm also improvising with the storage, using empty copy paper boxes for now to house some of the yarns until I can acquire something more aesthetic ... which may be never! The other bins are great for storing the knitting tools, purse handles, snaps and the like, receipts and instruction books, and my more expensive or unusual yarns.

So this is step one in organizing my venture. Once I have my creative studio spaces in order my mind will be much more at ease and the primary venture -- my writing -- will flow much better as well. I'm excited!

Roles Not Rules

Copyright Nudgies Greeting Card - See: I Can Bend

Roles change. The issue is that we sometime don’t recognize, acknowledge, and move into those changes in a timely fashion. When we don’t our lives start to sputter and stall much like a car with worn out spark plugs. We keep emotionally turning the key, putting our foot on the gas, and sometimes our engines will turn over and we’ll start to move, but we know things aren’t as they should be, and know absolutely that it is time for a tune-up if we want to continue to travel forward.

Recognizing, understanding, and accepting role changes can be one of life’s most rewarding opportunities. It isn’t easy necessarily, but it doesn’t need to be horrifically difficult either. We just have to be willing…to grow.

If you are a Christian, as I am, you know that throughout the Bible no one who was used of the Lord remained the same. They were in constant movement, constant challenge, constant growth, and constant need of His guidance and direction. David, for example, started out as a shepherd boy and ended up as a King. Mary began as a quiet young virgin and became the mother of God. Paul was the enemy of Christ and became His most ardent proponent.

Their roles changed. They had to let go of something in order to take hold of something more, something greater than themselves and their own limited image of just what they wanted or just how they thought it should be. And, they had to sacrifice their grip on pride and fear in order to move into the realm of the unknown will of God.

My roles have changed. My roles are changing. I am learning and I have begun to reach up and out so that I can crawl into the open arms of the Lord’s will for me. I’m growing.

Gratefulness

Gratefulness is so powerful. It really is. It is also an event, an occurrence, a type of other world experience when it hits you with all its undeniable evidence.

Yesterday it slammed into me with such force it was almost more than I could comprehend. I was driving, out much earlier in the morning than normal, headed to take care of a task that has become somewhat arduous, and with lots of other nagging little things on my mind. My route though was taking me past parts of the city that were a part of my childhood, adolescence and early adulthood and the memories began to flow.

One by one I thought of what had been a part of my life as opposed to what might have been. I was so keenly aware of the love, of the favor, of the opportunities, of the kindness, of the grace, of the support, and so very much more. And as those thoughts cascaded the floodgates of gratefulness were thrust open and I saw how much I had truly to be thankful for from the moment I was born.

That journey to gratefulness was priceless. My pulse raced, the tears fell, and the praise arose. The more I thought, the more clear the minute details of my every little blessing became to me. How they all were as opposed to how they all might have been.

Having taken that powerful journey once I know I'll never take my life's blessings for granted again, and I pray I'll be able to retrace my travel to gratefulness time and time and time again. It changes things.

Who You Gonna Call...

After a particularly trying day last week I was driving and whining aloud "I'm so tired, Lord. So tired!". It felt like my soul was breaking and my voice rose to a higher octave as I really got into my anguish mantra when, to my surprise, I heard myself saying, "I am so blessed, Lord. So blessed!" The praise took over from there. Even though the cheerleader of the enemy tried to yell louder about my anguish, it was drown out, no match, for the victor who had taken its place! By the time I arrived at my destination I knew I was blessed, knew I had renewed energy to spare, knew that I, in fact, could do all thing through Him who strengthened me! And, I did.

Back on Point

Photo: Angela Luchianuic

Okay! Time to take stock and move accordingly. I really more or less took the year off. I wrote next to nothing. A poem here, a poem there, but I avoided the serious demand of focus and commitment that runs parallel to my purpose. I didn't feel like writing, so I didn't.

I drew, I painted, I knitted, I crafted and crafted and crafted some more. I enjoyed myself immensely. I gained momentum in the visual arts and proved to myself that I had some artistic depth I wasn't sure I had. But, I didn't write.

In 2010 I will write. I have so much to write about. So much that marinated and fermented, that rose like emotional yeast and which
must now come into its own. I have to write now about betrayal, about promise, about enlightenment, about full circle, and about the never ending goodness of the Most High God.

So, with that in mind I've had my original web site, PeggyEldridgeLove.com web site updated so that it is inclusive of what I feel is my artistic growth, but more because it is the tangible evidence to me that I am a writer and that I must write.

My blog, this blog, will return to more of what it has been too. On occasion I might share something I'm doing above and beyond writing and art, but it will be the exception-not the rule.

It's time.

Your Lid

It's "THE HAT" if you need to beat the cold, set the style, or make it your own "can't live without it" piece of art! Wearable fiber art at its best.

The Hat by Peggy Eldridge-Love is just for you. Whether you set its crown vertical or horizontal, or put it to the front or to the back it takes on your personality!

Available in an array of colors and mixes.

The Hat

Photos: Copyright Peggy Love

I made this hat after making one similar that my husband picked up and started to wear. He called me a few days later to say "hey, I thought you might like to know that I'm getting tons of compliments and inquiries about this hat you made!" I was surprised because I hadn't really been that excited about his when I finished it.

But, after his comment I thought "hmmmm" and decided to make one for myself. I wore mine and before the day was over I'd had numerous requests that I make them for people for themselves and to give as holiday gifts.

The thing I like is that each hat contours to the wearer's head and becomes a very individual creation! I didn't use a pattern, I just thought I'd try something that came to me in an "ah ha" moment that seems to be working out well!

So, this is "The Hat"!


Email me for more information.

More colors, more fabrics!

Photos: Copyright Peggy Love

If You Know Someone Who Wants One for Christmas

This is before she slipped into her "Body Magic"


And this shot is right after putting her "Body Magic" on!

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Click here if a Body Magic is on your wish list or your gift list for details, sizing, how to measure and anything else you need to know.

Merry Christmas!

Common Sense the Baby Boomer's Ace

Photo Copyright Peggy Love

Not too long ago I found myself in a situation in which I was confronted with an avalanche of information that I needed to absorb and absorb in a matter of a few short weeks. Just about everything seemed to be riding on it, but I realized I was no longer 21 with a 21-year-old steel trap for a mind. The temptation was to panic, but that task demanded action, not panic, so I shifted myself into fifth gear!

As a little girl, my mother used to tell us to put our book under our pillow when we went to sleep after we had studied our lessons. I realize now it was a physiological ploy on her part, but it always seemed to work! So, under my pillow went the materials I needed to absorb, night after night.

Read it aloud, record it and play it back to listen to throughout the day as time allowed. Yep, the age old study tactic, but I employed it also. The old art of focus and concentration through listening and comprehending returned full force.

I also remembered a possible memory enhancer supplement I'd recently purchased but hadn't yet started to take regularly. I began that regiment, too.

I don't know which of my actions was the catalyst for success, but when time came to meet the demand I was facing I met it and accomplished it with confidence and ease! It was a reminder that even in this age of light-speed information it may well be that ageless common sense that we fail to remember and draw upon when we need it most that tips the table in our favor.

Why not dust yours off and see where it takes you some time

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This looks interesting:


And this is my recently acquired constant listening/recording companion!