"Can I buy a card?"
"For sure. Which one do you want?"
"That one."
"There are lots...why don't you look through all of them first?"
"No I want that one."
"Who are you going to give it to?"
Shrug. 
"Maybe keep it for yourself?"
Nod and small smile. 
She put money in the donation box. I handed her the card. 
...I have never had someone spontaneously hug one of my cards when receiving it until today.
‪#‎salmondays2016‬ ‪#‎sointula‬ ‪#‎astrongdesign‬ ‪#‎photogreetingcards‬ ‪#‎iris‬‪#‎pwyc‬ ‪#‎pwyw‬ ‪#‎donationbox‬ ‪#‎paywhatyoucan‬ ‪#‎salmondays‬ ‪#‎festivalseason‬‪#‎sharingart‬

By request, I've turned this lovely pic and quote into a card...however, as this poet's work is not public domain, I can't officially print it. 
It's ok to put non-public-domain quotes online (just not to print them on paper - honest, I've researched this), so feel free to share or do what you like with this on your own!
Photo: taken July 2016, Mitchell Bay, Malcolm Island, BC
Poem: taken from Our Quiet Time by Nancy Wood

"Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive." - Howard Thurman
One of my favourite quotes ever. I was going to paraphrase it or write something about it here, but how can one say anything more meaningful or clear than that.
I created it for a friend's website this week - don't know why I hadn't yet designed something around this quote, but am so glad her request finally pushed me to do so.
The photo is of another friend, and another BC roadtrip. Full circle.
‪#‎howardthurman‬ ‪#‎dowhatmakesyoucomealive‬ ‪#‎astrongdesign‬ ‪#‎tofinobeach‬

WHAT INSPIRES ME:
This beautiful soul is Mary. Mary is founder of The Livingroom Community Art Studio in Oshawa, Ontario. At the LRCAS anyone can come in to use the studio space and art materials (and man, oh man, are there ever art materials!) for free. There is a bustling spirit of community, inclusivity, and love here, which you can feel as soon as you walk in the door. Children, the elderly, teens, established artists, the marginalized, the broken, the rich...all share this safe space. "If someone criticizes your work, we will help mediate," says Mary. "If it's your own inner critic that criticizes your work, we can help mediate that too."
The LCAS is open all day Wed-Sat. The frequent workshops and programs are low or no cost. Almost all of the art materials are donated. 
The space operates on grants, donations, and volunteer work. 
Check out their fantastically beautiful website atwww.livingroomcommunityartstudio.org
The LRCAS is part of the Art Hives movement: www.arthives.org
www.paywhatonlineguide.weebly.com
‪#‎thingsthatinspireme‬ ‪#‎paywhat‬ 
‪#‎beautifulpeopledoingbeautifulthings‬ ‪#‎artcommunity‬ ‪#‎arthives‬‪#‎livingroomcommunityartstudio‬

MINDFUL PHOTO PROJECT: Fantastic short talk and "art assignment" (see below) from artist Assaf Evron about how photography, which is often used to capture something quickly, can be a tool for helping us perceive things that normally escape our attention.
THE ASSIGNMENT:
1. Go to a public place that you pass daily and take a photo, not too close and not too far. 
2. Download the photo to a computer and look at it for 3 full minutes (yes three! If your mind wanders, bring it gently back. If you don't notice anything, don't despair - your subconscious will come up with something later!)
3. Return to the location and take detail photos of things you noticed while looking at the original. 
4. Upload your photos and description with ‪#‎theartassignment‬.
Have fun!