Showing posts with label holiday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label holiday. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

The story behind 'The Christmas Violin'

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The Christmas Violin and how it came to be:


I remember the morning as if it were minutes ago. Winter was tumbling into spring and I woke up from a dream that followed me like a shadow.

I was standing on the stone steps of a cemetery. A young woman with beautiful red hair played the violin in front of a small granite tombstone in the shape of a teddy bear. I was mesmerized, watching her slender fingers dance as the violin bow tickled the strings.  She was playing a lullaby, a beautiful lullaby.

From my perch, I saw an old homeless woman watching the violinist, peeking out of a cluster of arborvitae bushes. And I also saw a young man, dressed in a suit, watching the violinist from a few graves away.

That’s the image I woke up with and I couldn’t get it out of my mind. Even when I tried pushing it aside to work on something else, it wouldn’t let me. It had a real attitude and, gosh darn it, I was going to listen.

So I did. I learned a long time ago not to fight my characters when they are insistent that I come out to play. So I stopped ignoring them and said, “Okay, if we’re going to do this, I need each of you to help me tell your story.”

Friday, December 23, 2011

Google Doodle plays 'Jingle Bells'

Just what I've been waiting for -- holiday Google Doodle!




Under each letter in "Google" is a colored light. Click on a light and the screen turns black and the letter above the light changes into an object (Santa, Snowflake, Bell, Snowman, Candle and Present) When you've clicked on all of the lights, you will hear sleigh bells and then "Jingle Bells." The presentation finishes with search results for "happy holiday."

Love it!

Other cool Google Doodles
Google Doodle honors Diego Rivera
Google Doodle honors Mark Twain
Create your own hand turkey for Thanksgiving
Google doodle honors Louis Daguerre
Google Doodle honors veterans
Google Doodle honors Marie Curie
Google Doodle celebrates Halloween
Google Doodle honors Art Clokey, creator of Gumby and Pokey
Happy Birthday Google
Jim Henson

Friday, December 9, 2011

Sharing an Aha Moment

OK. So I admit it, this doesn't have to do with writing, but it does have to do with being creative and thinking outside of the box.

Here's a link to a post I did on the Smart blog. For those not-in-the-know, Smart magazine is a glossy, bi-monthly women's magazine that my staff produces. Brand extensions include a Facebook page, Twitter account and a way cool blog.

Anyway, I turned a Starbucks cardboard coffee cup sleeve into a napkin holder and two gift tags. Find out how I did it.The post includes a video, but you got to promise not to laugh.

Monday, December 5, 2011

TV commercials Part 1: Dolls

Watching all of the Christmas commercials reminded me of some vintage ones. Enjoy! 

Chatty Cathy




Barbie




Monday, November 28, 2011

It's that time of year....

It's that time of year when the TV is rockin' with a blizzard of holiday specials. Totally love it! Here are some headed our way. Do you have a favorite? Mine is "It's a Wonderful Life." I talk about it in this post.

"Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” 8 p.m. Tuesday on CBS

—"Christmas in Rockefeller Center,” 8 p.m. Wednesday on NBC

—"Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town,” 8 p.m. Thursday on ABC

"CMA Country Christmas,” 9 p.m. Thursday on ABC

"It’s a Wonderful Life,” 8 p.m. Saturday on NBC

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Holiday emoticons

Some holiday emoticons for you to use.

Christmas tree *<<<<+

Angel O:-)

Santa Claus *<[:-)

Really Happy :-))

Do you have any to share?