December 28, 2008

Photo by SharonLee
Scotia Range, central Pennsylvania
Kwanzaa Day 3

Ujima
(Collective Work and Responsibility)

To build and maintain our community together and make our brother's and sister's problems our problems and to solve them together

December 27, 2008

Internal Dialog
2004
acrylic on masonite
48" x 48"

Kwanzaa Day 2

Kujichagulia

(Self-Determination)

To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves

December 26, 2008

Photo by Sharon Lee
Installation at Phipps Conservatory
Pittsburgh, PA
Dale Chilhuly, artist

Day 1 of Kwanzaa

(Unity)
To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation and race.

December 25, 2008

There has been only one Christmas - the rest are anniversaries.

~W.J. Cameron

Peace Always


Sharon

December 24, 2008

From the very day my daughter was born until she was about 13 or 14 when she asked me to stop, I read to my daughter for about an hour before she fell asleep. Although she did not grow up to be an avid reader as I was told and expected, I always felt the power of the word through her imagination and vocabulary.

During the holidays we switched our reading choices to holiday themed books. In December those books were concentrated on the holidays of Chanaka and Christmas. One of our favorite discoveries was L. Frank Baum's "The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus." "Claus" as he is known to the wood creatures was found in the woods and raised by Necile who needed someone to love. It is a charming story and I highly recommend getting copy and reading it regardless of your age.

Happy Holidays

Peace Always

Sharon

December 23, 2008

The Eve before Christmas Eve.............

For the past few nights I have been waking up mid sleep with a sentence or phrase that I thought would work better in the book "Adventures of Sophie". Two night ago I woke up and having found no writing utensil or paper besides my bed I went back to sleep sure I would remember what I had thought of and how i was worded. Last night the same thing happened only this time I used the land line to cal my cell phone and leave a message. Just listened to it a few hours ago-makes total sense and I will gladly use it to replace some of the story that seemed to not flow. This is the page where Sophie leaves her house and crosses her yard to go to the neighbor's yard to visit with the dog that lives there. What I recorded was " The journey was short though not without distractions.

Peace Always

Sharon

December 22, 2008

Photo of Sophie for back cover of book
By Sharon Lee

Finished the bulk of illustrations and writing of "Adventures Of Sophie". All that's left until I switch things over to the computer is to design a cover, spine, back cover and rewrite one of the pages. My goal has been to get all the hard copy stuff (illustrations and writing) done before I start school (re-entering college as an ancient student) mid-January. Next week I will take the illustrations which are black ink on vellum and have them scanned at the photo place in town.

I'm happy with the illustrations, fairly pleased with the writing and think it is a good solid book with potential for series. Used the characters from "Adventures of Sophie" in my Christmas cards this year created for friends and family. Good practice getting to know the lines of the characters as well I got to explore a bit with color of which at this point the book has none of. Will be taking the next few days off, tomorrow to clean an apartment (gotta make the fakin' bacon) and then Christmas and Christmas Eve for food prep., gift exchanging and general insanity.

Happy Chanaka
Peace Always

Sharon