present and accounted for

#29 - Conception Bay South, Newfoundland

2011-03-23T19:56:00.000-07:00

Photo by: Pia Taylor

Pia's present is perched on a gorgeous birdfeeder in Newfoundland. Pia emailed me that the Junco's would not come to the feeder while the present was there.

If only the Junco's could have known that they would have been featured in this project! :)

Thank you so much Pia!

#19 - Detroit, MI

2011-03-23T19:38:00.000-07:00

Photo by: Elizabeth Smith Yeats

Elizabeth's present is photographed with the Bell of the Rotary Club of Detroit. Liz emailed me that, "of the 30,000 Rotary clubs in the world, Detroit is number 16, and so has a long and rich heritage."

The motto of this international service organization is "Service Above Self."

The Rotary Club's 1.2 million members attempt to promote peace and well-being around the world, and it is an organization that includes almost every ethnic and religious group.

I am honored to have Liz's photo in this project!

Thank you Liz!

#21 - Dripping Springs, TX

2011-02-06T17:07:00.000-08:00

Photos by Marilyn Flanegan

Wow, the light in Texas is incredible!

That is one amazing shadow on the snow, and what cute pups!

Thank you Marilyn!

#33 - Santa Fe, NM

2011-02-06T16:35:00.001-08:00

Photos by Cynthia Whitney-Ward

Cynthia's present is taking in all the gorgeous sights of Santa Fe.

What an honor having Frida participating too!

Thank you Cynthia!

#25 - Satellite Beach FL

2011-02-06T16:35:00.000-08:00

photo by Carmen Beecher

Carmen's present is sitting beside a shallow canal where a whole bunch of manatees are seeking warmer temperatures .... or maybe they're just trying to check out the present?

Thank you Carmen!

#14 - Southern Ontario, Canada

2011-02-06T16:34:00.001-08:00

photos by, Kim Rempel

Kim tells me that her present is sitting on the opening of a quincy (snow shelter). I haven't been in a quincy before, but it seems like a fun hide-out for a present!

Thank you Kim!

#10 - Cumming, GA

2011-02-06T16:34:00.000-08:00

Photos by Christine Bray

Christine's present is enjoying a snowy garden spot, how beautiful in the snow, thank you Christine!

#8 Oakville, Ontario ....

2011-01-16T20:48:00.000-08:00

Thank you Mary!!

#9 Placerville, California

2011-01-16T20:34:00.000-08:00

Thank you Susanne Billings!!

#5 Ontario Canada

2011-01-16T20:33:00.000-08:00

Thank you Pattie Chorney!!

#15 Millington, NJ...

2010-12-25T10:38:00.000-08:00

Thank you Dorothy Sinclare!

Wishing everyone peace and joy today and every day..

#8 Oakville, Ontario ....

2010-12-24T22:48:00.000-08:00

Thank you Mary!!

the first photo outside the US!!!

#7 Killington, Vermont....

2010-12-24T22:43:00.000-08:00

Photo by Christine Holzschuh

Christine's present is making an appearance on the family Christmas card, what an honor!

Thank you Christine!

#1 Los Angeles, CA ....

2010-12-22T16:05:00.000-08:00

This says it all to me.

Another great photo by Silvina Day that perfectly captures the spirit of this project.

Thank you Silvina!

#1 - Los Angeles, CA .... Presently Giving Thanks

2010-12-22T16:04:00.000-08:00

This present starts us off with the numbered presents!! I'm so excited :) The initial group of presents were not numbered because the thought hadn't crossed my mind. But then I realized it might be more interesting for everyone to track exactly where and how far their present goes.

So this present #1!

The first 'trail run' if you will, of mailing the presents, to my good friend Silvina Day! I love these pictures because giving thanks is so much a part of this project.

Thank you Silvina - for the pictures and for sharing your home and your heart!!

another mystery location...

2010-12-15T11:08:00.000-08:00

Oh my gosh, how I love this photo!! Thank you Ben Franklin!!

Washington D.C. ... Hoping to Make a Difference

2010-12-15T11:06:00.000-08:00

I found this quote by Mrs. Roosevelt that seemed appropriate:

"I think, at a child's birth, if a mother could ask a fairy godmother to endow it with the most useful gift, that gift should be curiosity."

This quote by her is a personal favorite :)

"A woman is like a tea bag - you can't tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water."

Washington, D.C. - Monumental ...

2010-12-14T13:33:00.000-08:00

This is one of several actual photos I received by US postal mail.

Udvar-Hazy Center, Dulles Airport, Washington, D.C.

2010-12-14T13:20:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Carmen Beecher who helped locate this photo!

Carmen's brother-in-law was able to identify this a the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk.

Illinois - golden ...

2010-12-14T13:16:00.000-08:00

Chicago - be still my beating heart ...

2010-11-17T01:43:00.000-08:00

I am soooo excited about this photo of the lakefront skyline!

Thank you Joanne Aono

Chicago - steppin' out ...

2010-11-17T01:29:00.000-08:00

One more by Neha Vedpathak, Chicago

Thank you Neha!!

Chicago - pop culture present ...

2010-11-17T01:20:00.000-08:00

Photos by, Neha Vedpathak, in her Chicago neighborhood corner store
Fabulous!

back to nature ... Indiana

2010-11-17T00:58:00.000-08:00

Taken by Karen Forestmother, in The Red Spirit Forest

Thank you Karen for sending in the first photo!

How it started...

2010-11-16T23:00:00.000-08:00

Originally I visualized the mound of presents all wrapped with silver bows, thinking that the reflecting silver bow, like the reflection in a mirror, might somehow suggest the personal connection each person has to the present (you ARE the present) and the personal connection in giving the present to the next person (they also ARE the present).

But, a last minute opportunity to test out this idea came about during my residency at the Blueberry View Artist Retreat .... where I had 100 blue bows, and zero silver ones.

This turned out to be a happy accident - the blue bow is still a reflecting metallic bow, the color has a direct connection to where the project started, AND it realllllly shows up well in the photos!

Each present has my email address on the white curling ribbon, and every new present will now have this blog's address and be numbered. Hopefully making it possible for everyone participating to know where to send their photos, plus keep track of their present and see how far it goes!

I am so grateful to everyone who has emailed me for presents. My heart is about to burst with excitement! I am making more presents, and will mail presents to anyone who would like to participate :)

The idea .....

2010-11-11T13:56:00.000-08:00

Once upon a time I was given the most appropriate gift by a friend. The gift was a book titled, "The Gift" by Lewis Hyde. My friend, Joanne Aono.

The book begins by giving a wonderful history of gift giving across time and cultures. Especially interesting to me, is that many cultures view gifts as something to be shared not kept. That when someone is given a gift, it is to be accepted and enjoyed, but eventually passed along to encourage the flow of energy and spirit of generosity through out the community. With some cultures going one step further in their belief that 'hoarding one's gifts' could potentially bring negative effects on the self and the community. Yikes!

I wondered how this idea might be thought about today. To even think that what we have really isn't meant to be kept is a challenging thought for me..... I like gifts! I want to keep them! Even harder to think about is sharing non-material gifts - family, friends, pets, nature ....

Then of course there is the gift of life itself. Maybe I'm not meant to keep to myself, but find ways to share myself with others. Try to be a better wife, daughter, sister, aunt, friend, neighbor, stranger.

And so the idea was born ... I would need a huge pile of tiny wrapped presents plus people to join in and help get this going.

I envisioned anyone who wanted to participate could by:
1 - choosing a present from the mound
2 - taking it home or somewhere special to them
3 - photographing the present to document its adventure
4 - emailing it here so we could all watch where our gifts might go
*and most important 5 - when the participant feels the time is right, pass the present along to someone else to continue spreading the symbolic gifts that we each have to share with others.

But it was still just a dream.