https://mmedesigns.net/2020/11/25/happy-thanksgiving-eve/2020-11-26T18:18:45+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2020/11/04/conversations-with-kathy-remembered/2020-11-04T22:11:15+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2020/10/30/women-vote-today/2020-10-30T22:01:45+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2020/08/22/natures-intelligent-design/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/tree-of-life.jpgTree of life2020-08-22T19:14:03+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2020/08/18/women-vote-women-vote-100-years/2020-08-18T16:13:40+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2020/08/15/flashback-to-march-lock-down/2020-08-15T21:49:50+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2020/08/10/remembering-zorro/2020-08-10T22:29:11+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2020/07/03/prayers-for-friends-close-by-and-at-a-distance/2020-07-03T16:57:20+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2020/06/20/rare-ring-of-fire-solstice-eclipse/2020-06-20T18:02:32+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2020/05/10/happy-mothers-day/2020-08-09T22:47:45+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2020/04/25/a-flower-for-liu-in-heaven/2020-04-25T18:10:15+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2020/03/27/on-this-beautiful-day/2020-03-27T23:34:25+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2020/03/16/quiet-time/2020-03-16T21:55:10+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2020/03/14/thanks-met-opera/2020-03-14T17:26:24+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2020/03/10/succulent/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/yellow-flower.jpegyellow flowerhttps://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/purple-flower.jpegpurple flowerhttps://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/green-star.jpeggreen star2020-03-10T20:59:37+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2020/03/07/after-the-showers-clear/2020-03-07T22:11:42+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2020/01/01/happy-new-decade/2020-01-01T18:10:50+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2019/12/24/where-you-are-is-where-you-are/2019-12-24T20:20:15+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2019/12/14/break-time-over/2019-12-14T22:47:42+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2019/12/12/two-cats-which-meows/2019-12-12T22:09:47+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2019/11/13/new-bird-in-the-hood/2019-11-13T22:09:55+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2019/10/09/right-on-abs/2019-10-09T17:11:27+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2019/09/13/happy-full-moon-friday-13/2019-09-13T20:32:13+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2019/09/12/merry-viv-stopped-by-last-night/2019-09-12T16:24:37+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2019/07/24/working-on-big-project-but-still-enjoying-nature/2019-07-24T22:38:06+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2019/06/11/fannys-menagerie-transcribed/2019-06-11T23:22:15+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2019/05/07/off-on-new-adventures/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/riding-girl.jpegRiding girl"You should pray for a sound mind in a sound body." Design by Meredith Eliassen, 2018. 2019-05-07T16:29:17+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2019/04/14/bring-it-on/2019-04-14T23:09:10+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2019/03/27/heavy-bear/2019-03-27T22:39:22+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2019/03/25/bugs-with-gilded-wings-and-such/2019-03-25T20:25:27+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2019/03/06/a-foo-ey-kinda-day/2019-03-06T22:54:01+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2019/02/14/love-is-the-color/2019-02-14T17:19:42+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2019/02/08/the-worlds-torrent/2019-02-09T00:34:40+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2019/02/03/natures-counter-programming/2019-02-03T23:02:04+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2019/01/23/birds-of-a-feather/2019-01-23T17:36:42+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2019/01/05/eclipse-time-a-quote/2019-01-07T19:02:09+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2019/01/04/welcome-to-cat-nation/2019-01-04T23:59:30+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2019/01/01/happy-new-year-dance/2019-01-01T19:22:38+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2018/08/08/color-play-trade-wine-bead-motifs/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/albers20.jpegAlbers2020 features Tibetan letterform of “tsa” with ancient eye bead motif designed by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/albers19.jpegAlbers1919 features Sephardi letterform of ‘kopf” with ancient eye bead designed by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/albers18.jpegAlbers1818 features Yerushalmi letterform of “tzadi” with trail bead motif, designed by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/albers17.jpegAlbers1717 features letterform “Q” with eye bead motif, design by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.2018-12-24T21:44:57+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2018/12/24/merry-christmas/2018-12-24T21:28:20+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2018/12/12/black-and-white-studies/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Yerba-Buena.jpegYerba BuenaYerba Buena by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Star-Flower.jpegStar Flower"Star Plants" by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Shakespeare.jpegShakespeareBee and Tudor Rose by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Maritime-Plauts.jpegMaritime PlautsMaritime plant by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Dahlia.jpegDahliaDahlia by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Carrot.jpegCarrotCarrot by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Start.jpegStartDragonfly by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.2018-12-12T19:27:50+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2018/12/11/ideas-need-light-to-grow/2018-12-11T22:25:31+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2018/12/05/bug-rap-featuring-l-wum-k-t-did/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/thistle.jpegThistleMeanwhile, the “bud” carried a maritime plant seed that grew into a giant thistle on an island where it took root and was given the space to grow. Drawing by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/bug-rap.jpegBug RapFamiliar things are comforting; that’s why little children like to hear the same stories over and over again. Lil’ Wum is actually the farmer’s friend, he helps to improve the soil and nurtures organisms and increases the amount of air and water that get into the soil and leaving behind castings that provide valuable fertilizer. A plant’s roots allow it to receive the nutrients that Lil’ Wum carries. What Lil’ Wum does not realize is that the bird flying above carries a seed that could become a great plant. Drawing by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.2018-12-06T00:08:39+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2018/11/23/black-friday-rant-why-am-i-reacting/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/bull.jpegBullIf you are reading this, then you are not currently shopping online, offline or reading about what you should be buying in some marketplace... welcome to this place. Stylized ox design by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.2018-11-26T22:24:04+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2018/11/22/happy-thanksgiving/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/heart.jpegHeartWhile closed in due to bad air quality, I drew a critter thanksgiving prayer in a heart: "let us come before his presence with thanksgiving and show ourselves glad of him." Design by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.2018-11-26T22:21:24+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2018/11/26/trusting-porcupine/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/porcupine.jpegporcupineStylized little California porcupine greets a butterfly, drawing by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.2018-11-26T22:18:52+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2018/08/20/explorations-with-interaction-of-color/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/albers3.jpegAlbers3Chinese 3: Albers had students utilize color papers to do exercises so that they focused on the interaction of color rather than mixing colors. Design by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/albers2.jpegAlbers2European 2: Reading color is contextual because we perceive color within spatial contexts. The interaction of color is seeing what happens between adjacent colors. Gestalt psychology asserts that human behave and perceive in unified patterns, the parts of which cannot be understood in isolation. Design by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/albers1.jpegalbers1European 1: Visual memory is not very good. Humans discern color less effectively than audio and many know only about thirty colors. Design by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.2018-11-25T22:52:05+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2018/11/14/the-illuminators/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/illuminators-november-14.jpegIlluminators November 14The Illuminators show up in an initial of "I" -- design by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.2018-11-25T22:36:03+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2018/02/09/always-wise-what-do-love/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/maplestream.jpegmaplestreamMaple leafs floating in a stream design by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/lax-what-do.jpegLax what do“what-do-?-love” words by Robert Lax (1915-2000) from “In the Beginning was Love: Contemplative Words of Robert Lax,” edited with an introduction by S. T. Georgiou (2015), design by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.2018-11-24T22:57:56+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2018/10/31/happy-halloween-2/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/dragonfly-flower.jpegdragonfly flowerDragonfly in flower costume gets ready to go to the Butterfly’s Ball on Halloween. Design by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.2018-11-24T22:45:15+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2018/11/07/election-night-muse-for-the-elders/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/we-the-people.jpegWe the peoplePreamble to the Constitution of the United States scribed on November 6, 2018 by Meredith Eliassen.2018-11-24T22:20:36+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/01/05/looking-back-to-illumination/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/mer-illume-fav-2.jpgmer illume fav 2A leaf from a French Book of Hours, circa 1420, photographed by R. I. Otterbach in late afternoon light on an autumn day in 2014. The reversal of numbers in the years amuses me.2018-11-14T23:57:34+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2018/10/24/insect-studies/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/insects.jpeginsectsInsect sketches mounted on Japanese paper, by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/moth.jpegmothCeltic moth design by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.2018-10-24T21:27:02+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2018/10/19/tudor-roses/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/tudor-rose.jpegtudor roseTudor rose design by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.2018-10-19T21:31:37+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2018/10/03/you-know-you-want-to-give-that-neighborhood-tree-a-big-hug/2018-10-19T21:29:36+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2018/08/24/its-abw-still-teaching-the-fish-to-swim/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/teaching-fish-to-swim.jpegteaching fish to swimDesign by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.2018-10-19T21:27:00+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2018/09/22/mystery-critter-landed-on-my-drawing-board/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/creature.jpegcreatureDrawing on handmade paper by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.2018-09-22T22:14:08+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2018/09/17/to-those-in-florences-path/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/bible-tells.jpegBible tells“Jesus Loves Me” is a hymn written by Anna Bartlet Warner (1827–1915) based upon 1 Corintians 6:18. The lyrics first appeared as a poem. Her older sister Susan Warner (1819–1885) used it in a novel called Say and Seal (1860), in which the words were spoken comfort a dying child. The Warner sisters often collaborated, and Susan is best remembered for her The Wide, Wide World (1850). “Jesus Loves Me” design by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.2018-09-17T20:19:24+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2018/08/23/beloved-friends-be-safe/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/oceans.jpegOceans“Ocean thou mighty monster,” designed by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.2018-08-23T17:17:38+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2018/08/15/the-many-faces-of-color/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/albers5.jpegAlbers5Chinese 5: Our eye’s ability to adjust its retina is a means to adjust to higher or lower light condition; when seeing gradual gradations between light and dark, humans are often unable to distinguish between subtly lighter or darker colors so that some shades of gray get lost. Design by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/albers4.jpegAlbers4Babylonian 4: a color has many faces that are reflected in experiences that are relative in nature. Observations of color within different contexts creating deceptive optical illusions. Design by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.2018-08-15T16:20:02+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2018/08/14/deceiving-color/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/albers8.jpegAlbers8Ancient Roman 8 illustrates after-image color deception. The human retina receives three primary colors (red, yellow, or blue); by staring at the red, it becomes fatigued and sensitive to red sections so that a subsequent sudden shift of focus to white will cause the mine to perceive red’s complimentary color. Design by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/albers7.jpegAlbers7Ancient Egyptian 7 illustrates the concept of the subtraction of color to show that color can perform many roles. Design by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/albers6.jpegAlbers6Hindu 6 illustrates the concept of middle color to show that color performs simultaneous functions. Design by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.2018-08-14T16:32:16+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2018/08/13/colors-illusions/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/albers11.jpegAlbers11Roman 11 illustrates color boundaries and plastic action, a space-illusion employed by Paul Cézanne (1839-1906), design by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/albers10.jpegAlbers10Greek 10 shows that transparent illusions occur as color gains light only in direct color.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/albers9.jpegAlbers9Ancient European 9, circa 12th century illustrates the illusion of transparence when color mixture leads to a loss of opacity so that it appears transparent or translucent. Design by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.2018-08-13T15:58:56+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2018/08/10/the-impressionists/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/albers13.jpegAlbers13"Mayan 13" illustrates the Bezold Effect, another optical illusion, named after a German professor of meteorology, Wilhelm von Bezold (1837–1907), who discovered that a color may appear different depending on its relation to adjacent colors, which happens when small areas of color are interspersed. Design by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/albers12.jpegAlbers12"Mayan 12" illustrates optical mixture where color dots change other colors by merging into a new color, which was used by Impressionists. Pointillism is a technique of painting in which small, distinct dots of color are applied in patterns to form an image. Georges Seurat (1859-1891) and Paul Signac (1863-1935) developed the technique in 1886, branching from Impressionism. Design by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.2018-08-10T16:58:37+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2018/08/09/thursday-on-the-trail-bead-motif/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/albers16.jpegAlbers1616 features trail bead motif, design by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/albers15.jpegAlbers1515 features experiment with intersecting color (middle mixture color) that would have been more successful using paper instead of ink; the result was too murky. According to Albers this exercise should illustrate a new deception the “fluting effect” found in a Doric column, which shows the illusion of volume. Fluting in architecture is the shallow grooves running vertically along a surface. The term typically refers to the grooves running on a column shaft or a pilaster, but need not necessarily be restricted to those two applications.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/albers14.jpegAlbers1414 features tonal parallel intervals, design by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.2018-08-09T22:03:54+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2018/08/07/more-free-studies/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/albers-23.jpegAlbers 2323 features a light blue base color, design by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/albers-22.jpegAlbers 2222 features a light green base color, design by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/albers-21.jpegAlbers 2121 features Greek letterform of “upsilon” designed by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.2018-08-07T22:01:20+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2018/08/06/free-studies-y-z/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/drawings86.jpegDrawings8:624 features a light blue base color, design by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/albers-26.jpegAlbers 2626 features a mauve base color, design by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/albers-25.jpegAlbers 2525 features a red base color, design by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.2018-08-07T00:12:04+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2018/07/30/the-early-bird-catches-the-worm/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/hungry-rooster.jpeghungry rooster"Hongry rooster don't cackle w'en he fine a wum." Words from "Uncle Remus and his Friends"(1892) and drawing by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.2018-07-30T17:36:36+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2018/07/25/visual-afterthoughts-lydia-maria-child/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/associationof-ideas.jpegassociationof ideasLydia Maria Child (1802-1880) began her career almost two centuries ago, and some of her writing is dated, yet some resonates today in odd ways. She address the contradiction in American society as to whether to conserve of consume with her association of ideas. Child also offered this thought: The United States is a warning rather than en example to the world.” This odd group including a bird, bees, a squirrel, a whale, a wax doll, and a horse appeared in “Fanny’s Menagerie,” Rainbows for Children (Boston: Ticknor and Fields, 1847): 119-131. Design by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.2018-07-25T18:19:32+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/11/02/dia-de-los-muertos-day-of-the-dead/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/zaid.jpegzaid"Grace went searching for the first couple who dared to open their eyes in Eden of being alive." Words by Gabriel Zaid and image designed by Meredith Eliassen, 2016.2018-07-23T16:44:50+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2018/07/23/going-in-search-of-albers/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/rosehip.jpegrosehipRosehip design by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/lucky-spirit.jpeglucky spiritLucky Spirit design by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.2018-07-23T16:43:03+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2018/07/14/for-a-wanderer/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/lax-soul-quote.jpeglax soul quote“The soul cannot rest in the landscape, no matter how fine.” Words from “In the Beginning was Love: Contemplative Words of Robert Lax,” edited with an introduction by S. T. Georgiou (2015), design by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.2018-07-14T20:38:40+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2018/06/27/summertime/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/butterfliesflower.jpegbutterflies:flowerTwo butterflies explore summertime, design by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.2018-06-27T22:45:05+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2018/06/25/summer-lull/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/yerba-buena.jpegyerba buenaIn a quiet moment... a drawing of some neighborhood yerba buena by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.2018-06-25T23:38:33+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2018/05/21/lydia-maria-child-and-the-national-movement-to-prevent-animal-cruelty/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/river-wood.jpegRiver woodLydia Maria Child is best remembered for her joyful poem, “The New England Boy’s Song about Thanksgiving Day,” better known as, “Over the River and Through the Woods,” first published in 1844, which conveys human/nature inter-reliance in everyday life. Design by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.2018-05-21T22:53:02+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2018/04/17/adventures-of-the-saucy-little-squirrel/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/squirrel-tree.jpegsquirrel treeThe saucy little squirrel depicted in an early American embroidery design drawn by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.2018-05-08T22:39:51+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2018/04/18/object-lessons-the-horse/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/running-horse.jpegrunning horseLydia Maria Child started her writing career utilizing the horse as an object lesson because it was familiar to children and because it offered lessons in character development that children could relate to. Drawing of horse is by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.2018-04-18T18:02:54+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2018/04/16/learning-to-treat-animals-kindly/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/lamb-bird.jpeglamb birdLucy’s lamb talks to a bird, design by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.2018-04-16T21:52:59+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2018/03/19/mimoukas-adventures-at-home/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/monkey-cat.jpegMonkey catThe flatterer seeks some benefit at your expense. “The Monkey and the Cat” by Aesop retold and illustrated by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/monkey1.jpegmonkey1Introducing Mimouka enjoying her favorite pastime at home, design by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.2018-04-13T18:24:47+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2018/04/06/child-within-a-natural-context/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/purple-flower.jpegpurple flowerThe flowers seek to console Marian until a beautiful benevolent spirit came upon them smiling and said, “Beautiful and fragrant ones, be not afraid of me, I come to ask your assistance in conveying the good young princess to a happy home, where she will never more know trouble (24).” The flowers assist by giving up their fragrances to create a concoction that helped Marion to sleep eternally. Flower drawing mounted on Japanese paper, by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/yellow-flower.jpegyellow flowerHaving no playmates, Marian talks to the flowers, “as if they were intelligent beings, that can understand her words (11).” When Marian’s mother dies, she perceives that she has become an angel, “gone to dwell with celestial beings (18).” Marian refuses to leave the side of her mother’s grave and the doctors soon observe, “If she keeps ever wakeful, and this profound melancholy continues, she will certainly become insane (23).” Flower drawing mounted on Japanese paper, by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/red-bird.jpegred birdLydia Maria Child sought to reform with inherited literary genres. Rose Marian and the Flower Fairies is a translation of a German legend about a fifteen-year-old girl named Marian who lives in a verdant mountain community, and Marian who relates more to nature than to other humans. Bird drawing mounted on Japanese paper, by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.2018-04-13T18:19:39+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2018/04/12/an-awakening-part-1/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/sheep.jpegsheep"Bah, bah, bah!" The sheep asserted as he wrapped Fanny's shall around him and took a piece of torn carpet for a cap. Design by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.2018-04-13T18:17:29+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2018/04/09/there-is-no-place-like-home/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/red-pony.jpegred ponyA little red pony from the magician’s shadow box inspired by an ancient carving of a reclining horse found at a burial site at Tuva, Siberia, design by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.2018-04-13T18:14:47+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2018/04/13/appearances-can-be-deceiving/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/donkey.jpegdonkeyDonkey’s nose may seem a little out of joint, but he is a sweet fellow. Collage constructed with Japanese paper by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.2018-04-13T18:11:42+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2018/04/11/an-awakening-part-2/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/whale-neptune.jpegwhale neptuneImage of Neptune-Whale was inspired by a nineteenth-century Native American textile design, drawing by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.2018-04-11T17:09:05+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2018/04/10/movements-in-american-reform-transcendentalism/2018-04-10T21:06:10+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2018/03/23/1844/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/lamb.jpeglamb“Little girls should never feed animals with any new food, without asking advice of those who are experienced.” Quote from Lydia Maria Child, “On Keeping Animals,” in The Little Girl’s Own Book (243); design by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.2018-04-10T21:02:16+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2018/04/05/a-city-and-its-dogs-san-franciscos-bummer-and-lazarus/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/bummer-lazarus.jpegBummer lazarusJournalists depicted Bummer and Lazarus’s exploits in very humanistic terms during the early 1860s, endowing the adventures of two nasty feral dogs with romance and drama. This drawing of Bummer and Lazarus as working ratters is by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.2018-04-05T20:21:50+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2018/04/04/exploring-childs-animal-landscapes/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/prairie-dogs.jpegprairie dogsIn a story featuring a strong Native American female character, Lydia Maria Child suggested that animals have alternative societies. This drawing of prairie dogs, inspired by the story “Willie Wharton,” is by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.2018-04-04T21:31:08+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2018/04/02/critter-transformations-and-character-development/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/grizzly-tom.jpegGrizzly TomGrizzly Tom inspired by Lydia Maria Child’s story “Pussy Malta and Grizzly Tom,” written specially for Our Dumb Animals 2: 11 (April 1870): 105. Design by Meredith Eliassen.2018-04-02T16:55:49+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2018/03/15/ides-of-march-a-storm-brewing-look-what-it-brought/2018-03-22T21:53:47+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2018/03/21/mimouka-doing-the-twist-in-ancient-times/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/monkey-camel.jpegMonkey camelDo not try to ape your betters. “The Monkey and the Camel” by Aesop retold and illustrated by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.2018-03-21T17:15:22+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2018/03/20/mimoukas-adventures-abroad/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/monkey-dolphin.jpegMonkey dolphinOne falsehood leads to another. “Monkey and the Dolphin” by Aesop retold and illustrated by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.2018-03-20T18:02:44+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2018/03/16/still-looking-for-that-four-leaf-clover/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/dickenson.jpegDickenson“To make a prairie it takes a clover and one bee, one clover and one bee, and revery. The revery alone will do, if bees are few.” Words by Emily Dickenson, No. 1755, design with one four-leaf clover by Meredith Eliassen, 2018. 2018-03-16T21:26:47+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2018/03/12/remembering-three-healers/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/barley.jpegbarleyFor Jennifer Golick, Christine Loeber, and Jennifer Gonzales Shushereba with the Pathway Home at the Veteran’s Home of California in Yountville, California, and for all of the good people who continue to work with our veterans who need healing after serving. “The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few…” (Matthew 9:37), drawing by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.2018-03-12T16:39:28+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2018/03/09/hints-of-spring-from-lax/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/lax-light-water.jpegLax light water“the-light-is-still-up-on-the-wa-ters-the-sun-is-still-up-on-the-sea” inspired by the words of Robert Lax, design by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.2018-03-09T19:09:20+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2018/02/27/siegfried-condensed/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/old-man-rhine.jpegOld Man RhineThe Rhine River as an old man knows what starts in the River, is fated to return to the River. Design by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/dragon.jpegdragonMime despairs as he imagines the ferocity of the dragon, Fafner. The Wanderer also arrives at the entrance to Fafner's cave, where Mime’s brother Alberich keeps vigil. A forest bird sings to Siegfried of a woman sleeping on a rock surrounded by magic fire. Siegfried, unaware that intimacy brings vulnerability, wonders if he will learn to comprehend fear from this woman, and follows the bird to the rock. Siegfried, confronted by the Wanderer, does not recognize him as his grandfather, and insolently responds before continuing on the path towards Brünnhilde's rock. The Wanderer blocks Siegfried, but the youth only mocks him, laughing at his floppy hat and his missing eye. Siegfried breaks the Wanderer’s spear, the symbol of Wotan's authority, with a blow from his magical blade, Nothung. Wotan calmly gathers up the pieces and vanishes. Siegfried passes through the ring of fire, emerging on Brünnhilde's rock. At first, he perceives the sleeping armored figure to be a man. However, as he removes the armor, he discovers a woman beneath. She is the first woman he has ever seen, and at last Siegfried understands the power of fear. Design by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/wanderer.jpegWandererConceived out of the year of failed revolutions – 1848 – Richard Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen (1876) is a fusion of drama and epic narratives forged in a cultural hearth of shifting ideologies. Wotan disguised like an old man, becomes the Wanderer. Mime twists plots to obtain the ring of power created by his brother. Siegfried returns from his wanderings in the forest with a wild bear in tow, and immediately breaks the new sword. Mime has raised Siegfried as a foster child. Similar to The Fool, Siegfried complains to Mime that he has never learned the meaning of fear. Siegfried arrives, and the Wanderer questions the youth. Design by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.2018-02-27T17:38:40+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2018/02/21/the-rat-with-a-bell/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/mouse-and-bell.jpegMouse and bellMoral: He who is raised so much above his fellow creatures as to be the object of their terror, but suffer for it in loosing all the comforts of society. He is a solitary being in the midst of crowds. He keeps them at a distance and they equally shun him. Dread and affection cannot subsist together. Design by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.2018-02-21T18:51:49+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2018/02/20/brrr-where-shall-we-our-breakfast-take/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/3-ravens.jpeg3 ravensNevermore and tow companions followed me to work, asking, Where shall we our breakfast take? I thought about it for a moment and recommended the fried rice at our neighborhood take-away in honor of Chinese new year... they agreed and took flight. Design by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.2018-02-20T17:33:08+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2018/02/16/happy-chinese-new-year/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/brown-dog.jpegbrown dogWelcome Earth Dog! Earth Dog humans are communicative, serious, and responsible in the workplace. Design by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.2018-02-16T18:08:02+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2018/02/14/in-memory-for-alice-kindness-makes-everyday-valentines-day/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/moth-heart.jpegmoth heartSome California Indian tribes consider moths to be sacred and powerful creatures that are spirit guides into mystery, darkness/light, and transformation. Design by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.2018-02-14T18:25:50+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2018/02/08/what-does-beach-weather-in-february-mean-its-paisley-time/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/green-paisley.jpeggreen paisleyOkay, the sun has come out green paisley design by Meredith Eliassen, February 2018.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/blue-paisley.jpegblue paisleyCool blue paisley design by Meredith Eliassen, January 2018.2020-10-29T17:43:13+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2018/01/30/the-boys-and-the-frogs-be-nice/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/old-frog.jpegold frogAt last, the oldest and bravest of the frogs made a stand, and said: "Oh, please, dear boys, stop your cruel play! Though it may be fun for you, it means death to us!" Design by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/frogs-rock.jpegfrogs rockTwo frogs dodging rocks... design by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.2018-01-30T23:39:50+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/05/07/a-new-day/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/nordicfish.jpgNordicfish"Nordic Fish," inspired by a circular fish motif from a medieval manuscript, was designed by Meredith Eliassen, 2016.2018-01-24T17:32:42+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/10/11/too-much-politics-already-where-is-little-star/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/little-start.jpeglittle-start"Twinkle, twinkle, little star, How I wonder what you are! Up above the world so high, Like a diamond in the sky. When the blazing sun is gone, When he nothing shines upon, Then you show your little light, Twinkle, twinkle, all the night. Then the traveler in the dark Thanks you for your tiny sparks. He could not see which way to go, If you did not twinkle so. In the dark blue sky you keep, And often through my curtains peep, For you never shut your eye 'Till the sun is in the sky. As your bright and tiny spark Lights the traveler in the dark, Though I know not what you are, Twinkle, twinkle, little star." Poem by Jane Taylor (1783-1824), design by Meredith Eliassen, 2015.2018-01-23T18:51:29+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/08/31/sarah-fielding-the-literary-fairy-tale/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/woman_with_crown.jpgwoman_with_crownDesign of "princess" by Meredith Eliassen, 20162018-01-23T18:47:52+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2018/01/23/a-nature-parable-active-and-passive/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/sundial.jpegsundialGatty's motto for this story: “They also serve who only stand and wait,” is from Milton, 1673 Poems, design by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/weathercock.jpegweathercockThe Weathercock was having a rough day... design by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.2018-01-23T18:43:09+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2018/01/16/new-year-new-haiku-from-issa/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/butterfly-haiku.jpegbutterfly haiku“The year’s first butterfly full of swagger” is a Japanese stylized butterfly riddle design… where the spider’s web is caught in the butterfly’s wings. Haiku by Issa, design by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.2018-01-19T19:08:44+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2018/01/19/a-haiku-prayer-from-issa/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/bat-haiku.jpegbat haikuHaiku by Issa: "Hot night - bats dangle at the river's edge" with design by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.2018-01-19T19:06:54+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2018/01/18/rosamonds-choice/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/purple-jar-b.jpegpurple jar bRosamond proceeded to empty the purple vase into the sink only to discover that when the vase was empty, it was no longer a purple vase. It was just plain white glass that appeared to be the beautiful color from the liquor with which it had been filled. Design by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/violet-shoe.jpegviolet shoeRosamond pointed at a big hole in her shoe. "My shoes are quite worn out, can you get me another pair?" Design by Meredith Eliassen, 2017.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/purple-jar-a.jpegpurple jar aDesign of the purple jar, inspired by consumer parable by Maria Edgeworth (1768-1849), by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.2018-01-18T18:33:16+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2017/05/11/the-flatterers-reward/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/crow-cheese.jpegCrow cheeseThe Crow lifted her head to perform her best “Caw! Caw!” But the moment she opened her beaks, the piece of cheese fell to the ground to be snapped up by Mr. Fox. Design by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/fox.jpegFoxFox design by Meredith Eliassen, 2017.2018-01-16T21:31:43+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2018/01/08/the-mermaid-and-the-woodcutter/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/owl-moral.jpegowl moralHonesty is the best policy. Owl design by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/mermade.jpegmermadeMermaid design by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/woodman.jpegwoodmanWoodcutter in the forest... designed by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.2018-01-08T17:59:43+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2017/12/13/peace/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/dove-and-laurel.jpegdove and laurelDove offering laurel design by Meredith Eliassen, 2017.2017-12-13T22:05:55+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2017/12/12/by-rose-for-rose-a-dreamcatcher/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/rose-dreamcather.jpegrose dreamcather“Women tell their stories rising into the air along the edge of the world.” Rose M. Hickey, 2012.2017-12-12T22:21:42+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2017/12/08/old-boar-and-the-fox-featuring-a-javalina/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/scan-2.jpegScan 2Dragonfly design by Meredith Eliassen, 2017.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/scan-3.jpegScan 3Cactus design by Meredith Eliassen, 2017.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/scan-6.jpegScan 6No tree trunks were harmed in the telling of this fable. Design by Meredith Eliassen, 2017.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/scan-41.jpegScan 4https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/scan-4.jpegScan 4Playing in the role of Old Boar is a javalina from Sedona. Design by Meredith Eliassen, 2017.2017-12-08T22:59:16+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2017/11/16/the-country-mouse/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/country-mouse.jpegCountry mouseCountry Mouse design by Meredith Eliassen, 2017.2017-11-16T22:05:28+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2017/11/14/bee-and-berries/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/bee-and-berries.jpegbee and berries2017-11-14T21:29:43+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2017/11/05/meanderings-4-re-lax/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/lax-poem.jpeg“wa-ter-writes-sun-lights-writes-wa-ter-writes-sun-light-writes-sun-light-sun-light-writes-on-the-wa-ter-wa-ter-wat-er-writes-in-the-light” poem by Robert Lax, design by Meredith Eliassen, 2017.2017-11-05T22:34:42+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2017/11/03/meanderings-3/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/sun.jpegsunhttps://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/kite1.jpegkite2017-11-03T16:09:17+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2017/11/02/meanderings-1-2/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/kite.jpegkitehttps://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/shoreline.jpegshoreline2017-11-02T16:39:06+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2017/11/01/nevermore-in-costume/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/raven.jpegraven2017-11-01T16:51:11+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2017/05/25/armadillo-symbolism/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/as-to-boundaries.jpegAs to boundariesThe armadillo’s shell acts as its physical and spiritual boundary protecting the safety of its entire being. Armadillo design with words from Tecumseh: “As to Boundaries, the Great Spirit knows no boundaries,” by Meredith Eliassen, 2017.2017-05-26T18:22:47+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2017/05/26/pygmalion-and-the-wizard/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/pygmalion.jpegPygmalionDrawing of Pygmalion the Parrot by Meredith Eliassen, 2017.2017-05-26T18:21:05+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2017/05/22/the-sun-never-says/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/sun.jpegSun“Even after all this time, the sun never says to the earth, ‘You owe me.’ Look what happens with a love like that, it lights the whole sky.” Words, “The Sun Never Says,” by Hafiz, design by Meredith Eliassen, 2017.2017-05-22T21:04:26+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2017/05/19/we-all-do-it-quote/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/parrots.jpegParrots“By necessity, by proclivity, and by delight, we all quote.” Words by Ralph Waldo Emerson, design by Meredith Eliassen, 2017.2017-05-19T22:41:16+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2017/05/12/little-friends-can-prove-to-be-great-friends-indeed/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/lion.jpegLionAesop: Kindness is never wasted. Design by Meredith Eliassen, 2017.2017-05-16T20:25:07+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2017/05/16/little-by-little-does-the-trick/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/crow-and-the-pitcher.jpegCrow and the pitcherA lesson from Aesop: “In a pinch, good use of our wits may help us out.” Design featuring pitcher with an Etruscan cat motif by Meredith Eliassen, 2017.2017-05-16T20:23:04+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/08/04/more-from-dante/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/dante_blue.jpegDante_blueDante Alighieri (1265-1321) “Puro e disposta a salire alle stella=Pure and disposed to mount unto the stars.” Purgatorio, canto 33, 1, 145. Creature of Celtic design, by Meredith Eliassen, 2016. 2017-05-10T17:44:05+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2015/04/24/article-published-on-french-artist-simeon-pelenc-1873-1935/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/bird-family.jpgBird FamilyFour birds in a stylized design by Meredith Eliassen, 2012.2017-05-10T17:42:30+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/10/07/prayers-for-anyone-in-matthews-path/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/life_truth_love.jpglife_truth_loveLIFE * TRUTH * LOVE designed by Meredith Eliassen, 2016.2017-05-10T17:40:00+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/06/17/in-unity/2017-05-10T17:38:41+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/07/27/another-dangerous-operatic-triangle/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/norma.jpegNormaDesign featuring Celtic motifs from the "Book of Kells" by Meredith Eliassen, 2016.2017-05-10T17:37:12+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/08/18/oh-yes-gotta-have-more-from-bill/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/tiger.jpgtiger“O Tiger’s heart wrapp’d in a woman’s body.” King Henry IV, Part III: York’s monologue: words by William Shakespeare, design by Meredith Eliassen, 2016.2017-05-10T17:36:18+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2017/02/20/breaking-bread-with-nevermore/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/img_0345.jpgimg_0345Nevermore about to take off with his feast.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/nevermore.jpegnevermore"Nevermore" in flight before discovering an abandoned English muffin, portrait by Meredith Eliassen, 2017.2017-05-10T17:35:15+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2017/04/11/unity-birds-for-survivors-hub-series/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/survivor.jpegSurvivor“Survivor. I stumbled, fell, I cried, why, Abba! You lifted me, showed me who I was meant to be... one step at a time.”https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/doves.jpegArt Deco Birds - pinkSurviving requires unity of thought, purpose, and action despite adversity. The three birds in flight symbolize spiritual unity that brings healing individually and collectively. Design by Meredith Eliassen, 2017.2017-05-10T17:34:14+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2017/05/10/type-casting-and-coming-attractions/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/mouse.jpegMouseLittle brown mouse design by Meredith Eliassen, 2017.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/bees.jpegBeesBees buzzing design by Meredith Eliassen, 2017.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/ant.jpegAntA Celtic ant design by Meredith Eliassen, 2017. 2017-05-10T17:33:05+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2017/05/03/watch-out-little-hog/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/watch-out.jpegWatch out“Watch out w’en youer gittin’ all you want. Fattenin’ hogs ain’t in luck.” Quote by Joel Chandler Harris, design by Meredith Eliassen, 2017.2017-05-03T17:39:51+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2017/05/02/introducing-notch-as-brer-rabbit/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/rabbit2.jpegRabbit2"Notch the Rabbit," design by Meredith Eliassen, 2017.2017-05-02T18:07:00+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2017/05/01/may-day-off-and-running/2017-05-01T16:28:07+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/about-illustrative-parables/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/rabbit1.jpegRabbit12017-04-28T17:33:42+00:00weekly0.6https://mmedesigns.net/2017/04/28/oh-how-the-feathers-flew/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/ah-oh-bird.jpegAh Oh BirdDisheartened, the Jay was compelled to return to his own kin-birds. Design by Meredith Eliassen, 2017.2017-04-28T17:22:28+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/09/22/who-is-this-lady-luck/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/lucertola.jpglucertolaLady Luck, a lizard in Sedona, Arizona, as seen by Meredith Eliassen, 2016.2017-04-27T20:26:34+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2017/04/27/aesops-great-and-little-fishes/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/fish.jpegFishFish design by Meredith Eliassen, 2017.2017-04-27T20:12:32+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2017/04/22/ribet-ribet-its-earth-day/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/replenish-harmony.jpegreplenish harmonyInspired by Zuni carving, this design is by Meredith Eliassen, 2017.2017-04-22T19:30:17+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2017/04/21/introducing-the-hummingbird-warrior/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/humming.jpeghummingInspired by a Native American kachina doll motif, this design of a hummingbird warrior is by Meredith Eliassen, 2017.2017-04-21T17:50:25+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2017/04/20/dont-rush-flowertime/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/flowertime.jpegflowertimeInspired by a Native American bear carving, this design is by Meredith Eliassen, 2017.2017-04-21T17:43:46+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2017/04/12/aesops-the-tortoise-and-the-hare/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/plodding.jpegPloddingAesop's fable of the Tortoise and the Hare designed by Meredith Eliassen, 2017.2017-04-21T17:40:26+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2017/01/30/compassionate-watchfulness-is-beautiful/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/peafowl.jpegpeafowlPeacock design by Meredith Eliassen, 2017.2017-04-12T20:22:55+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2015/04/03/butterflies-1/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/butterflies-1.jpgButterflies 1Collage of butterfly drawings designed by Meredith Eliassen, 2015.2017-04-06T18:36:30+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2017/01/26/pink-elephant-sighting/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/elephant.jpegelephant“Nature’s great masterpiece, an elephant the only harmless great thing, the giant of beasts.” Words from John Donne, design by Meredith Eliassen, 2017.2017-04-06T18:34:20+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/01/04/new-year-by-the-sea/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/lax-seascape.jpgLAX seascape"I went to sit quietly by the sea. To think, to wonder about my friends. What I knew of them & and all I needed to know at least in those first moments was that they were or had become part of me they were part of my life as I looked out over the sea it was as though they were with me watching as though they had com to help me as I searched for what? for whom? they had come to help me as I searched for them" Words by Robert Lax (1915-2000) from In the "Beginning was Love: Contemplative Words of Robert Lax," edited with an introduction by S. T. Georgiou (2015), design by Meredith Eliassen, 2016.2017-04-06T18:32:21+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/09/14/wait-wait-wait-act/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/wait.jpgwait“wait * wait * wait * act * wait * --- * the * rhythm * of * things * --- * make * it * a * song * & * it * will * be * come * one * --- * lis * ten * lov * ing * ly * to * the * Mu * sic * slow * ly * joy * ous * ly * join * the * dance” inspired by the words of Robert Lax, design by Meredith Eliassen, 2016.2017-04-06T18:28:58+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/07/19/are-those-crickets-really/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/crickets.jpegCrickets“Who would want to live with some crickets in your room carousing loudly all night? That is to say, either befriend all your thoughts, party with them the best you can… or toss the rascals out.” Words by Persian poet Hafiz (1325/26-1389/90), image by Meredith Eliassen, 2016.2017-04-06T18:24:29+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2017/04/06/nursery-rhyme/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/i-caught.jpegNursery rhyme 1“One, two, three, four, five. I caught a fish alive. Why did you let it go? It bit my finger so." Design by Meredith Eliassen, 2017.2017-04-06T18:20:31+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2017/03/28/is-she-good-or-bad/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/mask.jpegMaskQueen of the Night, or Königin der Nacht, is a major character in the Mozart opera called “The Magic Flute” (1791). "The Queen of the Night's Aria", "Der Hölle Rache" in act II inspired this drawing by Meredith Eliassen, 2017.2017-03-28T21:12:02+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2017/03/24/doing-history-who-tells-it-who-keeps-it/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/fist.jpegPower to the People Symbol"Power to the people" was a powerful symbol Third World student activism during the 1960s. https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/sources.jpegSourcesWHAT ARE SOURCES? WORDS - OBJECTS -IMAGES. Design by Meredith Eliassen, 2017.2017-03-24T17:14:46+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2017/03/20/a-conditional-statement/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/oriental.jpegOrientalOriental (of the East) and Occidental (of the West) in a Yin/yang symbol designed by Meredith Eliassen, 2017.2017-03-20T17:03:58+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2017/02/28/the-whole-inhabited-world/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/chinese-ecumenical.jpegchinese-ecumenicalThe recognition of the importance of a spirit of unity is universal and conveyed by many symbols. Design by Meredith Eliassen, 2017.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/ecumentical.jpegecumenticalEcumenism is commonly portrayed symbolically as a boat afloat on the sea of the world with the mast in the form of a cross. Design by Meredith Eliassen, 2017.2017-02-28T18:36:26+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2017/02/27/poor-butterfly-neath-the-blossoms-waiting/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/madam-butterfly.jpegmadam-butterflyYoung Ciocio-san awaits Pinkerton’s return from her past as her fathers hara-kiri knife looms before her. Inspired by Madama Butterfly (1904) composed by Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924), this design is by Meredith Eliassen, 1917.2017-02-28T00:56:20+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2017/02/14/for-mom-and-dad/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/red-three-with-sun.jpegred-three-with-sunLet the love in your heart grow tall like a tree and shine bright like the sun, heart tree design inspired by a medieval design by Meredith Eliassen, 2017. 2017-02-14T17:04:36+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2017/02/13/a-rose-by-any-other-name/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/flower.jpegflowerSimply a Tudor rose design by Meredith Eliassen, 2017. 2017-02-13T21:17:18+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2017/01/18/a-stormy-opening-of-aida/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/aida.jpegaidaAïda (1871) is the love story of an Egyptian military hero, Radames and a captured Ethiopian princess set during the reign of the pharaohs. Aïda was written by composer Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901) and librettist Antonio Ghislanzoni (1824-1893). Design by Meredith Eliassen, 2017.2017-01-31T17:19:16+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2017/01/17/introducing-dragged-trail-bead-design/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/img_0302.jpgimg_0302Photograph of dragged trail bead.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/flower-with-snake.jpegflower-with-snakeSome flow’rets of Eden ye still inherit, but the trail of the serpent is over them all.” Words by Thomas Moore from Lalla-Rookh (1817). The name Lalla Rookh or Lala-Rukh means "tulip cheeked" and is an endearment frequently used in Persian poetry. Tulip design by Meredith Eliassen, 2016.2017-01-17T19:03:53+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2017/01/13/art-enables/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/img_0308.jpgimg_0308One of the stories about dZi beads is that they were originally insects that were petrified.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/art-enables-us.jpegart-enables-us"Art enables us to find ourselves and loose ourselves at the same time." Quote by Thomas Merton, butterfly design by Meredith Eliassen, 2016.2017-01-17T18:48:52+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2017/01/10/seaside-entertainments/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/img_0263.jpgimg_0263https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/img_0251.jpgimg_0251Detail of cool seaside treats.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/punch.jpgpunchDetail from “Seaside Sampler” original design by Magie Hollingworth for Erhman Tapestry and stitched with adaptations by Meredith Eliassen, 2017.2017-01-13T22:54:54+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2017/01/09/another-rain-wave/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/shell.jpgshellDetail of a shell from “Seaside Sampler” original design by Magie Hollingworth for Erhman Tapestry and stitched with adaptations by Meredith Eliassen.2017-01-09T17:15:21+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2017/01/06/my-encounter-with-daisy/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/daisy.jpgdaisyDetail of shoreline trotter named Daisy.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/gulls.jpggullsDetail from “Seaside Sampler” original design by Magie Hollingworth for Erhman Tapestry and stitched with adaptations by Meredith Eliassen.2017-01-06T21:11:22+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2017/01/05/crabby-today/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/kite.jpgkiteDetail of kite from “Seaside Sampler.”https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/img_0288.jpgimg_0288Detail of crab from “Seaside Sampler” original design by Magie Hollingworth for Erhman Tapestry and stitched with adaptations by Meredith Eliassen.2017-01-05T17:29:30+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2017/01/04/a-stormy-winter-morning/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/img_0250.jpgimg_0250Detail of lighthouse with seagulls in the foreground.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/gull.jpggullDetail from "Seaside Sampler" stitched by Meredith Eliassen, 2017.2017-01-04T21:35:35+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/12/06/twelve-days-song/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/peir-tree.jpegpeir-treeThe story goes that when being a Catholic was illegal in Protestant England, children would sing this song to profess their faith: the partridge and the pear tree symbolized Jesus Christ. Design by Meredith Eliassen, 2016.2016-12-06T22:47:14+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/12/01/world-aids-day-2016/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/aids_ribbon.jpegaids_ribbonEvery year World AIDS Day events take place across the United States to raise awareness and show support for people living with HIV. This red ribbon was designed by Meredith Eliassen, 2016.2016-12-01T18:09:12+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/03/30/cleaning-house/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/chaucer.jpgChaucer“Ruele wel thyself, that other folk canst rede and trouthe thee shall delivere, it is no drede.” Quote from Geoffrey Chaucer, 1343-1400, drawing by Meredith Eliassen, 2016.2016-11-09T21:43:21+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/10/31/happy-halloween/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/skull.jpegskull“Every moment and every event of every man’s life on earth plants something in his soul.” Words by Thomas Merton (1915-1968), design by Meredith Eliassen, 2016.2016-11-09T21:39:52+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/11/09/a-prayer-for-unity/2016-11-09T21:38:32+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/11/08/imagine-a-better-world-then-act/2016-11-09T21:35:56+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/11/01/dia-de-los-inocentes-day-of-the-innocents/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/create-in-me-a-clean.jpgcreate-in-me-a-clean“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right heart within me.” Words from Psalms 51: 10, design by Meredith Eliassen, 2016.2016-11-01T17:02:01+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/10/13/is-childness-and-the-childs-landscape-at-risk/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/tom.jpgtom“A man with no family has no history and no eyes to see the future. He goes about blind. Our family, our relatives are not only those around us, they are also those who have gone before us. They are our history.” Tom Smith, Coast Miwok, 1898. Design by Meredith Eliassen, 2016.2016-10-13T21:14:02+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2015/07/14/a-nautilus-shell-for-steve/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/lax.jpgRobert Lax QuoteNautilus shell design by Meredith Eliassen features Robert Lax quote from "The Circus of the Sun" (1960).2016-10-05T17:05:17+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/01/19/a-stormy-morning-reflection/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/laxturning.jpgLAXturning“Turn ing the jun gle in to a gar den with out des troy ing a sin gle flow er” Words by Robert Lax (1915-2000) from In the Beginning was Love: Contemplative Words of Robert Lax, edited with an introduction by S. T. Georgiou (2015), design by Meredith Eliassen, 2016.2016-10-05T17:02:45+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/01/27/for-the-birds/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/everyword_2.jpegeveryword_2“eve ry word a choice eve ry act a pray er eve ry act a choice eve ry word a prayer” Words by Robert Lax (1915-2000) from "In the Beginning was Love: Contemplative Words of Robert Lax," edited with an introduction by S. T. Georgiou (2015), design by Meredith Eliassen, 2016.2016-10-05T16:58:09+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/05/05/more-from-the-hermit-no-not-me-robert-lax/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/identity.jpgIDENTITYIDENTITY. “our identity is bound with our memories: wash away memory and identity disappears... only to reappear with our next action.” Words by Robert Lax (1915-2000) from “In the Beginning was Love: Contemplative Words of Robert Lax,” edited with an introduction by S. T. Georgiou (2015), design by Meredith Eliassen, 2016.2016-10-05T16:55:58+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/07/06/one-word-at-at-time/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/esther.jpgEstherEsther drawn for Ruth by Meredith Eliassen in 2014. When I look into her eyes, I see my mother.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/one-word_at_a_time.jpegOne-word_at_a_time“one word at a time. i believe i believe that all the people should stop their fight i believe that one should blow a whistle or sing or play on the lute” Words by Robert Lax (1915-2000) from “In the Beginning was Love: Contemplative Words of Robert Lax,” edited with an introduction by S. T. Georgiou (2015), design by Meredith Eliassen, 2016.2016-10-05T16:54:23+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/09/25/for-a-beautiful-san-francisco-sunday/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/i_see_you.jpgi_see_youICHTHYS: “i see you not but i love you i love” words from Robert Lax (1915-2000) from “In the Beginning was Love: Contemplative Words of Robert Lax,” edited with an introduction by S. T. Georgiou (2015), design by Meredith Eliassen, 2016.2016-10-05T16:48:49+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/09/27/the-medium-of-drugs-childhood-of-the-1960s-counterculture/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/joan.jpgjoan“San Francisco was where children were gathering and calling themselves ‘hippies’.” Observation by Joan Didion, 1968; design by Meredith Eliassen, 2016.2016-09-27T18:41:38+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/09/21/natural-childhood-or-marketed-childhood/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/latham-foundation.jpglatham-foundation"Brother Buzz" design by Meredith Eliassen, 2016.2016-09-21T17:02:00+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/02/01/web-of-childhood/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/bronte.jpegbronte“We wove a web in childhood, a web of sunny air.” Quote by Charlotte Brontë (1816-1855), drawing by Meredith Eliassen, 2016.2016-09-15T20:48:24+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2015/05/06/raven-mom-and-pop-guard-their-nest/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/ravens.jpgRavens"Ravens Protecting the Nest" design by Meredith Eliassen, 2015.2016-09-14T17:11:22+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/09/12/the-ancients-and-media-ecology/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/aldus.jpgaldusAldus Manutius (1449-1515) established his printing house in Venice in about 1490. The Aldine Press was a corporate entity; the entrance placard conveyed the proprietor’s eithic: “Talk of nothing but business; and dispatch that business quickly.” Pietro Aretino (1492 -1556) was an Italian author, playwright, poet, satirist and blackmailer who wielded immense influence on contemporary art and politics and developed early pornographic literature. He wrote “We are the buffoons of our children.” Design by Meredith Eliassen, 2016.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/plato.jpgplatoPlato... on writing, in "Phaedrus": 'If men learn this, it will implant forgetfulness in their souls... they will cease to exercise memory because they will rely on that which is written, calling things to remembrance no longer from within themselves, but by means of external marks.' Design by Meredith Eliassen, 2016.2016-09-12T20:44:53+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/09/10/childhood-at-risk-a-folklorist-investigates/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/apple.jpgapple"Media as an extension of the human hand," conceptual drawing by Meredith Eliassen, 2016https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/joey.jpgjoey"I can write my name but I can’t spell the letters.” Words by Joseph Simas, "Kinderpart," 1989, design by Meredith Eliassen, 2016.2016-09-12T20:38:11+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2015/04/07/more-from-lake-merced-before-the-spring-rains/2016-08-31T23:19:37+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2015/11/04/introducing-lacy-the-lizard/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/lacy.jpgLacy the LizardDrawing of legendary lizard of the Southwest as described by anonymous young lizard on October 14th, drawn by Meredith Eliassen, 2015.2016-08-31T23:15:30+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/02/03/more-on-math/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/twosalamanders1.jpegtwosalamandersEuclid (left) examines abstract calculation as Dobson (right) gazes at the heavens. Design by Meredith Eliassen, 2016.2016-08-31T23:12:41+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2014/09/11/a-day-of-remembrance-and-service/2016-08-31T23:05:17+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2015/03/11/everything-becomes-and-transforms/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/yin-yang.jpgYin YangWater yin yang designed by Meredith Eliassen, 2015.2016-08-31T23:01:09+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/01/15/the-seahorse-as-a-sailors-lucky-talisman/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/seashorse.jpgSeashorseSeahorse design featuring paisley motif by Meredith Eliassen, 2016.2016-08-31T22:56:03+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/08/29/alma-on-the-sky/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/ancient-egyptian-beads.pngAncient Egyptian BeadsSome ancient beads from Egypt.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/alma.jpgAlmaConsider "boo" for blue... is the sky blue? Alma responds, “Blue, eh no, white, um no blue...” Design by Meredith2016-08-30T23:50:01+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/06/27/celtic-owl/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/celtic_black_owl.jpegCeltic_black_owlCeltic owl sits on his branch, contemplating the world. Design by Meredith Eliassen, 2016.2016-08-30T22:55:31+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/03/16/in-memory-of-the-weekend-storm/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/sonnevi.jpegSonnevi“And Feel the scent of water above the scent of earth a faint wind makes me look up see the water.” English translation of words by Swedish poet Göran Sonnevi, design by Meredith Eliassen, 2016.2016-08-30T22:38:04+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2015/03/23/388/2016-08-30T22:35:52+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2015/07/09/totem/2016-08-30T22:30:48+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2015/03/13/stars-and-stripes-heart/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/usa-heart.jpgUSA HeartDesign of heart with stars and stripes by Meredith Eliassen, 2015.2016-08-30T22:26:03+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/01/08/lax-from-last-year/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/lax2.jpgLAX2"never a root without a tree * never a tree without a bird * never a bird without a song * never a song without a sky ** never a sky without a song * never a song without a bird * never a bird without a tree * never a tree without a root ** never a root without a tree" ** words by robert lax ** new poems ** 1962 ** design by meredith eliassen ** 20152016-08-30T21:18:36+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/08/30/angelou-on-the-semantics-of-education/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/maya.jpgMaya“Education is man’s most amazing tool... amazing toy, or effective tool, or it can be... man’s most effective weapon. Education” Maya Angelou "Blacks, Blues, Black!," 1968. Design by Meredith Eliassen2016-08-30T16:31:41+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/08/15/visual-symbolism-peace/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/peace.jpgPeace“Now that all of your worry has proved such an unlucrative business, why not find a new job.” The words are written by 14th century Persian poet Hafiz, image by Meredith Eliassen, 2016.2016-08-30T00:23:52+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2015/12/07/a-lady-joins-luckys-posse/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/sally_mander.jpgSally_ManderDesign by Meredith Eliassen, 2015.2016-08-30T00:01:57+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/07/05/the-long-weekend/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/tatler.jpegTatlerAddison, inspired by English essayist Joseph Addison (1672-1719)... can you see any resemblance? Portrait by Meredith Eliassen, 2016.2016-08-29T23:47:07+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/02/04/the-ancients/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/petro.jpgPetroDesign by Meredith Eliassen.2016-08-29T23:35:02+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2015/02/11/a-fish-picture/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/fish-bw.jpgFish BWDuring recent rainstorm this fish came into view in full color, but I wanted to capture it while in black and white. Drawn by Meredith Eliassen 2016-08-29T23:21:21+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/07/20/creative-responses-to-turbulent-times/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/flower_child.jpegFlower_childReverse-drawing of "Flower Child" by Meredith Eliassen, 2016.2016-08-29T22:48:43+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2015/08/17/meet-bounder-a-member-of-luckys-posse/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/bounder.jpgBounderBounder, member of the famous Lucky the Lizard posse seen in the southwest corner of San Francisco and headed to parts unknown. Rendered by Meredith Eliassen, 2015.2016-08-29T22:25:07+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/02/24/wagner-tonight/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/dutchman.jpgDutchmanIn Wagner's Der fliegende Holländer, the cursed Dutchman cannot seem to escape Senta's head. Design by Meredith Eliassen, 2016.2016-08-29T22:08:33+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2015/01/06/grandmas-treasure-trove/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/bead-stash.jpgBead StashAfrican beads.2016-08-29T17:03:04+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2014/09/02/california-indian-baskets-part-1/2016-08-26T17:30:16+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2014/09/05/california-indian-baskets-part-2/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/footsteps.jpgFootsteps2016-08-26T17:26:13+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2014/09/06/california-indian-baskets-part-3/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/basket.jpgBasketModern pine needle basket by Joan Denys (Costanoan-Esselen, Monterey Bay California) acquired at the SFSU Powwow, spring 2011. Photographed by R. I. Otterbach, 2014.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/grasses.jpgGrassesCalifornia Indian basket makers learned about the materials for engineering durable baskets by observing nature. The sedges used in many baskets have long root systems that evolved with local climate change. Today these native plants are being planted again for sustainable landscaping so that what is ancient is new again.2016-08-26T17:21:35+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2014/09/08/california-indian-baskets-part-4/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/acorn-storage.jpgAcorn StorageThe acorn woodpecker stores in trees while California Indians traditionally stockpiled acorns over a couple of years in baskets secured in small bark-covered structures that allowed for good air circulation in the foggy coastal climate. 2016-08-26T17:18:42+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2014/09/09/california-indian-baskets-part-5/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/chrysalis.jpgNature's Storage DesignThis chrysalis attached to a branch represents the pupal stage when a butterfly undergoes its metamorphosis. The California Indian basket makers seemed to emulate nature when they engineered baskets.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/burden-net.jpgBurden NetOnce California Indians entered the Mission systems, they lost the ability to gather and cultivate native plants needed to make baskets, they also lost access to the foods that they had evolved with. This is an example of a burden net made with hemp.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/burden-basket.jpgBurden BasketBurden Baskets were used for food gathering and transporting things. This one features a headband decorated with shell beads like ones made by Coast Miwok that were used in trading.2016-08-26T17:15:44+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2014/09/10/california-indian-baskets-a-brief-historical-perspective/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/grassbasket.jpgBasket RemnantWhen the 49'ers first searched for gold, they traded manufactured good for shallow baskets for panning with the California Indians that were used to "pan" for gold, once they got mass produced pans the baskets were abandoned.2016-08-26T17:12:22+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/08/26/media-ecology-introduction/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/eye.jpgeyeDisiderius Erasmus (c. 1466-1536) “In region caecorum rex est luscus = In the country of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.” ~ circa 1500.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/eye-bead.jpgEye BeadA photograph of a small Mediterranean glass eye bead (circa 6th - 3rd century B.C.) and modern prayer beads.2016-08-26T17:09:44+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/08/16/on-the-road-again/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/mmedesigns.jpgMMEDesigns"Little Bear" for MME Designs by Meredith Eliassen, copyright 2016. 2016-08-16T17:42:31+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/08/08/meet-my-cat/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/will-need_someone.jpgWill-Need_Someone“I will need someone to feed my cat when I leave this world, Though my cat is not ordinary. She only has three paws: fire, air, water.” Words by 14th century Persian poet Hafiz, image by Meredith Eliassen, 2016.2016-08-08T18:00:41+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/07/26/whats-susannas-secret/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/susanna.jpegSusannaHint... see the smoke in the fog? Design by Meredith Eliassen, 2016.2016-07-26T16:17:59+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2015/08/14/new-paisley-design/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/paisley.jpgPaisleyPaisley design featuring early American flower motifs from the Pennsylvania area drawn by Meredith Eliassen, 2015.2016-07-20T17:07:24+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2015/12/15/wisdom-from-jonathan-livingston-seagull/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/overcome_space_1.jpgOvercome_space_1Quote by Richard Bach from "Jonathan Livingston Seagull," reads as follows: "Overcome space, and all we have left is HERE. Overcome time, and all we have left is NOW." Design by Meredith Eliassen, 2015.2016-07-20T17:04:36+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/05/10/for-may10boys/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/joy-paisley.jpgjoy paisleyJOY paisley design by Meredith Eliassen, 2016.2016-07-20T17:02:23+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/05/15/truth/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/truth.jpgtruthInspired by a statement by Mary Baker Eddy found in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures (418:20): “Truth is affirmative, and confers harmony.” Design by Meredith Eliassen, 2016.2016-07-20T17:01:44+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/06/30/happy-independence-day/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/liberty_red.jpegLiberty_redLIBERTY drawn in red Celtic letters, inspired by the "Book of Kells," by Meredith Eliassen, 2016.2016-07-20T17:00:54+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/07/15/haiku-snail-and-the-butterfly/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/weaving_i_am_no_more.jpegWeaving_I_am_no_moreHaiku by Issa: “Weaving [image of a butterfly], I am no more than dust.” Design by Meredith Eliassen, 2016.2016-07-15T16:42:27+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/06/29/hope-defined/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/now_faith_is_the_substance.jpegNow_faith_is_the_substanceNow, faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 1:11) Hope. To have trust and understanding. Drawing by Meredith Eliassen, spring 2016.2016-06-29T17:33:09+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/06/28/more-shakespeare/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/masks.jpegmasks“There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.” Words by William Shakespeare in Hamlet, act 2, scene 2, design inspired by the Tragic Comic Masks in the Hadrian’s Villa mosaic drawn by Meredith Eliassen, 2016.2016-06-28T21:06:58+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/06/24/more-happy-bees/2016-06-24T19:52:24+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2015/03/04/introducing-the-queen-of-diamonds-gallery/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/diamond.jpgQueen of DiamondsAdapted from a "Queen of Diamonds" in a deck of playing cards, this design is by Meredith Eliassen, 2015.2016-06-24T00:52:38+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2015/02/23/snake-nocturne/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/snake-nocturne.jpgSnake NocturneSnake Nocturne was designed by Meredith Eliassen, 2015.2016-06-24T00:51:10+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/06/23/happy-bees-at-work/2016-06-24T00:26:47+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2015/01/29/result-from-dads-dot-smackdown-challenge/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/square-dance.jpgSquare DanceDrawing by Meredith Eliassen2016-06-24T00:26:10+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/06/20/the-beginning-of-summer/2016-06-20T18:01:58+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/06/08/artistic-transparancy/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/crosshatch.jpgCrosshatch FlowersThis is an exercise in utilizing crosshatch pen-work with a simple flower design by Meredith Eliassen, 2016.2016-06-08T22:52:26+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/03/24/wild-thing/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/dandelion.jpgDandelion“I never saw a wild thing sorry for itself.” Quote by D. H. Lawrence, drawing by Meredith Eliassen, 2017.2016-03-24T19:06:36+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/03/09/si-im-just-a-girl-who-cant-say-no/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/si.jpegSiPortrait of Si wearing a strand of millefiore "trade wind" beads from the operetta by Pieto Mascagni (1863-1945) and librettist Carlo Lombardo (1869-1959), design by Meredith Eliassen, 2016 2016-03-10T01:30:09+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/03/06/will-turandot-figure-out-what-true-love-means/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/turandot.jpegTurandotPictured here are Turandot, the Calaf, and his slave Liù. Design by Meredith Eliassen, 2016.2016-03-06T23:30:30+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/03/01/once-athe-struggle-between-sacred-and-profane-love/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/tannhauser.jpgTannhauserWill our protagonist choose mortal love after being seduced by a goddess? Which face with Tannhäuser show? Design by Meredith Eliassen, 2016.2016-03-02T00:05:04+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/02/26/will-the-bond-of-friendship-hold/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/scan_1.jpegScan_1An imaginary seascape for Les pêcheurs de perles set ancient island Ceylon featuring to pearl fishers. Design by Meredith Eliassen, 2016.2016-02-26T21:22:53+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/02/17/a-little-opera-for-mom-dad/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/diana.jpgDianaL’arbore di Diana=der Baum der Diana, music by Vicente Martin y Soler (1754-1806), libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte, (1749-1838), design by Meredith Eliassen, 2015.2016-02-17T18:09:06+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/02/11/dante-on-love/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/dante2.jpgDante2“L’amor che muove il sole e l’altre stelle.” (The love that moves the sun and the other stars.) from "Paradiso" by Dante Alighiere, 1265-1321. Image motif inspired by a card design by Robbin Rawlings. Drawing by Meredith Eliassen, 2016.2016-02-14T22:52:09+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/02/08/another-beautiful-winter-day/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/blake.jpgBlake“He who binds to himself a joy does the winged life destroy, but he who kisses the joy as it flies lives in eternity’s sunrise,” words by William Blake (1757-1827), design by Meredith Eliassen, 2016.2016-02-08T17:49:51+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/02/07/some-big-game-couter-programming/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/bat.jpgbatThis little bat knows how to find the sweet nectar of life. Design by Meredith Eliassen, 2016.2016-02-07T23:09:39+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2015/04/25/recommend-the-met-opera-hd-live/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/meredith008.jpgMeredith008Introductory woman’s chorus: The orange trees in the green groves scent the air, the larks sing through the flowering myrtles; now is the time for everyone to murmur the tender the tender song which quickens the heart. “Cavalleria rusticana” composed by Pietro Mascagni, 1963-1945 with libretto by Guido Menasci and Giovanni Targioni-Tozzetti. Drawing by Meredith Eliassen.2016-02-05T18:43:43+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/01/29/the-haiku-snail/2016-02-05T18:12:58+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/01/31/paisley-palm-pun/2016-02-05T18:11:40+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/02/05/the-haiku-snails-story/2016-02-05T18:10:14+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/01/21/addition-to-the-snail-haiku-gallery/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/alwaysathome.jpegalwaysathome“Snail – always at home” Haiku by Issa, design by Meredith Eliassen, 2016.2016-02-05T18:09:48+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2014/11/16/the-wayfarers-song-installment-12/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/fullsizerender-e1412120427898.jpgLove Hitch2016-02-04T19:32:36+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2014/11/15/the-wayfarers-song-installment-11-2/2016-02-04T19:29:44+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2014/11/14/the-wayfarers-song-installment-11/2016-02-04T19:25:51+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2014/11/13/the-wayfarers-song-installment-9/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/fullsizerender-2-e1412120551842.jpgHelmsmans Rudder2016-02-04T19:22:01+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2014/11/12/the-wayfarers-song-installment-8/2016-02-04T19:18:56+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2014/11/10/the-wayfarers-song-installment-7/2016-02-04T19:15:53+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2014/11/09/the-wayfarers-song-installment-6/2016-02-04T19:14:51+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2014/11/08/the-wayfarers-song-installment-5/2016-02-04T19:11:56+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2014/11/06/the-wayfarers-song-installment-4/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/fullsizerender-3-e1412120623556.jpgLittle Tomcat2016-02-04T19:08:22+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2014/11/05/the-wayfarers-song-installment-3/2016-02-04T19:05:18+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2014/11/04/the-wayfarers-song-installment-2/2016-02-04T19:02:21+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2014/11/03/the-wayfarers-song-installment-1/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/fullsizerender-1-e1412120478204.jpgFullSizeRender-12016-02-04T18:59:50+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2014/11/02/oh-my-momma-warned-me-about-boys-like-you/2016-02-04T18:56:56+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2014/11/17/the-wayfarers-song-installment-13/2016-02-04T18:52:59+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2015/04/19/cool-campus-sunday/2016-02-04T18:49:13+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2014/09/03/distance-lends-enchantment-to-the-view/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/kentucky.jpgHunters of KentuckyFrom the ballad by Woodward called Hunters of Kentucky.2016-02-04T17:26:04+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2015/11/23/juxtaposed/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/robert_frost.jpgRobert_FrostRobert Frost quote illustrated by Meredith Eliassen, 2015. caption "Pawny: I'm on my way!" originally based upon concept by R. I. Otterbach.2016-02-02T17:59:15+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/01/28/numbers/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/numbers.jpgnumbers“The Universe... is written in the language of mathematics, its characters are triangles, circles, and other geometric figures, without which it is humanly impossible to understand a single word of it, without these, one is wandering about in a dark labyrinth.” Quote by Galileo Galilei, drawing by Meredith Eliassen, 2016.2016-02-02T17:52:34+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/02/02/all-the-world-is-a-stage/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/alltheworld1.jpegalltheworld"All the world is a stage, and all the men and women merely players." Quote by William Shakespeare, drawing by Meredith Eliassen, 2016.2016-02-02T17:50:17+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/issa-snail-haiku/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/snailmoon.jpgSnail:moon"Snail, baring shoulders to the moon." Haiku by Issa, design by Meredith Eliassen, 2015.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/snailissa.jpgsnail:issa"At my feet when did you get here! Snail" and Issa signature. Design by Meredith Eliassen, 2015.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/img_0005.jpgPoppy"Just simply alive, I and the poppy." - Issa. Design by Meredith Eliassen, 2015.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/felix_9.jpgFelix and mushroomsFilix possesses nothing but his own shadow. He moves and acts spontaneously from his nature and without purpose, he has become one with the Universe: "Look snail, look, O look, at your own shadow." -- Issa.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/felix_8.jpgFelix_8Felix awakens to find himself transformed in the morning: "Little snail facing this way, where to now?" -- Issa.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/felix_7.jpgWinter rainIn the winter, a snail can create a door to its shell, retreat into the shell and then close the door. Here Felix stays safe from the winter elements: "Big winter rain or little winter rain... sleeping is hard." -- Issahttps://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/felix_6.jpgThe Inner HelixAnd then begin to create shapes with the essence of the letter forms: here we see Felix has a large fleshy foot, antennae and feelers on its head, and a coiled protective shell home that serves as a vessel encasing its asymmetrical visceral mass. Felix breathes through a kind of air-breathing lung and has a rasping organ in its mouth known as a radula.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/felix_5.jpgFelix the Helix (tall version)The next step was to begin a deconstruction process by writing the text in a tall version.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/felix_4.jpgReverse Felix the HelixThe second step was to reverse the writing within a shape: in this case, a snail's shell. Felix the Helix (also known as “Happy the Snail”), shown here, is an earth snail with rather dull coloration, though some snails are arboreal and those tend to be brightly colored.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/felix_3.jpgFelix the HelixThe first step of the process was to write some letters on a piece of paper.2016-02-01T01:02:11+00:00weekly0.6https://mmedesigns.net/issa-snail-haiku/memory-pouch-gallery/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/photo-1-2.jpgDragon FlyPouch with dragonfly design on linen by Meredith Eliassen2016-01-30T00:48:52+00:00weekly0.6https://mmedesigns.net/issa-snail-haiku/gallery/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/happy-fish-colored.jpgHappy Fish (Colored)Picture of fish by Meredith Eliassen, see blog for black and white version, 2015.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/gratitude.jpgGratitudeDesign by Meredith Eliassenhttps://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/celtic-11.jpgCeltic Test Design 1Celtic design featuring hearts with snake chain detailing by Meredith Eliassen.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/unity.jpgUnityStylized drawing of two bees holding a honeycomb by Meredith Eliassen.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/signature.jpgSignatureDrawing of a basket bottom by Meredith Eliassenhttps://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/trellis.jpgTrellisFlowers weave through the natural trellis in handmade paper. Drawing by Meredith Eliassenhttps://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/sage.jpgSageCalifornia Sage drawn by Meredith Eliassen on handmade paper.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/owl.jpgOwlOwl drawn by Meredith Eliassen and mounted on handmade paper.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/boots.jpgbootshttps://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/carpetbag.jpgcarpetbagMart Taylor's Carpetbag2016-01-30T00:35:26+00:00weekly0.6https://mmedesigns.net/issa-snail-haiku/memory-pouch-gallery/mmes-sharpie-gallery/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/waves.jpgWavesStylized drawing of waves by Meredith Eliassen.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/poppy-love-e1419363325453.jpgPoppy LoveCalifornia poppies appear to embrace in heart. Drawing by Meredith Eliassenhttps://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/infinity-flower.jpgInfinity FlowerFlower design by Meredith Eliassen, developed when she was a teenager.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/in-flight-e1419363354129.jpgIn FlightThree birds in formation, Art Deco design by Meredith Eliassen.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/flower.jpgFlowerEarly American flower motif for embroidery drawn by Meredith Eliassen.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/clover.jpgCloverDrawing of acorn, rose, flower, and thistle playing light against dark by Meredith Eliassen2016-01-30T00:32:44+00:00weekly0.6https://mmedesigns.net/issa-snail-haiku/memory-pouch-gallery/mmes-sharpie-gallery/california-indian-basket-drawing-portfolio/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/willow.jpgWillowQuick impression of willows by Meredith Eliassenhttps://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/feather.jpgFeather LadyThis image was inspired by a Pomo creation story where Coyote tricks the birds into dropping feathers that he turns into humanshttps://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/oak-stump.jpgOak Stump and SeadbeaterSeedbeaters are loosely woven baskets used to gather edible seeds, immature seeds were returned to the earth for another seasonhttps://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/mortar.jpgStone MortarIllustration of a stone mortar with a bottomless hopper basket that was useful in grinding dried acorns into flour, the hopper kept debris from getting into the flower.2016-01-30T00:29:06+00:00weekly0.6https://mmedesigns.net/issa-snail-haiku/memory-pouch-gallery/mmes-sharpie-gallery/paisley-gallery/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/butterfly-2.jpgPaisley ButterflyStylized butterfly with paisley design by Meredith Eliassen, 2015.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/thistle-crossing.jpgThistle CrossingEight paisleys are the basis of this thistle design by Meredith Eliassen.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/paisley-chain.jpgPaisley ChainBorder featuring overlapping paisley designs by Meredith Eliassen, 2015.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/paisley-valentine.jpgPaisley Valentine2015 Valentine featuring overlapping paisley borders by Meredith Eliassenhttps://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/palm-trees.jpgPalm TreesDrawing of palm tree by Meredith Eliassen.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/palm-impression.jpgPalm ImpressionDrawing of hand with paisley design by Meredith Eliassen2016-01-30T00:23:18+00:00weekly0.6https://mmedesigns.net/issa-snail-haiku/gallery/diamond-gallery-2/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/doves.jpgDovesPeace, joy, and love design with two doves form a heart by Meredith Eliassen, 2015.2016-01-30T00:18:37+00:00weekly0.6https://mmedesigns.net/2007/11/29/millifiore/2016-01-27T23:06:27+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2015/01/07/millefiori/2016-01-27T23:04:50+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2015/01/08/some-books-on-millefiore/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/millefiore.jpegmillefioreDesign of millefiori by Meredith Eliassen.2016-01-27T23:01:22+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2015/11/19/pebbles-beneath-a-stream/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/question_mark.jpgQuestion_Mark"Give me a fruitful error any time, full of seeds, bursting with its own corrections," by Pareto, design by Meredith Eliassen, 2015.2016-01-07T17:42:01+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2015/12/04/from-our-familys-poet-laureate/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/poetry.jpgPoetry"VII. The Rose Knows. 4 December 2000": Roses know; They know the point of it all, They know the meaning of life, They know this experience is all in All, And are happy to smile broadly in the sunshine, From bud, to blossom, to full flower – Fragrant and bright... When roses fall, they laugh as they tumble, Because they just cannot hold themselves up any longer; They laugh and smile, letting go of their soft petals, So that the wind may carry their essence back, And onward into the ever-flowing stream. From the book "Songs of a Soul Journey" by Elisabeth T. Eliassen (2001). Design by Meredith Eliassen, 20152016-01-07T17:39:38+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2016/01/07/into-the-woods-we-go/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/bernard.jpgBernard“You will find something more in the woods than in books. Trees and stones will teach you that which you can never learn from masters.” ~Saint Bernard of Clairvaux. Design by Meredith Eliassen, 2016.2016-01-07T17:27:16+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2014/12/14/sarah-s-stilwell-webers-culminating-works/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/musical_tree.jpgMusical_TreeIllustration of Bluebeard's Wife from the Musical Tree.2016-01-07T00:29:35+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2014/12/10/stilwell-marries-and-starts-a-family/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/child_classics5.jpgChild_classics5Child Classics, illustration of the Little Red Hen featuring a classic Stilwell Weber pinafore, found on page 76.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/child_classics4.jpgChild_classics4Child Classics, illustration of Goody Two-Shoes found on page 35.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/child_classics3.jpgChild_classics3https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/child_classics2.jpgChild_classics2Child Classics, illustration of Cinderella found on page 15.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/child_classics1.jpgChild_classics1Child Classics, Frontispiece2016-01-26T01:13:10+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2014/12/09/dodge-and-stilwell-collaborate-on-rhymes-and-jingles/2016-01-07T00:12:35+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2014/10/10/the-mother-of-home-economics-catharine-beecher/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/imgp9999.jpgIMGP9999Holding a tiny doll that has a dress made by my mother. Photograph by R. I. Otterbach, 2014.2016-01-06T18:13:43+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2014/12/02/the-hunt-satisfied-re-searching-sarah-s-stilwell/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/mer-stil-fav.jpgmer stil favMME with her find. Photographed by R.I. Otterbach, 2014.2017-05-16T21:50:30+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2015/12/21/visiting-the-praying-penguins/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/bird.jpgbirdDesign by Meredith Eliassen, 2015.2015-12-21T22:41:12+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2015/11/24/on-determination-the-western-scrub-jay/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/bird.jpgBirdAn already-plump Western scrub-jay about to feast on a formerly-hairy caterpillar. Design by Meredith Eliassen, 2015.2015-11-24T17:45:29+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2015/08/12/a-celtic-spider/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/spider.jpgCeltic SpiderSpider design by Meredith Eliassen, 2015.2015-08-12T22:55:33+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2015/08/06/an-arabic-proverb/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/horse.jpgArab Proverb"The Wind of Heaven is that which is between a horse's ears." Design by Meredith Eliassen, 2012.2015-08-06T16:02:34+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2015/07/25/two-dragonflies/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/dragonfly.jpgTwo DragonfliesDragonfly design by Meredith Eliassen, 2015, features quote from Jerry Ellis, "We're all only fragile threads, but what a tapestry we make."2015-07-25T20:27:57+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2015/06/16/the-woman-and-the-pink-soccer-ball/2015-06-16T23:59:28+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2015/05/10/for-dad-on-mothers-day/2015-05-15T16:00:21+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2015/05/07/many-thanks/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/many-thanks.jpgMany ThanksMany THANKS, using script interpreted from the "Book of Kells" drawn by Meredith Eliassen, 2015.2015-05-07T16:36:10+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2015/04/28/for-oliver/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/oliver-octopus.jpgOliver Octopus"Oli Octopus," designed by Meredith Eliassen, 2015.2015-04-28T16:25:21+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2015/04/27/intersection-an-impromptu-homage-to-arthur-rackham-1867-1939/2015-04-27T17:15:03+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2015/04/22/on-earthday-lets-also-consider-the-celestials/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/celestials.jpgCelestials"The Celestials" all together: Sun, Moon, and Stars. Design by Meredith Eliassen, 2015.2015-04-22T16:40:26+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2015/04/10/meet-mr-wappo-the-kicken-chicken-from-petaluma-california/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/mr-wappo.jpgMr. WappoMr. Wappo is a kickin' chicken with attitude. Design by Meredith Eliassen, 2015.2015-04-10T16:28:29+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2015/04/01/happy-april-fools-day/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/the-chase.jpgThe ChaseA bird chases a fish underwater and looking back the fish's fins morph into wings so he can take flight. Design by Meredith Eliassen2015-04-01T16:46:31+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2015/03/23/convergence/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/lucky.jpgMeet Lucky the LizardMy dad told me about a lizard that was an uninvited but not unwelcome visitor and this is my interpretation. Design by Meredith Eliassen 3/21/2015.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/forever.jpgForeverAlready thinking about the 4th of July, Stars and Stripes... Forever, design by Meredith Eliassen, 2016.https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/convergence.jpgConvergence2015-03-23T16:53:39+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2015/03/12/water-turtle-visits/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/turtle.jpgTurtleTurtle design by Meredith Eliassen.2015-03-12T17:39:25+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2015/03/07/enter-the-chess-king/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/chess.jpgChess King and Queen PiecesDrawing of chess Queen and King pieces side by side featuring continuous landscape, by Meredith Eliassen, 2015.2015-03-07T21:54:48+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2015/03/06/is-she-isolated-or-self-contained/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/chess-2.jpgMedieval Spanish Chess Queen (adaptation)Chess Queen design based upon the earliest known Spanish chess queen with a face dating from medieval times. Drawing done with Sharpie ultra fine point pen by Meredith Eliassen, 20152015-03-06T19:17:33+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2015/02/17/etruscan-dancing-girl/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/etruscan-girl-dancing.jpgEtruscan Girl DancingImage of a girl dancing inspired by an Etruscan vase from the 4th century BCE. Drawn by Meredith Eliassen, 2015.2015-02-17T21:49:52+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2015/01/13/interesting-older-ornament-articles-on-beads/2015-01-13T17:14:32+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2015/01/12/trade-wind-bead-books/2015-01-12T17:17:54+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2015/01/09/dads-smack-down-challenge-and-another-millefiori-book/2015-01-09T17:55:16+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2014/12/19/the-mason-children-david-joanna-and-abigail/2014-12-19T17:05:22+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2014/12/18/volland-publishing-and-women-artists/2014-12-18T17:47:45+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2014/12/17/henriette-willebeek-le-mair-1889-1966/2014-12-17T17:21:08+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2014/12/16/paper-doll-artist-fern-bisell-peat-1893-1971/2014-12-16T16:54:34+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2014/12/13/sarahs-style/2014-12-13T19:18:27+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2014/12/12/sarah-weber-and-the-saturday-evening-post/2014-12-12T17:55:20+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2014/12/08/happy-days-children-at-play/2014-12-08T20:42:05+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2014/12/07/the-child-garden-where-dreams-are-distilled/2014-12-07T21:46:24+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2014/12/06/a-girl-in-her-pinafore-can-go-anywhere/2014-12-06T20:58:16+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2014/12/05/the-secret-lives-children-create-in-adversity/2014-12-05T17:58:52+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2014/12/04/now-an-aside-on-doll-imagery-for-consideration/2014-12-04T19:29:35+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2014/12/03/designing-the-girlish-ideal/2014-12-03T22:40:42+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2014/12/01/discovering-the-imagery-of-american-female-illustrators/2014-12-01T21:21:09+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2014/10/29/paper-dolls/2014-10-29T23:50:16+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2014/10/25/the-breakdown-of-traditional-female-networks/2014-10-25T19:12:16+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2014/10/24/professional-female-networks/2014-10-24T20:49:06+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2014/10/23/homesteading-and-womens-social-networks/2014-10-23T21:15:51+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2014/10/16/austen-beecher-stowe/2014-10-16T16:07:40+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2014/10/15/catharine-beecher-1800-1878-part-2/2014-10-16T00:23:30+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2014/10/09/catharine-beecher-and-female-networking/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/photo-1-1-e1410976159627.jpgBack Cover of Happy HandsDetail of twentieth century stitching on back cover from Happy Hands Studio (Pendelton, Oregon) from unique artist book by Roberta Lavadour called "Happy Hands"2014-10-09T23:20:51+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2014/10/08/learning-by-the-rules/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/photo-e1410975955435.jpgphotoStitching Swatch Detail 2014-10-08T15:42:57+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2014/10/07/women-provide-transient-housing-and-social-networks/2014-10-07T23:35:06+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2014/10/06/female-networks-under-coverture/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/photo-1-e1410976292877.jpgStitching SwatchesDetail of twentieth century stitching from Happy Hands Studio (Pendelton, Oregon) from unique artist book by Roberta Lavadour called "Happy Hands"2014-10-06T20:29:00+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2014/10/03/women-and-historic-social-networking/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/photo-3.jpgStitching SwatchDetail of twentieth century stitching from box of from Happy Hands Studio (Pendelton, Oregon) from unique artist book by Roberta Lavadour called "Happy Hands"2014-10-03T20:31:25+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2014/10/02/housewife-guides-and-the-cult-of-true-womanhood/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/photo-21-e1410976033990.jpgHappy Hand front coverDetail of twentieth century stitching from Happy Hands Studio (Pendelton, Oregon) from unique artist book by Roberta Lavadour called "Happy Hands"2014-10-02T16:31:51+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2014/10/01/where-did-american-women-writers-lurk/2014-10-01T22:45:24+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2014/09/30/emma-the-female-choice-concluded/2014-09-30T18:16:43+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2014/09/29/emma-and-the-female-choice/2014-09-29T16:43:55+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2014/09/26/awakening-young-women-to-the-re-perusal-of-industry/2014-09-26T16:34:52+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2014/09/25/columbias-folklorist-emma-comes-to-america/2014-09-25T16:14:38+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2014/09/24/marketing-a-female-ideal-in-a-new-america/2014-09-24T16:06:45+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2014/09/23/austen-counters-american-captivity-novels/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/photo-3-2-e1410976853213.jpgCrewel StitchingCrewel stitching by Constance Eliassen turned into a pouch by daughter Meredith2014-09-23T16:32:28+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2014/09/22/cousins-britannia-and-columbia-and-the-evils-of-novel-reading/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/photo-2-1.jpgCrewel StitchingPouch with stitching by Constance Eliassen2014-09-22T16:11:31+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2014/09/19/jane-austen-and-la-belle-et-la-bete/2014-09-19T16:17:00+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2014/09/18/diologues-and-conversations/2014-09-18T16:04:22+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2014/09/17/re-searching-shunk-conclusion-for-now/2014-09-17T19:59:37+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2014/09/16/re-searching-shunk-continued/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/photo-2.jpgphoto 2The Weeping Willow2014-09-16T16:15:50+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2014/09/15/re-searching-shunk/2014-09-15T15:55:08+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2014/09/04/coyote-gathers-feathers/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/coyote-e1409763563982.jpgCoyote makes PeopleCoyote enticed the birds to giving him their feathers so that he could create humans.2014-09-04T21:58:43+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2014/08/28/back-from-a-long-absence/2014-08-29T16:11:13+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2014/08/29/designs-from-nature-laure-albin-guillot-and-micrographie-decorative/2014-08-29T16:09:08+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2014/08/28/yerba-buena-good-herb/https://mmedesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/mint1.jpgYerba buena (good herb)Drawing of yerba buena plant found at the Native Plant Nursery at the Presidio of San Francisco in 2006.2014-08-28T22:41:40+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.net/2007/12/12/millefleur-french-tapestries/2007-12-12T17:01:10+00:00monthlyhttps://mmedesigns.netdaily1.02020-11-26T18:18:45+00:00