Friday, January 12, 2018

Ask Your Cat, Ask Your Art, Ask.


Peace Dove
by Amy LV



Students - This year I made some peace cards by carving and printing my own rubber stamp.  Today I decided to write about this stamp, but I was not sure where to begin.

I remembered talking with a wise boy who said,  "I'm not a cat whisperer or anything, but once when I didn't know what to write, I asked my cat.  And then I knew."

So I decided to ask the dove of my stamp what it wanted to say. And then I knew.

I was also helped by this quote from Picasso, about his famous Dove painting. Picasso's father had taught him to paint doves, and addressing the 1950 Peace Congress, Picasso said, "I stand for life against death; I stand for peace against war."

May we listen to our doves, our hearts, our cats, and our inner voices as these will point toward kindness.  And they will give us writing ideas too!

Stamp and Cards
by Amy LV

At Sharing Our Notebooks, my other online home,  I am tickled to welcome third grade teacher Dina Bolan and her third grade writers from Alexander Hamilton Elementary School in Glen Rock, New Jersey.  Take a peek at their nonfiction notebook entries, and leave a comment to be entered into a drawing for a snazzy new notebook selected by me! 

Jan is hosting today's Poetry Friday roundup at Bookseedstudio. Her post honors the memory and vision of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, and you will be grateful to find the resources she shares. Please visit! 

Please share a comment below if you wish.

14 comments:

  1. What a beautiful post. And, the photo of your stamp makes me want to give making a stamp a try. Thanks for this. I have a kid home sick today. I know that we will try this.....maybe it will lead to writing.

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  2. It's a 'just right' post for today, Amy. Wishing that millions will choose 'peace' and 'life'.

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  3. Beautiful stamp. Glad you questioned that dove.

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  4. Another absolutely beautiful post! The stamp is a treasure.

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  5. How beautiful! Cats are indeed full of wisdom, as are birds, and all of nature. And what a fun stamp! I need to expand my creative outlets, and try my hand at some other artistic pursuits.

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  6. What a reflective post - it demands introspection about what it is exactly we stand for. I've been thinking that 2018 should truly be a year of non-equivocation over things that matter. May our quiet listening lead us to greater kindness, as you say. Happy New Year, Amy.

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  7. Your stamp is like holding peace in your hand. I need a dove to hold onto these days. Thanks for sharing.

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  8. Maybe one day we'll have a book of poems written AND illustrated by Amy LV!!

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  9. What a provocative question and affirming answers in your art and poetry. Yes, I will choose peace and life, and hope more will, too.

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  10. You know I'm all about relief prints... wonderful! Thanks for asking your dove for its input. Wishing YOU a peace-filled 2018. XO

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  11. Beautiful stamp. I'm all for peace. I wish for peace for all of us.

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  12. Beautiful peace filled post Amy, and dove image too. Wishes for Peace to you and your family throughout the year!

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  13. Your stamp is lovely and your poem profound. Thanks for inspiring us to stand up for what we believe in! xoxo

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