Sometimes, long after words are written, they are found. Such is the case with a blog entry I made back in 2008. Today I received a beautiful note from one of my readers. They had come across this poem which was cast into stone at the Cosanti Bell Foundry. I included the poem in my 2008 blog entry. 

Turns out, this poem was in my readers grandmothers' possessions. 

These words have followed me through the years. Her note reached me on a day I was getting some poignant news. Perhaps her note and me rereading these fine words were meant to criss cross. In this photo you can see the lines of type cast into the wall at Cosanti. 

The poem was cast by a worker there in 1968. 

The area it was cast was an area mostly utilized by the workers or those living on site.

"SPIRIT, CALL ME SON THAT I MAY SEEK MYSELF WITHOUT TIRING 
DARKNESS, CALL ME BROTHER THAT I MAY NOT FEAR THAT WHICH I SEEK
LIGHT, CALL ME FRIEND THAT I BE NOT ASHAMED BY WHAT I FIND
DEATH, CALL ME GENTLY THAT I MAY ENJOY WHAT I HAVE BEEN."

Patricia

Mermaids

When I was a young impressionable girl with a wild imagination, I wanted to be a mermaid. I would drape pearls and beads around my neck, hibiscus in my hair and run around the orange trees in our yard. I'd examine the patterns in my vinyl swimming pool looking for traces of mermaids and magical things. The sides were blue and had a patten like finger prints. It was mesmerizing. Having grown up on Florida's Gulf Coast I loved water. My parents took my brother and I to Weeki Wachee Springs one Saturday afternoon.
My life was never the same.
We saw the mermaids perform their underwater show. Back then, the mermaids lived in small cabanas at the back of the property. I wanted nothing more than to be one of them.

Sirens of the sea have guarded ships by crowning their bow, been inked onto sailors arms, and cultivated the aquatic imagination of little girls everywhere. I was one of those girls.

This box is a tribute to those beautiful Mermaids......wherever you are, whatever size you are!

This TattooDreams Box is available at the Orchard Gallery in Fort Wayne, IN. as a part of their Art Becomes Her Exhibit.

Collectors

Yesterday, at a small show, I encountered two uniquely different people who buy art.
One, someone I've known for some 20+ years. 
Another, I have known for only a few years.
Both collect art.
This is where the similarity ends.

He boasts-
Credentials of the other work he owns.  
What prestigious shows these artists have been in.
The artists whose homes he's been in.
Not what fun he had, but
how good was their collection.
He does this with such memory and bravado,
scratching his head to recall. 
He doesn't listen. 
He doesn't smile.
He doesn't really even seem happy.He only wants to be heard. 
Tedious one way conversation. 
As if these veils make large his small stature.
All the while I feel certain I'm being judged on the back stories he knows that I don't.
I don't seem to care but listen nonetheless.
I wonder how many others do this as well.
My mind wanders as he drones on.
I want to sit down.
I want to scream or be interrupted.Yes, it's clearly his choice to buy and collect in this manner.
A misplaced set of social skills are part of his collection.

Then later, I had the pleasure of speaking with another collector of art.  
She embraces. 
Not a quick hug, but one that places one heart opposite another heart.
No name dropping or boasting of how she has acquired the 'best work' of an artist.
She quietly goes about getting to really know an artist and hear their voice.
Find their soul in the work.
This is someone I can understand.Her eyes a reflection of a life passion -
one that bears witness to her love of the people 
who build
and create what she enjoys collecting.
A woman who tells you that she 
touches your work 
in her home 
and thinks of you
-getting well
-becoming strong
-praying for your life
-to flourish
-to continue 
to create.

I would have had to have been dead to not notice -
the vast difference.
In their eyes,
their body language,
their words,
their listening,
their not listening,
their spirit,
their inner joy,
their demeanor.

As an artist who is trying to carve out a living making art, 
I always hope the person who opens their wallet for my work 
will be someone I want to have 'own' my work. 
This has always been my hope.
It always will be, no matter how much I need a sale.

One walks away. 
Hands clinched.
Hat in hand, his critical self 
tightly encased 
in statistics,
in credentials -
in finding more'stuff'.

The other,
hugs,
shares,
cares
listens
and leaves you feeling
that despite anything that
is happening to you-
that you are strong enough 
good enough
and reminds you just how much
your work means to her and how much she enjoys owning your work.

How people make you feel
-is unforgettable.
Like I said, people have different reasons for buying art.

Patricia Hecker

Where Do We Begin?

We are a country that is torn apart.
D i v i d e d
by
politics
finances
ideas
color
race
religion
sex
guns
laws
legislature
and sadly-
one another.

I'm not sure how we come together and stay together.
How we heal.
How we unfold - safely
in our
churches
workplaces
temples
homes
schools.

Today my own world feels
like it needs to close in-
grow smaller-
and heal.

I'm not sure how people of such diverse ideas
can come together
and speak
when everyone seems
to be shouting
and divisive.

We need to find a way.
We need to make peace.

~Patricia Hecker
December 14, 2012

Photo courtesy Jennifer A Ramos

Cinnamon Carrot Bread Recipe

3/4 c. white sugar

1/4 c. brown sugar

3/4 c. canola or sunflower oil

2 c. flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp.ground cinnamon

1 tsp. coriander

2 eggs lightly beaten

1 c. finely grated carrots

pinch of salt

1 tsp. vanilla

optional:

1/2 chopped pecans or raisins

In a large bowl combine the sugars, oil and mix well.

In a separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients.

Gradually add the dry ingredients and the beaten egg mixture to the sugar and oil mixture.

Mix well.

Next add the carrots and vanilla.

Place batter in greased loaf pan.

Bake in a preheated 350º and bake for one hour.

Let loaf sit for about 10 min. on a wire rack to cool before removing.

Warm from the oven, this is a wonderful fall treat.

What's Wrong With Me?

Our lilac bush was budding and the sound of song birds perched high in our sycamore tree chirping filled the air. Wiggly pink earthworms found warmth on the driveway after the nights rain. Small wonders seem more apparent as I moved slower. In my not so distant memory, I recall stretching my legs at a faster pace and moving quicker. While I'm not sure I'll move this way anytime soon, if ever, I recall it easily. ~ Spring 2012

The day before Valentines Day this year I was officially diagnosed with Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease. UCTD for short.

Most people, including me, had never heard of this. There are a handful of connective tissue diseases and when your body hasn't quite settled into enough symptoms to definitively diagnose which one, this is what they call it. My Uncle died last fall from one of these Connective Tissue Diseases, Systemic Scleroderma. 

My last conversation with him, he reminded me to tell my doctors about the strong history of these autoimmune diseases on our side of the family. His strong faith and acceptance left an indelible legacy.

Blood work sent to Mayo Clinic held the answers for me. My diagnosis took months to obtain. Blood tests, nerve exams, three neurologists, two MRI's of my brain and spinal cord and eliminating an MS diagnosis brought this to fruition. When you're a diabetic oftentimes that becomes the 'go to' answer. I knew there was something very amiss inside me. A huge amount of patience was required - not my strong suit mind you. 

I began not feeling quite right last July in the heat of summer. Bright lights, heat, sun, loud noises and odd nerve pain was adversely affecting me. We changed lightbulbs and lighting in our home and studio. I'd dimmed the light on my computer screen. I'd lost strength down the right side of my body. Most noticeably in my leg. I began using a cane. Oftentimes I've had a hard time articulating words or thoughts. Confusion over simple things comes easily and makes us both laugh. 

And in that laughter comes some sort of odd acceptance. 

The alternative is to cry, and I've done plenty of that. This along with bouts of depression. Yes, someone who lives in a purple house really can be depressed! Sometimes daunting when mixed with pain management. Pain in turn adversely affects blood chemistry making my Type 1 diabetes a greater challenge.

Accepting.

I believe that's where we are with this right now. We waited months to hear what was wrong and now we know. Jon's been my rock through all of this. He quietly senses what I need and makes adjustments. 

Memory issues have brought about small yellow post it notes around our home reminding me of things. Seems silly, but necessary. Eight weeks of physical therapy showed mixed results.

What has happened seems humbling. An internally quieting sensation. Not necessarily bad, but a game changer. Then again, life is a series of changes. 

I'm not sure if I'm getting better or worse. More tests will indicate where this is going. The medication I'm on is treating me as if this is already Lupus, so it's easier to say that is what I have. 

I can remember how it felt to have stamina, walk faster and think clearly. One of the hardest things to do for me is to walk into a room of people who I haven't seen in a while. Or to see people who don't know what's wrong with me. People have questions. Some ask, some don't. 

I wish I had more answers.

My tendency is to fight. I watched my Mom do that as she battled cancer at a very young age. She never gave up. She had two kids. She wanted to see us graduate from high school. 

She didn't get to do that. 

But I watched her maneuver a daunting battle. I wonder how much energy she used to do this. Mine is nothing compared to what she encountered. 

I'm wrestling with her memory of fight and my reality of accepting so as to not waste energy.

I'm tired all the time.

I've come to learn tiredness is it's own disease.

It takes time from you. Trying to rearrange your life around that takes time.

I'm a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. 

Small things feel big and big things seem small as perspective shifts. 

Perhaps this is a gift I've not fully realized.

I've got the most amazing support of family and friends.

I'm blessed - things could be worse.

Patricia

Back by popular demand! The best guacamole recipe, from Jon Hecker
★Barack-A-Mole★
2 or 3 medium size ripe Hass avocados
1 large clove of garlic
1/2 c red onion
1 roma tomato
1/2 lime
1/4 c fresh cilantro
1 tbsp. sour cream
1 tsp. coarse salt

Prepare the ingredients:
Finely chop the garlic
Slice onion into thin slices and chop into pieces.
Slice tomato in half, remove inside flesh and seeds. Then cut outer layer into strips and chop into small pieces.
Rinse a small bundle of cilantro thoroughly, dry with a towel and chop into fine pieces.
Once all of the above is prepared, cut each avocado in half and remove pit. Scoop with spoon and place into bowl.

Mash the avocados thoroughly. Next, incorporate the onion, garlic, cilantro and tomatoes. Add the sour cream to bring consistency to a creamy suspension. Squeeze the juice of half a lime and mix thoroughly. This will bring it to the final texture. Cover the mix with plastic wrap and chill for several hours. When ready, salt to taste, adding roughly 1 teaspoon. Mix thoroughly.

Tips for the best results: Pick avocados that are firm and not mushy. A slight resistance means it is ready. If it is very firm, place into a brown paper bag and store at room temperature for 2-3 days until soft enough for preparation.

Enjoy with your favorite tequila and Mexican dish. 

Day of the Dead Box

The TattooDreams tour of 2012 continues and has us on the road in Oklahoma City for their six day long show. Our booth is filled with many new boxes and furniture. This is our first time taking this body of work there and plan to leave many pieces behind!


This new Day of the Dead box is in our booth......until someone snags it!! If this needs to be yours and you're not there, contact us! It can be yours!!!


Booth 32C

Steampunk Box

What's old is new and often revisited.
Such is the case with the steampunk movement in design.
Gears.
Movement.
Innovation.
Action.
An era when things were
built
invented
constructed.
Smokestacks and glass block windows.
A grid of light.
The hum of factories filled the air
and lined the pockets of workers
who
wore time pieces
and hard soled shoes
walked to work
heard lunch whistles blow
punched time clocks
wore aprons and visors to shield them
from the
dust
dirt
ink
innovation
Being created
by machinery
printing presses
fire
flux
and their hands.

On etsy.
$75.00

••• Leaf Vessel •••

Our newest TattooDreams vessel is the Leaf Vessel. This is a tapered cherry box designed and built by Jon. Patricia stained it a warm tobacco color and stamped gold leaves onto its' surface. Over that she attached cut, painted and airbrushed leaves of various sizes and type. These deciduous leaves are edged in gold and adorn all sides as well as the top. The lid is composed of an additional layer which leaves tuck under and around the decorative finial.
The ephemera that cascades down from the finial is a compilation of seeds, shells, nuts, and semi-precious stones strung on waxed linen.


This vessel is currently on display at the Orchard Gallery in Fort Wayne Indiana. It's part of their "In the Garden" show which runs from March 3-31.

The Orchard Gallery
6312A Covington Road
Fort Wayne, IN 46804

(260) 436-0927
If you feel the need to adopt this box, call the Orchard Gallery at the number above and tell them this one needs to be in your collection. They will understand and help you make this happen!

$450.00



9x9 17

Indiana Art Fair at the Indiana State Museum

This weekend we have our first show of 2012. It's the Indiana Art Fair held at the Indiana State Museum in Indianapolis. We have new work and look forward to the year ahead.
Please join us and come see the artists that will be exhibiting this weekend.
Above is our new Tribal Mask Vessel. It will be in our booth this weekend.

Jon and Patricia Hecker
TattooDreams
Booth# 1-12 On the ground floor/Canal Level

What Valentines Day Means to Me

I love Valentines Day! I love that ~ in the midst of the darkness and chill of winter, a day is set aside for love.
For flowers.
For showing affection.
A day for love.
As a young girl, Valentines Day was special. My Mom found something, albeit small, to gift to my brother and I to remind us of her love. That is after all what Moms do, and my Mom was great at this kind of thing. It was also in February that I usually caught the flu and would miss my classroom Valentines day party. The parties where crayon decorated brown paper bags were made into mailboxes with white scalloped doilies and taped to the side of your desk to hold Valentines from classmates. Where the Room Mothers brought in cupcakes and punch and math class was halted.
Valentines. The small envelopes, some pink, some red, some white got deposited into your bag. Some with stickers on the back. Each with your name on the front.
Tucked inside, the small illustrated cards bought in cellophane packs at the supermarket the night before and hurriedly signed by the obligatory classmate. Then every now and then you'd find one that said "Guess who?"..... a mystery that made your day...needing to be observed more closely later that night in the privacy of your bedroom.

Now I have a new appreciation for this holiday of red and pink. I love seeing these colors come to stores after the reds and greens of Christmas disappear. It's in the February that I generally feel the full thrust of winters' cold. When flowers are not blooming and an assorted sense of cabin fever and general malaise sets in. The winter holidays are over, the anticipation of spring beginning. A feeling that things to come are not quite here yet.

Anticipation.

Love that was.
Love that is
Love that can never be.
Love that never dies.

The most beautiful of all four letter words.
A verb that magnifies our lives.
Because if love is not put into action, it's merely an adjective to describe.
Love must be put in action to become fully alive!

That's what Valentines Day means to me.

With love,
Patricia

••• Sara's Box •••

Every once in a while an artist is gifted a great commission. This box was one of those commissions. We met the woman gifting this box to her sister in Austin at the Armadillo Christmas Bazaar. When she saw our work, she knew that a box made by us would be the ideal gift for her sisters 40th birthday.
Ideas were shared and stamps were culled and so began the box. Jon crafted this elegant tapered box in cherry. A fitting and beautiful canvas for me to stamp the desired ideas that came our way. We were given a wide berth in which to create this box and that was appreciated. Giving an artist that freedom usually yields a finished piece that is pleasing to the person who commissioned it as well as the artist.
Such was the case here.
The box is adorned with a wide array of earthy stones. Turquoise, jasper, sea shells, chestnuts, glass and seed beads fall gracefully from the linen cords as well as beads we crafted ourselves. Atop the vessel sits a wolf.



We know that Sara's box will be gifted in the spirit it was made~ with great love.
An artist can ask no more than to give it their all.



Happy Birthday Sara!

Patricia & Jon

The Armadillo Christmas Bazaar

Jon and I are in Austin Texas doing the Armadillo Christmas Bazaar with our TattooDream boxes. Twenty six years of doing a myriad of various types of shows and venues across the country and nothing remotely compares to this! Booths are various sizes which lends a varied and interesting esthetic to what is already an eclectic show. Coupled with the amazing live music from class acts, we feel this is a real treasure and a gift to be here.
Every day we open our booth to the wonderfully fun and interesting people of Austin Texas. They are genuine and most welcoming to us, especially when they hear we came so far. Our hosts, Bruce and Annie have gone above and beyond to welcome us into this Armadillo family. Health issues as they are, we need to make some changes to our show schedule and we hope by doing this show that will allow us the ability to do just that.

To us, this is our Christmas gift.

This year the show runs 11 days. Open daily from 11 am to 11 pm right up to Christmas Eve. In it's 36th season this year. We've spoken to so many artists who have done it from the beginning as well as patrons for whom this has become a holiday tradition.
We've known about this show for a very long time but knew we didn't have the rigth work for it. Now to actually be here doing it it feels very cool!
Our dear friend Bonnie Blandford is here to help us for the first 5 days. Her offer to help us has been hard to quantify. She's given up time at home after a busy year to do this. We are forever indebted. Days are long and morning comes a bit too soon, but the energy within that hall is addictive.
Time away from the booth is good too. Our dear friend David Haun is taking Bonnie and I to the South AustinTrailer Park Eatery tonight for supper. Food trucks in Austin provide some for the best local fare around and this one is sure to please. Bonnies first night here we at at Chuy's. Excellent food and eclectic decor. Loved the ceilings full of hubcaps! Hmmm... I do believe it was here that the infamous Jenna Bush got arrested! (Some rich girls just need to know that laws are for everyone!) Hahaha!

If you are anywhere near here, plan a trip over to the Armadillo. We're in the Palmer Events Center. Plan to stay the day and into the evening! A dim hall, alcohol, fantastic live music and a great place to do all your holiday shopping!
Eat, drink, shop and fill your sleigh!!

Heckers TattooDreams are in booth B4. The one with the puple and blue LED lights and fun boxes!!

A Morning Haiku

Winters quiet light
Breath rises in silent fog
The days peace unfolds.

~Patricia Hecker

Featured box is available for free shipping from my etsy site.
$48.00

Artist Bunny Box

Woman is born to create...in creating she becomes herself, accomplishes her destiny. Her whole life is only an initiation into her creative power. To create is not merely to produce a work...it is to give out ones individuality. Woman becomes creator when, after the numerous stages of adaptation to alien influence, she finally grasps what is really her own, what she really receives, not from men, but directly from God as a special personal message.
Jeanne de Vietinghoff

This quote resides on one side of my Artist Bunny Box

This box and others available on my etsy site.
$48.00

Vegetarian Refried Beans Recipe

Killer Refried Beans

2 c. dried pinto beans, sorted and rinsed
bay leaves
3/4 c canola oil
1 bulb roasted garlic
2-3 tsp. kosher salt
tamari or Braggs Amino
adobo powder
cumin powder
1 can chopped roasted tomatoes

Sort beans for any stones. Rinse beans and add to pot with water. Cook with cover ajar for 2 hours till soft. Add water if needed, but doubt that will be necessary.
Keep the water level about 2" above beans.
(Note:DO NOT SALT beans till they are fully cooked.)
In the meantime.......
Roast a bulb of garlic drizzled in olive oil with a pinch of thyme.
Remove bay leaves from the cooked beans. cook beans until there's very little water above the height of the beans.
When garlic is done roasting, remove cloves and mash them slightly and add to pot of beans. Mash beans in pot with a potato masher or big spoon.
Add the canola oil to the beans.
Add the undrained roasted canned tomatoes to the pot.
Add tamari or Braggs, salt and adobo.
Add 2 tsp. of cumin

The longer you can cook this down with all the spices and things added, the better your beans will taste! Keep cooking them until they thicken a bit more and serve. You can add chopped jalapenoes and serve with shredded cheese or not.

This Day of the Dead Box is available on my etsy site.
$48.00

Handmade for the Holidays!

Christmas 2011 -- Birth of a New Tradition

As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high
gear to provide Americans with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods --
merchandise that has been produced at the expense of American labor. This
... year will be different. This year Americans will give the gift of genuine
concern for other Americans. There is no longer an excuse that, at gift
giving time, nothing can be found that is produced by American hands.
Yes there is!

It's time to think outside the box, people. Who says a gift needs to fit in
a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper?
Everyone -- yes EVERYONE - - gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates
from your local American hair salon or barber?

Gym membership? It's appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some
health improvement.

Who wouldn't appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, American-owned
detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a
book of gift certificates.

Are you one of those extravagant givers who thinks nothing of plonking down
the Benjamins on a Chinese made flat-screen? Perhaps that grateful gift
receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or
driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local golf course.

There are a bazillion owner-run restaurants all offering gift
certificates. And, if your intended isn't the fancy eatery sort, what about
a half dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint. Remember, folks this
isn't about big National chains -- this is about supporting your home town
Americans with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open.

How many people couldn't use an oil change for their car, truck or
motorcycle, done at a shop run by the American working guy?

Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would LOVE the services of a
local cleaning lady for a day.

My computer could use a tune-up, and I KNOW I can find some young guy who is
struggling to get his repair business up and running.

OK, you were looking for something more personal. Local artists and crafts people make stunning baskets, spin their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make jewelry, pottery, sculpture, tree ornaments and beautiful wooden boxes.

Plan your holiday outings at local, owner operated restaurants and leave
your server a nice tip. And, how about going out to see a play or ballet at
your hometown theatre.

Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands.

Honestly, people, do you REALLY need to buy another ten thousand Chinese
lights for the house? When you buy a five dollar string of light, about
fifty cents stays in the community. If you have those kinds of bucks to
burn, leave the mailman, trash guy or babysitter a nice BIG tip.

You see, Christmas is no longer about draining American pockets so that
China can build another glittering city. Christmas is now about caring about
us, encouraging American small businesses to keep plugging away to follow
their dreams. And, when we care about other Americans, we care about our
communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn't imagine.
THIS is the new American Christmas tradition.

Forward this to everyone on your mailing list -- post it to discussion
groups -- throw up a post on Craigslist in the Rants and Raves section in
your city -- send it to the editor of your local paper and radio stations,
and TV news departments.
We are the 99%.
We can make a difference!

This is a revolution of caring about each other,
and isn't that what Christmas is about?


This post has been shared and altered along the way by those it touches.
My thanks to fellow artist, award winning basket maker Stephen Kostyshyn.

Pumpkin Soup with Chipotle Sour Cream

Pumpkin Soup with Chipotle Sour Cream

2 tbs vegetable oil
1 1/2 c diced onion
2 large carrots, diced
1 1/2 tbs diced jalapeños
1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp garlic powder
3 cups pumpkin puree (canned or cooked)
2 c vegetable broth
1 1/2 c milk
salt and pepper to taste

Chipotle Sour Cream

8 tbs or so sour cream
1 tsp finely minced chipotle peppers
(I used dried and reconstituted with a little water to soften)
cilantro

Heat the 2 tbs. of oil in a large stock pot. Saute onion, carrots and peppers for about 15 minutes till it smells wonderful and people begin saying "what are you making?"!!!
Add the cumin, garlic, pumpkin, milk and broth. Bring to a simmer and season as needed.
I chilled our soup and reheated it later while making some jalapeño cheddar cornbread.

Serve soup with a dollop of chipotle sour cream on top.

Enjoy!

This soup is a wonderful harvest soup. Served in one of my friend John Baumans stoneware pumpkins pictured here, even better. See more of John's work and buy it now in time for Thanksgiving!
Pat

~~~Steve Jobs~~

‎"Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart. Stay hungry. Stay foolish." -Steve Jobs 1955-2011.

Not that long ago I blogged about Steve Jobs. Tonight this visionary man passes from one world to the next. All the adjectives used to describe 'genius' have already been attached to this man and to his legacy. There isn't much more to say except that he will be missed and what he designed has had a profound affect on me.
I never thought I'd enjoy using a computer. If I were using another platform (I'll refrain from mentioning), I know I'd have little interest.
I use a Mac.
I always have, and always will.
Yes, a cultish following indeed, but because this operating system is so easy to use I've found new talents within myself that I may have never tapped.
Perhaps that is also part of the genius behind this man. He taught us to look inside ourself for answers and to continue to ask questions. To believe in the power of ideas. To act on those beliefs.
I am profoundly grateful to a man I've never met, a genius that will live on and whose innovations enlighten and connect me to
my friends-
to the world-
and to new ideas.
I will always remember his genius and his generosity.
Rest in peace~

~Patricia