THE CUTEST DAPPLED DACHSUND EVER!

This is Dara and her new pup, Angie. I saw them playing in the park outside of The Old Stone House. Angie was running through the leaves with a huge chunk of moss in her chops. She looked like a cross between a seal and a baby loch ness monster.

Angie is a Dappled Dachsund. She has one blue eye and one brown eye. Dara describes Angie as "playful, obedient, overly-social" and also says that Angie loves big dogs.

ADVENTURES IN PROSPECT PARK

Last week, I started some of my days with a walk to Prospect Park and back. I found the spot where dog owners go to let their pups off leash.

What an adorable site - all these amazing creatures bounding around while the humanfolk chat.

What grabbed my attention was one woman who had four dogs. One of them kept coming over to me so I could throw her toy to her.

She (the owner) is Jane Seltzer and her two passions are dogs and roadside architecture. Check out her blog, Roadside Architecture, adorable pics of her dogs, and her homepage.

NEW YEAR WRITING PARTY & WORKSHOP FOR WOMEN

My friend, Jen Graham, is hosting and facilitating a New Year's Writing Party and Workshop for women. Jen is the founder of Writeous Chicks and authors the blog One Writeous Chick.

Here's the scoop on the event:

WRITE Into The New Year!

An All-Day Writing Party &
Workshop for Women

Do you want to:
 Reflect on your past year and where you’ve been?
 Set your focus and intention for the year to come and where you want to go?
 Get inspired and excited about new beginnings & infinite possibilities?

Then this workshop is for you!

The beginning of a new chapter – in your writing and in your life – is always within
your reach, and within you!

All-Day Writing Parties are full-day writing intensives specifically designed to provide a big juicy burst of inspiration to jumpstart your writing practice or take your existing practiceto the next level!

Using fun & freeing techniques, you will break through blocks in your writing
and your life and celebrate and nurture yourself in the process.

Date: Saturday, January 10, 2009
Time: 12:00pm – 6:00pm

Place: A convenient Cobble Hill location, close to the F train in Brooklyn

Contact: Jennifer Garam ● (917) 509-7564 ● jeng@writeouschicks.com

Registration Fee: $149; Only $125 if you register before December 1st!
A maximum of 10 women will be accepted in this session.

Writeous Chicks is passionately committed to empowering women to tap into and celebrate their own unique voices through writing, while promoting self-acceptance and self-trust; and to building and sustaining a creative community of women in which to encourage and support themselves & each other.

SERIMONY - A PLACE TO BE DELIGHTED

I recently stopped by Serimony, a postage-stamp size of a store on Court Street which features clothing, jewelry, bags and custom stationery made by 35 or so local artists. Karen, the owner, picks artists whose stuff is not saturating the market. That way, you can figure that you won't see ten other people wearing the same thing you are!

Karen has an incredible eye for design. The stuff in the store is fun without being too cutesy. I've received so many compliments on the t-shirt I bought there. It features an orange-ish red graphic design landscape with forrest animals gathered around different kids of trees. I've worn this tee to the bone! Also, check out the great card shown above which I call "Leap for Treats."

If you want a fun and special gift for yourself or someone else, get thee to Serimony. It's located at 421 Court street between 2nd & 3rd Place in Carroll Gardens. Brooklyn store hours are Monday, Wednesday through Friday noon to eight, Saturday eleven to seven, Sunday noon to six or by appointment 718-797-0679.

I AM IN LOVE WITH THE EAMES STAMPS

Before I bought these stamps, I only knew that Eames was a famous dude who designed famous chairs.

I did not realize that the Eames were a man/wife couple who designed all kinds of things.

According to the Wikipedia entry,
"Charles (1907-1978) and Ray (1912–1988) Eames (pronounced /ˈiːmz/) were American designers, married in 1941, who worked and made major contributions in many fields of design including industrial design, furniture design, art, graphic design, film and architecture."

So this is the beauty of stamps - they are miniature works of art that open our minds to new worlds.

ENJOYING THE RIDE: THE FLOW OF THE UNIVERSE

This is taken from today's Daily Om.

The flow of the universe moves through everything. It’s in the rocks that form, get pounded into dust, and are blown away, the sprouting of a summer flower born from a seed planted in the spring, the growth cycle that every human being goes through, and the current that takes us down our life’s paths. When we move with the flow, rather than resisting it, we are riding on the universal current that allows us to flow with life.

Many people live their lives struggling against this current. They try to use force or resistance to will their lives into happening the way they think it should. Others move with this flow like a sailor using the wind, trusting that the universe is taking them exactly where they need to be at all times. This flow is accessible to everyone because it moves through and around us. We are always riding this flow. It’s just a matter of whether we are willing to go with it or resist it.

Tapping into the flow is often a matter of letting go of the notion that we need to be in control at all times. The flow is always taking you where you need to go. It’s just a matter of deciding whether you plan on taking the ride or dragging your feet. Learning to step into the flow can help you feel a connection to a force that is greater than you and is always there to support you. The decision to go with the flow can take courage because you are surrendering the notion that you need to do everything by yourself.

Riding the flow of the universe can be effortless, exhilarating, and not like anything that you ever expected. When you are open to being in this flow, you open yourself to possibilities that exist beyond the grasp of your control. As a child, you were naturally swept by the flow. Tears of sadness falling down your face could just as quickly turn to tears of laughter. Just the tiniest wave carrying you forward off the shores of the ocean could carry you into peals of delight. Our souls feel good when we go with the flow of the universe. All we have to do is make the choice to ride its currents.

Want more DailyOM?Register for your free email, or browse all articles

Bovo at MOCA

Tom Bovo will have three digital photographs in the upcoming On-line/ On-wall Double Exposure Exhibit at the gallery of the Museum of Computer Art (MOCA) in Gowanus. The exhibit will run November 4-26, 2008. All are welcome at the exhibit reception, Saturday November 8, 4-6 PM.

Brooklyn native Bovo (www.tombovo.com) has three digital photographs in the exhibit: 6th Avenue, B'DAZZLE and Bryant Park. They are all part of his recent series of Manhattan landscapes. His completed pieces are archival glicée prints. Bovo's recent digital photo series include Avenue Nights; Window Views; Reflections; and Valentino.

Bovo trained at Columbia University, where he studied painting and printmaking with Andre Racz, David Lund and Robert Blackburn. His work is in private collections in Birmingham AL; Tuscon AZ; Pasadena CA; and New York NY, as well as the Embassy of the Slovak Republic to Italy and the Vatican in Rome.

MOCA (http://moca.virtual.museum) is located at 139 Eleventh Street (between Second and Third Avenues), Brooklyn NY; take the F train to 4th Avenue, or the M or R train to 9th Street. The museum is open noon-6, Tuesday through Saturday. For more information, call MOCA at 718.788.1313.

THIS IN FROM DEVIN @ THE BROOKLYN ARTISTS GYM

*The Bag Fund*, a nonprofit that supports the creative process by providingartists with studio space and technical support at critical points in their life cycle, is hosting their first annual fundraiser - *Shades of Green* - on November 7 from 6pm- 12am at the *Brooklyn Center for the UrbanEnvironment* (168 Seventh Street), the premier Educational Guide to a more sustainable future of our City.

Shades of Green celebrates The Bag Fund's role in Brooklyn's creative ecosystem, promoting sustainability for art and artists. Sounds will be provided by DJ Miss Mocha with special performances by Brooklyn-based guitarist Mike Gamble (AKA Scrambler) and Hip Hop puristBaba Israel with Yako 440.

I MOURN THE LOSS OF THE SUN

I dearly miss The New York Sun, a newspaper which saw its last day on the stands on September 30th of this year.

It was a paper with decidedly conservative editorials, but a fabulous arts and culture section. I loved the calendar and the layout with their stunning accompanying visuals.

To read a Letter from the Editor about the future of The Sun, CLICK HERE.

Rest in Peace, NY Sun.

WANT PEACE OF MIND?

HEY THERE BUSY PARENTS, PROFESSIONALS,

ARTISTS AND ENTREPRENEURS!

· Do you have more stuff than space?

· Are you overwhelmed by piles of papers, clothes, or books?

· Would you like more serenity and less chaos in your home or work space?

Let Eleanor Traubman, professional organizer, help you………

Clear your desk

Unclutter your closets

Get your papers in order

Create rooms you love to live and work in

Make space for you!!!

CALL NOW TO DISCUSS YOUR GOALS WITH ELEANOR!

917-499-7395

creativetimes.blogspot.com

A professional organizer since 1999, Eleanor assists busy New York women de-clutter and make better use of desks, closets, filing cabinets, and more. She has been featured in Time Out New York, The Brooklyn Paper, Family Circle, The Sun Times Chronicle, and Fitness.

Eleanor is also a writer, educator, culture maven, and community-builder whose passion is connecting people to each other, and connecting people to tools and resources for living an inspired and effective life. Her mission is to bring people together through the arts, creativity, and humor. She is Editor of Creative Times, a blog for artists and entrepreneurs, and also helps convene the Brooklyn Blogade, a monthly gathering of Brooklyn bloggers.

THIS SATURDAY: STEAMPUNK AND VINTAGE STYLE DAY AT BROOKLYN INDIE MARKET

Steampunk and Vintage Style Day at Brooklyn Indie Market
For All Your Time-Travel, Fashion and Neo-Vintage Needs

Brooklyn Indie Market (http://www.brooklynindiemarket.com/), an emerging designer market on Smith and Union Street is hosting a Steampunk and Vintage Style Day and fashion show, Oct. 25th 11-7, fashion show at 2pm.

Steampunk lineup includes:

* Karen von Oppen –Confession NY, Provocative creations, designed to seduce http://www.kvodesign.com/

* Wren -Purevile, Post Apocalyptic Victorian Accessories and clothing http://www.purevile.com/

* Britney Frady Williams - Berit NY, Bringing back old world charm into modern day living http://www.beritnewyork.etsy.com/

* Tom Williford, Got Steam A Steampunk emporium http://got-steam.com/

Featuring:

· Steampunk talk and reading by G.D. Falksen http://www.gdfalksen.com/
· 2 pm Fashion Show
· DJ
· Victorian inspired refreshments
· Victorian Photo Sitting by Tyrus Flynn http://www.lostavalon.com/

STEAMPUNK IS HOT RIGHT NOW! IN CASE YOU’RE WONDERING WHY…Retro-futuristic Steampunk style swept into fashion pages last spring like a corseted time traveler, a pair of brass aviator goggles slung around her neck. Steampunk’s combination of the tailored Victorian look and mechanical ornamentation offers an elegant and original antidote to the laid-back look that has now become so uninspired.

Indie designer Sylvia Holden says Steampunk is recognizable by its use of references to time travel or flight, fantastical imagery, and attention to handmade detail. At once "opulent and vagabond… Steampunk is really now!" She adds, "Antique-looking silver pendant watches, Victorian up-do's and long Victorian-looking skirts with lace-up boots are being spotted in fall fashion magazines. Now add a couple of tattoos, a severe hairstyle, mismatched gloves with a necklace made up of the inner workings of a timepiece, and you are fashion forward."

The future is now. Or was it then?
-Sylvie Myerson, Editor, Sandbox Magazine

Via subway: take the F or G train to Carroll street. Exit at the President Street exit of the station.

BROOKLYN BLOGGERS GATHER AT THE BOTANIC GARDENS

Chris Kruessling, author and photographer of the blog Flatbush Gardener, did an amazing job of organizing this month's gathering of Brooklyn Bloggers.

We gathered at the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens, first to hang out in the outdoor cafe.

We moved to the Member's Room of the Lab & Admin Building, where staff members Elizabeth Peters and Dave Allen talked about the history and current activities of BBG.

After our traditional Shout Out, where each blogger introduces him or herself, a BBG tour guide gave us a generous trip around the gardens.

What a gorgeous day for this event!

Photo Credit: Chris of Flatbush Gardener

MIKE SORGATZ PAINTINGS IN OCT.18/19 A.G.A.S.T. TOUR

Brooklyn painter and blogger Mike Sorgatz - http://www.artinbrooklyn.com/ and http://www.michaelsorgatz.com/ - is participating in the 12th Annual A.G.A.S.T. tour on Saturday andSunday, October 18-19, 2008 from 1-6 p.m.

This is a free event open to the public.

Mike's studio is located at 168 7th St. 3rd Fl between 2nd and3rd Avenues in the Brooklyn Artist's Gym (BAG), a shared studiospace.

Tour website: www.agastbrooklyn.com/

Visitors of A.G.A.S.T. have the opportunity to meet face-to-face withthe creators of photography, drawing, printmaking, mixed-media, video,ceramics, glass, installation, paintings, sculpture & etc. in theirown working studio environment.

Artist studios are located in large industrial buildings as well as garages, brownstones and warehouses along the Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn. Everyone can be easily found onthe tour map here. The Gowanus area is conveniently located from many subway stations and the LIRR Atlantic Avenue station between Park Slope, Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill and the Boerum Hill neighborhoods.

BLUE RIBBON GENERAL STORE PRESENTS: YOU'RE AMAZING! ON SAT, OCT.18

Please join us at Blue Ribbon General Store for a Special Event for Girls and their parents

Girls Inc. presents

You're Amazing! A No Pressure Guide to Being Your Best Self

An afternoon with Claire Mysko, author

Join us as Claire reads excerpts from her book and discuss how we can help all girls to be strong, smart and bold

Saturday October 18

Noon-1:30 pm

Blue Ribbon General Store

365 State Street (corner of State and Bond)

Boerum Hill, Brooklyn

Come meet Claire, visit with friends, shop our fun store...read more about Claire and her book on her website here- and as always, please come check out our great selection of gifts and treats

Hope to see you soon!We will have notes about the event up on our website afterwards if you can't make it to the event

SEE TEN TIPS FOR GETTING ORGANIZED @ HIP SLOPE MAMA

Come on over to the wonderful blogazine Hip Slope Mama. That's where you will see my article entitled
Ten Tips for Getting Organized, along with this take-charge red-clad lassy in above pic.

THIS IN FROM ELISE LONG: GROUND FLOOR WORK SPACE AVAILABLE IN GOWANUS ARTS BUILDING

Ground Floor Work Space Available in Gowanus Arts Building

(Douglass Street between 3rd & 4th Avenues, Brooklyn)

800 square feet (apr. 30' x 60' with cut outs).

This ground floor work space has internal parking and an internal loading dock, 12 - 14' ceilings, and a separate street entrance. Perfect for a small business or artists who need space but do not currently need a lot of natural light (space currently has one big window at the front of the building but because of massive renovation of the entire block next door, this space also has the potential for adding new windows on the newly exposed eastern wall of our building.)

Currently, the space is divided into several small offices, a parking space, a painting studio and common area. Space currently shares a bathroom and utilities (220 electric and gas space heater) with the music space next door.

Owners would be willing to gut the entire space and put in a separate bathroom ---costs to be negotiated. Also note: must enjoy classical music and jazz (which often emanates from adjacent music space!) Terrific building management company on call 24/7.

Absolutely no smoking in the building at any time.

As is, rent is $2,900/month; two months security. Available November 1st.

Interested? To see space, please call building manager at:
718.422-1070-- Elise Long

POST OFFICE OF MY DREAMS

As a lover of all things post office - looking at and buying stamps; sending letters and care packages; and interacting with postal workers who love to show all the new stamps - I sure do wish that they would build a post office in my neighborhood.

Every time I have a envelop or package of an unknown weight, I have to trek out to another neighborhood to get it weighed and shipped off. This is true of everyone else in Carroll Gardens and Cobble Hill, too!

My dream post office features:

* children's artwork on the walls

* a comfortable lounging area

* a deejay playing lounge-y music

* an adjoining coffee bar

* little water bowls for dogs outside the door (like Commerce Bank)

* happy and well-paid/well-treated workers

THE BROOKLYN BLOGADE VISITS THE BROOKLYN BOTANIC GARDENS ON OCT.12

Crape-Myrtles in full fall regalia in November 2006 at the Lily Pool Terrace of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. This photo and post created by: Xris of Flatbush Gardener

On Sunday, October 12, 2008, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden (BBG) welcomes the Brooklyn Blogade!

The Blogade is a "traveling roadshow" that meets each month in a different location in Brooklyn. It's a way for bloggers who live or work in Brooklyn to visit different parts of Brooklyn and meet each other, and for residents of the communities we visit to connect with Brooklyn's online world.

Inspired by the out-of-doors experience of the July Blogade in Prospect Park, I contacted Dave Allen, BBG's Web Manager, about the possibility of hosting a Blogade. Dave is responsible for some of BBG's Web content you may have already enjoyed, such as the timelapse videos of this year's Hanami, the Cranford Rose Garden, and the Lily Pool Terrace. He and I have spoken informally in the past about how to foster greater connections between BBG and the online world. This seemed like a good fit, and October is a great time to experience some of our beautiful fall color at BBG.

Schedule of Events:
11am to 12noon: Food on your own at BBG's al fresco Terrace Cafe. Blogade attendees can sign in and get their name tags at the Blogade registration table near the Bonsai House.

12noon to 2pm: Main program in the Member's Room of the recently landmarked Laboratory and Administration Building. Meet Dave Allen, BBG's Web Manager! There will be some brief presentations, time for Q&A, and of course, the shout-out.

2pm to 3:30pm: Continue schmoozing as you explore the gardens on a guided tour of BBG just for those attending the Blogade

RSVPs REQUIRED:
BBG is offering free admission - and parking - to those attending the Blogade.
Space in the Member's Room is limited.
For free admission, please provide your real name.
RSVPs will be fulfilled first-come, first-served.
RSVP to blogade.rsvp@gmail.com

Related ContentA Picnic at Prospect Park (the Brooklyn Blogade), July 28, 2008Blogade (Blog posts)Brooklyn Botanic Garden (Blog posts)Brooklyn Botanic Garden (Flickr photo collection)
LinksBBG has several different online resources and personae which you can explore:Web site.

Be sure to explore the Visit section for directions, maps, what's in bloom, special exhibits, and so on.Vimeo (High-def Video)YouTube (Video)Flickr (Photos)Facebook (Social networking)MySpace (Social networking)

Email this • Email the author • Subscribe to this feed • Technorati Links • View CC license • Sphere: Related Content • Save to del.icio.us • Digg This! • outside.in: See more stories nearby in

Posted by Xris (Flatbush Gardener) at 9/30/2008 05:57:00 PM

STARTING ARTISTS TAG SALE ON 10/11

Starting Artists benefits Brooklyn's teenagers through free after-school training in media arts and arts-based entrepreneurship.

For more information, go to http://www.startingartists.org/

If you would like to volunteer at the Tag Sale, contact: Eleanor@Startingartists.org

ORGANIZING TIP: SET UP A BIRTHDAY CARD RITUAL

At the end of each month, I take out my Good Grief: Some Dates are Hard to Remember peanuts gang perpetual calendar. It features drawings by Charles Schulz and tabbed months with a space for each day of the year. In those spaces, I keep track of whose birthday or annniversary is when.

A few days ago, I looked at the days of October and wrote down the October birthdays on a 3 by five index card. I then went to the store and bought birthday cards for all those folks listed, came home to personalize them and then mailed them off the next day.

This ritual has made it easy to make sure I remember and celebrate the important people in my life!

Interested in setting up some useful organizing systems and tools for yourself? Call Eleanor at Inspired Organizing to find out about working with a professional organizer.
917-499-7395