Armstrong Industry Journal

Happy Valentines Weekend

Have a happy holiday weekend.  This is a favorite art piece for me from my friend Jeannine.  You can get it up in here shop and her thoughtfully written blog is worth a read.

                                 

Mankind Mag

I love the inspiration found in the web world.  The new issue of Mankind Magazine is out.  Find out more at Design for Mankind, great new issue from Erin.

                                    

Local Poverty

Poverty is different today, but much is the same.  Rural areas have different challenges than urban areas, and less resources.  I grew up in Appalachian Kentucky in poverty, I see much of it today, but is seem more hidden, the pundits and politicians see to think if yo have a TV you can not be poor.  (We still have people without indoor plumbing).  I bought my studio in a redevelopment area in Southern Virginia.  Empty buildings are still a large part of the town.  I have always had these grand ideas of helping to make things better through art and local culture.  It is hard to express these things to people when we have tough economic times.  People are locked into the low cost of the "big box stores" and now with money so tight they have no choice, financially.  But I think this Catch 22 type situation has lead to many of the problems that lead to poverty in the United States, and once a couple of generations are locked in to this lifestyle and lack the education to get out the circle moves through whole communities. Local small business get a lot of mouth time with the politicians, but not much in actual policy and if you look a real statistics having local made and sold products only make sense to sustain the town.  So I will keep plugging along a try to make people aware, and hopefully this huge change in our country will make people take a look at what has been happening a start to support local independent business.

Blog Action Day

Scoutie Girl, Thanks

I have been so busy with studio an design and back to teaching that I missed a thanks to Jan at Scoutie Girl for adding my mini link.  She is a fabric and bag designer with a great indie designer support blog.

A Brand New Home

I have just moved my web journal here to Typepad.  I look forward to bringing a lot of new ideas and information from our growing Design business.  Also, sharing more information on things of interest including, simple natural food, home schooling, and  many ideas for living this unique creative life.