Sunday, June 8, 2008

Show & Tell with Mel Sunday

Okay - so many of you will probably think this is a cop out! (Or maybe not) I'm going easy route here and show off my new header for S&T (I still think that sounds a little sordid). The awesome and creative Calliope is responsible for the new look around here and on my other blog. (Warning: the link will take you to the other site - bear in mind it is very kid-centric, though the header is worth the click!).

First off - Calliope was FAST! I added my name to the long list of bloggers queuing up for her services and anticipated a wait - she emailed back in less than 24 hours; two days later, the new headers were up. Secondly - Calliope listens to you and gets a sense of you and then comes up with ideas for your new header. Lastly - she is sweet as can be and very patient (especially since I think I was a bit of an email "tweak this and that" pest. She completely nailed the header for my other blog pretty much right off the bat. With this one I struggled a bit. She incorporated all the things I was thinking and mentioned first - color, art, style - but it just wasn't right yet. So, I mentioned one thing to her - just a something that I had forgotten, but then remembered. Years ago in the thick of it all, I wrote a poem called "Handprint on my Heart". That is what I use to call the effect of my losses on me. The poem was cheesy and definitely doesn't show any true literary promise or talent for anything other than the ability to rhyme (I will only post it if you really beg me and then bribe me with lots and lots of chocolate, Mel's fudge or something, I'm really not that much of a poet) but hey, it was for cathartic purposes. A friend had sent me a pendant that depicted this idea for my 6th loss and after emailing those four words to Calliope - "handprint on my heart", I went hunting for the pendant. I was going to scan it and send it to her.

This is the pendant:


As you can see from the header that graces this blog above, this is what Calliope came up with. She sent me a sample header literally as I was attaching the scanned pendant to an email I was sending her. Like I said - she is awesome. She managed to capture the essence of what it was I was looking for, even when I couldn't articulate it completely (or at all) at times - she listened and caught me dead on. I could go on and on about all the things I love about this header - the handprint and heart of course, but also the ripples behind the title and the blurry water color effect, the colors - so much symbolism I see there on a personal level. When I opened that header up the first time - I teared up. The header she created for my other blog caused me to laugh, she captured us so perfectly there as well.

So yes, I'm showing off my Calliope created header art today. About 2 dozen of the visitors counted in my visitor counter are mine - just coming back to look at that header!

25 comments:

SAHW said...

She really does excellent work...both of your new headers are awesome, I can't decide which one I like better. :)

DC said...

Calliope's pretty talented, huh? What a great way to incorporate your poem and pendant into your blog!

Momma Mary said...

Wow! How wonderful is that header? It's great that she was able to do that for you!

loribeth said...

OK, I'm going to have to join the queue... love both the new headers!!

I recall the poem, & probably have a copy somewhere in the depths of my e-mail files, but would love to read it again (hint hint...).

Busted said...

What a beautiful header! And not a cop out at all.

Alyson and Ford said...

Love the new header and the story! Thanks for sharing.
Alyson LID 01/27/06 IA China
NCLM

Joanna said...

She did a great job on your header. The pendant is beautiful as well.

Cricket said...

What a great header and a great way to keep your beautiful pendant right in front of everyone. Very meaningful.

Cricket said...

PS - thanks for the visit and comment!

Lauren said...

Love the header!

I'll be praying for your Josh as well. Thanks for stopping by my blog!

Queenie. . . said...

I have loved clicking all over reading the last couple of weeks, admiring the header, and then seeing it was Calliope's. She really is talented, and I love what she did for you.

PS I finally posted my show and tell.

Heather J. @ TLC Book Tours said...

I've seen lots of her work lately - everyone must have the "Calliope bug"! Yours does look great though. I'm happy you got it the way you envisioned it. :)


(Hi from NaComLeavMo)

Lori Lavender Luz said...

What a gorgeous header! I'm off to see the other now...

♥.Trish.♥ Drumboys said...

hi
I'm here from NaComLeavCom
A very beautiful header indeed and I am sorry fro your multiple losses.
I have only lost one sweet baby girl I know of and that is enough pain to last a life time
The pendant is lovely too.
I'd like to hear your poem.
My Little Drummer boys
warm regards
Trish

Lee said...

Here via Mel's Show and Tell.

Isn't it nice to "redecorate" online! (And much less expensive and intrusive than doing one's home.) Terrific that you found someone to create images that bring you such joy!

Anonymous said...

Popping by from Mel's Show and Tell.

Both headers are beautiful but this one really touched me. Thanks so much for sharing. This is not a cop out at all :o)

Still Standing Strong in A Bloom of Hope. said...

header's beautiful...and the pendant tugged my heart today.

xoxo.

Searching said...

Beautiful! Both of them!

Jill said...

Wow, what a great way to capture you journey. Beautiful!

JW Moxie said...

Both of your headers are beautiful...so vibrant, and they both do a great job at capturing the essence of the two different blogs. Calliope is worth five zillion more times every compliment she receives and then some.

Thanks for sharing the story behind the header here. It's so sweet and the significance is so special.

Portia P said...

Thanks for the nacomleavmo visit. It's great to 'meet' others in their (very) late 30's - we're few and far between!

Love the headers - i'm in the process of working with her on mine, so watch that space.

x

Katie said...

Via NaComLeavMo...
It's really gorgeous. If I hadn't done myself a spring redesign reccently I'd go over and get one myself.

alicia said...

she is amazing!! everyone is getting headers by her now! so great for her :)

thank you for your comment on my blog. I am still sick unfortunatly, but thanks for the well wishes!

Kim said...

The blogs look great! I love that she knew exactly what you wanted! NCLM

Anonymous said...

love the pendant...love the header!