"Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens,
Bright copper kettles, and warm woolen mittens,
Brown paper packages tied up with strings,
These are a few of my favorite things..."
"My Favorite Things", by Richard Rogers

When my son was very young, he loved it when I sang this song to him just before he fell asleep. It is lovely, and always reminds me of that time with him. As I was singing it though, I often wondered what I would include in a song of my own favorite things? Of course, the details have changed a bit over time (although I do still love a few Sweet Tarts now and then!), some things haven't. One of the reasons we began this blog was to share some of the things we love. It will be a work in progress. Here's the first part of my list:

If you've been following this blog, you know of my love for word games and pop up books; those have been with me for quite awhile. I also love a well-turned phrase, an unusual word used at just the right time, and the occasional play on words. I attribute this to the fact that I was a bookworm all through my school years--I'd much rather be inside reading a book than just about anything else.

Also among my favorites is the love of a well-designed work of art, building, piece of furniture, lighting fixture, flatware, or dinner plate (almost anything Art Deco in these categories). Good design for me is visual delight. If it makes me go 'wow!' then in my eyes, it's well-designed.

And yes, if you know me, you know one of my favorite things to explore in my work is the manipulation and juxtaposition of texture and color. We joke that at shows, we hear this comment more frequently than any other: "Oh, I LOVE your colors!" At first, I was annoyed, but then I recognized it as an expression of a visceral, almost automatic reaction to colors. Think about it: either you're immediately attracted or repulsed by a color or color combination. Because of this, I've learned to ask follow up questions about other aspects of the piece which elicited the comment, and I've had a few surprising discussions and gained a number of new collectors as a result.

So on this Thankful Thursday, I'm grateful to be able to indulge in my favorite things, and share them with the world.

What would make it onto your list of favorite things? Care to share?

Until next time,

~MDP