Monday, May 25, 2009

The Marshmallow Experiment


The ability to delay gratification—even as early as the age of 4—is a scientifically proven, rock-solid predictor of success in later life. (Don’t ask me to define success, okay? Whatever popped into your head is probably fine.) And, they say that low scorers can be taught self-discipline. My question is, is there any hope for a former high-scorer who’s totally caved to the instant gratification of links and blogs and tweets? I’m just sayin’, is all.

Partner Ship

Hello, my little corner of the world. This is where I'll be sharing fragments about the land of new-media adventure, where I've been living for the last few months. In January my 9 years as an editor (and sometime-writer) of craft books came to an inglorious end. I had spent the aughts nurturing and fanning and praying over manuscripts that filled a mad cornucopia of how-to subjects: knitting, jewelry, paper and needle crafts, and ceramics. (I still chat with a few of those amazing ceramists. Hi, Andrew! Hi, Angelica!)

In the 90s I taught commercial photography and before that I studied the medium as a fine art. I'm so happy to get the chance to include some of my photos alongside these posts.

Ever since little-girlhood I've been a voracious reader. My FB page profile says it plain and simple: I'm "inveterately curious." So here is where I'll share what's on my mind and my plate.

For the last several months I've been working with two amazing women to start a digital publishing venture. We three are writers and tech geeks and creative persons looking to squeeze the most juice out of being freelance everythingers.

Being something of a style nanny, I’m having quiet little internal fits around establishing (perfect) consistency in all print references to our "baby’s" name. We're talking just a matter of capitalization here! I may be driving my partners nuts over it. Sometimes I can get a picture in my head of how great something can be, and it can be hard to live up to such internal pressure. It's a good thing there are three of us; thankfully, the success of this boat-float doesn't depend on me alone!

Anyway, if there's one perfect thing, it's peonies in May.