My name tag was the result of the available materials rather than a planned idea followed to completion. I began with the silk flower then and used water colors and some rubber stamps to print a flower and some leaves. I continued to use the water colors to paint some scraps of heavy paper in my favorite colors. I glued the dry flower and leaves to the paper that I painted and then begged a bee pin from Lisa. I was reminded of one of my favorite poems from Edgar Lee Master’s Spoon River Anthology where he says: I would that I had thrust my hands of flesh Into the disk-flowers bee infested, Into the mirror-like core of fire Of the light of life, the sun of delight. I first read this poem the summer that I was 18 and I knew that I would take the risks implied here to enjoy this journey as much as possible. I guess my metaphor is to enjoy life and what ever comes your way; paint it with bright colors and don’t be afraid to take risks. I liked the idea of creating metaphors of oneself so much that I assigned this idea to my drawing and painting 1&2 students as the cover for their drawing books. I know that I live & teach in a very rural part of Connecticut but I have yet to understand what a cow has to say about one of my students!