My Plan B, His Plan A

It's been a while and no, I haven't fallen off the bandwagon, but have really been needing some time to get some things in order. I have been a tad hesitant about writing since I have had nothing visual to go along with my creative/artistic ventures. As I stated before, I believe I will write anyway; therefore we have this entry.

As I sat and spoke to a friend a while ago about some of my insecurities and woes of life, it became clear to me that my plan B may have been God's plan A all along. It's funny sometimes how we plan, set up shop, re-vamp the plan, re-vamp the shop that we set up, and the cycles go on and on, only to find out that plan B is so much simpler and conducive to who we are than plan A in the first place. The plan that made us sweat and toil day and night, cry hours on end, and sometimes compromise our identity was never meant to be so.

His plan A has been here all along. My ticket to freedom. However, although that free ticket is available for me to take a hassle free ride, I have been hesitant about getting on. One foot on the train, the other foot on the platform. The foot on the train realizes that I must make a move.

The foot on the train realizes that I must make a move. I have been created for a time such as this. To carry out that which GOD has gifted me with. If I don't jump on board, I will be left behind trying to find ways to pick up the pieces.

The foot on the platform questions the moves that I am making. "Are you thinking in an orderly fashion?" "Have you thought about consulting this one and that one before taking this leap?" "Do you really think that you are equipped to make this journey?" "Is this the right time? Maybe you should wait to make sure." If I jump on board, I may have left the station before the cargo has been loaded.

So with that being said, I am vowing to put all anxieties aside and hop on the train. I am ready to take the lead of my Master and go with His plan B, which ultimately becomes my plan A.

On the Art Front

Jewelry: December proved to be a great month for jewelry sales. I am assuming due to the Christmas season. Although I have not had the opportunity to make much jewelry, the store where I am selling items would like me to continue to sell items in their store. I will hopefully be replenishing their stash within the next 2 weeks or so.

Buddy (my camera): Buddy has not been used in a while. I need to take him out to do some product shots. While in school I made a new friend that I coincidentally went to the same high school as I did. He graduated a couple years after I did, but has a great eye for photography. We have not had the opportunity to shoot together yet, but will do so in the near future.

Button Series: I have gotten rave reviews on my button pieces. I completed yet another piece within the last month, and am working on how I would like it to be framed. I have one more that I want to do to complete this series.

Paintings/Other mediums: I have been blessed to have been introduced to many different art circles within the last couple of months. My mother has an associate who she has put me in contact with. This associate has gallery space available for free, and my fellow artists know how much of a jewel that is! So, I will be taking her up on her offer in the very (and I do mean very) near future. My former boss also would like for me to have a show in their work space. Therefore people, I have no excuse not to show and sell work. I will do it!

Other Adventures

Massage Therapy: I now can put the letters CMT (certified Massage Therapist) after my name. Although I was concerned about how well I would do, I graduated with honors and perfect attendance. It is just a pleasure to know that I am able to offer others relaxation, and comforts to their physical ailments. I am toying around with a couple of different names for my upcoming massage therapy business. I am up for suggestions!

Becoming Legit

Life is funny sometimes, and God always seems to have an uncanny way of getting a job done through you when you have missed the mark, or have been too stubborn or afraid to get it done. There manages to be the smallest nudge that undeniably forces you to the next stage in life.

I received that nudge about a week ago. It came in the form of a W-9 tax form. I have been successfully selling jewelry items in Elle Bee. It hasn’t been a smash hit, but definitely keeps me receiving a check in the mail every month, which means that my creations are being worn on ears, arms and necks outside of my circle of family and friends.

So, I received this W-9 form, which I have never had to fill out before for doing consignment. I am actually very familiar with the form as I have to get those that do contract work with my job to fill them out in order to get paid. Although familiar, I never really took the time to get familiar with the forms for my own purposes. As a matter of fact, subconsciously I didn’t want to be involved with them, although I knew sooner or later I would need to in order to properly fill out tax forms for my businesses. Notice I said businesses with an s (but that is for a different blog).

The section that got me sweating said sole proprietor, LLC, and some other options besides other, that I cannot recall off the top of my noggin. I was sure that I could pass with checking other until I read exactly what other entailed (nothing that I could subscribe to).

I consulted a great lawyer friend at that moment and asked if it was possible that I would get penalized if I just checked other without an explanation. Of course, she said sooner or later it would catch up with me, and that I should just register as soon as possible. The law may be slow to cash in their monetary reward, but when they do, they manage to try and take you for all you are worth in addition to the pair of draws on your behind.

I took the plunge and did so the next evening. With the assistance of my friend, the process was almost painless and as a result, my business is birthed:

Exo 31 Art LLC

I am blessed to be in such company that can give me advice on how to get these matters straightened out. She did so effortlessly, as if she did it in her sleep daily, and without looking for compensation. The saying “you reap what you sow” is indeed correct. Lord knows that I have been diligent in sowing wonderful seeds, not because I have the intuition to do so on my own, but because the Christ in me demands me to do so. So, I say thank you to all those that sow good for the sake of sowing for the greater good.

Pearls of Wisdom:
Your little hands in the big hands of GOD always equals success, even if that success is not immediately tangible.

Be blessed!

I Rocked My Vote...and You?

People I did it…I have successfully cast my vote for our next President. As a matter of fact, as I pulled up to the polls, I cried as Sam Cooke’s “A Change is Gonna Come” played on the radio. A barrage of memories came to the forefront of my memory…the strongest one being a story shared by my pastor this past Sunday. He shared the story of his great grandmother, and how she walked just to cast her vote. It went something like she walked 12 miles to where she was to vote for them to tell her that she was not from that district. She walked to the next district she was sent…another 15 miles or so. She arrived to her destination for them to tell her, “Nigger, you are too late to vote.” She didn’t get to vote that year, but was sure to be the first in line to vote the next year.

When I think about voting, I think about the above and much more. I think about my ancestors who had to go through so much, just so that I could have this right. I think about their unselfish act of being sprayed with fire hoses, bitten by dogs, beaten by the masses (physically, mentally, and spiritually), lynched, and killed in all sorts of despicable fashions; all for the benefit of me.This was actually the first time casting my vote for a President. One may call it sad, and some may say that I should be ashamed, but I am not. I have come to understand that we all have our downfalls, and I am not at all left out from that category. However, I am thankful that I have understood the error of my ways, and have made the change. This is what life is about….change! A change for the better, and a change for the good.

You may have figured from the paragraph above concerning “change” that I voted for Barack Obama…and yes, you would be right. However, I didn’t vote for him because he is a black man that shares white blood (like most of us), but simply because he has a better regime. He has a better plan to pick America out of the muck and mire that we are presently sinking in. As I listened to the Steve Harvey show this morning, a guest had a good point. We vote for a better America…period. We all must coexist and aside from Barack being black, he is still an American. An American that I believe would make drastic changes for the better if elected into office. Despite all of this, win, lose or draw, this is a big step for America period!

I thank God that I have been able to take part in this smidgen of history. I am grateful that I have not continued to take for granted that which my ancestors sweat, bled and died for. I am thankful for being able to understand the importance of praying for the will of God to be done over my own with this election, and continuing to pray regardless the outcome.

Be blessed!

The Perfect Kiss!

It has been a while. It seems like the more I declare I am going to do this thing more frequently, the more it lingers and falls into this lull. The funny thing is, I have so much to say on a daily basis.

Anywho...I wanted to post some responses that I have received from the prior post, asking what the perfect kiss felt like. Not to my surprise, all of the responses were great and unique in their own right.

LoveBabz: Ahh the perfect kiss feels like I am flying. Like I am weightless. Like the whole world is standing still waiting for me to catch my breath. It is like heat that begins in your toes and moves up your back exploding from your lips. It is passionate and gentle all at the same time. It is sweet and salty (sigh).

Kora: I have been kissed. It was by a lover and it was romantically. I was coming home from a long day at school and he just opened his arms and gave me a hug and a kiss, to tell me he was there and whatever happened is all over.

Kristen S.: It takes your breath away. You are not even where you were when the kiss first started. Everything around you is in a swirling blur.

Monique: Makes you feel like you are in la la land.

Nina W.: Not too long, not too short, a little bit of tongue. It has to be meaningful, fresh breath, and not sloppy.

Mackenzie C.: Small, intimate, not sloppy, like the... I don't even know how to explain it. I am so picky.

Gene C.: It has to be meaningful. I don't know, I never though about this.

Evan: I like kissing shorter women. To have them stare into my eyes and look up at me, and for me to share the same experience. I can embrace her as she leans in. You have a different vantage point. From my perspective, their eyes almost always close first. I like that. It is indicative of how to proceed. I like to open my eyes while kissing to see their reaction. Lots of tongue action. Long, passionate, and sloppy!

Renee' D.: Meaningful! Soft lips, open mouth, tongue but not too powerful, and hands behind the back of the neck.

Peg: Soft, tender, not wet and sloppy, lingering. You have to experience the perfect kiss to know it. I am a sucker for a good kiss!

As I thought about writing this entry, I struggled with answering the same question that I have asked others to answer. At times my imagination is rather vivid and descriptive to say the least. Of course I am being candid and whenever one is candid, there is exposure into the innermost thoughts of parts of who they are.

Again, this is my thought of an ideal kiss, and/or the scenario and emotions that go along with it. I don't carelessly give kisses away. In my mind, they are intimate and to be shared with someone special. However, when I sat down to write this short piece, I did have a particular individual in mind. An individual not from the past, but one that is in my present...one that I am intrigued with getting to know more about.

I'm not sure I can handle the soft, unspoken grace of your lips upon mine at this moment.
The distinct sweet aroma of your breath, slightly salty taste of your lips, and honey dipped flavor of the tip of your tongue.

Your lips lay ground work for impure and unholy thoughts
If I am completely honest, it is liable to encourage actions beyond the simple exchange of affection from my lips to yours, and vice versa
You accepting the natural juices that emanate from my oral cavity and even deeper, the mingling/sharing of our spiritual beings

Time halted, almost ceasing to exist
Oblivious to that which is around us deeply engaged and focused on that which is taking place between us

We create a melody

One that is all our own
Varying rhythms, changing tempos, diverse degrees of moisture
Icy cold, steaming hot, temperature difference

Soft, tender, and passionate
Suction and nibbles releasing endorphins
Blocking pain receptors turning an otherwise unpleasurable experience into a gratifying one

Too much to lose
Perhaps something to gain
Too many dormant feelings that stand to be exposed
Too many years past of silent kisses kept between me, myself, and I that have begged to be free

There you have it folks. I truly thank those that have given their input. I look forward to reading more of your responses. Keep them coming...they are very much so appreciated.

Be Blessed!

Some Kisses From Luscious Lips!

XXmuahXX is coming along nicely. It's debut pic is posted below, and I have worked on it since, so it is ever evolving.

So, I have changed it's scope a bit and have another question for the reading audience:

What does the perfect kiss feel like to you?

I am hoping that this will draw more of a descriptive response.

The Art Front

Photography:

I finished the wedding pics that I spoke of in previous posts. I created a DVD, and am extremely pleased with the outcome. It was a rather long video, so posting it here is not an option. An opportunity to shoot another wedding has presented itself from this wedding.

Painting:

Aside from my own paintings, I have been asked by a friend of the family to paint a mural on a room wall. Word of mouth advertisement has proven to be very kind to me. This friend of the family has passed the word on and I now have yet another gig.

Jewelry:

My sister has been talking me up to some shops in Delaware. It looks like I may be in another store in this area soon.

All in all folks, I am thankful to the man above that things are on the up and up. I am holding the many balls that I am juggling fairly well, and must say that I am loving it.

Words of Wisdom

Management means, in the last analysis, the substitution of thought for brawn and muscle, of knowledge for folkways and superstition, and of cooperation for force. It means the substitution of responsibility for obedience to rank, and of authority of performance for the authority of rank.

~Peter Drucker

Be Blessed!

Is it for Sale?

I have to say that I have been extremely blessed. So much so that it is beyond measure and certainly more than I have ever thought or could have imagined. My creativity is speaking for itself and taking flight all on its own.

The mini photo shoot that I had about 2 weeks ago for a 40th renewing of vows ceremony, went well. I have posted a few pics to the side. I took over 300 or so shots. I managed to edit them, and plan to send them off the their perspective home over the weekend.

XXmuahXX is well underway. I plan to have it done within the next couple of weeks...meaning two weeks. It's not as large as some of the other pieces that I have shown, but nonetheless very interesting. I will post progression pictures in the near future

So, the question has been, "Are my pieces in the market to be sold?" The answer to that question at the moment would be...yes and no. The pieces that I have been posting for your viewing pleasure and feedback are not on sale at the moment. I am in the process of getting my pieces in some galleries and need to make sure that my portfolio is forever building. However, there are a few (and I do mean a few) at the moment that are in the market to be sold outside of the body of work that I am currently working on. They are not really anything like what I have been working on, but if I may toot my own horn...fabulous just the same. LOL! Of course I will be posting the galleries where my art is being displayed. If it is in a city near you and you feel inclined to purchase a piece, that would be great!

Pearls of Wisdom:

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity.... It turns problems into gifts, failures into success, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.

~Melodie Beattie

Be Blessed!

XXmuahXX

I have finished the button piece that I was working on and ventured onto yet another piece. Interesting it is to say the least and has been on my mind since I have been in that loving kind of mood.

The title is XXmuahXX. Its birth started perhaps a few weeks ago as I sat and spoke to my mother about kisses. I rambled on and on about the good ones, the bad ones, the missed ones, so forth and so on. I simply explained just how much I desired to be kissed.

It strikes me as strange that at a young age I looked at kissing as just that…kissing. It felt wonderful as my young hormones raged. However, in my aging and as Lovebabz would say, coming into my “grown woman”, I have grown to seek kisses for different reasons. I have grown to understand that a kiss is not simply just a kiss….as the song goes. It’s much more. It denotes so much: friendship, love, care, honesty, etc.

Kisses act as a sort of binding contract, and at times serve as a sign of betrayal. They normally take place at the beginning and the end of interacting with another individual. You kiss a family member or friend when you first come into their presence and then before you leave. A kiss between lovers is shared during the beginning of the courtship phase and often at the end of the courtship (mostly if ended amicably). Lovers kiss to engage and end a particular act of sexual intimacy.

Kisses can be simple and complicated all at the same time. They can be sweet, but bitter. They can be loving, yet unforgiving. They can be passionate, yet mean nothing. They can be innocent, but mean the world. They can be passive, yet aggressive. They can be fearful, but exhilarating. They have the ability to make you smile and cry all at the same time.

Simply put…lips are wonderful body parts that God has made, and kisses are simple nuggets of joy that can be shared with others through them. So, XXmuahXX is a homage to all of the fabulous kinds of kisses.

QUESTIONS FOR YOU
Have you given a kiss or been kissed lately?
Where did it take place?
Where was the kiss placed?
What type of kiss was it?
What was your experience?

*As many of you know, I combine my writing with my pieces. I would love to gain feedback in order to place some of it in my piece. If you would like to forward this on to others, that would be great. The more the merrier. There is a possibility that it may or may not be used. Thanks you so much!

Be Blessed!