It's Day 2

Hey folks! It's day 2 and I am just making it in by the skin of my teeth. It's now almost 11pm in what some like to call the "Dirty Jerz", and I am just getting to take pics and write concerning my creative whims for the day.

Okay, so today I am kind of cheating. I didn't really create anything, but I am in the midst of searching endlessly for broken jewelry. Yes, I said broken jewelry. I find so much potential in what people deem trash when it comes to products that can be recycled. So, here is the call to all those that are out there in blogging land:

IF YOU HAVE BROKEN JEWELRY YOU NO LONGER WANT...SEND IT MY WAY!!! TO SAY THANK YOU, I AM MORE THAN HAPPY TO MAKE YOU SOMETHING IN RETURN!!!!!!!!!!

Now that my plug is over, a twee about today's featured piece. A few days ago a dear friend of mine was so gracious to pass along a pair of earring. They broke a few times and fed up she trusted that I would be able to transform them into something beautiful. This is what I have come up with.

The earrings consisted of the floral pieces. I added the chains, some aventurine stones, and a toggle. I have also created a pair of earring as well.

There you have it! A short but sweet post for the day. I look forward to continuing tomorrow. Perhaps I will do so before the hour of 11pm :)

Pearls of Wisdom:

"Fear is a self-imposed prison that will keep you from becoming what God intends for you to be. You must move against it with the weapons of faith and love."

~ Rick Warren

If we fear the journey, we will never get to the destination. Getty up and ride the journey express! It's not always guaranteed to be a smooth ride, but one that assures you will arrive to your destination when, and how God desires you to.

Be Blessed!

Welcome Back Inspiration!

Okay, so using horrible vernacular...you know how I do! I fall off the map, and then I pick back up where I left off last.

This pick up comes at the hands of a young woman by the name of Marisa, who concentrates on spending only a dollar a day (for 365 days) on transforming ordinary clothing found at garage and flea markets into shabby chic apparel. She takes before, after, and how to pictures, and blogs about them everyday! Read it...New Dress A Day @ http://newdressaday.wordpress.com/about/

I first caught an article about the Julie & Julia type story yesterday on yahoo. Her inspiring story of turning one mans (or womans) trash into treasure has caused me to really push myself to do a little something every day.

What is the challenge? Well, I am so glad that you have asked! I won't put a time limit on it, but I am going to try my darndest to blog about what I have created daily. Although I journal faithfully (those that have been reading know that I sketch in my journal) it is probably safe to say that I will be blogging most about jewelry for the next couple of months. I have jumped back on that bandwagon again.

Although the thought of blogging daily seems daunting, I find it hard to believe that I can't post a little something...regardless of how exhausted I may feel. Afterall, I am sure there are folks out there that manage to do it while carrying more responsibilites than myself.

UPDATES:

While I was gone...perhaps contrary to popular belief, I was working. A friend and I sold our creations at a marketplace in the Piazza. I created approximately 75 pieces for the show. Buisness wasn't as jazzed as I would have liked it to be, but we got to meet several talented craftsmen/craftswomen.

I am blessed to have family and friends that will "don" my creations, and as a result I have gained the opportunity to have a few jewelry shows.

The painting has ceased for the moment, and Buddy has been sleep for a minute, but not for long. I can feel the need to put those brushes on canvas, and capture whatever I deem appealing coming up soon, and when I do, I will post them.

So, I thank you all for taking this journey with me. And thanks Marisa for letting me know that it is indeed possible. Let's ride it until the wheels fall off, and hope that they don't fall off tomorrow...LOL!

Melissa and I with our table at the Piazza!

My first jewelry post...one of many to come.

Pearls of Wisdom:

It's not how fast you get to the finish line, but the journey that you take to get there that counts!

Be Blessed!

In Motion

It amazes me how time flies. It seems as it has been about two days since I have last blogged, however clearly it has been about 2 weeks. 

Nonetheless, I have been busy, busy, busy. This go round...this blog entry, there is nothing super duper deep (as I can tend to get here), but just some pics of the works that have me on the grind. 

Last entry I talked about how ignorant I have been to the history of the art community, and its greats in the past. As an attempt to correct some of my destructive behavior, I have been doing a bit of studying of some of the artists work that I like. 

The first is Georgia O'Keefe. I have always admired the way that she portrayed flowers and fruit. Her work always has an organic, yet sensual feel that pulls you in to wonder where her thought process was at the moment. In my research I learned that although it was Georgia who created the artistic work, it was Alfred Stieglitz who made her well known to the art community.  The art world deems to be no different than the world of other professions. Sometimes it is not about your work and how well you do your work, but about the people that you know or those that know you. 

Bottom line...her life was fascinating to me and more in depth than I will get into here. 

As a start to a new venture of this great motion that has been started in learning more about art history I have started a new series called "Pieces Of". They are studies of an artists work that I happen to like, and perhaps some that I am not too fond of.  The first is "Pieces of O'Keefe". 

                         

These past few weeks have been busy and in addition to painting, I have been doing a lot more sketching, bedazzling and making clothing. I really use whatever medium I need to get my point across. I do what I feel, and this is all a part of this creative journey that I am on. 

Sketches & Bedazzling: I don't know what got into me!

T-Shirt Dresses: Thanks to my creative cohort Khia! She gave me the instruction and inspiration on these tees. We are gonna do big things together!

I thought my UArts folks would love this one! I managed to make a dress out of old UArts orientation tees. I almost think that this is my fav of the those that I have made thus far. 

             

Everyone needs a black number in their repetoire

        

These Goodwill tees turned into a fun, printed number.

        

As you can see, I am a tad addicted to making these...LOL!

   

There you have it for this post folks! I will be posting again soon!

Pearls of Wisdom:

GOD will finish the good work that HE started in you!

Be blessed!

Ignorantly Me

I will be the first to admit that I have been ignorant when it comes to my craft to some extent. Ignorant meaning lacking knowledge or information as to a particular subject or fact. In my case by choice.


I am fascinated with creativity; how a piece is formed, what materials were used, and what was the inspiration behind the piece. The questions go for art as a whole...visual, performance, and literary. But what I have had a hard time accepting is history.


I remember being in college, and hating art history. It was part of the information I needed for my craft, but I couldn't stand it. I was excited for my studio classes, which taught me how to strategically create visual masterpieces. However, honestly I could have cared less about the masters that created those visual masterpieces. All which probably had lots to due with the way I viewed history.

For such a long time, history had been such a bad word to me. Instead of finding history interesting, I looked at the word as two words instead of two syllables (his story). In my mind I would always wonder who "he" was. Who was giving the information about the "he"? Was "he" a reputable source? Did "he" know the subject in question personally or through years of studying second, third, and perhaps fourth sources?

I often struggled thinking studying other artists would taint the style, and sometimes message of my work. I had my favorite artists. They were my favorites because of their work as opposed to their life. I didn't understand that their work was a reflection of their life. As an artist, I should have made the correlation, but I didn't. After all, I created from my life experiences, and my life circumstances...and still do!

After a succession of conversations with other artists where I made major blunders about art history, I started to process things a tad different. Perhaps I was missing out on a wealth of knowledge that could propel my work to the next level instead of hindering it.


I am convinced that ignorance is a direct result of fear (fear standing for "false evidence appearing real"). So here I am present day studying what I should have been bothering to learn years ago. I am no longer afraid of what is to come of my work from studying artistic giants. I am sure that my work will stand on its own two feet!


Pearls of Wisdom:
History is a tool to learn from others, but more importantly a tool to learn of yourself!


Be blessed!

Philly's Pulse

I am a person that marches to the beat of my own drum. I realize that now more than ever. Some call it unique, different, eclectic, and perhaps even a tad weird.

As I strolled home from the UArts AAP Emerge gallery opening at the Sande Webster Gallery (which was great!), I managed to pass by Rittenhouse Square Park. It reminded me why I am just a train ride away from the city.

What a variety of individuals. I was drawn into the people that were just as eclectic as I am. There were some who juggled, some who did tricks with hula hoops, some strummed the guitar, some walked their dogs, some played with frisbees, some were on dates, and some practiced acrobatics.

I am connected to Philly's pulse, and with each reverberating wave I feel a need to create. A need to express just who I am through my work. It's just enough push without being overwhelming. It's unassuming, but holds expectations...great expectations for those that too absorb all the incredible things it has to offer.

Thanks for the inspiration Philly! I am soaking you up!

Pearls of Wisdom:

Find the silver lining in the clouds, but more importantly, find the inspiration that comes through and after the storm!

Be Blessed!

Got Success?

It has been a week since I last wrote, and I am determined to keep up with blogging this go round…with readers or not! This time it is less about others and more about cataloging my successes, and turning those ventures that fall short of successes into experiences that will make me better as a creative individual.

It’s amazing the inspiration that I find in the smallest of things. Although there was far less dancing than I thought there would be in the movie FAME (a different story altogether), I found a quote that was used about success to be quite inspiring. The quote went like this:

Success is not fame, money or power! Success is waking up in the morning so excited about what you have to do that you literally fly out the door. It’s getting to work with people you love. Success is connecting with the world and making people feel. It is finding a way to bind together people who have nothing in common but a dream. Success is falling asleep at night knowing you did the best you could. Success is joy, and freedom, and friendship. Success is love!

I am coming to understand that success is more grandiose than the small space I try to cram it in. And from this quote I recognized this:

• Success is personal - Success to one individual is not success to another. It is not about keeping up with the Jones' (whoever they are). It is about personal bench marks that are set and met.


• Success' drive is different for everyone - Success' purpose is multi-faceted. The thing that drives one individual could be the thing that totally disinterests the next. For some it is financial, for some it is emotional, for some it is spiritual, and for some it is just about finding joy in a seemingly dismal situation.


• Success should ignite a sense of freedom within - There is something special about accomplishing something that you set out to do. The operative word here being you. It could be a small or large feat, but a triumph for you all the same.
  

So this week I was successful on my own terms!

I spent much needed time helping my niece with her school project. It was a shoebox craft that everyone was made to do as a young student at one time or another. I didn’t do much but paint the outside and paste the pre-printed cards (thanks to my sister) on the top. However, my niece appreciated it, and that was more than enough.

I managed to fix some jewelry for a friend that was surprisingly relaxing. It gave me some fresh ideas for jewelry designs of my own. I researched ideas and possibilities for a new project that I will be talking about real soon. I sketched in my journal more than ever, and I made some necessary calls to those that I love dearly.

None of what I did this week was anything that was going to make me a dollar, and nothing that was going to get me recognition with the outside world. However, it made me successful in my own right!

I will continue to rejoice in the small successes that I make. I will remember to give thanks to God for each step I take to fulfill my purpose, no matter how miniscule they may be.

Pearls of Wisdom:

Success was never meant to have control of the wheel, but sit nice and pretty and enjoy the ride. Are you driving success or are you allowing success to drive you?

A Chance Encounter

Yesterday an encounter that almost failed to occur because of my sometimes (which I use loosely as most times I am fancy free) planned ways. A short note that consisted of five or six words sparked a light yet deep, joyous yet intellectual, insightful, and truly inspiring conversation. It was just what I needed to thrust me into the realm of getting back on track with some things that I had put on the back burner.

He was an artist (visual), lover of music, an avid reader, and a family man. Although I had known him only a short while, his character exuded integrity that is rare these days. There were no sexual overtones that so often occur with friendly banter that is exchanged between females and their male counterparts. It was truly conversation that really made me ponder more things than a few.

As I laid my head on my pillow to catch up on much needed beauty rest this morning, I thought about my work and its progress. And based upon our conversation, here are a few reminders and revelations that came forth:

• Continual education is paramount. There should never be a point in life where I think that I have become the crème de la crème when it comes to my craft. It’s okay to be confident, but pride comes before the fall, and it is the lack of further educating myself that could point to the demise of that which I have been gifted to do.

• It is my responsibility to get my work out there…to tell my story. I have a moral and social responsibility of finding that happy medium of being vulnerable enough to allow my audience to see the real me without taking them to a place of misunderstanding my point.

• I create how I feel! I grow attached to my work, but am (and have been for some time) in the space where I am able to let it go. I have to be open for my audience to interpret my work as they may. I must allow them to have their own experience apart from what my connection has been with the piece.

• I am a product of my environment, but I am also someone who creates the environment in which I choose to live. My parents genes were definitely passed down as they both were/are creative individuals. They gave/give me the space to be unique, and fostered/foster that uniqueness. My mother is my biggest advocate to this day! However, I am so wonderfully happy to be me apart from others. I make my own rules sometimes and often view life slightly skewed...chock full of optimism!

• Last, but certainly not least, there are others that share my experiences with sometimes having a love/hate relationship with their craft. There are others that struggle daily to make room for their passion to create in the midst of their daily grind to make a living.

So there you have it my good people…the story behind a new beginning. A new beginning that is going to be marked by excellency and greatness! Not only because it is new, but because this time I welcome the journey instead of an expected end.

I tagged this blog as “Chance Encounters”, but in fact I don’t believe encounters are at all chance, but rather divine. They happen for reasons sometimes that are unable to be explained. Their purpose perhaps never to be understood fully (or at all), but making an impact far beyond our understanding.

To that gentleman, I pray that I continue to meet individuals that further ignite my passion for my craft, the arts, and life in general. Our divine encounter meant more than words could express. Thank you!

Pearls of Wisdom:

"Every day, you have the chance to do or say something that will cause ripples of influence that will wash against lives." ~ Pat Croce

Let us make a conscious decision to make beautiful waves where the crest connects with the trough to envelope and nurture others throughout this journey called life!

Be blessed!