I Won't Say

I won't say, "What I will..." or "What I won't..." do this go round. I will just create and post, create and post, and create and post, and so on and so forth. You get the hint!

I won't make any grandiose promises. I have come to realize (although with the best intentions at heart) that I can't always (nor do I always want to) live up to my promises. Sometimes we make promises that we think we can fulfill when we make them, later to find out that we can't make good on them or don't even want to make good on them. We as humans are super fickle, and for as much as I may hate it, I am no exception to the rule.

What I will say is that for today, I am blogging. For today, I am displaying my work. For today, I am confident that I am on this journey of creative discovery for a grander purpose than myself. For today, I am living life with no hesitation, but choosing to live and love. For today, I am able to express myself through the plethora of mediums that GOD has provided. For today, I intend to use those mediums to express the world of thoughts that swirl in my head that I am not always able to express verbally. For today, I feel free...free to be me, with no restrictions and no restraints!

What's been up in the last few months?

Life and all of its nuances! Ministry has taken precedence over all else in these past months. It should...at its core essence it is living life doing all the things I am purposed to do...even art. I have been painting and sketching (some images in this post), but I haven't been making much jewelry. I have been growing a massage therapy business, and helping to manage a program that serves as a positive outlet for inner city youth. I have been learning the fine art of balance!!!

Why haven't I blogged?

Honestly, I had become a tad discouraged! I know in previous posts I have mentioned that I am blogging to catalog this creative journey, but the reality is, it doesn't hurt to know that somewhere in this space that we call Earth that there are people that are interested in your journey. A "Whoo rah!", "Keep up the good work!", "Excellent job!", serves well as a morale booster. Even a, "I hate this piece!", "This is not my favorite.", or "Maybe try this..." serves as a good critique tool, and is better than nothing.

What's next?

Ha ha ha! Who really knows in this insanely multifaceted world of mine! What I intend to do though is to do a 365 day study of the city of Philadelphia. I am hoping to start the first of July or at the latest the first of August. I will photograph different parts of the city and do the daily drawings, painting or mixed media pieces from those photographs. I don't expect the pieces to be very large as I will be attempting to create one on a daily basis.

There you have it! I pray you all will dive into this sea of wonderful possibilities called "my creative journey" with me. It's much appreciated!

Pearls of Wisdom:

"Obstacles are like wild animals. They are cowards but they will bluff you if they can. If they see you are afraid of them, they are liable to spring upon you; but if you look them squarely in the eye, they will slink out of sight"

~ Orison Swett Marden

Teapot 2

I was super spent after getting home at about 2am on Tuesday morning. I was spending time singing in worship to the LORD with some friends of mine.

However, I knew that I needed to get some more done on this project, and below is where I have gotten so far. In the last post I did some outlining of the design. This go round, I painted the outline, and mapped out some other embellishments to add to make the pot more interesting, all of which I will show in the next post.

Phase 2: The painting of the outline

In the next post, you will see the embellishments that I came up with to add. Until then, have a blessed day!!

Pearls of Wisdom:

"In the confrontation between the stream and the rock, the stream always wins; not through strength, but through persistence." ~Author Unknown

Be blessed!

Teapot

The teapot that I spoke of last week is coming along quite well.

Last week I got the chance to outline my design on the teapot and started to paint the design. The design that I decided to go with is a modified paisley. It doesn't look so paisley at the moment, but by the time I finish putting on the smaller details it will.

The gold color that I decided to use is proving to be a great color. It is looking like it will pop off of the purple quite well.

Stage I: Outlining the design

I will be posting again quite soon to keep you updated! Until then, have a great day!!!

Pearls of Wisdom:

"Permanence, perseverance, and persistence in spite of all obstacles, discouragement, and impossibilities: It is this, that in all things distinguishes the strong soul from the weak." ~Thomas Carlyle

Be blessed!!!

Cleaning House

Last week, I took the time to clean some necessary house!!! I don't really like to admit this, but I hadn't been in my studio for like 6 months prior to last week. I go through spells where I feel like I just need to spend time working at my work desk in my room. And when I do this, my studio gets totally neglected.

So last week I started the massive cleaning, which included spiderwebs, and lots of dead cricket parts. It wasn't really something that I wanted to do off hand. I tend to do almost all of my painting (especially larger projects) in my studio. Since I have been asked to do a project that will take place later this month, I was forced to get in the groove and get in the studio. Once I get into the swing of things, I really enjoy being there. I actually look forward to being there.

The project that I have been asked to do is for a tea for a Co-Pastor of a church in Harrisburg. My aunt commissioned me to paint a teapot, but gave me free reign as to the design. I decided to use colors that signify royalty (purple and gold) for the pot and a blue-grey background color.

Here is what I have come up with so far. I will be doing the design tonight and hopefully finishing this piece come the end of the week.


The beginning of what may be an elaborate pot

Stay tuned to see the final outcome. I may be doing a bit more posting this week in order for you all to see the progress of the project. Caio until next time!!!

Pearls of Wisdom:
Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness. ~Martin Luther King Jr.

Be blessed!

Knitting & Crochetting Frenzy

Hello Folks!

It is hard to believe that we are about to enter into February! It seems like we just finished celebrating the new year.

The last time I posted I told you all I had lots of projects on the horizon. Almost all of those projects have to do with either knitting or crocheting. A sister-friend of mine and I were blessed by a wise woman a few weeks ago (thanks Minister Pat). She showed us how to read a pattern.

Those that know me know that I am not really one to follow patterns (I don't have much patience). I would much rather figure things out as I go. However, a few years back, a boss of mine gave me a book of simple crochet patterns. I saw a cowel that I had to have, and thought that this would be the perfect time to attempt to make it.

I started it about 2 weeks ago, and have picked it up when time permitted. It doesn't quite resemble the picture. I didn't follow the pattern to the T because it would have been too small. I have a big head. Oh and, don't always believe when a garment says "one size fits all" because what they really mean is "one size fits most"! I also didn't use the same colors or the same yarn. I couldn't find the yarn that they wanted me to use, and those that were comparable were way too expensive. So I opted for an acrylic yarn that was pretty weighty. All in all, I believe that it will turn out to be good regardless.

This is what the finished product is supposed to look like from the pattern

This is what I have got thus far. I will keep you all updated on the outcome next week! Until then, be safe in what ever sort of weather you are bearing!

My incomplete version thus far

Pearls of Wisdom:

"You can tell whether a man is clever by his answers. You can tell whether a man is wise by his questions." ~ Naguib Mahfouz

Take the time to listen and ask the pertinent questions that will give the person you are asking the answers they are unknowingly seeking.

Be blessed!

100th Post!

It took a while for me to get here, but I have reached my 100th post!!!!!!!

I thought that I was going to be able to keep up with ministry, businesses (art and massage therapy), a social life, and post daily! I crack myself up, and for sure haven't been able to do so for long periods of time. However, what I am able to do is post on a weekly basis, letting you all know what I have been up to creatively.

So today, although I have been working on knitting some scarfs this week for presents, I wanted to focus on artwork of some others.

These pieces are from some children that are in my life. Their sketches/drawings are absolutely amazing, and done with no fear whatsoever. It always amazes me that adults are sometimes afraid to do things due to what others may think, and children are simply fearless! They don't care if you like what they have created or not. All they are concerned with is transcribing what they see in their heads onto paper or whatever medium they are working with. As the quote states, they dance like no one is watching, love like they'll never get hurt, sing like no one is listening, and live like heaven is right here on Earth.

Maya has already started to develop a style that she likes. Can we say a future cartoonist, story board writer or children's book artist! The possibilities are endless!!! (I apologize for the position of the 2nd pic. Blogger is uploading funny these days)

Drew draws from what he sees, and decided to take it to the next level do a bit of collaging!

Today, I pray that you take lessons from a child! They are exquisitely resilient in many ways adults are not. They bounce back in minutes, if not seconds! Talk to you all next week!

Pearls of Wisdom:

"You've gotta dance like there's nobody watching, love like you'll never be hurt, sing like there's nobody listening, and live like it's heaven on Earth."

~William W. Purkey

Be blessed!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Happy New Year Folks!

If you are reading this post right now, you are truly blessed to see not just another day, but yet another year! WHEW WHEW!!!!

I must admit, this has been one of the best vacations that I have had in a long time. I spent lots of time with family and friends, and things were relaxing and peaceful. And to boot, everyone was so generous, and I don't just mean with monetary gifts. People took the time to give of themselves unselfishly...looking to be blessings to others instead of worrying about themselves. It made me so joyful!

Since I last blogged, I have been working on a few things other than jewelry. The latest is an invitation that I designed and created for my mentee's (more like my little sister) baby shower. It is hard to believe that the one that I have seen grow up and mature is about to have a little one of her own. I got the opportunity to sit and talk with her and the young man (who I also saw grow up) yesterday. Although I may have chosen a different path for them, and desired for them to wait to have children, I am so very proud of them. They really have their heads on straight. They both are in school, and have set things in order to insure that they will be able to finish school once the baby gets here. So I say...I love you Sakora and Andrew!

I really wanted to do something creative for them. I thought about how special a new baby is, and decided to play off of that. For the actual card, I ended up sketching out a mailbox and adding the U.S Postal service emblem. I decided to change the colors to suite the colors of the shower. I did a cut out on the top layer and added the wording on another piece of card stock and attached it to the top layer.

My crazy looking workspace while working on this project

The front of the card. I didn't show the inside because there is personal info there. However, it pulls down where it says pull...LOL!

While I liked the card, I was super excited about the envelope. I wanted to give it an old package feel, and decided to use brown paper bags. I got some string and wrapped the bag to look like an old school package.

The envelope. Not sure why it registered as vertical instead of horizontal, but you get the drift :)

So there you have it. A card for the special delivery that shall soon be here!

I look forward to posting later this week. I am getting lots done, and am chomping at the bit to share with you all! Until then....

Pearls of Wisdom:

As a single footstep will not make a path on the earth, so a single thought will not make a pathway in the mind. To make a deep physical path, we walk again and again. To make a deep mental path, we must think over and over the kind of thoughts we wish to dominate our lives. ~Henry David Thoreau

Be blessed!