30 March 2010

Late Nite Artist

What is it about artists that make us such weird people to be around? And more so then that... why does all of our creativity come out during the night time?

Perhaps you are one of the few artists whose creativity floods their senses in the middle of the day and you are able to just pounce on any idea that floats in front of you.

I, however, am not so lucky. I find myself on nights like tonight. It's 11:54 now 11:55pm and I am so wishing I had hair clips to glue on cute feathers, buttons and other items.  I want to make fun little hair accessories....RIGHT NOW.

Alas, there arw no stores open for me to purchase these items, nor do I have a car to even get there.

I find it funny that most art stores in San Francisco are open daily from 9a - 5p... when most artists I know work the same hours to support their hobby in the first place. Saturdays are filled with art exhibits, fashion shows, vendor boots giving us a chance to show off our hardwork and to connect with other like-minded people.

Then Sunday rolls around and everything is closed all day..

How am I suppose to get any work done?

I slave all week working the daily grind, come home exhausted and in no mood to create, then the weekend rolls around and I am up and adam trying to get things done... still no creating though.. then there is Sunday, when everything is closed

Oh man, what torture it is to be creative.

No wonder why we collect random things, convinced we will someday use them again. It's totally these moments that the lace you found, the buttoms you kept, the elastic that you refused to throw away and the extra thread that you just HAD to buy that keeps us from going insane at night.

I never knew my sewing machine or laptop might be my stay at home babysitter, keeping me from trying to cut up my favorite dress and refashion it into something else.

Tonight, my art is writing. At 12:07, after writing this, re-reading it twice and making corrections and finally coming to a close.. all I can do is thank Apple, Google, Youtube and Facebook for keeping me from ripping a part my room in search of items that I could use.

P.S. I finally got internet after not having it for two weeks.

Expect more posts from me in the near future.

23 March 2010

What happens when you follow your dreams?

Saturday I had a great day with my boyfriend and his grandmother. We went to the farmers market and picked up some very addicting maple coated almonds. Note to self: if ever I see a bag of those again, ask how to make them because they are waaaayyyy to good to share the bag with someone else; and i don't even like maple.

Anyway, after crusing the market we jumped on the Sausilito ferry and headed across the bay for lunch. It was so great to see my boyfriend connecting with his grandmother and to see the strong bond and love that a family has for each other. Day in and day out they will always have each others backs, I only wish that my family could be put together like that.

After lunch we headed back to San Francisco to nap before heading to San Jose to see some good friends of ours play in their band, Separate Reality. During the nap I had a dream that when I woke up a ate a clementine and an oreo, then I said goodbye to my boyfriend's grandmother and headed out the door to make the long drive to San Jose. All the while feeling great that I had ate those two things before I had left the house.

So naturally when I woke up I asked myself, "What happens if I play out my dream?"

The result... wisdom, greatness, inspiration and connection like I have never known.

My two friends are having issues with each other and I got the chance to speak with one of them to help them indentify what they really wanted and what they were trying to say to the other one. I got a chance to use examples from my real life and to show what faith and progress can really do.

It was fantastic.

In the end my boyfriend joined the conversation which truly allowed us to reconnect as a couple, to hear an outsiders perspective on issues that we have already faced and to help our friend find ways to make her life better, safer and happier.

If there is one piece of advice that I could offer for today it would be to follow your dreams. You never know where they might lead you.

Who knows if it was the oreo, clementine or the hug from my boyfriend's grandmother that truly made my day that much better. But thanks to everyone involved.

16 March 2010

Top words from place names

 http://www.merriam-webster.com/top-ten-lists/bikinis-and-bourbon/bikini.html


#1: Bikini
In July 1946, the United States detonated two nuclear bombs at the Bikini atoll, an island in the South Pacific, which of course was big news around the world.
A year later, a French fashion designer introduced a scanty two-piece bathing suit and named it the bikini.
Unable to find a model immodest enough to wear it, he debuted it on a stripper – and it too became big news.
  



#2: Bourbon
 
How does whiskey get to be called "bourbon"?
By being distilled from mash that is at least 51% corn, then aged in new charred oak barrels.
That's the way people liked it back in the 19th century when it was first created – in Bourbon County, Kentucky.





#3: Denim
Denim, the all-American fabric, actually gets its name from the French words de Nĭmes meaning "of Nĭmes," because it was manufactured in the French city of Nĭmes.
The word jeans is also European in origin – the name comes from the city of Genoa (earlier known as Genes) because the pants were worn by sailors in the Genoese navy.



#4: Lesbian

Originally, lesbian simply meant "from Lesbos," the Greek island pictured here.
Its current sense comes from the ancient poet Sappho, who lived on Lesbos around 600 BC and wrote poems that dealt with the relationships – sometimes passionate – between women.



#5: Tuxedo

Sometimes called a "monkey suit," its origins involve the wolf. Here's why:
In the 1880s the village of Tuxedo Park, about 50 miles north of Manhattan, became a popular resort. It was here that some young men, disregarding the fashion of the day, began to wear dinner jackets without tails.
The new style was soon called the tuxedo.
And the name of the town? It comes from a Native American word meaning wolf.

#6: Marathon

After defeating the Persians at the battle of Marathon, a town in southern Greece, the Athenians sent a messenger to run the 25 miles back home.
According to legend, he delivered the news and then dropped dead.
Marathons became 26 miles, 385 yards at the 1908 Games in London when extra yards were added so the race would finish in front of the royal box.

#7: Donnybrook

The annual Donnybrook Fair near Dublin included fiddlers and dancers, but it was best-known for the frequent eruption of whiskey-fuelled fighting – often involving heavy clubs known as shillelaghs.
The fair was shut down in 1855, but by that time the word donnybrook had bashed its way into the language to mean a free-for-all or brawl

#8: Tequila

Developed in Mexico in the 16th century, this was probably the first distilled alcoholic beverage created in North America.
It's made by fermenting the juice of the pineapple-like fruit of the Mexican agave plant.
Some of the best was – and still is – made in the town of Tequila.

 #9: Badminton
A game with an upper-crust heritage.
Badminton House is the residence of the Duke of Beaufort in southwest England, and the sport is said to have been played there for the first time in 1873.
Originally it was known as "The Game of Badminton," but soon became plain old "badminton."
It's a combination of a children's game called "battledore and shuttlecock" and poona, which was played by British officers in India in the 1860s.

#10: Hamburger

Hamburger means of or from the city of Hamburg, Germany, where this preparation of meat, originally called "Hamburg Steak", originated. In the U.S., the name was applied to the sandwich as well.
Frankfurters, by the way, originated in Frankfurt, Germany, where they were often served in beer gardens. And wieners? Named for Vienna, Austria.



15 March 2010

Brand New Dress, Brand New Thoughts

I started making this dress this weekend. I am SUPER proud of it. However I'm finding it difficult to sew in my home.
I know that there are people around me who are better at sewing than I am, who have gone through mass amounts of schooling and training to be the seamtress's and designers that they are today. I know that my methods, although unconventional, still get the job done.
It pains me to have creative people look at my work because I know that they are just analyzing it to the fullest extent. What happened to appreciating someone's work just because they are your friend?.... no matter how they made something.. the fact of the matter is, they still tried.

Can't we just appreciate art because it's beautiful, not not analyze every brush stroke, hemline, screen print and color scheme we see.

Maybe it wasn't successful the first or second time, but we all learn our lessons in different ways.

I can not wait until I live on my own, have my own studio, pet and space to make whatever I want, however I want, WHEN ever I want.

I know that is a long shot, but a girl can dream can't she?

11 March 2010

Craigslist Resume - Mine..

 Any Tips:

To whom it may concern:

Thank you for clicking on my resume. I am seeking a job that will challenge my creative skills and push me to new levels. I would like a job that has flexible hours as I will be attending school in the fall (CCSF for Fashion Design) but can work full time, all day, every day until then.

I am best fit with companies that are goal oriented, success driven and efficient deadline communicators.  I am best used as a personal assistant, event coordinator, retail manager and other jobs along those lines. I have produced many fashion shows and other events in the San Francisco Bay Area and have become accustomed to managing models, photographers, clothing designers, dj's, venues, etc. I work well on both MAC and PC, I am EXTREMELY detail oriented, so I know there will never be deadlines missed or late excuses.

I would truly love to jump on board with a creative team that is really trying to go places and make a positive impact on this world.

I am currently work at a job where I do the following:

-Receptionist duties
-Assistant Paralegal
-Assistant Legal Secretary
-Filing Clerk
-Case Manager
-Assistant Scheduling Officer

    Below I have posted my resume:

    Objective:
    To obtain a position that will effectively utilize my creative talents and outgoing personality

    Qualifications

    -Proactive individual with the ability to sell in a results-oriented environment
    -Exemplary communication skills with the capacity to successfully handle difficult clients
    -6 years of customer service experience in retail, food service, and reception
      Experience
      San Francisco, CA Receptionist/Paralegal duties, The Cartwright Law Firm, Inc Jun 08 – Present
      -Effectively communicated with clients of million dollar cases in an easily understood manner
      -Organized and helped assign cases to multiple lawyers in order to match the client intake cycle
      -Managed the acquisition of medical, police and photographic records
      -Expedited legal communications to clients, law firms and superior court systems
      -Composed, updated and managed legal documents
      -Managed the noticing of client meetings and call-back reminders
      -Remained well mannered and courteous in fast-paced and high-pressure environments

        Santa Cruz, CA Sales Associate, Velvet Underground Oct 07 – Feb 08
        -Increased sales by applying knowledge of fashion movements and trends to product line and marketing
        -Managed store opening and closing as a supervisor
        -Demonstrated advanced cash handling transactions, voids, and gift certificates
        -Marketed with store display mannequins and jewelry arrangement
        -Created a positive image and strong sense of pride by making department clean, neat and easy to shop

          Derby, KS Waitress/Customer Service Rep, Applebees Jun 07 – Aug 07
          -Sold $1,800+ per shift, beating benchmark $1,000-1,200 by 50-80%
          -Served over 70 patrons per shift, covering up to 5 more tables than other servers
          -Performed cashiering, hosting and busing duties for co-workers
          -Successfully proposed upgrades of sixteen-count entree menu, specialty drinks, and buffet
          -Prioritized customer service and up-selling
            Santa Cruz, CA Barista, Starbucks Oct 06 – Feb 07
            -Demonstrated “Just Say Yes” behavior by connecting with every customer and assessing their needs
            -Enhanced the customers experience by offering demonstrations and tasting sessions
            -Followed health, safety and sanitation guidelines while maintaining quality store operations
            -Performed cashiering, inventory control and store closing/opening duties

              Education
              -High School Diploma, San Lorenzo Valley High School, Felton, CA Jun 05
              -Medical Occupations focus, job shadowed at Dominican and Sutter Hospital
              -Provider First Aid and CPR Certificate Apr 09
              -Bartending Certification – SF School of Bartending Mar 09

              10 March 2010

              10 DUI's.. and you're NOT in jail..

              CBC News - Ottawa - Drunk driver loses licence permanently

              Oh Man. At what point does the law really get a chance to put it's foot down and say..

              "You've been fucking up for quite a few years now, this is your 10th DUI conviction. We're taking your license away.. FOREVER!!"


              I my opinion, this should have happened on his third DUI.

              09 March 2010

              Words of Wisdom and Moments of Clarity

              This morning I received the following email from a client:

              THINK

              There was a blind girl who hated herself because she was blind.
              She hated everyone, except her loving boyfriend. He was always there for her.
              She told her boyfriend, 'If I could only see the world, I will marry you.'


              One day, someone donated a pair of eyes to her.
              When the bandages came off, she was able to see everything, including her boyfriend.

              He asked her,'Now that you can see the world, will you marry me?'

              The girl looked at her boyfriend and saw that he was blind.
              The sight of his closed eyelids shocked her. She hadn't expected that.
              The thought of looking at them the rest of her life led her to refuse to marry him.


              Her boyfriend left in tears and days later wrote a note to her saying:
              'Take good care of your eyes, my dear, for before they were yours, they were mine."


              This is how the human brain often works when our status changes.
              Only a very few remember what life was like before, and who was always by their side in the most painful situations.


              Life Is a Gift


              Today before you say an unkind word - Think of someone who can't speak.

              Before you complain about the taste of your food - Think of someone who has nothing to eat..


              Before you complain about your husband or wife - Think of someone who's crying out to GOD for a  companion.


              Today before you complain about life - Think of someone who went too early to heaven..


              Before whining about the distance you drive Think of someone who walks the same distance with their feet.


              And when you are tired and complain about your job - Think of the unemployed, the disabled, and those who wish they had your job.


              And when depressing thoughts seem to get you down - Put a smile on your face and think: you're alive and still around..

              -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              I hope that this makes you think.

              Let's try to make this world a better place. Whether it be through fashion, fundraisers, games, charity work or donations. Do your part to make this world a better place. Sometimes just a simple smile can change a person's ENTIRE day.

              Takes your ipod out of your ears, but the cell phone down. Look up and see the world through new eyes. It's been waiting for you.

              ------

              The above story makes me grateful to have started my tattoo for my family members and sad that I haven't finished it.

              For those of you who do not know I had two of my siblings pass away due to car accidents. On my rib cage and shoulder blade is a tattoo in memory of them. the text says, "Yesterday is history, tomorrow's a mystery and today is a gift, that's why they call if the present"

              I love this quote and it rings true to my life.

              -----

              What did you think of this passage? What emotions did it envoke for you?