Sunday, September 27, 2009

New Painting and other Obsessions

I hope you are having a good weekend, dear readers! I've been doing my usual - experimenting with paint and obsessing about how to rearrange my furniture. I'm off to visit my dear nephews, so this will be a quick post.


I painted quite a bit this weekend. Part of my process is moving around the pottery. I love contemplating the colors and the shapes.



2009, 24" x 30", acrylic on canvas, untitled as of yet.

Here is a new painting I completed yesterday. I have another in the works, which I hope to show you later this week. I want to start painting more, and larger canvases, but space is a problem.

And oh yeah, I am totally obsessing about the Lucy chair from Target.


I'd love to go more glam in my apartment and this chair would fit nicely. Dark, glamorous decor will be the theme for this week. Stay tuned.

xxoo

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

My Apartment - For Today

Dear readers, here are a few glimpses of the current incarnation of my apartment. The whole boring process of how it came together is documented in the posts below. Not bad for having no money to spend.



A few of my favorite pieces of pottery are displayed in my living area. A number of pieces are in the closet. I'm craving open, uncluttered space. And yes, that is the cantee vase from Chiasso, that I wrote about below. SNL bought it for my birthday!

Dining area.

Dining area and work area.

Sleeping area. To the left of this is the kitchen. I'd like to hang curtains to hide the kitchen. And I'd like to totally glam this area. Pale pink pillows, a chandelier and maybe a mosquito net.

Today a dear friend asked me if I have OCD. I told him that OCD is a requirement for blogging.

My Apartment - More Process

Dear readers, my apartment has been undergoing a transformation. I've been filling it with color, but also trying to open it up and streamline.


BEFORE
Just a few weeks ago I was in the mood for white. I still swoon when I see all white places. I love covering my sofas in sheets, It makes for very comfortable lounging. I hope my place is Bohemian, and welcoming. Friends are not afraid to put their feet up.
AFTER

Using more color than ever before! And love the green! How surprising.

BEFORE
Though a great idea, I grew tired of the room divider. I wanted to open the space up, and I didn't want so many things in this area. I've always loved bedrooms with just a bed in it.
AFTER
This is the bedding my mom bought. Thanks mom! I like making my bed casually, again so friends feel welcome to lounge.

I'm contemplating mosquito netting, and a chandelier. Image from overstock.com.

BEFORE

My papers are organized, but I don't like looking at all that stuff!


Look what I found Saturday at a garage sale! The guy gave it to me for $5.00. I guess my anti-Ikea vow is over. This piece is a marvel in balanced design. I've been wanting airier shelving for a while.


I couldn't help styling it with some of my vases. A wall of two or three of these shelves would be cute.

AFTER

Much more streamlined. Since I live in a studio apartment, I am very cognizant of seeing everything all at once. It's a great exercise in discipline.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

My Apartment - the mundane, the stuff and the inspiration

Dear readers, unemployment gives you a little more time to do some of the things you never have time to do. But - don't make the mistake of thinking that you have plenty of time! Sure, you can move at a slower pace, and deeply appreciate life more, but the time will still speed by. So savior every precious moment and recuperate from the hectic pace. Soon enough you may have to return.

I'm making my apartment shine - the way I always wished I could, if only I had time. Though noisy, tiny and humble, I love my apartment! There are a ton of imperfections, but it's still my refuge. Where I come to recuperate and to experiment with color.

While on hiatus from corporate America, I've been moving slowly and with deep, deep reverence. I humbly offer a bit of the process. I have not been paying attention to the clock, so I cannot tell you how many days this process has taken thus far. I've been in the zone.

One day, I had the guilty pleasure of thrifting. What's so different about that? I often went thrifting on the weekend. What's different is - this time I went slowly. Can't remember the last time - or if I ever did that. Seems I'm always in a rush and my very long to-do list nags the shit out of me. Not this day. I left that bitch at home, next to my watch. I reveled in the immense joy of freedom.

I don't need possessions to make me happy, but I adore playing with baubles. Empty space is a vacuum. When I get rid of stuff, more stuff instantly takes its place. So I'm conducting a little experiment in reversing the order this time. Instead of getting rid of stuff, I'm allowing a few new things to come in - but I'm setting a limit.  I love the yellow glass vase so much, it reminds me of a piece on the set of Down with Love.


I've been adding a surprising amount of blue. The new blue vase was only $3.99! And matches my curtains perfectly! A happy accident! The chalice was made in India and cost $1.99. Looks divine with a tealight in it.

Inspiration for curtains:

From Elle Decor. See previous post here.


This collection came together by accident. Vintage Haeger footed bowl ($6.50) bought while having a blast thrifting with my nephews! Beaded hurricane ($4.99) from Salvation Army. I adore beads and want to incorporate more in my decor.

Inspiration for collection:

These lovely items seen in Domino. I made this collage in Picasa. I think it would look great enlarged.

Inspiration for beads and color:

I love the way Kim uses beads in her vignettes! She and I also share a love for Buddha statutes.

New pillows were cheap at Old Time Pottery, except for the one to the far right. A gift from my mom from Target. She said she just wouldn't be happy if I didn't have it to go with the new bedding she bought for my birthday.

The inspiration for the pillows:

My favorite cover of Domino. I love Prada's jewel tones. See previous post here.

Here's the bedding my mom bought. (Thanks, mom!) She insists I need lots of color to keep my spirits high. (See previous post about bedding here). I'm using more color than ever before! It's addicting! And I am not timid - I adore saturated and jewel tones. I don't really like the olive pillow, though.

The inspiration for the bedding:


Image PointClickHome. (I wish the stylist had edited the work boots.)  I feel like glamming the sleeping area, and I am totally crushing on edgy femininity. I'd like to have a chandelier. It was Pink who turned me onto chandeliers. I adore them.


This one from ShabulousCreations would do nicely.

Or, if we are getting all girly, maybe the pink one. Love it. Also from ShabulousCreations.  The bed needs a light color for balance. These shimmery pillows would work nicely.
Etsy user sassypillows.  I love textiles! For winter, the more the better.

I use pretty scarves to tie back my curtains.
And I love hanging purses on the wall. I'm surprised how girly my place is getting.

I actually ironed the curtains for the first time in my life! They've always bothered me, but I just never got around to it. Although, I am guilty of multi-tasking here. I am watching the President's speech on health care. Shame on you Congressman Wilson. And shame on you Nancy Pelosi. I thought you were presiding over the proceedings. You should have thrown his ass out. Barack Obama is the duly-elected President of the United States, it should go without say that his office is due respect. Now stop hating, you're not fooling anyone. We know it's racism, and racism is ignorant, wrong, boring, stupid and passe! And its time is just friggin' over, okay?

Please forgive my digression. I'm trying not to watch too much politics. I get a little passionate. Ahh - back to mundane.
For so long, I have been taking the simple tasks for granted. Now I am appreciating them. I love washing dishes slowly. It's a great meditation to contemplate the complexity of the movements it takes to wash dishes. I learned this meditation from The Buddhist monk, Thich Nat Hahn. Hahn's lessons in being in the moment, and enjoying simplicity, truly do bring peace of mind.  I scrubbed the bathroom. Microfiber is such a miracle.

And organized my closet.
And wondered, once again, why humans have so much stuff. My minimalist days are definitely over. But who knows what the future holds?


My work space needs attention. I'd like to have some industrial shelves, image via designspongeshop.  As for painting the apartment, and cleaning the refrigerator - I'm happily procrastinating about those things, with no immediate plans to complete either.  Stay tuned to see how it comes together. xxoo

Monday, September 14, 2009

A New Journey with Optimism, Intro.

Dear readers, today I feel so grateful. I have been blessed. Life is precious. It goes by in a blink, such a terrible waste to do things that make us miserable. I have been alluding to the life-threatening illness I suffered this year. I am profoundly grateful to say that I have made a total recovery! Thank you, dear readers, for the astonishing moral support I received. I truly believe the many prayers I received saved me. It doesn't matter if faiths differ - only that we have faith. Loving energy is loving energy. I love blogging! And I love my readers more! smooch!

I'm pleased to announce that today I am turning my focus away from illness, and am starting a new journey. I'd like to invite you take this journey with me. I recently lost my job, but it was truly a gift. I have been given the opportunity to recreate my life. I believe this is what my body was telling me - I must do this in order to survive. I admit it - I am highly sensitive. But that does not mean that I am not strong. I am.

I am determined to face this new opportunity with fascination and cherish every precious moment. I can no longer afford the luxury of fear. I can no longer abide the agendas of everyone who means well. This is my life, and I must create it in my way. Some won't understand, but I can't worry about that right now.

Join me on this journey, won't you?

xxoo

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Taking a Little Time


Just a short post today, dear readers. I didn't do much this weekend. It feels wonderful to move at a slower pace. Here's a small sample of some of the beauty I've been admiring.

I am fascinated by the night blooming jasmine growing by my building.

During the day they sleep.

At night they awake and share their wonderful scent.


Photos by Peggy, manipulated at Rollip - my new favorite site! Hope you had a wonderful weekend. Remember to move a little slower this week and to admire the beauty all around you.

xxoo

Saturday, September 12, 2009

The Breath of God

Dear readers, a miraculous thing has occurred in my life! After some years of estrangement, my mother and I have found a middleground. It's not perfect, but that's okay. Humans are terribly flawed and wounded animals, and need some slack. Everyone's tired, and my mom is getting up there in years. The Buddha teaches there is no such thing as past, anyway.

My mom and I share a love of color and design, though her taste is very different from mine. Since she had never seen my apartment, it was high time. She came up to visit last week and I showed her all of my paintings. She was unaware that I painted. She went through all of them, and she loved them all, saying the kindest things.

The Breath of God, 2008, 24" x 24", acrylic and marker on canvas. Click here to see more of my paintings.

Remember this painting? This painting proves that getting out of the way of process results in beauty. This painting happened on its own, I was a mere conduit. See previous post here.

My mother flipped when she saw this painting and offered to buy it. Very helpful since I am unemployed. Mind you, my mom has not been perfect, but, she's always been there. This is the first time she recognized that I am an artist, and approved of me. It may never happen again, but it doesn't matter. The gem my mom bestowed on me this day is a gift of a lifetime. I am fulfilled.

The next morning she called to say that she said her morning prayers by the painting. Hmm. Great energy, great visualization. Then she said, "I swear I can see God in this painting." Awesome, I thought. Creation is one of the ongoing themes in my paintings. She said, "I'd like to retitle it, if I may." "Sure," I said, "it's yours now, what would you like to call it?"

Her reply: The Breath of God.

My reply: Cool.

Oh no, Chiasso!

Dear readers, yesterday the new Chiasso catalog arrived. And once again, they are tempting me greatly with a new vase.




The new cantee vase! I love it! Thinking of ordering. Very affordable too.

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

A Tale of New Beginnings


She'd been a prisoner for so long. It was hard to describe the devastation of such humility, though she found herself speaking of it too often. She desperately wanted to be understood. She wished she could shut up. She wished she weren't so sensitive. She wished her overactive brain would let her rest. There were many tearful nights where she wondered if she was crazy. The truth was obvious - once again she was in a situation where she did not fit.

When the time came to leave, she was overcome with a strange peace. She left with dignity. She would courageously recreate her life, in her time and in her way.


Turning back was not an option. The old ways would no longer work.

Suddenly, it didn't matter whether she was understood, though she knew in her heart one day she would be. She would bravely go through the door to freedom.

And enjoy the signs along the way. Though she was skeptical when it came to numerology, she was amused at the omnipresence of her soul number that day. No harm imagining that the angels themselves were supporting her.


She knew doors would be opening for her. And behind these doors would be people who would appreciate her talents, and she would readily share them.



She had been silenced her whole life.

No matter, she would be silent no longer. But - her message would be different. She would not harbor bitterness. She would only spread peace and love.


She looked at recent events as a great opportunity. And with pride, she noted that she had not succumbed to the adversity. Her compassionate nature remained in tact. She could imagine a better world. So it couldn't be that hard to imagine a better life for herself, could it?

Images:
3. Jarluce Portela Postigo;
4. Katherine Elizabeth;
5. N-ino;
6. Peggy;
8. 7.oda;
10. OmarD;
11. Matiz;
13. Tampen.
Thanks for the inspiration to all of these fine artists!

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