Beauty in the Mundane

Image by Peggy

Hello dear readers!  As promised, I am about to reveal a lot of new art that I've been working on.  As you know, I gave away many of my paintings to make room for new art.  Upon clearing some space, the muses spoke so loudly, I could barely keep up!

As you know, everything looks like sculpture to me.  I see beauty in the ordinary and mundane.  I see beauty in detritus, I look at everything as art.  Indeed, my life is art and art is my life.

My new series of work developed out of necessity and resourcefulness.  I need to create, yet  have no money for supplies.  So much of my work is made from "trash" and recycled materials.

Remember the post about the Detritus Robot I designed?  She is made of detritus, and performs a needed public service by picking up detritus.  She is one of the muses of my recent work.  I am currently seeking proposals from computer animators to make her come to life.  I can see her move, and hear her sounds,as she lovingly picks up the careless casts offs in the hood.

I believe my current work will develop into an installation piece.  Hope you enjoy!  As always, thanks for reading and your comments and emails are welcome!

Please also check out my Urban Photojournal, if interested.  I have been working on some interesting photography.  I will be making an announcement in the next few days about a photographic project I am working on.  Hope you are having a great day!  xo

Love your haters

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED 9/30/13


Dear readers, as you know, I've been in deep prayer and meditation for the past several weeks.  I am happy to report that I am feeling better than ever, and have never been happier.  The intense introspection was painful at times, I discovered parts of myself that I didn't like, but with God's help I am working hard to eradicate those qualities. I'd like to thank my haters for causing me to pause, humble up and examine my life.  I have emerged stronger than ever before.

Also, out of this time period came a very prolific artistic period.  I started giving away paintings.  I never did paint for money - which is a good thing because no one wanted to pay me for a painting. I painted because I love it.  My only criteria for a painting was that the new owner love it.  I took great pains to be sure that each painting went to a loving home.  They are my children, after all.

I had been sad that I could no longer use acrylic due to an allergy.  But.  Clearing out the paintings felt good. I felt lighter and now had room to create new art!  And it doesn't matter what medium I use, as long as I create.  I create because I must.  It's that simple.   I've been very prolific over the past several weeks.  I could barely keep up with my various muses.

Over the next few days I will be revealing my new art, and the direction I am taking.  Then we will be discussing colors - aren't all the bright colors fantastic?  They look really fab tempered with gray.  One of my favorite color combos is neon coral pink and gray.  Also love mint green and gray.  Teal and gray.  Orange and gray.....you get the idea.

Once we've discussed colors, I will reveal my apartment.  I have worked hard on my apartment to create a beautiful, edgy, girly pad that doubles as an efficient work space.  Not easy in 450 square feet with small closets.  Fortunately, I am resourceful.  There will be plenty of tips on organization.

Also, don't forget to check out my urban photojournal.  I've been taking a lot of pictures lately.  Politics aside for now, let's have some fun!

Stay tuned, cuz you're gonna hear me roar.

Katy Perry, you are fabulous!  Thanks for being an inspiration.  You go girl!

Happy Monday!

Good morning dear readers!  I had a great weekend.  Creative and restful.  I hope you did as well.  I have several exciting announcements.  But before we launch into that, pour a cup of your favorite Colombian coffee or jasmine tea and settle in.  Let's listen to the grooves of Bob Marley.  And what's better than Bob Marley? Why Bob Marley with Lauren Hill, of course!  Dedicated to my boo.  I miss you.  Who do you want to give some good, good lovin' to?

Happy thoughts for a Monday, indeed!

Beauty in the Mundane

FINIAL

POMEGRANATE

FINIAL

POMEGRANATE

Mini Vacay

Recently enjoyed a mini vacay to the Mustard Seed with my adopted daughter Haley, and my adopted son Christian.  Had a great time!  Can't believe I've never been there before.  Can't wait to go back.
 

 

Gluten free menu.

Manager was kind, and they kept our water glasses full.

Couldn't eat much, but had a great time.  Loved the side of avocadoes, the bass and the omelette.

Another smiling face!

And a musician too!  He was the coolest.

 View from the table at the restaurant.  Can't wait to shop!

Always clowning around.

 Purple peppers?  So pretty.

Hungry yet?  It's an experience s shopping there!  And the prices are very reasonable.

Haley  always looks good.  You know the kind, she looks like a million dollars after swimming.  Don't know how she does it.  Here she is trying on a necklace.  No brainer.  Everything looks good on Haley.

One of my favorite shops is here!

I know I look awful, I was puffy  red and feverish.  Haley did the best she could with my makeup. I keep my hair long, so I can kind of hide behind it.  A little mystery is always sexy.

Next morning, organic breakfast.  Taking nutritionist's advice. Here we have a yummy light meal of green superfood, green tea, hard boiled eggs, water, dates covered with coconut and pureed pear.  The philosophy of the Mustard Seed permeated my being.  Don't think I'll ever shop at Giant Eagle, WalMart or Target again.

Click here for Mini Vacay No. 2

Square Peg, Your Curator

Happy Monday dear readers!  I am feeling particularly well this morning, and hope you are as well.  I had a great weekend, and have been out for a walk.  This is my kind of weather.  As you know, I see colors, shapes and patterns everywhere I go.  It's a gift....and sometimes a curse as my mind is oftentimes too active and doesn't allow me to rest.  Not a complaint really, I am grateful for the way I see beauty everywhere.

Today beauty is all about squares.  I'm Square Peg, Your Curator.  Hope you enjoy!

Umm.  I need this bracelet.  Designer unknown.  Please contact me if you know the designer.   For similar bracelet, see 80s Purple.

 

As you know, I totally gotta girl crush going for Nicki the Shizzz.

Photographer extraordinaire, Halim Ina, vicariously meets my need for travel.  I need a print of this photo. Love shots of hands.  Turkish man holding vintage tobacco box.  Hmm.  Always wanted to travel to Turkey. Don't use tobacco, but would display this box proudly.

Look at this fab wall light from ferm LIVING!  Drool. So gorgeous and geometrical!  My favorite - shapes and colors.  Also some organic thrown in there.  Would like great in an industrial loft or a mid century modern home.

Image by Peggy

I was so inspired by the ferm LIVING lamp, I thought I'd put together some bright colors in geometric shapes.  Lately, I want to make everything I see into lamps....and I just might.  :)

The beautiful Sade.  Perfect music for a gray, mellow day.  This screen capture from YouTube.

I've been in deep prayer and meditation for the last couple of weeks, and the gifts I've received are many. I know some think me crazy, but I'm in love with everything and everyone.  I see beauty everywhere.  And if this is madness, then I am mad.

Saturday Night: Gettin' Girly

I'm so excited.... and I just can't hide it!  I'm going to a fab party in Cleveland tonight!  Woo hoo!  It's been a long time since I've been in my home town.  I'm homesick!  Remember Mazi?  The fabulous dude who let me tour his beautiful pad?  Well, it's his 50th birthday!  And we are gonna celebrate 50 years of fab-u-lous-ness!

I am hoping to meet artists that Mazi turned me onto.  Namely, Kevin Busta and Halim Ina.

It's been a long while since I've gotten all dolled up.  I've been considering my clothes, makeup and hair all week.  I really wanted to get all Nicki with it.  As you know, she's the shizzz.  Can't get enough Nicki? That's a coincidence.  Neither can I.  Check out my Nicki Pinterest Board.

This pic made me wanna cut my hair and dye it green.  My girl Haley says, no better get a wig.  Good thinking.  Any way, I love the makeup so much I tried it last night.  I can pull off a pink lip.  Fail.  Nicki is so much cuter than I am.  And she has professional stylists too, I guess.

I spent a ton of time on my hair this week.  I had a large tangle like you've never seen.  I thought I was either gonna have to cut it or go with dreads.  Took hours to get it out.

I thought about this cut.  Doesn't she look fab?  Nothing like a cute girly-girl in a comfy outfit.  That hair is not as easy as it looks, though.  it's dyed.  A lot, see no roots.  It's blow dried, it's straighted and it's teased. Great look, but too much maintenance for me.

Hmm.  I'd love to do something like this.  Luckily I talked with a girl at Sally Beauty Supply who had a hot pink dip.  She told me it's more trouble than it's worth.  It got all over her clothes, and all over her neck and shoulders cuz she sweats.  Uh oh.  What to do?  I do have some pink extensions.  Maybe I'll put those in.

I settled for this hair color.  It's close to my natural color, and provides great dimensional color and doesn't turn out too yellow, like many blonde dyes do.  It also makes my hair so soft!  An added bonus.

Wanted to add a little youthful pizzazz, so bought this temporary comb in color from Sally Beauty Supply. Glad I didn't go with the hot pink.  What a mess.  Cute on my hair, but all over my neck and shoulders. Yuk. Also the hair won't dry.  But I just did a small piece underneath so it's all good.  But won't be buying this again.  It's crap.

Smoothed this on my hair before using the straight iron.  Fab!  Hair feels so soft.  And dig the bottle.

Got some of this for after the party.  Wanna look fab in the morning.  Will let you know.

Think I'm gonna go with makeup inspired by this look.  Love the pink.  Wish I was this skilled with liner.  Love the fuchsia lips, but prefer a matte lipstick.

Wish I had this pink velveteen from Lime Crime.  Gotta keep a watch on the site, it's not available yet.  I'm sure it will sell out the second it gets in.

Settled for Wet and Wild 967 Dollhouse Pink.  Love it.

Nails are periwinkle by China Glaze.

Hope to have some glamour shots for you later!  Hope you are doing something fabulous as well!  xo

479 feet

Dear Mr. Mayor:

This makes me sad.

This is only a partial viewing of the detritus I encountered in a mere 479 feet.  I got up early that morning. Decided to beat the heat by walking early, and beat the crowds of silliness (e.g. pants on the ground).  To my dismay this is what I saw in 479 feet.  Again, it's not a comprehensive viewing.  There was more.

How do I know it was only 479 feet?  Because I looked it up on Google Earth, which I love.

I haven't seen this much liter since the 60s.  Okay, it's the hood, but it's our home.  Shouldn't we take pride in it?  Why should someone else have to clean up your poison?  (booze bottles, cigarette butts, cans, used ketchup containers and used condoms?)  This is our home.  Take pride in our home.

I heard a young man at the bus stop lamenting that he was broke.  Said he didn't have the money for the bus. Said he needed a hustle.  I wanted to say "Duh!"  But said nothing.  Pick up the cans in the hood!  You can probably make $10.00!  And wouldn't even have to work too hard.

Dear Mr. Mayor, I will clean up the litter when I am out and about.  If you will buy me one of these:

Trash grabber from Grainger.  I'd pick it up now, but I can't bend over.  I could even be your ambassador in your new Safe City Initiative.  I read about your initiative to make Akron safer in the City News, Summer 2013 edition.  We can even have wrist bands, like these made:

Custom wrist bands from Wrist Warehouse.  Then these ambassadors of pride can pass out the bracelets, as a reminder.  I can also use social media to its fullest advantage.

Let's have pride in our home!  Please don't litter!