Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Hat 1 - Pink Frizz
Named after my frizzy pink hair lol. I completed this one much faster than the one I lost but I don't love it nearly as much. On to number 2 I guess.
Demi Mentality
Life never gives you more than you can handle. Although, there are times that seem impossible to get through--I believe with courage, cleverness, hardwork, and a good sense of humor, anything is possible.
It is EASY to feel helpless, to give up, to live without hope, to be pessimistic. It is not easy to stare your demons in the eye and fight them head on. It is not easy to laugh when you feel like crying. It is not easy to see past your misfortune and look towards a brighter future. But you must if you want to survive.
If you are unhappy, ask yourself why. Don't just sit there and sulk. Every problem has a solution, find yours. If children on their deathbed can smile, you can find a way out of whatever mess you're in. There is no excuse to be unhappy.
No one is going to make your dreams come true, but you. No one is going to get you what you want, but you. If you're waiting for someone else to pick up the pieces of your life and put them back together for you, you're going to be waiting an eternity. There is no drug, no diet, no book, no sermon, that can fix your life. These are but aids--and often times--delusions. The power is in you. No one believes it, at first. But the power was always with you.
You deserve the life you dreamed of. You deserve happiness. You deserve respect. You deserve to be loved. But if you don't believe that you do, why should anyone else?
You can do ANYTHING. You can overcome ANYTHING. Just believe in yourself and do your best. Don't give up just because things don't go as you planned. With failure comes the opportunity to find something even better than you had before. So don't be afraid to cut your losses and take a risk.
Whether or not you believe in guardian angels or a higher power is beside the point. There are many defining moments in every persons life; moments that will determine their greatness or their lack of greatness. If you walk around staring at the ground, you'll miss these moments.
Stand strong. Stand tall. Don't say "I wish I was like this or that" BE it. Don't say "but I'm not like that." The only thing preventing you from being the person you want to be is you.
I'm not saying this is easy. Being true to yourself and going after your dreams is the absolute hardest thing you can do in your life. And even if you try, there's no promise you'll succeed. But if you aren't going to aim for your ideal, if you aren't going to do your very best to earn the life you deserve, then what ARE you going to do? Accept a miserable existence until you die? That seems like a lot of fun!
Look, life isn't something that just happens to you. Life is what you make it to be. If you aren't willing to work then life is going to suck. Don't bitch about the shitty cards you've been dealt, because I promise you--someone somewhere has a worse hand than you and they're getting by bluffing like a mofo until their luck changes. Stop complaining and take action.
Don't do it because I said so. I'm no expert. I'm not trained in life coachology or whatever. I'm just a person who got sick of settling for less and getting smacked around by life. No, I'm not where I want to be. I'm no where near the place I'd like to be. But that doesn't matter. What matters is that I know I'm going in the right direction--and for the first time ever--I'm excited to live my life.
Don't talk to me about drama. I pride you, I've had more than my fair share. But if I'm able to put that behind me and look forward to the future--the. Why can't you?
What are you do afraid of?
Some people think I'm mean. Maybe I am. I just think that life is too short not to make the most out of every moment you're alive. Stop wasting time and get out there.
Life doesn't give you more than you can handle--so, you can control your own destiny.
It is EASY to feel helpless, to give up, to live without hope, to be pessimistic. It is not easy to stare your demons in the eye and fight them head on. It is not easy to laugh when you feel like crying. It is not easy to see past your misfortune and look towards a brighter future. But you must if you want to survive.
If you are unhappy, ask yourself why. Don't just sit there and sulk. Every problem has a solution, find yours. If children on their deathbed can smile, you can find a way out of whatever mess you're in. There is no excuse to be unhappy.
No one is going to make your dreams come true, but you. No one is going to get you what you want, but you. If you're waiting for someone else to pick up the pieces of your life and put them back together for you, you're going to be waiting an eternity. There is no drug, no diet, no book, no sermon, that can fix your life. These are but aids--and often times--delusions. The power is in you. No one believes it, at first. But the power was always with you.
You deserve the life you dreamed of. You deserve happiness. You deserve respect. You deserve to be loved. But if you don't believe that you do, why should anyone else?
You can do ANYTHING. You can overcome ANYTHING. Just believe in yourself and do your best. Don't give up just because things don't go as you planned. With failure comes the opportunity to find something even better than you had before. So don't be afraid to cut your losses and take a risk.
Whether or not you believe in guardian angels or a higher power is beside the point. There are many defining moments in every persons life; moments that will determine their greatness or their lack of greatness. If you walk around staring at the ground, you'll miss these moments.
Stand strong. Stand tall. Don't say "I wish I was like this or that" BE it. Don't say "but I'm not like that." The only thing preventing you from being the person you want to be is you.
I'm not saying this is easy. Being true to yourself and going after your dreams is the absolute hardest thing you can do in your life. And even if you try, there's no promise you'll succeed. But if you aren't going to aim for your ideal, if you aren't going to do your very best to earn the life you deserve, then what ARE you going to do? Accept a miserable existence until you die? That seems like a lot of fun!
Look, life isn't something that just happens to you. Life is what you make it to be. If you aren't willing to work then life is going to suck. Don't bitch about the shitty cards you've been dealt, because I promise you--someone somewhere has a worse hand than you and they're getting by bluffing like a mofo until their luck changes. Stop complaining and take action.
Don't do it because I said so. I'm no expert. I'm not trained in life coachology or whatever. I'm just a person who got sick of settling for less and getting smacked around by life. No, I'm not where I want to be. I'm no where near the place I'd like to be. But that doesn't matter. What matters is that I know I'm going in the right direction--and for the first time ever--I'm excited to live my life.
Don't talk to me about drama. I pride you, I've had more than my fair share. But if I'm able to put that behind me and look forward to the future--the. Why can't you?
What are you do afraid of?
Some people think I'm mean. Maybe I am. I just think that life is too short not to make the most out of every moment you're alive. Stop wasting time and get out there.
Life doesn't give you more than you can handle--so, you can control your own destiny.
Monday, February 20, 2012
Happy 5 months, Juju!
Aside from being a sad day for all handmade hats everywhere...yesterday my son turned 5 months. I can't believe how big he's gotten so fast!
I never had time feel like it was going so fast and yet so slow at the same time (I think only parents and caretakers would understand what I mean by that lol).
Even though I don't get much done and I get pooped or peed or spit up on at least once a day and I don't get very much sleep or much time to eat (or bathe for that matter), I really do try not to complain. For every stressful thing I have experienced about being a parent, there are ten more wonderful things that I would never know or appreciate if I wasn't a parent.
I try to be grateful and content with the good and bad. Afterall, if I had to chose between a baby crying because he wants to be cuddled and a teen cursing me out because he wants me to just leave him alone--I'm going to chose the baby. But babies have to grow up sometime. Things won't always be this way--and I know I'll miss it terribly when these moments are gone.
Everyday with my baby is a very good day--no matter what. :)
Oh my little Julian! Mommy loves you so much. <3
I never had time feel like it was going so fast and yet so slow at the same time (I think only parents and caretakers would understand what I mean by that lol).
Even though I don't get much done and I get pooped or peed or spit up on at least once a day and I don't get very much sleep or much time to eat (or bathe for that matter), I really do try not to complain. For every stressful thing I have experienced about being a parent, there are ten more wonderful things that I would never know or appreciate if I wasn't a parent.
I try to be grateful and content with the good and bad. Afterall, if I had to chose between a baby crying because he wants to be cuddled and a teen cursing me out because he wants me to just leave him alone--I'm going to chose the baby. But babies have to grow up sometime. Things won't always be this way--and I know I'll miss it terribly when these moments are gone.
Everyday with my baby is a very good day--no matter what. :)
Oh my little Julian! Mommy loves you so much. <3
RIP Awesome Hat :'(
It's been pretty hard for me to find time to crochet. But last week I was determined to do something. So whenever I had some free time last week I worked on the pretty puff stitch hat in the picture.
I was so excited when I finished it. Not only because it looked great--but because it had been so long since I've done something that made me really feel accomplished and I had never used the puff stitch before.
I travel to NYC on Thursdays to work until Friday, then I come home Saturday mornings. I couldn't wait to show my hubby what I had made--but when I got home and opened my bah--the hat was gone! I was devastatingly heartbroken I actually cried a little (truthfully). I couldn't believe the first serious project I had completed since Julian was born was gone before I had even gotten to enjoy it (or take a nice picture). So sad.
So here's a memorial to my poor sweet hat. Although I don't like to make the same things over again--I vow, in my hat's memory, to make at least 10 in the very same style--and 1 that looks just like it to replace it (though nothing could take its place in my heart lol).
And so begins the hat memorial challenge D:<
Pretty hat...you are gone. But you will not be forgotten!
I was so excited when I finished it. Not only because it looked great--but because it had been so long since I've done something that made me really feel accomplished and I had never used the puff stitch before.
I travel to NYC on Thursdays to work until Friday, then I come home Saturday mornings. I couldn't wait to show my hubby what I had made--but when I got home and opened my bah--the hat was gone! I was devastatingly heartbroken I actually cried a little (truthfully). I couldn't believe the first serious project I had completed since Julian was born was gone before I had even gotten to enjoy it (or take a nice picture). So sad.
So here's a memorial to my poor sweet hat. Although I don't like to make the same things over again--I vow, in my hat's memory, to make at least 10 in the very same style--and 1 that looks just like it to replace it (though nothing could take its place in my heart lol).
And so begins the hat memorial challenge D:<
Pretty hat...you are gone. But you will not be forgotten!
Friday, February 17, 2012
Happy Birthday, Terrance!
My dear hubby celebrated his 28th birthday this year on Feb. 6th. I made him this card featuring our dog, Biscuit :)
I haven't been able to do a lot of art projects (as you may have noticed) since the baby has been born--but I have started teaching art again at SMART University. For Valentine's we made construction paper Valentine's and I made cards for the SMART Youth Valentine's event and this card for my hubs.
These cards are so fun and quick to make, I've been thinking about buying higher quality construction paper (or card stock or poster board or something!) and making a whole bunch! No more buying cards for me--no way!
I didn't think to take step-by-step pictures, but I would like to share my process so anyone interested can make their own sweet cards for any occasion!
Materials:
- Scrap Paper
- Pencil
- Construction Paper
- Glue stick
- Black Sharpie
- Scissors
- Coloured Pencils
Step 2 - Once I had a design I liked I determined the shapes and colours I would need. Then I cut my shapes out of the construction paper. I used brown for the body, white for the spots, pink for the nose, and yellow for the plaque.
Step 3 - Using my sharpie marker I added little details, like Biscuit's butt, her eyes, the strings on the plaque, and the letters. However! I could have used construction paper for this part or even gotten creative with my materials; yarn for the strings, letter stickers or stamps for the letters, who knows!
Step 4 - Whatever wasn't glued, I then glued on. Without thinking I cut the front of the body separate from the back of the body so I had to cut a strip of brown, fold it over, and glue it on the inside of the two halves. You can see it if you look closely at the middle of the card in the picture below. You can avoid doing this by cutting your card out paper heart style.
Step 5 - On the inside of my card I glued two pieces of white paper to write my message. I, personally, think this looks a lot better then writing directly on the brown paper design. Also, it prevents the ink from bleeding through--ruining your design! (Her eyes bled through a little--grr!)
Step 6 - I drew my little poop on some paper and colored it in with colored pencils then cut it out. To make it pop-up I folded it down the center then folded and glued down the bottom corners.
I'd love to see any cards you come up with! You'll be sure to see more from me, I'm sure!
SMART Art Valentine's
Check out some of the cards my ladies made in the art class I teach at SMART University (smartuniversity.org)
Happy Late Valentine's!
Just thought I'd share some of the Valentine's I made for SMART Youth's Valentine's Meet and Greet. If you don't know who they are you should really check them out at smartyouthnyc.org, especially if you're a teen in NYC :)
I used this tutorial to make the envelopes:
Mm Bitter
I used to only want to eat sweets; candy, fruits, ice cream, milkshakes, everything sugar sweet.
I've noticed recently that that's changed. Such things, now, seem just to sweet to overindulge in. Now, my palate craves more bitter things, like unsweetened teas and dark chocolates.
True the change could simply be the change in taste buds. But isn't it funny how kids will trade in their chocolate milk for coffee once they become adults? I'm starting to think, at least in my case, that it isn't just my taste buds that have changed but my views on life.
When I was younger--well, actually--even fairly recently, when all I wanted was sweetness, I wanted a sugar sweet life. I wanted only sunshine and glitter and joy--even if I appeared dark on the outside--rainbows were all I desired on the inside. I didn't want to deal with difficult, heavy things--probably because I had to deal with them so much.
Now my life is more balanced and, in retrospect, I see that the hardships I had to face (or bitterness) were necessary for me to enjoy the life I have now.
I think that my craving for bitter things is symbolic for how I now approach life. I no longer crumble or feel sorry for myself when faced with something difficult. I embrace challenges and try my best to find a lesson in each tribulation. I look for the deliciousness in each bitter bite.
I feel this change had to happen for me right now. My craving for a sweet life was just not being answered and--as you may have noticed from my last post--I was burning out. Now that I've started accepting things for what they are instead of what I'd like them to be I'm enjoying and appreciating things a lot more. I've been smiling a lot too. :)
So which do you prefer; sweet or bitter?
I've noticed recently that that's changed. Such things, now, seem just to sweet to overindulge in. Now, my palate craves more bitter things, like unsweetened teas and dark chocolates.
True the change could simply be the change in taste buds. But isn't it funny how kids will trade in their chocolate milk for coffee once they become adults? I'm starting to think, at least in my case, that it isn't just my taste buds that have changed but my views on life.
When I was younger--well, actually--even fairly recently, when all I wanted was sweetness, I wanted a sugar sweet life. I wanted only sunshine and glitter and joy--even if I appeared dark on the outside--rainbows were all I desired on the inside. I didn't want to deal with difficult, heavy things--probably because I had to deal with them so much.
Now my life is more balanced and, in retrospect, I see that the hardships I had to face (or bitterness) were necessary for me to enjoy the life I have now.
I think that my craving for bitter things is symbolic for how I now approach life. I no longer crumble or feel sorry for myself when faced with something difficult. I embrace challenges and try my best to find a lesson in each tribulation. I look for the deliciousness in each bitter bite.
I feel this change had to happen for me right now. My craving for a sweet life was just not being answered and--as you may have noticed from my last post--I was burning out. Now that I've started accepting things for what they are instead of what I'd like them to be I'm enjoying and appreciating things a lot more. I've been smiling a lot too. :)
So which do you prefer; sweet or bitter?
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