How often does someone come along that you have admired from a far and they actually touch you enough in their own way and really make you think about your purpose in this whole "define yourself" series we go through in life.
I mean think about it. It is easy to say that we can't do something and you rather take the easy way out and pay someone else to do everything for you when this internet is filled with creative and free information just waiting for us to take 1-2 hours out of our day or week and just sit and find the information on your own and for yourself and teach yourself. I mean hell that is what I did and still do.
You want to know why people cannot do that because we live in a microwave society everybody wants things done instant, hot and fast. People have no time to wait anymore and the patience to teach themselves anything new. Instead you want to talk shit about those that do take the time to do it, those that do gain experience and education. You want to judge those that do pursue there dreams even if they may change in the process or maybe not necessarily change, get BIGGER.
I have put a lot of my dreams on hold, not anymore. I had a career that required to much of my time, that did not allow me to really dig into my passion that I knew I wanted to make into a career back in 1997 ie Photography. I knew I wanted to dive into Art Journaling but did not know how or where to start or when I would have that time or any form of mixed media. Then I started browsing, browsing turned into motivation that turned into me DOING IT. People turning into judging and some inspired and some confused and would say to me (that were not crafty or had any motivation in life) "not many black people do those types of things, or any that I know". Those things being basket weaving, mixed media, scrapbooking, stamping and anything that is "creative". Not sure where they were raised and or grew up but so many different people inspired me when I was growing up I guess I never looked at it that way. At the same time though in retrospect I can see a little why some people may feel that way because what is represented in PRINT does reflect those exact thoughts. However, in real life it is NOT TRUE at all. I think so many of these successful artist's that make judgements often forget at one point they too had to start somewhere and were in the same positions as I am.
I could make a list all day long on people that inspire me. I could go on and on about why they inspire me, but honestly I do not want to leave anyone off the list I cannot make a true list because the internet is such a big world, that everyday I click on one link that leads me to another link and then another .. I have found even more inspiration. I buy books because well I love to read, I download to my Kindle because well I love to read, do I need to spend money on Amazon for information I can find online? Nah it is just the visual hard/soft bound images that I see and can flip through in my hands.
With that being said .. just purchased these this weekend along with many other books ..
So go out and find what inspires you and stop being afraid to go after it. Stop worrying about what people are thinking and just do it. Stop depending on other people to make you happy and help you find your happiness. Stop being defeated by obstacles and road blocks that may hinder you from taking the next step. I can say these things because I have done them all. GUILTY AS CHARGED. Now I have stopped talking about it and I am being about it. You can feel you are just as good as your competition in a race, however if they have a better attitude about it than you do, they are automatically going to be deemed the winner in the judges eyes.
I use to think before I moved to England I would meet all these people that I have talked to for years online and guess what some of them are right around the corner from me and I have YET to meet them. I am looking forward to meeting those that do want to meet me (click on their names for their blogs) ie Vicki Parker (she lives in Bristol but we are meeting up in London the digital goddess), Elizabeth Mudge (she is like 28 min from me in Cambridge and is a bomb ass photographer and crafty as shit she also designs for Cartwheels in My Mind), Shimelle (could meet her in London and hell we ALL know Shimelle LOL), Alison Sutton (she lives in Norwich 45 min from me), Savitri Wilder is like 15 min from me LOL she is a military spouse that is also starting her PH.D soon and teaching online college courses as well as being crafty she designs for Pebbles Inc and a few other cool gigs..Anna Bowkis (is the founder of Pencil Lines I design for her and YEP NEVER met her and she is in Cambridge weird huh?) there are so many crafty girls and the UK has there own message forum for scrapbookers and other artists so cool. I do know one thing when we do meet up .. I be damned if I wanna scrapbook .. I wanna HAVE FUN.
until then .. I will be seeing my good friend Kimberly Scott (formerly Brimhall) this Wednesday in London, she is here from the states shooting a wedding of course and I cannot wait to hug her little neck again. The only thing that would disappoint that trip would be the snow, leave is in and approved and I am so excited to see her, I hope my sassy pal Rhi Cooksy can make it if not I will see her in 2 weekends from now so it is all good LOL.
Enjoy your Monday and remember .. just DO IT.
being able to do for yourself.
Either you are sneaking around and looking at what folks are linking up on Facebook, their blogs and or message forums.
Either you are sitting around on your Etsy store not because you are afraid to open it but because every idea and thing you have created for it you see pop up in someone else's store and you do not want to deal with the bullshit of them saying you are copying them (it happens).
Either you are befriending people just to copy everything they do on the sly and then BAM you come out blazing as if you originated the idea
Either you are just upfront about things and realize that this world is to big not to share and you welcome it all after realizing that realistically you had to stalk just like folks are stalking you
"Art is just a big ass bowl of recycled crap, we all just have different takes on how we do things" - S.Holloway
So with that being said I am going to be inspired by this to create my own. All images courtesy of Not on the High Street (thanks Wendy Mckee)
filing pegs
sari fabric covered journal
comic covered notebook
of course one of these beauty's
one of my good friends Jeni Boisvert has been on my case for a long time now LOL. We are always talking about tons of things but one of the convo's that pop's up is umm when are you going to get out there with your photography stuff and as you know I was keeping it under wraps (for several reasons, folks always looking for a discount or trying to get over if they know you, there are TONS of photographers in this area mostly spouses and some of their work is amazing and some that I have seen on facebook and wonder are they charging people for those pictures?)
I just know that people ONLY know me as a scrapbooker .. it is unfortunate when you do come out with other skills and passions you are judged .. I call those people LAMES. I have my training, workshops and other things under my belt .. let's do this. Besides I no longer have the other career in my way.
So now I am getting all my props and going antique shopping and making some baskets and stuff specifically for the babies .. I have a maternity shoot coming up and I am shooting a friend of mines HE is going to be the best ever because he is so animated and already takes some really good photos. We knew each other in Japan so he already knows me and is going to be comfortable and relaxed.
Hope you are enjoying your holiday weekend it is cold as hell here.
I believe that a person should be able to choose, because you never know the situations that put them in the predicaments that they are in.
I believe that a person should be able to be free, because you never know how long they have been trapped in a dark place.
I believe that a person should be able to love in their own way, because you never know if they have even been shown how to.
.. and from the looks of those two ATC's up there ..
I believe people find romance in different people whether it is OPPOSITE SEX or SAME SEX .. love is love
.. who the heck ARE YOU to judge that ..
