Really bizarre street installatons by Mark Jenkins - love his twisted sense of humour!
http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/7LdvYO/www.xmarkjenkinsx.com/outside.html
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
I love Jian & Q interviews
Just heard an interview with Tracey Morgan on Q (CBC radio) - the man gets me every time. He's real, there are no airs, he says it how he feels it and I respect him for it. And I think he is challenging stereotypes further than they have been challeneged up to date...exciting to see
Music Daily
So this is a little embarrassing -the next CD is Ace of Base's Greatest Hits...what can I say, I'm a child of the 90's. Of course the song I have to choose is "The Sign". Best (corney) memory of this song? It was, I believe, grade 7, 1993, and our junior high had one of those music video dances where they project the videos...yep, dancing along to "The Sign" while watching 15 foot Ace of Base - wishing I looked like one of the female singers and wishing I was dating the hot male singer (yeah there was two but one reminded me of my uncle...)...was awesome at the time...might be slightly less impressive for grade 7's these days
Just another morning waking up to someone making me feel like I'm not a good enough mom/woman...thank you Gwyenth Paltrow...thank you
"Every woman can make time - every woman - and you can do it with your baby in the room. There have been countless times where I've worked out with my kids crawling around all over the place. You just make it work, and if it's important to you, it'll be important to them." (Source Huffington Post)
I know this quote is supposed to inspire, and for the most part it is the truth, but there is a lack of humility to it that is glaring. The woman is loaded, with nannies, personal trainers and personal gyms...and to not even reflect on the fact that most of us do not have these luxuries - to not stand outside of oneself to see that others may not have these types of securities, well it kind of makes my blood boil.
I remember a month or so ago waking up to someone's FB status saying, and this was 7:30am, that she had fed, bathed, put down for a nap, baked muffins and cleaned - she has twins and 2 year old. On the one hand my supportive positive side was like, yeah, she totally rocks and is my hero...but the other side of me...that frustrated new mom side of me was like...C'MON, give me a break - its too early in the morning to be made to feel this useless...thank god my girls are so much fun cause they help me move past those down moments with their joyful exploration of the world around them...
And that's my first rant ;)
"Every woman can make time - every woman - and you can do it with your baby in the room. There have been countless times where I've worked out with my kids crawling around all over the place. You just make it work, and if it's important to you, it'll be important to them." (Source Huffington Post)
I know this quote is supposed to inspire, and for the most part it is the truth, but there is a lack of humility to it that is glaring. The woman is loaded, with nannies, personal trainers and personal gyms...and to not even reflect on the fact that most of us do not have these luxuries - to not stand outside of oneself to see that others may not have these types of securities, well it kind of makes my blood boil.
I remember a month or so ago waking up to someone's FB status saying, and this was 7:30am, that she had fed, bathed, put down for a nap, baked muffins and cleaned - she has twins and 2 year old. On the one hand my supportive positive side was like, yeah, she totally rocks and is my hero...but the other side of me...that frustrated new mom side of me was like...C'MON, give me a break - its too early in the morning to be made to feel this useless...thank god my girls are so much fun cause they help me move past those down moments with their joyful exploration of the world around them...
And that's my first rant ;)
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Music Daily
So the CD for this lovely Tuesday is the Clueless Soundtrack - a classic for anyone that was in junior high/highschool in 1995 - the movie was fun but the soundtrack I really believe is a classic for that time. Introduced me to a wide range of music from ska to hip hop (albeit watered-down gangsta rap but still...) and I discovered some artists that now are a major part of the soundtrack of my life...hard to choose just one song - there's Coolio's "Rollin' with my homies" (c'mon, you know you loved it!), Radiohead's "Fake Plastic Trees" (still one of my fave songs) but I decided to choose Luscious Jackson's "Here" because this band was grade 10 for me, I remember actually reading a couple of their songs off of the "Fever In, Fever Out" album in English class...oh grade 10...but that's a whole other "blog"!! Enjoy!
RIP Sugar Minott
Sugar Minott passed away July 10 at the age of 54 - what a troubadour he was!
My husband made a mix tape for me in 2004 when I left Malawi (briefly) and Sugar Minott was a huge component of it...and a huge component of our first few months as a couple. This song ("Good Thing Going"), in particular, was played over and over again while I was in Canada, spending late nights sipping Malawian gin, pining over my love
Figuring out the blog thing
Ok - so it seems I don't need to be posting my portfolio work as I can link to Flickr through here - so if you would like, check out my work, the Flickr link is on the right hand side...might post work from time to time but its much easier to go through Flickr - I'm soooooo amateur ;)
Monday, July 12, 2010
Music daily
Last post for today - I started this summer playing, everyday, a new CD. In this digital age, most of our music (or at least our present faves) are on the computer - I never listen to CDs anymore. One day I wondered what I was missing out on, as its always nice to revisit the past and music always has some kind memory attached to it...so, although I am presently mid-way through the collection, I will start now posting a song of the day - a fave from each CD (and I will start from the beginning)
The first album, completely random, is Damian Marley's "Halfway Tree" - an awesome debut I think.
The song I pick off this album is "Stand a Chance" - its thoughtful and engaging, great beat and Yami Bolo's vocals add spirituality and Treach's rhymes add a great edge. When did I first hear this song? - must have been 2003 - while finishing up my BA, finishing my thesis on Malawi. Started discovering reggae at this time - reggae is HUGE in Africa (in Malawi, in 2002, plastic bags had Bob Marley's face on them and you could always hear his music everywhere - became synonymous with Malawi and Malawian memories)
See the video above (still figuring out blogger...and blogging)
The first album, completely random, is Damian Marley's "Halfway Tree" - an awesome debut I think.
The song I pick off this album is "Stand a Chance" - its thoughtful and engaging, great beat and Yami Bolo's vocals add spirituality and Treach's rhymes add a great edge. When did I first hear this song? - must have been 2003 - while finishing up my BA, finishing my thesis on Malawi. Started discovering reggae at this time - reggae is HUGE in Africa (in Malawi, in 2002, plastic bags had Bob Marley's face on them and you could always hear his music everywhere - became synonymous with Malawi and Malawian memories)
See the video above (still figuring out blogger...and blogging)
oh so yummy!
My father-in-law, who lives in Blantyre, Malawi, started up his own juice business - very small business - but I thought it would be fun to design a label for him.
After living in Blantyre for 2 years, I had a sense of design there and what would stand out. I wanted to give it a natural, organic look.
After living in Blantyre for 2 years, I had a sense of design there and what would stand out. I wanted to give it a natural, organic look.
"Ha! A rush of bliss!"
So time I'd say to add some color to this page. This was a magazine spread I did for class based on "bliss" - poem by Goethe, photo of foot and water from StockExchange (although water was manipulated by me in Photoshop). The image is what I started with - encapsulated "bliss" for me...then I discovered this poem by Goethe which fit so perfectly!
Ha! A rush of bliss
flows suddenly through all my senses!
I feel a glow, a holy joy of life
which sets my veins and flesh afire.
Was it a god that drew these signs
which soothe my inward raging
and fill my wretched heart with joy,
and with mysterious strength
reveal about me Nature's pulse?
Am I a god? The light pervades me so!
In these pure ciphers I can see
living Nature spread out before my soul.
At last I understand the sage's words:
"The world of spirits is not closed;
your mind is shut, your heart is dead!
Pupil, stand up and unafraid
bathe your earthly breast in morning light!"
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Ha! A rush of bliss
flows suddenly through all my senses!
I feel a glow, a holy joy of life
which sets my veins and flesh afire.
Was it a god that drew these signs
which soothe my inward raging
and fill my wretched heart with joy,
and with mysterious strength
reveal about me Nature's pulse?
Am I a god? The light pervades me so!
In these pure ciphers I can see
living Nature spread out before my soul.
At last I understand the sage's words:
"The world of spirits is not closed;
your mind is shut, your heart is dead!
Pupil, stand up and unafraid
bathe your earthly breast in morning light!"
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Visualize Human Rights for All!
This is exactly why I got into graphic design after studying International Development - to better communicate messages for positive social change
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTlrSYbCbHE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTlrSYbCbHE
What's being left behind
Some "serious" fridge magnet poetry - venting while cooking baby food...
how not like lust
repulsively delirious
bitterly essential
you he she me
rocky language
whispered, beat & lathered
waters music
boiling
over we
under you
storming behind, delicately lying
easy weak
so sing me a smooth blow
Peace Images on Etsy = Love
Have to quickly post this link to the Peace Images Etsy page. I am so in love with the pieces and would buy all of them if I could! So inspired by the color, the afrocentrism, the beauty
http://www.etsy.com/shop/PeaceImagesFirst Post - so much catching up to do
So I think I officially started this blog a month or so ago but am just getting around to posting my first entry now - 'tis the life I suppose although I think I was a bit overwhelmed by where to start and what kind of forum I wanted this to be. I am a freelance graphic designer, with a BA in International Development Studies who interned and fell in love in Malawi and am now a mother of twin girls on Prince Edward Isand...if that sounds like a random life, well, it feels that way too. I am in the midst right now - between trying to raise two girls to be strong, creative, compassionate and fearless women; being a strong, supportive and loving wife; and rediscovering myself - what drives me, where my strengths lie and where I should go from here. Daunting at times, but as my 30th birthday creeps up, a challenge that I think I am up for...I think...
At first I thought this would be mostly a portal for my graphic design portfolio, and it will be that, but it will also have sources of inspiration, writings, and...possible longwinded rants! (will keep them to a bear minimum - promise!) So I have started this blog to chronicle my creative journey.
Mwalandiridwa! (Welcome in Chichewa - Malawian dialect)
At first I thought this would be mostly a portal for my graphic design portfolio, and it will be that, but it will also have sources of inspiration, writings, and...possible longwinded rants! (will keep them to a bear minimum - promise!) So I have started this blog to chronicle my creative journey.
Mwalandiridwa! (Welcome in Chichewa - Malawian dialect)
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