Desultory: Rambling

Randon Pictures from my inspiration board.

Again I feel this need.

End result I immediately want to get to the end result. I must learn to enjoy the process of my art although I'd like to think I love the "creative" part of my art... some times I just don't know. What raises doubt is the fact that I am a procrastinater when it comes to just about everything in my life...why? I must get over this it's been to long. But I must say I just now truly understand that when I got things done in the past in a timely manner it was always because I had to do them, the pressure I felt as a single parent made me very bold and crafty, I would always made and sold things when it was just me and my oldest daughter... although I did not think it was because of pressure to make ends meet, now looking back that was the motivation and the dream of having my own Salon and Gift shop was there to keep me having a Ultimate Goal in life which served the purpose of keeping me hopeful for my future.

I am a mother, wife and artist, in that order so a lot of time I have many other responsibilities but my art is important to me. I have been an artist; creative/ crafty person ALL my life, I can not remember a time when I was not creating even if it was not physically, meaning that I could be shopping for anything food, clothes, furniture and the thought would cross my mind on how I could make it differently, what ever "it" was. Right now as a Work at Home mother I have time to reflect on my life and how I operate and frankly I am not exactly liking what I am coming to believe about me. You see I would like to have continued to believe that I am this BOLDly Creative individual that will let nothing stand in my way of what I want. But now the question is what do I want? The Gift Shop/ Salon that sells these hand made few of a kind gifts for: self and friends, with this great little 4 or five seater Salon in the back that specializes in healthy hair care, curly, straight or relaxed.... I think I still want this. But when??? I have not consistantly applied myself with the time I do have in between my children and husband.... Family first, Right? Or is this an excuse.

I am aware and now I shall put into place a workable way to get over this and change but how? I do want to be a SUCCESSFUL Artist and entrepreneur and wife and mother and YES,I can have it all.

Baby "Z" is 3 months

3 Months Wow!!


These last weeks She has been doing 180 degree turns on her play mat, trying to straighten her little legs and fighting not to get in the car seat, trying to walk- LOL! And reaching for things, like her toys and peoples hair. Baby Z is amazingly wonderful and her doctor says she right on schedule with everything.

Exploring new techniques

Yes I have been away since last October and I have a lot of catching up to do. I wanted the first post in almost a year to be about what has been a steady source of comfort and joy and that is my ART and with a painting I had done for my sister's birthday. Well initially this painting to the left here, was for my final project in an art class I took at our community college where I am taking some classes. The idea for doing this technique did not come from the class though although I learned a lot while taking it, this technique was first introduced to me by Mystele, who is my favorite artist online right now. She conducts online classes that she calls "Gut Art," but I have not had the time to take one of her classes yet but I read her blog regularly and she gives out free tips and advice freely at Little Glimpses Studio.

Back to the painting of the lady in the hat, it is a mixed media acrylic painting with scrap book papers and charcoal pencil. I started out just putting down paint on the water color paper I used and then went on to glue down some designer papers that I tore then more paint and after I had let it dry and came back I began to see this figure in the collage of paper and color so I took a graphite pencil and traced what I was seeing to make it more clear. After adding more paint to the figure it was clear to me that the lady in this painting was my sister. My sister tells me she likes most anything I make paintor craft so I thought this was a great gift for her, she told me after she recieved it she loved it and took it over to my aunts house for all of them to see... braging on me... Thanks Sis.

The picture of the colorful faces above was an in-class art project where we had to work in groups to create a collage piece using only oil pastals, I only took a picture of the part I did.

The quilt is something I am finishing up for my baby "Z," whom you will soon meet, along with the finished project.
The bird is a sample-sewing, where I hand sew and embroider with some beading work.
Hope you enjoy.

Preserving Family Heritage

I am so into old black and white pictures of people, they inspire me ( this is a new found love). This picture is of my husbands great grandmother and it's a reminder of my own black history. Just looking at other peoples collections has now motivated me to start collecting photos of my own family. I've started asking all my relatives for any old black and white photos they may have so that I can make a copy of them to add to my small but growing personal collection.

The quilt above even with the tattered areas is a wonderfully peiced together part of family history. It is quilted with cotton fabrics in different florals, small plaids and some large solids. It is the work of my husbands great grandmother, Mary Madea Brooks ( pictured here). We had the 5ft by 7 ft quilt framed and the photograph of her restored and framed also.

What old family items do you hold dear, why?

Moms' In Business

I thank you for visiting my blog, I have had a pleasure of meeting some “up and coming” entrepreneurs and I will be featuring one today and I’d like you to visit her site,
Nana’s Baby , where you can purchase Great things for baby and read more about the lady, Angela Solomon, CEO/ mompreneur.


Where did you get the idea to start your business?

What made me start Nana's Baby was a concept for toys and clothes after my daughter Madison Mabel was born. I felt that there is a need for both multicultural toys and clothes on the market. Toys and clothes that speak to US as fashion forward moms; socially, politically aware moms.


Why did you choose baby industry?

I chose the baby industry b/c that's where I could make the greatest impact. In our clothes, i think babies/toddler are cutie pies, who are a style staple for fashion. Why not put cute hip hop inspired art meets baby on them? My shirts are light, playful and not to mention as soft as a baby's bottom.

How long have you been in business?

I have been in business since Summer 2006.


For, all the moms out there that are thinking about start their own business, what do you think would be helpful for them to know?

I would like mompreneurs to know that starting a business can be trying at times but its very much worth it if what u do is your passion! I really believe in the clothes I have on the market and toys I will be bringing to market.


What was a fond memory of your grandma, since you said she inspired the name of your company?

I have so many fond memories of my Nana Mabel. I spent summers with her and my grandpa. They were old fashioned, strict but very loving. It was refreshing to look at the slow-ness but pure happiness through their eyes. I remember my Nana telling me stories about her grandfather, who was a freed slave who started a cesspool business in VA so the entrepreneurial spirit is in my blood. I also remember a lot of hugs, kisses, reading stories, holding hands. My grandma was one of the strongest people I ever met, who never bit her tongue. Her famous saying was 'there's nothing to it but to do it.

I thought I was the only one who thought that the clothing available for children now, are styles that are to grown up especially for girls, what's your opinion?


I fully agree with you that the clothes of today for girls look like corner fashion. I really have to go through the racks to pick and choose what is appropriate and what isn't. I have a 12 year old, who is developing and I try to buy things that won't draw looks and stares at her body and really the same for my 4 year old. I want to great clothes that are indicative of yesterday fashion but with today's flair and hip-ness. I really think it's possible!!


Can we get a little peak at what the future holds for us (customers), in the Nana’s baby design world?

I really think global when I think of Nana's Baby. I will have our toys on the markets and evolved into learning toys for older children. I would also like shirts, pants, dresses etc.. that add that "remix on tradition."

Thanks for talking to us here at "B. beautiful, mind, body, spirit.

We Hope for continued success in your business.

Be Blessed.

Are you a WAHM or do you know one the is in the business of Beauty or Fashion, email me at brooks_unlimited@hotmail.com.

The Adventures Of Kel and Rhyn

PAINTING LESSONS

My little imaginative, actresses, artists, adventurous ladies in training. My world is never boring.....it can get hectic but never boring, LOL. I've been giving the girls painting lessons and they are learning more about patients because of the drying time in between colors- they love to mix every color in one big blob. I know that can also be artistic but I want them to see the difference in their work when they don't blend all the colors together. And after this lesson if they still choose to blend all the colors, then that will be fine. After explaining to them over and over that in order for them to not end up with a picture that is a solid mass of grey swirls, I decided to take charge of the creative process by only allowing them a few colors to paint with to start. I made sure they understood how to clean their brushes in between paint colors.I painted with them so they would see that a painting does not have to be finished in 5 minutes. I plan to give them more colors each session, once the girls understand the basics. And I find that when we talked about what they were wanting to paint before hand that they seemed more focused.

Class is in session :-)

Is there any craft that you enjoyed teaching your child and if so what was the extra lesson your child learned?

It's Our Anniversary

My husband is my inspiration, he encourages me to grow through doing what I enjoy and helps me when I need it.

He's a hard worker, last spring we laid sod. But I must admit he did most, all of the heavy lifting- he's a gentleman.

We are growing in a new way together and I'm excited for the years to come. Each of us brings to our marriage more of what the other was in need of. This year we are in the mist of learning how to work with each others strengths and helping the other strengthen their weakness. I always have appreciated him but have now learned to express it, outwardly.

We aren't going out to celebrate tonight, but we will celebrate with dinner at home with our children.

Here's to all the wonderful, inspiring and generous husbands out there.

Marriage Is Worthy Of Caring Work

After you’ve been through a rough period ( no matter the length) you can choose to turn it around even if your partner hasn’t caught the recommitment bug. Let you partner know your true feelings and let them know what you want for the future of your marriage. Talk about the positives of the other and cover the negatives in a way that will inspire the changes that you both desire. Remembering things don’t change overnight and be willing to change your behavior in the mist of disagreements, remembering that change starts with you individual commitment to make it work. For some inspiration for the ultimate goal an article titled, "Dating my husband"
I found a very encouraging article that I believe you will also find helpful to know that even with the divorce rates still high there are still people who want to, not just get married to have a wedding but are also committed to having a loving, inspiring and long lasting marriage.