Hey Mr. Postman

Hey Mr. Postman,

Thanks Mr. Postman for bringing my cookie contract case. 

It is fanastic if you wanted to know.

Best wishes. 

Conrad's Cajun Mixtape

In my research for creating brainstorming activities for future clients and design
projects, I found that other designers used techniques like 100 words challenges
for brainstorming and others used questionnaires. I was also heavily inspired by
Breanna Rose, the graphic designer behind Rowan Made and Be Free, Lance,
who made a series of mix tapes for her blog. I specially love the Salty + Sweet
mix tape. It is quite catching.

This all happened at the same time of as I was prepping with my partners for a
conceptional project called Conrad's Cajun, a Louisiana Po' Boy Food truck with
a spicy Asian twist. I ended up creating a mix tape as a brainstorming exercise for
this project. Doing that helped make this food truck more real and what cement
its influences. It is bluesy, slow, yet fast, and international in a way. 

If you want to give it a listen, just follow the link. It's called Sardines & Black Pepper.

Best Wishes. 

Back to the First Stitch

How many times can one crochet and unravel before the mind is lost and is forever crooked? I think the answer to this thought is after the third time of restarting. That is when you can start to loose your mind. I have notice that I start off well enough but after twenty rows, I realize that the scarf has been either getting smaller in width or has grown too big. To see those rows afters days of slowly crocheting is quite frustrating.

Unfortunately, the cold air is pressuring for its completetion, but I think its time to buckle down on try a new solution. 

Best Wishes.

Sweeter Words Saturday: Grimm's Fairy Tales

For this Sweeter Words Sunday, we are stepping back from poetry to dive into prose. I will share one story from Grimm's fairy tales called the Robber Bridegroom. I like this story because in part from the horror and the resolution. In another part, I like it because it does not have any magical elements that centered in most of the other stories. I hope you enjoy it. 

Best Wishes.

There was once a Miller who had a beautiful daughter, whom he much wished to see well married.

Not long after there came a man who appeared very rich, and the Miller, not knowing any thing to his disadvantage, promised his daugther to him. The maiden, however, did not tke a fancy to this suitor, nor could she love him as a bride should; and, moreover, she had no confidence in him, but as often as she looked at him. or thought about him, her heart sank within her. 

Once he said to her, "You are my bride, yet you never visit me." 

The maiden answered, "I do not know where your house is."

"It is deep in the shades of the forest," said the man. Then the maiden tried to excuse herself by saying she should not be able to find it; but the Bridegroom said, "Next Sunday you must come and visit me; I have already invited guests, and in order that you may find your way through the forest I will strew te path with ashes."

When Sunday came, the maiden prepared to set out; but she felt very anxious and knew not why, and, in order that she might know her way back, she filled her pockets with beans and peas. These she threw to the right and left of the path of ashes, which she followed till it led her into the thickest part of the forest; there she came to a solitary house, which looked so gloomy and desolate that she felt quite miserable. She went in, but no one was there, and the most profound quiet reigned throughout. Suddenly a voice sang -

"Return, fair maid, return to your home:

Tis to a murderer's den you've come."

The maiden looked round, and percieved that it was a bird in a cage against the wall which sang the words. Once more it uttered them -

"Return, fair maid, return to your home;

Tis to murderer's den you've come."

Now the maiden went from one room to the other, through the whole house, but all were empty, and not a human being was to be seen anywhere. At last she went into the cellar, and there sat a withered old woman, shaking her head. 

"Can you tell me," asked the maiden, "whether my bridegroom lives in this house?"

"Ah, poor girl," said the old woman, "when are you to be married? You are in a murder's den. You think to be a bride, and to celebrate your wedding, but you will only wed with Death! See here, I have a great caldron filled with water, and if you fall into their power they will kill you withour mercy, cook, and eat you, for they are cannibals. If I do not have compassion and save you, you are lost."

So saying, the lost woman led her behind a great cask, where no one could see her. "Be as still as a mouse," said she, "and don't move hand or foot, or all is lost. At night, when the robber's are asleep, we will escape; I have long sought an opportunity."

She had scarcely finished speaking when the wicked band returned, dragging with them a poor girl, to whose shrieks and cries they paid no attention. They gave her some wine to drink, three glasses, one white, one red, and one yellow and at the last she fell down in a swoon. Then they tore off her fine clothes chopped her beautiful body into pieces, and sprinkled them with salt. Meanwhile the poor Bride behind the cask trembled and shuddered to see what a fate would have been hers. Presently one of the robbers remarked a gold ring on the finger of the murdered girl, and, as he could not draw it off easily, he took a hatchet and chopped off the finger. But the finger, withthe force of the blow, flew up and fell behind the cask, right into the lap of the Bride; and the robber, taking a light, went to seek it, but could not find it. Then one of the others asked, "Have you looked behind the cask?"

"Oh! Do come and and eat," cried the old woman in a fright: "come and eat, and leave your search till the morning; the finger will not run away."

"The old woman is right," said the robbers, and, desisting from their search, they sat down to their meal; and the old woman mixed their drink a sleeping draught; so that presently they lay down to sleep draught; so that presently they lay down to sleep on the floor and snored away. As soon as the Bride heard them, she came from behind the cask and stepped carefully over the sleepers, who lay side by side, fearing to awake any of them. Heaven helped her in her trouble, and she got over this difficulty well; and the old woman started up too and open the door, and then they made as much haste as they could out of the murderer's den. The wind had blown away the ashes, but the beans and peas the Bride had scattered in the morning had sprouted up, and now showed the path in the moonlight. All night long they walked on, and by sunrise they came to the mill, and the poor grl narrated her adventures to the father, the Miller.

Now, when the day came, that the wedding was to be celebrated, the Bridegroom appeared, and the Miller gathered together all his relations and friends. While they sat at table each kept telling some tale, but the Bride sat silent, listening. Presently the Bridegroom said, "Can you not tell us something, my hear; do not you know of anything to tell?"

"Yes," she replied, "I will tell you a dream of mine. I thought I went through a wood and by-and-by I arrived at a house wherein there was not a human being, but on the wall there hung a bird in a cage, who sang -

'Return, fair maid, return to your home;

'Tis to a murderer's den you've come.'

And it sang this twice. - My treasure, thus dreamed I. - Then I went through all the rooms, and every one was emptyand deseolate, and at last I stepped down into the cellar, and there sat a very old woman, shaking her head from side to side. I asked her, 'Does my bridegroom dwell in this house?' and she replied, "Ah, dear child, you have fallen into a murderer's den; thy lover does dwell here, but he will kill you, and then he'll cook and eat you. - My treasure, thus dreamed I. - Then I thought that the women hid me hind a great cask, ad  scarcely had she done so when the robbers came home, dragging a maiden with them, to whom they gave three glasses of wine, one red, one white, and one yellow; and at the thrid her heart snapped. They pulled off her fine clothes, chopped her beautiful body into pieces, and sprinkled them with salt. - My treasure, thus dreamed I. - Then one of the robbers saw a gold ring on her finger, and because he could not draw it off he took up a hachet and hewed at it and the finger flew up, and fell behind the cask into my lap. And there is the finger with the ring."

With these words she threw it down before him, and showed it to all present.

The robber, who during narration had become pale as death, now sprang up, and would have escaped; but the guests held him, and delivered him up to the judges.

And soon afterwards he and his whole band were condemned to death for their wicked deeds.

Sweeter Words Saturday: Sweeterchord

If you are on Instagram, I highly recommend to

check out the account, sweeterchord, by Katrina.

I do not know more about this young writer and poet,

but her words are beyond beautiful and touching. 

Her combination of written word and photography is 

incredible. I look forward to seeing more and more 

work from her. Checkout more of her work at her
website and blog. 

Quick note: The below peom as well as the images
are all rights reserved to Sweeterchord aka Katrina
D Photography. 

[ The Dawn Doesn't Apologize ]

by Kat (aka sweeterchord)

"Just watch the sun, please, my dear.

And then someday you will look around 

and realize that I'm still here no matter 

how many times you didn't believe it."

Unwritten, Unsent; poem 82

New Addition: Lily the Kitten

This is Lily the kitten soon to be to be Lily the Cat. She is
the newest addition to our family. Being a young cat, she
is full of energy and trouble. She is definitely bad to the bone
and has an appetite to devour everything.

Best Wishes.

Sweeter Words Saturday: Derek Walcott

This poem for this week is thanks to Youtube.

With the release of the Love Book App, Youtube's

videos of the recorded readings have flourished.

This is one of those poems featured in the app

and is quite lovely. I hope you enjoy it.

Best Wishes. 

Love After Love by Derek Walcott

The time will come 

when, with elation

you will greet yourself arriving

at your own door, in your own mirror

and each will smile at the other's welcome,

and say, sit here. Eat

You wil love again the stranger who was yourself.

Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart

to itself, to the stranger who has loved you

all your life, whom you ignored 

for another, who knows you by heart.

Take down the love letters from the bookshelf,

the photographs, the desperate notes,

peel your own image from the mirror.

Sit. Feast on your life.

Creative Process: Final Mood Board

It has been a very long since I have last written but I am glad to say that there has been changes and progress towards what I wanted to accomplish this last year. One of those things being branding of  Foolishly Wise. I will share process shots along the way, for now I am sharing the mood board.

I had shared some preliminary images that inspired the mood board you see now. Those images highlight aspects that inspire adventures, the wild face of nature, working with your hands, clean product packaging with simple colours, featured beautiful handwriting, and beautiful patterns. The final mood board features the same but adds a bit more love of travel, being near and far, the wild, urban cities, and the quiet wonder of home. 

In a single sentence I would say that Foolishly Wise is inspired by the love of travel and adventure, the love of nature, small moments of daily life and working hard, urban cities and the rural country, and clean design with exquisite handwriting and patterns.

I hope you like it. Best Wishes.

Sweeter Words Saturday: Browning Part Two

Just because there is so many sonnets and are just too good. 

This is another Sweeter Word Sunday dedicated to Elizabeth

Barrett Brownings. 

Best Wishes.

Songs of the Portuguense by Elizabeth Barrett Brownings

Sonnet 9

Can it be right to give what I can give?

To let thee sit beneath the fall of tears

As salt as mine, and hear the sighing years

Re-sighing on my lips renunciative

Through those infrequent smiles which

      fail to live

for all thy adjurations? O my fears,

That this can be scarce be right! We are

      not peers,

So to be lovers; and I own, and grieve,

That givers of such gifts as mine are,

      must

Be counted with the ungenerous. Out,

       alas!

I will not soil thy purple with my dust,

Nor give thee any love - which were

       unjust.

Beloved, I only love thee! let it pass.

Sonnet 26

I LIVED with visions for my company

Instead of men and women, years ago,

And found them gentle mates, not

thought to know

A sweeter music than they played to 

        me.

But soon their trailing purple was not 

        free

Of this world's dust, their lutes did 

        silent grow,

And I myself grew faint and blind below

Their vanishing eyes. Then THOU didst

        come - to be,

Beloved, what they seemed. Their

shining fronts,

Their songs, their splendors (better, yet

the same,

As river-water hallowed into fonts),

Met in thee, and from out thee over

came

My soul with satisfaction of all wants:

Because God's gifts put man's best

dreams to shame.

Sonnet 29

I THINK of thee! - my thoughts do twine

       and bud

About thee, as wild wines, about a tree,

Put out broad leaves, and soon there's 

       nought to see

Except the straggling green which hides

       the wood.

Yet, O my palm-tree, be it understood

I will not have my thoughts instead of 

       thee

Who art dearer, better! Rather, instantly

Renew thy presence; as a strong three

       should,

Rustle thy boughs and set thy trunk all 

       bare,

And let these band s of greenery which

       insphere thee

Drop heavily down, - burst, shattered,

       everything where!

Because, in this deep joy to see and hear

       thee

And breather within thy shadow a new

       air

I do not think of thee - I am too near 

       thee. 

Sweeter Words Saturday: Elizabeth Barrett Browning Edition

I am not ashamed to say that my first exposure to the 
works of Elizabeth Barrett Browning is from Robert
Zemechis's "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?" Eddie Valient 
had just pressed Roger Rabbit for his alibi, Roger Rabbit 
begins to describe how he had spent the evening writing 
his wife a love letter. Roger proceeds to quote Browning's 
work before jumping up and down literally counting out 
aloud his love for his wife, Jessica Rabbit.


It seems that out of Browning's work, that stanza is 
commonly used and cited in the media. I quite enjoyed 
her sonnets from the Portuguese and will be sharing some 
stanzas.

Browning's own life seems to have influenced the songs 
of the Portuguese. I hope you enjoy these sonnets.

Songs of the Portuguese's by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Sonnet 6

Go from me. Yet I feel that I shall

      stand

Henceforward in thy shadow. Never-

      more

Alone upon the threshold of my door

Of individual life, I shall command

The uses of my soul, nor lift my hand

Serenely in the sunshine as before,

Without the sense of that which I for-

      bore -

Thy touch upon the palm. The widest

      land

Doom takes to part us, leaves thy    

     heart in mine

With pulses that beat double. What I 

    do

And what I dream include thee, as the

    wine

Must taste of its own grapes. And    

    when I sue

God for myself, He hears that name of

    thine,

And sees within my eyes the tears of 

    two.

Sonnet nine

Can it be right to give what I can give?

To let thee sit beneath the fall of tears

As salt as mine, and hear the sighing

     years

Re-sighing on my lips renunciative

Through those infrequent smiles             

    which fail to live

For all thy adjurations? O my fears, 

That this can scarce be right! We are

    not peers,

So to be lovers; and I own, and grieve,

That givers of such gifts as mine are,

    must

Be counted with the ungenerous. Out,

    alas!

I will not soil thy purple with my dust,

Nor breathe my poison on thy Venice -

    glass,

Nor give thee any love - which were

    unjust.

Beloved, I only love thee! let it pass.

Sonnet 12

Indeed this very love which is my boast,

And which, when rising up from 

       breast to brow,

Doth crown me with a ruby large enow

To draw men's eyes and prove the

      inner cost, -

This love even, all my worth, to the 

      utterance most,

I should not love withal, unless that 
      thou 
Hadst set me an example, shown me   

      how,

When first thine earnest eyes with mine 

      were crossed,

And love called love. And thus, I can-

      not speak

Of love even, as a good thing of my own:

Thy soul  hath snatched up mine all    

     faint and weak,

And placed it by thee on a golden 

     throne, -

And that I love (O soul, we must be 

    meek!)

Is by thee only, whom I love alone.

Music Lesson: the Beginning

This is a new series for the blog. As a child, I was not active in anything to do
with music. My giant purple radio/CD player, my parent's CDs, or pop music
was what I knew. I was clueless about music for a very long time. Also years
of chorus did nothing for my ability to read music.

Years later, I am still clueless about music in many ways. After reflecting on my
music habits, I have decided to ditch the headphones and embrace the silence.
When I destroy my earhairs, it will be because of a live show not my iPod. I also
am embracing learning to actually play and sing the songs I enjoy. Plus I have a
piano that has been staring at me in my studio.

I will be sharing what I am learning on the way. Most will be old hat and some
new tricks along the way.

Best wishes.

#whyicreate

Etsy shared a new hashtag to Twitter and Instagram 

in April to encourage others to share why they create 

and make the things they do. I was bit occupied at 

the time to join the crowd originally. But I thought it 

was time to share anyways.

I feel like when I am creating something, anything 

really, I am at the time my most true and honest self. 

I also feel I create in order to make connections to 

others and the world around.

Best wishes.

Sweeter Words Sunday: When I was in Love

Once a upon a time, I took a creative writing. I bored people with my words about things I didn't care about, while I stored away the words that hit home. Other students bored me with their words while others blew me out of water with their raw talent.

We also read lots poetry about love, break ups, and pain. My professor was in a rough patch of his relationship. It pained him dearly. 

Our "textbook" was "The Hell with Love: Poems to Mend a Broken Heart"edited by Mary D. Esselman and Elizabeth Ash Velez. It was full of pain, resent, anger, and regret. At nineteen, those poems of pain did not move me. I barely understood what they meant or let alone identify the feelings of the poems. I read my notes written on hallmark heart-shaped "love" sticky note, I see how clueless I was about the words I was reading. I also had failed to see the irony of heart- shaped sticky notes in a poetry book about heartbreak.

One poem did stick out and I understood it at once. I thought I would share it. 

"Oh, When I Was in Love with You" 

By A.E. Housman

Oh, when I was in love with you,

       Then I was clean and brave,

And miles around the wonder grew

       How well did I behave.

And now the fancy passes by,

       And nothing will remain,

And miles around they'll say that I

       Am quite myself again.

24 Before 25

I am creating a new list of things I would like
to accomplish before I am another year older.
To a another year. I have not in previous years

not finished my lists, but hope is a tough thing

to kill. On a side note, peonies are glorious at this 

time of year. 

1. Crochet 100% Cotton Scarf
2. Read a new book per month
3. Blog every month
4. Go to five Art Exhibitions
5. Learn how to Knit
6. Get a Starbucks Gold Card
7. Draw more portraits
8. Win a bet 
9. Be a better person
10. Teach Grandmother how to knit
11. Buy a Bike
12. Eliminate some debt
13. Garden profusely
14. Study the bible regularly
15. Volunteer
16. Make Money
17. Learn Piano
18. Write a Children's Book
19. Do a study of Floral Illustrations
20. Visit Chicago
21. Be a better Etsy Seller
22. Create a Design Portfolio (7-8 projects)
23. Be stronger
24. Solo Vacation

Best Wishes and good luck on your goals.

24 hours

The quote: "You have the same amount twenty-four hours as Beyonce"

does not sit well with me. It makes me feel guilty about not having 

enough hours in the day or not finishing all the things I should in one day.

So I created this anti-quote to remind me that I am not Beyonce or have 

her team power. I have only so much to do and that is alright with me.

Thanks for reading.

Sweeter Words Saturday: To the Small Celadine

For those you did not know, it's National Poetry Month. I will be
celebrating by sharing a different poem each Saturday from a different
poets and writers. 

This first one is another one from William Wordsworth celebrating a small
but fair flower. Granted the image above does not have a Celadine, but it
works.

To the Small Celadine by William Wordsworth

Pansies, lilies, kingcups, daisies,

Let them live upon their praises;

Long as there's a sun that sets,

Primroses will have their glory;

Long as there are violets,

They will have a place in story: 

There's a flower that shall be mine,

'Tis the little Celadine.

Eyes of some men travel far
For the finding of a star;
Up and down the heavens they go,
Men that keep a mighty rout!
I'm as great as they, I trow,
Since the day I found thee out,
Little Flower! - I'll make a stir,
Like a sage astronomer.

Modest, yet withal an Elf
Bold, and lavish of thyself;
Since we needs must first have met
I have seen thee, high and low,
Thirty years or more, and yet
'Twas a face I did not know;
'Thou hast now, go where I may,
Fifty greetings in a day.

Ere a leaf is on a bush,
In the time before the thrush
Has a thought about her nest,
Thou wilt come with half a call,
Spreading out thy glossy breast
Like a careless Prodigal;
Telling tales about the sun,
When we've little warmth, or none.

Poets, vain men in their mood!
Travel with the multitude:
Never heed them; I aver
That they all wanton wooers;
But the thrifty cottager,
Who stirs little out of doors,
Joys to spy thee near her home;
Spring is coming, Thou art come!

Comfort have thou of thy merit,
Kindly, unassuming Spirit!
Careless of thy neighborhood,
Thou dost show thy pleasant face
On the moor, and in the wood,
In the lane; there's not a place,
Howsoever mean it be,
But 'tis good enough for thee.

I'll befall the yellow flowers,
Children of the flaring hours!
Buttercups, that will be seen,
Whether we will see or no;
Others, too, of lofty mein;
They have done as worldlings do,
Taken praise that should be thine,
Little, humble Celandine!

Prophet of delight and mirth,
Ill-requited upon the earth;
Herald of a mighty band,
Of a joyous train ensuing,
Serving at my heart's command,
Tasks that are no tasks renewing,
I will sing, as doth behove,
Hymns in praise of what I love!

In Review: "That's What She Said: Power and Purpose"

Soulpancake is a creative agency and a new media agency. They say that "our brain batter of art, culture, science, philosophy, spirituality, and humor to open...challenge...and feel damn good". They say that their mission is to "make things that matter" and to helps other "to figure out what it means to be human." 

Meanwhile Darling Magazine is a magazine that specializes "in the art of women" and "exist to encourage and empower women and be a voice of love." They pride themselves in seeing "beauty in every type of women", offering "tangible, deep advice" on various issues including serious topics, also evoking "a discussion on femininity", and a "catalyst for positive change."

These two powerhouses, Soulpancake and Darling Magazine, collaborated to create a series called "That's What She Said" on youtube. This is a series that strives to start an honest conservation about topics like Power and Purpose. Below you can see the topics that have been covered in this series so far.

• Power and Purpose
• 10 Things Every Female Should Know
• Parents and Parenting 
• Aging and Death
• Perception and Confidence

The video was a beautiful and thought provoking. I did not agree with all the opinions presented nor do I think they were presented to be the right answer. The video was made to cause questions and start conversations between women from all walks of life. The video asked three main questions to the panel which were the one that follow.

Do Women need to become like Men in order to achieve power and status?

Are there ways we can be unique leaders in the world without dismissing or
ashamed of our gender?

Where do you get your power and purpose? How do you embrace being a women
in your career?

I wanted to share my thoughts and responses to these questions. My idealistic and romantic part of my soul believes that women do not need to be like men to achieve power and status. I do fundamentally that women can be successful without losing a sense of themselves or acting like someone else that they are not.  

But at the same time, it seems to represented via the media and society that women have to be like men to succeed. Women that act "like women" are represented as not succeeding or achieving or being successful. Or are perceived as not on being the same level of success as men. My belief and what seems to be represented as the norm is completely different. 

My career is truly run by Men. Men rule the Art Historical Canon, contemporary art world, and the top designers that appear in Graphic Design Conferences are men. The women artists that I can name are truly less many a dozens. Though there is a lot of women in the arts, we are the object..the muse. Women are the crafters, makers, wives, the lovers, the mistresses, an interesting side-story, or the ex-wife. It is intimidating to see and learn that man after man are the ones breaking new ground or the hot newest artist. Women are always one step behind. 

I think women can be unique leaders. Women have a lot to bring to table. They bring perspective, experience, youth, wisdom, and so much more to any situation.

I get my sense of power and purpose from my values,  my family, my community, and Jehova. These things bring out the best in me and forces and encourages me to have valor and do things I would not dare to do. To have the balls to go after what I desire in life.

I do not know what the answers to these questions are. I do not know how to change others or their thoughts. I only know to how to change myself and I hope that my actions can speak a thousands times louder than my words ever could. To see this video or see what these two companies are doing, follow the links to explore. Thanks for reading.

Sources:

Soulpancake

Darling Magazine

That's What She Said: Power and Purpose

Process: Bookplates & Letterpress

Hi guys,

I wanted to pop in to share some photos from my most
recent project. I have chained myself once to the type lab
to finish a cookbook and bookplates that will be completed
by the 1st of May. The deadline is fast approaching and time
is fleeting. 

Enjoy the images from the lab.

Joy of a Sunday

Sweeter Words Saturday: The Tables Turned

Spring fever and senioritis are nowhere to be seen, but the call of the mountain sounds and brambling outdoors never loses its charm. Even in the dead of winter, I want to wander across fields and forgotten woods.

But until the nasty winter winds die down, here's a poem by Wordsworth 
to tide me over.

The Tables Turned by William Wordsworth

Up! Up! my Friend, and quit your books;

Or surely you'll grow double:

Up! Up! my Friend, and clear your looks;

Why all this toil and trouble?

The sun, above the mountain's head,

A freshening lustre mellow

Through all the long green fields has spread,

His first sweet evening yellow.

Books! 'tis a dull and endless strife:

Come, and hear the woodland linnet,

How sweet his music! on my life,

There's more of wisdom in it.

And hark! How blithe the throstle sings!

He, too, is no mean preacher:

Come forth into the light of things,

Let Nature be your teacher.

She has a world of ready wealth,

Our minds and hearts to bless --

Spontaneous wisdom breathed by health, 

Truth breathed by cheerfulness.

One impulse from a vernal wood

May teach you more of a man,

Of moral evil and of good,

Than all the sages can.

Sweet is the lore which Nature brings;

Our meddling intellect

Mis-shapes the beauteous forms of things:

We murder to dissect.

Enough of Science and Art;

Close up those barren leaves;

Come forth, and bring with you a heart

That watches and receives.