Written Inspiration

Saw this today on Creature Comforts and brought a smile to my face.

j

Playing in the Shop on Repeat: The Point of It All by Anthony Hamilton

Anthony Hamilton - The Point Of It All [vol. 96]

I'm Back and Focused Man!!!!!!

So here are the pics of The Lab in progress. The pics you see above are of my new Red desk (power indeed), along with what I view as a I sit at said desk. I would like to thank Leslie Grant of Chickin Feed for giving me the swift kick I needed and coming over with her FANTASTIC power tools and installing the great shelf system you see in the candle pick. Still working up a storm will resume normal posting on Sunday however please enjoy my view.

j

Lots and Lots of Changes at 3 Piece...

Well today I am working on about 50 things at one time but most importantly Sabrina Johnson of Tackle That Task and I are going to finally nail down this packaging situation. You see I must upgrade the packaging not only for The Trumpet Awards but for all the other submissions I do to boutiques, award ceremonies, weddings, etc.. So Sabrina and I are working on 3 options so we can upgrade 3 Piece once and for all. I am also going to pick up the final pieces for the Lab that I found through Craig's List, boy do I love Craig's List. Finally, I am going to pick up more materials to the finish The Trumpet Awards order. Whew. Nonstop body rock at 3 Piece.

Anywho look at the tree in the picture below doesn't it look like it's dancing? So the quote from Alice Walker and the pure pop goodness from Justin Timberlake just fits right in, right? Enjoy.

j

Visual and Written Inspiration

photo by Ansel Adams

"Us sing and dance, make faces and give flower bouquets, trying to be loved. You ever notice that trees do everything to git attention we do, except walk?"
-Alice Walker, The Color Purple, 1982

Playing in the Shop Today: Futuresex/Lovesounds

FutureSex/LoveSounds

They want me to live and I'm Trying...

So whew quite a lot has been happening since the end of 2008 so I will try to wrap it up quickly.

I posted the Gnarls Barkley video because even though it is a gross fest it still speaks to where I am at this moment, that does not mean that tomorrow won't bring sunshine and rainbows it is just today. I also posted the quote from Malcolm Forbes because it speaks to where I have been for 36 years. You see I had a turbulent childhood and young adult years to put it mildly so as a result I taught myself to expect nothing of everyone because that way I would never be disappointed. This is a horrible coping mechanism to learn early in life, it robs you of so many opportunities. It is also is something you do not want to pass on to your true legacy, children.

Towards the end of last year I started to experience a lot of seizures and scary "is this the end" type of symptoms as a result of a AVM I have lodged in my brain where parkinson's develops. After being given the run around by various doctors I finally received an appt at a top notch medical facility located in Florida that very astutely stated you need to have brain surgery in 30 days. Well you see this brain surgery would subsequently delete my children from my hardware which since they are the only ones in this whole wide world I completely trust is really non-negotiable. Not to mention the fact of an over 2 year recovery time. So I took a look at my life and mused aloud "There is so much I haven't done".

Out of fear there is so much I have limited myself to being. But you know what I turned 37 on January 7th and I am no longer going to allow fear or some stupid AVM to control me. I have decided I do have expectations of people, there are things I deserve just for being beautiful me.

So as a result of this I have chosen to go part-time at my job, starting to workout with a trainer twice a week and have completely changed my diet. I also have decided I deserve a good love in this lifetime that doesn't involve someone who just so happened to have escaped from my womb.

With that being said I will also say that what renews and restores my faith is that every day brings a new opportunity if we just take advantage of it. Every day, moment, millisecond brings the opportunity to be more than you could have every imagined if you allow yourself to receive the possibilities.

j

Visual and Written Inspiration

photo by Nobuyuki Taguchi

"If you expect nothing, you're apt to be surprised. You'll get it".
Malcolm Forbes

Playing in the Shop Today: Gnarls Barkley

Gnarls Barkley - "Who's Gonna Save My Soul?"
Uploaded by DowntownMusic

2009 is in full effect!

Hello,
I am still working on my lab I will have pictures up tomorrow. I also just received an order to produce candles for the 2009 Trumpet Awards that take place January 25, 2009 here in Atlanta. It is a huge order and also very upscale so I spent Sunday and Monday testing new packaging exclusively for the event. Once I am done with the candles and they are packaged I will upload pictures for everyone.

In the meantime please enjoy Donny Hathaway I listened to him all day Sunday. The quote below is where I am in life now and Muhammad Ali (born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr.) picture also speaks to my thought process at this time. Enjoy.

j

Visual and Written Inspiration

photo from LIFE Photo Archives

"I will not die an unlived life. I will not live in fear of falling or catching fire. I choose to inhabit my days, to allow my living to open me, to make me less afraid, more accessible, to loosen my heart until it becomes a wing, a torch, a promise. I choose to risk my significance; to live so that which comes to me as seed goes to the next as blossom and that which comes to me as blossom, goes on as fruit." - Dawna Markova, Author of Open Mind

Playing in the Shop Today: Donny Hathaway

Donny Hathaway .The Ghetto [Live]
Uploaded by capitainfunkk

Every time has it's place and Every place has it's time...

I am still working on my lab, rearranging,throwing out things I have had since I was stationed in Hawaii when I was 19 years old. I am working to create a space that reflects where I am at this moment and where my vision board says I am going. I have chosen this year to become proactive instead of reactive however with that being said when opportunities present themselves I will not turn away. This year I will fully accept all that I am destined to be.

I am also going to meet with Controversy Boutique owner Dawn about possibly carrying my Incidentals by 3 Piece line of candles.

I have posted the picture below because it is from 1937 and both the man and the woman are high steppin. I love the quote also because it reflects my view on learning my lessons when challenges arise instead of questioning why me I ask why not me?

j

Visual and Written Inspiration

photo from Life Photo Archives



“Be careful what you water your dreams with. Water them with worry and fear and you will produce weeds that choke the life from your dream. Water them with optimism and solutions and you will cultivate success. Always be on the lookout for ways to turn a problem into an opportunity for success. Always be on the lookout for ways to nurture your dream.”
Lao Tzu quote

One of My Favorite Albums: Be by Common

Common - Be

It really is relative...

So everyone knows that I have been rearranging my work space here at the little big house and rearranged other areas of my home to accomodate the enlarged working area. Well I decided to show you what I am very excited about My New and Improved Dining Room!!! Of course it is decorated on the low (as in budget) but I think it captures me very well.

I have not completed my work space but when I do I will upload pictures of The Lab for everyone to see. I love the quote below because I bought the dining room table off Craig's List for $30 and the chairs are from Wal-Mart but to me it looks like it has so much character. I have always loved taking something everyone else would throw away and repurposing it.

Visual and Written Inspiration

"What the caterpillar calls the end, the rest of the world calls a butterfly."
Lao Tzu

Playing in the Shop Today: Talib Kweli

Talib Kweli - Hostile Gospel Part 1 (Deliver Us)
Uploaded by FresHipHop

Jacquelyn of 3 Piece discussing why she creates

I know the video isn't great however it's my birthday today and this really speaks to why I create.

j

Visual and Written Inspiration

photo by Nick Brandt


“And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years.”
Abraham Lincoln quotes (American 16th US President (1861-65)

Riding with the Birthday Girl Today: Outkast

Greatest Hits [Japan Bonus Track]

UGK & Outkast - International Players Anthem
Uploaded by blackdesperadoo

Working and Planning, Planning and Working....

I received some good news today that I will share later on in the week. I am working on still rearranging my work space at home to accomodate my extended hours here. I posted the song by Steve Winwood because every time I have heard that song in my life it has been like a clue from the Universe to move on from a relationship that I was currently in. Every. Single. Time. I have now learned to listen closely because I heard it the other day while at Lowe's looking for a new lamp. I also posted the photo of D-Nice and Malinda Williams because they represent great love to me (projecting you know) and I also posted the quote by Oprah Winfrey because that is exactly what I need in my life now.

j

Visual and Written Inspiration

photo by D-Nice



"Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down." -

Oprah Winfrey (1954~) American TV Personality, Actor

Playing in the Shop Today: Steve Winwood - Higher Love

Working Working Day and Night....

I have been working on enlarging my work space in my home and rearranging my home. Also preparing for my upcoming birthday celebration. I am changing a lot this year because I truly believe I have chosen to accept many things that are less than I fully deserve. I must take the steps to change this.

j

Visual and Written Inspiration

photo by Gordon Parks





Robert Frost (1874–1963). Mountain Interval. 1920.

1. The Road Not Taken


TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth; 5

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same, 10

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back. 15

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference. 20

Playing in the Shop this week: Brown Sugar Soundtrack

Brown Sugar Soundtrack

Playing in the Shop Today: So High by John Legend

Playing in the Shop today: So High by John Legend

So High - John Legend

Visual and Written Inspiration

Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo



Inspiration Today:
"Feet, what do I need you for when I have wings to fly?" Frida Kahlo

Mixed Bag #1

I thought I would change it up a bit today give a you a "mixed bag" of goodies all in one post. ***Update*** I had to change it back to original format, it messes up the layout of my blog, sorry. I identify with Frida Kahlo very much because if I could not create and release all that is swirling in me I do believe I would go bat sh!! crazy. It is when I create that I am at my most powerful that I feel that I am superhuman almost. It frees me.

j

I resolve to say Thank you without fail...

I will take this chance to say these 3 things to you:

1. Thank you for coming by and reading my musings, inspirations, listening to my choices in music and just broadening my view of the world.

2. Thank you for continuing to support my business this year which in turn helped my family which also helped my community because the monies you spent with me were spent in my community.

3. Thank you for continuing to ride with me on this great journey of ours, Life.

j

oh yeah Happy New Year!!!

Playing in the Shop Today: James Brown - Get Up Offa That Thing

Visual and Written Inspiration

photo by Moczko

“The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.”

Michelangelo