Arte Y Poemas

I've been featured!

2013-06-18T21:27:00.002-04:00

Check out my awesome interview HERE.

On Being Latina

2013-06-18T09:29:00.000-04:00

So, first of all, I made a page in my art journal:

So, the cupcake was drawn in another sketchbook that I have, and I had full intentions of coloring it in, but eh. I don't think it wants to be colored in.

I went to a discount store here in brooklyn and discovered Sharpie pens. Oh my goodness. Seriously as awesome as it sounds.

On another note, a friend of mine posted THIS. It got me thinking of my experiences with being a latina artist.

You know, I've never really been able to fit the stereotypical latina. First of all, I have pale white skin. Being of Puerto Rican and Colombian parents, this seems strange to most other latinos.

Things I get told by other latinos:

You're latina and you can't dance?
You don't look latina
You like rock and roll? You mean you don't like hip hop?
Oh you write poetry? You mean spoken word?

Yeah, really. People assume that because I do not speak like Rosey Perez, that this means I must be a "halfie".

For the record, both of my parents were born in THEIR OWN COUNTRY. They came here as adults. My mother was born in Bogota, Colombia and my father in Puerto Rico. My father has light blue eyes, pale white skin, "good hair", and freckles. My mother is a short lady with straight "indian" hair, and tan skin.

I however, have pale white skin that burns with the sun, and bear little brown freckles that in spanish is called a "lunar". I get them with the sun a lot.

I'm okay with my pale skin. No, I do not want to tan. Why should I? I was born this way, and I am big advocate of accepting who you are, just as you are. I don't have to change the color of my skin to conform with someone else's idea of what a latina is.

No, I can't dance. I actually have terrible rhythm. I clap offbeat. I tell people that while I so admire professional dancers, my body just does not express itself that way. And that's okay. That doesn't make me any less latina.

To tell someone they do not "look latina" is both offensive and racist. Perhaps I simply do not look like what is your idea of a latina. Have you thought about that?
Personally, I love shattering ideas. I love shattering another person's idea of what something should be, like motherhood and being latina.
I can have my nose pierced, pale white skin, arm tattooed, ripped up jeans, and still look latina. Why? What is it that makes us our race? Is it what we wear on our skin? What makes us "look latino"? Being latino is more than just dark skin and gold earrings. Looking latina has more to do with facial structure and bone structure of the body, than it does with the shade of my skin or choice of accessories.
Thirdly, I do not like hip hop. No. I mean, well maybe I like the old school stuff from the 80s. Back when hip hop wasn't about bragging about how badass you are.
I love rock and roll. I love it. I love classic rock, I love classic jazz from the golden era, and I love classic country (think Hank Williams Sr).
My choice in music does not make me any less latina. My love of Pink Floyd, Rancid, The Grateful Dead, and Cab Calloway does not infringe on my race.
Fourthly, just because I happen to be latina, and I write poetry, does not mean that I write "spoken word".
I don't write that in that style. I write poetry; poetry as in Sylvia Plath, Allen Ginsberg, E.E. Cummings, and Anne Sexton. Poetry. That's what I write.
It makes me absolutely livid that people assume that I write spoken word simply due to my race.
Look, the truth is, I am my own version of latina. I am my own person with my own ideas on life. And yes, I am proud of my race. I am proud of where my mother and father came from.
I speak spanish, love Hector Lavoe, classic cumbia, and I could eat rice and beans every day for the rest of my life and not be bored one bit. But I also was a vegetarian for 12 years, had a homebirth, and love classic punk and classic rock.
My husband is latino, born in his country. He speaks english without an accent. He considers brooklyn his home, paints and makes art, and loves Hank Williams Sr. I learned to love Bob Dylan from him.
Don't put me in a box. I don't fit in them.
And the truth is, you wouldn't like it if I put you in one, would you?

From the ashes

2013-06-15T22:36:00.000-04:00

Hooray for new art.

Made this in my trusty art journal. I had almost forgotten about it, but then I think I realize why I hadn't been doing much lately. I have this fear of running out of space in an art journal. Whenever I see that there are only 10 or so pages left, I run out to buy a new one. If not, I stop using it, and use a different one that has some pages left (until I get the aforementioned new journal). This journal was handmade by me, so I ran out of paper. I started using it again, because I finally got the $ to buy new paper, hooray!
All of this made me realize that actually I much prefer to bind my own journal.
I've had a very emotional few days. I'm pretty much spent emotionally. I love, and love, and at times it is draining. True love, after a few years, takes a bit of work. You have to be grown up enough to take it: the hard work, the sometimes boredom, and you must be as stubborn as a damned mule. You must be stubborn to not give up. It's not an option when there is true love, and so it means that you must put your hands to work.
Oh, and this page: On the left there is a fragment of a poem that I wrote some years back. On the right is Solange Knowles, whited out. I didn't white out her legs because I forgot, but I rather think she looks interesting that way, don't you? The legs represent movement, and the hands and face are whited out, in an almost effort to perhaps make her more muted.
So, this page is entitled, "From the ashes", after the poem that is on the left there. It represents a woman who lifted herself from the ashes and soot of her childhood.
I've gotten good at art analyzing because my friend Cindy is good at it. Ha! I send her text images of my WIPs and she analyzes them. I get a kick out of it really, because as with my poetry, I don't really think of too much when I'm working on art. I just drift off into never-never land. You know?
Well, happy saturday (evening).

Bird in the Sky

2013-06-14T10:03:00.001-04:00

To the bird at my window:
what do you see, when you fly
around
in the sky
alone
what do you see?
bird in the sky, I
sometimes wonder why I taste
bird in the sky
my reason for living is most often my children
bird in the sky,
life is not alway pleasant and happy
life is not always cosmic rainbows and mystical daydreams, life
sometimes is unhappy
life
sometimes means
exchanging unpleasantries
bird in the sky
war is hell
bird in the sky
I often wish to be you
in the sky
flying
Bird in the sky
if I paint you,
will I become you
bird in the sky
I paint you so I can become you
free
in the sky
seeing the world from a bird's eye view
Often I dream about wings
bird in the sky
what separates me from you?
bird in the sky
is it the happiness I lack?
is it the sadness inside?
bird in the sky
what separates me from you
bird in the sky
I think it is
my humanness
the
tears I shed
the laughter sometimes
bird in the sky
are you sad sometimes?
do you tire of emulating the sounds of car alarms?
Bird in the sky
life is a broken mess on earth
bird in the sky
do you see the mess we've created for you?
bird in the sky
perhaps you see the mess we have made
perhaps you see the war we create
perhaps you see the fighting
and the ill words spoken
and the sadness
and the sometimes but not enough laughter
bird in the sky
it occurs to me that perhaps
I
am you
perhaps I have become you
and in speaking to myself
perhaps I have grown wings
bird in the sky
let me become you
let me live as you, in the sky
I shall, on my feet, travel with my daughters
tiny birds
and flee the hell that is life on earth.

Diana Gonzalez

Diana Gonzalez is a self taught artist, writer and poet, formerly known as The Craftaholic. Sometimes she likes to get crafty with her two kids and artist husband (whom often complains of having too much paint and yarn in the closets). You can visit her etsy store here.

“the only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars.”

-Jack Kerouac

Want to get creatively UNSTUCK?
Click HERE!

Etsy

www.arteypoemas.etsy.com

Huggies Playdate!

2013-06-14T08:00:00.000-04:00

This blog post was sponsored by Latina Mom Bloggers. The opinions posted are solely my own (of course).

Recently I had the pleasure of being invited to a PR blogger event hosted by Huggies. It was nice, because I was able to bring my kiddos along to play.
Here's a few pics of our playdate:

Since Dakota is a little shy at first, she opted for coloring at their coloring station. They had the entire floor so nicely decorated with a red and white color theme. So cute. EVERYTHING was cute.

What did I tell you? Everything was cute! Cookies, milk, and paper straws! Adorable.

Mini cheesecake cups. Yum.

All in all, the kids had fun playing, drawing, jumping and eating, and I had fun socializing with other moms.

They had monkey bars, which are my little monkey's favorite thing.
When we left my daughter asked if we could go back another day! ha!

Oh, and former Ms. Universe (Zuleyka Rivera) showed up with her son. He was asleep almost the whole time, or else I'd tell you how cute of a little boy he was.
As it turns out, she's the new spokeperson for Huggies! Haha, I guess that means free diapers, eh?
In the picture here, she's unveiling a new series of parenting webisodes, that they will feature every month on their facebook page (link below), that feature her and her son.
Anyway, it was lots and lots of fun. We went home with a nice gift bag with diapers, wipes, and even some cute little sandals and a sun hat.
For more information on Huggies Latino, go HERE to visit their facebook page, and check out new webisodes!

Thanks, Huggies Latino!

The Heart is Quiet

2013-06-13T12:32:00.000-04:00

Inspired by a photo on the facebook page, Humans of NY, I wrote this poem. It's about sisters, but it's partly about me. I hope my daughters will feel this way one day.

So much power in those clasped hands of ours
in them we carry the weight of the world, the
weight of the years we carry
on our back and shoulders
so much power in those clasped hands of ours
and while the heart stays quiet
and while the heart stays quiet, my hand and yours
they seem to speak to each other
each telling the other that it's all going to be okay
sometimes the heart stays quiet
sometimes only the wind speaks
and the trees rustle
and the birds sing
but the heart
stays quiet
and while I move the earth with my fist raised
with the other hand I'll hold you
I'll clasp my hand with yours
Let us move our power together
so much power in those clasped hands
in them the love of my life I carry
in them we carry our life
the tears we wiped
the babies I birthed
and nursed
and held
the baby I lost
And the roses at his funeral that seemed to symbolize the "I love you" that I failed to say
So much power in those clasped hands
they
hold me up when I'm down, they
help you up when you're down
they make me see
they help me walk
forward
not backward
adelante
nos vamos
juntos
tu y yo
just give me your hand, sister
there's so much power
in those clasped hands.

-Jack Kerouac

Want to get creatively UNSTUCK?
Click HERE!

Etsy

www.arteypoemas.etsy.com

Dollface Altered Tin

2013-06-13T11:45:00.003-04:00

Made this for the G&P design team that I'm happy to be a part of:

It's an altered tin. You can access the tutorial HERE.

What else?

Also, I've been doing a bit of journaling here and there, and have been working with my own handmade stencils. SO MUCH FUN and cheap too! I bought some special stencil paper, but in truth, you can just use wax paper, or anything really. Cardboard, even.

Here's a page in progress:

And that's that. Happy Thursday!

But it's you

2013-06-11T08:50:00.003-04:00

New art in my art journal. I've been struggling lately because the art journal I love so much is running low on blank pages, but then my account is running low on cash, so I resorted to other things. But truly, I enjoy making my own art journal with grocery bag paper.
Right.
Anyway, happy tuesday!
I have a latina mom blogger event tonite that I'll be blogging about tomorrow, so when you see the commercial post, just keep in mind that a mom's gotta do what a mom's gotta do.

Currently listening to:

Diana Gonzalez

Diana Gonzalez is a self taught artist, writer and poet, formerly known as The Craftaholic. Sometimes she likes to get crafty with her two kids and artist husband (whom often complains of having too much paint and yarn in the closets). You can visit her etsy store here. 

“the only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars.” 

-Jack Kerouac

Want to get creatively UNSTUCK? 
Click HERE!

Etsy

www.arteypoemas.etsy.com

A Couple of Little Somethings

2013-06-08T10:15:00.000-04:00

Here's a fun little project I just finished working on:

It's a little altered tin. Do you like it? I will be posting a tutorial soon on how to make one just like this. That will be next week.

Oh, and I made this:

If you want to learn how to make it, I wrote a tutorial HERE. If you want to purchase it, I have it for sale in my shop HERE.

And that's that. It's a beautiful sunny day in Brooklyn, and I may just have to take my little ones to the playground.
Have a happy saturday!

Diana Gonzalez

Diana Gonzalez is a self taught artist, writer and poet, formerly known as The Craftaholic. Sometimes she likes to get crafty with her two kids and artist husband (whom often complains of having too much paint and yarn in the closets). You can visit her etsy store here. 

“the only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars.” 

-Jack Kerouac

Want to get creatively UNSTUCK? 
Click HERE!

Etsy

www.arteypoemas.etsy.com

She communes with nature

2013-06-07T11:15:00.000-04:00

Made some art:

She is the deer woman

she

communes with nature

she

walks with elegance

with grace

uses the spirit medicine of deer

her

intuition

never fails her

through all the hardships

and all the trials

through all the tribulations

she rides with grace

she moves with elegance and beauty and she

holds her head up

she is the deer woman

she understands the mysteries of life

------------------------------

What else? Oh, I made these earrings:

These cute earrings are for sale in my shop HERE.

So that's that. I made some granola today! It was so yummy. It's a cold rainy day in brooklyn and it makes me in the mood for baking and making a nice pot of chicken soup.

Diana Gonzalez

Diana Gonzalez is a self taught artist, writer and poet, formerly known as The Craftaholic. Sometimes she likes to get crafty with her two kids and artist husband (whom often complains of having too much paint and yarn in the closets). You can visit her etsy store here. 

“the only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars.” 

-Jack Kerouac

Want to get creatively UNSTUCK? 
Click HERE!

Etsy

www.arteypoemas.etsy.com

My muse is on overdrive

2013-06-06T14:16:00.000-04:00

Made some new art:

My muse is really on overdrive. I take advantage when I'm really feeling the inspiration, and start projects as much as I can so that when I'm not feeling it so much, it's not so hard to just pick up a work in progress and just finish it.

Today my daughter has the day off. This is not a good thing. Why? Because it is also cold and rainy today, which means she has been a little chatterbox. I literally said, "Dakota let's try to be quiet for 5 minutes". Boy, do I have a taste of my own medicine. It's funny. She's EXACTLY like me in that sense. Shy and private, but when she's in her own comfort zone, she's a friggin chatty cathy.

I'm that way. People say, "What, Diana? You, shy?"

Yes, me. I'm shy.

But we did make some art today, and had some fun. But this nasty weather sucks. At least in the warm weather, I can take them out to the beach, the park, the zoo....

Anyway, so that is that. I actually accomplished everything on my list today and yesterday. I can't believe it. I'm really on a roll.

I may even make some soap tomorrow. I'm feeling like I want to. I have Olive oil, so I'll be making olive oil soap. Not true castile, since I'll be using a little coconut oil in there and jojoba oil.

Currently listening to:

-Jack Kerouac

Want to get creatively UNSTUCK?
Click HERE!

Etsy

www.arteypoemas.etsy.com

The Screams all sound the same

2013-06-05T10:55:00.001-04:00

Made some new art, in my art journal today. Here's what I came up with:

On her dress, I scribbled the words:

"All she wanted was a little bit of freedom and love"

This page symbolizes a lot for me.

It is the idea that at times we fail to give ourselves the self care we need. We are so consumed with loving and caring for our children and husbands and all that, that we fail to love and care for our own selves. This of course, ends quite sadly in burnout or a person hitting rockbottom, or both.

It is challenging when you hit rockbottom to not remain in that dark place. Often when you are in that place, it feels easier to just stay there, ruminating in negative energy.

It is not that difficult to look up, though. When you look up you realize that you create your freedom, you create your own destiny, simply by choosing to think positive healthy thoughts.

So this piece symbolizes the need for personal space, and the desire at times to just be alone when you sometimes can't.

I've always been very comfortable being alone. I like just listening to my own thoughts sometimes. As a mother of two, this is often a luxury.

So, I cherish every moment I can get to just be by myself.

Oh, and I made this:

They are doll faces. You like them? They are stickers, and they are for sale, in my shop HERE.

Anyway, that is that. Hope you have a lovely Wednesday!

-Jack Kerouac

Want to get creatively UNSTUCK?
Click HERE!

Etsy

www.arteypoemas.etsy.com

Hello, Summer

2013-06-04T13:07:00.001-04:00

It finally feels like summer outside, and with the sun, I usher in a new wave of creative inspiration.
I made this journal page:

I love mermaids. I truly do. And I love summer. I love that I don't have to wear a heavy coat, and that I can just wear my flip flops. I love that I can put off spending $200 on a new pair of boots just a little while longer. Why so much on a pair of boots? Because I walk funny. Or rather, I walk heavy on my heals in a way that wears my shoes out quite quickly.
So I'm working on a few items that I hope to carry in my shop. They should be ready by friday. I am also working on a tutorial for the Creative Paperclay blog, that should be fun.
I've been quiet these days because I have been so busy. I feel like I haven't had much time for anything, and to be completely candid, the lack of sales in my shop has me feeling like it's just not all worth it. I know it is silly of me to think this way, but it is what it is. I shall take the stupid negative thoughts out of my mind through meditation, and hope that my perseverance will eventually pay off.

-Jack Kerouac

Want to get creatively UNSTUCK?
Click HERE!

Etsy

www.arteypoemas.etsy.com

From the Ashes

2013-05-31T09:58:00.002-04:00

Been in a bit of a bad place these days, so I made a bit of art about it:

If you're not familiar with the spanish language, here's a translation (but it makes more sense in spanish):

Ash

ashes to ashes

I am the Pheonix bird:

I survivved

I survived the torment of the fire

ases on my body

and from the ash

I formed wings

I created life

and the accompanying thought is this:

she is the ash girl

the girl of ashes and soot

open her up

inside you see the shadows of what once was

she is the girl forgotten

ignored

cast aside

she formed from the ashes, some wings

she formed wings and became the sacred phoenix bird

stretch out her wings, she does

to fly across the land

she creates herself

from the ashes given to her by an unknown god

by an unknown force that she

does not even try to understand, she

keeps it a mystery

-------

In this painting, she hasn't become the bird yet. She is sort of cocooning herself, engulfed in herself, in her pain, knowing that the pain and struggle will give her the strength and wisdom of the Buddha, and will make her grow the wings to fly into the air like birds do, like butterflies do.

This piece isn't listed in my shop, but if you'd like to purchase it, you can leave me a comment.

Rockbottom

2013-05-29T08:37:00.002-04:00

Rockbottom.

It's what you hit, before you realize

there's nowhere else to go

but up

there's nowhere else for me to go but up

Rockbottom

My heart is bloodied

I love too much

or too little

but that's not my problem

he loves me so

rockbottom

this time it's not my love or

lack of love or

mother

or lack thereof

rockbottom

I hate my art sometimes

repetitions of what I've seen

I want to create what speaks from my soul

from my spirit

I want to create art that sings of me

of my organized mess

of structure and pain

rockbottom

I got nowhere to go but up.

No Hay-A story in three parts

2013-05-28T08:52:00.000-04:00

ni amor

ni felicidad

ni sonrisa

No hay

ni gozo

ni fe

ni dios

ni amante

ni beso

ni abrazo

ni cuerpo

ni sol

ni luz

solo menstruation

solamente yo

sola

hablando sola

loca

pensando

solamente coraje

sangre

llanto

Mi Amor

Mi amor me habla

en parabolas

de su boca salen

gusanos y mariposas

y yo

volviendo me un parajo

Cenisa

Ashes to ashes

cenisa en mi cuerpo

Soy el parajo Pheonix:

sobrevivi

sobrevivi la tormenta de el fuego

que vino de mi madre

y de la cenisa, forme corazon

amor

halas

y de ally crie

vida

la pagana

la bruja, fiel

sobrevivi

formo amor

vida

luz

y de la cenisa de me cuerpo

nacio la hija mia

la flor de mi vida

ella: la perfection de mi vida

-Jack Kerouac

Want to get creatively UNSTUCK?
Click HERE!

Etsy

www.arteypoemas.etsy.com

Newest Postcards, and an announcement

2013-05-25T08:34:00.002-04:00

So, here's a new set of postcards I made:

So, I've got these for sale HERE.
Also, if you follow me on instagram, you'll know that times are tough in the Gonzalez home.
We're struggling economically. I'm not down about it, really. I mean, it is what it is, but things will get better.
That being said, I've decided on a few things.
One is that I think as far as my art is concerned, I'm glad that fine art is not that expensive of a thing to pursue. I mean, all you need is paper, watercolors and brushes, and that I've got.
Two is that crafts are costly, when you do them for resale. Yarn is fun to spin and create, and it's fun to knit, crochet, and make jewelry, but it is quite costly for me these days.
I've decided that while I may still make jewelry, and spin yarn, I will no longer be selling them online. It's too expensive, and quite frankly (and not to sound passive aggressive), but they are not really flying off the shelves, if you want to know.
It is more fun to know that I can splurge when I DO have the money, on fiber and things just for me.
So I've unlisted a few things, but there's still yarn in my shop, if you want some.
It's more fun this way for me. I will be happier just painting and attempting to sell my paintings and prints of my paintings. You know?
Oh, and I made these:

http://creativepaperclay.blogspot.com/2013/05/conversation-talisman-heart-pendants.html

and these:

http://creativepaperclay.blogspot.com/2013/05/dianas-may-tip.html

If you want to know how I made them, click on the link below the picture.

Well, that's all folks.

-Jack Kerouac

Want to get creatively UNSTUCK?
Click HERE!

Etsy

www.arteypoemas.etsy.com

If only I could sleep late

2013-05-22T09:35:00.000-04:00

Made something new. A cheapo composition notebook becomes my mixed media art journal. Here's the cover:

My friend Cindy told me she looks sad. Perhaps she is. I don't know. In the words of my art hero, Basquiat, "I don't think about art when I'm working. I try to think about life."
And it's true, for me anyway.
So I made this book because my etsy store has been cold and lonely without many sales, so that means not much $ in my pocket these days. So instead of buying myself a nice new art journal for mixed media, I just made one.

Here's the first page:

My husband said it reminds him of the circus. I suppose I could see that.

This is watercolors + acrylic paint.

Again, not sure what the heck I was thinking here. I don't really analyze my art, I just work at it, and let speak for itself. You know?

So that's that.

Not much else to report except that I've got a bit of insomnia. Last night I could NOT sleep. I tried meditating but my husband's snoring kept getting me out of my zone.

It's a rainy looking day today, which usually is great for my creative side. I may even take out my sewing machine. Not sure.

One thing's for sure, I do wish I could sleep in some day. I mean, I'm not picky. I don't mind sleeping in even just one extra hour. That'd be nice. But my children are like alarm clocks.

urg.

-Jack Kerouac

Want to get creatively UNSTUCK?
Click HERE!

Etsy

www.arteypoemas.etsy.com

Into the Sky

2013-05-21T11:24:00.000-04:00

So, I've been a little busy with life and all that, but I did make some new art.

I have this set for sale, in my shop HERE.

*time to brag about my kids*

oh, my girls. They are my world. And such hams. You might notice the bag of crap food. I never give my daughters anything but homecooking (well, that and an occasional slice of pizza). So once in a while, they get chips.

So that's that. Back to being busy, since Dharma kept me up most of the night last night with her teeth coming in. Poor thing. She's pretty much mostly weaned, but still does nurse to sleep and such. So when she starts asking to nurse, I know that she must be in pain or not feeling well. Poor thing.
We mothers go through so much, don't we?
We really do. We sacrifice our bodies, our lives, and sometimes our careers so that our children will be healthy and wise.
Being a mother is really and truly amazing. But sometimes you can get lost in motherhood and forget yourself.
So today, consider this your permission slip: when the kiddos are napping, go paint your toes. Do something for yourself. Do it!

Currently listening to (and obsessing over):

-Jack Kerouac

Want to get creatively UNSTUCK?
Click HERE!

Etsy

www.arteypoemas.etsy.com

Don't give up

2013-05-20T09:09:00.002-04:00

I went to the National Stationery Show this past weekend, and I took a few pics. Not a whole lot, because unfortunately there really wasn't very much to stimulate my senses this year.
I did see this booth full of felt wool beads that were just awesomely awesome:

Beautiful, right?

This company manufactures beautiful journals, purses, and stationary with amazingly beautiful art work.

It was so inspiring, I just had to take a picture, despite the fact that they followed me around their booth as if I'm going to steal something.

This year they had another section called "Creative Leisure Arts" which would have been fun had they not filled it with asian wholesale importers. Why couldn't they find American companies or at least sweatshop free companies?

Ugh. So that's why, not too many pics at all.

But I stop by the Plaid Crafts booth, and got to meet the queen of Mod Podge:

I had so much fun chatting with her. You know, it's nice to meet people in a similar field to what you want to be in, that actually do not fancy themselves a modern day Picasso.

I mean, who are you kidding? You're not Picasso, Basquiat, or Frida Kahlo. As much as I've been through the past few years I've come to realize that people really just would rather you flatter them on a constant basis. I've never been the type to fawn over anyone at all, and do not think I ever would.

Few people actually have real true unique talent, and most of them I know personally, and NOT through facebook or the internet. So just because you can paint a picture doesn't mean shit.

Anyway, it was really cool to chat with her. She's a very down to earth person.

In a world of pig heads, it's very refreshing.

Oh, and my long time buddy Lisa Kettell I love her. She and I are the same age, and both from NJ. I just think she's the bees knees. She's got lots of talent but she's down to earth which is nice. She doesn't need her ass kissed to be nice to you, nor expects you to flatter her with compliments.
Life is complex and filled with turmoil and difficulties. At times we get to be my age, and you realize that perhaps there are things you could have done differently, that there is something you should have done with your life to make your present a bit better.
But there has to come a point in your life when you stop resenting the past and realize that your life is what YOU make of it, and no one else's fault. There has to be a point in your life when you stop becoming a beast of burden, stop becoming a horrid person to be around, and realize that you could in fact, die tomorrow If you do, will you be happy? Will you have lived your last days being happy, or will you have lived your last days regretting bullshit that you have no control over?
The way I see it, you have no control over the past. So you can continue to say, "well I got married too young", or "I had children too early", or "I should have gone to college". These things not only hurt the feelings of your spouse, but are also fruitless. What the fuck do you think you are accomplishing by saying these things? It does nothing.
It is best instead, to wake the fuck up, smell the fucking coffee, and realize that this life is really short. It's too short to be angry and miserable all the time. I mean, if you want to live that way fine, but stay the fuck out of my way, because my future is going to be bright and shiny, and it's going to be that way because I AM GOING TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. It's not a maybe, or a hopefully or god-willing. It's going to happen because I say it is.
The motto for today is: DON'T GIVE UP.
Wake the fuck up and make things happen, or stay the fuck out of my way, when you do nothing with yours.

Don't give up
even when you feel like falling
when you feel your tears surround you
and nothing else does
when you feel alone
when you feel like giving up
don't
we live just one life
just one short little life
so don't give up.
be happy.
don't give up.

Inspiring words:

-Jack Kerouac

My Art & Poems

www.arteypoemas.com

Etsy

www.arteypoemas.etsy.com

Just a tease

2013-05-18T06:00:00.000-04:00

Here's a little something I've been working on:

Can't tell you what it's for yet, but it's scrumptious and lots of fun.
I was led to this while battling a bit of a block. Blocks are so hard, don't you agree? It is a challenging thing when you want to make art but nothing feels right.
Some artists battle blocks for years. I myself battled writer's block for a few years. I couldn't believe it myself, when I came back to my writing, realizing it had been so many years.
I did come up with a system for keeping myself active, and keeping my creative mind flowing. I wrote a short e-book that I hope will help you, in your quest for creative inspiration. Click HERE for more info.
Also, I wanted to let you wonderfully awesome folks that I am now accepting sponsors! SO....if you've got a new site that you want to let the world now about, why not post an ad on my page? By doing so you're helping a work at home mom STAY a work at home mom. Click HERE for more info on sponsoring my blog.

-Jack Kerouac

My Art & Poems

www.arteypoemas.com

Etsy

www.arteypoemas.etsy.com

The floating fairy

2013-05-16T09:29:00.000-04:00

Normally I don't do two posts in one day, but I was uber excited about these earrings that I made:

These cute earrings are a miniature version of my painting. I used Pigment ink Cat's Eye Queues by Clearsnap for the background and edges, and Smooch shimmer ink on top, then a clear coating of acrylic varnish.

These are for sale in my shop HERE

-Jack Kerouac

My Art & Poems

www.arteypoemas.com

Etsy

www.arteypoemas.etsy.com

DIY Shimmer Paint Sprays

2013-05-16T08:55:00.003-04:00

Recently I've been working on backgrounds for a forthcoming project. I've decided not tell you anything about what exactly it is. But I'll let you know what I've been using for it: shimmer spray.

Now, if you've been following my blog for a little while you may know that I was on the design team for Clearsnap. That being as it was, I did use a LOT of smooch spritz. But I recently ran out of most of my colors, and since I haven't had them replenished, I decided to make my own.
It's actually really easy. I was inspired by the blog Melstampz since she's the queen of making your own supplies, really.
All I did was wash my empty spray bottles and blend acrylic paint with water and a little bit of shimmer acrylic ink that I happened to have.
I used acrylic paint because it has it's own binder. If you use Pearl Ex powder you may need a binder such as hair spray.
Acrylic paint is cheapo and comes in so many colors. You can also blend your own colors and then make any shimmer paint you wish!
The thing I love about this is that it is opaque. You wouldn't use this in place of an ink spray I think, since ink sprays tend to be a bit clear, and this spray is nice and opaque. It makes a really great and quick journal background!
Have you tried making your own shimmer sprays?

-Jack Kerouac

My Art & Poems

www.arteypoemas.com

Etsy

www.arteypoemas.etsy.com

Self Portrait (of sorts)

2013-05-14T09:50:00.000-04:00

Been feeling quite inspired, so I made some new art. It's a self portrait of sorts. I say of sorts because you'll notice she has short hair and I do not.

I wrote a poem to go along with it.

Woman

she plais the madness

in her madness

she so often

seems abornomal

but what is normal, she asks

so often and seemingly she speaks

in poetry

in prose

in words that flow from her mind

her mind is in a constant form of action

in impressions of art

in ideas emerging from the unconscious depths and pursing one another across it's passive surface

poetical and rhetorical prose

flows from her mind

into her world complete

she

woman

For those of us with a past

2013-05-13T10:39:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was mother's day. Mother's day is always such a conflicting holiday. It is both good and bad.
Oh, but I made some art in my journal:

A nude woman, because I'm practicing. I know her legs are all weird.
She represents to me the woman I strive to become. She has her hands behind her hair, because she's sexy and she knows it. She has a big arse because well....let's just say that aspect of the stereotypical latina does ring true.
So mother's day. I posted a poem on my status on facebook yesterday that pretty much sums it up:

For those of you with a shitty past
I honor you
to those of us for whom mother's day brings up issues
I bless you
For those of us who remember the tears on mother's day
and the lack of embraces
or kind words
or even basic nurturing
I honor you
I bless you
let us birth ourselves
into the mothers
wives
and friends
that our own never taught us to be
-----------

My own mother never gave me kisses or hugs or anything, unless they were in front of someone she knew, or she was trying to manipulate me in some way.
I wrote this poem because mother's day is just so challenging for me. It's hard to be happy on mother's day when all you can think about is that this person once called you names, beat you and threatened your life several times.
For those of us who have shitty mothers, or mothers that frankly should have put us up for adoption with someone who actually had a brain, I say, let us birth ourselves.
Become that nude woman in my journal, who's ready to reinvent herself. No one is degrading her or forcing her to do something she would never want to do.
She loves herself. LOVE.
This is what motherhood taught me. I learned what it was to truly love when I became a mother. I will always be grateful to my darling daughter Dakota for making me a mother, and teaching me what love is. She is so beautiful and so amazing.
I never felt more love and more purity than when I held my daughter.
It was almost surreal, almost...hard to believe that this tiny person was mine.
Mother's day. I try to focus on the positives in it, and not the negatives. I shall birth myself into the person I want to be, into the mother and wife I deserve to be.