The Dirty Brush

Wow, Awe and Much More!

2014-03-26T11:48:00.002-07:00

Wow. March is ending and it was a pretty exiting month for me and my art; and I'm still waiting for someone to pinch me!

First, on March 8th, I had the honor to participate and attend to the inauguration of the 2014 10TH. WOMEN INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION at the Latino Art Museum. Even though it was my second time participating in this event, I feel very humble and honored to have shared for almost a month such special place with so many special and talented female artist. I'm so grateful to the director of the museum, Graciela Nardi, for allowing me to hang up my art on the walls of her museum. I know that there are so many gifted women artist out there, so I don't take this invitation for granted. On the contrary, I'm humble by her welcoming. And on top of this, I even sold my art journals!

Then, at the end of the month, I received the printed edition of the Spring 2014 Haute Handbag Magazine featuring six pages of my Newspaper Bag Collection! I'm beyond thrilled. Again, there are so many talented female artist that I feel nothing but grateful and honored. Thank you so much Haute Handbags!!

When I embarked on the task of perfecting my amateur art five years ago, I never ambition this. I just wanted to heal myself by only way I knew how: by making art. Art saves me. It rescues me from the everyday noise, and it helps to connect with myself in depths that most of the time I don't expect. Art has taught me about courage, authenticity, and vulnerability. And with that courage, one day I decided to take a leap of faith and put myself and my art out there. I started by creating this blog and submitting my art to magazines and at the Latino Art Museum. I am still astonished by the results. And now, who knows where my future as an artist is going, but how boring it would be if we knew in advance our destiny. There would be no room for courage and vulnerability....Cheers to uncertainty!

Thank you to all those who believed in my art and found it worthy enough to featured it on their prestigious venues and to buy it!

Feeling grateful.

Latino Art Museum March 8th, 2014
Photo by Pablo Unzueta

2014 Spring issue, Haute Handbag Magazine

Haute Handbag Magazine Spring 2014 It's Here!

2014-03-26T10:46:00.001-07:00

Wow! I'm so exited and honored that my Newspaper Bag Collection is featured with six pages in the 2014 Spring issue of the Haute Handbag Magazine! I'm so thrill and grateful for this opportunity; and to be featured among so many talented artist, it is a real honor.

This collection is very close to my heat. It features fabrics printed with newspaper themes, from the comic, to the add section; and there's even a foreign newspaper! I was inspired to design this collection as pure melancholy. I am fully aware of the advantages of the new technology in relationship with the news, and also to the environment. However, there was something special about siting at the table during Sunday mornings and browse through the newspaper pages, especially because it was an activity that I have shared with my mother and father at different times in my life. So this collection is about remembering old times: me, the newspaper, and my parents.

Thank you so much to the editor and to everyone who was involved in the selection of my Newspaper Bag Collection at the Haute Handbag Magazine. The fact that you appreciated my designs as much as I do, it nothing but amazing!!

Felling grateful.

Get your copy HERE!

Saving Unwanted Journals

2014-03-19T15:29:00.000-07:00

I was so exited making these journals. I love to intervene old pictures with unique punky girls, but most of all, I was so happy to work with unwanted journals. As a nature lover, I was horrified to learn how much paper we waste. This means that the average American uses 7 trees a year, and to produce a ton of paper is required 17 trees, 7,000 gallons of water and high cost energy. For that reason, I embarked on the task of saving old and clearance notebooks in order to transform them into beautiful and one of a kind journals...

Reuse, Recycle, Reduce!

by monailtd.

Clear the Noise

2014-03-11T17:12:00.001-07:00

There is so much noise form people that sometimes I can't even hear my own thoughts.

How to clear the noise? Some choose meditation, others prayers... I'm choosing Frida and arts books.

The Whale's Message

2014-03-02T16:13:00.001-08:00

"The plastic bag is seen as the emblematic symbol of the waste culture for its single use, the demonstration of waste and abusive and unnecessary consumption."

elblogalternativo.com

For the last few years, every time a whale dies, leaves the same message: a stomach full of plastic trash!

Plastic bags are a real danger to the environment, that's the truth. Each year, we use between 500 billion and 1 trillion plastic bags, but only less than 1% are recycled, and it is more expensive to recycle a plastic bag than to create a new one. What's worse is that most plastic bags end up in the sea, where more than 200 different marine species, including birds, dolphins and turtles mistake plastic bags for jellyfish and eat food and, resulting in the death of thousands of animals, mainly by suffocation. Besides plastic bags that are not eaten, is broken down into the ocean releasing polymer (petroleum product) and other toxic chemicals, threatening the ocean floor, water and marine life.

If you replace a plastic bag for a reusable bag, you can save up to 6 plastic bags per week, 24 plastic bags a month, 288 bags a year and 22,176 bags in a lifetime!.Reusable bags can make a huge difference.

You can make reusable bags from old T-shirts.

Have you heard about the Plastic Island? Watch this video!

Here is a good article to learn more.

Reduce, reuse, recycle!

Write it!

2013-10-31T13:36:00.003-07:00

"Writing is a form of therapy; sometimes I wonder how all those who do not write, compose or paint can manage to escape the madness, melancholia, the panic and fear which is inherent in a human situation."

Graham Greene

Writing, writing, writing, writing... it has been in my mind for months, but about what? Last month during my trip to Mexico, I found my inspiration at the Museum of Archeology's book fair. Intuitively, I drifted to the DEMAC booth. There, I found and I bought too many books! Among them, a book, workshop style, about reconnecting with your inner writer, as a mean of self-discovery and he courage of writing our stories. Yes, courage. The courage to say it, at least on paper.

This book-workshop got me thinking. As long as I can remember I have loved journals. I have a stock of journals filled with amateur poems, stories, and drawings. I bled my heart out many times into those pages. I can't exactly remember when I actually stop writing on my journals. But, one thing is for sure, I still love journals; and I love to make them and give them away. This time, however, I will make a journal for myself. After all, I am still pretty much alive, and as long as I have inspiration and dreams, I will have something to say, even if no one reads it.

Click the link for more info about the book Secretos, Leyendas y Susurros

Monailtd

A Blu Life...

2013-07-27T16:58:00.001-07:00

"when I am feeling low

all I have to do is watch my cat and my courage returns.

I study these creatures.

they are my teachers."

Charles Bukowski, an extract from My Cats.

Thank you for allowing me to love you and take care of you as long as you needed it.

Blu, you were a good friend...

A Happy Moment!

2013-06-30T20:38:00.000-07:00

Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life.

Omar Khayyam

When was your last Happy Moment?

Breaking News: I Don't Have to Be Pretty and Neither Do You!

2013-06-24T14:35:00.000-07:00

"We gotta start teaching our daughters to be somebodies instead of somebody's"

Kifah Shah

Couple of weeks ago my son and I went to the mall to fix his iPod. After we left, he asked the stunning question: why is everything in the mall for women? Great question. Why do we need so many things? I think the most honest answer is that, we as women, want to be pretty. Maybe that's why Beyonce tried to ban her "unflattering" pictures from the Internet. Maybe that's why we tried to hide our "imperfections" with make up, loose clothes, the perfect jeans, the right hair cut, and so on. Maybe that's why some people think that women wearing the Hijaab are oppressed. I am going to be honest. Like most women, I had my "prettiness" struggle myself. It was during that process that I decided to stop wearing make up because I wanted to define my own concept of prettiness about myself. Well.... some days were better than others! I also asked friends about this topic. I asked them how they relate to their bodies and how they manage to feel pretty despite, the many changes that our bodies go through with age, pregnancies, surgeries, etc. But I was still in limbo until I read this. The light ball went on in my head. Being "pretty" these days not always involve being healthy and confident. I strongly believe that, we as women, are living during in critical moment in history. It is time for us decide what is most important, the size of our jeans or the ability to feel confident no matter the size of our butts. No one asks for men to be pretty, so why we have to work so hard for it? The answer is: We don't. We don't have to be pretty because we are not ornaments. Pretty is my curtain shower. Pretty is my purse. Pretty is the lamp on my desk. That's why I love the post by A Dress A Day so much because it made me realize that my goal was never to be pretty, but to be grateful and confident with the body I have.

"You don’t owe prettiness to anyone. Not to your boyfriend/spouse/partner, not to your co-workers, especially not to random men on the street. You don’t owe it to your mother, you don’t owe it to your children, you don’t owe it to civilization in general. Prettiness is not a rent you pay for occupying a space marked “female”."

By Erin from A Dress A Day

Love,
Monailtd.

Just a Thought...

2013-04-15T19:28:00.001-07:00

unconventional people are like a rush of fresh air during summer

*************

personas no convencionales son como una ráfaga de aire fresco durante el verano

Feet, Why Do I Want Them For If I Have Wings to Fly? Frida K.

2013-04-10T11:42:00.000-07:00

"Art is the only way to run away without leaving home."

Twyla Tharp

Some people say Art save us....It's true. Art saved me while I was unable to walk.

Not being able to physically move as usual is a debilitating feeling. But at the same time, it can be a gift and a bridge full of opportunities. It took me some time to let go of my anger and the need for controlling my circumstances. When I finally surrendered to my injure, I was able to welcome the kindness of my family trying to take of me. I was able to remember that I am only human, and being able to receive is as important as being able to give.

Some days are better than others, but I keep telling myself to embrace the moment and its opportunities. The truth is that nothing last forever, and sooner than later I will be once again hiking the hills I love.

Love,
Monailtd.

I have an itch.

2013-04-07T15:47:00.001-07:00

I have this loud and itching urged to live a creative life and help others to do the same...because art saves us.

Love,
Mónica

Cultural Appreciation, Not Appropriation.

2013-03-07T09:06:00.002-08:00

My mother taught me to appreciate indigenous cultures. In fact, together we took a trip to Mexico thirteen years ago, which was a turning point for my cultural identity. I have never been the same after that, and for a long time, I painted only indigenous themes.
Around two years ago, two of my friends came to visit. Since we all share the same appreciation for native art, naturally one of them asked about Native Americans. Unfortunately, at that time I knew little to nothing. But, that changed dramatically when I visited the Grand Canyon Plateau. That trip changed everything. I became mystified, obsessed, and amused by Native American history, culture, struggles, and of course, their art. Whenever I can, I don't miss an opportunity to buy a doll, art, jewelry, or a book. At the same time, for a while I have noticed that interest in Native American art and patterns have increased steadily with the general population. Stores are overflown with Native American fabric patterns and accessories imitations. Up to this point, all this may sound great for Native American artist and designers. That, until you read the label on the clothes or the accessories that your are buying. Most of the time it reads as follows: Made in China, which means made in a sweatshop and designed by a Non-Native American artist.

I think if you truly appreciate minorities' culture, from anywhere in the world, you understand that people's culture in not a trend. And, you also understand that buying a design directly from an artist or designer from that culture has a direct impact on his or her success. Further, buying directly from Native American artists bring equal opportunities, boost and empower their careers. Every time I buy something, I like to do my homework and be diligent. I like to know that my appreciation for their culture is materialized when I buy directly from the artist or a vendor host.

If you think like I do, check out Beyond Buckskin that host Native American artists and designers.
And if you wish to learn more about Native American appropriation, HERE is very good article.

Love,
Monica

This is not Love

2013-02-26T09:44:00.001-08:00

This is not Love

Rosita Beas Capollonch

Violence Against Women

Rape, Incest, Battery, Sex Slavery/Trafficking, and Female Genital Mutilation.

What I love the most about visual art is its ability to shock you with a truth. With just one image, your world can spin around and never be the same, never again. I think activism and visual arts play an important role in calling out our attention to those issues that the media and mainstream don’t. And this can’t be more accurate than when we talk about Violence Against Women. This truth is shocking, but it is also silence and secretive, unless you denounce it and transforms it in art.

Since I wrote about the secret that kills 4 women day, it seems that Violence Against Women has taken a center stage in the global issues arena. And with the last developments, I felt compelled to write about this again. But more than anything, I want to share how a very talented artist is beautifully and bravely expressing issues that involve women. And I do not say this because she is my cousin (yey!), but because I rarely see visual artists painting about this silent disease. Through different mediums, Rosita Beas give us an image of an afterwards reality that abused women do not show.

Watercolor and pencil

Violence Against Women is not a gender issue, it is a human rights issues. All of us at least have a mother, a sister, an aunt, a girlfriend, a fiancé, a cousin, a niece, or a wife. And with that in mind, consider that according to the United Nations, one of every three women on the planet will be physically or sexually abused in her life time. Now, would you care?

Watercolor and pencil

Embroider

Watercolor and pencil

Embroider and Patchwork.

Rosita Beas lives in Santiago, Chile. She uses a variety of mediums such patchwork, watercolors, serigraphy, quilts, mix media, and embroider.

See more of her amazing work here and at This is not Love

Note from the Artist.

My work is mainly in line with the practice of embroidery, patchwork, and watercolor. I have developed works that allude to women's world, using a medium of artistic expression traditionally considered feminine, and not art in the more orthodox and masculine art world, such as crafts, and sewing, which are formerly traditional female occupation. Thus, denouncing the roles that have been assimilated into this universe over time. The selected images are taken from the daily life of Western women, such as objects, fetishes, and ideas that man assign to woman, mixed with images constructed from "brocades" with battered women's faces, images that most stories of girls imitate as a "possible" in his life, etc. All these are themes in my work, which refer to a "personal" world as a way to create from my own experiences and a desire to represent contemporary women, but rather to speak from my life and my view of concepts as recurring throughout the history of art, as "love - indifference", almost a form of therapy.

Silent Stories or Cuentos Silenciosos

2013-02-18T19:04:00.001-08:00

Last week a friend of mine email me a YouTube video. It was about this beautiful pop-up illustration book by Benjamin Lacombe, Silent Stories or Cuentos Silenciosos. I was deeply amazed by the beauty of his illustrations; and once you learn more about him, you realized that his work cross all ages and art medium preferences.

To see more of Benjamin Lacombe's illustration portfolio click here

Para para saber más sobre Benjamin Lacombe vista su página en español los cuentos de bastian

From not so great to.... Hopefully Good?

2013-01-25T11:57:00.001-08:00

Like everything in life, if you don't practice, you don't get better... that is my case with drawing. I made a commitment to myself. I am hanging up the sewing machine for a while, and dedicating myself to make art and to at least one drawing every other day... I'll check back in a couple of months and see if I have improved....

Yo Soy La Tercera Ola.

2012-12-05T15:12:00.000-08:00

Últimamente, me da la impresión que me encuentro reiteradamente y por diferentes medios con el debate acerca de la mujer y su posibilidad de "tenerlo todo". En esta discusión el "tenerlo todo" implica tener un trabajo de ensueño, una familia maravillosa, buena situación económica, etc. y las preguntas que surgen al alero de este debate no vienen a raíz de la desigualdad de género, sino más bien desde el hecho que algunas mujeres han optado por una vida fuera del circuito laboral, dejando su "trabajo de ensuenos" para criar a sus hijos. Independientemente de las respuestas, debo admitir que estoy hasta la coronilla con este debate feminista-existencialista- burges. ¿Además, no es esto de "tenerlo todo" más que una simple generalización de nuestros sueños y aspiraciones?, más aún, ¿el "tenerlo todo" significa lo mismo para todas?. Personalmente, no conozco ninguna mujer que no tenga una lucha de alguna manera u otra, ya sea emocional, economica, y/o cultural, etc... Bueno, ecepto obviamente por La Cenicienta y la Bella Durmiente.

Creo que este tipo de discusión no tiene sentido teniendo en cuenta que hay tantos desafíos que las mujeres enfrentamos en estos tiempos. Por ejemplo, en los EE.UU. existen graves problemas de violencia contra las mujeres, de pobreza, de discriminación de precios al consumidor, y de falta de igualdad de oportunidades laborales y salariales, especialmente en ciertas empresas, como Walmart. A nivel mundial, las mujeres enfrentan problemas aún más difíciles, tales como geneocidio, tráfico de mujeres, explotación sexual de menores, represión, y en algunos países mutilación genital. Sin lugar a dudas, creo que este tipo de temas son mucho más importantes que juzgar las decisiones de mujeres que tienen la oportunidad y los medios de optar por quedarse en casa y criar a sus hijos. Por desgracia, algunas mujeres siguen con una mentalidad de los 60, pensando que esta cuestión es relevante en al realidad mundial que vivimos... Semanas atrás, intentaron matar una joven paquistaní de 14 años por hablar acerca de su derecho a la educación y la libertad de expresión... El punto crucial es que estamos perdiendo tiempo discutiendo sobre temas feministas-burguses, cuando en realidad los verdaderos problemas están siendo ignorados y silenciados, lo que sin duda afecta las posibilidades reales que las mujeres tienen de desarrollarse como miembros activos y relevantes de la sociedad.

Me gustaría que las feministas que nos representan en el espacio público fomentaran la atención sobre aquellos temas que benefician a todas las mujeres, en temas que nos unen, no los que nos dividen. Cuestiones como la pobreza, oportunidades de empleo, igualdad de remuneración, derechos reproductivos, discriminación de precios basado en el género, acceso a la salud y educación, capacitación técnica o laboral, y prevención y protección en violencia domestica.

El feminismo ha logrado grandes logros para las mujeres. Grandes ganancias que a veces damos por sentado. Per esto, respeto y valoro a aquellas mujeres que lucharon para que podamos votar, obtener una educación y hacer con nuestra vida y cuerpo lo que queramos. Sin embargo, no todas tenemos esta misma fortuna: por ejemplo, algo tan básico para algunas de nosotras como conducir, es un priovilegio que recién a algunas mujeres les fue permitido.
Así que recordemos siempre: todas "somos la tercera ola ", lo que siginifica comprender y asimilar que "las mujeres somos de muchos colores, etnias, nacionalidades, religiones y culturas".

Algunos Datos:

1. Las mujeres realizan el 66% del trabajo del mundo, pero reciben sólo el 11% de los ingresos mundiales y poseen sólo el 1% de las tierras del mundo.

2. Las mujeres representan el 66% de los adultos analfabetos del mundo.

3. Las mujeres representan el 55% de los estudiantes universitarios, pero incluso cuando las mujeres tienen igualdad de educación, esto no se traduce en igualdad de oportunidades económicas o de poder político o de igualdad de remuneración.

4. Dos tercios de los niños del mundo que reciben menos de cuatro años de educación son niñas. Las niñas representan casi el 60% de los niños no escolarizados.

5. Los padres en países como China y la India, a veces utilizan pruebas para determinar el sexo del bebe, y asi saber si su feto es una niña. De 8.000 fetos abortados en una clínica de Bombay, 7.999 eran mujeres. Esto se llama Generocidio.

6. Las guerras civiles de hoy son en su mayoria guerras civiles, las acciones guerrilleras y los conflictos étnicos sobre el territorio o el gobierno. 3 de cada 4 muertes de la guerra son mujeres y niños.

7. La violación es conscientemente utilizada como una herramienta de genocidio y arma de guerra. Decenas de miles de mujeres y niñas han sido víctimas de violaciones y otros abusos sexuales desde que estalló la crisis en Darfur en 2003. No hay evidencia de que nadie ha sido condenado en Darfur por estas atrocidades.

8. Alrededor del 75% de los refugiados y desplazados internos en el mundo son mujeres que han perdido a sus familias y sus hogares.

9. La violencia de género mata a una de cada tres mujeres en todo el mundo y es la mayor causa de lesiones y muerte de mujeres en todo el mundo, provocando más muertes y discapacidad entre las mujeres de entre 15 y 44 años que el cáncer, la malaria, los accidentes de tráfico y la guerra.

10. En los Estados Unidos, un tercio de las mujeres asesinadas cada año son asesinadas por sus parejas íntimas.

11. En Sudáfrica, una mujer es asesinada cada 6 horas por un compañero íntimo.

12. En Guatemala, dos mujeres son asesinadas en promedio cada día.

13. Las mujeres y las niñas constituyen el 80 por ciento de los cerca de 800.000 personas traficadas cada año, con la mayoría (79 por ciento) trata con fines de explotación sexual.

14. Aproximadamente entre 100 y 140 millones de niñas y mujeres en el mundo han sufrido la mutilación / ablación genital, con más de 3 millones de niñas en África cada año en situación de riesgo de la práctica.

14. En Sao Paulo, Brasil, una mujer es asaltada cada 15 segundos.

15. La violencia doméstica cuesta aproximadamente a EE.UU. $ 1,16 mil millones en Canadá y los EE.UU. $ 5.8 billones en los Estados Unidos. En Australia, la violencia contra las mujeres y los niños tiene un costo estimado de EE.UU. $ 11,38 mil millones por año.

16. En los Estados Unidos, el 83 por ciento de las niñas entre 12 y 16 sufrieron alguna forma de acoso sexual en las escuelas públicas.

17. En los USA 4 mujeres mueren cada día como resultado de violencia doméstica o por su pareja o ex pareja.

* Mis agradecimientos a Carolina de la Maza por la edición de esta nota.

Fuentes:
dosomething.org
Tercera Ola del Feminismo

I Am the Third Wave!

2012-11-19T22:49:00.001-08:00

Lately, I seem to run into this debate about whether a woman can or cannot have it all, which involves a dream job, family, social status, money, etc… Independently of your answer, I must admit, I am up to my neck with this bourgeoisie existentialist feminist discussion. Further, isn’t that such a big statement to be generalized to all of us women? And what does it mean “to have it all” in the first place? Money, a job, kids, a husband? I mean, who has a dream life besides Cinderella and Prince charming? Personally, I can't think of any woman that I know, who doesn't have a struggle one way or another. We shouldn’t have to feel bad or apologize for dropping out a career to stay home with our kids or for leaving our kids at home to fulfill a calling. I think this type of discussion is pointless considering that are so many concrete issues that women face these days. Here in the USA, we have serious issues with violence against women and poverty, we still earn less than men, and we still face consumer price discrimination, just to name a few. Globally, women face even tougher issues such as gendercide, human trafficking, repression, and in some places genital mutilation. These are the kind of issues that feminists should be discussing in the public arena! But instead, we are still trying to figure out whether is good or bad to stay at home and raise children. What is this, the 60's?

At the end, no matter what feminists think, we are going to make our own decisions based on our own needs, possibilities, and aspirations, hopefully without guilt. But the crucial point is that we are missing valuable time debating about bourgeoisie upper class issues, when in fact the real issues are being overlooked and going unaddressed one more day, and the only way for women to achieve true opportunities in society is to address these issues. Do we really want to have this debate with the woman who works the night shift at the market or the teacher? Weeks ago, a 14 year old Pakistani girl was gun down for speaking up about her right to education and freedom of speech.
I would like the feminists who represent us in the public arena to bring attention to issues that matter to all women, issues that unite us, not divide us; issues like poverty, jobs opportunities for stay home moms who want to return to the labor force, empowerment for women to start a business, equal pay, reproductive rights, unfair gender pricing, affordable child and health care, cancer and other disease prevention resources, violence prevention, sexual harassment and violence against women.

Feminism has accomplished tremendous achievements for women. Great gains that sometimes we take for granted, but I do keep in my heart, respect, and value those women who fought very hard so I can vote, get an education, and do with my life and body whatever I choose to do.
So let’s always remember: We Are the Third Wave, "which is the realization that women are of many colors, ethnicities, nationalities, religions, and cultural backgrounds"

Some facts about women:

1. Women perform 66% of the world’s work, but receive only 11% of the world’s income, and own only 1% of the world’s land.

2. Women make up 66% of the world’s illiterate adults.

3. Women account for 55% of all college students, but even when women have equal years of education it does not translate into economic opportunities or political power or equal pay.

4. Two-thirds of the world’s children who receive less than four years of education are girls. Girls represent nearly 60% of the children not in school.

5. Parents in countries such as China and India sometimes use sex determination tests to find out if their fetus is a girl. Of 8,000 fetuses aborted at a Bombay clinic, 7,999 were female.

6. Wars today affect civilians most, since they are civil wars, guerrilla actions and ethnic disputes over territory or government. 3 out of 4 fatalities of war are women and children.

7. Rape is consciously used as a tool of genocide and weapon of war. Tens of thousands of women and girls have been subjected to rape and other sexual violence since the crisis erupted in Darfur in 2003. There is no evidence of anyone being convicted in Darfur for these atrocities.

8. About 75% of the refugees and internally displaced in the world are women who have lost their families and their homes.

9. Gender-based violence kills one in three women across the world and is the biggest cause of injury and death to women worldwide, causing more deaths and disability among women aged 15 to 44 than cancer, malaria, traffic accident, and war.

10. In the United States, one-third of women murdered each year are killed by intimate partners.

11. In South Africa, a woman is killed every 6 hours by an intimate partner.

12. In Guatemala, two women are murdered, on average, each day.

13. Women and girls comprise 80 percent of the estimated 800,000 people trafficked annually , with the majority (79 percent) trafficked for sexual exploitation.

14. Approximately 100 to 140 million girls and women in the world have experienced female genital mutilation/cutting, with more than 3 million girls in Africa annually at risk of the practice.

14. In Sao Paulo, Brazil, a woman is assaulted every 15 seconds.

15. Domestic violence alone cost approximately US$1.16 billion in Canada and US$5.8 billion in the United States. In Australia, violence against women and children costs an estimated US$11.38 billion per year.

16. In the United States, 83 per cent of girls aged 12 to 16 experienced some form of sexual harassment in public schools.

17. In the USA 4 Women a day die as a result o domestic violence by an ex or current partner.

18. Every two minutes someone in the USA is sexually assaulted.

Resources:
About the Third Wave
Third Wave Feminism
Glamour: Tell Somebody
Say No to Violence
Huffington Post: Women and Poverty in the United States
Facts About Women Around the World

UPDATE: El Símbolo Emblemático de la Cultura Desechable.

2012-11-18T20:38:00.000-08:00

“La bolsa de plástico está considerada como el símbolo emblemático de la cultura de un solo uso, del derroche y la demostración de un consumo abusivo e innecesario."

elblogalternativo.com

UPDATE: "El mensaje que nos dejó una ballena gris"

El pasado 29 de julio de este año, una ballena gris llego a la orilla de una playa en el norte de los Países Bajos en Europa. Apesar del intento por rescatarla, la ballena murió.
La necropsia de la joven ballena mostró que su estómago estaba lleno de plástico, que lamentablemente es ya un fenómeno común y en aumento. En marzo, también de este año, una ballena de 10 metros de largo fue encontrada en la costa sur de España. Esta ballena se tragó 59 diferentes artículos de plástico por un total de más de 16.7 kilos. La mayor parte de este plástico consistía en láminas transparentes utilizados para construir invernaderos en Almería y Granada con el propósito de distribuir tomates para el mercado europeo. El resto eran bolsas de plástico, nueve metros de cuerda, dos tramos de manguera, dos pequeñas macetas de flores, y un bote de spray de plástico. La causa de muerte fue obstrucción intestinal.

Plástico! cuánto mas plastico necesitamos? Una cosa es segura, el Océano Pacífico no necesita mas plástico! Entre California y Japón existe un isla de basura: 3.5 millones de toneladas de hasta 27.432 metros de profundidad, de la cual el 90% de la basura flotante es Plástico.
fuente: Gray Whale Dies

Actos tan simples como usar botellas de agua reusable y sustituir bolsas de plástico desechables por bolsas reusables, pueden hacer una gran diferencia si desarrollamos esta conciencia colectiva. Hay un dicho de los pueblos originarios de Estados Unidos que dice "pedimos prestada la tierra en que vivimos a nuestros hijos"... la pregunta es, qué tipo de mundo le queremos devolver a nuestros hijos?

El siguiente video es un reportaje de investigación del programa Chileno Informe Especial. Este reportaje fue galardonado con el Premio Periodismo Sustentable PE.SU 2013, organizado por Entel y la Universidad Católica de Milán.

La próxima vez di NO a la bolsa y botella de Plastico!

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Hace unos meses fui a Chile! Allí pasé un tiempo increíble con toda la gente que amo. También tuve la oportunidad de experimentar cómo ha cambiado mi país, y vi cosas que me hicieron feliz y otras que no tanto. Una de las cosas que llamo mi atención, aparte del contraste extremo entre las clases sociales (el rico está más rico y el pobre más pobre), fue el hecho de que vi muy poca gente usar botellas y bolsas reutilizables. Sé que las cuestiones ambientales pueden verse un tanto banales cuando hablamos también de la pobreza, pero creo que para aquellos que tienen los medios, adoptar una postura en temas sociales es tan importante como adoptarla en temas ambientales.

Científicos descubren una ballena muerta y
realizan una autopsia para determinar la causa de muerte.
Dentro del estómago de la ballena, inusualmente hinchado,
encuentran 100 bolsas de plástico.
Mykonos Island, Greece in 2006

Las bolsas de plástico son un verdadero peligro para el medio ambiente; esa es la pura verdad. Cada año, se utilizan entre 500 mil millones y 1 billón de bolsas de plástico, pero sólo menos del 1% son recicladas: claro, es más costoso reciclar una bolsa de plástico que crear una nueva. Lo peor es que la mayoría de las bolsas de plástico acaban en el mar, donde más de 200 diferentes especies marinas, incluyendo aves, delfines y tortugas confunden las bolsas de plástico con medusas o alimentos y las comen, lo que resulta en la muerte de miles de animales, principalmente por asfixia. Además las bolsas de plástico que no son comidas, se descomponer en el océano soltando petro polímero (producto derivado del petróleo) y otros productos químicos tóxicos, amenazando el suelo del océano, el agua y la vida marina.
Hay países que llevan la delantera, como China, Bangladesh e Irlanda, que han prohibido las bolsas de plástico gratuitas. Con esta medida, China ahorra 37 millones de barriles de petróleo por año al haber prohibido las bolsas de plástico.

Los países que han o están en proceso de prohibir las bolsas de plástico son:

1. Ruanda
2. Israel
3. Canadá
4. West India
5. Botswana
6. Tanzania
7. Sudáfrica
8. Taiwán
9. Singapur
10. San Francisco, EE.UU.

Si sustituyes una bolsa de plástico por una bolsa reutilizable, puedes ahorrar hasta 6 bolsas de plástico por semana, 24 bolsas de plástico al mes, 288 bolsas al año y ¡22.176 bolsas en toda la vida!.

Esta es una idea para hacer tus propias bolsas reutilizables con poleras viejas!

Hice estas bolsas reutilizables a partir de dos poleras viejas.
Sólo coser la parte inferior y eso es todo!
También puede lavarlas regularmente!

Referencias: Taringa.net
Las bolsas plasticas son uno de los peores contaminantes.
Las islas de bolsas de plastico
Dia internacional libre de bolsas de plastico
Bolsas de plastico contaminan Peru y el mundo

Only For Girlfriends.

2012-10-05T19:18:00.000-07:00

The other day, while searching for books in iTunes, I stumbled into the book "Lots Candles, Plenty of Cake". It had plenty of interesting thoughts, but this paragraph really caught my attention:

"Ask any women how she makes it through the day, and she may mention her calendar, her to do list, her babysitter. But if you push her on how she really makes it through her day, she will mention her girlfriends."

That is so true! My girlfriends are so important in my life, and not only during the bad days, but everyday. They enrich my spirit with their love and kindness. My heart is bigger because of them...

Cheers for our Girlfriends!

Solo Para Amigas

2012-10-04T15:21:00.000-07:00

El otro día buscando en iTunes encontré un libro llamado "Lots Candles, Plenty of Cake" (Un montón de velas, un montón de pastel). Cuando leí la descripción, encontré entre otras cosas, esto:

"Preguntale a cualquier mujer que le ayuda a sobrellevar el día, y ella puede hablar de su calendario, la lista de tareas, su niñera. Pero si la presionas para que te diga qué es lo que realmente le ayuda a sobrellevar su día, va a mencionar a sus amigas."

Absolutamente cierto! Mis amigas no sólo me ayudan a sobrellevar los días difíciles, sino que también enriquecen mi espíritu. No seria la misma sin ellas....

Salud por nuestras Amigas!

Un Millon De Gracias!

2012-09-30T17:15:00.000-07:00

Me siento tan agradecida!

Todavía me cuesta asimilar que soy parte de la revista Haute Handbags Otoño 2012. Cuando recibí mi copia de cortesía el otro día por correo, me sentí como una niña abriendo su regalo de cumpleaños. En esta edición, como en las anteriores, hay diseños muy originales de artistas muy talentosas, por lo que es un verdadero honor ver dos de mis creaciones entre ellos.

Todo lo que puedo decir es GRACIAS a la revista Haute Handbags, su editora Beth Livesay, y todos los involucrados en el proceso de selección.

A Big Thank You!

2012-09-26T20:37:00.000-07:00

I am so grateful!

I cannot believe that I am part of the Haute Handbags Magazine Autumn 2012 edition. When the courtesy issue arrived the other day, I felt like a little girl opening her favorite candy. As I went through the pages and I glanced at so many beautiful designs by very talented artists, it felt surreal to see two of my bags among them.

All I have to say it is THANK YOU to Haute Handbag Magazine, its editor Beth Livesay, and to everyone involved.

AMO EL PUNK!

2012-09-20T15:14:00.000-07:00

Una de las primeras cosas que mi mamá me trajo de EE.UU. fue el cassette de los Sex Pistols Never Mind the BOLLOKS Aquí Están Los Sex Pistols. El año pasado tuve la oportunidad volver a mis origenes Punk, y no mucho después de eso, diseñe esta coleccion de Bolsas AMO EL PUNK! Estas bolsas son totalmente pintadas a mano, y unque fueron bastante trabajo, fue un placer pintar estas mujeres. Y si el Punk es una mera actitud, entonces estas bolsas tienen su propia personalidad, al igual que mi autorretrato que apareció en la revista Cloth Paper Scissors. Estoy muy orgullosa de esta colección y de todo el trabajo que he puesto en ella. La colección completa está disponible en la tienda que comparto con mi querida amiga en The Collective Stitch (La puntada Colectiva).

AMO EL PUNK! porque la imagen de la mujer como mero objeto sexual me es intolerable.

AMO EL PUNK! porque creo fervientemente en el questionamiento.

AMO EL PUNK! porque es más que un estilo de música o moda.

PUNK es una actitud de individualidad y e inquietud en un mundo donde la globalización, generalización y conformismo es la tendencia.

I LOVE PUNK!

2012-09-18T12:21:00.000-07:00

One of the very first things that my mom brought me from U.S.A were the Sex Pistols' cassette NEVER MIND THE BOLLOKS HERE IS THE SEX PISTOLS, but I only realized their tremendous value until recently. Last year, I had the opportunity to come full circle in my life and revisit my all time Punk favorites. Not long after that, I was inspired to create a raw I LOVE PUNK! Bags and Totes collection. These completely hand painted bags were a great deal of work, but also a lot of fun. If Punk is an attitude, then these bags have an attitude, just like my self-portrait from the Cloth Paper Scissors Contest. I am very proud of this collection and all the work I put into it. You can find the complete collection at the shop I share with my dear friend The Collective Stitch.

I LOVE PUNK! becuase the image of women as mere sexy object bothers me.

I LOVE PUNK! because I do not like to be told what to do.

I LOVE PUNK! because it is more than music or a fashion statement.

PUNK is an attitude of individuality and restlessness in a world where globalization, generalization, and conformism is the trend.