9.23.2010

I'm an ARTIST

If you keep a journal, and then go bakk and read it, do you ever find yourself agreeing with yourself and find that 10 years later, everything is different, but you haven't changed so much? I did some of that today. It reminds me that I'm exactly as I should be. That I've been working hard at who I am and I'm doing a good job of....becoming. So when my soror shared her favorite SYM quote on my facebook wall, I couldn't do anything but laugh and think to myself, "yep, that's me."

"i hate when people ask me what i do and i say i'm an artist. they be like, 'you rap or sing?' and i'm like no. an ARTIST. you know, like for real? with paint? and a brush? just because i'm a cute female in Atlanta doesn't mean I aspire to be in the music industry. i'm just sayin..."

 

I think I said this on twitter...don't judge the grammar and stuff.

9.22.2010

SOLD: My first painting

I sold one! Yay! It's only been like two weeks or so since I mentioned that I'd need to do that to mark something off my list. Well, the list is far away, but when I get up, I'm definitely scratching that part off!

 "Blakk Boudoir" 16x20 Acrylic on canvas board. SOLD

I've got more news, but it has to wait until another day. I'm spreading these out. Trying to stay consistent.

9.19.2010

FINALLY: Georgetown Cupcake

I'm in the DMV visiting the most loved ones and although I've been here many times before, I've never been in the vicinity of these much discussed cupcakes. Well, this time I had my chance. With the help of google, I found that I was only a few blocks away. So I did it. I walked to Georgetown Cupcake. I joined the throngs of individuals who have been delighted by the deliciousness of these fluffily iced cupcakes. I am happy...AND inspired! I know right?! How could a cupcake inspire SYM1?



I was determined. For the love of cupcakes. And God was with me, because every time I've heard about these cupcakes, I've also heard about the line. Not on this day. The entire line was condensed to the inside of the small store. WIN! I didn't know how long it would be before I could get back to this shop, and couldn't bear the idea that I would LOVE the cupcakes and not feel like walking back, so naturally, I decided to get a half dozen. I've got one left...and I'm like "shoulda made it 12." I chose two red velvet, one lemon, one double chocolate, one double vanilla, and one caramel apple.

As I walked along the street back to my hotel, I smiled at all the people with matching bags, and little pink boxes. I met a girl while eating lunch at Uno's who also had a matching bag. It was her first time too. We talked about how long it had been since we were trying to get these cupcakes and how delicious (some) our friends had said they were. Anticipation. Somehow, there were also people who expressed, without any guilt that I had wasted my money. That I had spent too much on a cupcake that was sub par. Dream killers.



Well I made it back to my hotel. I sat down. Struggled to get the box out of the bag. When I did the cupcakes had fallen all over each other. It ruined the picture, so I didn't take one, BUT I did have fun cleaning up the edges while tasting the icing. I tried the red velvet first. It was yummy. I had no idea you could make cream cheese into such a fluffy icing. However, I had tasted better. Red velvet is so tricky. BUT it's the second best red velvet cupcake I had ever had. WIN! After I was done  with the cupcake, I flipped it over to throw away the wrapper, and guess what it was? Custom cupcake wrappers! Yes! Made my cupcake experience.


I immediately thought about branding. About how it was the little things that make a product special. Different. I thought about what else I could do, what little touches could I bring to SYM1 to make it MORE than just an awesome t-shirt (or something) with my name on it. Naturally, I'm still thinking about it. You know me. But I ate another cupcake today and said, as I flipped it over, "this is awesome. I didn't even know you could get custom cupcake wrappers."

And, here's the verdict. The red velvet was good, but Piece of Cake bakery in Atlanta is still THE BEST. It took THREE sittings to finish the double chocolate. It was so...CHOCOLATY. I think some ice cream would have made it go down easier. Or a tall glass of milk. I ate the double vanilla today. It was GREAT. But the most creative and best one to me was the caramel apple. It was SO GOOD!!! Awesomeness. I wish I had gotten two of those. I'm eating the lemon one after dinner. I'll keep you posted. I will say, the cupcakes are $2.75 each (but only $2.50 each w/ a half dozen) and I've spent $2.50 on cupcakes I would NEVER buy again. So, nope, they aren't overrated...or over priced. They're just good cupcakes that I wouldn't wait in a line 3 blocks over for, but I would buy by the dozen. lol.

9.13.2010

Another Goal: ACCOMPLISHED

I'm on a roll!

I'm sure I've mentioned that I have this issue where I like everything to be "right" before I share it, but I've often found that it keeps me from doing LOTS of things. Missed opportunity is definitely an outcome of delay. My bad.

So one of my goals for the year was to start my online store. I've been waiting to do it until I get it designed and stuff, however recent circumstances required that I didn't wait any longer. I wanted to do a raffle to clear out some of my old Greek inventory. I didn't want to worry about doing order forms and sending payment requests and answering questions. It's a raffle! It's supposed to be easy. The store at Big Cartel made that work for me. I was happy to oblige and it only took me about 20 minutes to set it up.

My SYM1 Did It Store is up and running. Effective and design. I'll do a Grand Opening event of sorts once I get it all spruced up. Until then, you can buy raffle tikkets for the packages below.



 

9.11.2010

Goal: ACCOMPLISHED

So, it's two weeks later. Consistency is a process. I'm working on it. I've got good news. Wanna hear? I know.

Some people have a "bukket list" I just have "my list." Thinking about the bukket is just too much. The list I can work with though. I've actually accomplished a few things on that list already. One of them being to sell a custom shirt I painted. It's about 1,500 shirts later, so I suppose that means that was a good thing to put on the list. Another thing is that I wanted to paint (and sell) a painting. Well, I'm so awesome, I painted two! Now, if I can just get the SELL part down we'll be good to go. This too is a process.


This is my first ever painting. I'm not too moved on the frame, which is fine, b/c I'm not selling it with the frame anyway, I just wanted it to look "finished" and I felt like it needed a frame. It made a big difference.


If you haven't noticed, I love koi. I love water. I love fish. Alive and on my dinner plate. I'm fat. Don't judge. Participate. So naturally, or really not so much, my next painting would be of koi. I have an idea for my next two. Just have to make them happen. You know I'm an idea in process. ALWAYS.