SYM1,000

I like this thing where I can stikk all kinds of numbers and phrases to my name. This one (1) is very useful.

Yesterday, I announced my 36$5 project, but guess what else I'm doing? I'm going to commit to completing 1,000 pieces in 2011. That's about double what I normally do. It's possible. I got this! Plus, I've got a third of them covered with the 365. Now, I'm not sure how this is going to work, but in my head, I think it'll be easier to count each piece than to give myself a daily quota. I tried that already.......didn't work. lol. So, that's 20 a week. When I type it like that it almost seems TOO easy. Well, wish me lukk guys, I'm goin in!

***I'm almost tempted to add an additional challenge and say I can't buy anymore paint until I run out. Things are looking umm...luscious in the paint room. I don't NEEEEEEED any paint. It's just that I have more colors than others. Like...13 bottles of blakk. *side-eyes self* I'll try to lay off the paint purchases for a little while. No promises though. I'm almost out of turquoise. I need that in my life.***

Happy New Year everybody! I wish you all many blessings in 2011 and PLEASE be safe tonight.

My 36$5 Project

I learned something new today...the hard way. lol.

I wrote a blog a while bakk about this girl who had to do some kind of artwork involving apples every day for the entire school year. I can't find it. I suppose that's why you're supposed to label these things. That always seemed like an additionally tedious event. Not so much anymore.

Well, I was going to link you to that particular post to tell you that I've found something to do EVERY day! Along with the rest of the world, it seems, I will be doing a 365 project! Yay me! I won't be drawing apples though. I'd be bored. I'm going to give myself LOTS of freedom. I, SYM1, will be painting a 5x7 EVERY SINGLE DAY for an entire year starting SYM1.1.11. Even better, no matter what it is, I'm going to sell it for $5. That's almost cheaper than a gallon of gas, so no excuses about why you can't purchase anything.

This doesn't seem like much, but I don't paint everyday. Some days I may paint 5 pieces, then not paint anything else the next day. Tragic, right? I think so. However, next year will be different. I am FORCING myself to do what I want to do. I'm seeking my artistic voice. I think I found it already, but since most of my work is based on what ya'll would prefer and not what I might intend for it to be, I could be wrong. Just to be sure, the plan is to paint until I'm sure I saw what I think I already see. If I paint 365 things and put them together and still don't see it...we'll have a problem. I'm also trying to create a habit or two. One being to post more. The other being painting everyday.

I'm telling you about it, so I can't bakk out of it. Snazzy lil trikk I taught myself. I may often be delayed, but I'm not a liar! This blog is my promise to us.

SYM1 Did It!!! for Christmas

Well, Christmas is over and as I stare at this tree thinking I could use two extra storage bins to put this stuff in, I can't help but think of what I'm going to add to it next year. We're two years in and our completely custom tree is nearly done. I say we have about 95% handmade items on it. I'm incredibly proud of us.

 We started last year with these sequined and ribbon covered ornaments.

I managed to get a few glittered ones in as well.

This year we didn't do many bulbs, but I did manage to make a two leopard print glass ornaments and we made a paper chain to encircle the entire tree. (Card stokk is EXPENSIVE!!)

Peep my animal print paper!

I honestly don't know what will be next, but I want to add some BIG stuff. We're slowly spreading the handmade holiday decor around the house, so I'm sure there will be plenty to do. This year I made these ribbon covered cone trees.

Next year, I'll start by giving them toppers.

Oh well, I've got plenty of time to think about it. In the meantime, I'm not looking forward to putting all this stuff away.

POP Champagne: The Final Episode

Part One: Champagne bottle spontaneously explodes
Part Two: Service agent comes to retrieve broken bottle for investigation

Part Three: We received a big box from UPS. We open it and it's got a replacement bottle of Martini & Rossi. And guess what else? They wrapped it and included a note. With the name of a REAL person. How sweet.

I put it under the tree.

So, that was the not quite exciting conclusion to my story. A lesson in customer service. Can I really relate every life lesson or situation bakk to my business? Probably. Until next time...

POP Champagne: Secret Service

So, do you remember my spontaneously exploding champagne bottle? Well, we finally called the company to file our complaint. The have an entire customer service department and I'm honestly wondering WHAT, other than spontaneously exploding bottles, could people possibly be complaining about. The lady was nice. She took our information, apologized...then, do you know what she said? "We'll be sending someone out to collect the bottle. We'll do a thorough investigation and contact you once it's complete. Someone will call to arrange an appropriate time for pikk up."

SERIOUSLY?! Somebody FROM THEIR COMPANY (not UPS or FedEx) is going to come over and GET this BROKEN bottle from my house, then they are going to INVESTIGATE it?! GET......OUT! I don't even need to pakk it up!? My TV broke last month. Nobody came to pikk it up. Nobody cared to investigate what had happened, even though it's less than 1 year old. Matter of fact, (as of right now) I won't be getting compensated for their faulty product (it's a Sylvania, btw), I have to PAY to get it fixed, but someone is coming to PIKK UP this champagne bottle that probably cost a 10th, if not less, of this darned TV. SNAZZY! Darn Italians. lol.

Sure enough, yesterday afternoon, we received a call saying that they would come by to pikk up the broken bottle this morning. I wish I wasn't asleep, so I could tell you how they came in some super snazzy blacked out vehicle, or if the woman was in a suit, or if she came with one of those hard body briefcases to deposit the remains of the bottle. I'm certainly not asking mommy, because it may ruin the fantasy for me. Just know that she came, took our bottle, and left us with this:

This looked much more clear...my bad.

This is beyond cool to me. I felt like they really cared about what happened to us, and want to investigate, so it doesn't happen to anyone else. Exploding champagne bottles are dangerous! I may be wrong though. Maybe they just want to make sure we're not trying to get free champagne (which is EXACTLY what will happen). Although I doubt the latter is true, please support me in my optimisim! This is NIIICE! I'm glad it popped. I've never seen/experienced anything like this before. I'll keep you guys posted on the pending investigation.

FINALLY! All Seasons Have Hair

It's been two months, but I'm done! I think I'm happy with them all, for different reasons. Without further ado...

The Original: "Winter in My Hair"

 

I don't have much to say about this one, it's already been said. It's my favorite of the set. Maybe just because I did it first. You can chekk out the original blog here.

The final piece: "Spring in My Hair"

This one gave me a hard time. First, I hated it. I had a gray bakkground with BIG blue rain drops. UGH! Then, the champagne explosion created an additional issue. This one suffered the most damage. I had to take care of the champagne, then the rain. Finally, after maybe 3 coats of white, I decided to do pink flowers instead. Now, I think it's cute!

Number 2: "Summer in My Hair"

This one came pretty easy. I had an idea. I did it. No problems. Since I was inspired by the beach, maybe my connection to the water made it easy? Who knows. Sounds good. I'll take it.

Number 3: "Fall in My Hair"

This one has an alternate name...an alter identity >> "Lay in My Hair." That's what it made me think of when I said " Fall in My Hair" and since I'm in charge, my thoughts matter, so we'll roll with that. iWin! I originally thought this one was a little sparse, but this is what it looked like outside my window. Naked trees...and sky. That's it. I suppose the leaves in her hair are a memory of fall 3 weeks ago.

I feel accomplished! I wanted to do something. I did it. I like them. I'm happy. Now, who wants to buy Fall, Summer, or Spring?

Getting in the Spirit

I'm determined this year....to get in the spirit. I was even excited about decorating. It went by very fast though, so I need more projects. I got the tree and things up on Friday. Pretty much did the same thing as I did on last year's tree. We're adding some things to our custom tree. I'm adding things to the overall decor. I suppose I'll post it as I complete each project. Today, I just wanted to show off my wreaths. Chekk em out:

You get a wreath...no welcome mat. lol.

Coat Chekk

Apartment B

So, these weren't hard. I promise. Lots of Christmas pikks. Maybe about 10 each. I just stikk em in and wrap some of the sprigs around to keep it secure. Some of the little "berry" bunches are mini bulbs linked together with ornament hooks and tied on the same way as the pikks. Easy! Inexpensive. I got it all on sale. Trying to make the house look nice for the craft party. Everybody say ooooooh! I'll keep you posted on my progress.

POP Champagne

I've been absent. I haven't been working like I should have, because...there have been...obstacles in my way. I miss my paint and my paint room and my quiet time...ALONE. However, the season of giving is upon me and I have to pull it together to get things done in time for Christmas...and winter crossings.

Maybe two days before Thanksgiving I was working on the other 3 seasons in my hair. It was hard. I think I liked the first one too much. I'm not completely happy with them. I was/am annoyed. Thanksgiving eve, I pull my drop mat with the other 3 seasons in my hair over into the corner as not to offend our holiday guests with my mess. I go to bed.

I wake up thanksgiving morning to my mother SCREAMING my name at 7:57am like she was in a non-urgent emergency. That particular explanation would require an entirely unrelated post...soooo...anyway, she's like we need some help. Come downstairs. I'm like....what could you possibly need at before 8am. She explains to me what happened. You wanna see?

We bottle poppin?

A friend of mommy's decided to bring her a bottle of champagne for her birthday. We set it in the living room to show off, since we weren't prepared to drink it. Auntie and mommy are sitting watching TV...and BOOM! Champagne EVERYWHERE. Glass flying to the faraway corners of the room. Stuff jakked up. House smelling like bubbly. Champagne in the TV cabinet...on the chairs...on the walls...on the MARBLE table...the carpet...and in 3 whole seasons of my hair! So guess what's all stikky and needing to be done again? Mmmmmhm. And guess who has to do it? Mmmmhm. I guess it works that I wasn't all the way happy with them. Now I don't have to feel bad about repairing them. Or what might happen while I try to repair them.

Thank God I was in bed. If I had been painting in my usual spot...Thank God mommy and auntie are ok. That's my story. Has this happened to anyone else before?

New Painting: "Garden Variety Beauty"

I hadn't planned on blogging about this one, but I changed my mind, which is fine. As a XX being, I reserve the right to change my mind as often as is necessary to make any and every decision. It is frequently annoying. Today...not so much.

This painting came very differently for me. I had the intention of trying a realistic portrait for the first time, but that's as far as I got with the planning. I usually do a bakkground and then decide on the foreground. Lastly, I fill in details. I guess the color I choose for the bakkground inspires me as to what should come next. This time, I actually did a sketch. Then foreground. Then bakkground. I had NO IDEA where this painting was going when I began. It's nothing like I had intended it to be when I started or anything like the work I've done before. It was a very organic process. I enjoyed it. I don't think I could not be pleased with the outcome, because I had no preconceived notion of what I thought it should have been to compare it to once I was finished. It is exactly as it should be.

"Garden Variety Beauty" 16x20

Now, after I had completed the majority of the painting, I decided to incorporate some of the design techniques that I do on my shirts. I thought it would be a cool way to transition from one medium to another. I added the "scribble" around the outline of her face. The white portion is completely covered in tiny white dots. It feels like a football. (Does that make for compromise when decorating with the man in mind?) It worked out nice for this piece. I'm very happy with it. I think I'll try it again. 

TEXTURE!

So, what say you readers?

My Double K

In case you've been wondering about my double K, I started doing this around my freshman year in college. We all talked to each other via IM and it was kind of my signature way of spelling as an additional means to identify myself. I don't actually spell like this...on paper. If you find that I'm teetering bakk and forth between that and the traditional ck spelling, it's because I'm trying to be professional and spell correctly, but also trying to hold true to my SYM1 "signature" double K. I can spell, iPromise.

Process: The Dragon

I did it again. For your viewing pleasure...the Dragon. It's SO hard to remember to take these pictures, but I don't think I missed a step this time. Never mind, yes I did. I have no idea what made me want to do a dragon. I was already done with this, but I guess to culminate the experience I watched How to Train Your Dragon this morning. I was moved. I could have cried...if the timing was right. It wasn't. Speaking of time, I actually started timing myself for this piece. I failed to accurately trakk the entire thing, but it took me a pretty long time. It was fun...for like the first 3 hrs. Then it stopped. Here are the pics. What say you? 

 

 

Ok, now that they're all posted, I'm thinking you can't really see some of the details and changes from step to step, but you can see some of them. iTried. 

"They're letting you paint PEOPLE now?"

It's true! I'm pretty good too. Now, if I can match that up with pretty fast, I see this going places. I took the official sidekikk with me last night to Trikk or Treating at the North Georgia Premium Outlets. We posted up in the food court for 4 hrs and painted the faces of kids and a few mommies. Here are my last four creations. Cute friends, all dressed as the same baseball player...one of the girls' little brother.

Am I ready for birthday parties? Say YES!

For some reason, I'm getting into dressing up for Halloweeen again, but in my not so old age, I refuse to spend REAL money on costumes. Big investments on things you're only going to wear once don't move me, so I try to make what I have work. This year I spent $5. I bought a pair of orange wings at Dollar Tree and built my costume around that. I also bought a wand and tiara set and some BRIGHT make up that didn't work. Then I went over to Michael's and purchased some flowers for my hair, and some ribbon to decorate that awfully ugly wand. This was the final result.

Spring Fairy!

I'm not going to leave out the part where I also purchased the makings of a clown and a cowboy on these trips. I'll save them for another year along with my gavel and softball-esque accessories that I have yet to wear.

The sidekikk went as a ladybug. I painted her face in between customers. She mentioned not wanting to wash it off....not sure what she was going to save it for. Halloween isn't until tomorrow. lol.

Ok, so, who's baby is having a birthday? I've got lots of paint left and I'm ready to work! 

Art+Sole+Life 10.22.10

This night proved to be AWESOME! I had so much fun. Not like "sweat pants and tennis shoes at a college party" fun, but, "I am an artist and this stimulated me" fun. It's all a win in my book. Ok, so outside of hanging out doing artsy things with friends, two really great things happened.
First, I saw these shoes...they made...me....feel....things. I touched  them and stuff. I hugged them...and wished they were mine. These were by far my most favorite pair of the whole night.

AWESOMENESS

Then, I found the guy who made them. The jacket kind of gave him away. I felt that up too. It...was...awesomeness. It was almost perfect, but not so perfect that you couldn't tell it was done by hand. I was so completely moved by it. The time it must have taken. The precision. We took a picture. YAY!

We coordinated.

We talked. I asked him how long it took him to do the jacket (sorry I didn't get the whole thing), but he said about two weeks. I asked him how much he charged for something like it. He said a couple of Gs. THAT inspired me. I don't spend two weeks working on anything. I don't bother, because I feel like I couldn't sell something for a price indicative of the kind of time it would take me to complete it. At least not to my current clientele. However, I'd love to sit in a corner and work on one item until I felt like it was PERFECT and PERFECTLY done. Not that I don't feel happy with the work I produce, but if the price was right, I'd add more detail. I'd spend a little more time and not think anything of it. I've been recently moved to do more detailed pieces and this made me want to do it even more. I'm so excited. I have an unplanned hiatus coming up! Let's see what happens.
 

This guy! ALIen

Have I mentioned my LOVE of drummers? No. Well...here it is. THIS GUY! is my second great thing. I wish this was one of those Harry Hotter photographs. I LOVE drummers. Umm...he beat it up. I watched. I liked it. He chewed on the drumstikks...he threw them in the air. He undressed mid song. He stood on top. Spun around and flung sweat. It was an amazing show of acrobatics and musicianship. I don't think he took a breath or blinked the whole time. I almost got scared, but he survived. I've been chatting with him on twitter. He's trying to play innocent about those panties strung across the front of his drums. I'm not buying it.

The great things came with accessories too. Cupcakes. I had one of the light skinned ones. It was just ok, but the fact that they were there to eat was a great thing. Oh and the Converse cake. Snazzy.

And live painting! That's always a win. I'm going to work on my journalism skills, because I can't say I was really interested in WHO was doing the work, but I wish I had gotten their names so I could share. I'll do better. Soon. :D Chekk out the pics though.

I missed out on the final piece.

Body paint! (We're doing this instead of strippers @ my bachelorette party.)

Custom boots!

Oh! and they had little coloring sheets with pics of Chukks, so you could design your own. I colored. That's my kind of party! Friends, food, music...and stimulating activities. A winner! So, next time this comes around...I want in, so I can take a pic with my own shoes. There I said it!

The ART+SOLE+LIFE exhibit is sneaker art with a conscience. It was created to highlight the non-profit work of SOLE PLUS. It is an exhibit that features artists telling the stories of everyday life using shoes as their canvas. A+S+L is the fusion of shoe design, art, activism, & philanthropy, rolled into an interactive exhibit.  The first A+S+L exhibit will take place on 10/22/2010 in Atlanta, GA at Ambient Plus Studio.

"All Pink Everything" 10.24.10

I had a VERY full weekend. I ended it Sunday night with a fashion show hosted by Dream Pink, Inc. at Blue Mark Studios in Atlanta. 

As is becoming common, I painted up to the very moment I left the house and was able to create two more pieces before I got dressed and bolted out the door. FUN! I promise. I opened up the show this time, which worked out well. For one, the models weren't exhausted by the time it was my turn. Also, to my delight, they took their shots with the photographer in my clothes. Yay me! So as soon as I arrived at the venue, I got straight to work. Fitted and dressed my models, then sent them to walk a pretty pink runway, but not before we snapped a few photos!

A whole bunch of AWESOME

If you've been following, I did use some of the pieces from the shows this summer, but I added some new pieces too. I even tried a new style of shirt. It worked out VERY well. I'm so excited. It feels good to try new things and they turn out nice, especially after I stress so much about construction. What do you guys think?

This may become my official summer 2011 shirt!

It was a good time. The models were cute and sweet. The make up was faaaabulous and everybody, guys included, had a little pink hair piece to set the looks off. It was a fun event and not nearly as long as some of the other ones I went to. Thank God. I even managed to run into someone from another show. Apparently Atlanta fashion industry isn't as big as it seems. Every experience is a learning one.

Right before I made the long trip back out to "horse country," as fellow blogger/soror/friend Pieces of Me  calls it, I managed to snap a quick photo with  the coordinator of the show and CEO of Dream Pink Inc., Danielle Perry, before she took her shoes off.

She's really not THAT much taller than me. iPromise.

That's it for the this post. Two more to go. To see more photos from the show, head over to the Fan Page.

3 More "Seasons in My Hair" Maybe...

I finished another painting. It made me happy. For the first time, I actually sketched something before I painted it. I sat down with my sketchbook for hours last Saturday and came up with lots of good ideas. I decided to roll with this one, because honestly, it was the smaller of the designs I had sketched out and I knew I could finish it more quickly. Instant gratification. So here it is...

"Winter in my hair" 

Once I had started it. I decided that I wanted to make it a set. I was going to call it "Seasons of my hair" or something like that. I had it all worked out, but what I didn't have was more canvas board. TRAUMA! Now, this isn't completely terrible, because I could always pikk up more later, BUT I like to start and complete things together, because I feel like things that go together should be created together. Is that weird? Maybe? Ok. *shrugs* I actually waited to finish this one thinking I would get to the store to buy more board. I didn't. So now that this one is finished, I'm not sure if I'll ever make it to the other three. We'll see.

Oh and since I'm here, if you're in the Atlanta area, come chekk me out this weekend.

I Did It...AGAIN!

I posted this one last night. Then I sold it. Maybe I'm onto something here. 

"Mattress to Mountaintop"

Festival of the Arts 10.2.10

I went. It was a bust. Not my fault. Everybody (term used loosely) LOVED my stuff, but it was lots of fun. It was a beautiful day and there was (good) live music the entire time. I really think people missed out....and maybe even some animals too. The event was to benefit the Cherokee County Humane Society, so lots of the attendees brought their dogs out to play. I brought paint!

Official Sidekikk of SYM1

Canvas. OOOOOH!

I took my mannequin out for the first time (shout out to @prncsskimmy for the awesome gift). I think I remember mentioning that I would name them as a family. Haven't gotten that far, but she looked lovely in my fav SYM1 lizard tee and a pair of my old jeans. I wonder if they still fit. I'm tempted to put them on again after seeing her in them. Stuff always looks so good on the mannequin.

iRokk SYM1

I did this tee for a  fashion show. It's definitely NOT my size, but since I'm currently tired of my "old" I figured I could keep this one for my self. Cut the collar out to make it wide. Let it hang off the shoulder. Winner!