My Art

I wanted to share with everyone my latest project. I made a huge soft sculpture with my husband for an upcoming art show. This piece was inspired by my son, Ari. My work is always influenced by my personal life, whether it's a person, place, or thing.

Lately it's been a bit hard for me to get into the studio to make my art. Now that I'm a mom it seems like all my time goes to him. I was talking to my husband the other day, and he said something very interesting to me. He told me that there is more to life. He didn't mean it in a bad way. What he meant was that it's great that I like to focus my time on my son, but I should also focus on my art. He is so right!

My art is my escape. It helps me lose myself in a world where I can use my imagination to create something different and beautiful. That's why yesterday during Ari's nap time, I decided to make some small soft sculptures. It really made me feel good. I should be able to manage both.

So if there is a hobby that you like to do, find time for it. Don't let time go by without using your own creativity!

 

 

You can check out my work tonight, July 29th at Rising Gallery. The show starts at 7:00 pm. I hope to see a lot of new faces and meet new interesting people. 

Patience: 101

Patience is not one of my strong traits (I repeatedly open the oven door to check if the damned ready-in-10-minute cookies are finally golden brown). The looooong, dreadful process of waiting for things in life… Ugh. Can’t we hurry up and skip to the pretty/delicious/rainbow-y part?

When I took up sewing, I didn't realize how much patience was required. Let's recount your very first sewing class, Linda: oh hey, remember when you pressed the pedal too hard and it caused the freaking spool to shoot up and nearly hit your friend Lu in the eye?! Then you went and sewed your purse inside-out like a clown! The seam-ripper was your BFF that day. You made all of these mistakes because you were rushing. And no surprise, you were the last student to finish...

I had meltdowns in later classes, too. I wished many a garment to hell. I couldn’t sew a straight line, much less a curved one. One particular day, I was ready to give up on sewing – I was so over this crooked-ass skirt I was making. My instructor noticed my frustration, clapped his hands, and enthusiastically said to me “gotta sew ‘em up!” Ugh… 

But then I had a breakthrough! I began to focus and worked that sewing machine like nobody’s business. I made things. Wearable, cute things! Could all this frustration be paying off? Plus, it was fun and I was developing quite the covetable closet.  

 My polka-dot blouse. With buttons down the back. Buttons!

Let's be honest with ourselves: we're not going to be The Shit at everything we touch. We're gonna have to put some time and effort into anything we want in life. But the labor is worth it. Enjoy the process. Laugh - literally laugh - at your mistakes! Revel in the fact that you're learning. Be present. Be kind to yourself and recognize your progress. If you love it, stick with it. And practice, practice, practice.

And now look what I can do! Work that skirt, girl. WORK. IT.

What does biking mean to you?

What does biking mean to me? I can’t escape this question - it’s mostly due to the fact that I got a bicycle tattoo on my back shoulder. It happens every summer: someone will ask what a bike means to me, or why I got the tattoo. My simple answer is: I like to bike.

My deeper answer is: it’s the savior of our relationship! Before we got married, boo and I reached a breaking point in our relationship. He started biking, and soon after bought me a bike as well. We would ride our bicycles every fall night. Since then, every fall, we ride together - our tradition since 2005.

My best memory I have with him was a day it was pouring rain and we rode home from his aunt's house! We got home drenched but also madly in love.

This shared love for riding really brought us closer together! The couple that rides together, stays together.

Sylvia...

Sylvia: mother of one. Daughter of four. Worker. Baker. 

Q & A with Sylvia

Q. What inspires you?

The future. Benny. And life.

Q: Describe your perfect day.

Waking up on the right side of the bed with Benny, relaxing, going to the movies, and enjoying a night on the town with my friend Linda.

Q: What is one thing you fear, but would like to do?

Move on. Get a house. And be single. Forever. And only worry about Benny because that's all that matters.

Q: What's your favorite thing about yourself?

People say I'm strong. I like that I'm loving and caring and considerate... sometimes.

Q: What do you hope to accomplish with Blushing Dames?

A stronger friendship and speaking my mind openly. 

Emily...

I'm an artist, a wife, and a mother. I love to paint and create soft sculptures. Crafting is another one of my favorite hobbies. My family always comes first. 

Q&A with Emily

Q: Describe your perfect day.

Hanging out with my family. 

Q: What is your ultimate dream vacation?

Anywhere that has a beach. 

Q: If you won the lottery, what would you do?

I would pay off all my bills, buy my family and sisters a house. Pretty much take care of any debt or responsibility. And I would buy a building for the Blushing Dames. And money for college for Ari. 

Q: Is this where you saw yourself at this age?

Actually, yes. I always wanted to have a family and be married to a man I love. And graduate from college. And of course, there are still other things I would like to accomplish. 

Q: What do you hope to accomplish with Blushing Dames?

I want everybody to see the real me and hear my thoughts and feelings and whatever goes on in my life. I think this will be a good way to release any raw feelings that we have and nobody will judge us... at least that we know of...

Diana...

Im a crazy fool that loves. Crazy fool that hates. And in the middle of it all I'm a nurse, a loved daughter/sister, and psycho girlfriend.

Q &A with Diana

Q: What inspires you?
Salvage stores, to be creative, old stuff, antiques, a great book, my parents and the ability to heal.

Q: What advice would you would give your 15-year-old self?
To love myself a lot more. To look at myself in the mirror and smile. To never fear. And to laugh at everything.

Q: What can you spend hours doing?
Sleeping, decorating my house, spending time with my loving family/friends/boo, and watching HGTV.

Q: Biggest pet peeve?
Procrastination. Oh my god, when people have road rage and tailgate. Not recycling. Know it alls!!

Q: What do you hope to accomplish with Blushing Dames?
The ability to not give a shit and to leave it all out there. In the outcome to learn a little more about me.

Linda...

I'm an occasional tomboy and a connoisseur of music, shoes, and books. I tend to jump from one hobby to the next and have a chronic case of wanderlust.  I like to surround myself with pretty things and happy people.  I'm all over the place. 

Let's be friends: Twitter and Goodreads.

Q &A with Linda

Q: What's the most romantic thing you have done?

This is lame, but making out in a car. It's like you're so passionate that you just have to have them right there... so you make-out in the car.

Q: What is usually your first thought when you wake up in the morning?

What do I have to do today, what time is it, and what kinda mood am I in? Oh, and what am I going to wear? 'Cause that's crucial.

Q: What is your bad habit?

I think I react too quickly. I would like to think about things before I say them...

Q: Is this where you saw yourself at this age?

HA! No, I totally saw myself completely different. Married with kids (naive). I'm in a totally different place: traveling, going to school, single, and working. I'm glad I've taken this path.

Q: What do you hope to accomplish with Blushing Dames?

I hope to inspire other people to be themselves. To live for their passions every day and have goals to look forward to and take charge of their happiness. 

Ana...

I'm a simple girl who likes fancy things! I'm a blogger, makeup junkie, lover of all things fashionable, wifey, youtuber & wanna-be stylist!

Q & A with Ana

Q. Have you ever had the feeling you were being watched? No. But I knew this guy from high school who thought he was and he was always looking around like a weirdo.

Q. How have you changed from your teenage years? I'm completely different! I'm not quiet, I'm loud, and not emo. I just like life more! I'm fun now!

Q. If the whole world were listening, what would you say? OMG, I'm gonna get all John Lennon: to be happy and love each other.

Q. What can you spend hours doing? Shopping and people-watching and swimming.

Q. What would you like to accomplish with Blushing Dames? I would like for people to know there is a different view to how girls think and are.

Follow my daily life on Twitter!

Welcome!

Blushing Dames is a blog collective of five city girls (left to right: Diana, Linda, Sylvia, Emily, and Ana)  covering topics all across the board: art, health, tales of motherhood, fashion and beauty, DIY projects, and all of the adventures along the way! 


Look how fun we are: