Hairrings

My hair has been very long three times in my life. Each time I cut it, I braided it and saved it. I recently made earrings from one of the batches. These are the simplest hair extensions, but it is my own natural hair.

Bigger Glass Chains

I've been flameworking larger glass chains. I plan to do some Pyrex padlocks for the thickest chains.

new pants

I sewed pants from a heavy canvas. The fabric is printed with Japanese logos.

You can

Ballpoint pen face studies. I have spent thousands of hours of my life drawing. You could, too. Maybe you already have.

Everyone can make things.

If you can talk, you can sing. If you can write, you can draw. Actually, you don't even need to be able to write to draw, and some people can sing but not talk! Making is certainly not about "talent"--

I don't believe in it.

If you can consistently do something well and with skill, it will be because you've practiced. It is possible to have a natural aptitude for something, but I think claiming talent is to rest on one's laurels and one who complements "talent" often indirectly implies, "I couldn't do that."

I believe that to be untrue.

News

I'm lucky to say that I've become an aunt to fraternal twins, one of each category of a gender binary system. In Tagalog "tita" means aunt, and Filipino nicknames are often based on the second syllable of a name, not the first. I hope to be called Tita Nini.

Time always feels like it's accelerating, and being busy doesn't help to counter my perception. For now I'm in New York, and tomorrow I go to Pennsylvania for an engagement party. Two weddings, an engagement party, and twin babies all in less than 6 weeks! It is that time of year!

A few more pictures from Portland

Portland, Oregon is the bike- friendliest city I've ever been to in The States. It was unusual and surprising to happen upon this at the end of a quiet residential street.

This tree appeared to be looking around.

Some nice signs on one street

This adorable sign was hard to photograph at night with a light glaring on it, but it's still legible and endearing.

Moss and mist

Today the rain in Brooklyn was just a fine mist, for hours. It was the kind of light spray that you don't really need an umbrella for, but after a while outside you look like you've been on the Maid of the Mist tour (the boat that travels underneath Niagara Falls.) It wasn't like the kind of rain I grew up with in New York: cold, fat drops or drizzles that make people scurry. It was more like rain in Portland-- a perpetual misting that doesn't significantly alter the course of one's day.

Moss is so aesthetically appealing to me. It's like living velvet! I was in Portland, Oregon in February and I observed it all over town. Because Portland has such a mild and damp climate mosses really thrive everywhere. Some sidewalks have names impressed in the concrete. Above, you can see moss growing in those recesses.

In some places, it grows like a carpet with a luxurious pile.

In some places, traffic wears patterns into the carpet.

What a variety of beautiful textures!

On barks I saw intricate and complex landscapes growing.

Mosses are growing on these rooves, and ferns are sprouting from this gutter!

The world is overwhelmingly filled with beauty! Look for it everywhere-- you will find yourself totally surrounded!

Women on Money, pt.II

I want to see women on money. This is ballpoint pen on dollar bills. I only seem to do this when I'm sitting at the door of shows at a particular warehouse in Olneyville. It's probably because they have a bright lamp by the door, and it's not my money.

I drew some more that I'll post later, and did you see these?

(Click on the image to magnify.)

Yes

The world will be more awesome if we actively work towards making it so. Double click for full screen.