This one is for the old man...

I want to thank my dad today. I know it's not an awards show or anything but there are days when I think about him and I am so grateful he is my old man. My dad came to the United States when he was still young from Puerto Rico. He grew up in El Barrio, and then went off to fight in Vietnam. As a young man he was a correction officer, taxi driver, security manager, and probably so many other things that I cannot remember. What I will always remember though is his talent for photography and when little girls were being taught how to tie their shoes he was teaching me what an F stop was. When other daddies were buying ice cream and taking their kids to the movies, my dad took me camping, fishing, hiking and of course, we would go off into the world and take photographs. He is the one that taught me about the "eye" that every good photographer must have. I always remember the "eye". Every small interest I had was met with my dad's big ideas of how I could become a dancer, or photographer; I could tour the world, play music; whatever I wanted to be I could be..His advice to me was always, " don't expect people to give you what you want. You need to know what you want and TAKE it".

So I post all this because my dad had offered to give me a lap top computer as a graduation gift. Instead I asked if he could front some dough for jewelry supplies so that eventually I could buy my own laptop...and he obliged without a doubt. I have failed in life many times in the most miserable way and here is my dad with the faith to help me in something he knows I love. I will always love him for supporting my crazy ideas and allowing me to be CINDY. simple as that....

Keep It Simple Stupid...

I feel this eagerness to change many things today. It's like this whirlwind of anxiety came over me and suddenly the world needs to comply with my every whim!

I want to be thinner, I want a perfectly normal relationship. I want to make more money. I want to buy a condo in Long Island City overlooking the most fabulous city in the world. I want to go out dancing every night.

I want to not be disappointed by other people's actions
I want to be free from sadness
I want to be able to wear high heels all night without complaining of foot pain
I want enough money to buy a year's worth of jewelry supplies
I want to be the best mother, best teacher, best designer, best, best, best....
I want to be the prettiest girl in the room
I want to be younger
I want, I want, I want...

do we ever tire of wanting.

I need to feel safe and secure and loved
I need to trust
I need to know that my daughter is happy and safe
I need to make sure that I am always growing spiritually and mentally
I need to know that in God's eyes I am always beautiful
I need to make one piece of jewelry that I love
I need to live in peace, regardless of the view
I need my family
I need to be forgiven
I need to forgive

I think I'll keep it simple today.

Who has inspired you lately?

You know sometimes, you have those off days...everything seems to be fine, your working, doing what your supposed to do, even hanging out with friends. I have been busy this week both with work, being a mom and trying to maintain some form of social life... so I think I have the best of many worlds. It's just sometimes you lose focus of your spiritual/creative side. When I feel like I just simply need inspiration, I look at the work of other people...it inspires me so much because you know you are being invited into someone's creative world and I am challenged to rethink a design or technique. It gives me a new vision.

So today I decided to look at some of Iza Malczyk's wire work. She is from Poland and believe me when I say this is not going to be the last time I post about her. That first picture is the FIRST pendant she ever made. Iza, like myself, started learning how to wire wrap from jewelrylessons.com

Can you see the difference between her early work and now?! uuhhhhh, yeah!!!

I gotta go and practice wirewrapping now.

all of Iza Malczyk's work can be found on her website izamalczyk.com

so mamitas,,,who has inspired your creative side lately?