Your life is your life. You are marvelous.

I have a lot of big things to share, but in due time.  I need to sit and reflect a bit this weekend and then…consider it blogged!  For now though, a few things to remember for your weekend:

Source: goldrush021.tumblr.com via Anj on Pinterest

“I live not in dreams but in contemplation of a reality that is perhaps the future.” 
-Rilke

This gem was passed on by my beautiful sister.  Thanks, Em!…

Source: thrilld.com via Anj on Pinterest

 

Really great posts by Sarah Wilson on meditation: here and here.   

“You know that sucking feeling when you stick a Mac powercord in the socket?  That’s how it feels when you slip into the meditative state – like it all fits snugly, nothing is missing, things are firm and certain.” -Sarah Wilson

I love this description!  I am NO expert on the meditating front, but I have been delving in much more lately and the things that have taken place are still boggling my mind (refer to opening sentence of this post).   

What happens when a favorite musician reads a favorite poet’s work?  Magic and wisdom!

your life is your life
don’t let it be clubbed into dank submission.
be on the watch.
there are ways out.
there is a light somewhere.
it may not be much light but
it beats the darkness.
be on the watch.
the gods will offer you chances.
know them.
take them.
you can’t beat death but
you can beat death in life, sometimes.
and the more often you learn to do it,
the more light there will be.
your life is your life.
know it while you have it.
you are marvelous
the gods wait to delight
in you.

-The Laughing Heart; Charles Bukowski

I hope your weekend feels like this: 

Source: flickr.com via canderka on Pinterest

some Saturday thoughts on trees, sweaters, patience and inspiration

Brrr!  It is May tomorrow, right?  It snowed last night.  And today.  SNOWED!  Patience, patience, patience. . .

The other day it was warm, so a friend and I took a lovely walk to our favorite coffee spot and stumbled upon this sweet little tree and I knew I had to share.  Can you imagine the work that goes into this?!  

I did some searching and this beautiful act of tree adorning happens all over.  I'm probably behind on that news, but I love it!  

Source: fashionofphilly.com via Angela on Pinterest

Source: lolitas.se via Amy on Pinterest

Source: deputy-dog.com via Souzi on Pinterest

SO amazing! 

What small details inspire you today?

I for one, am going to try to be patient with this weather and wear socks and sweaters and hoodies as long as I must :)

Look at the trees, look at the birds, look at the clouds, look at the stars...
and if you have eyes you will be able to see that the whole existence is joyful.  Everything is simply happy.  Trees are happy for no reason;
they are not going to become prime ministers or presidents and they are not going to become rich and they will never have any bank balance. 
Look at the flowers - for no reason.  It is simply unbelievable how happy flowers are.  

-Osho

"Being an artist means: not numbering and counting, but ripening like a tree, which doesn’t force its sap, and stands confidently in the storms of spring, not afraid that afterward summer may not come. It does come. But it comes only to those who are patient, who are there as if eternity lay before them, so unconcernedly silent and vast. I learn it every day of my life, learn it with pain I am grateful for: patience is everything!”

-Rilke

on web design, branding, and trusting our instincts

I have a few things on my mind today, peeps.  About creativity.  About being an artist. 

Once again, I am examining my website (and brand) and asking myself what's missing.  I'm not sure I'll ever be 100% content with it, but now I know what's missing: ME!  I think we all tend to compare ourselves to others, and I am no exception.  I easily get caught up in a battle I call, "Am I doing it right?" and it never serves the ultimate goal.  What I know is, that there is enough room in this world and industry for every single one of us, and our full self expression is all that is really required to "do it right".  Remembering this simple concept might be the ultimate practice for me.  

One of my most favorite quotes:

"Being an artist means: not numbering and counting, but ripening like a tree, which doesn’t force its sap, and stands confidently in the storms of spring, not afraid that afterward summer may not come. It does come. But it comes only to those who are patient, who are there as if eternity lay before them, so unconcernedly silent and vast. I learn it every day of my life, learn it with pain I am grateful for: patience is everything!” -Rainer Maria Rilke

I have to remind myself of this so often that it's written on a gigantic chalkboard that sits between my room and kitchen.  Point is, the only thing to do is be you, however that looks.  

-End soap box-

This morning I spent some time watching the live hangout DJ and Andrew from Showit hosted and I came away so inspired.  I also cruised around the various tutorials for a while and watched the genius DYI tutorial by one of my favorite artists, Promise Tangeman.  Promise is one of those people who I think has mastered the art of being herself and infusing that into her brand in such a graceful way.  In the tutorial (and quite often on her blog) she talks about all of the steps she goes through to create a brand and website.  This reminded me that I've been trying to go from point A to point Z overnight.  No wonder I've been frustrated!  So. . .I finished watching the tutorial and then closed the computer, walked away, and pulled out my vintage books and some of the magazines I've been saving for years (issues of HOW from 2005 & 2006)!  I quickly discovered what kind of images and patterns I'm the most drawn to, which (duh) I had never really thought about before.  SO liberating!  24 hours ago I felt so stuck and now there is a flow of inspiration.  

Soon after the ripping and tearing and marking began, I was drawn to take a look back at my very first website.  I created it after going through a big break up and it was the perfect creative outlet, in -get this- November of 2004.  

Visually it's pretty awful, in fact I'm laughing at how nerdy I was about photoshop filters and rollovers, but at the wise age of 21, here is what I had to say for myself:  

Welcome to quietpandemonium. This site has a few different purposes. First, it is about making some noise in the world, using whatever art form is appropriate. We all have things to share and say and I would like to make this a place to do so. If you have something that you want posted, please email it to me at angela@quietpandemonium.com. Secondly, I would like this site to be a place to educate ourselves about what is going on in the world today, and facilitate in being citizens of the world who work to make conditions better for all. On the Issues & Info page you will find links to information about social, political, and environmental issues. Please let me know if there is a link that you think should be added. As I learn more and more about what personal expression means to me, the more I realize how important it is for me to continuously push myself with my art. That said, this site has also served as a new medium for me. A challenge that has indeed pushed me and now that I have something to show for it, here it is. Now, at 27 I am strangely proud of bold idealism I put out there, how unconcerned I was about what anyone thought, and the fact that at that time I had several friends share music, poetry and art of their own to exhibit on the site.  Amazing what can happen before we get in our own way.  Anyone else out there have a similar experience?  I would LOVE to hear it so please share if you feel so inclined :) xoxo