Fun with a fabric pen

What you need: an old tank top or a tee-shirt or whatever you want to write/draw on, and a fabric pen (any color I used black). Draw a little bit and voila: fresh uplift to a regular tank top. I drew the OM symbol and rocked it to my yoga class. I will defiantly create more. I love it. You should try it, for yourself or as a gift for someone. People really appreciate hand made things! Have a great day!

The beautiful Miss Love

My graphic design classmate and friend: the beautiful Cassandra Love inspired my itch to create with my camera just by passing by in the hallway of the school, outside one of my classes with her hair straightened out. She usually wears it curly, which is gorgeous. But something about her that day, gave me an instant vision :). So we hit the photo studio and spent a few hours just diving into the pool of black and white photography. She is such a talented, business minded young woman that will do big things in this world, watch out for her. This is one of the photos from our session. More to come! Enjoy it. Thank you for taking a look at my blog.

Yoga & Leadership Intensive in Miami

I had the opportunity (thanks to supporting family, great mentors at my school and a generous scholarship award from the organization itself) to fly down to Miami and attend a specific leadership training that I have been wanting to attend for about three years now. Usually this training occurs during the fall semester, somewhere in the Cali-area, far far away from where I am and always during the very busy school times when I cannot go. This year OTM's Leadership Training was taking place in the month of May when the school semester was over and I was truly lucky to attend. IT WAS MY TIME and MY TURN to experience this! It was a Yoga, Purpose and Action Week-long Intensive for yoga teachers, community leaders, and activists, or anyone interested in making the world a better place, really. Hosted by the lovely yogis: Seane Corn, Hala Khouri, and Suzanne Sterling. Ever since I was a child I have been wanting to make the world a better place and I tried to, in my own small ways. Guided by my heart and hearing the calling of nature and animals I would offer free community cleans ups in my neighborhood, cleaning up everyone's back yard whether they wanted to or not. I was so connected to Mother Earth I felt like I was giving her a scalp massage when i was crating the leafs of the lawns lol. I picked up trash, candy papers, cigarette buds and fallen leafs and placed it where it should go. If I was riding my bike and saw a road kill, I would stop and bury it wishing it to rest i peace. Very connected to nature and animals. Will my calling be something that has to do with the environment or animals today, Im not sure. But this particular training was designed to help us see our path in which we want to take our yoga to the next level. It was an opportunity to for one to discover the connections between the yogic path and the way of divine service or Seva. -During 5 days in sunny florida, yogis from all over the country (and other parts of the world too: France, Greece and Canada was in the house, and hello: SWEDEN!) experienced a combination of yoga asanas, meditation and visualization, experiential exercises, process work and rituals with the practical tools of communication, organizing and collaborating and we all grew so much. I made new friends and left with skills to help me become a more effective leader and agent of change in the world. Some of these amazing people that I met are all ready agents of change in the world, some are just starting and some will start in the future. Terri Cooper (owner of 305 yoga studio in Miami and the reason for this taking place in Miami) has one cool story that you should check out: www.yogagangsters.com. Amazing what one can do with will and determination. She is one manifesting b*&%#h. Hehe. Im veyr inspired. This intensive was really...INTENSE....very deep. There were days when I thought to myself: "What have I signed up for now". It was alot of crying, releasing and laughing. Mixed emotions. I learned alot. How to effectively communicate with myself and others (ongoing process for me as I have not been the best communicator and one of those people who prefered to not confront anything but rather retrieved in)). I learned crazy amazing tools for dealing with trauma and how to stay WITH my experiences fully present. Seane Corn is a "star" and amazing at what she does. Learning from her is always expanding my consciousness. I had never before met Hala Khouri or Suzanne Sterling and therefore I didn't know what to expect but let me tell you WOW. What a perfect combination of leaders. They all are so different and contributed so much with their own unique voices. I learned so much from all of them and I am so inspired to spread the vibrations that was cultivated within me and within us all during this intense week in Miami. )What exactly will be my calling, is not yet clear to me. But in the mean time I will serve where my service is accepted. IT IS TIME FOR SEVA! ( Selfless service of the world) NAMASTE! I also got to re-connect with an old friend from Sweden who opened her doors and welcomed me in to her house for a week. It s always great to re-connect with old friends! But it was even greater to come back home to my castle and my King! Borta bra, men hemma bast! as we say in Sweden :D

MeiVisions Yoga Photography

A few goodies from my shoot with Mary Fraser- yoga instructor. Good luck with your website and promotions Mary. She is a really strong yogi and a great teacher. Namaste!

Leslie Marsh - book binder

Today I had the honor the meet Leslie Marsh who made a guest appearance in our class. She has her own unique style of binding books with metal and mixed material. I was really inspired by her work, these books make extraordinary gifts for anyone- anytime. Apparently her biggest clientele are men (!) who buy gifts for their women (or so they say, maybe they just really think these metal books are plain awesome, because they are). They are out of my price range,a medium sized book can be yours for about $300. There is a lot of different material that goes into making one book: metal, beads, thread, photography, jewelry, resin, mica, found objects, leaves, poems, paintings etc. And it was really cool to hear about her painting and welding processes. Before she started book binding she was heavily in to scrap booking which one can see in her work. I have never been into scrap booking but I might be now haha, for I was really inspired by the books that I saw today, if you have not checked her website out you can do so here: www.leslie-marsh.com Thank you for taking a look on my blog!

Book Binding

This is a sneak peak of my children's book called "Shoot For The Moon". It's about a little boy who discovers yummy, positive thinking and the power of dreams. This was all written and illustrated during a period of three weeks, for a school project in my Printed Word class. It is bound with chip board, book cover fabric,and screws and bolts to keep it all together. A children's book will be created and published in the future, this is a strong interests that is calling my name and something I look forward working on when I have more time on my hands to do so. The bottom image is an image of a note book I created with a classical Japanese stitching technique (glue-free, something I prefer). For now please enjoy this sneak peak. Thank you or taking a look at my blog.

Winter, yoga, roots, LOVE

Tomorrow I am teaching a Vinyasa Yoga class in my hometown up north in my beautiful Winterland aka Sweden. I am so happy to hear that the class is fully booked and 30 something plus, happy people will be joining me in celebrating the new year and setting the intention for the year of 2013. Reconnecting with my roots and sharing yoga with my base community is a graceful experience. I am very excited about tomorrows class, let us peacefully walk into the new year guided by our hearts. As the ninja of love Jimi Hendrix said it: When the power of love overcomes the love of power- the world will know peace. NAMASTE

"Tribal Tea" - design by ME

So I am brushing my shoulders off for finishing a very intense first semester at my new school, Moore College of Art & Design, in Philadelphia. The first step towards my BFA degree in Graphic Design is officially reached. Woot woot. It was very different coming from a community college to a private all girls art college in a bigger city. I believe the word is: OVERWHELMED. Yupp, that's it. But during my first semester at Moore I have grown a lot as a designer and as a person as well. The students in my class are inspiring designers that keep pushing me to work harder and the professors themselves are currently active within their field of art. Here is a sample from the 3D Application of Graphic Design class, in which we were to create a tea or coffee company and design drink labels, container and shopping bags. This class made me realize that packaging design is something I like a lot. And it seems I canno get tribal out of my head lol...Tribal photography, tribal design, tribal living. I think a trip to the jungle is due soon haha. Thank you for taking a look at my blog. Peace and blessings

First Friday, Philadelphia

Every first Friday of each month in Philly the streets fill with all kinds of art lovers. This was my first visit and I only had time to discover a few blocks this time. Walking down the streets I was enjoying live instrumental FUNKY music from three men outside a Vivant Gallery. They made me wanna break-dance!!! ( not the I know how too). Some art lovers on this First Friday are vendors who sell everything from old school radios, fine art paintings and handcrafted jewelry, to charming type-machine written poems on the spot, recycled and hand-made shoes, screen printed clothes and henna tattoos (I got a henna tattoo for the first time). People from different non-profit organizations also set up shop to spread their word. I met two ladies from "the humane league" and they helped me realize why I will soon ban meat to enter my system ( oh yes slowly going in that vegetarian direction folks). The Humane League fight for farm animal rights, and if you ( like myself) are an animal friend please check out their website and make a small, one-time or monthly, donation ( www.thehumaneleague.com). Among all vendors who fill up the street one can also visit many of the neighborhoods 40-plus art galleries that adds flavor to the experience. I visited a few and was happy that my camera was allowed in at least two of them: Vivant Art Galley that displayed African art by Ken Laughlin, and Muse Gallery who displayed paper mache art by Drew Zimmerman. Drew explained to me that " a mask generally evokes an iconic character, some mythic figure or some venerable ancestor". He continued to explain that he conflates the spirit guides of his ancient tribe with the cartoon characters of his youth. Fun idea! Check out the photos below.

I have no idea what these people were protesting for. The lamest protesters Ive ever seen....more chickpeas to the people maybe? Anyways I will defiantly visit First Fridays again, and I really recommend it for any art lover in the Philly Area. Thank you for taking a look at my blog. Have a wonderful day!

Tribal Photography

The tribal warrior within, takes shape in my photography. I love capturing strong women in front of my lens. Our earth is female, our sky is a male. Female is therefore: earthy, nurturing, grounded and strong. There is a tribal earthy warrior of love inside of me that boldly colors my perception of women. Here is a few examples that i would love to share with you, where i have collaborated with different models and make up artists to create images of strong women. Thank you to: ( top) Crystal Torres, model and Rachel Jones for make-up, ( middle )Valerie Morales,model; Nadine for hairstyling and Tianna for make-up and ( bottom ) Niki Tsappos, model and make up and Theresa Gustavsson for hair styling. You guys all rocketh! Have a good day. Thank you for stopping by.

.

Hoboken International Film Festival, NJ

Yesterday I attended a film festival for the first, but surely not the last, time: FUN! It was time for the annual Hoboken Int. Film Festival in New Jersey USA ,one of the 10 biggest Film Festivals in the world (!) and the work that Turtlevan Productions camera man: Bryan Gentry had filmed for the TV-pilot "The Gym" was screening in the Hudson Theater. An amazing evening to say the least! I want to say -Congratulations! Last night was the first time his work was screened on an International Film Festival ( so proud of him ) and i had he honor to be right there by his side. Keep on keeping on Bryan Gentry for you are so talented! I believe in you!

Alot of hassle for the tassel...

....it sure was a lot of hassle for the tassel. But wow i am happy i did it- i got myself two college degrees. Yesterday was my graduation ceremony and it was so wonderful to celebrate my graduation with my near and dear family. I am truly blessed to have such beautiful people by my side, in my life. Truly grateful!!! Without my near and dear, everything would mean absolutely nothing! Family is everything in life, my friends- EVERYTHING! And that's my truth. The day started off with thunder, lightning and rain storm, but turned into blue sky and sunshine when it was time for graduation, so the ceremony could be held outdoors on the green grass under the partly cloudy sky. I am proud of myself for having accomplished these degrees of associates of applied science, even prouder that it was only me and 5 more people graduation as highest honors this year. "Highest honors" meaning my grade point average was 3.9-4.0! I studied hard, i learned a lot about my field of study as well as about myself. It has been 2,5 -long but quick- years...Walking away from the graduation today was the ending of one chapter and the beginning of a new one. Thank you to my family for EVERYTHING, special thanks for my my other half who stepped into paparazzi mode and captured moments forever on camera and thank you Great Divine for your love and positive vibrations. Here are some beautiful photos from yesterday. Enjoy!

Witnessing the love of two friends!

I love witnessing a promise of love and today i witnessed the promise of forever-ness between my two friends -Melanie and Wankit,- you are so beautiful together. Love is a powerful thing. To merge into the ecstasy of love- we must transcend the ego in order to loosen our self-defined boundaries, that's why I say" when u step into the to house of marriage, please leave your ego by the door". Let love flow freely. There is no greater way to invite love than to offer it first. I wish you two the best Mr. and Mrs. Chow.

College degree

I have now spent 2,5 years at Mercer County Community College. Seven full time semesters and today i crossed that finish line. I finally have a C.o.l.l.e.g.e D.e.g.r.e.e!!! Wooot woot! Its feels soooooo soooo good. I double majored and now obtain two A.A.S degrees ( associates ) one in graphic/advertising design and one in illustration. Going back to college was at first a somewhat indecisive decision, i wasn't quite sure if sitting behind the school bench was my thing. But even though my ego and my mind wasn't so sure, my intuition kept pushing me further on in that direction. Even though I still was very reluctant during the first semester and would ask myself " what am i doing here? " "why am i studying this" i kept on keeping on.Hehe. I was on top of my studies with my head in the books. A couple of semesters passed and i started to get the hang of it. This last semester, was the best one. I won two poster contests, and a real world client ad campaign. I was the team leader and creative director in the ad campaign and my team got the honor to win. The judges was so pleased with our hard work, and it was a great opportunity to bridge the school world with the real work world. Work and network! Work and network! But most importantly this last semester I learned how to trust in my abilities as a designer, and the more i know the more i want to learn. Here is some images from the last day of advertising III course. Me and my team-the winners, together with the client and the judges in the background. The ad campaign is for "Furry Feet Fete", a fundraising event for the Trenton Animal Shelter and the Homeless Pets of The Shelter Project. I really care for this project. I respect the time and energy these people put into helping innocent beings in need. Really beautiful! And i am glad to be a part of it. The event is going to be held in November, the dog whisperer Cesar Milan will come guest speak as well as Rescue Ink, the "biker" boys that takes justice into their own hands regarding animal abusers and abuse the abusers right back (!) It will be an interesting event. If you are interested in buying a pet, please concider adopting one. When the animals reach the shelter they have 30 days to get adopted. If they dont they are put to sleep for good :( It is like the green mile. Not a good situation for these animals. I would adopt but my lifetsyle is not fit for it right now. Thank you for stopping by my blog. Have a good day! Peace, love and light!

Behind My Scenes '11

It was a hot summer day of 2011 in Lambertville, NJ, when i shot model/ hair product owner from Brooklyn, New York, miss Jena Berman. This was a fun collaboration with professional hair stylist/make-up artist Yuliana Bishop. It was a pleasure to work with these ladies and i am honored to have the camera man of Turtlevan Productions Mr.Bryan Gentry (www.turtlevan.com)to capture it all on video. Here it is folks, have a look at whats going on behind the scenes of a MeiVisions Photoshoot. Enjoy and thank you for taking a look at my blogg. Have a wonderful day now!!!

Creations on the wheel....

...here are some of the creations i did this semester. Enjoy!