The Chandaleir Store

If you go to South Street in Philadelphia... You will find the most cluttered, most divine, and absolutely Fantastic chandaleir store you've ever laid your eyes on. This picture doesn't come close to how fabulous it was to walk through the tight isles of crystal chandaleirs but may I recommend, if you find yourself walking the streets of Philly, head to South Street and give yourself a treat!

Whats going on here...

A lot of people ask me what my "process" is.
To them I usually reply:  Materials = Coffee, good music, pencil, paper and me. Coffee goes in mouth, music goes in ears, and pencil hits the paper, than... BAM out comes... a drawing... Its usually surprises me when I step back and check out how it all happened... But there is no magic involved, no fancy studio (yet!)... just time, and me. I took some pictures this morning to welcome you into my 'process'... Starts with locations, then pencil drawing, than ink... still to come, digital color!

*** Please note, my fantastically turquoise kitchen chairs. I picked them up on the side of the road, white and old and FREE... I spent a few summer days refinishing them and now I LOVE them... So if you didn't notice them right away, Im offended...kind of... well, ok not really. Your off the hook, but Check em out!***

I make all my wishes for you...

May I suggest...

I've had a lot of time to think lately... my mind gets to travel to all sorts of places while my hands are busy whipping up a sketch. And i found myself lost in a place called 'Happiness'.

For me, happiness is the place where, I am self assured. I usually find it in a time where I feel personally successful, productive and loved... If I could whip up a soup with such ingredients and serve it to every person I met, I have no doubt World Peace would be knocking at our door before 2010 came to an end.

Speaking of 2010, we are starting our journey into a new year. Actually, this is the first year that thats ever meant anything to me. Usually I just dread New Years Eve, because of the great expectation of making it "memorable"... and once I make it through midnight, I breath a sigh of relief and carry on with my days as if nothing was different... But for some reason, 2010... is a new beginning for me. Perhaps it is for you too... If its not, maybe it can be. My plan for the year is to find my "Happy" and keep it... What about you? May I suggest.... this New Year, you stun the World...

Optimism

So today... was a great day... So far I've put seven hours into illustrating... And I've still got about five more good hours left in the day to keep going...

Its been the kind of day that catches me, sitting at my kitchen table, taking occasional breaks to dance around in my socks to pandora radio, and grinning at the mere IDEA that this plan of mine; the one of me being a full time, 'way too busy', semi-inspiring illustrator, can work.

Optimism... I hope I never lose the ability to be optimistic... Perhaps that is the explanation of how I am here right now...? Perhaps that is the explanation for a lot of things... Humm, the ability to hope that things will work out... could that be the secret to a happy life? Looking ahead and hoping for the best? Maybe...

Oh, I dont know, I guess I should be addressing this to my diary, but the truth is I have felt grateful all day... and I have been grinning, singing along to songs that I don't know... feeling excited for everything... and I had to share it with someone... I hope that future exists for me... I hope I can work all day long creating things from a blank sheet of paper... day after day, and continue to LOVE it! I guess hope is what got me here... (along with a smallish bit of creativity, a great family, delicious food and a treadmill)

Maybe my smallish visions of optimism... has something to do with creating the person that I am... God knows the days that I am not feeling optimistic, nothing gets done... if only there was a drink that could empower me to feel optimistic all the time...hummm...champagne?...Ive got some in the cupboard... perhaps I should pour myself a glass...? mmm...I think I should pass on that... for now its back to my drawings!

I hope anyone reading this can find their 'Vision' whatever it may be, and 'Something to Hope For', that will give them a reason to dance around in their socks while no one is watching...

Emilie's Creative Portfolio

I just got back in touch with a friend from college after a lot of "out of touch" time... And as most creative professionals do when they get back in touch, we browse each other's portfolio... I wanted to post
Emilie's Portfolio here on my blog because she has done really fantastic work! She does amazing photography and has an eye for contemporary design...
I hope you enjoy her work as much as I did! Thanks for letting me share, Em.

New Years Day, Looking for a creative outlet

          

My Highlights from 2009

• This year I introduced myself to the Wacom pad, technology at its very best.
• Speaking of technology I also entered the world of "The Mega Phones" and got myself a blackberry. VG me!
• I began writing my book, something I was putting off for a very long time. I am now 159 pages into it... 2010 goal: Finish Book!
• I moved Three times (wow) is that even possible?
• Went fishing in the Ocean with Dave and his Family, and caught so many fish we had to throw in the towel
• Bahamas (definite highlight)
• 2009 brought me new friends in the creative industry, very grateful
• as well as, Trudy, my treadmill...*heart*
• I published my Illustrations
• I got a fish, who is still swimming happily in her beautiful bowl!
• Running 3 half marathons, and ambitiously signing up for a Metric marathon (which may have been canceled due to ice) but it still felt good to know I was up for the challenge.
• 2009 brought some great business connections
• We came very close to first place in the etchells class championship regatta, but graciously accepted second place.
• Wednesday night racing was a great part of 2009 summers
• so were the trips to Section 5's beach in Crownsville with Jazzberry and scrabble.
• As with every summer, 2009 was no different, a highlight was spending time with friends and family down at the shore house. And finally happening upon acres and acres of breaking fish!
• This year I am feeling pretty accomplished, I started my blog and entered the world of tweets, follow me... It could be fun! http://twitter.com/meant4amoment
• Meeting The Scary Guy, who was %100 inspiring.
• 2009 Christmas tree was exceptionally stunning.
• I definitely enjoyed our trip to block island (thanks Thom)
• My big screen monitor upgrade was an exciting highlight.
• Tony Lucca in concert, say no more!
• Caught a blowfish... the size of a golf ball, and its official: there is nothing cuter than a blowfish that small!
• Learned Bow on the Etchells and pretended to rock at it... verdict is still out on this one
• Created some really fun pieces of commissioned artwork
• Discovered coconut milk ice cream (you haven't lived until you try it!)
• Long summer days on the Seacraft, and Seachaser
• Wake-boarding
• Paige and Caleb's visits home.
• The discovery of gummy vitamins, so easy and delicious, no one should be without them!

This list is getting out of control, but I do plan on adding more items as 2009 draws to an end...
Thanks for a GREAT year!

The Christmas Pickle

If you haven't met already, let me introduce you to "The Christmas Pickle" Rumor and speculation place the origin of this tradition in Germany. But no one seems to have officially adopted the fun.

The tradition: the elegant and exquisite pickle ornament is the last to be hung on the tree and the first child to find it gets to open an extra gift from Santa.

In my house the tradition has been mildly altered: Christmas morning we all wake up a little later than we used to, we drink a gallon of coffee, while we open gifts under the tree. Somewhere around cup number 4 we all simultaneously realize we have forgotten to look for the PICKLE. Eyes widen with awareness, elbows start flying, the gauntlet has been thrown! The search begins! Merry Christmas Everyone...

I hope that you all find your Christmas Pickle~

The Holiday Classics, according to Tara ... and most everyone I think

Since it is the Season of Santa, I have been thinking a lot about the holidays and wondering whether the kids today have the same kind of holiday I had when I was younger. I know what you are thinking "Younger? You are young." But you've got to know what I mean... Do they still enjoy Rudolph's blinking red nose and Frosty's magic hat, or do they turn on the TV hoping to find Sponge Bob's Christmas Special and Hannah Montana singing "All I want for Christmas is You." Christmas is such a magical time for those who are young and old. So in the spirit of the Holidays I thought I would run down the list of the CLASSIC Holiday Tales from the 20th century that still remind me of my magical childhood Christmas's

"The Snowman" by Raymond Biggs. An illustrated story book with no words, just fantastic magical drawings of a boy and his snowman friend. No words! Just Pictures... its like a dream for any young kid!

"Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" written by Robert May and Romeo Muller. A Glowing Nose! Who thinks this stuff up! Its like GOLD. To tell you the truth, if one of my peers came to me with a blinking red nose, I think I'd be syked to have them as a friend! How cool is that?

"How the Grinch Stole Christmas" a Dr. Seuss FAVORITE of my. "And what happened then? Well, in Whoville they say that the Grinch's small heart grew three sizes that day. And then - the true meaning of Christmas came through, and the Grinch found the strength of *ten* Grinches, plus two!"

"Frosty the Snowman" Lyrics by Steve "Jack" Rollins and Steve Nelson. There is nothing better than a story of a magical hat that brings a snowman alive, with a song to go along with it!

"Charlie Brown Christmas" by Charles Shultz. Shouldn't we all have a Charlie Brown Christmas tree somewhere in our holidays?

HAPPY Holidays, From Meant for a Moment!

Christmas Family Portraits!

Christmas has been a really fun season to be in the illustration business!

Here is one of my biggest Holiday Family Portraits!

Burt

My newest Illustration. Created for a client to gift as a Christmas present to her daughter-in-law who has an old horse named Burt...

I tried to capture the right kind of mixed expression in the horse... kind of to say "We've got this right?" and "Do you trust me?"

It was a really fun project to work on, Thanks for the business Meg! Happy Holidays!

Scary Guy

Today. I was Lucky.

Today I was lucky to sit in a room and witness the world change. In only two hours, my world, the way I see it, feel it, and know it, morphed before my very eyes. One “Scary” man. One little me. One enormous world. And one amazing mission. Met today in a small room in Baltimore and changed the way I will function for the rest of my life.

World Peace? The end of hatred, discrimination, violence and death. Impossible?

Not today.

I love a lot of things about the world I live in, but truthfully it can be a horrible place for a lot of reasons. And the idea of World Peace feels so far out of each individuals grasp that it becomes an insurmountable goal… BUT what if, you finally realized that you can make a change. That YOUR actions do make a difference and every encounter you have makes a mark on each person you meet. What if you were unforgettable, not because you made someone cry, but because you made them smile? What Scary made me realize is, I can be the change I want to be in ME. And so can you. Remember the positive, by doing so you will spread it around. Forget the negative, by doing so you will make a difference. Be in charge of YOUR world peace. And be the change you want to see. The rest will follow.

Check out “The Scary Guy” at www.thescaryguy.com … become a Catalyst for Peace. It sounds corny. But try it. Hear his message. Im signed up to make a change in me. It was an unreal experience for me. Just incredible.

Be Unforgettable… its a idea worth remembering.

Todays event was sponsored by The Perfect Networker, become a part of the mission: www.perfectnetworker.com