Sketch Lounge: Volume II Recap

OoOoOoOH what a niiiiiight!!!lol This time was even more fun than the last. Mostly because more of my friends were there :). There was so much talent in the room. People at tables, on the floor, in chairs....creating. It's a very inspiring environment and I encourage any creatives in the Washington DC area to come out to this event and show support because we need more cool stuff like this. Sketch Lounge is brought to us by Somaphony and ReadySetDC and this event is all-inclusive as ANYONE can come in and create art alongside the featured artists. You have to bring your own supplies, but they provide tables and chairs. Once an artist completes a piece, they pin it to a board/hang it up where it's priced between $5 and $30. If you see something you like, you take it to the artist and make your purchase. Simple as that. If you just want to spectate, you'll have a great time doing that too. Matter of fact, I haven't made any art at this event yet lol.

This month's featured artists were Paul Mericle, Ivan Collich, Adrian Boyer, Mensa Kondo, and Waxx!!...couldn't find sites for the last two. There were also other dope artists in the building doing their thing.

Grrrrrr....

So I THOUGHT I had a USB cord that fit my new camera...but it doesn't...and that's what I used to shoot all the pics from Sketch Lounge last night. It was a smashing good time. I'll post them tomorrow...after I purchase a new cord. In the meantime...

Stay Inspired.

Black Web Series

So I was minding my business one day, watching Awkward Black Girl on YouTube (funny web series that I love about being awkward...while simultaneously being black lol) and I happened to actually pay attention to the related videos in the side bar...aaaand it took me on this journey into black web series. I wasn't aware there were so many out there. There are TONS. They're not all good lol...but I just wanted to share some of the ones I reeeeally like. You don't have to be black to like these in case I accidentally insinuated that somewhere lol.

12-Steps to Recovery This series follows Parrish, a man who abruptly got his heart broken by a woman he thought was his true love. In order to help him "recover", his two best friends set him up a series of 12 dates to help get his mind off of his ex and potentially find a new love. I think this show is pretty funny and has a good cast of characters.

The Unwritten Rules In this series, Racey just started her new job and she shares with us some of the funny/annoying/awkward/etc things that happen to her while being one of very few black people in the workplace. I think I've personally experienced most of what she goes through in these episodes thus far lol.

   

The Couple Can I just say I LOVE this show lol. The name is pretty self explanatory...it literally follows the life of...a couple doing things couples do. It's pretty simple and there's a different issue/theme/focus with each episode. I think it's funny and I love the simplicity and authenticity of this series. They will really have you thinking you're watching a real couple lol.This is just a minisode...

The Number The Number also follows a couple...but for more sinister reasons lol. In this series, the looming conflict is...the number...the number of sexual partners his fiance` has had. They haven't revealed her number yet, but from his reaction, you're led to believe it's pretty high lol. This show also features the lovely Issa Rae from Awkward Black Girl.

The PuNanny Diaries It's not what you think!!lol So the main character in this show, Cozy, has had a pretty promiscuous past, so she decides to take an oath of celibacy after she catches her boyfriend cheating on her...again. I thought this episode was hilarious lol. Unfortunately, I think they've stopped making episodes for this series. The last one is from 2011 :(.

DC also has it's own web series...Anacostia. I read a lot of great reviews about it. I haven't watched any of it myself so I'm not going to post any episodes, but I linked to it. Check out these web series and let me know what you think!

SKETCH LOUNGE: Volume 2...TOMORROW!

Heyyyyyyyy!!! Just wanted to let you know that the Sketch Lounge will be back tomorrow for the second time at The Dunes in Washington, DC. The Sketch Lounge is a cool event with feature artists creating live works of art that they post up on the wall for people to buy BUT, anyone can come in and create art and post it up to sell AND they have an AWESOME DJ. I had a good time at this event when they had it for the first time last month. You can read about the great time I had here :)...it will be at a different place this time, but I'm sure it will be just as dope. For more detailed info, you can check out the event on Facebook, but if you don't feel the need to do all that...The deets...

Where: The Dunes

1402 Meridian Place, NW

Washington, DC 20010

When: Wednesday, August 29, 2012

7:00pm - 12:00am

Bob Ross Remix...lol

I love Bob Ross and I used to sit and watch him paint whenever his show came on. He was so cool and made the best "happy trees" and clouds lol. I also used to wonder how he got that bush. I was a kid...I thought only black people could have those at the time lol. This video made me laugh. PBS is something else.

How can you not be inspired after that?! There's no such thing as mistakes people...they're just happy accidents lol.

The Scarcity...

Hola mis amigos! Just wanted to make you all aware that there will be moments of tumbleweed action on this blog until the month of October because I have a lot going on at the moment ESPECIALLY because I am now beginning to build my project for Figment DC and my project has been successfully funded WOOHOOOO!!! Thanks to everyone for your support and you still have time to support if you'd like. The kickstarter campaign doesn't end until August 31st and in this case...more is more lol. There are also rewaaaards :). You can visit the campaign here. I will definitely keep you all updated on how my project is turning out!!

I am also trying to hone my art skills so I'm forcing myself to make more time for that. It's hard for me because I'm not in the house much and I like to be on the go...two things that make painting not so possible, but I have some great opportunities coming my way so it's time to get serious! I also want to take some drawing and painting classes so I'll be enrolling in some of those this fall. I'll also keep you posted on my artwork and related things. In the meantime...

Stay Inspired!!

More About FIGMENT DC with Fred Simonton!!

Hello ladies and gents!! I had the opportunity to speak with Fred Simonton, one of FIGMENT DC's key players who's helping out to ensure that DC's first ever FIGMENT event will be a success. Keep reading to learn a little more about the whos, whats and whys of FIGMENT!!...oh and be sure to come out and support the event, September 29th, at the beautiful Yards Park in DC :).

W&I: How long have you been involved with FIGMENT and what part do you play?

Fred: I've been involved with FIGMENT DC since FIGMENT founder, David Koren, visited DC on February 8, 2012 to gauge interest in getting it going here. I joined the curator team at our second or third meeting, volunteered to assume secretarial responsibilities at the team planning meetings, and I work on some supporting graphic design. My wife and I built a cloth 12'x12' Twister board with 144 dots that we will bring to this year's FIGMENT DC. I attended FIGMENT NY in 2011.


W&I: Wow a 12' x 12' Twister board...that sounds fun!!! Can you break FIGMENT down for us? I have a hard time describing this event to people lol.

DIY swag from "Honestly...WTF"

#Shoutout to Carmela over at PureLove for this one!!! Check out her blog by the way...she makes AWESOME jewelry. Thanks to her, I came across a really cool DIY/Inspiring/AllThingsBeautiful website that I'm super excited about *moonwalks*. It's called "Honestly...WTF"...seriously, that's what it's called lol. I'm going to now go and craftily destroy everything in my house. Let me just give you a dose of what they have to offer on their site. First up is what they did with this H&M purse...that I actually own and wear all the time lol. I'm considering giving it a makeover but idk yet...

BEFORE

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AFTER

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Cuuuuute right????

The first cool thing I saw, which Carmela had on her blog, was a DIY Friendship Necklace that they transformed from these materials...

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 Into this...

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LOVE IT!!! Click here to check out this awesome site and you can click the source link under the photos if you want to go to that specific tutorial. Go forth and be DIY fly!!!...I am lol.

Stay Inspired.

EXTRAordinary People | Danielle "Elle" Koon

Danielle "Elle" Koon

Writer & Poet 

Ladies and gentlemen, it is with GREAT pleasure that I introduce you to writer, poet, Logistics Coordinator amongst other awesome things, Danielle "Elle" Koon. Straight out of Washington DC, she is a breath of fresh air and most certainly an inspiration. And let me not leave out ENCOURAGER! Oh and she's a fellow AGGIE!!!:) She's is truly gifted and talented and I have no doubts that you will be inspired as well. Without further ado...

W&I: What do you do?

Elle: I’m a writer. I write poems, short stories, articles, blurbs…anything with words. I’m working on my first novel, so naturally I’m excited and scared as hell. I don’t like producing documentaries or shorts, I love writing them but somehow I end up producing or directing at least one a year. Along with that, I’m a Logistics Coordinator for events and new business ventures.

W&I: What INSPIRED you?

Elle: I am always inspired to write or do any of what I do because there’s always a story to be told and a connection that needs to be made. I’m inspired by being a voice. I like the idea of speaking on a topic as personal as being heartbroken, having someone relate and then feeling moved by it. It’s very rewarding.

Childhood Reloaded | DIY Perler Bead Necklace

My mom kept me laced with perler beads. Am I the only one? I used to think it was like the coolest thing. They're the small plastic beads you place on a pegboard and then use an iron to fuse them together. Between perler beads, Lisa Frank everything, Creepy Crawlers lol, and daily designs on my Lite-Brite, I had it made. There are a lot of other things that belong on that list, but they sound way less cool...like my rock tumbler kit for one lol...I'm gonna buy me another one!

Don't mind the face lol. I love the way this came out. I get to wear my childhood around my neck lol. I bought a few perler bead kits for the arts & crafts class I teach, but the rest of the classes were cancelled until it starts back up in the fall. I was a little excited to do this activity...so I still did it in my own way. I have a new thing for making necklaces. Not professionally...just for hobby sake. Don't ask me. D.I.Y. lol.

I'M FEATURED *Cheese*!!!

I've been featured on one of my favorite blogs today!!!...Steel Feather. Lace Elephant. (www.steelfeatherlaceelephant.com). It's an awesome blog that focuses on caring for natural hair...and some awesome styling tips, health, inspiration, fashion, and beauty amongst other awesome things. It is run by the oh so lovely/stylish/awesome/inspiring, PRoy. Be sure to check it out!!! You can read my interview here.

New Art Event!!!

If you're in the DC area, come out and enjoy "Blooming Artists, Engaging Minds", the first of many art events in the Bloomingdale neighborhood. This event will feature local artists (myself included) sharing their talents through paintings, spoken works, sculptures and live performance. This event is being put on by Trish Ofori of Weichert Realtors and Talent Coordinator, Imani Taylor. Here are the pertinent details:

Sunday, August 12th, 1pm - 4pm 

Live Performance from 2pm- 3pm

BIG BEAR CAFE

1700 1st Street, NW

Washington D.C. 20001 

Please come support!!!

For more details, contact Trish Ofori --> 413.244.4785. You can also find her on Facebook and Twitter. If you're not in the DC area, trust and have faith that there will be a blog post and I will tell you allllllllllll about it :).