Paintings, Puppy and Tattoos

 

It is mid-October just about and I have been keeping myself busy with art projects and focusing on my business. I have been in love with the weather because it has been cool and I can finally get my fall and winter clothes out of storage! It has been raining here pretty much the whole week, which I have been loving-even though sometimes it makes me not want to do anything but lay in bed and watch movies. I couldn’t do any of that this week, as I finished up a commissioned project to recreate a clown for a festival coming up. This was a fun project. I have never used UV paint (only for facepainting) so I had a little difficulty with glow in the dark paint and fluorescent paint, until a fellow artist mentioned for me to go to Stage Right Lighting here in Virginia Beach and of course, I found what I was looking for.

When I tell you what a difference this other paint made, you will be so impressed! This paint, Wildfire is amazing! It is more expensive but honestly so worth it because it has such great coverage and it is soooo bright. I picked up white, purple, magenta, and blue, each priced at $12.95 each for 6 oz. The best thing about the white is that I was able to mix the fluorescent paint I purchased from Michaels and make it just as bright. Check out the difference below!

 

Here is the final after I added all the finishing touches. And I think it came out great!

 

Just to clarify, this is NOT my original design, this was inspired by the following design found online from a miniature golf course.

 

I am now working on a new project inspired by pirates. I am excited to finish it up.

I have done a few other little things here and there to keep myself busy in between projects.

 

I am still working on my skills everyday in any realm of art I can get my hands into. I recently invested in some screen-printing equipment so I can finally launch a few tshirt designs that I have been wanting to do for a long time now. I have always been interested in screenprinting, and not to reproduce for other people, but mainly for myself. I just enjoy creating things. I was able to get an awesome deal from someone on Craigslist whom I actually knew as a local artist in the hampton roads area. He even threw in a sweet painting for me as well! He hand crafted this screen printing station, like, how amazing is that???

 

 

In other news, I finally got my head tattooed!!! I cant believe I actually did it, but this is something I have wanted for quite a long time, which if you have read my previous posts about it, you will know that this piece holds a special place in my heart as this is a tribute to my grandmother, Carol who passed away from cancer almost 4 years ago. It turned out amazing. I will share more about my experience on it in the next blog post, as I feel that it deserves its own post, rather than casually mentioned on this one.

And, we finally have our new addition to our family, Jacob, who is half husky and half pit and is only 8 weeks old! We picked him up today and it has been great to have a dog around the house again, although we miss Mystique terribly, at least we have a puppy to love on.

Well, it is nearing 1130pm and it has felt like a long and exhausting day due to a lot of driving, a lot of rain and chasing a new puppy around. So, I bid you goodnight and I pray that you all have a safe and sound night with sweet dreams.

Xoxox, Cecilia

Comfortable Silence

Happy October, my friends! I cannot believe how it is already Fall. Now that I am getting back into my groove of things, and finally over my cold, I can get back to business! With October comes many harvest festivals, carnivals, hayrides and haunted houses and I love it all. It’s a season of warm cider, hot chocolate and coffee. Long walks in the woods, watching the leaves change, building fires and decorating for the holidays. It’s a time of family, friends, gatherings and special events.

There is a part of me that loves being outdoors, when its cold enough to put a few layers on, but not too cold to where my toes are numb and I have frostbite on my nose. When I was younger, I loved to explore trails, woods and secret pathways. I am always curious to see what I can find. The same goes for Antique stores, and libraries, I am a geek to the core. For some reason, when I am exploring, the cooler weather just makes it so much more different. It sets a mood, it puts excitement into the air and it energizes my soul.

The smell of the grass, earth and trees, the comfortable silence and the innocence of nature. It draws my curiosity, entices me with its spirit.

The library holds mystery, like a secret that is waiting to be found, to be explored. I love curling up in a big sofa, with a blanket, a cup of coffee and getting completely lost in another world, while a warm, crackling fire tries to lull me asleep with the smell of burning wood. Behind the book, all time stops, its almost like you walk through the wardrobe into a strange land the moment you open a book.

 

Since I cant always run off to the library or go hiking through the woods, I try to make my home a sanctuary where I can relax, calm down and reenergize. I love Hazlenut Cream, cinnamon bun, vanilla spice any type of spice candle, where it either smells like a coffee shop or a bakery shop. What can I say, I have  sweet tooth, and I love for it to smell sweet too.

 

 

 

 

Autumn is a time for piling layers of clothing on, long socks, long sleeves, scarves, hats and gloves, leather boots and bags. I feel more comfortable in layers of clothes than a glamorous formal gown. Of course, I have to share some styles that I am in love with and that I would totally wear and I wish I could just “download” it off the internet and into my closet. Oh, why don’t we have this technology readily available to us??? One day, I can only hope.

 

What I love the most about the fall and the holidays that are quickly approaching, is having those you adore, love and cherish with you to share these simple, yet very meaningful moments in our short time of this life. Although I am an introvert at heart, and I love my “me time” and I am comfortable being alone, but I love going out and having fun and being goofy around those I can be myself around.

This past weekend kickstarted the season, and I was able to enjoy my past weekend with my family and children. We headed to the Neptune Festival where we hoped to catch a glimpse of same rad sand sculptures, eat a ton of festival food, and check out local and out of town vendors and artists. Lets not forget about all the live music provided by passionate musicians.

Look how bog my babies are getting!

My cousin, brother and mom!

Kiddos with my cousin and her boyfriend.

My younger brother and I!

 

My son and I on his 8th birthday!

Outside Dairy Queen!

My cousin, Marina and I!

Momma and I at a concert!

 

My Aunt Beth and I!

Let me add a photo I just got today of the newest member of the family, Jacob (which yes, the kids named after Jacob from Twilight and who am I to deny that????). I just got this photo today from the woman I bought him from'; we cannot wait to get him next week.

I cant wait until we can take Jacob with us on some nature walks! We have a whole lot of love to give this lil guy!

I hope that you enjoyed this post, because I really enjoyed writing it. I really share a part of me that is rather hidden away, but I hope that we are all kindred spirits here and that we can grow together and inspire one another.

Here are two videos that I have posted this week to my youtube, and if you haven’t had a chance to check them out, here is your chance! Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE and comment and like!

See you again soon!

To Let Go is To Open a Door

Weeks have passed and I have not blogged. I took a much needed break from the World, to gather my thoughts, my emotions, and my sanity so that I can be somewhat normal again in this sometimes confusing realm we call reality. I love this quote I found:

I believe that people are brought into our lives for a reason. Whether it is for good or bad reasons or even reasons unforeseen. Time creeps up and speeds by forever and in a blink of an eye until one day you realize that the life you are living is not one you ever pictured for yourself. People you love will change, you will change and no one is perfect. People you hold dear to your heart will hurt you, disappoint you and force you to decide what path to be on.

My time came for me to decide what was best for me and my family and although I was sad to make a choice, I know now that in the end, it was best for everyone involved. In this case, I am talking about my current marriage and this may be too personal to share, but this blog is my escapism, my journal, in a way for me to remember all the moments that have led me to where I am and who I am today.

In no way does a man complete me, but I will say that the right man will compliment me. I know that by myself, I can do all things imaginable. I am also a hopeless romantic and do believe that love is what makes the world go round. Love is what makes life worth living, whether it is love of your family, your pet, your friends, your children, your partner, whomever and whatever, love is what makes us feel every emotion and makes us feel alive. I want to share my love and my life with someone who appreciates me and doesn’t take me for granted. This should go for anyone in a relationship- make sure that you are respected and cherished. Love is a tender and fragile thing and most people treat it as if it is so common and everyday. True love is not common and it is a rare thing. It is a treasure.

 

 

I took some time to let go of all the pain, let go of all the hurting inside and took time to let go of a life that was never meant to be. The moment I had let go, I felt lighter and the stress lifted away, the heavy burden was gone, and I took from that experience many lessons that I will carry with me into the future. I do want to say to anyone going through a break up, that it gets better, you may be scared of what your life holds next for you, but do not be afraid, look at it as an adventure. You get to start over, start fresh and take care of you and your goals. Sometimes when we get into relationships, we put aside our happiness for someone else. So, let go of any pain you are feeling and pray that everything will work out the way it is meant to.

I left the salon to focus on my life and my business since I came to a crossroads. I am happier and I feel that I am on the right path now. This post was just for me to share these feelings and hopefully some of you reading may or may not relate to this, but I hoped it encouraged you in one way or another.

I did manage to make a video, you can check it out below!

Don’t forget to subscribe, comment and like!!!!

It is nearing 230am and I need to get to bed. Thanks for stopping by and see you in the next post!

 

xoxoxox. Cecilia Marie

A New Page

so many things are happening, so many changes, some for the good, some for the not so good, but necessary. I have a lot of cleansing to do, cleansing of the mind, the body, the soul and my house! I have done some recent cleaning, getting rid of the toxic, poisonous, negative people and things in my life and I have to say although I am exhausted and worn out and broken, I feel renewed, hopeful and much more at peace.

This post is a lil bit personal, but this is my personal blog and I know many of you can relate to this and just know you are not alone. We all have our struggles and the most important thing is to overcome out obstacles and push ourselves to get through it. I am generally a very positive person and very optimistic. I don’t look at the glass half empty or half full, I am thankful to have a glass to drink from.

This is the first week of my birthday, and I am viewing my 30’s as a new chapter in my life and I will make the best of it, now that I have gotten rid of the toxic plague, I can move forward.

I have done what seems like a lot of facepaint, and I did manage to take a few pics! Check it out

 

The salon is going good! We have many new stylists fresh from school and hungry to get started. Here are a few images from some of the things that have been going on this week:

The work above is done by Kayla, one our new stylists and I am in love with her work!

Above, our new braider, Markeemia played with the other half of my head!

 

I also knocked out this the other afternoon which was a lot of fun to do!

The picture quality sucks, but I will have them send me a pic of the healed tattoo!

I have also made a new instagram strictly for my artwork and tattoos, you can follow it: (sweetsurrenderink) to see just artwork!

well, my loves, I am off to bed and I will see you in the next post!