Staten Island Yoga Art Auction

This Wednesday, June 23rd, is the Art Auction and Satsang devoted to raising money for Bal Ashram, Baba Hariji's orphanage in Varanasi, India. Richard Humphrey has done an amazing job of pulling this all together and there is much inspiring art work to choose from. The art work will be on display at Shakti Yoga in Staten Island starting at 1 PM on Wednesday. Bids can be made in person at Shakti or by email to richard@redcloudmobile.com. Bidding will end at 7:30 PM and winning bidders will be notified after the evening Satsang or by email/phone.

If you'd like to bid on my piece below, your donation would be much appreciated!

What I've been up to...

It's a jungle out there, baby!

Congratulations to Michelle and Jason - baby on the way!

I designed a crate to match their baby's room theme - Jungle Jingle by CoCaLo - which by the way is one of my favorite Nursery Designer Companies. Their designs are bright, bold, and fun. If their bedding sets came in a Double, I may consider getting one....no, really.

And as a side note...looking for a good baby card (or anytime card for that matter)? Uncooked Cards are hilarious! Here's the one I gave to Michelle with the crate:

Springtime on my desk

Chinese Waters

"Chinese Water" painting done by for my friend who hopes to adopt a little girl from China one day.

This is a reproduction of a photograph by Don Hong-Oia, who takes beautiful landscape photographs in China.

Inspirational Jewlery I Can't Afford

Love Sundance. Their beautiful jewelry is handmade made by tons of artisans. Yes, they are expensive, but when you purchase something from this catalog, you are also "supporting American craftspeople, the Sundance Institute for development of new artists in film, music, dance and theater, and efforts to enhance and preserve the environment."

They currently have a featured artist by the name of Jes MaHarry. Her work is described as such:

"Images drawn from her surroundings become whimsical pictographs scrawled in precious metals. Fanciful beads and colorful gemstones intermingle to reflect nature's wild abandon. Often she adds an inspirational message like "Live love" or "Honor your dreams." Each of her jewels is imbued with heart and a handcrafted aesthetic all her own."

A burnished white bronze medallion bearing Jes MaHarry’s tree of strength is fastened to a soft brown leather wristband; double snap closure.

The beautiful blue of an aquamarine cabochon inspires tranquility. Jes MaHarry underscores the feeling by inscribing “calm” within the band. The gem is set in 14kt yellow gold; the band is sterling. Handmade in USA

Yoga Series 2

The second in the Yoga Series is done! The perimeter reads "Om Gum Ganapatayei Namo Namaha" which is the mantra for new beginnings. This one is display in Alluem Yoga.

Yoga Series

I believe I've mentioned before that I teach children's yoga on the weekends at Alluem Yoga...you can check out my kid's blog at www.alluemkids.blogspot.com. Yoga is a huge part of my life. It was introduced to me during one of the hardest points of my life in my early adulthood and I've stayed with the practice ever since. It's taught me to breathe, to let go, to listen to my body, and to live in the moment. I recommend to everyone to give it a try at least once!

So, some of my art has incorporated the yogic feel...most recently, I did a piece I call "Lokah Samasta Sukhino Bhavantu" (which is painted around the perimeter of the painting). This quote is a common closing mantra that translates to, "May all beings everywhere be filled with peace, joy, love, and light." The painting was used for the "Grab Bag" at the Holiday Party for the yoga studio. One of my fellow teachers "won" it and I hear it's already up and hanging in her home! It was a popular gift and I've been working on more paintings to go with that series. I'm almost done with the second, but here is the first one...

The Cup is Half Full?

My cousin Diana, author of The Cup is Half Full?, has been my new inspiration. She recently started a blog, which she describes best as her chance to stop sweating the small stuff and appreciate what she has. She hopes that through her blog, her Type A-self can learn to live, laugh, and love life. Kudos to her for taking the time each day to breathe, look around, and live in the moment. Her entries are humorous and make me smile. I make sure that I read them at work when I most need to laugh (at my 9-5 desk job at that-place-that-shall-remain-nameless, Inc. Not my yoga job or my illustration job. Man, I have too many jobs.).
I must say, I do try to stay pretty positive most of the time, but sometimes being stuck at this desk in the drama of corporate city life really gets me down. I was looking around my desk today, I took the time to notice how the sun was hitting my snow globe on my window sill - granted it's a snow globe with a sad looking man stuck in the lonely middle from The New Yorker Cartoon - "Snow Shoveler". But none-the-less, I thought, "There's a great picture!". So I snagged it, proud of the outcome. I'll use it as a reminder to remember to see the light even through the most depressing situations...much like my cousin is doing now...and maybe I'll get a happier snow globe.

Your bag and your mantra for the new year.

Happy New Year (6 days late)!

Barnes & Noble's latest mini tote is sporting my favorite mantra

and I couldn't be more excited!:

The canvas tote measures about 4"x10", the perfect size for your favorite book, bagged lunch, or any of your smaller possessions. I recommend you buy one today and remind everyone to "Keep Calm and Carry On"!

Available online and in stores.