It's good to be me

Where to start? Well, I finally finished the first wave of improvements to my site (http://www.mashulu.com). I'm satisfied (for now) with how it looks...now all I have to do is make more stuff.

As of late I have been quite pleasantly distracted by a certain fella...which makes it hard to be productive, lol. Tall, dark, handsome, and juuust complicated enough to keep me on my toes so it's all g-o-o-d. 'Bout damn time...let's see how it goes.

To top off this fantastic week I've had, my old college roommate told me a friend of hers had a sewing machine that she never really opened and wondered if I would like to have it. Sure...why not? She wasn't really trying to charge me for it, so in exchange I offered to make a custom bag for her as well as a bag that I already have in stock that she saw in my Etsy shop. So, I get the machine and lo and behold...it's a BERNINA! WHOOOO-HOOO (insert exuberant happy dance here)! I've wanted one for the longest! It's crazy basic, but a BERNINA nonetheless. I am too exited and I can't wait to use it!


That's it for now...I feel like I should insert a picture or something..so enjoy this pic I took last weekend at the 17th street market in Richmond VA:

I'm a failure...

...or at least that's how I feel. I didn't get the job. That's my fourth interview for a teaching position. I think I give up. Maybe it's a sign. I am starting to regret my fashion design degree. For me living in this area, I may as well have graduated from clown school. I don't know what to do.

But you know what I'm NOT a failure at? THAT'S RIGHT! MAKIN' STUFF! Here's my latest bag, to be added to my main site soon.

Ball o' Nerves

I'm starting to feel sick. I have a nasty habit of freaking myself out.

I am DESPERATELY trying to get the hayle up out of the job I am working. I have come to the conclusion that it is truly damaging my spirit. According to one of my daughter's journals (what? she left it out...I think she meant for me to read it) working there is ruining our relationship, too. I am frustrated and disgusted and just overall unhappy because I feel stuck. which really is rewarding. But recently things have gotten crazy and it's starting to take a toll. Due to confidentiality, I won't go into detail about the incident that proved to be the straw that broke the camel's back...plus I'm still so disgusted that I don't want to repeat it.

So I applied, for the second year in a row, to teach for the public school system. Here it is August and I noticed that all the listings for Art teacher have been removed from the site and I've had no interview. I'm frustrated and I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I'm trying to think about what else I can do...as far as I know, there aren't very many options in my area, especially from a creative standpoint. I feel defeated...

Thursday I got a call to have an interview with the Fine Arts department for Hampton City Schools. HALLELUJAH! Talk about the 11th hour! I was so exited...until I was told to bring in a portfolio. HUH? Oh Snap! I don't have one...at least not one that I think will land me the job. I'm thinking they want to see my Fine Arts type stuff...I haven't done fine arts stuff since college (I graduated in '01)...the only thing I've drawn or painted is this:

And this...



All I've been doing is sewing. So I'm sooo worried. All I can do is take new pictures of the things I have, present the HELL out them, and hope that they can see that I'm a capable artist and that I am hella passionate about art and creativity. Shoot. I dunno...

...Back to the beat

So, nearly a year ago one of my students did something that my mother didn't have the patience to do: teach me how to crochet. In doing so, a monster was created. I had little granny square patches all over the place as I experimented with color combinations. I even made granny square earrings (see my Etsy shop and my main site). Then, through gaining a small collection of books and pamphlets, I learned how to do different squares, even hats!1. first hat finished EVER 2. first hat w/brim...it looks better on a bigger head (from Get Your Crochet On by Afiya Ibomu)

Naturaly I would start doing some crochet bags...They are a bit time consuming, but gratifying nonetheless...

I love how this came out...I still need to put a lining in it.

I was making this for a "Black, White + another color" creative challenge, but never finished.

Some works in progress...

I'm in the mood for a journey...

...a HAIR journey!


So, a little over a year ago I cut my hair down to like about 1 inch or so, to get rid of all the relaxed parts in order to grow my hair out with it's natural texture. It was the third time I'd done it (the other two times I punked out a few months shy of the one year mark). Finally I settled in nicely to my naturalness and have been sporting a blow out 'fro and loving it.


Many of my friends have been growing beautiful, neat, highly style able locs (can you spot the FIVE lovely loc'd ladies in this pic? HINT: I'm not one of them...I'm wearing braids). I admired how it afforded them the best of both worlds...natural texture as well as length. It seemed like they grew over the course of a couple of months, when in actuality it took them 4+ years to achieve the glorious lengths that they sport. Everyone I ask says the same thing...that it's a journey. Could I possibly have the strength or patience to embark on such a journey?

should I or shouldn't I?

*ahh* we've had some good times my 'fro and I...

*sigh* but I'll MISS my cornrow/'fro combo.

let the journey begin...

P.S. Coles, thanks for the gentle nudge *wink*.