Locks of Strength

In history, hair has symbolized beauty, strength, sex, class and also state of mind to name a few. For me it was my strength and power. If I spent time on it, that meant I felt good about myself and sexy. It's very important in my work. Most of my favorite designs (sometimes my hubby and I team up and created) are because of the swirls in the hair. I would just have a blast with creating a twirl or adding embellishments.

Last week I decided to chop it off. A time of chance? Yes. But this time in attitude. I am giving back. I am doing what I've had lack courage to do for fear of looking silly or losing my only true favorite feature I love about myself, my hair.
Do I regret it? Not a bit. I love it, so freeing. I want to go even shorter. My father thinks I look like a boy, well, tough, I love it. As far as I can remember I have had long hair, I think I was born with a trail of it.




Where is my hair now?
About to be mailed off to an amazing campaign, Beautiful Lenghts by Pantene. I feel so fortunate to have found it, or it found me. I didn't make the cut for locks of love, hair 9 1/2 inches instead of 10. Then soon after getting it cut, I just happen to flip to an ad about Pantene's campaign. 8 inches or more is all they need.. is that a sign or what? Serendipity. My heart was filled with incredible joy, like someone had light up my heart from the inside and I really wanted to dance, cry and hug anyone. The ladies watching my hair get chopped off were amazing at my calmness as the stylist struggles to trim off my locks. My hair just too thick to do it in one chop but rather over 5 times and practically broke her scissors. Feeling inspired? Don't be shy to look:
https://www.facebook.com/PanteneNA?sk=app_238472819524653

What's the sudden inspiration?
Well, I had a scare and turned out to be benign. The holidays were a bit of torture waiting to find out what was this thing that had now a personality growing in my head. It hurts if I'm mad. Tingles if I'm laughing. And feels like a stab when I wanna cry or get frustrated. Luckly it was just a cyst, unfortunately growing quite fast and a little painful. Someone I know who is a nurse, suggested they would cut a large portion of my hair to be able to remove it.. that started me thinking... why not cut it all.
Then my hopefully, future brother in law tragically lost his mother to battling cancer. And I felt incredible guilt. So I am doing this for her, for a little girl named Libirti, for Mrs. Tammy, my talented friend Paige, little Toki and the other people I haven't had the fortune to meet going through or have faced a terrible battle.
Life is cruel at times, but can make us better human beings. I am filled w/wanting to give more.

This is for you Annie Bell, I didn't get the honor to meet you but you have filled my heart with gratefulness. Thank You!

(and just to add or update: I know & feel Annie Bell is watching over my family. She sends me rainbows to remind me of the beauty of life and the beginning of something amazing. Thank you )

Tweet Tweets

I love birds.

These are some samples of my work for Foria. They would used them on PJ set prints and tees for junior wear. I would just love to see these on gift bags and cards.

This next one, I just think it's sweet.

Daniel (my man) and I teamed up. I had the idea and just couldn't quite make it feel the way I wanted it to, so I gave Dan my file then he did his magic and I was able to add my textures and swirls and bling then voilá. Love birds in love.

Hurray for team work.

mas y mas for teen wear

So I promised myself with the new year, I come up w/new work and push what I had designed in the past. I had done a series of images for the teen pop clothing to sell at Magic. Some sold to who knows who, since my rep was the one w/the booth at this show and I trust. But I can't believe how many I've done. And many while Sabrina napped or played. Here are some samples.
These were before Danté was born. Somehow I managed to come up w/these simple images though I hated the fact that they had to be vector images. To me they lack a texture and soul but that's what buyer for the clothing companies wanted. I have a friend who just said on FB how much she dislike the lack of plain old tees.. well I love that now a days we continue to have business from consumers to whom the busier the shirt, the cooler the design is for the buyer. As a designer it has forced me to get creative w/textures, combining symbols and push limited color look cool and grungy.

Honestly, it's these buyers/consumers, that allowed me to get my daughter gymboree classes and mommy & me. In fact, the last design in this page somehow ended up being bought in Africa and Argentina, for whom, I don't know, it was sold through an agency, but its cool that it maybe on a mug somewhere, or a tee shirt or a magazine. One day Danté will have his classes paid by this single image or if it does really well and the royalties work out, college (for a semester). Who knows.
And its time to create more...

Most Recent

So this is the most recent project. Actually I have one other very exciting in the works, I can not talk or show..but lets just say it's going to be Wonderful.

Anyhow, speaking of Wonderful, here's a must have. Alice in Wonderland. Check it out: http://www.storybookteakit.com/index.html

Fashion and Shirt Designs

Here are some samples of my work for Babystyle, Chiara Kruza and Skinnie Minnie
There is a picture (in blue) of Jennifer Gardner wearing one of my shirts when she was pregnant. Very cool!!! I've seen and heard of my designs selling at Costco, Macy's, Babystyle, Norstrom's, Kohls,and other such stores.

Design work for LADM

Never thought I'd be regard as a graphic designer, that wasn't my intention, but one day I was asked to do some work for LADM dance company, I thought why not. And it was the beginning of some of my best work. I really enjoyed it and love learning so much about dance. Every year for about 5 yrs I design a full magazine for them along w/all the marketing and banners they needed. Using Michael Higgins photos, getting something help from my talented sista and a little or a lot of photoshop we would make some magic and push the brochures every year to be amazing! Thank you for the opportunity and the challenge.

Photography

I just love it. Its my new passion and I love it. Wait, I said that already. I'm learning alot. I thank my friend Stephen for giving me the courage to do it and also in ways being a mentor. Everything I've learn and done for my clients I've been designing for I can add into my own images.
Check out Stephen's work it's amazing and gorgeous. I especially love images of people. http://www.stephenchiang.com/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephenchiang
But I also have to add in this that I'm in total awe of my other pal, Jen Parker, who has an amazing eye and style. Her sense of lighting is romantic and beautiful. May I also add she's also a terrific mama. http://www.jenparkerphotography.com/

Samples of my spiceybrain designs

This year I am finally focusing on getting more work out there. Old and new. I miss designing big time. Motherhood is fantastic and challenging but my inner soul needs to create. So far so good. The beginning of a new approach is now. Less making work for others and more for me. Sometimes my honey and love of my life, partner up and have fun w/our designs. As you can see w/the bunny image above. More Schier team work to come.

Mucho mas...

I really need to get a site that works. grrrr. I have a site I can't access, don't know how to update. And so here I am joining the blogging world. Rather exciting to have control of my posts. Let's see what happens.
I'm doing this cuz my soul needs it. I hate just being know as a "stay at home mom." I am much more...