Constantly Seeking Inspiration

PHOTO: Happy Cows

The Weekend is here. Be a Happy Cow. It's a choice. Choose to be happy. Let crap go. That's my deep and meaningful thought. Love it? or what? :)

Photo: Dead Wood

There is this amazing place right off of Kanan Rd through the Santa Monica Mountains  where this Artist carves beautiful pieces of dead wood into collectible and breath taking art.

A must visit.

Photo: Complicated Cacti

More proof that beautiful traits are born and are within complex, thorny, complicated, people--err, I mean plants. Something beautiful exists in everything. Beauty is subjective.

-Farida

Light is More Important Than The Lantern

Light is more important than the lantern,
The poem more important than the notebook,
And the kiss more important than the lips.
My letters to you
Are greater and more important than both of us.
The are the only documents
Where people will discover
Your beauty
And my madness

Poem: Qabbani
Painting:
Girl reading a Letter at an Open Window
by Johannes Vermeer

"The World As I See It"

When we survey our lives and endeavors we soon observe that almost the whole of our actions and desires are bound up with the existence of other human beings. We see that our whole nature resembles that of the social animals. We eat food that others have grown, wear clothes that others have made, live in houses that others have built.

The greater part of our knowledge and beliefs has been communicated to us by other people through the medium of a language which others have created.

Without language our mental capacities would be poor indeed, comparable to those of the higher animals; we have, therefore, to admit that we owe our principal advantage over the beasts to the fact of living in human society.

The individual, if left alone from birth would remain primitive and beast-like in his thoughts and feelings to a degree that we can hardly conceive. The individual is what he is and has the significance that he has not so much in virtue of his individuality, but rather as a member of a great human society, which directs his material and spiritual existence from the cradle to the grave.

The example of great and pure characters is the only thing that can produce fine ideas and noble deeds.

 A man's value to the community depends primarily on how far his feelings, thoughts, and actions are directed towards promoting the good of his fellows. We call him good or bad according to how he stands in this matter. It looks at first sight as if our estimate of a man depended entirely on his social qualities.
     
And yet such an attitude would be wrong. It is clear that all the valuable things, material, spiritual, and moral, which we receive from society can be traced back through countless generations to certain creative individuals. The use of fire, the cultivation of edible plants, the steam engine — each was discovered by one man.
     
Only the individual can think, and thereby create new values for society — nay, even set up new moral standards to which the life of the community conforms. Without creative, independently thinking and judging personalities the upward development of society is as unthinkable as the development of the individual personality without the nourishing soil of the community.
     
The health of society thus depends quite as much on the independence of the individuals composing it as on their close political cohesion.


The World As I See It

Albert Einstein

Nothing Gold Can Stay

Nothing Gold Can Stay

by
Robert Frost

Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.

Nothing gold can stay.

Photo: Farida Rafique

File Under: (see image)

File Under:
1.     color pencils, white paper, inner child
2.     coffee and journals
3.     outdoors
4.     You can Quote Me on This
5.     No rhyme or reason
6.     Just felt like coloring
7.     Was downloading songs and thought I would scan an image
8.     Crushing on my new Character
9.     Can't wait to come to an end
10.    Begin my first rewrite

graphic by ?

Sharpie on Paper

"Sharpie on Paper." What is my medium? I found myself doodling today. I have a cherished collection of inks, sharpies, graphic pens and pencils. I am a total novice, an amateur doodler, a die hard sharpie lover. When I experience a creative block in my writing; there are usually two things I do: 1. free write  and 2. draw. [the complete list much later; need content for the future. ;)]
I don't have any agenda or idea of what I am going to do. I let my subconscious guide me and let my emotions flow. Sometimes it's just plain mind dribble, other times a telling stream of consciousness. The same is with drawing. I feel so alive just letting my marker go crazy on bright white drawing paper. I love movement. I love harmony. Movement and Harmony, friends in writing too. Every scene needs to lead and work in harmony with the next scene. Such are drawings that move in harmony. Lines paired with curves. Sharp triangles dancing with organic fertile leaves.  I used to draw all the time. Nothing too fancy; no formal training here. My moleskin notebooks and numerous journals consist of nothing more than patterns, designs, and words. An occasional cartoon too can be found. I wonder if all that was a good thing? Was I experiencing more creative blocks then? Hmm, something to revisit and ponder at a later time. Be still my hippie heart-all the hearts one can chuck up.

xoxo
Farida

Sharpie on Paper

Scanned.
Click to enlarge.

A Pretty "Peaceful" Picture Post for the Procrastinator

Say that 10x's.
As you know I took a Dive almost a month ago. Slowly starting to resurface and share with you all what I learned. Hopefully sometime this week, if the muses are with me.

With love,
Farida

BOOK: Photojournalist Reza Deghati's WAR + PEACE

Hope award recipient, Founder of Webistan, and world famous National Geographic Photojournalist Reza Deghati's book, "WAR + PEACE" is a worthy of the highest shelf in your book case. The book shares Deghati's 30 years of travels in rough terrains and heated political climates.

"In 1996 Reza won the Hope Prize for his efforts on behalf of Rwandan refugees. In 2001 he founded AÏNA, Afghan Media and Culture Centre to bring a free press to a nation silenced by the Taliban. He was again honoured in 2005 when Christian Poncelet, president of the French senate, presented him with the title of Chevalier de l'Ordre du Mérite, the national award for distinguished public or private service. And in 2006, Spain's Crown Prince Felipe presented him with the Principe de Asturias Medal. That same year, he also received the Medal for Distinguished Service in Journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia." (FRONTLINE)

For more information on the works and life of Reza Deghati:
BIO on National Geographics
FRONTLINE Event on March 2nd in the UK with Q &A
WEBISTAN
Reza Deghati
WAR+PEACE on AMAZON

Word Jumble

Design Inspiration: Marrakesh

Click to enlarge image.

What I love:
1. Arch entry with moldings
2. The pattern work with 2 different kinds of marble
3. The inlay work on chest of drawers
4. The claw foot chairs
5. The color purple

Gorgeous!

Design Inspiration: Formal Dining

I believe design; interior, construction, graphic, retail, and even clothing is inspired. From time to time, I will share some of my design inspirations with you all. I hope you enjoy!
Farida

CLICK to enlarge.
Why this works:
1. contrast of colors
2. battling styles from different eras. A modern base, french chairs, abstract art.
3. unexpected.

On The Ebb and Flow of the Creative Drive

Great passage on Creativity, Inspiration, and Continuing the Flow of Ideas.

On days when you are not inspired to act out your creative drive, take a break and know that taking this rest may be the most crucial thing you can do for your creative flow. Don't judge a quiet day as non-creative or uninspired.  Just take some time off-be bored even-but trust that there is more going on than is readily present to your physical senses and moods. No matter what you are creating, whether it is a solution to a problem or a project, you must allow time for incubation. Incubation means "to cause to develop under suitable situations."
Remember that truth is a pathless land, and sometimes our creativity is fostered when we are wandering aimlessly. Don't be afraid to be aimless and without direction. Don't let goal-directed belief systems keep you from discovering who you are and what you want to create. Daydream, let your mind wander, let go of strict goals-in other words, take a vacation from the pressures of being someone and you will find out who you really are.

Terry Lynn Taylor

Emotion filled Portraits by Platon in the New Yorker

The September 29, 2008 issue of the The New Yorker magazine introduced me to the emotion capturing portraits by photographer Platon. The portfolio in the magazine titled, Service is about military families and the soldiers themselves. The New Yorker has in the recent month produce some controversial covers, but I must say this pictorial was whole.

The pictures convey so much unfiltered emotions. You can listen to Platon's interview with his photo subjects too, on the audio page of the New Yorker HERE.

You can also visit Platon's personal website HERE. Or check out his "Platon's Republic" on amazon HERE.

Photographers amaze me. Really, they can draw out stories that are always present. Sometimes it takes a lens for someone to look closer. No?  Their stories are woven with feelings. That is apparent. Sharing the stories is what journalism, documentaries, and photojournalism is all about.

I scanned a few from the series to share with you. Do check it out online if you wish to see the whole series. HERE. [click to enlarge image]

 

Photo: Green is beautiful

I promise not to rehash my list of excuses for NOT updating my flickr page with photos from Big Island, Hawaii. One day soon I will finish my album. *crosses fingers*.

Here is one of many: [click to enlarge]

Matisse & Walters: "Taken"

Taken

First, you must let your heart
be broken open
in a way you have never
felt before,
cannot imagine.

You will
not know if what you are
feeling
is anguish or joy,
something predestined
or merely old wounds
flowing once more,
reminders of all that is
unfinished in your life.

Something will flood into
your chest
like air sweetened by
desert honeysuckle,
love that is too
strong.

You will stand there,
very still,
not seeing what this is.
Later, you will not remember
any of this
until the next time
when you will say,
yes, yes, I have known this before,
it has come again,
just as your eyes fold under
once more.

-Dorothy Walters

Painting: Henri Matisse
          Odalisque in Red Trousers, c.1924-1925

Ear Candy: Because I love Sitar, Mughal Art, and Beautiful Boxed Sweets

Let your life lightly dance on the edges of Time
like dew on the tip of a leaf.
-R. Tagore

Just recently my Husband came back from Lahore. He bought the most decadent Mithai (South Asian Sweets) for our families. The Nirala Mithai Tin cover was adorned with Mughal Art. So I decided to the scan the image and share it with my readers, since I cannot share the mithai!  The original image can be found HERE (in case you want to critique my graphics skills-hehe). Click this image to enlarge. 

"Female Musicians Celebrate the wedding of Aurangzeb" Agra, Diwan-I-Khaas, 19 May 1637

Since I was sharing such a lovely image, I thought why not add one of my favorite modern Sitar songs. Here is Karsh Kale and Anoushka Shankar's, "Slither", from the Breathing Under Water album. (you know I always stick to my mermaid archetype!) I hope you enjoy!

-Farida

Listen to "Slither" HERE.   {you can always listen to it on my website too.}

 

 

Film: "Brick Lane"

British Writer Monica Ali's 2003 novel, "Brick Lane" has been adapted into a Movie by Sony Pictures Classic. It's release date is June 20, 2008 in the US. "Brick Lane" the film is directed by Sarah Gavron.

For those unfamiliar with the story; here is a snippet from the Yahoo Movie database.

The story of a beautiful young Bangladeshi woman, Nazneen, who arrives in 1980s London, leaving behind her beloved sister and home, for an arranged marriage and a new life. Trapped within the four walls of her flat in East London, and in a loveless marriage with the middle aged Chanu, she fears her soul is quietly dying. Her sister Hasina, meanwhile, continues to live a carefree life back in Bangladesh, stumbling from one adventure to the next. Nazneen struggles to accept her own lifestyle, and keeps her head down in spite of life's blows, but she soon discovers that life cannot be avoided--and is forced to confront it the day that the hotheaded young Karim comes knocking at her door.

You can find the movie trailer at the Sony Pictures Classics website HERE.

I am looking forward to it.

Ear Candy: "Break" The Cinematics

I will never age as long as I listen to young hipsters from Glasgow. Hehe. So they aren't a brand spanking new band, been around for a few years now; but are new to me.  I just discovered the the Cinematics, and I must say they possess all the 'atics: theatrics, dramatics, and fantastic. I wouldn't say they are downright emo (that's a scary word these days) but they do have a moody edge. Kind of like Bravery. Scotland has been producing some great acts--first the Cocteau Twins, then Franz Ferdinand and now..the Cinematics.

Perfect companion to the stair climber. Yes indeed. Check out the video to their song "Break" HERE.
Take a listen to "Break" HERE .

It’s from this loneliness and the fear it brings
That new doors can open up and be a saviour to me
So i’ll open my mind, open my heart
It’s the only way to breathe
It’s the static of the lights, she said
So don’t panic
No, don’t panic

Ear Candy: "Letter Homes from the Garden of Stone" Everlast

Late at night when I can dream
I think about life back in the world
I miss you and Dad, Sister Sarah
I Miss my wife and baby girl
Pray for me pray for my soul ma
Pray for me and all my sins
They say I got a job to do now
I'll be back when it finally ends

Last week I posted an entry about Everlast new single, "Letters Home from the Garden of Stone". You can find that entry HERE.

Today, I post the song for you all to listen. [just in case the video was too graphic for you].

Peace is making a comeback for sure. Take a listen HERE.

I had to correct the title of the song and was able to download the lyrics. You can download the lyrics from this post.

Download LettersHomefromtheGardenofStone_lyrics.html

Ear Candy: "Viva La Vida" Coldplay

Live Life.

This is for all the Coldplay fans out there. As you know a few weeks ago Coldplay sent out single, "Violet Hill" mp3 to their fans via their website for gratis. Coldplay is generous. Thank You! They are visiting Texas in November, can hardly wait.

In case you all haven't caught "Viva La Vida", check it out HERE.

What would be the most flattering thing for a great band like Coldplay? How about a cover or a tribute by a  YouTuber. Check out this YouTube video of "Viva La Vida" HERE. He is definitely not a falsetto.

The Little Girl in the Antique Photo

I never understood why so many People collected Antique Photos of Strangers. I used to be spooked by them. Usually, because of the old photography style that casted a ghost-like mist around the photo subject. But I now I understand why there is this attraction towards these vintage photos of nameless Souls. It's the energy and emotion they evoke. Maybe I am just a tad eccentric, but I don't mind knowing the story behind these people. Where they came from? Were they immigrants? Did they achieve their life's purpose? Did they ever think their personal photographs would be on display?

Is it true a photograph captures pieces of your soul or aura? Do we lose a little bit of ourselves by displaying our pictures so openly? Do we lose value over the 1000th capture? Do any of our visual representation remain in rich in respects of the number of photographs?

Or do pictures freeze our souls in that moment, we wish to revisit. Do we need to archive every moment, for ourselves or really for our unknown future generations?

What do the images we take, share and capture say about us?

I like this photo, because this little girl looks happy, down to the soul, happy. :) Kids should be smiling. Always.

Ear Candy: Music to dive into. 14 Mermaid Inspired Songs. Take a Listen.

Music is my constant companion. It draws out emotions in me when I need it the most; when this Deep Sea Creature is seeking inspiration. My writing, my work, my work-out is cradled by music. Whether its post-punk on the treadmill, electro-clash when I am cooking, melancholic tunes when I am writing or even good old rock when I feeling the torque on my drive. Music is yet another addiction of mine.

So my blog friends and friends, I decided to compile a list of songs that depict the underwater archetype. Some are old, some are new--some just plain silly. I have embed  a couple and linked all  the mp3s. (They are only available for listening, not downloading.)

I hope you enjoy them as Much as I did! Listen to all 14 complete songs. Yes, 14. Feel free to bookmark them.  Feel free to let me know if you fancied any of these. :)
With Love,
Farida

FYI: If you search under the "music" category on my website you can find my earlier "EAR CANDY" posts. or you can just click HERE.

1.  "Dangerous Power" by Gabriel and Dresden
Like a flower I want to be the sun that you grow to
How I long to change you
Open your mind The loss you don't find
(LISTEN)

2. "Love Will Find You" by Heather Nova
Listen to the wind. Let go of the fear. Let go of everything. Let go of it's realm. Love will find you: I believe it's all inside you. All the answers...(LISTEN) 

3. "The Girl and the Sea" by the Presets
Tonight the hills are watching her as she runs towards the sea. Yeah she runs so she can be free. (LISTEN)

4. "World in My Eyes" Cicada  Remix by Depeche Mode
Let me put you on a ship. On a long, long trip. Your lips close to my lips
All the islands in the ocean. All the heaven's in motion. Let me show you the world in my eyes. (LISTEN)

5. "Dice" by Finley Quaye, William Orbit and Featuring Heather Nova
Virtuous sensibility. Escape velocity. Nothing can compare to when you roll the dice and swear your love for me. (LISTEN)

6. "Dissolved Girl" by Massive Attack
Shame, such a shame. I think I kind of lost myself again. Day, yesterday. (LISTEN)

7. "Running Up That Hill" by Placebo
And if I only could, Make a deal with God, And get him to swap our places, Be running up that road, be running up that hill...(LISTEN)

8. "Take You On a Cruise" by Interpol
Black goddess, White goddess, Red temptress of the sea you treat me right. Oh my love, we're sailing to Norway..(LISTEN)

9. "Black Swan" Thom Yorke
People get crushed like biscuit crumbs. And laid down in the bed you made. You have tried your best to please everyone. (LISTEN) [explicit]

10. "Glittering Clouds" by Imogen Heap
It's all over the papers. On the TV, wagging tongues. The artist's impression just like me, only better..(LISTEN)

Fun Extras:

11. "Somewhere Beyond the Sea" by Bobby Darin (LISTEN) --Classic

12.  "Ecouter" by Jem and Carmen Rizzo (LISTEN)  -NEW  ---Sexy.

13. "Queremos Paz" (WE WANT PEACE) -NEW, dubby and beautiful.  (LISTEN) I am in love with this one!

14. "Spirits" by Junkie XL -electroclash and feisty. (LISTEN) I burn major calories to this one.

Dave Matthews on the Beauty of Nature

photo by Farida

"Nine planets round the sun, only one does the sun embrace. Upon this watered one, so much we take for granted; So let us sleep outside tonight, lay down in our mother's arms, for here we can rest safely … One sweet world around a star is spinning - One sweet world - And in her breath I'm swimming, and here we will rest in peace." - Dave Matthews, musician and activist

Camus on the meaning of Life

You will never be happy if you continue to search for what happiness consists of. You will never live if you are looking for the meaning of life.
Albert Camus

Colours

“The soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts.” Marcus Aurelius

photo by farida rafique. click to see gallery.

CELEBRATING 10,906 views.

CELEBRATING 10,906 views.
Originally uploaded by Farida Rafique.

I still consider myself a Flickr newbie. It has been almost a year since I joined this photo community. I have made some great friends. I have been inspired by your amazing images. I have sharpened some of my skills too.

Thanks to my flickr friends for their comments and kind words of encouragement. I hope to share more pictures. I hope they get better in time too!! Just wish I had more time to practice, and def more photo subjects.

Thanks for being patient with my stream.

FYI: personal pictures are set to friends and family setting. They are not public. You will have to create a FLICKR account and befriend me, in order to see those. :)


for my photos visit here: www.flickr.com/photos/blueorbmermaid/
for my sets visit here: www.flickr.com/photos/blueorbmermaid/sets/

On Rebirth from "Love in the Time of Cholera"

He allowed himself to be swayed by his conviction that human beings are not born once and for all on the day their mothers give birth to them, but that life obliges them over and over again to give birth to themselves.

Gabriel Garcia Marquez Love in the Time of Cholera

Gabriel Gárcia Márquez: Columbian novelist and short-story writer. Márquez was born on March 6, 1928. He won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1982.

Gabriel Garcia Marquez'  novel, "Love in the Time of Cholera", has been produced into a beautiful film. The release date is November 16th. It stars Academy-award nominated Javier Bardem [I LOVE HIM!], Giovanna Mezzogiorno, John Leguizamo  and Benjamin Bratt.

If you haven't read the book, you have a few weeks to catch up. Trust me, it won't be hard to finish. Marquez's words are silky and comforting. His novels are easy to get lost in.

Here is a link to the movie: Love in the Time of Cholera

Happy Halloween

Be safe! Be Happy! Trick nicely, and share good treats :)
photos by moi. via flickr

Emel Magazine: The Muslim Lifestyle Magazine

Emel Magazine is a magazine that I encourage you all to check out. It has beautiful Cover Art, illustrations and seriously great writing. They really do a wonderful job of sharing the Muslim Lifestyle in all facets.
Visit the Emel Magazine website HERE.
Get a paid subscription if only for the Cover Art! Of course the magazine is the total package. [Sept. 07 Cover seen here]

Sexy Seating

Shapely curves, plush fabrics, dramatic wingtips, or your own film noir-esque cuddle hub. The right kind of seating can add drama and character to your lovely pad. Whether it be a parlor chaise in your master suite or a coupling of arm chairs admiring the fireplace, sexy seating rocks. Chairs are artpieces. They are in a category of their own when it comes to furniture all together. The craftmanship, the tuffting, the details, the fabric, the finish, all are distinct characteristics of the whole body of a chair.

Chairs are more than seating. They are conversation pieces. They can be that one stand alone piece that makes your sitting area or living room dramatic. If you are tired of  that "pulled out of the Ikea catalogue"  look, adding that unique chair might helpt. Visiting antique stores, estates sales, garage sales and even the curb--might unite you with that rare find. You can totally finish a chair by reupholstering and revarnishing. That's the beauty of seating. If the structure is sound, you can embelish and adourn it in your home.

I have found ratty but rockin' chairs at antique stores that oozed character, all they needed was a little touch up. For me purchasing a chaise for $300, and investing $120 in touch ups, added to a refurbished anitque chaise valued at $700. That's not bad for a do it yourselfer.  You can also fine tune your bargaining skills and win yourself some stay in the budget find. Besides the value, you are adding a one of a kind piece to your own home with history and character. Aren't our homes a reflection of our personal taste?

Currently I am on a sexy Seating mission. From Mod patio furniture to masculine Arm chairs, I am mad about theatrics, drama, and colour. I hope I find that one chair that begs me to recline and relax!

Here are some Chairs I have come across that just whisper back sweet nothings, Enjoy!: [click to enlarge]

Sunny Disposition

Are you eternally optimistic?

Rainy Day Activities: Top 10 list

My yard is getting drenched. The orchestra of thunder and raindrops makes me want to slip into my jammies and make some good masala chai. It's raining and it's raining some more. Rain has a profound effect on the creativity and emotions. It can inspire you more than you know. Maybe you do know?
So if you are portion of the population that doesn't have to do anything; I have some activities for you. These are no particular order. Feel free to share your own rainy day activities.

1. PHOTOS: make an album. Go through all your picture boxes and start sorting. All you digital photographers out there, take this time to burn a DVD of all your digital photos. Get them printed. There is nothing like rain to bring the warm fuzzies.

2. BOOKS: Why not log off, turn off the tube and cozy up with a book you have been meaning to read for a while? Like I said these suggestions are for that small portion of people who found that lost time on a rainy day. Relax your mind by getting into a book. Whats better distraction from life's stress than a great story?

3. COOK: okay, this one might be a tad tough. Either you can work with what you have on hand. Or you can research a recipe that you have been meaning to try. Print it out, go to the store and cook up a storm. No pun intended.

4. Intensified Feelings?: Okay, so rain is cathartic. Just like tears after a tough time make you feel better. Rain has that effect on people on a metaphysical level. Sometimes rain can get the already melancholy people more sad. In any case, its a good time to be reflective. Go get your spiral notebook or laptop and start your stream of conciousness. We spend so much time trying to understand other people in our lives that we neglect our own feelings. Writing down whatever comes to mind is a good start to discovering what you feel.

5. Letter writing: Have a friend you have totally neglected because of your schedule? Have a family member that you lost touch with? Take this time to send out a short and sweet email. Very easy to do. Compose your thoughts, let them know you were thinking about them and hit send.

6. Blogs: Thats right! One of my personal favorites. If you are a blogger then you know how important this is. In order to market your own website, podcast or blog, you must be an active partcipant. That means visiting your favorite sites and leaving your comments. The more you comment, the more trackback and replies you will get. Very simple concept in blog marketing.

7. Call your Mom: that's right your Mom. Even if your Mother is no longer here in this world or if you are not speaking with her. Take this time to channel your positive energy and connect with her. After all, she gave you life. You always have a special connection with her. If she is living and far away, give her a call. Just do it. Nothing warms the soul more than that. For some of you who are on the outs with your Mother for whatever reasons. Dwell on the healing aspect. Extend the first hand. Whether or not there is a positive outcome immmediately, doesn't matter. You have grown spiritually regardless. Honor the memories of the deceased loved ones and grow.

8. Declutter: Something superficial as cleaning your closet is symbolic of decluttering your mind. Toss out what you don't need. Prepare those charity boxes. Feel better about being organized.

9. Dance: I said it! Turn on your groove thing. Don't feel silly. Is it headbanging to "smells likes teen spirit" or shaking your booty to Fischerspooner's, "You're my Disco". Just dance. For a 3 minute song, let your body feel the musical vibration. Get a rush. Loosen your hips. Stretch that back. Laugh like a little child.

10. Meditational Chants/Religous Vibes: From Aria, tamboura vibrations, chanting, nasheed or naats. Regardless of what your Faith or spirituality is. Just tune into the message of peace and love. Sounds dorky? Don't knock it till you try it. Repetitive chanting as in Qawalli is very cleansing. Crank up your ipod, your speakers and just absorb it. How do you feel after that? Like I said, don't knock it till you try it.

Hope you try at least one of these 10 activites. :) These activities are not gender specified too!

constantly seeking inspiration

are you listening? click here

I am constantly seeking inspiration. That has become my motto if you will for quite some time now. I share with you two of my favourite artists. Can you guess who they are?
Audio?
Visual?

[click to enlarge the image]

pencil me in

a message for you.  you know who you are.
thank you for everything you have done to turn my once dream to a living reality everyday. I will forever be 24 fps in my heart, even when I am at 29.97 fps. its all good to me.

*coded
[click to enlarge]

Updating the design of my site. Need feedback :)

Okay luvvies. I have been trying to break away from the old templates and format. Although I very much loved the old design. After a  year it has become visually boring. Now days many blog readers subscribe to the feed , so the visual representation seems secondary. However, I do want to shake things up a bit in the next few months. I want the site to be place worth visiting. Not just my mind bytes, but links to other online resourceful places and cyber goodies.

I am in this entry attaching a few thumbnails of web banners I designed. Click to enlarge them, and let me know which one you like the best. Tres cool?

1. Goldie-current design
Took this picture of a store window Mermaid in Coronado.

2. Get my feet wet- the original. This one graced this site for a year!
Those are my feet-hehehe

3. Mermaid in the Pool
picture of a crystal Mermaid my friend Sarah sent me for my 30th birthday.

4. Black Waters

5. Ink Outline Mermaid

There you have it!  The 5 banners I have played around with in the past 15 months. Let me know what else you are looking for too.
I have a book lists, music list, films, wish lists, blog roll, and of course my audio blog entries. Which I will be sharing more information about later this week.

Thanks in advance!
Farida
aka Mermaid

old URL: www.mermaiddiaries.typepad.com
NEW URL: www.faridarafique.com
or
www.faridarafique.com/splash

truth in film: V for Vendetta

You are but a single individual.
                    How can you possible make any
                    difference?  Individuals have no
                    power in this modern world.
                    That is what you've been taught
                    because that is what they need you
                    to believe.  But it is not true.

V
                    But the world, the world is not
                    saved... Do not think that, when
                    the fires die and the smoke clears,
                    there is no miracle... there is
                    only a path... upon which they must
                    learn to rule themselves.

Evey:
Since mankind's dawn a handful of
                    oppressors have accepted the
                    responsibility over our lives,
                    responsibility that we should have
                    accepted ourselves.  By doing so,
                    they took our power.  By doing
                    nothing, we gave it away.

The Question Remains

simple visual formula
cartoon by Farida Rafique

click to enlarge the picture.

Can you put words to this visual? Use the words below and come up with your own caption or message.

Word Bank:

food, beginning, parents, bird, fruit, tree, stems, leaves, shade, branches, trunk, ground, water, warmth, creed, nourishment, structure, love, fertility, energy, core, foundation, seedling, progress, growth, peace, home, shelter, dwelling, sustenance, Almighty, God, ripe, sow, eternity, afterlife, family, child, innocence, pregnate, values, morals, strength, perseverance, committment, hope, cycle, life, karma, grateful, deeds, practice, prayer, Soul, food, hatchling, safety, simple, unity, purity, simple, lesson, motto, actions, intention, mindful, song, harmony, constant, dream, reality.

"Bag Envy" by Farida Rafique

I hope you enjoy this little cartoon I came up with while drinking my morning Kona. If brewed perfectly, you cam stay awake for 24 hours.

Enjoy!

PS: CLICK the image to ENLARGE and read..

Red is my New Blue

  tasbeeh heart 
  Originally uploaded by Farida Rafique.

“Red is my new Blue”
by Farida Rafique

Red is the color of my blood before it was blue.
I prance outside of myself,
To only discover all is not new.

I take a picture of myself
For my “eye” to see
I examine it with a new belief

I gently step back in and make what needs to be right
I still bleed red
But now with more Light

Sight is not what I only see
It’s all encompassing and all that is in relation to me

Is it what I want to perceive?
Or is it something new and shiny, which still remains unseen?

Yet, Red is still the color I bleed

"thinking lady"

  bw bust 
  Originally uploaded by Farida Rafique.

there is something magical about previously owned, loved, and cherished things...their history, their integrity, the quality,the craftmanship...

for me its all of that and history...the journey these objects take before reaching their current home, only to be left behind, passed down, or gifted to another tender natured spirit...

i tend not to blog my weekly agenda ....even at times when i have been inspired and at emotional heights--i hesitate...

i rather lazily share everything but...
not today though..

i had a grand ol time soaking in history, ornate pretty little things, and all those things in between...

check out my flickr set: Sunday

c'mon lets blogroll

all you blogger friends, blog visitors, and  fellow real life blog friends,

lets blogroll.

Seriously, If you have a blog you would like for me to add to my list of blogs. [which i have a few right now} let me know. I would love to share some blog billboard space, you know.

spread the good blogs around, you know?

you scratch my blog, i scratch yours...i know a few ppl had listed my blog without telling me [i didnt know them at all], but i was flattered, so i sent them an email...and we rolled.

so in spirit of cheesy blog laced puns, slogans and clinchers...lets blogroll.

or suggest a good blog i should check out and bookmark.

im going to go now.....and                                              blog......................roll.

Balloon Girl

call it what you will, i tend to be down with writer's block. the last month or so has been a stream of photos and ramblings about blogs...where has the writer gone to?

this picture really describes the way i have been feeling. the mind is up in there and almost sailing the whimsical plains of my subconcious, where the feet are pointed towards a  path and the head determined to get somewhere fast..patience has never been a virtue ..more like a life theme ..whimsical is the nature that i do adore about myself, for it does allows me to breath, and perhaps metaphysically glide into new thoughts and new places...

Balloon Girl

speedlite pics.

Dear Readers, Subscribers, Stalkers, Friends, and Friends I have not met in real life,

Hope you all are doing super on the other side of the monitor. I am still not replying to blog comments, voicemail, myspace and email for a while. I'm in basement mode and I can't seem to get in the frame of mind to sit down and detail. [you all know that eccentric side of moi: space, underwater, think tank, exploration, art, writing]
I know you all understand, bc you all, like myself, are human. I assure YOU LOVELY people, all is well. Just somethings this oversized mythical half fish-half godesss needs to take care of.

In exchange for a wordy blurbfest i will grace you with some off the wall pictures. I inherited a Canon Speedlite flash from my Father. He knew i was eyeing the flash for a while. Very cool of my Dad. :)

To celebrate Speedlite, I took some random pics with the new lite and new glass.
I will be updating my photo albums later this week too. So make sure you come back and visit the website itself: www.faridarafique.com. Maybe this year will give me more photo Ops. Let's hope so!

The titles are listed below. Click to enlarge and enjoy!
Later Luvvies,
Mermaid

1. "Backseat View" [my bro Aki's silohuette]
2. "Baggage" We all have it. [my bag-gage]
3. "last year's resolution'
4. "Media Multitasking" [My sis Zaibee]
5. "Stuffed fairytale" A unicorn I won for my Sister

Mermaid Rox on i tunes. check it out

Good Day All,
I know I have been away, but no worries, I bring you all tasty ear snacks. I composed an I MIX of my favourite new tunes on I Tunes. You can click the link below or just go to the template and take a listen. Remember I tunes is PC/MAC compatible and its free to download too. Please do visit it and submit your rating too and let me know if i introduced you to artists you NEVER heard of... I will be uploading tons of back dated posts today too....its that time lets get down to some good vibes.

Mermaid Rox: Music to Swim In

work related pictures. [DPC]

test shots i took at the Dallas Peace Center.
Photo Credit: Farida Rafique.

More PICTURES behind the cut.
I plan on uploading more pictures to the albums after dec.5th. stay tuned!

[click to enlarge]

FADER: my new find-

it seems like the last month i have been blogging about music mainly...seriously, you all know how music is my lifeline and a constant companion for my writing...it just makes sense for me to share the new stuff and new finds--i used to be a music snob...now i want to share the goodness...my readers are just like me, they lust over music...and i can feed that high..tee hee.heee

i discovered FADER: music mag via podcast search. they have FADER podcast each month-it reviews new beats. Now i love almost all kinds of music-with the exception of country..sorry, no country for me..love bluegrass and i also love rap. i dont listen to rap all the time, but when i do, i consider it urban poetry...i dont really care for hip hop, yes it makes for great club sets, but not my taste...mostly i am consumed with trip hop, emo,punk,ROCK!, garage, CA/NY stylized, indie rock, shoegazer, down tempo and now breakbeats. little bit of electronica, singer/songwriter, alternative, classical, opera, instrumental, world and some techno--depends ;)

just another sunday.

well luvvies,
i totally procrastinated on my "deep water" like blog entries again this weekend. i guess whatever i have to blog about can wait. sort of delaying the reality of certain topics. why even acknowledge its existence when its easier to pretend its not there at all. geez. that sounded deep? kind of prolific? tee hee hee.
kidding.
my cell phone was turned off all weekend. trying to conserve juice. sister last weekend, decided to pick up my charger by accident..so, i am relying on the car charger to carry me through the week. now i could have just gone and bought another one, right? but i can wait. plus its a nice change. a nice break. i guess i should check it before i retire to bed this evening, just in case.

New Tool. :D

dallas peace center, amnesty international, parents and sissy visit, school --the suprise is-We brought home our second baby last thursday! Mashallah. i am very happy. i know things cannot buy happiness, but this is more like a tool for me. inshallah i will use it to progress good things and purposeful projects.

i took this photo the day after. I am still learning all the details to this new camera. I waited so long for this model to come out. we went a little overboard and bought a telephoto zoom lens too. Man, i am so impatient to try this camera out, but believe it or not the last week was so freakin' jammed packed, I  had no time to play. inshallah this weekend.!!

Also, this weekend i will post with details and information. You can finally hear my voice too. I have one submission for my Viewfinder page too--so will be working on that.
Anyhoo-if i didnt have to run i would chat some more.

Check out the specs below.

here are the specs on EF-70-300mm telephoto zoom lens. drool.

here are the specs on the newest Rebel xti. drool.

Digital Rebel XTi EOS Digital SLR Camera

Now, of course, my photography skills are slightly above amateur, only because of the 9 hours of Cinematography i took in college --can aid me in composition, light meteing, and speed. However, I was a purist and only took 35 mm SLR, but i decided to advance to digital SLR. We shall see what happens.I am already eyeing a third lens:

                        macro: specs

or

wide angle: specs

I will wait until i have earned these babies. time to practice. practice practice. i cant wait till i can take pics of my friends and start my photo series.

thank God for technology!