Houston is Awesome

I traveled to Houston Texas this past week and I did my very best to do it up right! This trip had several goals: to see my lover, visit with friends and family, see art, and to do research on coffee shops, cocktail parlors and restaurants.

Unfortunately, I didn't do a great job of taking pictures of the vacation, but here are some I managed.

I have priorities when going to a big city. Ones that usually include going to IKEA and Trader Joes.  I decided to get my IKEA run out of the way, but needed coffee first.  Josh and Waldo met me at Siphon Coffee....

This was Waldo's (not my lover) Macchiato, the falice was 'unintentional' but I had to take a picture. 

While at Siphon, My friend Amy, the Guru of Southern Food, popped in and surprised me!  We made plans for the next day to drive out to Killens BBQ in Pearland.  

Waiting in line for Killen's BBQ!  This is at 10:30 am... It opens at 11.

Did I mention it was cold?  This is sweet S.  She was on a mission for meat.  

Yes... This line was serious!

But it was worth it!  Those baked beans were some of the best!  The ribs were amazing!  

While in Houston, I was surfing the NY Times, and an article about Texas was posted.  It mentioned the Hong Kong Mall.  I decided to go!

All of the Sriracha!

I am not sure if this picture does this produce section justice, but it was really huge!

I left that wild mall with some christmas presents and spices.  I headed for the Menil collection!  This is one of my favorite museums ever!

I loved this!

And when in Houston, you drive... A LOT.....But at least there are things to entertain you!

And there is Mexica Food:  Tacos-A-Go-Go!

More Coffee ... this time Catalina!

And more meat!  For my last dinner in Houston, Josh and I went to the James Beard Award winning restaurant: The Underbelly! 

An awful picture of the best chicken I have ever had!

Finding my Hustle

A few weeks ago, I gave a presentation at the GCCDS's Friday Morning Serial about Hustlin!

It got great a great discussion going, as all of the Friday Morning Serials do!

I will be giving this talk again, tweaked a little of course, Monday, October 13 at 6:00 at the Bay St. Louis Library in the Seal Meeting room to the Arts, Hancock County's Membership Meeting. 

I hope you can be there!

Pocket Pop-up Park and Popcicle Movement

First Fridays in Down Town Biloxi are amazing!!! The GCCDS, the Women in Construction, and WAMA have teamed together in creating this Pop up Pocket Park and they they have asked me to join up by selling popcicles!!! (And making bean bags) 

Here are some pictures of this months park! 

Wednesday, October 8,  we will be set up on Howard in the alley next to Kress. We will be there all day for Crusin the Coast. 

Hustlin and Boyfriends! This week!

There are two things happening this week in the Ocean Springs/Biloxi area that I highly recommend you attend!

Friday Morning Serial
Every Friday morning, the Gulf Coast Community Design Studio (GCCDS) hosts a community meeting of sorts called the Friday Morning Serial. Some amazing things have come out of these meetings.  This week, September 26 at 8:00 AM, I will be giving the presentation : How to Find Your Hustle.

Also this link is strangely mesmerizing!

While we are talking about the Friday Morning Serial, Lolly Barnes of Mississippi Heritage Trust will be speaking on October 3!  I have been working with her on a few projects over the past year, and I think she is just the bees knees!  Please be sure to come if you can!




Paper Doll Boyfriends
On Saturday, September 27, at 6:00 pm, The Ugly Green House is hosting an exhibit of Dena Cox's series of collages called Paper Doll Boyfriends.   Each of the 20 collages features her with a different "boyfriend" and what she imagines that moment in their relationship to be.  In addition to the great art, there will be food and drinks available.  Cocktail Movement will be serving up the sauce!!!!

Working Towards Dreams

It has been quiet on the Department of Design blog and facebook for a while.  I have been working. More importantly, I have been hustling, getting things done, making things happen and exploring this community and what I want my future to look like.

I have not answered that question, but I know I am heading in the right direction.  I am  using this blog, not only to document my work and life, but also to figure out how to accomplish my big ideas.

As for now, here are three things that are going on that I would love for you to be  a part of:

1)  Popsicle Movement!!!  

I have been making popsicles and selling them at events!  

 There are two events where they will be available this week!  

9/5/14 - Finally First Friday in Down Town   - Down town Biloxi.  I will be at the Pocket Park outside of the Gulf Coast Community Design Studio with the Women in Construction  on Howard Ave. 

9/6/14 - OS Arts and Antique Market at the Mary C.  I will also have my art here!

 2) OS Art and Antique Market at the Mary C.

I have been managing this market for a few months now.  This has been a wonderful experience!  I am happy with the way things have been running.  

This month on 9/6/14, I am excited to say that we will have two bands playing:  Razzoo (10am-12pm) and Ish (12pm-2pm).  Check out one of Ish's songs: 

 The event is free! Please stop by, and listen to the music! 

 3) Figure Drawing at the Mary C.

I have been managing the figure drawing group at the Mary C.  I have loved it.  I have always wanted to draw from a model, and never had the opportunity.  There are some really amazing artists in the group and everyone seems to be learning from each other. The group meets every Thursday night from 6-8:30 pm at the Mary C.  It only costs $15/session and you can pay at the class or visit the Mary C's Website to order online. 

I will be posting more of what I am up to over the next few weeks.  Please stay tuned! 

Tides & Currents: Contemporary Art Along the Gulf Coast

I am so thankful to be a part of this amazing show at the South Arkansas Arts Center in El Dorado. There are so many amazing artists in this show and I am truely out of my league.  The SAAC is an dynamic facility in a wonderful art supporting town of El Dorado Arkansas.  If you are in the area, please visit, even if it is long after this show is down.  I promise you will not regret it!

"New discoveries abound as 15 artists from across the south coast return to the Merkle and Price Galleries of the South Arkansas Arts Center for a new exhibition entitled “Tides and Currents: Contemporary Art Along the Gulf Coast.”  The collection will be on display through June 28. An artist reception will be hosted by the visual arts committee on Saturday, June 28 from 6-8pm. The exhibition is sponsored by Southern Bancorp and Teague Auto Group.
The exhibition marks the return of many of the artists to SAAC’s galleries with new creations that explore various mediums and the versatility of art.  The exhibition includes works in acrylics, assemblages, encaustics, graphite and ink on wood, handmade papers, pottery, sculpture, textiles, and watercolor.
The award winning artists included in the exhibition are Annette Blocker, Susan Carranza, Kat Fitzpatrick, Kerr Grabowski, Mary Hardy, Carol Hutcherson, Adele Lawton, Ellen Ellis Lee, Trailer McQuilkin, Bill Myers, Vicki Niolet, Mary Pickard, Joey Rice, Peggy Tilley, and Jessie Florence Zenor." - SAAC Website

For more information about the show, please check out the post on their website.

Womens Build 2013 is under way in DOD shirts!!!!

Women in Construction and the Kaiser Foundation have teamed up yet again, this year for the Women's Build 2013 which is setting out to build the new Training Center for the Women in Construction program, which was designed by the Gulf Coast Community Design Studio. 

I got to design their shirts!  Wahoo.... I haven't seen them in person yet, but they were seen on the news last night!    Below is the proof for the shirt. It was based on the traditional storage of tools and the idea of a mandala. 

The mandala is a form of meditation that is used in many cultures. The making of it is about meditation.  I think learning can be a type of meditation, the practice, the repetition, and that passing through to the rest of your life. For me, building can even be a form of meditation.  The design for this became clear to me. 


Here is the video!
WLOX.com - The News for South Mississippi