Shayla Maddox

I don't feel I need to clarify that.

Labels: creativity, hawaii, hilo, inspiration, kailua-kona, the big island

You see, we got married there. Naturally, we have quite a spiritual connection with it.

Apparently, I am one of those people that likes humidity. I know this because I feel much healthier when its humid out. I realize some of you desert-crazies will disagree with me and want to go on about the nice, dry heat. But, I've lived in the desert. You're crazy.

I can breathe in Hawaii. Oxygen is an amazing thing. I plan to return with my creativity barometer on FULL. How could I not?

Mark Twain...Letters from Hawaii, 1886
"The Refuge for the Weary"

"We landed at Kailua (Kona), a little collection of native grass houses reposing under coconut trees - the sleepiest, quietest, Sundayest looking place you can imagine. Ye weary ones that are sick of the labor and care, and the bewildered turmoil of the great world, and sigh for a land where ye may fold your tired hands and slumber your lives peacefully away, pack up your carpet sacks and go to Kailua! A week there ought to cure the saddest of you all."

I might post a couple of pictures along the way, although I guarantee I will be having too much fun to do so.

See you on the flip-side.

(In the meantime, if you'd like to contribute and get a great deal on art, I am currently having a Hawaii Sale in my Etsy shop.)

Labels: etsy, hawaii, kailua-kona, kona, mark twain

For all you elves, fairies, goblins, and other foresty woodsy creatures.

Check out Creatures by Chelsea on Etsy!



These are all beautifully made. Each piece is hand sculpted, painted, and detailed. The artist utilizes the same special-effects methods used by Hollywood movies! They look so authentic.

It's the perfect costume! You don't even need to wear anything else. I mean, wear clothes, of course. Please. But you just need your regular clothes. (Because, you're a real creature, you see.) You should see kids' faces when they see you wearing them. They truly, without a doubt, believe those are your ears. I had so much fun walking down the street in them.

Perfect for parties, Renaissance Faire, costume balls, non-costume balls, grocery shopping, going to the beach, picking flowers, going to dinner, concerts, the mall, hanging out with friends, running errands, sitting around the house, scuba di-- okay, maybe not scuba diving.

But for everything else: Perfect! :o)

Well! So. Summer's finally over. It was certainly interesting, if not relaxing. I'm not happy that it's over, I'm just a little bent that it wasn't quite as "summery" as I was going for. Not that I didn't enjoy my share of summer drama. I mean, lots of stuff happened. Lots.

Actually, my summer was very friends oriented. Believe me, I wasn't anticipating that one either. I spent time with friends I've had for years. We discussed our lives, our careers, our futures, our plans (or total lack thereof.) A good friend got married. A good friend died. Another good friend experienced great joy, until it was taken away again. I learned that some friendships weren't as close as I had thought. I even reconnected with friends I knew when I was five!

Crazy.

At one point, when I was lying on the ground with both the animals, struggling to break out of a heat induced coma, it occurred to me that I should turn on the air-conditioning and get to painting again. I had started painting something, but what with all the SUMMER going on around me, I couldn't summon the creativity.

Then I cut my hair all short and sexy. Suddenly, everything came together. Things made sense.

Pink. I needed pink. Hot pink. Hot pink and orange. Hot pink, orange, and electric blue. Yes. That was where the magic was.

Partially because this was a new color combination for me, it took much longer than I anticipated. I love the way I learn how to paint while I'm painting. In this case, I learned some very basic techniques about layering color. For example, there's not a lot you can do to keep yellow and blue from making green. I really believed that I could break this basic law of color. Alas. I stand corrected.

New glow paint! New glow powder! AHHH!!! I am so giddy at my new toys I don't even know what to say. They are just super crazy awesome rad. Look! LOOK AT IT! It stays that way for hours! IN DIFFERENT COLORS! This is all great news, because the stuff is nigh unto impossible to work with.

Hello, October. How are you? You look pretty. It's nice to see you again.

I am so ready for Hawaii.