9/11

A day I will never forget.

R.I.P to those who have lost their lives on this tragic day. May God bless those who where effected by the events of 9/11 and those who have sacrificed their lives for our freedom.

God Bless the U.S.A.

The Assessment of Illustrations...It's a Situation.

Trying to pull out what I would like to sell in my online store and.its.......sort of stressful.  Don't get me wrong I am very excited but....I have so many.  Too many.  Too many to even think right.  I have to describe and title and price each one.....its a little daunting. Just like what you see here.

That's not even half. Some are on the floor, on the chair on the walls.... some I've pulled from when I was college and I have had to question myself " When did I do this one?" But all and all, I think I picked some good ones.  8 More days before the grand opening!  http://www.etsy.com/shop/LeMahogany

Just in case you've missed my short vid I made yesterday...



I have youtube channel as well with some of my ol' vids.  Check them out and subscribe to keep posted on more videos to come.  Just click on the YT ------>

In Heavy Rotation: Florence+The Machine

I love this artist....she has some amazing songs and she's been out for awhile now....I guess I am a little late but, I absolutely love her music.  Rated: A

My Creative Cave-My me time.

Happy Labor Day Weekend!

I thought this post would be sort of ironic blog post to put up for Labor Day weekend.  But, I figured why not.  Here pictured down below is where the magic happens:

My Creative Cave

So, this is my escapism.  On most days when I get home from working the day job, I am right here in this corner.  I love it because well I pretty much shut off everything.  TV, phone, Blackberry, laptop, emails and any other distraction coming in my direction and for several hours I work on my illustrations.  (My me time and well....my work time too)  For some people its exercise, yoga, playing sports, drinking.....but for me.  It's this:

Creative Cave part two

Now, don't get me wrong I love yoga and I have hate/love, its complicated relationship with the gym but, this is it for me.  I can spend hours, listening to music and creating.  So, for Labor Day followers I would like you to enjoy your day because I am honestly going to enjoy mine in my Creative Cave and don't worry, I come out to eat and go to the bathroom but, for the majority of time.....I'm here. haha!

Mark your calendars....SEPTEMBER 15th!!!!!!!

September 15th! Having the Grand Opening of my online store!! Le Mahogany Illustrations!!! You may visit but, there's nothing in there...yet.  September 15th! September 15th! What date you say? September 15th! Lets Dance!

Screen shot of my etsy.com store

What I promised myself at 8 years old...

This was me....20 years ago.

3rd Grade Picture

I guess you can say I was pretty fashion forward with my red, black and white polka dots dress.  We were on the brink of the 90's and well...I had to look "sharp" for picture day.  I loved dressing up.  Especially with  my shiny buckle black shoes.  My smile was a little weird and lets just say Ma wasn't to happy with my curious looking ummmm........look.  This picture brings back so many memories though but, most of all it brings back a bible verse that my mother and father used to tell to say.  I wasn't really good in the subject of Math....well not good at all.  It just wasn't my thing.  Reading and Spelling I was the "Best" but, Math was the pits.  So, as usual I would have to have my brother check my math  homework to make sure things were correct.   I remember I had a Math quiz and I got the worst grade possible on  D-/E.(We got E's not F's...still not getting that but okay)

It hurt me to my core.  I thought I had the right answers, we went over the time tables over and over again.  I just couldn't do it.  I couldn't do it.  I had to show one of my parents my bad grade on my quiz because you know, you had to have at least one of the parents sign it so they know you did bad on your quiz.  So, I relutantly showed to my mother.  I remember she looked at the paper, looked at me and than looked at the paper again.  I felt dumber than ever when she did that and I started crying.  I told her I just can't do it.  I just can't.  Its too hard!  She silently signed the quiz and told me to go get my Bible.

So, tears streaming down my cheeks uncontrollable I went in my room and found my little Red bible.  I came back with it, hiccuping and all from crying so hard.  She told me to turn to Philippians 4:13.  Thanks to Sunday school bible study every Sunday, I knew where Philippians was in the bible.  She told me to read it out loud to her.  And I did.  She told to read it again and I did. 
(For those who may not know Philippians 4:13 in the Kings James Version says-I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.)
It was strong verse.  Verse that I kept in my memory bank for so long.  So, many people use the word can't.  I can't. do this or I can't really do the things that I want to do.  Because well....its human nature.  We back away from things that aren't routine or seem like some pipe dream.  We listen to naysayers because well....we often "naysay" ourselves.  But, if we took out "can't" out of all languages...I mean literally ban the word.  I think we could achieve some pretty powerful things in our lives.

So, what did I promise myself at 8 years old?  That I would never say can't Ever again.  Have I stuck to that promise? No. haha! But, honestly that moment is something that I can look back on and sayto that this little girl pictured at the top....I promise her that I would  never use "can't" as an excuse to set out to be what God intended me to be.

Love life and live it's fullest....the way God intended it to be.

-Robie.

My Gustav Klimt inspirational moment.

I L-O-V-E Gustav Klimt.  I absolute love his "gold period".  He is one of my favorite artists and honestly my inspiration right now with my Crown Jewels Collection. I would love to share with you some of favorite paintings of his that I would die to have a even a print of.

Here's some of my favorites:

Woman with hat and feather boa

Hygeia

Stoclet Freize

Water Snakes I

Water Snakes II

The Beethoven Frieze

Pallas Athene