What lured me back to writing... Hair Jewelry

It's been a while since I stop and write.  Real life has taken over my cyber life, and I know this is not a bad thing at all.  On the contrary, I have come back to the land of the living (and the land of taxes too!) taking it all in.  But somehow, I think about you every single day.  My reader, that one cyber friend that somehow liked it and stayed.

In an effort to preserve our relationship, I will come to you and share what's tickling my senses.  What have I read or seen today, that made me stop and stare.  And this is today's finding...

Luxxor

Etsy's Blog showcased a morbid but fascinating post on Hair Jewelry.  This doesn't come as new to me, since my grandmother used to keep locks of our hair as personal tokens.  What struck me as fascinating was that there is actually people collecting these types of heirlooms. As creepy as it may sound, it is quite interesting to even begin to wonder who the hair belonged to, and what stories lie behind it.

Handmade Dolls: odd looking beauties

Handmade Portraits: Black-eyed Suzie from Etsy on Vimeo.

Straight from Etsy's Blog, this is a beautiful little video on the art of doll making.  The shop is called blackeyedsuzie, and the artist mainly sells photography prints of her dolls.   I thought they were so beautiful and perfect, that I had to share it.  Enjoy!

A skeleton key collection for a rustic decor

I produced a series of skeleton key photographs that carry the same rustic feeling these beauties portray.  I am a collector by nature, and I've had these on my treasure chest for a while now.  The allure of their past drew me to them.  Where have they been.  What kind of secret they guarded.  Their old, rusty texture.  My kind of collectibles.

I sell these prints in my Etsy store.

You can check the link below to browse all the listings...

Skeleton Key Photography Collection by Rustika Photography

This Must Be the Place

Well.... I got the job! My start day is the 28th of November, giving us plenty of time to go on our trip to New York. Yay!!! I am really happy to be able to do both things, and I am extremely thankful for that.

For those who asked, the job is not related to photography. But, this is a well known communications company, and the nature of the job will be related to the world of television and radio.  I think this is a good starting point.  My entire adult life has been linked to banking and portfolio management.  This is a much needed change of scenery.

On the other hand, my Etsy shop is thriving! This month things have been moving pretty good, and an increasing interest in my photography is showing.  I am really excited about it, and I will continue working with my art and my camera.  I will be doing a giveaway soon, so stay tuned.

We might...

Eye Poetry by Irene Suchocki

... be going to New York again by Thanksgiving week.  We're not sure yet, since I'm waiting to know if I get the job or not (we'll know by next week for sure).  But I am hoping we can do both.  The open road is calling....

A feather in my hand

Subtle

A post with a view...

... while driving through the Valley of Fire in Nevada, some years ago.  

My photography in Etsy

Hello my darlings.... just a quick note to let you know that I have revised the pricing for all my 8x12's and 10x10's.  I have priced them at $20, and you can choose a matte or glossy finish on most of them.  And because I like you guys so much, I am giving my blog readers and Facebook followers a 15% discount.  Just type the code Blog15.  Go ahead, use the code, it is all yours :D

rustika.etsy.com

Sunrise

A Beachside Sunrise

I often ask myself what is the true meaning of freedom.  Whenever I look ahead at the endless possibilities of my life, I wonder if choosing an alternate ending is what really sets me free.  I have made hard decisions before, and I truly understand how hard it is to change lanes.  But deciding on a different path comes with a price, it always does.  The question is, can I afford this price?  Am I ready to invest in this kind of future?

And after much deliberation and debate with myself, I come to the conclusion that what really sets me free is how much I know me.  How much I understand my true intentions and motivations.  What in the end is the power that puts my soul into motion.  Is it Love?  Is it Success?  Is it Evolution?  Is it Any or none of the Above?

My week starts today with a full schedule ahead.  For the time being, this is the future I decided in my past, and I must pay attention to it.  Because this, right now, is all I know to be true.

You can buy my photography in my Etsy shop:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/76411216/beachside-sunrise-fine-art-photography

Black and White Human Form

 

The Space Between Us

"Art is a step away from what is obvious and well-kown, toward what is arcane and concealed."

-Kahlil Gibran

I've been wanting to start a black and white human form photography collection.  I have always liked the forms a good close up can produce in the human body. I had this picture post produced in a totally different way.  After much thought, I decided to leave it as simple as I could, and it turned out much better.

It takes a subtle yet bold approach to attempt to produce a good black and white photo.  Let's see how this experiment turns out.

The streets of my island

Streets of Old San Juan 

I was born and raised in an island.  A tiny island in the Caribbean, filled with songs, heat, and humor.  The breeze carries a salty flavor that sticks to your skin on humid days.  A flavor that lingers on your tongue after swiftly brushing your lips in particularly humid days.  The breeze, a soft and timid carrier of all kinds of aromas:  freshly ground coffee, coconut oil, pineapple juice, cinnamon, and sea.

My island loves music, loves rhythm, loves percussion.  It dances to the sound of drums as if it's possessed by African gods.  Marching its way through the pebbled streets of the old city, it shouts for joy and celebration.  For all the good and the bad.

I yearn for my island.  I miss the people, their smiles and faces.  The familiarity of everything, the streets I grew in, the songs on the radio, singing out loud while driving my old car, my dog, my short pants, my flip flops, the island state of mind, watching the coast fade away on my rear view mirror, the long days at the beach, eating street food and a beer.

Those are the things I miss.

My artful neighborhood

I live in a trendy art and design neighborhood.  Miami is quite an interesting city.  It has a huge mix of people that come from many parts of the world, bringing their own flavors and artistic views.  We all collide in the salty weather of the Atlantic, some of us with the sights up north and others with the relief of someone that has arrived to their final destination.

Artful mural by Shepard Fairey

For an instant, we all agree to call Miami home.  And while at it, we explore the eclectic mixes with the same fascination a newborn observes the new strikes of light.  After a couple of living adjustments I had to do a year ago, I finally decided to take refuge in the Design District, a small but very chic part of town that sits right beside the Wynwood Art District.

Graffiti in Afro

I was immediately fascinated by all the street wall art that was readily available.  They are done with such amount of skill and taste, that one must really stop and take a good look.  But, like all street displays, the dangers of fading away are always present.  This Graffiti in Afro mural has been damaged by cheap advertising.  This photo remains as proof of its existence, as it once was.

I will continue to explore this city because this is the place I have chosen to live in my present time.  Who knows what tomorrow will bring.  All I know is that now, I am here.

I have more street art photographs in my Etsy shop, and I am offering them in 5x7 prints in either metallic or matte paper.

A Wonderful Summer Dream...

'A Wonderful Summer Dream' by Rustika

versailles - upcycled l... whichgoose $30.00	BOGO Free Shipping Fine... ajoyfulstudio $28.99	Typing on Jetsam - At t... next2hector $13.00	Double Natural Sugar St... dreamsbythesea $22.50
carousel horse pendant ... HandyMaiden $30.00	How Peculiar 8x10 ALPhotography $30.00	Vintage Kodak Vest Pock... ZoiShop $75.00	Hand me a book - 2010 -... YannPendaries $11.00
Dancing shoes - 7x5 - F... ShabbyPhotogra... $14.00	ccccaaasss JacqleenBleu $12.50	Armed and Dangerous - O... Jenkiabaphotog... $40.00	Wings of rosey - Peach ... earringsnation $18.00
La Heart in The Waves -... Photomakerman $10.00	Ocean Pearl Earrings botanicalbird $12.00	Caribbean blue Toshisworld $12.00	Clouds, Ireland 8x10 P... ThomasDean $

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

Happy Monday to all my fabulous readers....  I wanted to play with this cool feature that allows you to share the treasuries you make in Etsy here in your blog. 

I had a pretty busy last week, and this one is looking just the same.  I am going through some monumental changes, and I need to take care of some personal stuff.  Everything is good... let's say I'm at crossroads of finishing a very important cycle and beginning a bran new one.

All is good... peace!

Metallic paper in photographic prints

Last week I received the first set of photographic prints in metallic paper. Wow!! I was really curious to see what would the silvery texture do to the image, and I must say it was a real surprise.

The first thing that caught my eye was the shimmery effect it produces.  It brightens up the image, giving it a very sleek, modern look.  Now, when you look closer, the details are so sharp that you feel like you could touch the real thing.

The origami pictures were so exact, that you could swear they were about to go out flying from the paper!  

I originally thought that I could offer all my prints in my Etsy shop in this paper, but I think I have to reconsider this.  The paper is amazing, but I don't think all photographs are meant to be printed in metallic paper.  It is a very specific finish, meant for very specific images.  

Telling a Story

So Much Love

I have always been attracted to storytelling photography.  To me they are the equivalent of a successful writer handing out a well done manuscript.  Take a series of this well done pictures, and you have yourself a visual novel.

This is my first successful attempt.  A subtle, yet provoking approach to a simple composition.

You can find this photography in my Etsy shop right here.

Reflections on Blue Bayou

 I took this picture not so long ago.  We were in Ernest Hemingway's house in Key West.  It was one of those spur of the moment getaways, where we only took our flip flops, the camera, and a map.  It was a bright, cool day, and we had a really good time.

For obvious creative reasons, I chose to photograph the reflection of the day on the pool.  The image was so crisp and clear, that one can easily distinguish the palm trees and the bright sky.  The water was kind of fuzzy with debris and dirt, but this only added an extra layer of interest to the image.

I have been dealing with some issues for the last couple of days, and last night, as I was flipping through my photography collection, I took a hard look at this picture.  It made me wonder how often we choose to see the reflection, the idea of a true and good thing instead of the real source.  How many times do I get distracted by the debris, instead of acknowledging the wholeness of my present time. 

We are beautiful, imperfect beings, and we live beautiful, imperfect lives. We just have to look up and see the sunny and bright tropical sky, instead of choosing to look down at the distorted image on the water.  The sky is given to us, and we must accept it with a grateful heart.

You can access the listing of this picture right here.

A Galaxy of Possibilities

Hey all!! Just a quick note to let you all know about my own Etsy project.  Rustika Photography is my little baby, and it's slowly taking form.  Don't worry, I will not flood the space with self promotion.  I will continue writing and sharing goodness the same way I've been doing so far.  But now you know where my mind is when I'm not blogging... 


You can look me up in Facebook, if you're into it...


http://www.facebook.com/pages/RustiKa-Photography/194676803898075

For the Love of Paper

When I was a little girl and my mom had to go out on a trip, she would always get me a little gift.  The gifts were always either socks or paper, don't ask me why.  And, although I knew what to expect, I would wait for them as if it was the first time.  The socks I used all until they either got lost, or succumb to the wear and tear.  The paper, I have kept through all these years.

I used to have pen pals with whom I exchanged letters.  I had a pen pal from Greece, another one from Finland, and I think I even got a letter once from Japan.  Wherever the correspondence traveled, my paper delivered the message impeccably.  I was very proud of my collection, and my mom was even happier to see her gifts being put to good use.

After my communication with my foreign friends ended, I used most of that paper to make little origami figures.  I still have a few of my early models as reminders of a simpler life, when all I needed was a piece of paper to travel around the world or invent a magnificent little creature.  I truly respect and adore the art of paper, and here I give you some beautiful examples.... for the Love of paper.

I fell in love with this mobile ever since I laid my eyes on it, by SpareBedroomStudio

Custom silhouette portrait, by jennyleefowler

Mesmerizing! This artist cuts her little paper figures, arranges them in magical composites for her photography, by theaterclouds

I learned about Mabona Origami some time ago while searching for origami inspiration, and I was very glad to see that they have an Etsy shop, MABONAORIGAMI

Such a handy and clever idea, printable cutouts to use as party decorations as many times as you need, by tomkatstudio

I really liked this Art Deco style handmade card, by Inviteddesign

Remember that you can visit each of these Etsy sellers by clicking on the link under each picture.

Support Handmade.... if you like what you see, drop a comment and visit the links!

A dreamy kind of Friday

I have been feeling languid and thoughtful lately.  While looking for inspiring imagery, I've had the tendency to reach for dreamy and subtle photography on items that are equally dreamy and subtle.  Here are my picks for this week's Etsy feature...

Hand Dyed Tea Tulle Skirt, by ouma

Girl's Dress with train and petticoat, by vintageprecious

King Size Eco Friendly My Lovely Dream bed set, by LovelyHomeIdea

The Strange Planet, by thegoodmachinery

All things fluttery

I have a weird fascination with insects.  My dad taught me very early not to be scared of these odd looking beings, and instead encouraged me to respect them and admire their beauty.  Here is a collection of my favorite insect art in the Etsy community.

A mix of woodburning, pencil and paint by TheHauntedHollowTree

I LOVE this Brass Butterfly Ring by PhenomenaJewelry

This is something I would really like to learn.  Mounting real insects is such a beautiful way of adding nature to your everyday living.  By REALBUTTERFLYGIFTS

Fine Art Photography for me is one of the most fun and diverse collections you could ever have.  A lovely butterfly photograph by jessicatorres

You can access the shops of any of the these artists by following the link below each of the pictures.