Happy Halloween Y Feliz Dia De Los Muertos

Someday, I vow to go to Mexico during Dia De Los Muertos. It's amazing to see this infusion of indigenous culture with Catholicism. I can't tell you the fascination I have with this day. The color...the color!! I love Halloween so much fro the surrealism it brings into the mind of a child, to pretend and imagine in possibility. Unfortunately here on the streets of New York City, while we have a fantastic yearly parade, Halloween has become the following equation: skank+stank+1 gallon vodka=you're best friend holding your hair back while you puke on one of 1,000 "sexy cops"
I am all about originality baby, and there is so much, your eyes and heart have to be one sometimes to see it. Last night my husband (who is not pictured lol) had a blast. Above in the picture is Samii, who is absolutely the best belly dancer of the night in all of New York. That costume is an original, handmade in Bahrain, watch out you mass produced factory belly dancer costumes...chock full of pink organza...
As for me, I am hoping you can guess who I am...I was honored that I was received so well. I love you Frida, Yo te adoro! My hubby was Diego...let's just say that he had our son's Thomas the Tank Engine Pillow in his shirt to try and get that bulky look, lol.
Here's to La Vida...

Patron Saints No.2

"no necesito drogas, soy drogas"

This is the kind of guy I would like to hang out with, but would also be afraid to. It's very hard to make me shy, now this man, would certainly be able to. When I was about twenty I read his autobiography...did you know he once attacked a woman friend at the beach for admiring his feet?? He said that she had nerve to look at him like that, and he needed to retaliate because he became Gala (his wife), and she was jealous...

I don't think that in any blog post I could really ever sum up what Dali did for me in my life as an artist. He certainly inspired me to go into another dimension and live. His theory and work also inspired me to dare and go into corner pockets of myself to find the dark and the light and expose it. It's very hard for me to explain.
When I took a trip to Paris to stay with my aunt, I had the divine luck to go to his Montmarte home that had been converted into a museum, Espace Dali on 11, rue Poulbot. Can you imagine, being just blocks from Moulin Rogue at that! Montmarte is truly magical.

I think that I slipped out of reality and into Dali's reality or illusion for that matter. I felt like I was experiencing something out of body. Time melted just like the clocks in his his paintings. I don't really remember any other people there except for a trail of school children and my aunt Sholeh...which all contributed to the surreality. I wish I could find my photos from then, but even if I never do, the day is imprinted on my
inside.

My Patron Saints- No.1

"Feet, why do I need them if I have wings to fly?"

I guess that term, "patron saint" would be the best way to describe the following inspirations of mine. I'll be writing about a few of my dearest idols over the coming weeks. Long before I even thought I would design and create jewelry I was mesmerized by the work...the life and the legacy of Frida Kahlo.

I don't quite know where to start on the enormous affection I have for this woman. It's true that I have never "met" Frida, but have I? Have I indeed met her through the legacy of work she has left me to see, all of us to see?
When I was pregnant with my first son, Amir, I translated her diary from Spanish to English , just so I could learn in depth her words. I begain collecting Muertos and Ofrendas, retratos of her, I became enthralled with her existence, her creations as I created my child.


When I think of the parallels between our lives, it gives me a bit of a chill. Without getting overly personal, both our beloved fathers suffer from a like illness, I too had a life changing tragedy physically as a teenage girl, and I too am involved with political activism. My love for my partner/husband/friend is that that I cannot explain, their is no corny card or gift that I can obtain to express it, it's deep and personal and evident as was her feeling for Diego, although he happens to be a womanizer...and I love monkies :) But Frida is Frida, I look to the commonalities of our lives as just that, commonalities, it's just my luck that I have the pleasure to even relate to her majestic life.

It's her way, talent and radicalness that leaves me in awe. The irony of this colorful art with the dark tales and the unequivocal beauty behind them is a gift to th world.

"I hope the exit is joyful - and I hope never to return"


In our bathroom.