THINK LESS DO MORE

Did you think of anything this time to promise yourself for this year? I'm not sure wether or not I believe in new year resolutions, I'd rather make goals. My goal this year is to think less and do more. That might sound like a stupid thing to do, to think less, but god knows that for the indecisive, the perfectionists, the philosophers, the what if's and many others that might be a blessing from the heavens.

If you're not familiar with the KISS-principle it stands for:

KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID

The KISS-principle is one that allows you to take a step back and say "ah yes, I could build the next wonder of the world, but is it really necessary (and even possible within the frames of this project!) What is the core, the heart of all this?" And then go back to it. Strip it down. Take the shortcuts. Less is more. Being happy with something you've done and rest in the feeling of knowing that it is good.

As I write this my first short 3d film is being rendered, if my habit of striving for perfection would have ruled I'm not sure it would ever be done. Now I am not talking down to myself saying that the result is bad, rather that someone can get lost in the tweak and adjust of tiny details until the end of time. AND THAT'S NOT SATISFYING NOW IS IT?

Listen my friends. The best ideas are not the ones that are perfect in mind, but the ones that we actually render to life. This is something I know a lot of us need to be reminded of, especially when ambitions are high, ideas many and we actually have a few limits... like you gotta eat, sleep and stuff (And celebrate your victories!) It's all a balancing act. We may fall, but we learn and eventually we will get better, not only focussing on staying on top of everything but also to the point where we can let go and jump around, getting curious and still knowing where we're going. Woho!

Got a bit of aquarelle feelin' going on for the holidays. Here's one of the pieces I did.

So keep your eyes open for my short film. It should be up within the nearest days. In the mean time I wish you a joyful balancing act. May the flow be with you.

Take back the pride in your stack!

I was talking to one of my dear friends about social media and as usual my friend had a great deal wisdom to bring. Here's a little story (based on true events):

Ziggy's father went out and chopped some wood. When he had done so he was proud of himself and his accomplishments. Later on he saw an image in social media of a greater stack of chopped wood and the proud owner of the stack, yet his feeling for his accomplishments remained the same. Why was that? He told Ziggy that although that pile is much much greater than his and they both exist in this same world, the other one is not a part of HIS world. He did not make it and it has no impact on his life. It's not real to him, only an image from someone else's life.

Now me and many of you may not have much experience with chopping wood, but haven't we all seen accomplishments that we have valued as "greater" than our own? Haven't many of us felt pride over something just to suddenly have it overwritten by someone else's display of greatness?
This can be applied in all aspects of life. In work, self-expression, creativity, appearance, physical and spiritual state of being. I'm not saying deny all that is not directly linked to you. Be inspired, but take caution so it doesn't backfire into the crippling state of jealousy or feeling like "I could never do that". Social media can be a bit one sided sometimes as many use it to enhance their best sides and show the results more often than the road there, flaws and mistakes.

I think this is a great reminder for us to remain proud of what we do. To take caution in comparison, because let's face it there may be someone who's greater than you in some way. But here's the great news: Your greatness can exist at the same time! It does not cancel each other out. It's not a competition. Your journey, your progress, your time and effort should always remain more valuable to you.

Take pride in your stack, whatever it may be.
You have made this.
You've come a long way my friend and I am proud of you.
KEEP DOING YOUR THING!

The good with the bad (dreams)

Do you ever wake up in the middle of the night from a horrible dream that suddenly got you to worry your heart out? 

I had a terrible dream the other night, one that is reoccurring and always seems to come in times of stress. I was wide awake in horror BUT THEN remembered that YOU ARE IN CHARGE OF YOUR MIND (not the other way around). So there was this sudden burst of energy and I started writing... a sort of poem if you will:

I guess bad dreams 

are just efficient ways of showing us that we care 

or to make us aware that we are human and have fears

To remind us

that there are things we can't control 

in other ways than how we handle it

To bring awareness

to our subconscious mind

To test us

To prepare us

To make us stronger

To have faith

in the world to continue those pirouettes

and darkness to break into day

To know

that the universe got our backs (even literally)

To prove to us

of the impact 

of images and imagination

To remind us of the intelligent thought sorting system that is 

the state of sleep and dream

To train our ability to interpret

or let go

A bad dream always ends

and where do you go then?

Back to your life

which you actually to a large extent can control

There's a brand new day ahead of you

and that's real

That's something to wake up to

Bad at nothing?

So there's not been a word from me in a while. It's not because I'm doing nothing. Frankly I'm quite bad at doing nothing. They don't call me a project horder for nothing. Even on days off there's often a to do list. Despite this the yoga pracise is now on hold apart from a bit of stretching and occasional restorative asanas. Not because I wanted to stop, but because I had to. I've had an awful cold for almost three weeks now and it's been going up and down like a rollercoaster and I fear the fact that I wasn't accepting the changed physical limits and pushed myself like I was invincible is what kept me under the weather. Now is the last stage of this cold, I can feel it. The final hill. Finally.

Now is also the last of the summer. You know when you're so close to reaching your goal and something gets in the way, something which is not an obstacle you can overcome... the disappointment can be great. I wasn't too far from that head stand I said I would do before the end of summer... when I caught this cold. I know I will be able to do sirsasana, but before summer is over? No certainty. I want to curse this stubborn cold, but what's the use...

Looking at sickess from a positive angle it is actually helpful to us. It can help us slow down and realize the importance of rest and recovery. Help us realize that we should be happy for each day that we and the ones around us are in good health, never taking it for granted. Also for you multi-taskers, doers and project horders like me... learn how to do nothing! This skill is easy to forget in the world we live in today. I'm not advising apathetically staring at walls here, what I'm talking about is actively chosing to not engage in any activity. To put things at hold to put yourself first. To recharge. To simply be and find your positive way of mind. Stop yourself if you hear yourself saying or even thinking I AM SICK. The sickness is NOT a part of you. Your immune system is not a rare mythical creature hiding far away (although the pharmacies would like you to believe otherwise). You got the ability to heal yourself always. Believe in it.

Another good thing about these passed weeks is that I've had a lot of time to plan for my new life as a student. So this term I'm happy to announce I will start my education in Digital Media in a little town near Göteborg!

That's about all I can give today. I don't know when I'll see you again, might be tomorrow, might be two more weeks... in any case I wish you luck on your journey.
Peace be with you.

love what you do what you love

It's official!

Just emailed the course descriptions. I'm going to have a double workshop weekend! It will be after the summer, around september or october at Medborgarskolan, Kalmar. The first workshop will be about upcycle, clothing and creativity and the second one about playing with your food. I already tried out the concepts (in english) on Malta and it was a success.  Of course I'll let you know when it's time to sign up for the weekend! There are few things that are as rewarding as doing what you love and loving what you do. Bliss.

 Here's one of my own food art pieces (coffee, soysauce and tea) and the wonderful kids who got creative together at the previous events! 

Re:design

So I mentioned a workshop that I wanted to do in previous post and time goes fast. It was today. Here's the invitation:

Lovify: FASOM

My second Lovify portrait.  This one of a painter who goes by the name FASOM.

The anchor tattoo

When I first saw them I didn't understand. The rough doll with hollow eyes, an anchor tattoo and mouth stitched together. I couldn't see any deeper meaning behind it... until I had a conversation with the artist behind it – Sebastian Orhevacki Månsson.

It was a sunny summer saturday when he opened up a beer and his mind. 

The youngster days had been tough for him, surrounded by drugs and violence. With the sailor that was his best friend's dad and his own dad in jail as role models things were bound to get troublesome. At a young age he adapted a destructive lifestyle and started getting into fights. ”I really felt like a king” he said about those years, ”but I was on the wrong side of the finish line.”

The limp arms

At 9^th grade Sebastian decided to change things around, so he started dressing ”decent” and then went to study business and administration. To prove a point to his hippie mom he set out to get the good life with the job, the money, the car and all. He started drinking alot. Sebastian was jumping between different part time jobs and constant partying (in the style of Ozzy Osbourne in the 70s) never knowing ”What happened? where am I? How did I get here? Who is this?” One day when he was unusually sober his head just started spinning and it all came tumbling down. 

The hollow eyes

He woke up on the floor. Shattered glass, cold sweat and a heart going BADABADABADABADABAM (thank you Joey Jordison of Slipknot for demonstrating this on drums). This was his first panic attack and it was the door into a dark path of horrible nightmares, therapy and prescribed medication that he didn't take. He had such bad dreams he didn't dare to rest because he feared for his life. So after losing 15 kg of his body weight and many nights of sleep he had a vision. It was clear.

A zipper across the face

He had felt like a puppet with a zipper mouth, slaving away for the companies, the society and all the roles one was expected to play. but now all the falling apart started falling together. Into a piece - which became his first painting.

This was some time ago and he's been an active voice for young artists in Växjö ever since. Together we did a live painting collaboration and art exhibition at Växjö Kulturbazaar last fall. If you want to see more of his artworks I suggest you vivit his FASOM page.

No more nights and no more days

You can also see him as the chaotic main character in Lanterna Magica Film's "No more nights and no more days" (original title: Ingen natt och ingen dag). The opening will be 28th of March at Palladium in Växjö. Although if you wish to see it I must advise you to book your ticket soon. A little birdie told me they're almost sold out!

possibilities

This

could

be

you

GLOBAL 

POSSIBILITIES

The cover page for this fantastic presentation we (the possibility ambassadors at Globala Kronoberg) are making. Our mission is to reach out to youngsters to inform them that they have all these possibilities going aboad through different jobs, projects and student exchanges. More about that later...

Waves of space

What stormy ocean 

is not the industry in the fabric of life?

What came from our hands

has gone out of our hands

to consume us completely.

 The thread of destiny never seams to end

Still it can be broken at any moment

The lady with pin cushion hair

As an art student you usually get alot of stuff laying around like clay sculptures that are just sitting around the place. I needed a new pin cushion and so I crocheted her a little bun wig. Looks a bit voodoo!

What if

What if I called in sick

saying I can't come to whatever it is they want me to do today

because I'm not sure if I believe in all of this

getting up and doing the same thing every day in their order and way

Yes, I can see the point in it

Sure, I can understand

but... what if I just don't feel like it?

RUN! YouAreLateFor

oh no... what was it? I forgot 

but I remember 

that it was SO VERY IMPORTANT.

Sit! Listen! Talk... BARK!

 Grow up. No, you grew too much.

  Y o u      m u s t

find           your        inner        child       again

You HAVE TO  HAVE FUN!

Don't forget to smile. Show them your best sides

And you know exactly what sides that they want to see.

well what if...

 You just can't bring yourself to put clothes on

because they are not you

AND THEN

you can't walk out the house 

for you know

 they could actually SEE you. 

 yes

 and

Then what?

String of imagination

 

Lamp project: I wanted to knit one but I didn't have enough yarn for it (yeah, usually never have enough of the materials commonly used for making things. You poor student, you.)

 When I was about to give up on the idea my eyes fell onto the giant roll of super thin paper. The lightbulb in my head went on. I cut the paper into long strips, glued them together making them even longer and twisted those strips into yarn. Paper yarn. Just so the paper won't touch the bulb I made this steel wire thing inside of the lamp which also helps it maintain it's beehive like form.

 

Unusual coffee break

 

"KONSTPAUS I KAFFET"

I thought I didn't have a lot of paints... but I was wrong because anything can be paint.
This time I used soy sauce, red wine, hot chocolate, coffee and tea. Not the usual coffee break.

 

 

Job missing

My latest project: JOB MISSING

A more efficient way of finding your job

or actually

helping your job find you

"Hello! 

A while ago I lost my job, have you seen it? It was happy and creative and it loved to interact with other people. I am very fond of my job since we have been exploring a lot together such as graphic design, marketing, tailoring and designing costumes for theatre, acting, art and photography. My job does not only like to talk and write, it is also a good listener. It speaks Swedish, English and a little French and Hindi. Problem solving, team work and helping others is one of its greatest joys. Since it is adventurous and likes to go new places and learn new things it could be anywhere. Please, help me find it! If you know where it is or have any hints please contact me: 

Lovisa Sandhu, jobmissing@gmail.com "