Cutting-Up’s Artist Blog

A friend from college surprised me recently with this amazingly special photo of herself with a group of her friends on a girl’s weekend all sporting the Cutting-Up “Faith” t-shirt! The pic was so touching to me… immediatly welling up with tears of joy and gratitude. The “Faith” t-shirt is a special shirt to all of us at Cutting-Up since the apparation of the Virgin Mary.  And, look at these beautiful women… most mom’s themselves, no doubt!  Mother Mary… Full of Grace… and special friends along life’s path… What a special gift this photo is to me. I could not feel more overwhelmed by the depth of this photo! I LOVE your pics!  Thanks for sharing this moment of your life with me Karie Java! One Heart, One Way! xo! 

I love color… colorful people, colorful lives, colorful stories.  I’m completely inspired by all kinds of people & their unique, off the beaten path, stories.  If we are open, we live  life as both teachers and students. So… I was certainly fascinated recently listening to an NPR interview  with Robert Diggs, a Hip-Hop artist better known as The RZA (pronounced “The Rizza”). The RZA is best known for his influence to the Hip-Hop culture via the Wu Tang Clan, AND he’s recently also written a book called, beautifully: “The Tao of Wu” & after hearing the interview I had to buy the book to read it for myself. 

Not accustomed to some of the intensities of The RZA’s inflections, my first reaction was to reach to change the station… but then something great happened… The beauty of his thoughts held me hostage to listen beyond the inflections. (I loved the pleasant surprise!)  So, The RZA begins his story under difficult circumstances. Robert grew up in the hardened projects in NYC. In one of his profound insights, The RZA reflects on the experience as comparable to that of a lotus that only grows in the mud… and the projects were his mud. It is just so beautiful to me how The RZA, at such a young age, craved greater meaning from his circumstances, as he grew up (in reflection) The RZA is responsible, apologizing for his his behavior, seeks the lessons, acknowledges where his ego was involved, & works to continually evolve and move toward his source, to bring light to his life’s experiences to help guide others. His brilliant collective body of work is a gift to the world. Yo… check out his book, for real! It’s truly spiritual! Let us know what you think!

You gotta’ love the Fall in Texas.  On this bright & sunny Saturday afternoon Colleen and her family stopped by to bring me a new TCU t-shirt in support of a family friend, the TCU punter, Anson Kelton, AK 47! (Go Frogs!) So, here are the Coopers… You know, just out, running errands… together, stopping by Aunt Jo Dee’s… I LOVE this family! Truman picked this truck out before his 16th b-day & the fam agreed on the good-buy. It’s the first time I’ve seen anyone besides Colleen or Gary driving! We all love the Jimmy!  Man, ain’t she a cutie??!!!

Colleen says…”That’s right, boy-eeeee… whose your mama?!!”

If you’re lucky enough to live around Fort Worth, the days leading up to the match-up between our TCU Horned Frogs and Utah were electric! And, while our local DFW community was a-buzz awaiting the fall game day festivities, I was blessed not only to have a special date for game-day; but, also to start Saturday with the sight of this bouquet - bright & beautiful, Gerber Daisies… my favorites…  (I love this picture too, reflecting the giver in the glass.) Frog Fans celebrated the eleventh win this season! Big thanks to the Frogs for providing the venue for a night full of fun, great memories for over 50,000 fans!

I love noticing unexpected hearts; and, NYC offers treasures to photograph.  Thank you New York for a great summer Gift Market!  We love the opportunity to visit the Big Apple!

Motivated by the beautiful summer’s day in NYC, Colleen & I woke early to set-up the booth at the Javits.  Once we were satisfied with set-up, we set out to the city streets to explore some of the city before dinner.

I love this captured candid moment in Central Park.  It seems dream-like; &, I wonder if the couple would think back on this day with endearment if they could see their image like this… Makes me wonder.

Neither Colleen or I had ever been to Tavern on the Green… It’s so adorably tucked inside NYC Central Park… Amidst this lovely, historic escape, the giant gorilla topiary TOTALLY cracked us up!

We left Central Park to head to one of the places we love to eat in NYC.  And, since the walking is amazing in NYC, and there’s something scenic at each turn, we decided to walk much of the way from Central Park to SOHO…  

Imagine my surprise!  A beautiful friend in Atlanta sent me a new CD for Christmas!  I happen to be an avid music lover & constant seeker of new tunes to seek inspiration and sit to create artwork by.  I love… no… my soul NEEDS melodic, uplifting tunes while creating.  All the notes assist in tapping into the Source and when it’s right… it’s a blessing… and things flow… So, after ripping the plastic off my new CD and right away placed the disk in the CD player of my little vw bug I admired the photos and cool cut-paper artwork throughout the CD… and it was a good bit later for me, the self-proclaimed avid observer of the beautiful ‘details’ in life, before I noticed this happy Sony recording artist was wearing one of our Cutting-Up t-shirts!  Rock-on, sister Francesca!  We are on the same wave… tapped into the same current… connected by sentiments and now a Cutting-Up t-shirt, “Linger in the Light”!  Big thanks to my girl, Natalie, in Atlanta for the amazing find (what a gift!); and, to Francesca for donning our festive tee for her CD cover!  On behalf of the entire Cutting-Up crew, we are so flattered and totally psyched!  (Sister, you look too cute in that tee!)