Kalaya Steede

Bet you thought I died!  But I didn't.  I have just been on Cloud 9 since January.  There is so much I want to share. I'm just going to say it with pictures. Ready? First there was Mardi Gras preparations.  We had to decorate coconuts.  OOooooo...I wonder who got this beauty? Then mi amigo flew in and we did so much in two weeks it was ridiculous.  Here are the highlights I would like to share. We made shibuichi.  Which was hard as hell! I carved.  I like carving. Then cast... Then sawed a stump, ground a stump, ground an anvil, and made a dust collector. The dust collector was made using a powerful computer fan but evidently not powerful enough.  I should just buy one but they are so expensive!  The filter didn't stay put in the litter box there but I did have some suction.  :-/ Then the rolling mill broke!  Now that really sucked!!! We rearranged my studio.  Whaaat?!!! ...

Are you interested in making your own costume? Artist, Jacob Reptile Martin, is holding a workshop at New Orleans Center For Creative Arts. Just thought I'd get the word out.  I learned this technique two years ago and it was like an epiphany for me.   The possibilities were endless as to what I could make and could even make it as BIG as I wanted. Check out this headdress I made... Is that awesome or what? So if you are in New Orleans here is the link.  It's this Saturday from 1-5pm. Paper Mache Mask Workshop Have a great week! Namaste Kalaya

My muse has abandoned me.  For me I go through these phases of being uninspired.  It happens quiet frequently to be honest. I hear a voice and he says, Follow your bliss. But DAMNIT,   Following your bliss is tre difficult and sometimes downright PAINFUL. Okay, enough of that. It has been about a two solid weeks without being in the studio.  So yesterday I cleaned up the mess and was going to organize but then said to myself,  Self, you don't have time for that.  Get busy and stop procrastinating. I managed to clear off the working bench and put back together my beloved lotus bracelet.  A good warm up exercise to start the morning.   Did you know that I did that?  It's kind of like working out.   Need to warm up them hands Baby before diving in. I sat there for awhile before finally deciding to finish up a piece that was in the making about a year ago. I made this box using copper and sa...

Namaste Kalaya

Wow!  Last night was a blast!!!  The traffic started building up around 3pm in our neighborhood.  No parking spots to be found and the first Krewe does not roll for another 3 hours! So...we had some time on our hands.  Since it was my friend Ty's first Muses I decided that we needed a sign.  We had to have something for those beautiful Muses to see us with.   First, we must make a sign with some clever saying (which isn't easy to come up with)... We came up with this... Tysheena's VERY first shoe! Our favorite two Muses who loved our sign and rained shoes upon us!!!  They asked to have our sign.   Who can refuse to give to a Muse???!!! Our Muses showing us lots and lots of love... I absolutely LOVE this picture of my friend Shon.   Stunning!!! Our Shoozes.  We received a total of 7even!!! Well...now I am Le Tiired but have to get ready for Krewe d'Etat tonight!...

Not I!   I go every year (except for when I'm deathly ill). ;( It is the weekend before Mardi Gras (I know it is only Thursday but that is when it starts for me) and tonight it begins with the Krewe of Muses and then the whole city will shut down for the show!  At least that is how I feel.  The first parade I attend (after Joan of Arc back in January) is Muses. I am so lucky to have already received a glitter shoe from my Muse Shon.  Eeeee!!!   Can you tell what her float theme is? I must say, that is one good looking shoe!   Merci, Merci Buttercup! So...come out, come out, and catch a fantabulous glitter shoe from the Krewe of Muses tonight and be on the look out for my Muse.  She has already left the studio to join her Krewe in preparation for tonight.  I know she will have a GREAT time!   Have a great Thursday and weekend.    Namaste Kalaya

Sometimes I feel like I should put just as much energy into cleaning my house as I do with my art.  And I ask myself why don't I?  What is this need for me to create?  I guess the simple answer would be, "It is what I do."   Like the story of the poisonous spider and the man ( The Spider and the Sage ) who saves the spider but gets stung every time...it is what they do.  The spider stings and the man saves. I had this Mardi Gras wreath since after Katrina in 2005.  Since then it has lost its life, lost its  vibrancy.  The wreath used to be a vibrant purple, now it's yellow and the beads are all faded.  That does not say Mardi Gras to me.  It says, "BLAGH!"   Mardi Gras is about COLOR and King cake of course! I thought to myself that this would have to go in the trash and I would have to go out and buy one.  I don't know if it's age or what but I said to myself, "self, why not just replace the ribbon and...

Happy twelfth night everyone! In NOLA we get the Lagniappe every Friday and here is today's front page... Joan of Arc will be rolling at 6 tonight.  The Krewe will be passing out handmade and hand-decorated throws, such as cards, magnets, swords, matches, candles, and dolls! Here are some of the things that I made.  Magnets with Joan's coat of arms and some with a drawing, from an old text, of Joan. A collection of our throws (except for the swords) were put in these cute little bags. We also have our handmade fleur de lis tags and a wooden doubloon in there!   That's what we will be passing out in tonight's Joan of Arc Parade.  So come out and join the festivities and have some King Cake with us! Namaste Kalaya

It's one of my favorite parades but I bet you would of never guessed. My other fav is Muses and yes I was out there last night.  Got a real cool leather tag for my trips away from home.   One doesn't go to Mardi Gras you become Mardi Gras.  See you out there! Kalaya