musing on me- hungry is beautiful.

A couple of years ago, my husband was looking through stock images and stumbled upon illustrations he knew I would love. So he emailed me to check out the illustrator. And  I was hooked. Not only did she illustrate in this really happy kind of way but her blog was a food blog.

Now I am not a crazy foodie by personality or even that into cooking but I am married to someone who is. I do however, love the idea of fun recipes, beautiful kitchens, I enjoy eating well and I especially love gorgeous presentation and to stumble upon a soul who talks about food in these divine illustrations was an inspiration in itself. Of course shes madly talented and I can only stare at her strokes in wonder, loving the natural flow and movement of her lines. I love how people find things in their nature to nurture and fly with it, changing the way others feel. I dont know Ximena at all obviously, I haven’t even corresponded with her because I have nothing more interesting to say to her than a complete gushing over what she does. She is a fellow mom too which makes me admire her even more, because all too often I have seen people let go of what excites them because it gets too difficult to retain that sense of wonder with work when you’re constantly tired from performing a baby duty or the other.

I have read every single blog of hers, whether it was relevant to my life or not, and possibly hunted down every single illustration she has ever made that is online. If you are a traveller you will love her travel sketch series. If you are a chef you will love her food blog which has lovely little suggestions and the most fun dishes from all over. If you are a designer, you will love her take on food, love, life and if you’re a mom, you’ll cheer for the fact that someone else is out there, living her dream and hopefully get inspired to do the same.

 

musings on me- holiday mantras.

Its seemed like every single person in Thailand has taken an oath to sell their country in the best most positive manner possible. The people smile it, the designs scream it and the infrastructure , mostly, allows for it.Each word, each thought they projected seemed to be with the intention of imparting some fact or knowledge about their country with pride and excitement. Everywhere we went in Bangkok and Phuket, I would be noticing details that they had thought of to facilitate the tourist or simply make things look fun. The brightly colours pink and green taxis, the illustrations everywhere selling this, promoting that. Everyone seemed to be a guide or wanted to help us. If we asked directions to one market, they would tell us we could get the same stuff but cheaper in another one- it didn’t seem to be about making money for oneself rather for the country . They would suggest shorter routes, more baby friendly things to do. The waiters would be friendly, and would hold the kids and entertain them so we could have our delicious meals in peace. They would bargain in good humour- mostly.  Agree with our final price-mostly. Other cultures in this way help you cast a critical eye on your lot so much because you see two countries with roughly the same lot- and then you see what they made of it and you wish yours would get knocked on the head really badly and get it soon also.

 

musing on me

Last week I got an email from someone I know blogularly, saying that she is very inspired by me- with what I do, who I am and how I manage to remain me and how did I do it? Made my day, really, because honestly speaking, these days, I feel I am not even trying to do other than what is the very basic of living. No great art, no fabulous thoughts being exchanged- just basic good ol living. Which makes it more amazing to know that someone out there draws from even that lot of regular stuff energy you throw out into the universe. It just makes soo much possible, you know, within you.

Coming to the word “possible”, one of of my “inspire me” artists  is Kelly Rae Roberts. And if you go onto her website, she makes the best use of this word by turning it into a title. Possibilitarian. Love it, and I want to be one too.

 

musing on me.

It’s so easy to nurture on aspect of your personality and let the other atrophy away just because you can’t make time, just because your mode is different, just because you’re not bothered. The justification and excuses are endless arent they when deep down we know that it only takes a good minute or two to indulge the aspects of us we feel are slowly ebbing away just because.

I am in love with these fabulous illustrations by Elsie F. available on www.redvelvetart.com. They have awakened the illustration monster lying dormant in me and now I am all inspired again. Amazing how it just takes one thing to inspire you in 4 others. Happy Thursday Musing everyone.

 

18/07/09- rainful and lightless.

The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain- Dolly Parton

 

go grow.

The world is only as small, or as big as your imagination and will to make it.

It is only when you see the world grow to magnificent proportionsthrough someone else’s eyes that you realize how limitedly you were looking at it for yourself. And that my friend, is yet another upward turn.

 

back in business and here to stay?

The euphoria lingers, with only bits of reality seeping back in occasionally but that too is thankfully peppered with feelings of better things to come. Driving by several commercial districts today, it was amazing to see many shops had placed the Pakistani flag infront of their doors, or hung it out on their window displays or cars with the flag held high, flapping proudly in the Karachi summer breeze. It was good to see random people wearing green and exchanging a grin with you, all as part of the contagious good feeling, the soliadrity so apparent. As a well written article from Dawn stated,  ”…and they regrouped to emerge as the Pakistanis of good old days. On Sunday, the sane, the rationally thinking, happy people of Pakistan were back in business.“

 

green with happiness, my cup runneth over.

Coming back from watching the match at m’s took longer than we thought. Not because we had to drop khizzy, not even because we were enjoying a lesiurely midnight drive, but because of the dancing in the streets. Isn’t that an amazing reason for a traffic jam? And as I peered into the cars of the fellow stuck in traffic people to see the levels of annoyance, all I could see were smiles, some tired, some tolerant but mostly genuine heartfelt smiles; some had even pulled their cell phones out and were videoing the celebrating boys with flags in their hands raised high up in the air, shouting Pkaistan Zindabad. A few were patiently gritting their teeth, wanting to get home, but realizing how important this outpouring of unadulterated joy is for us today.

Its been so long since we danced in the streets, holding the green aloft. Today it wasn’t about a polticial party, or a specific group- today was all about Pakistan the way it should be, whether you were in the stadium or on the streets, it was that feeling of finally having everyone on the same platform, feeling th same way. I wish this feeling could be bottled up and given to people to use when the next bomb goes off or to spread over the land as far as the eye can see, so that everyone, whatever their agenda, thinks about the country first- and realizes how far we can go with this ability to feel positive if harnessed properly. So many prayers tumbling off  the tip of my tongue and so many dreams in my heart right now for Pakistan, and everything seems possible, just because of a simple cup.

*inshallah lots more of the good stuff to come*

 

turn up the volume of change

I teach a seminar course called Design Awareness to the Foundation Year. Its basically a re-viewing of the world as it exists around us but with a design perspective. We talk about how and why a designer’s vision is different, and what purpose it serves in the grander sceheme of the universal mish mash. Recently, all the classes have had this tone of defeat to them- a lot of my students, driven to cynicism and despair by the current state of affairs in the country don’t believe that we, the middle-classers count on any level- not even in being heard. Perhaps they are right, perhaps I am too optimistic for my own good. Perhaps I am right, and they are missing the blind faith factor. Perhaps we both are both right and wrong, and the correct combination of both reality and denial is what will drag us out of this apathy of not knowing what to do.

So we, the alumni, decided to initiate an exercise in positivity and some kind of shift in thinking with the entire Foundation Year.  After making them listen to some of the great morale boosting songs ( Hum Zinda Qaum Hain, Khayal Rakhna, Yeh Watan Tumhara Hai, Mera Inaam Pakistan, Laga Reh, Dil Dil Pakistan) with their eyes closed to focus on the lyrics, we divided them into 4 groups. We asked great sports (and even better musicians) like OBA, Yasir Q, Ali A (from ADP) and Maaz M (from Kaavish) to lead each group and gave them an hour to come up with a song complete with lyrics and a message that would help put their voice- of anger, frustration, hope, change- out there. Sometimes, the first step is in putting the words out there. What followed was an hour of brainstorming, lyrics, beats, impromptu renditions and makeshift instruments and a lot of very contagious energy. The performances were brilliant, the ideas amazing- and the atmosphere buzzing.

Perhaps this 2 hour exercise didn’t result in much change; I mean the Taliban didn’t suddenly disappear, nothing really became better in the long run and the issues pretty much stayed put, status quo, but the 100 students who came in mentally weary and tired and dispirited, walked out with a skip in their step, with strong words in the mouths and some fighting spirit in their minds and hearts. And maybe for 2 hours on a hot Saturday morning, even this little bit was enough.

pics by ZH

 

shanaakht 2009- keeping our identity intact

I support Shaanakht, The Identity Project.

You CANNOT attack what other people think. You CANNOT force respect. You CANNOT tell others what you want them to feel. You CANNOT be allowed take away people’s identity by crushing their energy. The incident today is still sending waves of anger and resentment through the thinking peoples communities. Destruction. Mobs. But no casualites, they say- are they not counting the spirit-slaying of a progressive and amazing festival- one that in the face of all the terror based media we are getting we really need?? I am waiting for the verdict tomorrow. Will the government support them and will the festival go on?

In all this, one wonders, have we lost our ssense of self so much that we can’t see differences in opinion anymore? Are we so insecure that anyone who thinks differently or does not revere what we revere, now is a threat? Are we no longer capable of living in harmony with those aren’t exactly like us?