BELLA KISMET

This past weekend, my older daughter and I started working on a tattoo for someone. What a fun treat! I mean, artists create art so sketching something is a real pleasure. We've created a pretty nice design and digitized it.  I have to be honest, I have never understood how someone would walk into a tattoo parlor and pick a design off of a wall or out of a book without personalizing it. Art is SO personal. It is making the human body into a living canvas. So, contributing to the design for someone in a unique and personal way is such a pleasure.  I've done a few tattoos (including my own). I think I'll expand my repertoire to start taking requests for customized tattoos just to be sure people put the art they want on their bodies.  If you have a tattoo you'd like designed or customized for you, reach out via instagram @bellakismet  Click to view the process and the result ( on TikTok here )  Video of my bestie getting tatted by Thai @ Thai's Tatted Mermai...

One of my favorite ongoing projects has been promoting and designing for a local personal trainer. He had been a personal trainer for years, but worked for another company and hadn't expanded his brand. Eventually, we discussed a few ideas, and I created a logo that he fell in love with. From there, it expanded into an established brand.  I created designs for merchandise (shirts, stickers, water bottles, etc) as well as helped film content for his Instagram audience. The combination of design and video/pics absolutely taps into my heart as an artist (and fitness lover). Some of the videos I created for him - particularly the ones with the teens recently, and a few of his individual workouts. At the gym, you'll see people trying to film their own workouts - some do okay but - for trainers, it's beneficial to stay focused on the client and not worry about pressing the record button.  Trainers need to have contracts and liability forms so among the many things created were c...

I'm an Army Veteran. I'm an Iraqi Freedom / Enduring Freedom Vet -- that's my era of service. Now, I don't necessarily look like the stereotypical Veteran. I'm reminded that I don't "look" like what most people envision when they think of the military so I made some designs that any veteran can wear -- including us girlie looking girls.   On Veterans Day every year, I love to enjoy the free meals some restaurants offer. It doesn't matter if I show up with a guy or dine alone - the person seating us will hand the "military" menu to the man and the regular menu to me. Goodness that's annoying. I don't mean to be rude but it would be great if people generally asked if either of us would like the "military" menu featuring the free meals that day. Nonetheless, these designs are for that experience in particular.  Just point to the shirt and order your free meal. LOL  Shirt designs range from "Veteran" - pretty strai...

 If you haven't tried paddle boarding, I suggest giving it a go. I was lucky enough to try it out with my friend Susie who works in Jupiter, Florida, at ( I believe ) the only paddle boarding rental shop in the town.  Yes, the town name is Jupiter. Seriously, I know you are thinking Florida is damn weird. Trust me, most of us agree!  My friend Susie hooked me up with a board perfect for my beginner status and took me to a cool spot nearby the shop. I saw my first large sea turtle swimming under me. (Why didn't I have my camera with me?!) The water was crystal clear and, I didn't even fall off although she did explain how to fall off. Go for the fall. Trying to stay on means you sometimes hurt yourself landing on the board instead of the water, she said. I appreciated the tips. Without further adieu, here's the design. (Much love and good vibes to all of the cool paddle boarding chicks out there.) And, seriously, try paddle boarding. You may look and feel like a complete...