Dear computer, I missed you... not!

My dear computer died almost 2 weeks ago. After a moment of panic, I had to deal with the fact that I was going to live without it for a couple of days. I sent it to the tech to see if it was in any way fixable and after 3 days I was told it was going to cost me a lot of money and the guy wasn't sure if it would still work. The good news, my datas were not lost. And I had to buy a new computer. For a total of 6 days I couldn't work on my design contracts or waste my time on Facebook, so I decided to pretend computers don't exist.

It was one of the best week in a long time. I did what I never have enough time to do.

A cup of tea. A candle. A book. Watercolor, old magazines, scissors, glue.

In the end, it was the best thing that could happen to me. I have a brand new iMac now but I decided to turn it off after 7pm to do what I never have enough time to do.

A cup of tea. A candle. A book. Watercolor, old magazines, scissors, glue. And a lot of time, precious, quiet time with myself.

Sixty Candles

My mom turned 60 last week and my father organized a surprise party for her. He asked me to make a card for everybody to sign instead of buying one. "It looks much better when it's handmade!" he said. You are right, dad: handmade is way better :)!

So I doodled a flowery and swirly 60, with all my love, for the best mom in the world.

It's my Birthday!

Well, kinda. I received 2 amazing books (one from my dear friend Marie, one from my dear self). I also bought some new stuff, including sketch books, pens, paint and brush.

Now will you excuse me, I have some reading/painting/drawing to do!

Flowers and fishbones

They look good painted on pebbles.

Art Exhibition

I love when my kids say they want to become artists "like mommy". I love it even more when I see what they can do. And I think they do pretty well, actually.

Here's a collection of artwork from my 6 years old son.

In the style of...

Joan Miro, by Youssef

Paul Klee, by Ismael

They are wonderful

My sons.

Oh yes, there are moments (plenty) when they are driving me nuts.

But there are moments, most importantly, when they make me feel so proud to be a mom.

I'm volunteering at my 6 years old son school library on Mondays. This Monday he came in with his class. He's always shy to meet me at school, it's really cute! Just before the class left, he called me quietly and while checking around if no one was looking, he put his hand in his pocket and took out 2 small pieces of paper, and handed them to me, with a smile.

2 little drawings, full of hearts and flowers. On the back of one of them, he wrote 'Mommy I love you very very much' (with some mixed up letters at the end!). Isn't that sweeeeeet?

Silence, Love and Respect

My mom gave me a box of pastels when I was quite young. She always believed in me and my talent and she was the first one to encourage me to draw and paint. She would buy me brushes, colorful paint, quality paper and new pencils every time she had a chance.

Lately I found that old box of pastels. Many stubs were so old, I had to scribble to find out their exact color!

The smell, the brightness of colors, the texture reminded me of my childhood. I felt like drawing hearts and flowers again...

Silence is a tribute. To the beautiful and powerful yet silent things that happen in this world. Subhanallah.

The Heart is a message to myself. A lesson I should learn. To love and respect myself. Incha'Allah.

In Black and Gold