Fly

FGOTW

Who? Nidhi, 27
Where? I currently live in Hollywood CA. I grew up near Delhi, India and moved to Aptos, CA after high school to pursue art and design.
What do you do? I work as a freelance graphic designer and I take a lot of photos that I post on my blog. I am also constantly working on ideas and designs to print on fabric, like the pink print scarf in the photo. I am really interested in textiles and hand printing and I imagine working more with those in the future.
What inspires you? I end up spending a lot of time in front of the computer and have accumulated large inspiration folders, bookmarks, Flickr favorites that sub consciously creep into some of my work. Though I realize that I am most productive when I step away from the computer, go to the bookstore, go for a hike, for yoga or meeting people. Traveling also provides me endless inspiration. I really try to soak in a place through photos and I end up revisiting those for ideas.
Why are you fly? I am fly because I really appreciate the people in my life who inspire me and who have faith in me. I really care for our environment and aim to be a less wasteful designer and human being.
Advice: I am constantly reminding myself to create, design or craft and that's the advice I would pass on. I come up with random projects for my blog just to inspire myself to get out of creative blocks. I am also always learning to be more compassionate and caring and to take the time to let someone know when I appreciate their work and be grateful to those who appreciate mine.

FGOTW

Who? My name is Kiandra Jimenez, and I'm 32 years young!
Where? I live in a big, small city: Moreno Valley...but was born and raised in Los Angeles.
What do you do? I spend part of my days at home, homeschooling my 6 and 4 year old, taking care of my home, gardening and baking; some of my days are spent hand making leather handbags for my etsy store to inspire women to live authentic and peaceful lives, and the rest of my time is devoted to my dreams of creating art more than not, using my hands creatively, writing something meaningful on my blog...or day dreaming on clouds. I would love to one day publish a book of my poetry, words, thoughts, art...and even some of my favorite baking recipes and gardening secrets.
What inspires you? I'm constantly inspired by life and a myriad of different things. Most often, I'm inspired by simple things that always seem to bring me back to love. I love love and find that I'm most driven when I recognize the way love pushes me (and others) to create, whether with words or color...or the way love inspires us to move, write, think or be. Sometimes I find inspiration in memories and conversations gone by...colors in my garden or in the sky. Words and unspoken truths... the way clouds move across the sky...and I'm constantly awe-struck with the beautiful women of Africa and the ways they paint and adorn themselves.
Why am I fly? I'm fly because I embrace life with my heart first! I love unabashedly...whether it is the women of the world, the color yellow, words and the act of writing, painting and all the colors of the rainbow...the clouds in the sky, the earth and the creativity and nourishment that can be grown with nature...I love and I love hard. I live passionately. The flyest part of me is the me who wears her heart on her sleeve, shows the world her vulnerability and believes that "the truest expression of love is art." This is the me who creates, writes and loves hard..she's fly.
Advice: Don't waste your time following what's not in your heart...the purest part of you is that which is created, born and nourished in your heart...follow it. Don't be afraid to be vulnerable, to be in love with yourself, your craft, your art, your surroundings and the world. Embrace fear...work hard at your passions...live authentically (even when its painful)...be and speak your truth...and revel in your own possibilities!

FGOTW

Who? Marjorie Borgella 34,
Where? I live in Chicago, but I'm a Brooklyn Girl All the Way!
What do you do? I'm a visual artist, freelance illustrator and Art Teacher.
What inspires you? I'm inspired by the beauty in people, places and all forms of design creativity.
Why are you fly? I am FLY because I make the most of what I am and I learn from my mistakes.
Advice: The best advice I can give is to treat yourself the way you want someone else to treat you, Like a Goddess!

FGOTW

Who? Susan Banchek, 33
Where? I'm based in Philly now, but I've lived all over the country including New York, New Orleans, and Ohio.
What? I have a jewelry line, Esther K. It's named after my great-grandmother who came to the United States from Romania. She was an amazing seamstress and a city girl. I've definitely inherited her creative, independent spirit and I think my line appeals to like-minded women. I also make clothes and work as a freelance writer, but designing jewelry is my main focus right now.
What inspires you? Joni Mitchell, Cleopatra, Anna Pavlova...any woman that's brave, bold and follows her passion (and looks cute while doing it). I always listen to music from different eras to evoke a certain mood while I work. One season it was all about Hank Williams and Jimmie Rodgers, another it was scratchy Turkish instrumentals. Right now it's old school reggae on repeat over and over. Traveling solo to other countries is a great way for me to immerse myself in other cultures and find inspiration. I'm super obsessed with images, so I have stacks of pages ripped from magazines and a bajillion xeroxed pictures from the library that I put up on the walls in my work space.
Why are you fly? I'm fly because I donate a portion of my proceeds to ARTDOCS, an organization that provides affordable health care to artists in New Orleans.
Advice: Write thank you notes, get your beauty sleep, network, wear sunscreen, start a retirement fund asap, do what you love, let yourself make mistakes, find a mentor, but most of all, don't be afraid to take risks.

FGOTW

 
Who? Tatyana Fazlalizadeh, 23 years old.
Where? South Philly, but I was born and raised in Oklahoma City, OK.
What do you do? I'm a free-lance illustrator and an exhibiting fine artist. You can see my work at www.tlynnfaz.com. I paint mostly portraits - portraits of celebrities, portraits of children, portraits of mothers, fathers, portraits of interesting people. My work has been published in a number of publications including Beyond Race Magazine, two.one.five magazine, Political Affairs, and more.  I've also been lucky to exhibit in several galleries along the east coast including Manifest Hope:DC, the official art exhibit for Barack Obama's inauguration.  My goals are to simply become a great artist and then, be recognized for it.
What inspires you? I'm inspired by so many things. The world is full of many inspiring observations to be made. I'm inspired by heartbreak, happiness, the sun, a smile, the colors of spring and fall.
Why are you fly? I'm fly because I'll readily admit that I'm insecure sometimes. That, sometimes, I doubt my talents and abilities. I'm fly because even with all of that, I know for sure that I'm going to reach my dreams. I'm fly because my mama said so.
Advice: Be smart, be creative, be brilliant, be gorgeous, be fly - not because you're trying to but, because you already are.  

FGOTW

Who? Tanekeya Word aka Duchess of Art  25 years old

Where? I was born in Mississippi, raised in Milwaukee, WI, will reside in Washington, DC again in August.

What? Currently, I have been accepted as a MA candidate for Arts Management at American University. I will be a creative mastermind and a re-nowned artist (check out my site and Esty shop).

What inspires you? Life, Fashion, Culture, Dreams, Pop Culture, etc

Why are you fly? I am a woman who is in the business of soaring! You cannot get any flier than soaring...lol

Advice: Never set limitations on your dreams...daydreams were created because the night could not contain them.

FGOTW

Who? Torie Michelle, 21 Where? Pine Bluff, Arkansas native currently living in Atlanta, Georgia where I am finishing up my senior year at Emory University. What do you do? I am a scholar-artist-activist and a full-time student majoring in English and Creative Writing and minoring in Theater Studies. I am also the program assistant/graphic and web designer at the Center for Women at Emory and the Editor-in-Chief and Design Director for Emory's Black Star Magazine. After graduating in May, I intend to study graphic design and advertising before going on to receive my MFA in Creative Writing. I aspire to do so many things: publish poetry collections, design a line a of t-shirts, do commercial modeling, open a restaurant, start a magazine, work as a costumed character at Disney World, etc. I want to travel and write about what I've seen. I want to keep the flame burning under the people's resurrected belief in the power of words. (President Obama lit the match.) And I blog. What inspires you? The knowledge that possibility is infinite, blank pieces of paper just waiting for words, adversity, vibrant colors, and music. Why are you fly? I am fly because I believe in my ability to succeed in anything I choose to do. I am fly because my work ethic is ridiculous. I am fly because everyone loves/admires/envies/respects a creative soul but even if they didn't, I would still be fly in my passion to create art. I am fly because I have an amazing mother! I soar. It's borderline unexplainable! :-) Advice: Work hard to get things done while every one else is procrastinating. Think hard while you're procrastinating. That way you'll always either have a polished product or a brilliant idea to present to the world. Don't depend on anyone to get things done; sometimes you're on your own. Face that truth and be bold in it. Your contribution to the world can't be provided by anyone else. That's why you are here. And remember that your looks will fade but your compassion should only become brighter.

FGOTW

Fly Girl of the Week is back!

 

Who? Juanette Benson, 37
Where? I live in Dallas, Texas but I grew up in a small town in Texas, Belton (or BIG Belton as I like to call it!)
What? Fashion Coordinator- I blog, host fashion seminars, clothes swaps, fashion shows as well as personal shopping and wardrobe revamps for clients. I think fashion is about STYLE, not necessarily having the latest trend. I love garage sales and thrift store shopping but I can also do some damage at the mall! I am also interested in DIY interior design and photography.
What inspires you? I find inspiration in a number of things; nature, magazines, television, old movies, but mainly styles from 60's and 70's photographs. I look at photos from when my mom was younger and think "She is sooo fly, why didn't she save those clothes for me!"
Why are you fly? I lost my job last year and my first thought was finding another j-o-b and quickly. Since that time I have learned that I CAN do what I love and get paid for it, I had to adjust my thinking to becoming my own best advertising and if I am going to work hard anyway, then why can't it be for ME?
Advice: Be ever-evolving. Just because you've never done something before doesn't mean that you can't.

FGOTW

I really miss featuring the Fly Girls of the Week. Because of my schedule now I've put it on hold, but plan to start again once school is done. So if you're interested in nominating someone or yourself here's how.

FGOTW

Who? Victoria, 32
Where? Washington DC
What? I'm an events promoter, I've been in event promoting for over 7 years. I'm developing a documentary on music producers, titled Rest In Beats, and I dabble in photography which is a new found love of mine. And I've recently launched my company Bella76.
What inspires you? My children, who are my greatest creation, yet! Music, even though I cannot sing nor play an instrument, it has played a huge part shaping me into who I am and who I want to be.  My friends, because they are some of the world's freshest and creative beings I know! Conversations...and just being.
Why are you fly? Im uniquely bold, feisty, unafraid of new things, I march to the beat of my own drum, I make opportunities happen, and I have an amazing record and sneaker collection.
Advice: Keep an open mind, and an open heart...always follow your dreams. Life will sometimes throw obstacles in your path, you can over come them, with patience, spirituality and most of all Love. Give thanks and love yourself.