Potholes 2/29/2012

Here are the restaurants that make my trashed list for dining:

Weber Grill, everything is luke warm when you receive it.

Cheeseburger in Paradise, these ppl don’t know how to put down the salt shaker.

Maker’s Mark, well, this place is so super sexy inside. It really is a sight to see. However, their chef, could use some more training in the basics than culinary arts. Maybe like don’t burn a grill cheese sandwich or use seasoning on a steak. Maybe Lawry’s? Smh.

On another note, I am less than 66 days away from my Spring show and I have yet to confirm a venue. Tsk Tsk! I have sent out 16 request to top of the line locations and no takers. Sighing. I had someone tell me shoot lower Khy, don’t go for the best just take what you can. I say NO! My customers deserve a full experience from me. And If I can’t give that to them then why should I stoop lower? I say NO! If I can’t give you my best, then I will give you my best when I can. Satisfaction should not be sacrificed, in my book, by a dollar. I refuse. So, we shall wait. I shall stay focused on the lord and see what his had offers.

Good grief, Charlie Brown. Seems like the more you try to do, the more random odd ppl or users come out of the woodwork. Asking for this, promising that, offering ideas, and saying what you can do better. I respect this, but umm, like Lays Potato chips I say “get your own bag”. LOL

Meet the Artist Showcase 2/18/12

Model: Jasmine

The distance keeps adding up from post to post. I will try to keep you in the know but much is happenning and growing. The year is off to a great great start. The February I was invited by Jacki Fuqua to add my styles in the Meet the Artist Showcase. This was honestly my first time attending and participating in the show. I was amazed, entertained, impressed, and excited. It was the Marion County’s 24th year doing this show. It showcased artist, by any means in the community, doing their thing. There was modern, formative, and cultural dance, paintings, sculptures, native drums, short skits, singing, networking and the list goes on. Did I say I was impressed?

I met some really genuinely talented and cordial people. I totally dig that. I met more models.

Model: Cameron

What no hand clap? I said I met more models. (smiling) Im kidding about the clapping. No, Im serious. Clap or smile. (smiling) Models make my company. You know that. Models are more important than the designer. In some cases no model, no sale. People like picture, illustrations, and demonstrations. Models accomplish that all in a 60sec walk. I totally dig. that.

Model: Angela

I want to take time to give a hugh congrats to Jacki Fuqua. Hands down she had so many heads to do before the show, I was even wondering how she would do it. But, one thing about a victorious woman; a mother, a friend, a sister is that you can not underestimate what you think they may do because faith, God, and perserverance can really go the distance. Jacki O, I lov ya lady! Keep doing what you doing, because you are truly “a bad momma jamma”. She and her team really do embody what it means to take care of you as a customer, client, and fellow sister. Contact her at her salon off of 21st and Franklin in Indianapolis, IN. Here’s the number…317-898-0027. The salon is called Thereu Touch.

Another big thanks goes out to all the models that modeled for me.. Special thanks to Angela modeling the plus size 18/20 art deco summer dress. Joy you are fierce. Joy modeling 14/16 plus size dress and Sante Fe polo with leggings. Cameron and William, Otis, Josh, Marquis, and the rest thank you. Erin, Erin, you are too cute. I think there were five names for you during the show and all of them just as adorable. You were great to work with. (out of breath) Did I say I really liked that event. I truly did. Truly.

Khyla P Barnes & G. Ingles models@Meet the Artist 2012

Lastly, this show was a different spin for me. I liked it. I had concern for the flow but I didn’t have much stress. This was not my show. Therefore, I controlled nothing. My job: just clothes. The show while seamingly whole had several moving parts. I can not express how happy I am that it came together smoothly. I’ll talk with you soon!

Jan 30th: You gotta go thru

My, my, my, my that was a trying week. Thru my church last week was the Daniel fast. A fast from entertainment, tv, facebook and other media, meat, fish, sweets, and all other forms of life. Yikes, with a capital Y-I. I was defiinitely tested during this time and tested again and broken down. My goodness.  You name it, anything that could of happened did. Not usually, how I like my life. I am the happy, forward, opptimistic type that is also realistic and naturally excited. My God, I reached a point last Sunday and Monday where happiness could of been a desolate island; I’ve never found. I was hungry, irritable, and short paitent. My car had issues, had a few other setbacks, evey biller in the world sent me a larger bill for some reasons, and other trying issues came up in my everyday relationships with the world. GIVE ME A BREAK. The final straw, a client yelling at me 36 mph. Im sorry, what? Sighing. No more.

Im not afraid to admit it, I was doubtful. Why am I fasting? Where is the closet steak house? Ugh, I could go for a good movie and popcorn? I could use a stiff one. I shut out all parties, didn’t answer  my phone and the clouds of doom and pestimism hung right over my head. I tried to pray.  But, the lines up to heaven were experiencing technical difficulties. I was firing on one cyclinder.

I managed to whimper  in a low voice a short audible prayer. It just said, “Lord help me now.” I repeated it several times. Until I felt the hungry and dark clouds parting. I opened my bible. Sighing. And just started reading for about 30 mins. I felt better. That next day, I called off work. My friend recommended I do so. I was hoping to sit around doing nothing but actually I prayed, went to see the sick, and offered as much as I could an encouraging word to another friend. That day. Literally, in two hours. Everything changed. Everything. The bills an error, received money in the mail 2x, the car fixed minor issue, the issues with people a mild misunderstanding, and the client called back that day much later to apologize. As for the food, hardly noticed anymore. I just ate more rabbit food more often and subscribed to the erin diet. LOL. The clouds were dispersing.

I had a visitor that arrived suddenly out of the blue, and that made me exceedingly happy. Provided a lift and encouragement. Temperance and virtue. Many thanks to you. I met up with my Coleman and he extended an ear, several laughs, and great conversation. Sighing, no matter where we are, I love you boy!

So all in all. A very trying week but I survived. After that storm, I realized I needed that. That I had to be tested to my faith to see just how much faith I had. I completed the fast. Lost 6lbs. Met some really cool ppl and other fashion designers. Got my website updated, came up with some super ideas, and got many other agenda items in order. Also, thru God’s grace, locked in some key dates, events, and networks that will power the G. Ingles company to the next level. You just wait and see.

Jan 16th: I have a dream

Today most of us have off to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Some 44 yrs later blacks are amongst the most recognized contributors to medicine, technology, fashion, science, music, and the arts.

King’s dream is today’s reality. The things your create are tomorrows Picaso’s. And the people you influence, are our nations next Ghandi, Dali Lama or Einsteins.

See we aren’t just living on this earth to just live. We are created on this earth for an experience. And, mostly an experience unto others. Meaning, what you do for the benefit of all, will excel you  and make your experience easier. I would encourage you to not sit back and partake of things you know are wrong, or remain silent when you have something worthwhile to say. Don’t be trapped in what happened. Be engaged in what you’d like to see happen. And when all else fails, lend on the Lord and not your understanding.

The dream of today is that all little children will have a better tomorrow is it not? And that we will continue moving forward.

Jan 3, 2012: stories we tell

Welcome, welcome to 2012! I am excited. How was your new years? And what did you do? I spent mine up in Michigan in Traverse City. Very nice. Very nice. I had amazingly great company, clear skies, rolling beaches and sand, and plenty of laughs.

You just cant beat that. Each year, I try to make the most of this one second that controls the pace of the rest of my year. I was always taught what you do and whom you do it with on new years sets the pace for the whole year. Do you believe that?

Smiling. Before this post turns into a dedication to the love of my life I’ll cut it short by saying that you and I deserve to be happy. You deserve to have the very best for yourself. I do too. Its not progressive when we decide that the person we are with will not be here long. Usually we know. You know closer to the beginning than the end.

So where am I going with all this? As we grow together, you the reader and I, we should expect more from ourselves. Year over year, we shouldn’t do what we did last year that produced no result for us. Aim higher, expect resistence, continue to accept that you must change.

My mentor told me, that if I wanted a different result, I’d have to select a different method. And so as we tell our stories about our lives, where we have been, and what we have experienced. There should be a shift, within each story where you are growing. Where you have failed and been hurt. Then where you were retested and succeeded. The stories we tell should reflect, in my opinion, where we have been but not always where we are now. So my reader, I’d like to encourage you that this is your year. The only one who can guarantee that you are in a better place financially, mentally, emotionally, physically, or creatively is you. Make the most of your year, ask questions, tell the truth, don’t be so pestimistic (no one wants to hear that), set higher goals for yourself and don’t be afraid to fail.

Step out on faith, make good choices, and trust that God knows your circumstances and has determined your destiny. So let go, forgo all that stress. If you can’t- then you can’t.

dec 23rd: just say hi

Its no secret that those who are outgoing and inviting to meet and be around usually make the best salemen or women. The will to want to meet  ppl and see them happy has to drive you from your core. Keeping it in your mind is simply not good enough. It is true, that which is within you will inevitably come out.  So think light thoughts, think positive, and avoid negative ppl or situations in which you’ll do more explaining to untangle yourself  than to just tell the story.

…pausing… as I sit here, I am recalling one of my more important lessons I’ve learned this year. The power of hello. A simple hi. True story, everyone wants to be respected. Everyone. Some ppl want you to chase them to say hi, to keep their friendship, to recognize them.  Ok, ok, Ok. It is our natural instinct to want love. Whatever that looks like. Love from a stranger is a genuine hello, how are you? Maybe a compliment. Love from a friend, a hello, a how are you doing, maybe personal contact. So if this is true, how can we miss out on extending that we love, or care for one another?

In business, you and I both know that if you could just put yourself infront of a different audience you may get a different result. Maybe another sale, maybe another associate, maybe a friend. I am telling you now, if you are so cute that ppl have to crawl to get your attention, or so full of yourself that ppl below can’t reach you…I beseech you to halt with that non-sense. Make yourself open to receive communication and for relationships to expand and collaspe.

The bottom line. Absolute bottom line is I need you and you need me.