Primary Election Playlist
June 14, 2016
Taking that turning lemons into sweet, sweet lemonade game to the extreme.
2016 on it’s own has been rough, but add in the primary election season that led us into it and will eventually bring us near its end, the year so far has been almost unbearable.… more
Carving the Elfmas Watermelon
December 02, 2015
I may have created a new yearly tradition.
As usual, I had grand plans for Halloween. In my head, I can always get everything done. In real life, I can never accomplish all the things that seem so doable in my mind. Typically,… more
The Sawyerfresh holiday playlist
December 01, 2015
One way I keep my spirits high during the holidays.
Like many others, I get a little down in the dumps around the holidays. To keep myself from getting beat down by the negatives I associate with this time of year, I focus on the… more
CL Best of the Bay Award
September 25, 2015
It’s not all about winning.
Creative Loafing’s Best of the Bay issue is kind of a big deal to people in these parts. When BOTB season opens up, everyone is all “vote for us” on every social media platform. I… more
Meet Carl
July 30, 2015
He is a human, not a problem.
Stating that he is human seems to be an obvious point to make, that is if you have a heart and some compassion.
Carl has been in the neighborhood longer than any other resident… more
World on a String
July 27, 2015
Puppetry exhibit at Florida CraftArt
I have had a fascination with puppets since elementary school. First, there was an in-school wayang kulit (Indonesian shadow puppet) presentation that sparked interest in the art. Shortly after that, I took a trip… more
Got 99 problems
July 18, 2015
but stressing over a stolen bike ain’t one.
Growing up, I never really wanted things. Christmas would come around and it made me feel strange. The only thing I remember having a want for was a bike, but I don’t think I ever… more
Amping up Meteor Watching Day
June 30, 2015
with some planet watching.
All things space related kind of freak me out. Don’t get me wrong, I find topics like space, time and the universe highly intriguing. I’ve spent a good number of evenings having discussions on such… more
Rescuing Burt Reynolds
June 02, 2015
Late night dog rescue with a happy ending.
What started out as a quick, late-night trip to the corner store turned into an intense animal rescue.
Down the street and over the bridge we went. As we reached the bottom of the bridge,… more
Flower Days of May
June 01, 2015
April showers bring May flowers, for sure.
Flower Days of May was my second attempt at social media as a creative outlet. This time, participants had to photograph and post flowers they see. Again, the aim was to find the beauty around… more
Sugar Sand Festival 2015
April 17, 2015
Fairy tales in the sand.
Last year was my first time at the Sugar Sand Festival in Clearwater and I was impressed, so I added it to my list of must-do annual festivals. In 2014, I attended… more
Two years down
April 15, 2015
There is never anything typical in this union.
I’m not one for fancy dinners and wine, expensive gifts, obligatory flowers or cliche romantic gestures…or whatever nonsense it is that gets ladies all gushy these days. Luckily, Mr. Tony learned that quickly. Because… more
Reunited with The Dookster
April 10, 2015
One more day and he would have gone feral.
Wonton, Little Won, Stinky Pete, Mr. Moo,The Dookster. No, that isn’t a list of all of my pets, it is a list (not a comprehensive one) of the names I have for my single kitten.… more
Mini dominoes in my mailbox
April 09, 2015
From NY, with love.
I am a believer that small gestures of kindness can have a big impact, especially if the timing is right. Today was just another reminder of how true that is.
Over the past week… more
Celebrating the month of Fabhueary
March 01, 2015
Not a typo, I just love color.
I like to encourage people to be creative in whatever way possible. Some say they just aren’t creative and leave it at that. Some just say they don’t have time, then others have the “I’m… more
Bonding over bricks.
December 28, 2014
LEGO bricks, that is.
I’m a pretty lucky gal, for various reasons. One huge reason, I didn’t end up with a guy who’s idea of a relaxing evening is one at the bar, or sitting around playing shoot ‘em… more
Enter Bernie the Bunny
November 07, 2014
The unexpected new addition to the family.
Animals, my allergies may not love them, but I do. Today, the universe blessed our household with another animal friend.
As I sat working in my studio, I looked at the time and noticed… more
A Halloween Month for the Books
November 01, 2014
31 days filled with holiday spirit.
When people talk about spreading “the holiday spirit”, they typically refer to Christmas spirit. I get it, the whole good will and cheer bit. Why on Earth people only say that for a holiday instead… more
What the world needs now
October 30, 2014
is ska, more ska!
In high school, I was at a punk or ska show almost every weekend. Then, my body decided it was going to develop a crazy allergy to cigarette smoke. I had always gotten a scratchy… more
Reuniting with G and Eggs
October 20, 2014
for a treck through the longest corn maze ever.
G and Eggs, two awesome ladies that I credit with keeping me sane through the 2011-2012 school year. The last time I saw them together was over a year ago, but today the trifecta of… more
Why I am the way I am
October 11, 2014
I guess there is truth to apples not falling too far from the tree.
I’ll admit, I know I’m a little different than most. I embrace it and love that about myself. I’ve always played by my own rules, even as a little kid. Now that I’m a “grown-up”,… more
Resurrecting the art of fort building.
September 20, 2014
Teaching the youth how to use their imagination.
This morning, I was explaining to a child how kids played without smartphones and video games, without fancy toys and television. I was explaining using imagination and to that I got, “Well, when I play… more
Ride, Sawyer, Ride…
September 13, 2014
upon your victory ship. The SS Victory, that is.
That big ship that sits behind the aquarium, it has a name and it is The SS American Victory Mariners Museum. Fact, I like to explore my hometown like a tourist. This big ship… more
Holy moley, a green anole.
September 10, 2014
So happy they’re still around.
The Green Anole, a lizard familiar to anyone that grew up in the south. These little green cuties were everywhere when I was a kid. I remember spending a good chunk of my afternoons trying… more
Serendipity with sparkly eyes…
September 02, 2014
and black fur.
It has been established and noted many times throughout my posts that I am into signs, luck and symbols. Well, tonight I got what I took as a double sign of good fortune.
I… more
Growing Tampa
August 16, 2014
New Water Works Park opening near Downtown Tampa.
This week, the long awaited Water Works Park and Ulele restaurant opened. The plot of land that the park and restaurant now occupy had been unused and unloved for as long as I can remember.… more
Greetings are even better in green.
August 10, 2014
Especially when they are from awesome people.
I have always held the idea that it isn’t how many times you “hang out” with a person that dictates the type of friends you are. It is how you spend the time with a… more
My turn to search for treasure.
August 06, 2014
Round 3 of hospital treasure hunting.
I have treasure hiding duty for the past to rounds, but today, Jennyburg seemed to think I should to the searching. The clues were given and I was a bit concerned about what finding the… more
Double Luck with a Double Rainbow
July 25, 2014
Reminds me it’s Survival Day.
Some know this day as my birthday, but I consider it my survival day. This day in 1982 was very close to being the last for both my mother and I. Well, the first and… more
Round 2 of hospital treasure hunting.
July 23, 2014
This time, I hid a couple of minis.
Another day with business at the hospital means another treasure hunt. This time, I hid two little buddies. With a few clues, the treasure hunter had to reunite them.
The kitten was hidden under… more
Exploring my world
July 20, 2014
...one green at a time.
I am a color nerd. I don’t just see color, I experience it, I feel it. For me, color is tied tightly to emotion. Some colors provide positive feelings, while others cause negative sensations. This… more
Old Florida Adventures
July 19, 2014
Airboats, Alligators and Roadside Attractions
I pretty much try to live Florida like a tourist, otherwise I feel like I’d miss out on some pretty rad stuff. My favorite adventures are ones that include old-time attractions. Add in the great… more
Gurdy the Spider
July 18, 2014
My new friend on the front porch.
Tonight, I came home and couldn’t get in. Not because I had locked my keys in my car and not because the lock was jammed. Instead, I couldn’t get in because a new friend was… more
Treasure Hunting in the Hospital
July 09, 2014
Bringing fun to the doctor’s visit.
Doctor’s offices, hospitals, any place that is related to sickness…I get a little stressed. Whether I’m there to treat my own malady or to accompany someone on their quest for treatment, I get a little… more
Fairy Sticks and Friendship Bracelets
July 05, 2014
Just a normal afternoon visiting mom.
My mom is pretty damn crafty. I envy her craftiness as it far surpasses my ability. Crafting overwhelms me sometimes. I often don’t know where to begin, and if I do start, I can’t figure… more
Crepes and coffee
June 28, 2014
One of the best ways to ease the anxiety of a World Cup match.
For the past year, it has been a family tradition to go to La Creperia Cafe in Ybor every weekend for crepes and coffee. There have been times we’ve missed it or deviated from… more
Don’t stop looking at me swan.
June 20, 2014
And please let me pet you with you’re at it.
Tonight was a twofer art night. Innoskate began tonight, so after visiting Blue Lucy, I was off to the Polk Museum of Art to check out the festivities.
Prior to the opening of All… more
If I had wings I would fly.
June 16, 2014
Let me contemplate, this snack on my plate. Well, my tray, but who’s counting?
Flying freaks me out. A very efficient way to travel, but super stressful for me. A tube full of people, coasting through the sky for hours, you’re stuck. There is no turning back option. Ugh,… more
Most spectacular sunrise.
June 15, 2014
Not what you’d might expect.
Upon arriving to Maine, we headed to Acadia National Park to get a game plan for the remainder of our trip. While in the visitor’s center, one of the park rangers mentions that Cadillac Mountain… more
A giant dose of chill the hell out.
June 14, 2014
Nature just jammed that horse pill down my throat.
People tell me I don’t know how to relax and I agree. It’s no secret and it’s not something I’m super happy about, but I try and that’s what counts. I was born stressed and… more
Good coffee on vacation is hard to come by.
June 11, 2014
Then sometimes, you luck out.
When I go on a trip, one of the first things I think about is coffee. If there is stovetop access, I load my usual coffee making set-up in my luggage. If not, it’s like… more
Monster Trucks and Skateboards.
June 07, 2014
Is there anything cooler to a kid?
Ever since I introduced two young gentlemen to the joys of monster trucks back in January, there has been a lot of talk about the massive machines. The younger member of the duo has taken… more
The impact of small gestures and kind words.
May 28, 2014
Way bigger than most people imagine.
I try to offer a kind word and send out positive vibes to people at random moments, not just when times are tough and I know they need it. Sometimes, I start to think that… more
Solid folks, doing what they love and doing it well…
May 26, 2014
now that’s inspiration.
There are people in this world with great talent, but they don’t pursue it more than a hobby. There are people in this world that pursue a dream, but lack talent to see it through.… more
There is no lettuce nor a lake
May 22, 2014
...but the view is still pretty awesome.
Over the past 6 months or so, I’ve visited Lettuce Lake Park a number of times. The main reason was to walk the boardwalk and enjoy some of the beauty that Florida has to offer.… more
And then there was light
May 21, 2014
Proof that the small things truly make me happy.
A lightbulb, just an everyday household item, but one that brought me loads of joy. About a year ago, I moved into a place that had a refrigerator…a fridge without a light. Now, I’m not… more
Up from the 36 chambers, minus 32
May 17, 2014
Getting creative for a bit of animal project motivation.
Kids get school projects all the time, it’s just part of life. More often than not, they will get handed a worksheet and be asked to merely fill in the required information. This is exactly… more
Drinking up some unicorn magic
May 11, 2014
One cup at a time.
Today, I received a wonderful gift, a visit from my mother. With her, she brought a beautiful new friend for me. I named him Maurice and he is the most magical mug in my collection.… more
Gifts for Unicorn Day
May 08, 2014
Apparently, someone thinks this weekend should have an extra holiday.
Everyone gets crazy around specific holidays, usually out of obligation. Christmas, it’s always the rush to get that “something not so special” because of the obligation. Mother’s Day is another one of those holidays. I… more
Farmer’s Market trip
May 07, 2014
Not sure why it didn’t happen sooner.
Maybe because they have always been out of the way for me or because I was comfortable with my local grocery, whatever the reason, I had never stopped by one of Tampa’s farmer’s markets. For… more
Just a preacher of the eternal badass Rock n’ Roll
May 01, 2014
Finally saw The Boss live.
All who know me also know my love for Bruce Springsteen. Up until about a year ago, he was my secret husband. To me, he has always been a master storyteller. Even as a kid,… more
First spin on the new ride
April 28, 2014
My new custom bike takes its first ride around town.
I can’t remember a time in my life when I didn’t have a bike. As a kid, my bike was my pride and joy. It started with my first tricycle, red with white grips and… more
LEGO, you have officially won my heart
April 25, 2014
The highly anticipated trip to Legoland.
No secret that I love LEGOs. They are pretty much the greatest toy ever invented. When I first heard that Legoland was coming to Florida, I was a little bummed that Cypress Gardens would not… more
Cloud Nothings
April 22, 2014
Another fabulous Crowbar show.
Can’t really go wrong with catchy tunes at Crowbar. Cloud Nothings had an awesome set. As I stood there watching, all I could think was “If these guys came about 15 years ago, there’d… more
Does the Paas dying pack ever get old?
April 18, 2014
Such a classic product!
Paas egg dying packs, about $1.50 to purchase, it brings back so many memories and provides at least 30 minutes of enjoyment. Dying Easter eggs has always been a blast for me, which is strange… more
Good reads over my coffee break
April 17, 2014
Navin and I get spontaneous publicity.
Fact: Trips to Ybor for coffee, always great. Fact: Popping open the latest Creative Loafing and seeing my artwork while I am enjoying an Ybor coffee break, super great. Huge thanks to Julie Garisto… more
One year down
April 15, 2014
Hopefully many more to go.
Today marked my first year of marriage. I have a hard time even calling it an anniversary as I’ve never had one. Not because I was single up until now, I just never cared enough… more
Revisiting my roots
April 13, 2014
An afternoon of hitting up some Tampa favorites from my youth.
Most adults who live in the city they grew up in sort of take it for granted. Places become just a backdrop for their lives. The life and history of those places become unimportant. That’s… more
Unicorns and the Wheel of Death
April 05, 2014
First trip to the Renaissance Festival.
The Renaissance Festival, it comes ever year and every year I stay away. Strange, because the Renaissance is one of my favorite eras in art history. I think I had developed an aversion to it… more
Even grown-ups need a cake
March 27, 2014
Baking homemade sweetness, with love.
Today, I invented a birthday cake. I say invented because I wanted to combine the recipient’s favorite things…coffee, chocolate and coconut. What I came up with was on point. What made it even sweeter? What… more
Ride is coming together
March 26, 2014
My new wheels are looking sharp.
Olive green, gold glitter and million spoke wheels…that’s pretty much me in bike form. My husband decided I needed a new bike and the only way I would get one to suit me was for… more
World Happiness Day 2014
March 20, 2014
Celebrating with happy things, of course.
A few things that make me happy…pizza, Ybor City, unicorns and my unicorn sister. Luckily, I was able to spend the end of World Happiness Day with all of those. Pizza from New World… more
Pine Car Derby
March 18, 2014
This is what a kid taking pride in his work looks like.
I am always thrilled when I see kids taking pride in the task at hand and the work they produce. As a teacher I used to say, “If you produce garbage, what do people think… more
Not a bad shot
March 15, 2014
Almost 20 years since the last time I tried this.
Archery was my favorite in middle school PE. I haven’t shot a real bow and arrow since then. My mom recently purchase a couple and set up targets in her backyard. I was a little… more
Lucky ladybug
March 12, 2014
A sign that good things are in store?
Fact: I have a difficult time relaxing. Another fact: I believe in signs. Today was the first full day on my trip to St. Augustine. Life has been hectic for a while and I’ve had… more
New Orleans love in Tampa
March 09, 2014
Soul Rebels at Gasparilla Music Festival.
I think New Orleans is great. I love the vibe and the music. When The Soul Rebels played at the 2014 Gasparilla Music Festival, I felt like I had been transported to Louisiana. This… more
Killer weather, killer colors
March 02, 2014
This is why I live here.
I am not a fan of cold weather. If it dips below 70 degrees, I feel like my bones are going to break. The beauty of Florida winters is that we have short bursts of… more
The new studio space
February 26, 2014
The first time I’ve ever had a proper, at-home, studio space.
After leaving my Ybor studio almost a year ago, I’ve searched for a new place to work. While I searched, I made the best of my dining room and occasionally the living room. I had… more
Fiesta Day 2014
February 22, 2014
An annual tradition of music and food drunkenness.
Fiesta Day is one of those annual Tampa events that I have to go to. Three reasons why this is a great event…1) It’s in Ybor, that is reason enough. 2) Latin music for me… more
Insane attention to detail
February 21, 2014
I love small details and love it when people pay attention to them.
My step-father is an artist in craftsman. He can pretty much make anything out of a chunk of wood, seriously. I have always admired his attention to detail, but he finally blew my mind. I’ve… more
Reuniting with my records
February 20, 2014
Two years after my record player was stolen, I was able to reunite with the music.
Back in the winter of 2012, I was robbed while at work. My record player was one of the many items taken from my home. Luckily, all of my records remained, even the one that… more
Them lines up in my hair
February 13, 2014
Finally got someone to do line work in my hair.
Scott Bentley at Bentley Salon was the first person to fulfill my request and I have to say, it came out wonderfully. I had asked various people to do this and I was always… more
Thanks to Boca and Elizabeth
February 11, 2014
My eating struggles were cured for an evening.
I’ve lost a bit of weight and have been on an ultimate weight gain diet to help get some back. According to my calculations, I would need somewhere around 3700 calories a day to gain… more
Organization, how I adore you
February 10, 2014
After a stretch of pieces, I get things cleaned up.
Since I was a little kid, I have always enjoyed organizing things, especially my art supplies. I can’t remember a time that I didn’t get a fresh Crayola crayon box, dump them out and reorganize… more
Can’t recognize brightness without a little bit of darkness
February 08, 2014
Nature constantly reminds me of how true this is.
Winter is rough for me. The repeated fronts coming in, bringing rain, grey sky and cold weather, I spend the season waiting for the random warm days. Sometimes I get frustrated with there are a… more
LEGO got into my brain
February 07, 2014
Unikitty? And she’s all about being positive?
First off, I love LEGOs. They are small, and everyone knows I like little things. Aesthetically, they are very well made. As far as toys go, I don’t think their designs have ever been matched… more
Meeting Sir Dr. Admiral Rupert Xavier
February 01, 2014
New work by Daniel Mrgan.
Tonight, I was finally able to see Sir Dr. Admiral Rupert Xavier’s Paper Plane Flights to Exotic Mind Destinations, an art show by Daniel Mrgan at Bluelucy. This was an extremely creative and… more
A Tampa coffee staple
January 31, 2014
El Molino roasters, the air freshener of the Ybor strip.
El Molino roasters has had a family history in Tampa since 1921. My first chance to grab a cafe con leche from their shop was a little over 2 years ago and I’ve been… more
Bits of gratitude
January 28, 2014
When clients are happy, I’m happy.
Today was drop off day for my latest commission. Me being me, I always get nervous at this phase of the commission process. It’s all fun and games while I’m creating, but delivering the finished… more
Inspiration for miles
January 26, 2014
My first trip to Bok Tower.
Another one of those Florida attractions I had always wanted to go to, but never had. Bok Tower Gardens was gorgeous. It may have been a wet, dreary day, but there was an endless… more