IMATS Toronto 2014

So I finally got to go to IMATS Toronto 2014 this year. It was a fun experience but I must say it is over rated. Going in IMATS, I was expecting lots of booths, beautiful decorations, fun things to do, and a lot more vendors, as the entrance fee was $45-50 dollars. Yes the deals were good (not jaw dropping low), yes there was also of flawless makeup talent, but I was bored and finished my shopping spree with in an hour. I love Makeup Forever cosmetics but the most of sales ladies were so rude and carried a huge diva attitude. I know it was a busy counter but come one there was Mac and Nars cosmetics as well and they were so sweet and respectful. You honestly don't need to roll your eyes and talk rudely, when someone smiles at you to as a question. So that part was really disappointing. I doubt I will go next year because it was not worth $50 dollars. I may go if they have more vendors and a more exciting venue or if I am desperate to give my makeup junkie friends a few presents (doubt that). I so was bored and was out in 1.5 hours, but I liked the fact that local vendors out shined the big companies. I think they do it better in other cities/counties. Toronto needs to pick up the pace, it was kinda disappointing. Oh also they didn't even have food vendors, how are they expecting people to stay long for the scheduled events.  Anyways check out the Haul. A lot of these things are in my gift guide blog.

IMATS Toronto 2014

Love Kayze

Sketching on Saturday

Rebuilding 

My mommy ❤

My mommy preparing for a religious celebration.
Foster City, California
by: Shirsha Basu

I always thought there was a certain age when I'd be perfect. An age when I'd be able to fold bedsheets into perfect rectangles. An age when I'd be able to manage both my professional life and family life without making mistakes. An age when I'd learn how to give big bear hugs that could cure even the worst heart aches. An age when I'd be able to remember every appointment without reminders or calendars. An age when I'd be able to give up everything for the happiness of others, without thinking twice about it. But now that I'm older, I know I'll never be as perfect as my mommy. ❤

Gravity

Sitting in her physics class, she stared out of the window. There wasn’t much to see: the roof of a building, and a few tall, swaying trees.

“Gravity is always present,” her professor stated in between thoughts.

She wrote in her notebook, “gravity is always present,” then paused for a few moments. “There’s always something that holds you back.”

She remembered a scene she had watched years ago in a Bengali movie. A “pichu tan,” something that calls you back, when you’re so desperately trying to move forward. Like the lyrics of an old, familiar song, or the cold night strolls you used to take with a loved one.

by: Shirsha Basu

Bay Bridge

Bay Bridge, California
by: Shirsha Basu

Another Basic Sky Picture

Davis, California
by: Shirsha Basu

Ran out of post ideas for today, so here's a basic sky picture.

Construction

Burlingame, California
by: Shirsha Basu

It's crazy how a few months ago, this entire structure didn't exist.

Relay For Life

Relay For Life
Burlingame, California
by: Shirsha Basu

I love Relay For Life so much, because not only is it such a grand fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, but it spreads awareness about cancer and those who suffer from it. There's so many events where cancer patients and their loved ones share their experiences. We all come together to celebrate their victories and feel their sorrows. 

But we also have so much fun! We set up tents and spend the entire day with our friends. We dance zumba, sing karaoke, and satisfy our midnight pizza cravings! All in all, it's a great way to spend time with those who matter the most to us, and celebrate life in the best ways.

Sunset Skies

Treasure Island, San Francisco, California
by: Shirsha Basu

The Ave

Burlingame Avenue, Burlingame, California
by: Shirsha Basu

A Clear Day in the City

Treasure Island, San Francisco, California
by: Shirsha Basu

The snow blanket

First snowfall 3 days ago and today we have a full on storm and completely white and fluffy Canada. As I was walking from work to home in the heavy snowfall, i noticed the sparling snow and the glittery floors of nature's beauty. I chose to walk home because of the crazy heavy traffic jams. Jams that last over couple of hours. I got a message from my sister at 6:17 in the evening, telling me how she's been stuck in traffic since 4:00 in the afternoon. She came home at 8:30 at night and she was 30 minutes away from home ...oh and she reached home by 8:30 because I told her to get off the bus as starting walking because she will reach faster. People who were expecting their rides to pick them up waited addition 2 hours from loved one only 10 mins away. My shift ended at 7:00 and I decided to walk home, though I was debating to also get an ride as I saw the snow falling outside my workplace windows and did not want to walk in cold and wet weather. My gut feeling kept on telling me I should walk because I will enjoy it and will reach home faster than getting ride. I am a summer girl and I hate the cold but my gut was right I reached home faster than the bus (5 mins ride to my house and 30 min walk) and the walk was mesmerizing . The bus that I left behind 30 mins away was still out of the side, even though the bus and I were on the same road. I am telling you this because it made me realize that doing things that make you uncomfortable but are a smart choice, really shows you another dimension of the world you are living in. Being in cold and harsh conditions where everything around us is a chaos, makes us forget to appericate the simple beauty of life and the surroundings. As I was walking I had my eyes glued to winter blanket that the almighty has place. My cheeks still hurt from smiling so much. I was so stunned by the beauty and everything around me that I forgot about taking pictures but capture the moment with my eyes. I guess today was a sign from god to just relax and enjoy the moment, and not worry or be a part of the stress. I bet everyone one who was driving was miserable and tensed and no one took a minute and saw the beauty. A small thing like snow can make me smile so much I never knew before. It was because of the purity it holds. So hello very long winter ... but something tells me its gonna be a good one. 

Behind The Wheel

Burlingame, California
by: Shirsha Basu

I took this picture because I was trying to adjust the focus on my camera, and thought it ended up looking cool.

"Sunset in the City"

San Francisco, California
by: Shirsha Basu

The Other Side

Foster City, California
by: Shirsha Basu

I always post pictures of the other side of this bridge, so I thought I'd take a picture of this side for once. 

Habour front

"Looking Back"

Burlingame, California
by: Shirsha Basu

"Reflecting now on how things could have been, it was worth it in the end."

Winter Wonderland Tag! (Shirsha's Answers)

I was tagged on two tags by Kayze; I chose to do this one first. :)


THE QUESTIONS:
1. Favorite thing about winter?
2. Scarves or Beanies?
3. Favorite holiday movie?

4. Favorite winter nail polish?

5. Favorite Starbucks Holiday Drink?
6. What are your top 3 winter essentials?
7. Name one item on your wish list this year.
8. Favorite holiday song?
9. Did you go Black Friday shopping this year?
10. Must have winter lip product?
11. Will you be rocking an ugly Christmas sweater this year?
12. Have you ever had a white Christmas where you live?
13. Favorite winter candle scent?
14. How will you be celebrating this holiday?


MY ANSWERS:
1. My favorite thing about winter is spending time with my family. It's one of the only times in the entire year that all four of us don't have work or school, so we actually get to go places together and enjoy quality time together instead of constantly complaining about work or errands, etc.
2. Beanies...I wear neither but I'm more of a beanie person.
3. Probably "Elf"
4. I don't wear nail polish; only have used it once..it was plain red.
5. The peppermint mocha!
6. Fuzzy Socks has to be number one. Other than that, maybe gloves because my hands get really cold. And I guess my Beats (versus normal headphones), because they keep my ears warm.
7. An entry-level SLR camera
8. I love all Christmas Carols! But "I'll Be Home For Christmas" by Michael Buble, "All I Want For Christmas Is You" by Mariah Carey, or "And So This Is Christmas" by Celine Dion are my tops.
9. Not yet, but I definitely will!
10. I don't really use winter lip products or any lip products. Maybe ChapStick?
11. I have an wide variety of ugly Christmas sweaters for the season.
12. There's never snow in the Bay Area, but every year my family drives north for some snow. Or we go out to places where there is snow. Like last year we went to Colorado. But usually we just go to Lake Tahoe.
13. I love all of them! Can't pick favorites!
14. We never make plans ahead of time. We usually decide in the beginning of December, so we'll see! Whatever it is, I'm sure I'll post pictures of it on here!

Winter Wonderland - Another Tag!

THE QUESTIONS:
1. Favorite thing about winter?
2. Scarves or Beanies?
3. Favorite holiday movie?
4. Favorite winter nail polish?
5. Favorite Starbucks Holiday Drink?
6. What are your top 3 winter essentials?
7. Name one item on your wish list this year.
8. Favorite holiday song?
9. Did you go Black Friday shopping this year?
10. Must have winter lip product?
11. Will you be rocking an ugly Christmas sweater this year?
12. Have you ever had a white Christmas where you live?
13. Favorite winter candle scent?
14. How will you be celebrating this holiday?

The Answers:
1. My most favorite thing about winter is Ice Skating! (which I haven't done in a while) and the vibe and the spirit.
2. Scarves!
3. Oh wow I have A lot but Nightmare Before Christmas is my favorite! Would It be embarrassing if I say Barbie and the Nutcracker. I practically watch all the barbie, Disney movies all winter long
4. Any Reds, Grays, Coffee colors
5. Not a fan of Starbucks but Tim Hortons French Vanilla is my winter drink!
6. Gloves and Scarf Kit, Thermal Socks, Extra Sweater. As boring as it sounds I will not leave the house without them!
7. Try at least 1 Winter Sport other than skating
8. Last Christmas, the reason behind that was when me and my bestie did our volunteer hours as gift wrapping assistance this song was always playing in the background.
9. We got time before that!
10. Vaseline!
11. If I get one for sure! We don't celebrate Christmas.
12. Yes!
13. I love Icicle Sparkle from Bath and Body Works
14. I don't celebrate Christmas but I will be spoiling my friends that do by giving them Fun Gifts!

Kreative Delight

My Logo That I obsess over I think this is my most favorite design for few reasons! 

1. I am very indecisive so the fact that I have designed shocks me. 
2. I get bored very easily and I am still not bored! 
3. Its such a clean design and was so much fun to draw

Logo Design
- Kayze Abbas (Kreative Delight)

Davis

Davis, California
by: Shirsha Basu

Sweater Weather Tag!

Hi I was recently tagged on 2 tags. One was by Shirsha over instagram! so I will answer that and Because its the Sweater Weather going towards Winter. I am in spirit to do this tag! I tag you Shirsha and I tag everyone reading this!

1. Favorite candle scent?
2. Coffee, tea, or hot chocolate?
3. What's the best fall memory you have?
4. Which makeup trend do you prefer: dark lips or winged eyeliner?
5. Best fragrance for fall?
6. Favorite Thanksgiving food?
7. What is autumn weather like where you live?
8. Most worn sweater?
9. Must-have nail polish this fall?
10. Football games or jumping in leaf piles?
11. Skinny jeans or leggings?
12. Combat boots or Uggs?
13. Is pumpkin spice worth the hype?
14. Favorite fall TV show?
15. What song really gets you into the fall spirit?

1. Sparkling Icicles and Bamboo from Bath and Body Works ( Which I know are not fall candles but i love the scents) 
2. Tea!
3. Just walking in the piles of leaves and trying to capture an awesome picture 
   
4. Winged Eyeliner 
5. Moonlight Path - Bath and Body Works, David Yurman, Fresh Essence 
6. Mash Potatoes or Pregoies with Sour Cream
7. Just like the Movies! Awesome leaves coloring changing, paths of leaves and beautiful days and chilly nights 
8. My Black and White Wool Sweater 
   
9. Greys! 
10. Both but jumping in leaf piles is most prominent 
11. Skinny Jeans 
12. Combat Boots! 
13. Hmm.. I am a 50/50 on that
14. The Flash! and Ghotam! 
15.  Funny random fact I actually rarely listen to music in Autumn.

The end.

He was the crashing waves, nearing and retreating by his whims... And she, the sandy shores...always welcoming his touch with arms wide open. He was the strong cigarette smoke that filled the air with its presence, yet quickly vanished. And she, the cigarette, lit in a thousand flames before being put out so simply.

Like a child, she so innocently believed his every move, his every grin, his every breath as her only truth. His one glance would set her on fire, his one word would scribe her novels. And God forbid if he ever smiled that enticing smile, her entire life would find a purpose.

And now all he leaves her with here are his gashing memories. His cutting silence. The scars he painted on her so beautifully, so calmly fill her with pain through every bleeding moment. Thoughts of him whirl like a tempest through her mind, like flashes of lightning, like roars of thunder. Somehow she knew this would happen. She could feel his absence in his empty promises, she craved his presence even when he was there.

And in the end she realized that.
She loved him, and sometimes he loved her too.

by: Shirsha Basu

The Artist Diary - Kayze Abbas (Kreative Delight)

You guess have always seen our finished pieces and we put out our best work. We rarely show behind the scenes but the reality is I know most of us have our awful pieces that we don't want to showoff. When we show being the scenes we show us working on one piece, however that is never the case (well at least with me). So I decided to show you a few of my incomplete pieces. I know I am some one who has multiple drawings going on at the same time and I may not even finish them for months or years. It always depends on my mood. I always have several sketchbooks going on at the same time and I usually play with different mediums (markers, pens, ink, pencils, paint etc.).  I get bored really easily of my work and what I am doing, so I just leave it until I get back in mood. Sometimes I never go back. However I never rip a page out of my sketchbook, no matter how horrible I drew because that shows me that I need to practice more. Truth is that there are days that I even have problem drawing an simple stick figure. I never took any serious art classes so I never learned to put my unique ideas on paper. I try my best to create images instead of sketches. Most to my sketch end up being a perfect image, which defects the purpose of sketching. I try to finishing a drawing in one day and I never make drafts. I know the importance of drafting but I never seem to want to draw the same image again. Like I said I lose interest fairly quickly. This is part of the reason I chose to keep this profession as my hobby. I can redraw multiple times when I am creating Digital work. I love drafting and revisiting than but not my traditional work!

It frustrates me that I can't draw what I am imagining and the biggest reason for that is that I imagine a drawing in 3D or perspective view and my imagination and ideas in my brain are fairly complex and has a lot of detailing. I plan to take classes to polish my skills one day but never seem to get a chance. I dislike making portraits, hands basically humans (minus Heart, Brain, Stomach and Fetus (not weird at all...)), I find it fairly boring. I love make nature related work or unique surreal environments or just doodling.

Every artist has a different style, I always get told that I am doing a lot of things 'wrong' (see if I care) and I should draft, sketch, practice more. I guess this is my unique style. In fact I feel stupid when I call myself an artist. I am creative yes! who can draw but I don't think I will be a true artist until I can fully deliver what's in my vision on a paper. A lot of self-claimed artists (whom I don't consider artists) these days have become so materialistic, as well as produce common art and have a diva attitude about it because they are bigger in their brains which is so unnecessary. That's why I don't like calling myself an artist, I want someone to give me that title if they find my work original and not too common. And yes! I do also draw according to what's trending sometimes as well because its fun and inspirational but calling it you original raw idea just because you added a few different aspect is just wrong. I think the original artist(big or small) who inspired you should be given a shout out at the least! Okay Rant Over! :P

Love 

Kayze

Jaloos 2014

I have been missing for days because this is a religious month for me as I mentioned in one of my previous posts. But I am back for good now! Things have started to slow down (just a bit). I have tons and tons of fun post coming up, so stay tuned for those! I am thinking of doing contest, giveaways and tags when the blogs picks up a little. Anyways in the mean time here are the pictures from the Toronto Jaloos (Awareness March) 2014 and Mississauga Jaloos 2014.

Toronto Jaloos 2014

Mississauga Jaloos 2014

Anna Sui- la vie de boheme

Anna Sui- la vie de boheme
- Kreative Delight

Afternoon Lighting

Pigeon Point, California
by: Shirsha Basu

Fresh Rain

Davis, California
by: Shirsha Basu

I spend about 90% of my time driving.

Fall

I hate how most of the trees in Foster City are evergreen. I love watching the colors change, and the piles of leaves on the ground.

Beach Park Blvd, Foster City
by: Shirsha Basu

Beach Park Blvd, Foster City
by: Shirsha Basu

And with fall comes Halloween decorations...

Foster City, California
by: Shirsha Basu

Creaking Swings

I'm not sure why, but I've always thought black-and-white pictures of empty play structures would look like horror film scenes. So I wanted to test it out.

Beach Park, Foster City
by: Shirsha Basu

Beach Park, Foster City
by: Shirsha Basu