New York is always  hectic for me year after year, and now the projects in Quito are growing too. SO much so that I am short on time to catch up on my blog posts as you can see. As soon as I get a chance to relax I will get to them:) The easiest way for me to share at this time is via INSTAGRAM @TOOFLY_NYC or on my Facebook Page. In the meantime check out the Quito Transit Bus Project we had this past weekend. A first for Ecuador, happy to have been part of it.

Earlier this year during my Mexico vacation I got a gig to design some graphics for the Free State Aeropostale line. It was a nice opportunity because I had been inking tons of lettering works, and the t-shirt design gig was a perfect fit. The artist series release would promote my style of work + my street work via video. Our good friend ED from our Sound of Art Days got in touch and made it happen as smoothly as it can go these days with corporate companies. Shout out o Jay Maldonado who teamed up with us to showcase his Toofly video.

Before heading back to the mothaland I had an opportunity to work closely with Chilean graffiti woman BOMBA on Toronto, Canada. I had a really nice time in the city while we worked on a community city project Bomba organized alongside Kamplex. The best part of the trip was the yummy food we had every single day, and the street strolls through her neighborhood. One of the loveliest homes and gardens I have seen in a while. Its a beautiful city. Looking fwd to the project flicks!

My last day in NY was super sweet! Spent the 4th of July at my favorite place in Queens the Long Island City Pier. I had a lovely combination of work and play that day. Worked on a live art piece with my cousin Richie for the LIC FLEA, sipped on some beer, and enjoyed a juicy turkey burger with fries. YUM! It had been a minute to sin. Summer in NY is the ultimate, each time shorter than the next unfortunately. My schedule more hectic every year. I hardly get a chance to hang with my friends now, but one way or the other they make the effort to meet up and I LOVE THEM FOR THAT!!! Being loved by your friends is one of the happiest of feelings. Especially since I spend months at a time now without them.  You should always show your true peeps love as well as those family member who care. To my dear friend Evelyn who I love very much thank you for always being there and sharing the family time with me:)

( EVELYN PHOTOS HERE, Dude send them lol! )

Making the best of my NY minute with dearest of friends and family <3

So the weather in New York is really off this year. We used to rock the LLP event in May but found it too windy and rainy so we figured June would be sunny, hot, and, dry but NO! The rain came thru on Saturday and washed us out. Every single tent that weekend was booked. Luckily our friend Randy had some backups and we did the best we could to hold it down outdoors but when the rain came down hard we moved inside and closed up shop:( It happens. We were like fuck it, mother nature calls the shots. We gathered in the hallway and inside of the shop. We gobbled up all the ceviche and drank all the sangria! A few of our friends dropped by, and to our surprise so did the Brooklyn Boro President secretary! Patty Dukes and I received an LLP Salutation certificate for the community work we are doing and are in talks about getting a big space for next year in BK. The highlight of our rainy day. Shout out to our friend Jose from Latino Life who sponsored us this year for making it happen. We want to give thanks to everyone that made an effort to pull through RAIN OR SHINE!

SATURDAY // DAY 1: Rain or Shine

CHECK out Samantha Morales LLP event photos on our LLP  FACEBOOK PAGE

Want to follow all our vendors? Check out our instagram page @ladiesloveproject or hashtag #ladiesloveproject to find them all <3

 SUNDAY // DAY 2: LLP Comeback!

Day two was better, the sun came out, and we made an excellent comeback. We invited our Day 1 vendors and a lot more people came thru. Faces I haven’t seen in years! It was really nice to catch up with folks one on one. Hommie Yvey was holding down the Toofly booth, Clara was holding down the LLP mini bar with special sangria $5 drinks that was selling out and making everyone tipsy, the BBQ chicken wings with mango sauce was going fast, sales were picking up, vendors were happy, Samantha was clicking away, Randy started his live silkscreening, Reph and Dj Enygma on the tunes were making us boogie, and a lovely summer in the Brooklyn outdoors  the way we envisioned it came together. Big thank you to everyone who joined us, on Sunday and supported the LLP crew at Rebelution Ink. Our Ladies Love Project Pop-Up Shop is back!!! New and improved and ready for next year. Thank you BROOKLYN NYC!!!

THANK YOU LLP CREW 2015!

Hello World!!! — I’m back from my summer travels and catching up on my blog posts. This summer was hectic, hardly had any leisure time but the small breaks I took made up for it. My first mission as soon as I arrived to NY was to rock a fresh new wall at Wellingcourt Mural Project in Astoria Queens. I decided this year that I will begin to document the painting process as a time lapse to bring a little more fun to the project. I touched base with my friends Serge, and Fubz at MOTIONGRAFF who worked on a stop motion video for me a while back entitled; STAY FLY Episode 22 – We had a lot of fun then and was excited to hear they were down to shoot the Wellingcourt wall with their friend Stephen. Luckily this year there was no rain in the forecast so we worked for 2 full days under the hot sun. I enjoyed building with Stephen he’s such a cool guy!!! Very professional and loves what he does. The energy was on point and the best part is we had fun during the process. The video looks awesome!!! I love the music they chose, and how the edits came out. THANK YOU GUYS <3 and thank you Alice and Garrison for keeping the family style street art community event alive year after year. Especially these days when all other events are turning into corporate media takeovers, and hipster trash parties. The work on the walls of our ever changing city is to bring communities together, locals together, and to enjoy the chill summer vibe where kids can run around and hang out with the big kids.  It’s not about corporate media piggy backing off our work and hipsters getting drunk and making a mess of our hood. Authenticity is not for sale, so back the f**K up! Our neighborhoods are going through a tough change with all these greedy mofo’s who have no respect for our people and hoods. Watching the change of my beloved city year after year is sad, but many of us ain’t going down like that. We’re warriors of this shit

​FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

PRESS CONTACT: PATTY DUKES: 646-467-4917

LADIES LOVE PROJECT PRESENTS: 2015 BKLN’ SUMMER POP-UP SHOP!

Curated by TOOFLY & PATTY DUKES

Shopping Event Showcases Handmade Goods, Fresh Vintage Fashion, Home Decor, Independent Artists, Local Flavors + more at Rebelution Ink in BK!

NEW YORK, NY May 13, 2015 — On Saturday, June 27th, and Sunday June 28th 2015, the LADIES LOVE PROJECT presents its ninth POP-UP SHOP! – to be held at Rebelution Ink from 12pm – 8pm.

Williamsburg Brooklyn, a neighborhood flourishing with galleries, storefronts, restaurants,  and busy sidewalks – LLP is ecstatic to bring its 2015 SUMMER POP-UP SHOP Market to BK for the first time! We invite you to welcome a much anticipated summer with our favorite local and out of state artists and designers.

The Ladies Love Project, a brainchild of renowned street artist TOOFLY, sound sensation Patty Dukes who teamed up back in 2010 to bring together NYC’s most creative underground artists, and designers. These ladies felt it was important to keep the “local artisan spirit” alive in the changing face of New York City neighborhoods. The two-day-only event allows for an intimate, yet energetic “marketa style” shopping experience – designed to familiarize the community, consumers, media representatives, and trendsetters with artists/designers from NY as well as Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Japan!

This year will be a fun filled, and colorful summer outdoors! LLP will welcome’s 20+ designers like; LADY SOUL FLY from Los Angeles who specializes in beautiful handmade jewelry which Ana Tijoux loves; Brooklyn designer BKLN TSHIRT FACTORY debuts her new cut & sew kids collection; SHIRO, hailing from Japan has some new, and funky styles; LADY FANCY NAILS will be stationed under the sunshine to rock some fresh live nail art; and graffiti artists WENCOD with MASTRO will be rock’n some custom airbrush works on hats and tees!

This year we also open up our first LLP MINI BAR! with $5 happy hour drinks and fresh fruit snacks to keep you hydrated. Have a sweet tooth? CUPCAKES BY JENNY KINNS is back with her fun and colorful cupcakes; MARTHA’S KITCHEN infamous chicken, beef, and vegetarian empanadas will hold you down if you get hungry, and this summer we welcome CHEF MODERN’S CARIBBEAN KITCHEN which is sure to make you lick the BBQ sauce off your fingers!  LLP will have plenty of sweet, savory, and palate satisfying treats for you, fam and friends all day!

CIRCA ’95′s REPH, and DJ ENGYMA will rock the 1’s and 2’s for non stop jams all day. Hip Hop, Classics, and more!

Our event photographer, SAMANTHA MORALES, is back for those lovely family and market-goers candids at the LLP PHOTOBOOTH! so get ready to put that selfie face on!

Don’t forget to enter our LLP $5 TOTE RAFFLE for a chance to win beautiful gifts valued over $50 from a variety of our designer vendors!

Art on canvas, handmade goods, jewelry, t-shirts, graffiti, food, classic music—you name it— the LADIES LOVE PROJECT 2015 SUMMER POP-UP SHOP is back and ready to spread love in Brooklyn!

Read more

I’ve been building with some really awesome peoples here in Quito. The talent is great, and many of them have been on the grind for years with the city to try and make some dope shit happen. Their ideas are finally coming into full fruition, and with each event it keeps getting tighter. They are taking over more, and more public spaces + organizing events that push the boundaries of what has been done before. It’s nice to see it all unfold. I am used to checking out some really cool stuff in NY all the time, but now that I’m here in the mothaland I feel proud! Shout out to Vera and Alm Crew for the opportunity to join them on their latest project #PROYECTOESPORA in collaboration with one of the coolest design studios in Quito; TORNO CO.LAB.

The project came about because as a community they felt the need to come up with solutions to a theft and garbage problem they were having in their barrio. They connected with their neighbors and shop locals to propose a street project that can help them, as well as other barrios with issues in a creative way. Kids, and grown ups drilled, gardened, painted, and prepared for a day of creative justice. The street artists took the “Vigilante” theme throughout their pieces to let thieves know this area will now be looked out after by everyone and they have no more business there. The area was dark so extra street lights were installed. Large garbage containers were built and some have a creative twists so kids have fun throwing away their candy wrappers and plastic bottles after school. Educating the public is a day to day process here still. There are no street lights, and garbage cans on every single street corner like there is in NY. Quito is still a developing city. Barrios are left to handle theirs, and this is a creative example of that.

VERA 2015

Mr. PAINT! mixing paint:)

JOINS BACK 2015

I got an opportunity to rock one of my favorite illustrations “MAS AMOR” near a funky little tree where the leaves added to the design of the piece, especially when the sun went down. The shade created a beautiful pattern design. These days any chance I have to paint near plants, trees, or nature is a big +!

“MAS AMOR” 2015 by TOOFLY, Quito Ecuador

Finito!

As the evening arrived there was a special video launch planned to close out the day’s event. Ecuador has strong ancestral roots and with the guidance of a native shaman we gathered in a circle for a personal, and neighborhood cleansing. It was a beautiful ceremony, and it was my first one. I’ve been meaning to go to some but never got the chance. As I joined the circle by Vera’s invitation I giggled at first but then realized something amazing. I had arrived!  That feeling you get when it allllllllllll makes sense. It lasts a few seconds but your like oh shit! The connection to the land, art, friends, community, and all I love reminded me why I had returned to my very first home. It felt good…and I’m still processing it…

It was then time to start, and end the late night show. Mixed media artists, dancers, and musicians set the tone for a mapping video projection at one of the big big walls. There was a lot of blank space for a reason. As the lights came on the projection started, and beautiful animated graphics took over the blank space along side the black and white line art illustrations. A collaboration effort by the ALM CREW that has been in the works for weeks. It was a sight to see! As the mural came to life I wondered, has this been done in Quito before?  Felt like a whole new level to street art was in the making. Elders, kids, and young people “ahhhed” and “oohed” and clapped as the show came to an end. For a minute I thought I could be in Dumbo Brooklyn or something. This was great!!!

Big thanks to all and everyone who made this event happen. Much continued success, and looking forward to more.

Painting season is 360 days a year in Quito, Ecuador. Which means the painting fun never stops. Ecuador has the best weather, it’s almost as good as California weather. This month was pretty action packed, gotta warm up for NY in June! I got word from our friend HTM that ARTE ACTUAL FLACSO was organizing a painting, and fine art spree, at a soon to be demolished building in the north side of Quito. I packed up a few scraps of paint and headed over. As soon as I arrived I ran into Boloh! We met at the 2013 GRAFFF festival in Ambato and remembered his chill vibe and intense pattern work. It was only right we took this time to rock a special collabo with an extinguisher artist who was spreading paint all over the walls. The effect was awesome! Everyone involved that day had a lot of fun taking over the place inside and out. No rules, go crazy! We felt like kids in a candy store…

BOLOH X TOOFLY, Quito Ecuador 2015

Ready to drop my next set of limited edition giclee prints this Spring! The first set dropped in the fall and sold out. I made a few for the Designer Con and Toofly Holiday Pop-Up Shop event and they were a hit. Unfortunately there were just a few to go around. Now that Spring 2015 has arrived I’m ready to release the rest of the set on the #tooflyshop 

“PODEROSA” 2014 Giclee Print 8′X8″ ( Edition of 50 )  Signed & numbered by Artist. -
$50.00 + Shipping & Handling
Poderosa was a cute little 8X8 painting I did for fun because I love painting roses. I had a few folks interested in the original so I made a few custom orders. I then got asked to do more but because I don’t like painting the same thing over and over again I decide to do a high quality giclee limited edition print <3

“LA REYNA” 2014. 11″14″  Giclee Print Edition of ( 25 ) Signed and numbered by Artist. -
$75.00 + Shipping & Handling
La Reyna was a fun piece to work on because I was messing around with color pencils one day ( something I rarely do ) on a wood panel I bought. I got so into it and the illustration just came to life. I plan to do more of these as soon as I get more wood panels in the studio.

“FREEDOM DREAMER” 2014. 12″X16″  Giclee Print Edition of ( 25 ) Signed and numbered by Artist. -
$100.00 + Shipping & Handling

Freedom Dreamer is a very special painting I created in 2013 which unfortunately was lost in a cab on one of my NY travel missions. The painting is lost forever, but fortunately I had it photographed before I lost it and I was able to make a beautiful high quality giclee print.

“NATIVE SOUL”  2014. Giclee Print 16″X16″ Edition of (50) - Signed and numbered by Artist.
$100.00 + Shipping & Handling

Native Soul is one of those illustrations I was completely zoned out on. I truly enjoyed working on it. Unfortunately I spilled water on it at the very end from my ice cravings! The original was ruined, but thankfully in good enough shape to scan and clean up digitally. Once I saved it in digital format I was able to make this lovely limited edition giclee print to set off a whole new Black and White series I am patiently working on. More about it soon….

Atuntaqui 2015 International Graffiti Festival! – This is my second year back to paint and I am glad I stuck around this time. I had a blast!!! It was really fun painting of course, but now that I have been building with many of the artists a little bit more over these past three years, the hangout/chill time is official! On Saturday night we decided to run the streets of Atuntaqui in search of an adventure. We landed in a few memorable places with laughs and chelas in hand. Getting tipsy and happy on our strollz through town. At the end we were dancing all crazy into the night at a little hole in the wall spot like a loving crew of friends. I felt the genuine “carino” among artists who respect each other and look out for eachother + can boogie on the dance floor:) It’s moments like these that take me to the happy place I treasure because it reminds me of my hommies back home and all the fun we have when we get together, especially to dance! Gracias compañeros y compañeras <3 Celebrating life is what it’s all about here’s to more good times in the mothaland!!!

Check out Atuntaqui 2014

Shout out to the lead organizer Bolivar aka JASON! A True School Atuntaqui local and one of the first graffiti pioneers in Ecuador. Jason and his team makes the Atuntaqui graffiti festival happen every year on a top notch level. He’s always very chillax and helping the artists get what they need to make colorful walls happen in his hometown. Atuntaqui is most definitely one of the largest street art destinations in Imbabura with over 40+ walls walking distance. An creative community arts example for all towns in Ecuador to take note…

Giving thanks to Dr. Patricio and his family who came thru to support the outdoor project in their barrio and welcome me to his wall.  Very nice man right here born and raised in Atuntaqui, and cool with all the locals <3

I arrived to very pink wall which I figured I should go ahead and make it funky, colorful, and bright so it can stand out as the train pulled in to town. Happy Womens History Month! It’s all about the “PINK LADIES”

“Fluir” Toofly Atuntaqui 2015

The train that arrives Atuntaqui in the morning and in the afternoon get’s to check out some colorful walls on it’s way back from Salinas…

These guys are awesome!!! Reppin’ Guayaquil…CLIMAX

Brazil represent! – Photo real image of organizer Jason! FRESH

The coolest sweetest peeps right here. Vera and JoinsBack! <3

Tenaz from Otavalo on a collabo wall with his peeps…

Shiva from Minniapolis is in Ecuador! She’s here for a minute and you know what that means paint and party time! Hahhaha lot’s more adventures in the works…

SKIPY Atuntaqui 2015

ALM Crew 2015 – Funky Fresh Collabo even chuchaki they make it happen! ha…

Hasta la proxima Atuntaqui, Ecuador! (((( FUERZA ))))

I’ve been in Ecuador for a good three years now and it has given me the opportunity to meet, and build with some awesome souls who organize, curate, and are in tune with a much healthier lifestyle. It has made me a much happier, and creative human being. Working with the energy of these folks helps me take my work and ideas to the next level. This year is off to a great start, and the second wall project that came up this past weekend was in Baños Ecuador. A team of 6+ artists took a lovely country side road trip 4 hours away from Quito to the land of waterfalls, adventures, and “Agua Santa” (Spanish for Baths of Holy Water) is named after the hot springs located around the city which have a reputation of having healing properties due to their content of various minerals. It is also near  the Tungurahua a highly active volcano. Fortunately it’s been safe for many years to visit Baños and we hope it continues to be for many years to come. We arrived during some great weather and ready to paint! The project was lead by street artist Vera and her team Joins Back, Tanya, Jose, and Tatta Productions who looked out for all of us with transport, a comfortable stay at La Petite Auberge, and yummy healthy meals at Casa Hood. I’m missing the Phad Thai already! Baños has gotten way cooler since the last time I was there. A lot more variety in restaurants, shops, and cute hostels have popped up which makes this a great place to return. Once settled we were ready to get to work!

Polaroid by La Suerte

The project at hand was located a few minutes away in a little town called Ulba. It was in desperate need of color and smiles. The Agoyan electrical hydro power plant which is just a few kilometers away has residents moving out. The river no longer flows naturally causing foul smells to their barrio. The local park is closed, and the homes, and streets are deteriorating daily from lack of care. Our goal to roll up our sleeves and paint many of the homes that were falling apart. The color and activity brought the families out for a “minga” ( community clean up ) which happens throughout Ecuador because at times the city can not help these neighborhoods. They began to clean the streets, sweep out the dirt, and help us buff the walls. Little by little everyone was giving a helping hand. They made us “sanduches de mortadella” and fresh raspberry juices to get our energy up, and hooked us up with some electricity so we can blast our music. It was a very fun, and productive “painting street jam” that brought smiles to the families, and much needed attention from the city. They came to help, and are now in chats about permaculture solutions about the problems the electrical power plant has caused the area.  They also plan to open up the park, and fix up the streets/homes which will (hopefully) bring residents back to the barrio. Everyone did a beautiful job! We’re excited to build on many similar projects in towns that need help and attention. Thank you Vera! and (((team))) for the invitation to work with you guys on this beautiful “Paredes del Barrio” project<3

Smh…Green Energy?

Foto by Eleki Hobosigns

Photo by: Jose Luis Jacome Guerrero

Foto by Eleki Hobosigns

If your traveling to Baños Ecuador and want to check out the murals in this town, the main road is on the ( right )  you can’t miss it!

TOOFLY Baños Ecuador 2015

Photo by: Jose Luis Jacome Guerrero

The electrical power plant is down this road…

VERA 2015 Photo by Tatta Rodriguez

ELEKI and TELEFUNKA in town from Guadalajara Mexico! – Photo by Tatta Rodriguez

JOINS BACK, 2015

LA SUERTE X PIN8 Collab

“Sembrar Creatividad” y Amor <3

We found “Fruna” in the middle of the road to Baños. We almost hit her! Vera picked her up and found her a home at end of trip. She will now live in paradise with La Suerte en her family. It’s a doggie world in Latina America! All doggies on trip are adopted. Shout out to Mishki, Rudy, and Fruna who barked and ran around freely.

Cosmorama final flicks coming soon…- Photo by Tatta Rodriguez

Desayuno…

Almuerzo…Foto by Eleki Hobosigns

y Dinner at Casa Hood! Like a creative arts family <3 Thank you team. Well deserved meals kept us going. GOOD TIMES!!! Now let’s get tattoos and seal the trip deal!

Private Tattoo sessionz with Pin8 Studios!

Pin8 is an Ecuadorian Graffiti, Street, and Tattoo Artist who’s shop is located in Baños. His work is super dope, unique and a style all his own. Love it! Thank you Pin8!

Pass the Wisky:) It’s mini hearts and starz time!

Rudy!!!

La Suerte en her signature Bone fish…

Joins Back with an original Pin8 piece for his arm…

Thank You Pin8! See ya next time Baños Crew <3

Before I took off to Cancun I reached out to the folks at the Tulum Art Project. I had been following the event on Facebook from flicks posted by street artist Spaik. As our movement keeps growing, so do the destinations. More, and more “arte urbano” events are popping up in different countries that have vibrant cultures and communities. It’s no longer just a city thing. It’s an exciting time to paint and travel, and I am allllllllll about it. I had a gig in New York after New Years and figured heck, I don’t want to be in the cold! Mexico is just a few hours away and less than $300 to get there. I wasn’t sure if I was going to get confirmation to paint but I trusted the stars. If it was meant to be for me to paint it will work itself out.

On my last week in Mexico I received confirmation that there was a wall available, and a lovely place for me to stay called Zamas Hotel. I was siked! I had missed the original December launch dates but Susan, lead organizer of the project worked it all out.

First day in I sat by the beach and worked on my sketch. I gave thanks to the sun as it went down…It felt really good to be in tune with everything my heart had desired…

Good morning! Ready to paint and chillax for the next 3-4 days…

Because much of my life’s work is about women, and women empowerment, Susan was on the mission to find the perfect wall. She connected me to Sirena’s; an all women’s hostel, art, and gallery. Right across the street from the bus terminal on Tulum Ave. For the ladies that travel solo, or in a group and want to feel a little safer, this is the spot. Susan has been building with locals in the community for over 20 years and has seen Tulum grow daily. Now there’s bohemian shops, and quaint restaurants that make this community a must-go-to for vacation. Especially with the ruins and beautiful beaches near by. The hope is that the locals try their best to keep their homes, and businesses so that all are in harmony, and there is no fear of the being pushed out of their barrios.

I had three days to enjoy this little town, and a big rooftop wall to rock. The young mexican ladies at the hostel were very sweet and accommodating on my short painting schedule. Especially Betsy and traveling buds who helped out, made spaghetti, and took process flicks.

Let the transformation begin…

SIRENA DEL MAR Y SOL – Tulum Mexico, 2015

“Sirenas” the singers of this lovely life. Half woman, half birds. Like warrior women they express their beauty and freedom with creativity. This is for all my linda amigas and the colorful mayan women of Mexico <3

Check out all the beautiful photos of the Zamas Hotel —> www.zamas.com

These had to be the most amazing shrimp tacos I have ever had! WOW delicious…big ups to the chef!

I was pretty tired from wall so I didn’t get to walk around much down Tulum Ave or the boho little town near hotel. There and so many cute shops and restaurants. I am most definitely going to return…

I want to send my 100th thanks to Susan and her staff at Zamas. The stay was super duper pleasant. Waking up to the swinging palm tree breeze, chillax sessions on the hammock, and breakfast, lunch, and dinner overlooking the beach will be moments to treasure. Gracias to the stars that aligned, and all the good vibes, and love that came with it. Even the fat bruise I got on my leg when I crashed the bike into a tree on my way back from wall. It was a long day, and I was really tired:( Luckily it wasn’t too bad. I flew off the bike like a CHAMP! Yeah baby…it’s gonna be a SUPA DUPA FLY year, warrior bruises and all.

Till next time Tulum Mexxxxxxico! You are a lovely place with beautiful people <3

Stuck in Cancun, Mexico for a few more days and that is totally okay because I am not looking forward to the blizzard in New York one bit! It’s also good because I am back in chillax mode after #TulumArtProject wall and can rock this blog post in peace. To set off 2015 I decided to take a little vacation to my favorite beach destination, paint, draw, get a tan, visit ruins, eat lot’s of tamales, tortillas, tacos, elotes, sopes, and all the yummy mexican food I can squeeze into my travel budget. I recently discovered champurrado at the local mercado and I can’t get enough!!! What a delicious drink hot or cold. Discovering the local “spots” is such a treat!

Traveling to the Yucatan part of Mexico during January is perfect. The weather is sweet, and not terribly hot like other months. There’s a nice breeze throughout the day and it feels really good when your out all day visiting the ruins or catching a beach sunset. Last time I visited in 2011 I did not get a chance to visit Chichen Itza so I made sure to go this time. One of the 7 wonders of the world is not to be missed! – These ruins are the largest of Mayan sites in Mexico. Just 3-4hrs by bus from Cancun with a must stop in this lovely town of Valladolid. I did not get a chance to stay here long but I saw some really beautiful artisan shops, and restaurants with high ceilings with colonial style decor. Beautiful!

Once at the ruins you make your rounds trying your best to dodge the hundreds of tourists to get a good shot of the pyramids. It’s a bummer that you can no longer climb them, and that there are so many people there. Also didn’t dig that there are so many vendors who all sell and make the same stuff. Beautiful, but over saturated. It kind of kills the whole moment. Where are the handcrafted works uniquely created by true craftsmen? Why do they all make the same stuff? Anyway it must be a tourist thing, I guess to accommodate the gringo consumerism for cheap “regalitos” When I finally found a quiet place to sit, and the crowds went far from sight ( following the tour guides like sheep ) I took the time to appreciate the site a little more. Most of the stone monuments had well detailed illustrations carved out on the wall. Mostly the underworld of snakes, and skulls. Trying to imagine this kind of world existed years and years ago is a trip. I can’t get around the chopping off heads for sacrifice and all that? I gotta read up on it some more…

Shout out to Silvia from New Zealand for meeting up and hanging out <3 Hope we meet again in our travelz…

My first 2 weeks in Cancun was nice. Made sure to get my Delfines beach on and my ruins trip in. There is not much else to do in Cancun. The hotel life here is stagnant. There is just too many tourists and it’s a little pricey but I got a great deal at a hostel I couldn’t pass up especially since I was gonna be here for a whole month! Glad I was only 45 minutes away from Playa Del Carmen because when it was time to visit my amiga linda I packed up and took the $3 van there. My homegirl Fransiska and her daughter Mika hosted me for a quick minute before it was time to head to Tulum. We haven’t seen each other in many many years. Catching up was super nice, and learning new things we had each discovered in our life journey was fresh. We shared stories of our move away from New York City and how so much of the same things helped us make that decision. Beach life for the girls is a whole new life, and a healthier one. I am happy for my friend and her daughter <3 If that mangu crave, or uptown flava kicks in she’s only a few hours and dollars away from it all:)  But wow who can ever give up that local MAMEY!!! hahahhaha I so need to find this fruit in Ecuador. What a delicious fruit! It’s like flang in a fruit or something like it. DELICIOUS. Thank you for hosting me my sweet friend, and introducing to your neighborhood peeps. Get that solar power boombox and transmit that Iska.World.101 jump off!

As my trip came to a close I got wonderful news from the folks at the Tulum Art Project. I was confirmed to paint a wall! – After my happy dance I packed my bags up again and was off to Tulum another 45 minutes away—> read more about out in on the TULUM ART PROJECT 2015 POST.

The countdown to 2015 has begun!

In a few hours I will be back in New York to ring in the New Year with my loving friends <3  I am most definitely going to dance my ass off, and give many, many thanks for all the blessings I have received this year. My high will surely carry me over on my next flight to Cancun Mexico, which I am super anxious to get to!!! January 2nd can’t get here fast enough. I am truly at the happiest point in my life EVER. I have love, I’m doing what I love, it feels super good, I can share it, and I feel free to take off in any direction I damn well please with it. 2014 and every year since I moved back to the mothaland has been :::AMAZING::: One of the biggest things my love and I are proud of having created this year is our first home. Every single penny we earned off our independent business and my artwork has allowed us to build a beautiful house in the mountains of Quito, Ecuador, from scratch! It was a wonderful experience that with vision and care was made possible with the humblest of folks. Best part is that it’s all is fully payed for and we are debt freeeeeee OMG YES. I can’t believe it. The peace of mind is bliss folks. No worries for the rest of  our lives when it comes to having a roof over your head to live out your days. We don’t owe any greedy mofo anything. That was one of my fears back in the states…If I ever bought a home in NY…I would be working like a madwoman just to pay off a debt to some bank that would surely take a toll on my health, kill my spirit in more ways than I think of, and maybe make me bitter. Maybe…because I don’t let anything or anyone rain on my parade. I would think tho, imagine not having the freedom to wake up when I want?  go where I want?  take off for how ever many months I want? paint long hours without a care of time, eating local organic food, traveling the world to paint, explore, BE ON MY NATURAL FLOW, etc; my bucket list for “my life” on this small planet would have been almost impossible to create. It would have made me sad. Ain’t nobody got time for dat! LIFE IS SHORT people. We gotta wake up, it is real out there. I am not trying to get caught up in that system. It will eat you up alive if you don’t get aware of what is happening. I think a lot more critically these days. I am getting older, wiser, and I truly just have no time to be playing games anymore. This is how I do now, and every day I wake up I WANT TO ENJOY IT (((( NOW ))) not tomorrow, not later, not in the future when I’m old, tired, and weak ::: RIGHT NOW :::: Why not right? At this moment it is freak’n awesome, and I’m gonna party like it’s 1999 baby! HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!

More on my little house in the mountains creating new works and growing my own food soon. Thank you all for your continued love and support.

- Toofly