NEW WEBSITE + BLOG

www.tiffanymillner.com

under construction...

I just wanted to let you know that the blog may be down for a little bit while I attempt to design my own website... Wish me luck  :)

Barbie: Astronaut, beach bunny, executive and now, architect?

Barbie: Astronaut, beach bunny, executive and now, architect?

(...and um - it's .2% NOT 2%)

proof.

I tracked this package from Ohio -  until it reached my porch around 10:45 yesterday morning..

Thank you UPS. 

I miss her.

We were supposed to be friends forever.

We were supposed to take over the world together.

Lately I have been finding myself thinking about her more and more and all I want to do is pick up the phone and call her - BUT I erased her number.

I had to. (I was always the weak one in the relationship)

It is almost as if she was bitten by a snake and I just could NOT let that poison seep anywhere near me. I couldn't leave things to chance - so close to my wedding so I had to tell her good-bye.

I just pray that one day she is able to understand why I said what I said and why I had to do what I did.

It was all out of love.

I think about her all too often and I even keep my thoughts in a small clay pot that she bought me.

I think I love her more now than I ever did - I guess I am secretly hoping that this 'extra' love will create vibrations that will reach her from a distance.

When the time is right, God will allow us to cross paths again..

AND if not - I will continue to wish her nothing but strength, happiness and clarity moving forward.

Event Coverage #1

Santa Claus was very good to me last year.... he got me a new camera :)

Here are a few of my favorite shots from Myra's birthday party this past weekend.

Enjoy!

'Something' is off to print...

Ladies and Gentlemen, I finally let it go.

I sent my book to print...I can not wait until I get my printed proof!!!!

(no... the website isn't up yet - that's next :)

MLK Day @ the O.

yes yes - I am a little late...

BUT - better late than never, right?

The Soupers volunteered their services at The Overbrook Arts Center (or the 'O') for a Day of Learning and of Service...

We were asked to pinpoint a few interior projects that volunteers could help complete in order to continue the branding scheme within the space. 

The first order of business is to create a gallery wall on the main side wall within the center... This wall is currently covered with clouds - hand painted by a volunteer artists....

SO SAD - but the majority of those clouds needed to go. Our proposal was to paint the wall white and install sheets of painted homosote to act as a self healing (forgiving) surface for pin-ups, bulletin boards, and art installations in general.

(Yes - I am going to keep a small area of the clouds - to pay homage to the artist :)

I will keep you posted on the progress...

Roadkill Photography

Roadkill Photography

Roadkill Photography

Hippopotamus...

Gina thinks that I like them because they are purple... 

I don't know - Maybe?

Guys - it was the weirdest thing.

On a Sunday, we were just sitting on the couch - flipping through the stations and we came upon the Newlywed Game. 

It was corny. But cute and quirky - So we said to ourselves.... Hum - we can do that.

So the next day (at lunch) I filled out an on-line application on the production company's web-site and sent it on.... That was THE LONGEST APPLICATION EVER.

But - the application also said to send along a DVD of us...

So I searched on-line and found a g-mail address that appeared to be associated with the game show.. I sent an e-mail inquiring about the process of submitting a DVD and not and hour or so later I got an e-mail back saying - Can you come up to NYC for an on camera interview - to day or tomorrow?

Um - what?

I thought that it was fake.

So I asked Deme about it and he said that we should go for it.

So we did - we drove up there that next night and did an on camera interview. (Ask me about the Bunny Rabbit and the Tiger)

We didn't get to exit 8 on the turnpike before we got a call back saying that we needed to be up there that Thursday for an all day taping.

So we did.

The whole thing happened so fast - It was such a rush......  Now on to St. Croix!  :)

KINNKS BLOG + GSN VIDEO
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS

the 'O'

...just like Alice fell through a hole and ended up in Wonderland... 

One day WE walked into a community art center and were granted creative freedom.

Ok - so it wasn't THAT easy... (not to mention if I see the Cheshire cat in one of the trees on the site I may pass out)...but the entire process has been so fluid so far I have no choice BUT to go with the flow.

The Overbrook Arts Center ( or the 'O' as we like to call it...)

http://www.overbrookartcenter.org/

"On our way to Wonderful... Is a place called Alright"

 ... That's the tag line for the center and its actually painted on the facade of the building.

Just think about it. 

(On your way to wonderful...)

We are constantly yearning. hoping. praying. for something wonderful. 

But wonderful may not be tangible - right now.

The wonderful that you envision may not even be the best thing for you - but you think about it all the time. You may even dream about it tonight. 

The wonderful that you have concocted in your head may never manifest and ultimately you should understand that God has another plan for you and it is most likely MORE wonderful than you could have ever imagined.

But what about the Now? This 'place' that I am in NOW?

I mean - it's alright, right?

..of course it is... we just need to slow down and actually remember that :)

WE are only at the beginning stages of the re-branding process for the center, but I know and I BELIEVE that this is going to manifest into something great! 

Here are a couple of the flyers WE did for the Open House Event - featuring the NEW logo and brand... 

(I think they came out Alright.)

A New Year (means) New Beginnings...

This was quite an interesting year.

...AND it really all started after that large tree in front of my house fell down from that ridiculous snow storm in February.

There is something to be said about how you really need to let things go - or you need to 'make space' to allow for new opportunities and blessings.

The funny part is that I was told to cut that tree down a few years ago - in order to get my roof fixed...

Of course I protested...

Needless to say - I think I prolonged the inevitable so long that God took the tree down for me. Since then I can not tell you how much natural light has been pouring into my house...It's incredible.

AND not to mention that that particular tree was located directly in my "mentors and helpful people" sector of my house (with regards to Feng Shui)

...let me tell you. I am now a true believer.

This year has brought so many ups and downs.

Losses and gains.

Struggles and uncertainties.

Sadness and anger.

BUT.

It has also brought to me an army of angels that have manifested clearly out of no where. 

Some came in the form of business / client relationships morphing into incredible collaborations and friendships...

Some came in the form of old friends that I have finally been able to connect with on various levels.

Others came to me through connections through friends and associates that can only be described as nothing less than divine intervention.

I just wanted to say THANK YOU to everyone that has helped me to become stronger and even more driven to reach my goals. Our relationships are JUST beginning and I can not wait to see what 2011 will bring to us ALL...

I wish you all Peace and Prosperity in the NEW Year :)

ubuntu.

ubuntu.

(Not referring to to the computer system - but the actual concept that it derives from. But - they have a cool logo.)

I AM BECAUSE WE ARE.

This past year has been an exercise in stepping out of my comfort zone and as a result I have had the most incredible experiences and opportunities. (Some of which I could have never even imagined.)

One thing that has really resonated with me - is the fact that you can not accomplish everything on your own AND in order to become what you want to be (if you even know what that is...) you need to circle back to the simple concept of human connections.

Ubuntu (oo-BOON-too) is an ethical concept of African origin that focuses primarily on our relationships with each other. It teaches us that teamwork and collaboration has the power to reshape our workplaces and our relationships with our co-workers.

I plan on making Ubuntu infectious in 2011.

"In Africa there is a concept known as Ubuntu - the profound sense that we are human only through the humanity of others; that if we are to accomplish anything in this world, it will in equal measure be due to the work and achievements of others."

- Nelson Mandela

13.3% (Re-visited)

 A few of you asked what I submitted to the exhibition....

Well - I wrote a little book called "200something".... (Stay Tuned!)

And YES - I made this submission before I had the epiphany to be a good wife and actually CHANGE my name :) 

http://wuho.org/13point3

13.3%

 ...and just like that - it was printed. bound. mailed. and tracked all the way to Los Angeles...

I recently made an “...an exasperated reply to those who say: ‘there are no women making architecture.’"

I submitted a little project that was realized in early February - but has been ever evolving since about 1992... 

Just a little something that conveniently fit inside a standard sized 9x12 manila envelope and it has about 200something pages...

((Is anyone in LA?? I need a photo of my exhibit!!!))

http://wuho.org/13point3

Just over thirteen percent of architects are women, according to the American Institute of Architects.

The exhibition 13.3%… borrows from the conceptual structure of curator Lucy Lippard’s landmark 1973 exhibition of conceptual art, c. 7,500, in which each work on display fit into a standard manila envelope. Lippard’s exhibition contested the belief that there were no women making conceptual art at the time — and she did so by mailing evidence of this work directly to the gallery for display. Nearly forty years later, 13.3%… provides a space and form in which to consider the contributions and visibility of today’s practicing female architects.

kiddies...

Dear Work Husband, 

We haven't talked about it in a while, but I would like to tell you that I REALLY miss our kids..

I took this year off from mentoring students in the ACE mentoring program in order to clear my head and focus my energies on developing ME.

...well apparently developing ME is taking a little bit longer that I thought - and I guess I just didn't want to miss it so soon.

 

Mrs. Millner

 ...the artist formerly known as Tiffany Strother-Millner.

Well - I tried the "hyphenated thing" for a year...

...and I thought that he was "okay" with it...

UNTIL.

..we went to the Capital Grille and the waitress came to the table and pleasantly said " Good Evening Mr. + Mrs. Strother..."

That was it - and I just couldn't take it anymore... I didn't want to hear his mouth. (I assure you - it made for interesting dinner conversation)

I knew that Deme was more on the "Traditional" side of things... but I guess I was just trying to hold on to my independence... 

I mean COME ON!!!!!! You are one person for 32 years and then you just become someone else...

Ugh - it's going to be alright :)

You should have saw the smile on his face when he opened a little box and saw my NEW driver's license in it... 

Priceless.

Love You Deme!

Tiffany C Millner

The Friday Five.

Aww.. nothing like a little shameless self promotion :)

http://www.blackweblogawards.com/2010/10/22/friday-five-tiffany-strother-millner/

Sunrise + Sunset

It's been a while...
I have been on vacation.
I wrote "something" a few months ago - and I have finally blown the dust off of it.
I met some new people.
I video taped a little tv show (more to come on that soon)...
I celebrated an anniversary and fell in love all over again.
I ate wedding cake that was frozen for an entire year - and STILL was exceptionally moist and scrumptious.
(Angie - You are the best!)
I shot some really cool photos and watched the sunset every night (for a week) that God sent to me...
It's amazing how fast it sets...It really puts time into perspective when you think about how little time there really is between sunrises and sunsets.....

BUT.
I have been seriously M.I.A.

I have been purposely avoiding writing...documenting...expressing my feelings for the fear that something uncharacteristic will flow from my fingertips.
I am not afraid anymore...
Blogging should be about life and all of the experiences that the blogger wishes to share and I wish to share this with you.
The second that you start to lose faith - you will know.
Your heart will grow heavy.
Your energy will cease to exist.
Your mind will spin uncontrollably and you will feel as though you are trapped inside a glass box looking out - with no hopes of escaping.
I was in that same box not only an hour ago and I am finally ready to accept the fact that I am nothing without my faith, my love, my dreams, and my hopes...
They were still there - but the wool was so thick over my eyes that I didn't even see them. I felt as though they abandoned me...
I am writing with my heart on my sleeve to express to you that you will never be alone and without hope - even when you feel at your worst.
Always remember that and those dark clouds will surely fade sooner - rather than later :)

Ok - Enough of that!!

(back to smiling)

examiner...

...did I tell you that I am writing articles for the examiner?

http://www.examiner.com/ethnic-community-in-philadelphia/tiffany-strother-millner

Faith + Freedom

Humm... I think I may have "burned" myself again...

For the past month and a half, I have been working on a little something that I called "Faith + Freedom". I knew that the annual PhilaNOMA Art show was coming up and that was enough to put the fire under my butt to build something - and get my head away from thinking and stressing about thing I can not control. 

Everything seemed to fall into place... I received power tools for my birthday. I carved out a little corner in the basement to become my "wood shop", I had full access to the Soup Factory AND Cacao was on vacation in New Jersey.

I found some wood slats in the garage from an old IKEA bed in my garage - and I already had the vision. So I was ready to go....

The idea was to make a "picture frame" for flowers to be mounted on a wall - but like everything else, It became much more. It became my creative outlet... (Hey - what better way to relive the stress from work - than to go home and use some power tools??)

 It was awesome... and then this popped into my head as I was building it... So I had to incorporate it:

 

i wanted to let go, 

but it wouldn't let me go.

i tried to break free, 

but i was always...

...am always +

always will be free.

ENJOY!!

Faith + Freedom is an exercise in re-discovering the creative side within me. As working professionals we sometimes lose sight of the simple things that bring us enjoyment and in turn serve as natural stress relievers.

Over the years, I found myself running from the things that would set me free. The lack of time committed to creativity wold be the very thing that would save me from the mundane day to day - also known as life.

Bending those wooden dowels was a stupid idea manifested. It was tedious and i broke a lot of them - even though I had them soaking in a tub of water in my basement. BUT I assure you that during that entire process I was NOT thinking about getting shop drawings back in time, dis-respectful clients that have no idea what i do for a living, construction time schedules that were shot and people blame you because you are the architect, stressing about toilet room clearances and that extra grab bar, and my favorite - the pissing contests that develop at the end of a job when all of the change orders get tallied up and the boxing gloves go on...

AND - it's new home in my dining room...