Lucky 13: Abs for Days

       

Miss MorningWood is about women following their dreams, finding their passions and supporting others along the way.  That is why we thought Jibby from Abs for Days was a perfect woman owned shout out.  Just reading her Lucky 13 interview gets me pumped to reach my goals. Whether you are aspiring to carve a new six pack or to carve a new live slab table, her enthusiasm is contagious.

1.What are you working on at the moment? I’m currently working on a brand new fitness training technique that I plan to launch January 2015. I can’t share much about it, but it incorporates my love for music and fitness! I’m changing the “workout experience” and taking it to the next level!

2.What drives you to do what you do?  Passion. It’s the core in all that I do. I LOVE what I do every single day. I care about every email I write and every interaction I have. Passion is KEY.

3.What is it like to be a woman in your line of work?  It’s definitely a challenge to be a woman in my line of work; especially with where I plan to take my business. My goal is to get more women into gyms and to break that “intimidation” that is expressed by most women about stepping into a gym. I remember when I “earned” my spot with hte boys at the gym…. it shouldn’t be like that! I’m a small petite thing and physique is judged intensely in the fitness industry. It’s a lot to keep up with my own personal fitness journey as well as working with others. But, I do know people see what I’m doing and that I am unstoppable; so it’s been worth the hard work!

4.Do you have any regrets? I don’t think there is space for regrets. I am an entrepreneur and everything I do is a lesson. If something doesn’t work as planned, I change it. If it works, I see how I can enhance it. All the “rocky patches” are the times I learn the most and gain wisdom and experience from. I do wish I really understood that I was capable of this at a younger age; but again …. I feel I am a pioneer in the entrepreneur realm. So, I do not have any regrets. Everything teaches & inspires me.

5.Do you have any scars?  I have TONS of scars, and I love them all. It’s an addition to my “fingerprint” and I wouldn’t be the same without them all. My favorite is the scar in my dimple … precious right?!

6.What do you believe in? I believe in me. I believe in love. I believe in respect. I believe in goals and dreams of all people. I believe in future generations. I am a believer; of many things!

7.What is your best dream? The best dream I had was when I was DJ’ing in Hawaii underwater at this goegeous secret island. It was complete bliss and you can only imagine how upset I was to open my eyes and not be in Hawaii …. face palm!

8.What could you not live without as an artist? I cannot, and will not, live without music. It is beyond impossible to get through any day without listening to music and being inspired by beats from all over the globe.

9.What is your guiltiest pleasure? Doritos. Ya, I said it. I can’t help it! Add a Snickers in there … I’m in for the night! HA!

10.Who is your Woman Crush Wenesday?  MANKO! Ugh. Melt. Moment of silence. She is a gorgeous woman in the fitness industry; and I have the biggest crush on her because she is 100% real and true to herself. She shows her silly side, but is very driven and works very hard! Plus …. she’s a DIME!

11.Which woman artist out there today would you love to shine the spotlight on? PUSH! She is an amazing Bay Area artist and is now learning the craft of tattooing. Her art is ALL over the Bay and her talent is raw and amazing. Check her out … www.ArtByPush.com

12.Where can we stalk you? (websites, blogs, social media info) I’m all over! FIND ME: IG – @Jibbography FB – Facebook.com/jibby.bond Website – www.AbsForDayss.com

13.Anything else you’d like to (over)share? I just really love to inspire people to do what they love and follow their dreams. It’s not easy. It can get expensive. But the joy that it brings to your soul cannot be beat. Love yourself enough to work hard at what you want…. it WILL come!

Lucky 13: tat that a$$

The only thing better than a tattoo is a tattoo that is woman made. Sarah got the coordinates to the exact location where we first met  (awww!) from Ms. Maseuli.  She specializes in Samoan tats, geometric designs and gentle kindness.  Support your local lezzie artists!  Share this post, follow her on insta or call her for a dope tat and a good time.

Elizabeth Maseuli has the honor of being our first to share with our Lucky Thirteen Q&A

1.What are you working on at the moment?

I relocated to Tacoma, WA from San Francisco, CA to study tattoo/technique from the artists at Island Sons Ink: Greg, owner of the shop specializes in Polynesian, Gil does photo realism, and Wibur does American traditional. Together they have 40 years of tattoo experience, have all owned their own shops and have traveled the world through tattoo. I can’t believe how fortunate I am to have been welcomed into their shop and family.

2.What drives you to do what you do?

Definitely not logic (; tattoo is a high stress profession, but my passion and culture has become tattoo. I appreciate the relationship I have with my clients, and ability to utilize my creativity.

3.What is it like to be a woman in your line of work?

As an androgynous female in the tattoo industry, and especially in Polynesian style, I am somewhat of a rarity. I have found that women clients are more drawn to female artists, but men also appreciate my calm and inviting demeanor.

4.Do you have any regrets?

Absolutely. But I’m grateful for the lesson(s) learned (:

5.Do you have any scars?

I have lots of scars, probably more than most- thankfully I don’t recall the pain but I do remember the stories- I appreciate all my scars.

6.What do you believe in? 

“Make a habit of two things: to help; or at least to do no harm.” Hippocrates

 7.What is your best dream?

….a long, happy and healthy life for myself, and my beloveds – with lots of laughter

8.What could you not live without as an artist?

My thumbs.

9.What is your guiltiest pleasure?

Romance- I feel so alive when showing appreciation for another.

10.Who is your Woman Crush Wednesday?

At the moment, Cassie (:

11.Which woman artist out there today would you love to shine the spotlight on?

My dear friend, Sarah C. She is so talented and I love everything she creates. I wish her a life & career full of creativity.

12.Where can we stalk you?

Tumblr : novemberthefourth

InstaGram: noblenaturetattoo

Facebook: Beth Maseuli (Grey Wolf)

13.Anything else you’d like to (over)share?

No, thank you (:

 

The muscle behind Miss MorningWood

Sarah Cobillas tells us why she does what she does, proving that she is more than just a pretty face and a strong arm:

 

I believe that women are mentally and physically stronger than the limitations that society has put on us. I believe that women are strong enough to make lives that challenge the status quo. I believe that as a woman, the art that I create can inspire other women to have the confidence to also create. I want to learn about sustainable design and master my craft so that I can teach women how to make things for themselves. I know first hand what a transformative experience it can be to create something from nothing.

 

As a girl who was interested in things that are traditionally dominated by men, I was always told I would never be good enough to compete. Looking back at my career in the military, in a position where women were rarely represented, I proved to myself that not only could I compete with men, I could also surpass them. My life in the military was incredibly challenging, but I am grateful for the wisdom I gained after my experience. It opened my eyes to the limitless possibilities that myself and other women can achieve. At the end of my enlistment I was given a chance to move up the ranks and become an officer. I turned down the offer because I believed that outside of the military I would have a greater chance to impact my community.

 

I am creating my own ideal of what success can mean for me.  I know that creating things and helping people is what fulfills me. My goal is to make sustainable design accessible.  I want to open the doors for the women who never imagined they were strong enough to handle machinery and create quality pieces for themselves.  I want to create beautiful and affordable furniture for people who never thought that they could afford to own a piece of art. I want to be a part of the movement of sustainable design, not only to preserve our environment, but also to sustain our most under-priviledged communities.

 

My art is a process of renewal and transformation. I try to infuse new life into discarded objects whose fates are otherwise limited to decay. In this same way, I want to inspire people to unearth the blessings in their alleged deficits. My dream is that people like me realize that our perspective is necessary in the art world and our lives are worthy of beauty.  I believe that creativity has no limit and by supporting one another, instead of fighting each other, we all have the ability to unlock our full potential.

Miss MorningWood says…

To fur or not to fur?  For me, the question has the same answer as many other conscious consumer quandaries.  Here is my checklist for feel good shopping:

1. Buy old: A great thrift find, a vintage steal or a refurbished master piece- it’s already made, it’s already taking up space in this ever shrinking world.  The best shopping you can do is the kind that doesn’t create more excess in this consumer culture.  Turning trash into treasure is an essential for our own art and what we look for in other art.    When it comes to fur- yes, I actually think it is more ethical to buy an old fur (like this $40 mink steal from the Alameda Antique Fair) than to purchase a new vegan leather jacket.  Other bonuses: it is often cheaper, nobody else has the same one and we all know rescuing a dog is better than breeding a dog

2. Buy human: There is just something undeniably beautiful about things made by hand.  Maybe it is the minor flaws or the unique nature of each piece.  The quality just doesn’t compare- things made by hand are durable enough to sustain wear and tear.  (Hence, why buying old is another good guideline.) I love the actual connection in small shops and etsy stores that Target doesn’t offer.  There is nothing better than meeting the person who made what you are buying- it also ensures you aren’t wearing something made by little hands or underpaid workers.   Other bonuses: You can often make  a connection to the artist that can lead to promotion of your own work, possible bartering and collaboration on future projects.

3. Buy Woman Made: First of all, we are lesbians- so we kind of have a crush on any woman who makes anything… But more importantly, there is a long and vibrant tradition of women making things (food, clothing, house goods, etc.) and having their art discarded as mere “craft.”  These functional arts have made our daily lives more beautiful and have the ability to empower women to live life on their own terms.  We have all heard that investing in a woman is often more beneficial to a community than investing in a man.  They are more likely to reinvest in the community and more likely to teach someone else their craft.  Other bonuses: We also know first hand how hard it is to break into a male dominated industry,  like upcycled furniture.  We are out there, fund us, support us, buy us (er, our goods.)

4. Buy Local: So much could be said about buying local.  We live in a peak oil world, anything to cut back on the toll shipping takes on the environment is a worthy venture to us. In addition to the eco benefits, you get the same benefits of human made and women made.  You are investing in your community and getting to make actual human connections.  Other bonuses: buying local tends to come in the form of fun events  like art walks, craft fairs, farmers markets and neighborhood exploration.

5. Love above all else:  You can’t always help what (or who!) you love.  I’m not going to lie, sometimes Target is the most practical, affordable place to find a good interview outfit or some cheap heart shaped shades that you know you will lose in a week.  I believe if you practice the prior rules, they will begin to be organic choices that you make more often.  And in the meantime, if you find a dope t-shirt made by a guy in Mexico- GET IT!  We live in troubled times and sometimes piece of mind requires a little less self judgement.  If you are being a conscious consumer most of the time, you are already making a big difference.