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Books Worth Reading...

2012-02-22T20:06:00.004-05:00

Lately, I have really been enjoying my iPad as an e-reader. After years of reading e-books on my MacBook, I am loving having something more portable and manageable. I have gone a little book crazy, and my library is chock full of some great stuff.

How Did You Get This Number - Sloane Corsley

- I really enjoyed Sloane Crosley's first collection of essays, I Was Told There'd Be Cake. Her writing style is easy and engaging, and her stories will appeal to most young singles.(Although I am sure married and family style folks will enjoy them as well)

Babycakes Covers the Classics - Erin McKenna

- Since I have given up dairy and eggs, I have been researching vegan baking. Babycakes, is obviously a Mecca for vegan foodies, so I thought this book, from the founder of Babycakes, would be a great starting place. It is fascinating to see how vegan bakers get around such baking staples as eggs and milk. There are quite a few recipes in here that I am dying to try.

Packing For Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void - Mary Roach

- Ever since I heard Mary Roach on one of my favorite podcasts, Jordan, Jesse, Go!, I have been interested in reading her books. Roach writes about fascinating scientific subjects in a humorous and inquisitive style. Packing for Mars is about the fascinating stories of Space Travel, and the efforts that led up to it.

Are there any new books you are excited to dive into? I am always up for some great book suggestions!

Things that are Great...

2012-02-19T15:37:00.002-05:00

Today, I thought I would share some of the best of what I have discovered on the Internet this week. There is always soo much beauty and inspiration to be found out on the interwebs!

*Blush Pink - I have recently been obsessed with this particular shade of pink. It is the perfect punch of color for early spring. This lovely photo is by Elena Rendina

•Cool Shades - Speaking of pink, these shades from UO are just about the cutest, spring-y-est things I have seen in a while.

• Mirror Art - This concrete and mirror sculpture by Maryam Nassir Nadeh is so beautiful! I would desperately love to see it in person. I am a sucker for any kind of sculpture that plays with light or shadows.

•Yummy Vegan Noms - I am dying to try my hand at this Vegan Chocolate Cake with Avocado "Buttercream". The recipe, from The Purple Carrot, looks more simple than fussy, and I think the avocado icing makes for a lovely spring desert.

•Fun with Fibers - As a Fibers Artist, I am always looking for inspiration and insight into the work of other artists. However, this isn't always super easy for those with an interest in the medium of fibers. For some reason, there just aren't many blogs or journals dedicated to Fine Fibers Art. Fibercopia, is a wonderful, beautiful exception to that rule. This blog features so much international eye candy! Even if you have a casual interest into beautiful fabrics, this blog will offer plenty of inspiration!

Embroidery: Part Deux

2012-02-03T16:58:00.001-05:00

Since my last embroidery post, I have gotten more, not less, interested in embroidery. I am bringing you guys some different artists than I had originally planned, but I am sure you will enjoy the work of these talented folks.

Lucky Jackson is a talented artist who is doing a project where she stitches a new piece, every day, for 365 days. I am obsessed with this lovely portrait of the amazing Amy Poehler. The candy necklace is a perfect ode to the character of Leslie Knope! Check out her blog for her daily embroideries, some of which are for sale!

Liyen Chong's work couldn't be more different from that of Lucky Jackson. Her work is understated and elegant. Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of Chong's work, is that many of her pieces, including the one shown above, are stitched with human hair. Anyone who has ever embroidered, can appreciate what a detailed and difficult task that would be. Her website features a gallery of her work, which is crazy inspirational!

Jenny Hart is to the modern resurgence of Embroidery, as Aretha Franklin is to Soul. Her company Sublime Stitching sales her orignal patterns, as well as patterns by young artists and classy tools for the stylish stitcher. Her patterns were some of the first things I ever stitched, and it was her excellent on-line how-to's which taught me how to successfully complete a French Knot. Along with her work getting the gospel of stitching out to the people, she is also an amazing embroidery artist in her own right. I think the above portrait of a certain Dolly Parton is proof enough. Check out both her blog, and her store for loads of eye candy and inspiration.

Inge Jacobsen does some amazing work stitching atop of photos, magazine covers and newspaper clippings. Her work is vivid, detailed and textural. She works mainly with images from the world of fashion. One of my favorite aspects of her work, is the fact that she often posts images of the backs of her work, which are no less beautiful or interesting that the fronts. Check out her website to read her blog or see those lovely back-side images.

nom nom...

2012-01-19T18:02:00.003-05:00

My New Roots is an amazing blog that has given me all sorts of ideas and inspiration for this new dietary chapter! This beautiful image and recipe is from My New Roots.

One of my New Year's resolutions was to start being more proactive about my health. I have some hormonal issues as well as some depression/anxiety issues. Put some carpal tunnel and an old, but persistent, shoulder injury,on top of that, and I was beginning to feel a little older than I am. I don't say any of this to complain. I am enormously grateful for all the amazing things my body allows me to do each and every day, I just want to return the favor, and try to keep this body of mine in tip top shape for as long as possible.

One of my action-items for this resolution, was a visit to an acupuncturist/chinese medicine practitioner. I don't believe in every facet of the various "alternative" medicines, but I think older traditions probably have something to add to our modern medical philosophy. Although the actual acupuncture therapy was a lot of fun and very relaxing, the real take-away was a that some changes in my diet would probably go a long way to alleviating some of my issues. This really re-enforced some things I have been processing on my own, and I decided it was time to make some serious nutritional changes.

In order to help normalize some of my hormones, I am no longer eating dairy, and eating very little meat. The visit helped me realize that all meat and dairy does contain animal hormones, and as long as my own hormones are skewed, I shouldn't be adding any animal hormones into the mix. I also am upping my intake of whole grains and cereals by about a thousand %. No more processed carbs. (or as few as I can manage). I have been a vegetarian before, but I have never given up dairy in any capacity. So far, it hasn't been too hard. I do see myself eating the occasional bit of cheese sometime in the future, but I am trying to be super strict about my new diet for the immediate futre, in order to get used to this new way of eating. I am fortunate to be making this change now, as there are a lot of non-dairy and vegan options at all the grocery stores I frequent. My favorite finds so far have been Almond Milk, Morning Star Corn Dogs and SO Delicious Coconut Milk "Ice Cream" Fudge Bars. These products make me feel decadent instead of denied.

I just thought I would share this new part of my journey. Has anyone else made any changes to their diet recently? Does anyone have any tips for a brand new "almost" vegan? I would love any recipes or product recommendations!

Shoes + Art

2011-12-30T20:50:00.000-05:00

Earlier this month, I had the privilege of taking part in an Art show at the McColl center, and spending time with some great 2ed graders. The show was put together by Sole +, a really great charity that works with marginalized and underprivileged groups in our society, bringing them an art outlet, as well as fulfilling the practical need for shoes. Sole + often works with homeless shelters and underprivileged schools and after-school programs. I was fortunate enough to get to work with one such after school program here in Charlotte.

This pair was painted by one of the students I worked with. I was kind of more proud that his shoes were put into the show, than I was about my own work! He did an amazing job!

Freedom School, is an amazing after school program that provides a great extra curricular experience for elementary school students in Charlotte. For two afternoons I helped a small group of 2ed graders paint and decorate their brand new Converse All-Stars. They were so excited to have a blank canvas that they would be able to wear! The kids were so creative and excited, that they didn't seem too interested in color theory, or cleaning their brushes before dipping into the next paint, for that matter. I had an absolute blast, and hope to return to Freedom Schools in the near future.

For the show, local artists were asked to decorate a pair of All-Stars with a social consciousness theme. My Fibers teacher presented us with the opportunity, and although most of the other artists were professionals, everyone in our class was able to contribute a pair to the show. For my shoes, I ended up working with the idea of staying the course, while dreaming big. I painted to shoes to resemble a night sky, and transfered the image of a compass onto the tongues of he shoes. As I think you will see below, there were some really amazing shoes, and I think our class contributed some of the most interesting pieces.

My Contribution.

This was a pair by a classmate. They are based on the Woman in the Shoe, and the windows actually light up, and there is a shingled roof on the opening of the shoe!

Another really great pair by a classmate.

I thought these were pretty great. Nails are a lot harder to insert into fabric than you might think.

This is a pair that the founder of Sole + , created on the 10th Anniversary of 9/11.

Embroidery!!!

2011-12-06T14:51:00.001-05:00

Today, I thought I would share some of my favorite artists who work in the medium of embroidery or decorative stitching. This is one of my favorite ways to work, and I am constantly being inspired by the creativity and skill of the Fiber Art community!

Melanie, by Stacy Page

I just discovered Stacy Page's work while researching for this blog, but I had to include her. Take a peek at her website, she has some truly exceptional pieces.

Keyring, by Aubrey Longley-Cook

When you take a look at Aubrey Longley-Cook's blog, you have to check out Runaway, which is a series of embroideries that he created a stop motion video clip with.

Delilah, by Orly Cogan

Orly Cogan is one of my favorite artists working with embroidery. Her style is fresh and compelling. One warning, her website isn't exactly safe for work. While I wouldn't classify her work as dirty or particularly salacious, it is mostly adult content.

Elegy (This is my House...) , by Stephen Sollins

Stephen Sollins does some incredibly original work,by un-working vintage needlepoint pieces, and creating something new in the process. I also tend to love the mix of modern and antique in his work.

Pretty great stuff, huh? I am only about halfway through my favorites, but I think I will save some of those artists for a part two. What do you think about embroidery as art? I find it to be warmer and more personal than a lot of new painting work. (Of, course, I am more than a little biased towards Fiber mediums) Is this kind of work something you would like to try your hand at?

The Artist Blues

2011-12-03T14:21:00.001-05:00

How to Feel Miserable as an Artist, Keri Smith

I am not sure if it is the short days or the stress of finals, but I have been battling the Artist Blues, as of late. All of us, creative folks suffer from the Artist Blues from time to time. You feel like the project you are currently working on will define the rest of your work for the rest of your life, and you hate this current project. You feel like a fraud, like you should just give up this pipe dream and enroll in business school. This past week, I was paralyzed by the Artist Blues. I hate a project I have been working on, and I allowed that project to determine my worth as an artist and thinker. I actually ended up crying in the middle of a critique in class. I have absolutely NEVER done this before. After crying in class, I was soo stressed out about another project, that is for a charity. I just felt like I was worthless and my work was shit. I am feeling significantly better now, thank you very much! I am actually excited to start woking on my next project and I can feel my ideas flowing again.

Today, I thought I would share my experience and offer a little something that I think will help whenever we suffer from the Artist Blues in the future. One of my favorite Artist/Bloggers, Keri Smith, offered The Artist's Survival Kit a few years back, and I thought I would share the link. It is a fun, and thought provoking group of prompts and lists and questions, that should help shift your outlook. I printed it out today, and am going to house it somewhere on my desk, so that motivation is always just a few feet away.

Keri Smith

How do you deal with the Artist Blues? I would love to get a few ideas!

Project Review!

2011-11-23T13:32:00.001-05:00

Today, I thought I would share my thoughts on a Tutorial my mom and I worked on a few weeks back. I am a softy for cute coasters, so when I saw the Tree Stump Coaster D.I.Y tutorial on A Beautiful Mess, I knew I had to try it. I showed it to my mom, and she loved it, so I bought some felt, and we dedicated an afternoon to making a bunch. I was in a hurry, when I went felt shopping, so I just got some craft felt, and that is really the only thing I would change about the coasters. Some true, wool, felt would be much more absorbant, methinks. Anyway, we got to stitchin' and here is how they turned out.

I think they are pretty great! We made about 10 in total, and they look terrific in our living room. For some design context, here are some chairs we are getting in the New Year.

How cute will that be? Anyway, if you like a little woodland whimsy in you living spaces, try your hand at these coasters. They are simple and cute and ever so useful! Thanks to Elsie and gang at A Beautiful Mess, for another great idea!

A chance to give a little Christmas cheer...

2011-11-22T15:41:00.001-05:00

Hi, y'all!

Thanksgiving is in 2 days, and The Holiday season is in full swing. If you are inclined to give a little extra to excellent causes during this time, I would love to present you with a special opportunity. As you may have noticed on my sidebar, Colemans in Love is a blog I enjoy and the Colemans are people I happen to know in real life. They are kind, funny and creative people, who have recently introduced little Isaac into the world. Isaac is their precious new-born son, who has faced some extra stuggles in his life so far. He has a rare condition called Fanconi Anemia, which means he needs lots of extra love and care. As we all know, medical expenses are outrageous. Imagine not only giving birth to a child, and the costs that presents, but then having to pay for intensive medical care and operations and tests. Long story short, this special little family could use prayers, encouragement, and if you feel led to do so, they could also use a financial boost! If you follow the link to their blog, you will see that one of their blogging friends is hosting a contest to win a Free pair of Toms, and bless this family at the same time. For every $5 dollars you donate to Isaac's Medical Fund, you get one chance to win. I would never present a case like this on my blog, unless I knew who and how it would help. I know there are soo many worthy causes to give to at this time of year, but if you feel moved to help on a more personal level, anything you can give will be such a blessing to the Colemans.

Here is a photo of Mindy and Daniel bringing Isaac home for the first time!

Flowers and Florence

2011-11-10T18:31:00.001-05:00

We are in the midst of Autumn, here in N.C. At this point, all the leaves have turned, and nights have gotten chillier. As much as I am loving the color outside, I really wanted to bring some indoors. Unfortunately, fresh flowers are expensive. You know what is even more expensive than fresh flowers, fake flowers. So I decided to take matters into my own hands, and make some flowers. They just happen to be pom-pom flowers, made from some yarn in some gorgeous Autumnal colors.

I followed a super simple tutorial at Poopscape Projects and glued the pom-pom onto some twigs I collected outside. I left my pom-poms a little irregular and cut the twigs to different heights to add some interest to the "bouquet". Altogether, I spent roughly an hour on the project, and I absolutely love the results!

On another note, if you have not heard the new Florence and the Machine album,Ceremonials, you have to take a listen. The album in lush and gorgeous and perfect for crisp fall days. I am kind of obsessed with the track "What the Water Gave Me".

Things that are great...

2011-11-07T20:32:00.002-05:00

Here are a few things that are Great!

•These shoes are beautiful! The website is in Swedish, so I don't actually have any idea how much they cost, or whether they ship to the U.S, but I do know that I want a pair.

•If you are as obsessed with owls as I am, you will love this free, customizable, downloadable calendar.

• Foxes are also high on my list of favorite animals. This lovely little fox pillow is just darling!

• I am really pinning for subscription to Selvedge Magazine. This U.K publication is simply the best Fiber Arts magazine I have ever read.

What have you guys been dreaming about making, or purchasing or reading lately? I know Christmas is on it's way, but I might have to give myself a small gift before then!

Happy Halloween!!

2011-10-31T19:03:00.002-04:00

I have a lot of fun projects to share this week, but since today is a very special holiday, I thought I would share some spooky eye candy and fun info, all about Halloween! Here is some fun vintage Halloween Ephemera...

Here is a fairly typical example of some Victorian Ephemera, which were almost like Spooky Valentines.

Here is a Halloween Glamour shot from the Forties. I love the look of these!

Here is a really strange and lovely Halloween themed advertisement. I am not entirely sure what Sapolio is, but I am guessing it is a type of lard?

Here is a creepy Pumpkin Man!

Here is another 1940's example. I think this image is just so fun and playful!

I thought I would leave you with some fun links for your magical Halloween!

Here is some background info on the Celebrated Night.
Here is a fun page about Historical Ghost Stories.
Here is a fun list of some of the Creepiest Places on Earth. This link contains slightly more adult humor, so maybe don't share this one with the kiddies.

Have a Very Happy Halloween! I hope it leaves you happy and safe and full of candy!!!

Mid-Week Self Care

2011-10-12T16:23:00.001-04:00

Hi Everybody!

It is Wednesday. I have roughly 1 Billion things to do, and a horrible Cold to go along with it. I don't think Colds should be allowed to happen in October, but hey, I don't get to make the rules. Since I love you all, and am trying to get into a more steady blogging schedule, I am working though my stuffy,sniffles to get this post up. I couldn't think of anything more appropriate than a few ideas about Mid-Week self care.

Even if you aren't currently suffering from any sort of illness, Wednesdays can be rough. Normally by Wednesday, I am already tired from a busy week, and becoming pretty convinced that there is no way I can finish everything on my to-do list by Friday. In other words, I can use some pampering, but have very little time in which to pamper. Today, I have rounded up a few ideas for some simple, cheap and fabulous ways to pamper yourself.

If you do anything crafty with your week, or you type you life away, your hands probably could use some relief. This super easy Lemon-Sugar Hand Scrub from Under the Table and Dreaming would be a great treat. All the ingredients you need are sugar, olive oil and lemon. Seriously simple.

As I have mentioned previously, Fall is a great time for my favorite beverages. Weather you have the sniffles or just want to unwind before going to bed, hot drinks are soo worth the time. I found this recipe for an easy, jazzed up apple cider in Sweet Paul magazine, and am desperate to try it.

While you are drinking your apple cider, why not go to Cracked.com to read some funny, clever and fascinating articles. I also recommend HelloGiggles or Rookie for some fun, more girly internet gold. Laughter is the cheapest way to pamper yourself I can think of!

Finally, I thought I would leave you with a Self-Care playlist perfectly suited for a crisp October evening.

Fall Pilgrimage to Boone

2011-10-08T14:48:00.004-04:00

Fall break is upon us, and I was fortunate enough to start out the long weekend with a relaxing and beautiful trip to the Mountains of N.C. Mom, Dad, and I went up to Boone in order to see the foliage and spend a well deserved day relaxing and doing nothing. We ate at a wonderful new restaurant named Proper, which serves some legitimately wonderful southern style food. It is all locally sourced and that makes it extra delicious. They have a Sweet Potato casserole that is the best I have ever eaten! Next we did some browsing and lite shopping downtown. I picked up an amazing pair of grey, swede ballet flats at Lucky Penny,(the girl in the Fedora on the link page just happens to be my sister, Jordan!) on sale for $15! At the Antique Shop, Mom was kind enough to buy a Jadeite saucer and teacup for my burgeoning collection! After a trip to Cheap Joe's Art stuff, so my mom could buy some paint, we got on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

If you are ever near the Southern Appalachians, (Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia) you must make it to the Parkway. It is an absolutely magnificent road system built during the Depression as a Federal Works Project. It is one of the most beautiful drives in the world, I promise. We just drove leisurely through the wonderful woods and fields and outlooks. One of our favorite stops on the parkway, is always the Moses Cone House and Craft Center.

This is a crazy, beautiful Neo Classical mansion built in the 1800s by a super wealthy mill owner, Moses Cone, as his mountain home. The house has one of the most beautiful front yards imaginable.

We always like to go and look out from the porch and pretend that it the view from our front yard. I can't think of a better way to celebrate this, my favorite season and month!

Links, Project Ideas, and a Playlist!

2011-09-26T13:08:00.001-04:00

I wanted to post some photos of my recent projects and sewing adventures. However, it has been rainy/overcast for over a week now, and I just can't get enough light for good photos. Instead, I am going to share some of my favorite links, some of my project inspiration, and a Fall Playlist.

1. Here is a tutorial on a super easy, cute, and practical "Girl's Emergency Clutch." This is a project that everyone can create, and it is a great launching pad for evolving the concept a little more.

2. Here is a link to a round up of great sewing tutorials, from the blog Adventures in Homemaking. It is a seriously extensive list, with literally hundreds of links in various categories.

3. This project from I Still Love You, needs a little bit of preparation, and supply sourcing, but it seems simple and the outcome is so sweet. I just love the idea of really minimalist bows lately. I think this would also be a nice project if you have never worked with a fabric like leather, or a vinyl substitute, for those opposed to working with skins.

4. For anyone who hasn't seen it, this post from A Beautiful Mess, is making me hungry. These are some really original and tasty looking ideas for grilled cheese!

Last, but not least, here is a little seasonal music to craft to. (or dance to, or study to, or drink hot cider to...)

Fall !!!!

2011-09-20T09:00:00.000-04:00

This Friday is going to be very special! It will be my favorite day of the year, The Autumnal Equinox!!! For me, as well as lots of other folks, Fall is the time of year I wait for and look forward to, and later, mourn the passing of. I love crisp days and chilly nights, I love the brilliant blaze of color, I love the sweaters and tights and boots and cardigans. Today, I was thinking about how many of my favorite fall traditions revolve around beverages. I have loved spiced cider since I was a little tot, and hot chocolate always made it's first appearance around fall. Now, of course, I look forward to the pumpkin spice lattes, at a certain coffee chain. (get them made with soy milk, it costs a little more, but you will thank me for the tip)

In the end, Autumn, for me, is an intensive time for reflection. There is something so fragile and magical about the fleetingness of this "in-between" season. Those weeks between the heat of summer and the dreariness of winter, are a poignant reminder of the fleeting beauty of life... And,the time of year where Pumpkin Cheesecake becomes available.

Here's the Recipe...

What are some of your favorite Fall traditions? And for you folks not experiencing Fall right now, I'm sorry if I am making you sad...

Artist's Dates

2011-09-05T19:47:00.000-04:00

Andy Goldsworthy, Pebbles Around a Hole, 1987

The idea of an Artist's Date, came to me from Kimberly Wilson's podcast. The original term is from Julia Cameron's book The Artist's Way. I have not read that book, to be honest, I have never felt the need to. I am sure it is a great book, but I have always been a bit overly creative, if anything. A strange thing happened when I became an Art student; something I had always seen as a hobby and purely recreational, became my work. My life's work now, is to be creative. It is wonderful,and lovely and absolutely what I am meant to do; however, sometimes I now need to work out my creative muscle. I liken it to going from someone who likes to go on an occasional hike, and just enjoys the walk at their own pace, to someone to leads groups on 4 hikes a day, and has to get up the trail in a set time. You have to start exercising those legs!

Original Photo

All this is to say, that now, more than ever, Artist's Dates are something I need, and delight in. An Artist's Date can involve almost anything that either gets your creative juices flowing, or takes you out of your normal routine. For example, I could leave for class an hour early on a lovely autumn day, and take the most rural route possible, just to see the sights and do something different. On another Artists' Date, I could go to a yarn store and plan a new project, or really explore a new yarn manufacturer whose process and product I admire. A no-brainer Artist's Date would be a trip to a gallery or museum or concert or poetry slam. For me, Artist's dates have to be inexpensive and relatively short. I like to try new things or go somewhere I have never gone before. The most amazing times I have had on Artist's Dates have involved just driving and listening to a specially mixed C.D, or getting a coffee and Cake Pop in the middle of the day, instead of going straight to my next class.
I just wanted to leave you some inspiration to incorporate something like an Artist's Date into you week. You can stay home, or go away for a weekend, or something in between. I promise you, you don't have to spend ANY money if you don't want to. (most museums have a free day and even some free weekend specials) On the other hand, one Artist's Date could be shopping for your Fall wardrobe. (no self-critique allowed, if you don't like a pair of pants, that's the pants damn problem, not yours!)

Podcast Roundup

2011-08-31T13:04:00.000-04:00

Hi Everybody!

Life has been super crazy and busy since class started back up, but things have been good! How is the end of summer going for y'all? Today I thought I would share some of my favorite, go-to, podcasts. I am the kind of gal that has to have something going on in the background while I work on projects or homework. When I really trying to concentrait, I turn to music. However, when I am doing more manual work, like sewing or crocheting for class, I love to listen to podcasts. I love either learning something or listening to a more humorous podcast to keep things light. I prefer podcasts over music on my commute to school. It makes me feel kind of like someone is in the car with me,:)

The Bugle - Audio Newspaper for a Visual World
- This is the first podcast I ever got hooked to. If you watch The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, you will recognize one part of the show, Comedian John Oliver. The other half is U.K based comedian Andy Zaltzman. This podcast is perfect if you like satire and political humor. John and Andy are writing partners from back in the day, and they have a great report and good timing. If you are fan of puns, like me, Andy in particular has lots to offer.

Judge John Hodgman
- I have blogged about this funny podcast before, but it definitely has a place among my favorite podcasts. It seems to be on a bit of a holiday, but there are dozens of episodes to catch up on.

Hip Tranquil Chic/Tranquility Du Jour
-This is a lifestyle podcast from author and yoga studio owner, Kimberly Wilson. If you are interested in topics ranging from aromatherapy to time management to repurposing old clothes to interviews with authors in the world of spirituality/yoga/lifestyle, then this is a podcast to inspire you. I have been introduced to some really great authors and blogs through this podcast. This probably leans a bit to the feminine side, but I think there are definitely episodes than men can appreciate as well. If you are interested in learning about how yoga can impact your entire lifestyle, then you should definitely check out www.kimberlywilson.com and this podcast!

Stuff You Should Know
- This is one addictive podcast! I started listening a few months back, and I can't stop! Chuck and Josh write for the website How Stuff Works and also host this podcast. Basically, each episode is on a topic from the vault of the websites articles. (i.e How Migraines Work, or How Spam Works) Sometimes the subjects don't seem all that interesting at first, but the chemistry between the two hosts and their down to earth, humorous approach will keep you glued to your iPod. There are hundreds of episodes, and it is fun to group them by theme for a day trip. I listen to these guys almost everyday. New episodes come out every Tuesday and Thursday.

Back To School - Playlist!

2011-08-22T05:30:00.000-04:00

Today, I start my final year of School! I am excited/a little nostalgic/sad. I am one of those people who just loves being a student, but I think I have dragged it out as long as I can :) Here is a playlist I made up for my last, first day of school. I hope you enjoy it as well!

Beautiful Image

2011-08-16T15:49:00.001-04:00

I am not a big fan of most mainstream fashion spreads. They are always a bit too pretentious and vapid. However, I have to contend that this lookbook from Rodarte + Opening Ceremony is incredibly lovely, and really calls out to the Gemini in me! Here is my favorite image from the collection.

2011-08-11T21:42:00.008-04:00

I saw this over on One Sheepish Girl, and I thought I would take part. I would love to see links to anyone's blog who posts this little meme.

Still Life - Original Black and White Film

1. Dublin
2. Toronto
3. New Zealand
4. Machu Pichu
5. Iceland
6. Denmark
7. Scandinavia

1. Red Velvet Cake
2. A Camera Bag
3. A few turbans
4. String Art for my Wall
5. A Braided Belt
6. A loaf of bread
7. This Cute Yarn Storage Idea

1. Joanna Newsom
2. Ina Garten
3. John Hodgman
4. Jimmy Carter
5. Tim Gunn
6. Kimberly Wilson
7. Sera Beak

1. A Sewing Machine (only a couple of weeks away!)
2. An iPad 2
3. A Wide Angle Lens
4. These crochet hooks
5. A Kitchen Aid Mixer
6. A Hybrid car
7. A Spinning Wheel

1. Most Reality T.V.
2. Greed
3. Summertime Heat
4. When people take more than one parking spot
5. The fact that is so hard to find beautiful, affordable, plus size clothing
6. The Feather Headdress trend - not cool
7. Fox News

1. Aladdin

2. Sleepy Hollow

3. Bringing Up Baby

4. Napoleon Dynamite

5. The Mummy

6. O' Brother Where Art Thou?

7. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

1. Smidgen
2. Boll Weevil
3. Scrupels
4. Treacle
5. Buggy
6. Purse
7. Quinine

Bobbins and Bits

2011-08-05T15:24:00.000-04:00

Today, I thought I would show you some of my favorite things that I have lately made or found. On a very tight budget, you realize that very simple things can be absolutely wonderful!

Here is the first piece in my Jadeite collection. Serendipitously, I found it at my grandma's house, so I got it for free. One day, I just thought to look at her collection of dish ware, and there it was. It is a Hocking Wear Fire King Jadeite mug, from the 1960s. It was in good condition, but not mint. It is perfect for me, as I use it often and plan to use it for some time to come!

This is a simple little bowl that I crocheted for my bedside table. I keep eye drops and lip gloss in it, glamorous, I know! It was really simple to make, I just kind of decided how to make it as I went along. It only requires that you know how to make an adjustable or magic ring, and then you increase with single crochet.

My new, vintage buttons! I bought these at an antiques show, and I love them all! I will probably make some earrings out of a few of the buttons, but the rest will be sewn into projects this semester. Buttons are among my favorite items in the world, and these are just perfectly lovely.

This is my new ribbon storage solution. I have had these glass bottles from a project last semester. I thought they would make a good vessel in which to store and showcase my ribbons. I think it is a lot easier on the eyes than those cardboard bobbins they come on. I just keep a length of the ribbon above the cork lid, and it is always simple to pull and cut the ribbon I need for a project.

What simple items are making you happy lately? I would love to see anything you have made or found or re-used!

My Room - Part Deux

2011-07-31T15:29:00.003-04:00

Here are some photos of the other sides of my room.

Here is another view of the top half of my rom. You can see some of my make-shift storage solutions below the window.

Here is my dresser, the one I am going to paint. The little painting is an original work.

Here is another angle of the dresser, and a peak of my bookshelf.

There is a lot in this pic, so I made it a bit larger. Obviously this is my bookshelf. I have my owl collection, my Rita Hayworth paper doll, and some books are used as decoration as well. Along the top, is where I store my fragrances and some cute little knick-knacks. Book storage is perhaps my biggest hurdle. I have soo many books, and despite reading lot, electronically, I still add books to my collection regularly.

Here is a another view of my primary workspace.I will have to change this area, when I get my sewing machine. I will probably turn the desk to face the base of my bed, to make it easier to sew large pieces. Storage will also have to be improved. Once fabric starts piling up, it can get pretty out of hand.

If any of you, my dear readers, have any inexpensive, wall based storage solutions, I would love to hear them. I am going to have to make use of the vertical space in my room. Also, if you have links to room tours of your own spaces, please share them in the comments! I love to get inspired by other folks spaces!

My Room

2011-07-21T14:41:00.001-04:00

Today, I thought I would share some images of my room. I have a few changes and improvements to make, and these will serve as my "before" images. The color scheme I am going for is yellow, grey, and splashes of blue. Most of the changes will involve painting things, in order to lock that scheme in. This will be a two parter, since I have a lot of images, and want the pages to eventually download for y'all.

This is the view when you walk in the door. My lovely pup, MoMo is on the bed in most of these photos.

This is my work area. It is where I do computer work, lots of crochet, and organize and edit photos. I also have my scanner/printer on my desk. This is something I want to change. It's not an ideal situation.

Here is a close up of the ole' bed. The color is not so true in the photo, but the bedspread is yellow and white, and the pillows are a mix of yellow, white and grey. MoMo is mainly brown. I hang scarves and bags from my bed post.

My only window, which makes good photos a bit difficult. My bed and nightstand are both wood, and are inherited from my grandmother. I keep a basket full of books next to my bed, because, well I need them all, right beside me. My chest of drawers is purple, which is a problem.

My next post will include photos from the other side of my room. It is a small, simple space, but it is comfortable, and I usually have enough space to do everything I need to. Taking these photos made me realize how much I need a wide angle lens of some kind. I would have loved to get one shot of the entire length. One of my biggest upcoming projects, is to paint the chest of drawers a mild yellow. I think this will make the space more coherent, as right now, purple is definitely a color out of no where. What is the number one project you are either tackling right now, or want to accomplish in the next little while? Painting is not my favorite thing to do, but it does produce amazing results with little cost.

2011-07-14T21:35:00.005-04:00

I just wanted to share how amazing this performance, on A Capital Fourth by Steve Martin and The Steep Canyon Rangers, was. I just realized that the Steep Canyon Rangers were from my home state, NC!. If this isn't "some mighty fine a pickin' and a singing", I don't know what is!(quotation is a reference to one of my favorite films O Brother, Where Art Thou?)

Thankful

2011-07-13T17:25:00.001-04:00

One of the ways I am going to make my life a bit more joyful, is by periodically posting on this blog a list of simple things that I am Thankful for. I plan on doing this at least once a week, and hope to include some fun links or tidbits about my list items. So, here goes!

Potable Water - I am thankful for potable water today. I am dyeing cloth today in a process that produces beautiful results but consumes a lot of water. Every time I dye, I think about what a luxury clean water is. I live somewhere where I have enough to drink and bathe and even make art. So many live with little to no access to even enough to drink. It is very humbling.Water.org has an amazing mission of changing this sad state of affairs. If you have even a bit of money, this cause would be a really excellent way to spend it.
One Last Free Summer - This has been a pretty lazy summer, but I don't feel too bad. Next year, I will no longer be a student, and will hopefully be working a real, full time job. I have decided to take advantage of lazy afternoons and plenty of time to work on as many projects and read as many books as I like.
Air Conditioning - God, has it been hot lately! Hot and Humid. Summer is not the most pleasant time in the South, but it gets worse in the deep south and the south west. I am so grateful to have central heat and air. I honestly don't know what I'd do without it, and my heart goes out to people who have to make do with fans and wall units.
Yarn - I will never not be thankful for yarn! I have very, very limited funds this summer. However, basically all my money has gone to making sure I have plenty of yarn for all the projects I want to finish. To me, there is nothing more luxurious than looking at my stash and planning things to do with every skein.
Wi/Fi - Last but not least, I am thankful for my internet connection. I think I would have gone crazy this summer had I not been able to blog and tweet and read and watch documentaries and t.v. shows. Connecting with people online has become such an outlet for me, and I am beyond thankful for the internet and the community I have found there!

101 Things, Redux

2011-07-10T01:46:00.001-04:00

So, while sprucing up the ole' blog, I accidentally deleted my original 101 Things post, you know, the one with the entire list...
Anyway, I am taking this opportunity to type it back out, and get it back on the blog. I feel like it is important to keep these goals in my blog world as well as above my desk, hopefully it will keep me accountable. I also love the conversations I have with other bloggers and online friends about our goals. So here goes:

Reading and Art

Read Area 51...
Read Living Buddha, Living Christ
Read I Was Told There'd Be Cake
Read The Art of Happiness
Read Inner Work
Read The Essential Rumi
Read The Art of Looking Sideways
Read American Lion...
Read Work as a Spiritual Practice
Read St. Lucy's Home For Girls Raised By Wolves
Weekly Artist's Dates
Read at Least 1 Book a Week
Visit Art Museums or Galleries at least 6 Times
Properly Document All of My Favorite Original Art
Discover the Work of 20 New Artists,(or New to Me

Photography

At Least 4 Portrait Sessions
At Least 4 Strong Works for my Portfolio
Work with a Medium Format Camera
Figure Out How to Take Excellent Self-Portraits
Work on Some Architectural Photography

Blog and Etsy Shop

Take Photos for My Blog Every Week

Guest Post on at Leas 3 Blogs

~~Open Etsy Shop~~

Have at Least 25 Sells on Etsy

Sponsor at least 1 Blog

Increase Blog Readership by 150% in an Organic and Genuine Way

Support 3 New Handmade of Independent Makers

Fiber Arts

Buy a Great Sewing Machine
Crochet a Bedspread
Learn at Least 10 New Embroidery Stitches
Have at Least One Self Made Item of Clothing,Worn Regularly
Crochet at Least 2 Amigurumi Projects
Have a Selection of 5 Procion Dye Colors for Home Use
Crochet a Winter Hat
Crochet a Pair of Slippers
Perfect Granny Squares
Make Pillows for Living Room
Make Curtains for Kitchen
Have at Least 4 Amazing Fiber Pieces to Add to Portfolio
Dye Buttons
Collect at Least 10 Vintage Sheets
Try the Low Water Dye Method

Misc. Fun Stuff

Get Elephant Bag Repaired
Convert Elephant Bag Into Camera Bag
Figure Out Shoulder Injury
Get Car Sparkly Clean
Write at Least 1 Letter a Month
Learn How to Play Chess
Aim for 80% Natural Makeup and 100% Cruelty Free
Memorize Presidents and State Capitals
Memorize the Kings and Queens of England
Re-Memorize the Prologue to the Canterbury Tales
Re-Memorize Antony's Speech from Julius Caesar
Volunteer with at Least 2 Worthy Causes
Grow and Herb Garden
Make my Own Beeswax Candle
Make my Own Body Gel and Linen Spray
~~Try a New Printmaking Process~~
Send in an Article Submission to Bust or a Craft Magazine

Relationships and Social Life

Make at Least 3 New Friends
At Least One Day a Month Spent with Friends
Write Katie Once a Month
Have an Outdoor Picnic with Friends
Trip to Boone or Asheville at Least 3 Times
Go to at Least 2 Concerts
See Belle at Least Once
Teach Mom to Crochet
Join a Stitch n' Bitch Group or Other Needlecraft Social Group
Visit MeMaw at Least Once a Week
Visit Washington D.C.

Cozy Home

Paint All Walls in Home
Add at Least 3 Pieces to Owl Collection
Add at Least 3 Pieces to my Art Collection
Add at Least 3 Pieces to Jadeite and Egg Cup Collections
Hang Up More of My Own Art
Paint Chest of Drawers
Find a Way to Put Away Art Work and Supplies
Organize Items and Supplies for Etsy and School
Add at Least 3 Pieces to Tea Cup Collection
Streamline Room, Give Away Excess Stuff
Weekly Room and Work Space Cleaning and Organizing Session

Mind, Body, and Spirit

Meditate Every Day
Yoga at Least 3 Times a Week
Go For a Walk at Least 3 Times a Week
Go For at Least 3 Hikes
Pray Daily
Get Between 7 and 9 Hours of Sleep a Night, No More, No Less
Eat Fish at Least Twice a Week (Not Breaded or Fried)
Hand Eye Coordination Activities Every Day (crafts can count)
Improve Vocabulary and Spelling with Puzzles
Drink Green or Herbal Tea Daily
Eat a Nutritious Breakfast Every Day, Not Fast Food
Floss Daily
Go to At Least 4 Religious Services (whatever kind)
6 Glasses of Water Everyday

Culinary Pursuits

Master Swiss Buttercream
Make Tabbouleh
Make Tuna w/ Wasabi and Soy
Make Earl Grey and Lemon Cupcakes
Make Bread from Scratch

Cy Twombly

2011-07-06T09:30:00.002-04:00

Cy Twombly died yesterday. Fortunately, he was one of those artists who managed to be brilliant AND live into old age. (quite a feat) When I studied Contemporary Art last year, there was plenty of work I was familiar with, and plenty of work I thought was o.k. The two names I discovered and really resonated with were Andy Goldsworthy and Cy Twombly. For some reason, Twombly's scratchy, scrawly, scribbles truly touched me. I never saw his work as pretentious or absurd, just really, really great. He is not everyone's cup of tea, in fact, that whole generation of American artists are fairly controversial. For me, however, I will always be grateful that he made his art. It has enriched my life tremendously.

Panorama - Cy Twombly

Untitled, 1961 - Cy Twombly

Untitled - Cy Twombly

Some Perspective on Scale

Other Bloggers are soo smart! - Tunisian Crochet cotton squares

2011-06-29T16:37:00.000-04:00

So, I just want to give a quick plug of the blog I go by Katie. Katie writes a wonderful blog everyday, but a few of her posts have changed my beauty routine. First of all, she introduced my to the Everyday Minerals line of makeup, which is excellent and great and so affordable. I will never go back to my old, popular brand of Mineral powder makeup. The color and coverage variety means that even my exceptionally pale, pink combination skin has found the perfect foundation!
Secondly, Katie taught me how to crochet in the Tunisian or Afghan style. The project I used this on was her DIY Tunisian Square post, in which she teaches the dear reader how to make reusable, cotton eye makeup removing squares. These are so excellent, and her instructions are so clear. I have used my squares for the last 3 days, and besides saving cotton balls from being wasted, they feel luxurious and are great at removing makeup. Now I can't wait to Tunisian up everything!(the name makes me a little sad, because it reminds me of the unrest and struggle in the the Middle East) So, in closing, if you haven't yet checked out I go by Katie, you really should! Here are how my Eye Makeup Squares turned out.

I used Rowan Cotton Yarn, that my sister gifted me for my 25th B-Day. It feels terrific!

How I am keeping up with the 101 in 1001 challenge

2011-06-27T19:47:00.003-04:00

I am having fun trying to keep up with my 101 Things Challenge. I have managed to get my hands on most of the books I am set to read. Last night, I opened my Etsy Shop, which is the first step to quite a few of my goals. My daily goals are the hardest to keep up with. Although I enjoy green tea, for example, I don't always remember to brew a cup, especially in the summer heat. (I don't care for most Iced Green Tea, but if anyone knows a good recipe or preparation, I am all ears!) One of the things I instantly thought of, after finishing my 101 Things list, was that if I don't have the list in a place where I can see and touch the list, I would no do very well. To answer this problem, I decided to have some more fun with the Pugly Pixel Tag Clip Art that I used for my 101 Things badge.

Basically, I typed my list, in different sections, on the tag clip art in Illustrator. They are roughly the size of 2 bookmarks, placed together. I punched a hole in the top, and used an individual binder ring to join the cards. I added a bit of ribbon to make it more festive.

Is there any special way you are keeping up with your 101 Things goals? If you are not doing the 101 Things Challenge, what are your goals for the remainder of the summer?

p.s. BekahDrey Fiber Art now has a facebook fan page! I would absolutely love any of my amazing blog readers to like BekahDrey on Facebook!

Etsy Store Open!!!

2011-06-27T10:00:00.000-04:00

BekahDrey - My new Etsy shop!!

So, I have joined to world of Etsy. I have quickly become obsessed with Fiber crafts, and would love a way for this hobby to become more sustainable, economically. I have been making lots and lots of really cute headbands as gifts and personal accessories. I have decided to begin offering them to others. I am really excited to have finally taken the leap, after a month or so of wondering and deciding. I plan on adding about 3 more headband designs as well as a few choice vintage sewing patterns I found at my Grandma's. She is a lifelong sewer who has lots of old patterns, ranging from the 60's to the 70's, and she is never going to use them. Most of them are not my size, nor my sisters, so we decided to put them out into the world. Eventually I would like to add some super cute coasters, and perhaps some original embroidery art. I would love if you would visit my shop, and if you like what you see, please spread the word. I would absolutely love to be making beautiful headbands all summer long, and into the school year!

Daphne Headband - BekahDrey Fiber Art

Vintage McCall's Dress Pattern - BekahDrey Fiber Art

Ruffs!

2011-06-24T18:12:00.000-04:00

One of my favorite comics by the amazingly great Kate Beaton of Hark! A Vagrant

I have always had a love for History. One of my favorite things to study is historical dress; what people wore in the past, why they wore what they did, what colors and fabrics were available and popular? One of the greatest and most instantly recognizable accessories of the past is the Ruff. These elaborate collars are perhaps most associated with Queen Elizabeth I of England and fashionable people of the era named for her. At first ruffs were fairly modest, keeping close to the neck.

However, once the starching process was popularized, ruffs became things of architectural wonder.

The best feature about ruffs, apart from looking fabulous, was that they were separate from the rest of the outfit, and could be laundered on their own, keeping the neck of the gown or vest or jacket a bit cleaner. Like most fashion trends, ruffs went out of style, but they have never left popular, western memory. For my next Fibers course, I am desperate to construct an elaborate ruff. I don't know how traditional I want it to look, but there is something so magnetic about the imagery of ruffs. Here are some other modern interpretations of ruffs.

Artist Envy - Jen Collins

2011-06-22T17:23:00.000-04:00

I haven't done an "Artist Envy" post in a while. However,one of my 101 Things was to discover the work of 20 artists who are new to me. So today, I am writing about an illustrator whose work I saw for the first time last night. Her name is Jen Collins and I think her work is amazing! She lives and works in Scotland, and keeps a blog that is definitely worth checking out. She does a variety of work, but my favorite project she has going on currently, is an illustration of one artist from her iTunes playlist, for each letter of the alphabet. Here are my favorites.

Joanna Newsom - of course.

Flight of the Conchords - very well done.

Knitting - This if the very first work of her's that I saw. I think you can see why I had to find out more!

Fox - I think this image shows her versatile style rather well. I also, really love foxes.

I hope you take a few moments to look at some more of here work. I had about 8 images picked out, but narrowed it down to these so that this post wouldn't take an hour to load. It is rare to come across an artist whose style is so refreshing. I can't wait to find 19 more artist to inspire me!

Fiber Art

2011-06-21T11:31:00.000-04:00

Cosmic Egg - Rebekah Drey Haynes

I just realized that I never shared images of my final art works for class last semester. I turned in some so-so work, but there is one piece that I am thrilled with. Cosmic Egg is a Fiber Arts piece that I created to explore the idea of a portable, hand-held, universe. I incorporated lots of crochet and a bit of hand-coiling to bring to life the mythical theme of a great Cosmic Egg, floating on a primordial sea, from which the world was created. The Fiber work is contained in a small suitcase, where by one can cary the universe around with them.

the closed work

the inside

detail of crocheted "primordial sea"with dried eucalyptus

detail of the Cosmic Egg itself. crocheted egg cozy

detail of hand coiled basket

I hope you enjoyed a little peak into some of my Art. This may be the project that turned my heart towards Fibers permanently! It was a lot of work, especially since I had literally just learned single crochet, but it was a lot of fun, and I am happy with the outcome. I think the most rewarding moments in any artist's life is when the final piece embodies the original vision. I know that is when I feel like I am on the right path.

Farewell ReadyMade Mag

2011-06-17T19:29:00.003-04:00

Yesterday, I was so saddened to hear that ReadyMade magazine was folding. It is a sad reminder of not only the economy, but also, what people are willing to spend their money on. I have nothing against fashion magazines, but it seems that magazines which offer nothing but shopping cues keep tugging along when publications that offer read advice and ideas and how-tos and community flounder. A lot of the medium has moved online, which I understand and even kind of enjoy the convenience of, but there is something about chilling out on a lazy day and leafing through your new magazines. I love tearing out my favorite articles or images. So, farewell ReadyMade. I will miss you!.

On a happier note, I thought I would recommend an online craft mag that is relatively new. I purchased the second issue of Toffee Magazine the other week, and I really enjoy it. It is well done and features interviews with standouts in the crafting community. It is very colorful and, dare I say, girly, but I don't think that is a bad thing at all. It features a great variety of crafting mediums and every issue includes a print out section with project patterns and printable paper art. It is definitely a good value at $2.99 AUD. (or $3.18 USD)

101 in 1001 Update

2011-06-16T08:58:00.004-04:00

For some reason, while I was compiling my 101 things list, I had it in my mind that the challenge ended March of 2012. I have no idea why I thought this, other than the fact that I am horrible at math. (or maths) I think March of 2012 will still be my personal deadline, when I will start a new list of 101 things to be accomplished by the next year. Hopefully each list will get a little more far-reaching and challenging! Is anyone else going to take a stab at this challenge? I am breaking them down onto separate, decorative notecards so that I can keep them with me at all times. I shouldn't have a reason to be bored till next March, that is for sure!

Moving along, here are some of my favorite finds on Pinterest in the last few weeks!

I need to make this A.S.A.P. I love everything involving avocados!

this is basically the most beautiful chair I have ever seen, and that includes all my favorite Eames chairs

These mushroom prints make me all swoony

I absolutely LOVE this idea!

What I am Loving Today!!

2011-06-13T18:27:00.000-04:00

I was in a bit of a funk this past weekend. My sister was supposed to come down to see us, but had to change plans at the last minute. That always gets me a little down, and I also had a few days of feeling pretty crappy as an artist.(aren't those times the BEST!) Anyway, today I woke up feeling dramatically better. The weather is actually beautiful and spring-like today! In the interest of keeping this good mood going, I am doing a list of things I love today.

1. Earl Grey Tea - I love black tea, and Earl Grey or Lady Grey are my all time favorite flavors. Add some sugar and a splash of cream and there isn't much that is better in this world!

2. More Books to Read Than I Have Hours in the Day - I absolutely love the feeling that no matter what I finish reading, I have an entire list waiting for me to pick up. I have 2 audiobooks to listen to and about 11 books on my Goodreads to-read list.(most of which I have on my bookshelf)

3. Urban Decay All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray - I bought this stuff last summer to prepare for an Of Montreal concert where I knew I was going to dance my ass off. It is a life saver for hot, humid weather like we have North Carolina. It keeps my makeup looking a bit more fresh and dewy vs. sweaty and horrible.

4.Hilarious Paranormal Reality Shows - my family has a big thing with watching crazy paranormal shows. Most of them we find hilarious and don't take seriously at all, but they are just so darn fun to watch. Last night we were watching this show called Finding Bigfoot, where a group of people basically look for Bigfoots. The great thing is that the leader of the team is crazy and doesn't seem to understand that Bigfoots aren't actually a discovered species. He stated these random tidbits of information as if he is a zoologist talking about a monkey.There can't be facts about animals that don't exist! There is something kind of quaint about such blind faith is crazy stuff.

So what are you loving today?

p.s. - I don't mean to offend anyone who may or may not believe in Bigfoot, I just think this show is hilariously crazy!

A-Z About Me!

2011-06-12T16:08:00.000-04:00

Still Life - Rebekah Drey Haynes, b&w film print

A. Age: Freshly 25
B. Bed size: Full
C. Chore that you hate: dishes, giving the dogs baths
D. Dogs: 2 beautiful mutts, Weasley is 6 and Momo is around 3
E. Essential start to your day: coffee!!!
F. Favourite color: I really vibrate with Green, but aesthetically I love yellows and greys
G. Gold or Silver: Silver
H. Height: a touch over 5'7"
I. Instruments you play: I used to play a bit of piano and clarinet. I want to learn ukulele
J. Job title: Art Student , in other words, not gainfully employed...
K. Kids: none, maybe someday, but I don't have any concrete desire to be a mother. I would be the best aunt though :)
L. Live: I live in Concord, NC, right outside of Charlotte. I was born and raised here, but I did live in Boone, NC for a few years.
M. Mother's name: Scarlette
N. Nicknames: Bekah, bekahdrey, bekah boo
O. Overnight hospital stays: none since birth
P. Pet peeve: people who lie about their height, people who take up more than one parking space
Q. Quote from a movie: Basically any line from Napoleon Dynamite, also, "Were you in the shit?" from Rushmore.
R. Right or left handed: Right
S. Siblings: my lovely sister Jordan, who was born 16 months after me.
T. Time you wake up: I aim for 10 during the summer, but sadly it is sometimes later
U. Underwear: I think they are called hipsters, they are basically between a bikin and a brief and very comfortable
V. Vegetable you hate: asparagus, mushrooms, artichokes
W. What makes you run late: waking up late
X. X-Rays you've had: teeth, finger, neck, knee
Y. Yummy food that you make: I recently learned how to make Pasta Carbonara and it has changed my life!!!
Z. Zoo animal: PANDAS!!!!!!

Some Book Suggestions for Summer Reading

2011-06-09T14:49:00.000-04:00

this isn't me, or my house, it is a lovely image that I can't find the source of

Here in North Carolina, it is already, "dog days of summer", hot. We are thinking about heading to one of the local lakes this weekend for some much needed relief. In the meantime, I basically try to stay inside until after 6:00 PM.

While indoors,I have been crafting and reading up a storm. I still have a pretty big "to-read" list, but I am making some progress. I read Bossypants and re-read Assassination Vacation. I am almost through Unfamiliar Fishes, and just finished re-reading The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. I am balancing about 5 books in rotation right now, but I think I will begin Area 51: An Uncensored History of America's Top Secret Military Base and I Was Told There'd Be Cake next. I am also interested in Mindy Kaling's new book and Sarah Vowell's, The Wordy Shipmates. I really can't reccomend anything by Sarah Vowell or John Hodgman enough. If you are more of a fiction fan, The Parasol Protectorate books are pretty good. I used to never read non-fiction, but now it's what I seem to gravitate towards.

If you want to keep up with what I am reading or just find some suggestions for your own reading, I am on Goodreads, and I have found it to be pretty helpful and easy to use so far. It's also a great way to keep up with what books you liked or what authors you thought were overrated. What books are on your to-read list? Have you come across any amazing new books lately?

Just for Fun...

2011-06-07T13:45:00.000-04:00

Since tomorrow is my 25th birthday, I thought I would make a fun, completely hypothetical, wish list.

Craft Paraphernalia:

Reflections Crochet Hook Gift Set

Namaste Laguna Yarn Bag

Thread Heaven

Owl Scissors

Other Fun Stuff:

iPad 2

Kork-Ease Tracy Sandal

Janome TB30 Threadbanger Computerized Sewing Machine

Rachel Pally Long Shirred Tank Dress

Canon EF 24mm f/2.8 Wide Angle Lens

Extremely Cool!

2011-06-06T16:35:00.000-04:00

Oh Happy Day, is giving away a trip for 2 to Paris. That is pretty incredibly awesome! Here is the link so you can enter as well!

http://ohhappyday.com/2011/06/goes-to-paris

Embroidery!!!

2011-06-06T11:23:00.000-04:00

As I have mentioned earlier, I have begun doing a little embroidery for fun. I have to credit Jenny from Sublime Stitching for great tutorials that made frech knots possible for me! I also have been embroidering some of her great patterns. I am planning on stitching a new yarn bag with some crafty images. My first foray into embroidery, (this time around) produced little Owlbert!. I used Dia de Los Muertos colors as inspiration for Owlbert's body, and went natural for the surroundings. I am pretty pleased with it, and the project was super fun.

My Collections

2011-06-05T15:30:00.000-04:00

On this sunny, hot sunday, I thought I would share a few of my collections and favorite thrift store finds. These collections are in their beginning stages, but I absolutely love the pieces I have so far.
My first collection is owl figurines and one little clock. The clock was actually my first piece. My family inherited it from our first landlord. Mr. Craven was a lovely senior citizen who we rented our first family home from. He was incredibly kind and interesting and doted on our little family. For this reason, the owl clock means soo much to me. When he died, we had to move out of our little house, and it was a huge shift in my childhood. The other two owls are a little less sentimental, but much beloved. I just recently acquired the "coffee" owl, and the other owl is a figurine I bought new, and spray painted to better match my yellow and grey obsession.

My next little collection was acquired at once, when cleaning out my grandparents living room. I have always loved elephants. They are my favorite jungle animal. I guess I always loved that they were big enough to not have to be violent, and that grown elephants don't have to fear lions, which are my least favorite animal. I have always seen these little elephants in my grandparent's living room, but when my grandmother was trying to get rid of them, I knew I had to have them. I had to repair the wooden elephant by fixing a previous repair that was sloppy and crooked. He looks much better now.

The last piece I am showing today is a little, broken, music box. I found it at a local Goodwill store about 4 years ago. Although it is broken, I knew I could use it for a little bedside storage and the image on top was just so darling. What more fitting than a beautiful image a a woman napping to have on your nightstand! The colors are beautiful,but muted enough to blend in with most design schemes. The sides are a dark, wooden, veneer with glossy finish.

This one shows the colors a bit truer.

With exception of the grey owl, nothing here cost more than $2.00. Spending a weekend going through local thrift stores and charity shops will give you tons of ideas and finds for any budget. Seriously, if you have a dollar and some change, you can probably find something to add some character to your desk, or the top of your dresser. If you find anything you love, but the color is wrong, or the surface finish is a little rough, spray paint covers a multitude of sins.

What thrift store finds or hand me downs are decorating your homes? I would love to see pictures of what others have done on a modest budget!

What a Day!

2011-06-02T21:11:00.000-04:00

So, my mom and I did make it to Mary Jo's, and it was a wonderful and productive afternoon. Just looking through their huge selection of gorgeous upholstery fabrics could take half a day. (some were on sale for as little as $6.49 US a yard!!!) I promise I am not in any way sponsored by Mary Jo's, I am just a little in awe of the place.One hiccup of the day, kind of a big one, we blew out a tire on the way to Mary Jo's. This was pretty scary and totally inconvenient, but thank God we were near an exit ramp, and we were totally safe. As my poor car hobbled into the nearest gas station, a super kind stranger put our spare on for us! He earned like 50 Golden Karma points!! I normally hate to play the helpless female, but in this situation, my mom and I were very near helpless. We have no idea how to go about jacking up a car, much less loosening lug nuts. Even if we did know, I couldn't find the wrench, so it was an overall blessing that said stranger took time out of his busy day to help us out! I am just always pleasantly surprised by how we all treat each other when accidents (minor in my case) or tragedies ( like in Joplin) occur. We can really be pretty great to one another when we want to! Needless to say, I was to flustered to take any photos, so I will leave you with a random work of mine in order to pretty up this post!

Barn Owl - Rebekah Drey Haynes

Field Trip!

2011-06-02T12:41:00.000-04:00

I'm going to Mary Jo's cloth store today! I have only been once, but there is so much to explore. I am getting some fabric for a top secret super project and probably some embroidery floss, because I can't say no to the stuff. I will try to take some photos and share the wonder that is Mary Jo's!

Egg Cup Eggstravaganza!!!

2011-06-01T11:40:00.000-04:00

I don't know if I have mentioned it on this blog, but I am a little obsessed with Egg Cups! I love beautiful, minimal, new cups, but I really love kitschy and mod vintage egg cups. The idea of having a separate serving vessel, just for boiled eggs, seems like such modest extravagance. I would love to start collecting them, but unlike owl figurines, little elephants, and tea cups, egg cups just dont fall into my lap so easily. I am going to make a concerted effort this summer to start a little egg cup collection. In the meantime, here are some lovely examples from Etsy vintage sellers.

Vintage Egg Cup Pair

vintage orange egg cup and salt shaker

Vintage Figural Egg Cup

Vintage Japanese Tulip Egg Cups

Look what I made!

2011-05-31T17:40:00.000-04:00

Things have been super busy, but fun, here at casa de haynes. I have been crocheting like crazy and have started a little embroidery fun as well. (thanks to Sublime Stitching) The tutorial is not quite ready, (I want to get some really good, clear photos), but I did want to share a project I completed. I found this lovely little iPod cozy pattern on ravelry, and decided it would be perfect for my beloved iPod Touch. It is a simple pattern, and the results are endlessly pleasing. Stop by Sarah Freisberg's Tangled Happy blog for the details.

I used Caron Simply Soft acrylic yarn in Grey Heather, and added a lovely green button that I had hanging around in my button collection. It is a fun day project, and I am definitely making one for my dad for Father's Day.

my nails match my cozy!

What has everyone been up to? Was a fun Memorial Day weekend enjoyed by all?

update

2011-05-16T14:55:00.000-04:00

I am currently working away at the special mystery tutorial, but in the meantime, wouldn't you like a trashcan? If you think you could use a bin update, there is a give away on curbly right now for this beautiful simplehuman trashcan.

As you can see, it's a really lovely can that contains both a trash can and a recycling bin in the same unit. It has a 10 year warranty, and is fingerprint proof!

Music to Dance To

2011-05-15T13:05:00.000-04:00

Today I am working on a really fun tutorial for the blog. I think it will be really useful and give everyone some really good ideas for summer fashion and crafts. In the meantime, here is a really fun Dance themed playlist. Enjoy!

Summer Goals

2011-05-08T20:29:00.000-04:00

So, summer vacation is very nearly here. I will be free of class starting at noon this wednesday. I am still in the midst of final project craziness, but I am fairly happy with my progress. Once summer break begins,I will have a lot of free time on my hands, but I have a lot I want to accomplish. Here are a few of my main goals for the next 3.5 months.

• Get back to my exercise and yoga goals.A freak back injury has put me behind on this.

• Learn to Knit

• Advance my Crochet skills: this includes, but is not limited to, crocheting a striped throw for my bed.

• Read, Read, Read! I have read a lot this year, but I estimate that I have roughly 10 books that I know I want to read, and I want to revisit some classics.

• Really examine some career goals and investigate some possibilities.

• Eat lots of Avocado, Corn, Strawberries, Cherries and Peaches.

• Work on my Adobe skills.

• Learn some web developing.

• Organize my room/humble little studio

• Make some attempts at customizing some tank tops to make them cute.

What are some of your goals for the summer. Any gardening goal or rest and relaxation goals?

2011-05-08T16:33:00.001-04:00

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Final Push!

2011-05-04T20:47:00.000-04:00

I have not updated in a few days due to finals craziness. I have been very productive, however! Last night my sister and I did a little project in town. I made wheat paste for the first time, and it is simple, cheap and seemed to do it's sticky job. If you want to post any posters or flyers around town, without damaging anything, wheat paste is the way to go.
Tonight and for the next few days, I will be finishing my final Fibers project. I am finishing up the crocheted portion of the project.

I will make sure to share the finished piece with y'all. All in all I am excited to be done with class and ready for the summer. I have a lot of projects planned and it will be nice to have no deadlines! This will be my last summer as a full-time student, so while I am still looking for a part time job, if nothing pans out, I will make the most of my complete freedom.

P.S I have joined a few more social sites recently. They are yarn and craft related, and I thought I would give you guys a heads up.

• I am keeping up with my new yarn obsession over at ravelry.I really like it so far. It has patterns and tools to keep track of your yarn and notions.

• I have also joined curbly, because I love getting advice about crafty things.

• Last, but not least is craftzine. I love craftzine, it is just a great resource and so full of inspiration for all kinds of creative endeavors.

Knitting Envy

2011-04-26T17:13:00.000-04:00

I don't technically knit, yet. I am waiting to get finals out of the way to teach myself to knit. I am obsessed with crocheting and want to spend my whole summer surrounded by glorious yarn. There is a book that is making me even more excited about learning knitting. A Stitch In Time(Vol.1): Vintage Knitting & Crochet Patterns 1920-1949, is absolutely on my wish list. This book has dozens of gorgeous vintage knit and crochet patterns that the authors have compiled and updated to be practical for the modern knitter. The finished projects are beautiful and perfect for anyone who likes vintage styles. What is so great about the book, for me personally, is that 30's and 40's styles are my favorite vintage looks.(and the most flattering on my plus-size, busty frame) The book is published in the UK, so it has to be ordered online for those of us not in Great Britain.(fear not, the shipping fee is reasonable) Here are some lovely examples of what these patterns will help you create.

Nerdy Thursday

2011-04-21T19:37:00.000-04:00

Here's what I am getting Nerdy about this week...

• Bossypants by Tina Fey. I can't recommend this book enough. I have read a few memoirs in my day, but this is hands down my favorite. I couldn't put it down and ended up finishing it in an evening.It is well written, hilarious and touching and just a real pleasure to read. I think most people would enjoy this book, but if you also happen to be a huge Tina Fey nerd, it is unmissable. I read the kindle version and it was perfectly lovely and well developed. I didn't feel like I was missing out on the print version.

• Assassination Vacation by Sarah Vowell. There is a movie out right now that deals with the conspirators of the assassination(originally kidnapping) of Lincoln. I think that is what got me to turn back to my perennial favorite, Assassination Vacation. This time I am listening to it as an audio book, and boy is it a good one. Vowell is hands down one of the best non-fiction writers out there, and in this book, she shows soo much enthusiasm for the material, that it is pretty infectious. I need to read her latest work, Unfamiliar Fishes next.

I guess there was an unintentional theme this week of "Brunette ladies who write kick ass books." It's a pretty great theme to have. Are there any books you are excited to read or re-read in the long, hot, months to come?

Craft Crazy

2011-04-20T20:57:00.000-04:00

It has recently come to my attention that this semester will be over in about 3 weeks. I have a lot to do before then, but my mind has drifted to how little I will have to do after then. I am not taking any summer classes, nor do I have a job. This situation will leave me with tons of time and very little money. I firmly believe that the answer to this predicament is crafts. I have very recently fallen in love with crochet, and I also want to learn to knit. There are all kinds of projects I want to try, and maybe, if I plan ahead, I can get all my Christmas gifts ready by August! Here is a list of a few of the projects I am desperately wanting to try.

• These crocheted rings are so dainty and such an inexpensive way to add to my accessory wardrobe.

• I have been researching different ways to add some flare to basic tank tops for the summer. The heat in North Carolina summers doesn't really lend itself to any kind of layering, and most sleeveless tops are kind of blah. This doily-sleeve idea is one of the cutest, least expensive and easiest solutions I have found.

• While we are talking about affordable solutions, have you noticed how expensive laundry detergent is? I came across this DIY laundry detergent and am excited to try it.

• I am kind of obsessed with this DIY saddle shoes project. I have been looking for cute, affordable saddle shoes for the generously footed lady, and have had very little luck. This is such an inexpensive and "why didn't I think of that" simple option. I can definitely see sporting these to picnics and trips downtown to get some ice cream.

These are just a few of the projects I have pinned or bookmarked to try out. I will keep posting all the great ideas I find and show you how the projects turn out for me.

Music Monday

2011-04-18T19:36:00.000-04:00

Two weeks ago, I had the privilege of going to a house show at my friend Michael's birthday party. Michael is in the band Campbell, and the band has met and befriended Timbre. Timbre plays beautiful harp music, and sings with a beautiful, harp music voice. Apparently, I have a weakness for lady harp music. Her music is soft, yet clear, and melodic in a way that makes it a true joy to listen to. She and her sister are also really cool people. Check out her music and if you like it, it is always a good thing to support independent artists.

On another note, I am done with my first weaving sample, and about 1/4 of the way through my first crocheted scarf. I will try to get some photos up soon.

Here is a fun spring playlist for your week.

Fun with Cameras

2011-04-14T21:04:00.000-04:00

Here is a little peek of a photoshoot Jordan and I did yesterday. We decided to take advantage of the gorgeous weather and spring blooms at Memorial Gardens here in Concord. The original task was getting a few photos of Jordan for a Graphic Design project I am working on, but she wanted to take some photos too, so I ended up modeling for a bit.

Here is a fun shot of Jordan

Nerdy Thursday

2011-04-14T18:23:00.000-04:00

Here is what I am Geeking out about this week.

I am in love with these embroidered Mythbusters Portraits. The beards are so cleverly and skillfully stitched, it's just brilliant. I also really love the color choices and the little gears that were added on.

I just discovered Lizzie Fortunato Jewels. They have been popular with the "in the know" for a while now, but I am normally a little behind when it comes to the mainstream fashion scene. These twin sisters ,who started a jewelry company from their dorm rooms at Duke, create some seriously beautiful and cleverly sourced jewelry. I especially love their pieces that are Art Deco inspired. Here are a few beautiful examples.

Noble Surfer Necklace

Endless Summer Earrings

La Punta Necklace Red and Ivory "5"

And finally, here is a great stop frame animation project by Studio Botes with information from freelance designers for freelance designers.

Going Solo. from Studio Botes on Vimeo.

Artist Envy & Updates

2011-04-13T13:30:00.000-04:00

Hi Everybody!
(Hi Dr. Nick)

I have been neglecting my blogging duties lately. I have a good excuse, I promise. I have been super busy. WIth 3 weeks left in the semester, I have more work than ever. Here is a short wrap up of what has been going on with me over the last 2 weeks.

• I finally caught up on my Dental Health. A crown and 3 fillings are pretty good incentives to floss daily.
• In Fibers I have been Weaving, Coiling, Crocheting, and Knotless Netting. I have fallen in love with yarn, what can I say? As soon as the semester is over, I am going to teach myself to knit.
• In Graphic Design II I have been doing lots and lots. Lots of logos, and typefaces and spending my weekends in In Design and Illustrator. I am happy with some of my latest work and that puts a smile on my face.
• I have discovered some good music and I went to a great house show. I will post more about this later.

All in all it has been a fun, if hectic few weeks.

Enough about me, let's talk about art!

Yellena James is a very talented artist born in Sarajevo, now living and working in Portland. She works with pen and ink and acrylic. Her work is a beautiful mix of surreal and pretty. She has a dynamic sense of color and I think her work is the perfect spring muse. If you would like to have a little spring time all year round, you can buy her work at her Etsy shop.

Simmer - Pen and Ink on Paper

Stream - Acrylic on Wood

Lush - Pen and Ink on Paper

What I Have Been Pinning

2011-04-12T20:04:00.000-04:00

I have been pinning away on my Pinterest account. It is a little addictive. Here are some lovely little discoveries I have made recently.

I want this chair!

Here is a great little Cheat Sheet for taking great photos.

I love paper dolls. I also love hipster kitsch. This is Great on both counts.

A Little Midweek Cuteness!!

2011-03-30T22:21:00.000-04:00

Mark Loper

I found this on my new Pinterest account. It's just a little too adorable.

Yarn Bombing

2011-03-28T20:43:00.000-04:00

Pink M.24 Chaffee by Marianne Jorgensen

In my Fibers Class, we are learning several different ways of working with yarn. So far we are learning fiber coiling, knotless netting and weaving. I am very excited to be woking in these ways, and am more inspired than ever to learn to knit. One of the themes that keep coming up in my process this year is Public Art or Guerilla art. (another name for these types of art is Interventions) Yarn Bombing is perhaps my favorite type of Guerilla or Public art. There are so many layers of meaning to these pieces. (a predominantly domestic artform in a very public arena, playing with perceptions of the feminine and the masculine, softening and beautifying the cold and industrial) I also love that Yarn Bombing is impermanent and relatively harmless. In short, this is a type of guerilla art that I can see myself working with. On a related note, does anyone have any recommendations for knitting books or dvd's that are especially helpful for a beginner who has a more modern taste in fiber art? I would love any suggestions or tips. Here are a few more examples of Yarn Bombing !

Artist- Magda Sayeg - Bus in Mexico City

I love this. Street Art Squared! So Meta.

Kitchen Adventures

2011-03-26T14:01:00.000-04:00

I won't be using these pans today.

It is a nasty, dreary, rainy day here in Charlotte, NC. Since outdoor adventures will have to wait, I have decided to attempt the ginormous, rainbow layer cake I blogged about a few days ago. I am excited to try it, but it is a pretty large scale baking project for me. (I am much more of a cook, because I like to rebel against exact measurements!) I will take photos and tell you about the experience later!

My cake will probably not look like this.

Playlist for This Lovely Spring Weekend

2011-03-25T13:37:00.001-04:00

Gratuitous Baby Fox Cuteness

Nerdy Thursday

2011-03-24T18:45:00.000-04:00

This Thursday, I am Geeking out about two very funny things. The first is this video.

This video is one of the most hilarious, brilliant and human things I have ever seen. Besides being funny, there is something so joyful in the gusto with which the baby consumes her food. I first heard about it on Donald Glover's twitter feed. Whenever I am in a funk, I can just watch this video and everything seems better.

The second thing I am crazy about this week is the Judge John Hodgman podcast.

If you are unfamiliar with John Hodgman, you need to remedy that immediately. The Judge John Hodgman podcast is part of the Maximum Fun family of radio shows and podcasts. Basically, listeners call in with minor disputes and Hodgman hears their cases and then rules, giving inventive sentences and punishments to the loser. The repor between John and "Bailiff Jesse Thorne" is great and the whole program is just a joy to listen to. Some of their cases so far have been "Are Machine Gun's Robots?", whether or not breaking the 4th wall in movies and fiction ruins the experience, and if it's ok to take abandoned Polynesian takeout home. The podcast is updated weekly.

Links for Your Week

2011-03-15T15:27:00.000-04:00

Delicious Rainbow Cake of my Dreams!

Today I thought I would share a few links that I have been frequenting this week.

BBC Asia/Pacific - Obviously, we have all been keeping up with the tragedy in Japan, especially now that a Nuclear Situation seems almost inevitable. The scope and depth of this tragedy are huge and seem to get bigger by the hour. My prayers and thoughts and all the hope I can muster are with all those in Japan.

How a Nuclear Reactor Works - With fewer and fewer of us getting doctorates in Physics these days, a clear explanation of how exactly Nuclear Power works is timely indeed. I knew a little about nuclear power, but all the updates were confusing and I thought I should find out a little more. This link is a great refresher course.

Red Cross - If it is at all possible for you to do so, a donation to the Red Cross would be an excellent thing.

Now for Something a Little Lighter ...

DINOSAURS!! - I love this list of dinosaurs that probably didn't look the way we thought they did as children. As the field of Paleontology grows and discovers new specimens, we are finding out that many dinosaurs looked quite different from what was thought even a decade ago.

Rainbow Cake - I am determined to make one of these gigantic cakes before summer. They look so amazing and lemon icing just puts it over the edge.

Funny Podcasts - This list of top humor podcasts is exhaustive and accurate. My favorite podcast - The Bugle- easily made the list.

Japan

2011-03-11T12:39:00.000-05:00

My thoughts and prayers are with the people of Japan, and anyone on the pacific coast who have been affected by this earthquake and tsunami. As always, if you are able to donate anything, the Red Cross will certainly need extra financial assistance over the next months.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12709850

Nerdy Thursday

2011-03-10T20:21:00.000-05:00

This week I am geeking out about Evernote. This is a multiple interface app that helps organize your life. I am pretty much obsessed. It is free, which is extremely great. You can clip info from the web, write notes, upload images, and even email yourself with a special Evernote email account. I have only been using Evernote for about a week, but I can already see how much it will streamline online research, to-do lists and even my lil' ole' blog. I have it downloaded on my Macbook, my Chrome bowser and my iPod touch. Once sign up for free account on the Evernote home page, you can download the app on any applicable devices and whenever you want to, you can access your accounts and see your "notebooks". Here is a screen shot of my Blog Notebook.

As you can see, mine isn't spectacularly full just yet, but there is a lot of room to grow, (60 MB to be exact) and you get a fresh 60 MB every month. I really recommend you look into this really cool new app and see if it doen't make your life a little more fabulous. Here is a video that helps to explain just how excellent Evernote really is.

Big Girl Problems or Yoga, Prayer, and Pain Meds

2011-03-09T17:40:00.000-05:00

My sister and the creepy neighbor dog.

  The last few days have been pretty sucky. Just as Spring Break began, my body decided to give me a bit of a spiritual test drive. First, my back went out. I could't move. I didn't even know backs could do (or, not do)something like that. I prayed and rested and learned the universes lesson about patience. I rather quickly recovered,(mostly) and with a little bit of restorative yoga, my back is feeling good again. I thought I would be ready for some spring break task accomplishment and leisure time, but lo and behold, my shoulder decided to give me some major trouble. My shoulder blade felt like it had fallen out of socket and no amount of extra strength Excedrin could assist. I was trying to keep my spirits up, but my brain was fuzzy and I didn't know what lesson not being able to move my shoulder was teaching me.

  I prayed, meditated and did some even gentler restorative yoga. I woke up today in even more pain, and hobbled downstairs to realize that my plans for college are going to need to be changed. At this point, I was ready for some little girl crying on my mama's lap. I sucked it up, researched some options for school and went to my dentists appointment to get a permanent crown placed. Maybe you can guess where this is going, but the crown wasn't made correctly, so instead of going home with a shiny new crown and being able to chew with both sides of my jaw, I got another hour or mold injections and two more weeks with one sided mastication.

  Strangely enough, I left the dentist office with a smile on my face. My shoulder is feeling better, and I think I am getting the lesson. Once again, I needed to be reminded that although God (or the universe or what have you) loves jumbling up our plans, we won't be left on the side of the cosmic highway with an empty gas container and no cell phone signal. This To Shall Pass. In my heart I have known for a while that a B.F.A wasn't in the cards from me, I have known that I need to strengthen my shoulder and learn to lift with my legs. I have avoided all of these "Big Girl" issues and choices. I have delayed growing up as much as possible. Part of why I was so upset about not completely a BFA is because it means I will graduate much sooner. I will have to jump head first into the working world without any arm floaties on. At the end of the day, all that yoga and praying and meditating was helping, and it will continue to help. I am growing up, and the journey will be a whole lot more enjoyable if I stop resisting and start embracing all that is in store for me.

Artist Envy - Lisa Congdon

2011-01-04T13:40:00.000-05:00

Lisa Congdon is a visual artist, living and working in San Francisco. Raised in a creative family, it wasn't until she was in here 30's that she began to make art, and eventually make art for a living. Her work is colorful and grounded in nature. I feel that she is one of those rare artists who can capture the essence of a thing, rather than simply documenting it's appearance. She has an Etsy shop and is the creator of the brilliant A Collection a Day project and blog.

Feather 1

Everything is Okay

Intuition

Well Hello, 2011!

2011-01-01T17:04:00.000-05:00

So it's 2011. This year is going to be a big one for me. I will turn 25 in June, and I feel like there has never been a better year to write down some goals, so that I can keep myself accountable.

1. Get a new Hairstyle.

2. Drink at least 20 oz. of water everyday.

3. Work out as least 3 times a week, every week.

4. Do yoga Everyday.

5. Start Meatless Mondays.

6. Read at least 3 books a month.

7. Work on and Submit an Amazing BFA Portfolio.

8. Join Campus AIGA and get involved.

9. Dedicate the proper amount of time and work to all my classes.

10 Dedicate more time to this blog.

11.Go Out or spend time with friends at least once a week.

Day 11

2010-12-11T14:12:00.000-05:00

December 11 – 11 Things What are 11 things your life doesn’t need in 2011? How will you go about eliminating them? How will getting rid of these 11 things change your life?

1. Stuff - I need to stop buying so much stuff, and invest in experiences instead
2. So much alone time - I need to become a bit more social, 2010 was kind of a Cave year for me, and 2011 needs to get me out and about
3. So much sugar - I inherited a big ole sweet tooth from my papa. Although I never plan on dieting again, I do need to use a little more common sense with my sweets, and make them an indulgence rather than a habit.
4. Distractions - Although I definitely plan on having lots of fun next year, I need to be a little more focused on my growing list of goals. Maybe a little less tv, or internet time would do a lot of good.
5. Clutter - I need to find a way to de-clutter my space. I am sure there is some stuff I can part with, but organization will be key. I also need to find a solution to all my artworks and art supplies.
6. Angst - I need to let go of some of my angst towards the world. This will probably involve taking the news and political news a little less personally.
7. Road Rage - Maybe Buddha can help me with this. I need to remember that all those "idiots" I share the road with are actually human beings with souls and lives and families. Of course, if someone does something really stupid ...
8. Cynicism - My cynical nature needs to be downplayed a little this year. I am sure I will still remain a cynic of sorts, but I need to make sure it doesn't keep me from healthy habits and relationships.
9. My Current State of Fitness - I am not wanting to become one of those "fitness" people, but I certainly want to become fitter and more healthy. Regular gym visits should make this possible.
10. Past Hurts - I want 2011 to be the year I finally forgive those things in my life that keep bothering me. This mainly regards certain aspects of my faith. I need to learn to let it go.
11. Boredom - I want to be filled with wonder at what the universe brings my way in 2011. I want to have a sense of childlike wonder at the world around me. I want to learn and grow and have so much fun it makes my stomach hurt.

Day 10

2010-12-11T13:53:00.000-05:00

December 10 – Wisdom Wisdom. What was the wisest decision you made this year, and how did it play out?

I think the wisest thing I did this year was learn to stop hating my body. Instead, I began appreciating what it could do, what it allowed me to feel and accomplish. I started dressing the way I wanted to, not the way society dictated my body type should dress like. I stopped complaining about it, and I am still working on not commenting on anyone else's body. This decision has payed off a million ways. I am more confident, I feel that I choose more nutritious foods, and I am not as quick to turn down an opportunity for fear of what others might think of my body. It is still a work in progress, but learning to love my body was the wisest thing I did in 2010.

Self-Care

2010-12-10T17:04:00.000-05:00

Last week, I lost my grandfather to cancer. This was obviously a sad and traumatic experience, which just happened to coincide with the final exam crunch at school. All of this, along with the holiday rush, has left little raw and frazzled. Today, I thought I would share some of the ways I have learned to best cope during times like these. Hopefully, none of you have recently lost or are losing a loved one, but we all feel stress and moodiness from time to time, and if we don't take care of ourselves, we can get into some bad habits and cycles. Hopefully, some of these ideas will seem familiar, or easily adapted to your own busy routines.

- For me, one of the most vital things is to find some alone time. Family and friends are a huge built in support system, but if I don't find some time to get alone in my room for some peace and quiet, I can start snapping at loved ones. Most of us have routines that require us to be around people for a large part of the day, and it can be a real breath of fresh air to be surrounded by nothing but your own breathing and the familiarity of your own space.

- Reading is probably the most important thing I do when I am stressed or grieving. I am a big fiction reader, and there is nothing like becoming immersed in someone else's story right before I tuck in for some sleep. It will get my mind off of my own troubles long enough to actually fall asleep. It is also a great way to spend any free time you might have. TV and movies work for some people, but nothing absorbs my interest as much as a great novel.

- A good bath or shower can change your whole day. Even if all you have time for is your regularly scheduled morning shower, you can make it a little bit therapeutic. Scents like lavender, chamomile and honey are really great for relaxing, and mint and citrus can help you get pumped up for a challenging day. Of course, these are just suggestions. There might be a nostalgic scent that you can turn to for comfort. One of the best things I do when I am stressed is to give myself a scalp massage with a little bit of rosemary oil. I feel tension in my head, neck and shoulders, so this is a great, free way to wash some stress right down the drain.

- Music is the best way to change your mood quickly and easily. Most of us have a portable way to play our whole music library. If you know you are in a transitional or challenging period, keep your iPod charged! Whether it is a hilarious podcast to keep me smiling, or calm tunes to allow me to rest or meditate, my iPod is one of my greatest tools for dealing with modern life. Here is a playlist of the songs I have been listening to on repeat over the last week. Some are poignant, some are corny, some are mellow, but they all serve a mood changing purpose.

day 9

2010-12-09T23:27:00.000-05:00

December 9 – Party Prompt: Party. What social gathering rocked your socks off in 2010? Describe the people, music, food, drink, clothes, shenanigans.

New Years at Carrie's - Lot's of fun, good times with good people. Music was mainly of the bad 80's rock variety. Lots of vodka for me. Nothing super crazy, just a good time had by all, and an awesome way to greet the new year.

Lakehouse - Fun, a little rowdy. Jello shots and beer and hummus. (kind of a weird combo) Good music (for the most part) My sister and Belle and Carla and other fun people that I met for the first time.

Of Montreal Concert - Such a fun time. Not really a party, but it sure felt like one. I would say that it was as close to a spiritual experience as I have ever come while dancing in a crowded venue, sweating like crazy.

Campbells show at Amos' South End - Another concert, but lots of great people and some 80's night shenanigans followed. It was the beginning of fall, even if it didn't feel like it.

day 8

2010-12-08T20:59:00.000-05:00

December 8 – Beautifully Different. Think about what makes you different and what you do that lights people up. Reflect on all the things that make you different – you’ll find they’re what make you beautiful.

The most different thing about me are probably the things I geek out about. As a pre-teen, I was pretty sure that other, more fantastical worlds existed. (I think, if anything, I am more sure of that now) I love historial documentaries about the middle ages and the supernatural. I like music that is never played on the radio. I love makeup but hate romantic comedies. I am genuinely passionate about knowledge and learning everything I can, as fast as I can. I love facts and little known stories. My random bits of knowledge, and obvious joy in sharing them, is generally something people notice and appreciate about me. I am very pale, and never tan. I used to hate this, but now I am rather proud of it. The act of showing my chubby, lilly white legs in skirts and shorts every spring is an act of revolution and rebellion. It makes me smile, just thinking about it.

Reverb 10

2010-12-07T21:06:00.000-05:00

I am sure by now everyone has heard of Reverb 10. Since quite a lot has happened in my life over the last few weeks, I thought that this project was timely and beneficial. So, here I am, starting the prompts just a little late.

December 7 – Community

Prompt: Community. Where have you discovered community, online or otherwise, in 2010? What community would you like to join, create or more deeply connect with in 2011?

Community has actually been something I have felt a profound need for in 2010. For whatever reason, I have not made many connections. There have been some good times with friends, but many of these friends do not live near me. My community has refocused on family this year, and while I am so happy to have them, I am looking to create and foster other relationships in 2011. I feel like my new blog is one exciting way that I am going to achieve this. I am also looking to join my schools chapter of AIGA, in order to meet and converse with other young people who are passionate about design. I also plan to do a better job of keeping in touch with old friends who do not live locally.

my top 5 apps

2010-12-02T20:51:00.000-05:00

Today I thought I would share some of my favorite iPhone/iPod touch apps. I have had my iPod touch for about 3 months, and have spent quite a few hours looking for the best apps to meet my lifestyle needs. Apps can be pretty confusing. I think most people have a pretty good idea of what they want their device to do for them, but finding the best tools for those jobs takes a little research. Maybe this list will give you a heads up!

TeuxDeux - This app is the mobile version of the terrific TeuxDeux app I featured earlier. It is so easy to use, has a well designed interface for the smaller screen and I have never experienced an bugs or problems. It is very reasonably priced for everything it does.

Kindle app - this app allows you to download your kindle edition books to your iPod. It's free, and helps with your book selection opportunities. The iBooks store is still a little bare, so it is nice to have your pick of kindle books without having to buy a separate reader. If you are wondering, I have found it incredibly easy and enjoyable to read on the iPod's interface.

All-In-YOGA - this is the best health and fitness app that I have come across. It blends a clean, easy to use interface with soo much yoga goodness. It is a steal for all the routines and poses it features.

Moxie - I love word games, but I had a particularly hard time finding a really good, inexpensive and addictive word game app. I am not a Scrabble fan, but after a lot of looking I found Moxie. This game is unique, challenging and super fun. It is easy to get the hang of, but you can spend hours getting really good at it. Moxie is also an attractive game with a little bit of an old fashioned flare.

really makes ya think...

2010-12-01T22:10:00.000-05:00

(www.marriedtothesea.com) Married to the Sea is one of the funniest websites out there. ( if you don't mind some rather irreverent humor.