if a picture is worth a thousand words

I find it incredibly difficult to focus on sitting inside on my computer doing little things like blogging (and homework!) when there's so much beauty waiting for me outside...

hello fall!

my style in footwear has slightly changed...

early morning sun

Hillary

Star

Julie

horse love

this is why I love fall

woodpecker

so tiny, but so loud!

apples

my favorite tree

because I love laying under it

absorbing it's beauty

maybe this is why I love painting trees

home sweet home :)

starting some seeds for my cold frame!

seeds I ordered from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds

freshly picked

pumpkin muffins.... yum

washing cherry tomatoes

pickling cherry tomatoes

Lots of pictures, I know... I didn't feel like doing homework and went a little camera-crazy :)
The pictures just seem to sum up my day more so than words.

One more tidbit.... Thank you Steve Jobs for your innovation, creative genius, and inventing the amazing MacBook Pro sitting in front of me <3

"Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma, which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary." -- Steve Jobs @ 2005 Stanford Commencement Address.

history of my forgotten creative pursuits (day 29)

I'm feeling like a need a little more inspiration today.... 


It's hot (100 degrees yesterday!). 
I might have one of the most boring, least stimulating jobs. ever. 
I can't decide what to write my essay on... I have to argue my point of view and I'm not much of an arguer. 
I have 5 chapters to read in 2 different history books.... and I'm sorry to report that I haven't had a change of heart when it comes to history. I find myself rereading the same page over and over because I find it so boring that I can't focus. If only history had vampires or fallen angels :)


So I decided to take a different approach to history.... The history of my forgotten creative pursuits!!

This is a little inspiration book I started making a few months ago (and never finished, surprise, surprise!).  I forgot all about it, and just came across it while looking for a composition book on my messy shelf.... Hope you enjoy :)

And just for fun, here's a picture of me doing what I seem to do most lately.... sit in front of my mac! (notice the pink squirt bottle next to me.. to keep Elizabeth Taylor, the cat, away from Bacchus, the cockatiel!)

Day 29 - A picture of someone you miss

my grandpa... I just didn't have enough time with him and I miss him every day

I get by with a little help from these quotes (day 21)

I survived my first day of nothing but homework. I got some reading done, wrote a 2 page letter to my english professor about my goals for the semester, wrote a 3 page paper about the importance of the I Have a Dream speech, finished 2 discussion posts, and paid approximately $81 for one freakin textbook. and it wasn't even new. Let's not get me started on textbooks prices.


Instead let's look at a few new posts on From Up North that have inspired me or made me smile...

this one is specifically for Taylor Lynn :)

Day 21 - A picture of something you wish you were better at 

monday, monday

I have a few things to share with you this morning... I'll start with the most exciting......

I've been chosen as this weeks ForestFaery Feature on the wonderful Taylor Lynn's blog!!!!!!!!
There are simply not enough exclamation marks to convey how excited I am about this... I'm a big fan of Dreams of Fae so it's very flattering to be featured. She did such a great job so you should definitely check it out (and her Etsy shop) and follow her, if you aren't already :) Thanks again, Taylor Lynn!

Now for some painting pictures....
I think I'm finished with the gray and purple painting I posted pictures of a few days ago... but I may still add something else to it. For now though, I'm calling it done. It was inspired by grapes and my newly found obsession with every shade of the color purple. It's 30" x 40" x 1.5" and I painted a clear glaze over the purple to make it shine and added an acrylic paste to the white to give it texture, although it's difficult to see in the photo. I'm not putting it on my etsy shop yet though. I'm saving it for The Wine Gallery next month.

The next painting is one I started yesterday afternoon. I had originally planned on painting the birdhouses but I bought this canvas last weekend and it was just sitting in the spare room, all wrapped in plastic and just begging to be painted. I couldn't resist... I'm a sucker for the smell of the wood the canvas is stretched over, the aroma is so crisp and strong when the plastic is first peeled off. I wish I could bottle it! Anyway, I wanted to do a painting similar to the gray/purple one, but with different colors. I don't use a lot of black in my paintings (other than for outlining) so I decided to take a small step outside my box and experiment.

It's not finished but it's coming along quite nicely. I think I'm going to add a quote in white hand drawn letters, I just haven't decided which one. I really like the Jimi Hendrix quote I posted a few days ago, but a friend sent me this quote the other day and I love it...

I also posted a few pictures of paintings on my personal fb page yesterday and had quite a few comments on them. I even had a former co-worker in Wisconsin say she might be interested in a custom painting for her daughter's room... so hopefully I have more projects to keep my hands busy in the near future!

Yesterday I made some yummy Kale Chips (I read about them on Tia's blog, Two Birds on a Wire).

The recipe is super simple and they're delicious! Even my very carnivorous bf loved them! Now I have another recipe to add to my vegetarian collection... which btw, the vegetarian eating is going really well! My bf even made me tofu last night while he made himself chicken... and then he made grilled squash and zucchini, while I made quinoa for the first time... yum!! I should have taken a picture because the plate with pretty and colorful! I always have my camera handy but often forget about it, so that's on my needs-to-improve list :)

Okay, now I'm off to finish my coffee... I've got a new week of homework and exams to prepare for. Including dealing with a bunch off close-minded people in my english class who think art is boring and a waste of time, so I have my work cut out for me in preparing a persuasive essay to try to convince them otherwise. Hope you are all starting your week off on a positive note!

hello weekend!

“When the power of love over overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.” Jimi Hendrix 

I came across this quote the other day and I can't seem to get it out of my head... I think I might try to incorporate it into my next painting.

Anyway, so yesterday I wasn't really in the mood to write because I ended up not being able to go to my little sister's senior show in Michigan, which I'm still upset about but dealing with.  I spent my morning cleaning the house and the afternoon listening to Jason Mraz while painting birdhouses. I still have a way to go until they're finished but at least it's a start! They've been in my closet for almost a year.

Then my bf, Jeremy, took me out on a date.
We had dinner at Sage, which is one of my favorite places downtown. Their menu is organic and I got an their amazing signature salad with strawberry vinaigrette, candied pecans, and grapes! We also split the grilled veggie and hummus appetizer, which was delicious! Probably my favorite part was the half priced beers :) By the time we finished, we still had 2 hours until the movie started so we drove around town for a little while... Jeremy just bought a 2011 Honda CR-Z hybrid so we needed to put a few miles on it. Then we parked by the theater and walked around Bricktown until we came across a guy playing the guitar and singing so we stopped and listened to him until it was time to head back to the theater. We saw Limitless, which was pretty good... maybe I just think so because I was captivated by Bradley Cooper's beautiful blue eyes!

I started this morning off bright and early with a Reese's Peanut Butter Cappuccino on my way to Amber's house (which is where I am now) to hang out with my favorite little man, Jackson, while she goes to Texas. He drank a little breakfast, then we played for a little while until he started rubbing his eyes to tell me he was tired, and now he's taking a little nap. Isn't he cute?!?!

Now to finish my cappuccino and wait for him to wake up so we can hang out... this afternoon maybe I'll get a little more painting in so I can post pictures tomorrow!
Hope you are all enjoying your weekend!

tuesday's playlist

As I sit on my couch with a steaming hot cup of coffee and my 3 puppies, the sky outside is still dark. Life has been busy lately and it's calming to let the still of the morning consume me. I'm going to keep things simple today because it's my first day of classes in over a week. Here is a list of songs that have recently found their way on to my playlist and an artist I found in last months issue of Nylon that I find really inspiring.

Matt Hires - You In The End & Honey, Let Me Sing You a Song

Nicole Atkins - The Way It Is

Ryan Adams - Answering Bell

Tje Austin - Sunshine

Lucy Schwartz - Count On Me

Now if that's not enough inspiration for you, this will certainly push you over the edge.

Alexa Meade paints portraits of people on people. 

Here's the explanation from her website...

Rather than creating representational paintings on a flat canvas, Alexa Meade creates her representational paintings directly on top of the physical subjects that she is referencing. When photographed, the representational painting and the subject being referenced appear to be one and the same as the 3D space of her painted scenes becomes optically compressed into a 2D plane. 

just go here and see for yourself.... http://alexameade.com/ utterly amazing.

Last week I wrote a post about my recent efforts to be more green. In it was a link for non-toxic cleaning recipes. I've tried the household cleaner, drain cleaner, and toilet bowl cleaner and I'm impressed! Not only do they actually work, they don't have that horrible smell most cleaners do that gives me a horrible headache. So I'm breaking up with my old cleaning products and ending our toxic relationship. 

I've also been meat-free since around noon on Saturday March 12 and I'm quite content. I have stocked up on brown rice, whole grain pitas, black beans, almond milk (dark chocolate is my favorite!), cottage cheese, and every veggie & fruit you can possibly imagine. I've went out to dinner twice since then and had no problems finding a delicious vegatarian/vegan entree. So, for me, this has definitely been a positive lifestyle change... so far. I may need to be reminded when I've had a few Teacates at Hooters watching everyone around me eat their delicious wings!

Now to do some more research for an essay I'm writing about Oklahoma's recent decision to suspend funding for public art for three years and why that's a horrible idea. Then InDesign and Business Math :)

May the road rise to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face.

Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.

I've seen and met angels wearing the disguise of ordinary people living ordinary lives.  ~Tracy Chapman

Today is all about sending some love to those who need it most.

I'm sure I don't need to tell you about the tragedy that struck Japan last week so instead I will tell you a few unique ways you can help. 

Go the extra mile.  It's never crowded.  ~Author Unknown

TheForestFaery has made beautiful bracelets that come in a set of three and 100% of the sales will be donated to Japan. She's also offering free shipping :) check out her blog here.

http://www.TheForestFaery.etsy.com

 If the world seems cold to you, kindle fires to warm it.  ~Lucy Larcom

KnitfulDesigns has knit an amazing beanie and 100% of all sales will be donated to Japan. Looks super comfy and that warm brown hue could easily be worn with anything! Check out her blog here

http://www.mamitabella93.etsy.com

There are two ways of spreading light - to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.  ~Edith Wharton

Bubby and Bean has made an art print and 100% of all sales will be donated to either the Red Cross or to Animal Refuge Kansai (your choose when you check out). You can check out her blog here.

www.bubbyandbean.etsy.com

Every action in our lives touches on some chord that will vibrate in eternity.  ~Edwin Hubbel Chapin

Now before I fall asleep at my computer I must go get some coffee (I'm out of damn creamer!) then get back in the swing of things... homework is waiting for me so I'll probably be at the library all day long. At least I'm halfway through the semester! :)

We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.  ~Winston Churchill    

Well said Audrey

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