Daily Doily

A Little Bit Of... My Weekend

Drove to Jackson, TN to visit my grandparents.

Got to see my sis in law, neice, cousins, uncle + aunt in law.

Enjoyed all of the beautiful trees, shrubs + flowers in bloom. I have always LOVED dandelions. I used to call them "blow-blows" haha. They always make me happy. I wished on one, but I can't tell what I wished for or it won't come true ;)

Had the best road trip buddy- sweet Vera.

Ate a chocolate dipped cone from Dairy Queen.

Listened to Jessica Lea Mayfield.

Sang along.

Wished she played longer.

Held hands.

Highs + Lows...of the week

Highs:

-Zac + I have been doing the love language challenge (sort of) + one of the questions was "I wish we had the camera with us when..."  He replied "Have you met my wife? :D"  He thinks he's so funny ;)  It was pretty cute ♥

-Getting Jessica Lea Mayfield tickets + finding out that My Morning Jacket (AND...The Civil Wars) will be at music fest! Woo hoo.  I just hope they don't get rained out like most bands that I REALLY wanna see.

-Playing around with Zac + Vera in the park + taking pictures :) 

-Double date dinner with my bestie (getting to see her sweet baby bump!) + our hubbies

-A beautiful day to sketch with Memphis Urban Sketchers at Confederate Park

Lows:

-Debating whether or not to get on the interstate because it was backed up.  I made the wrong decision (of course, haha) + got stuck for an hour...an HOUR!!!  There may have been a few horn honks + "what the heck are you doin?" + "ugh, I HATE memphis drivers" comments too.  Yep.

-The moment I realized Jack White tickets were sold out + how did I not even know he was coming?!?! WTF.

-Crazy bumps all over my lips.  Is it seriously possible to get wind burn from a fan?  I dunno what's going on, but it's some pretty painful stuff people :(

-Spilling a HUGE cup of tea ALL OVER myself + my car.  I'm just glad I didn't ruin my phone :) *You should have seen the back of my pants, haha.

How was your week?  What were your highs + lows?

Friday 5

This backpack is so great (I just wish it wasn't so expensive, dang!):

 

Did you know you can create your own fabric?  I am so glad I found this website.  I already ordered some with our wedding photos on it for the wedding guest list quilt I am making.  I can't wait to get started on it now.  I also ordered this button fabric for it too.  I'll post pictures once it all comes in! Sew cute ;)

One of my favorite things is to see other artist's studio spaces.  This sewing room is crazy good:

Have you seen Kelly Rae's new studio?  I've been enjoying seeing her fix it up via her instagram/twitter.  I dream of having a really awesome studio one day.

 

 I've only had a chance to look at the first few pages, but I am so excited about this special Organizing issue of Martha Stewart Living.  It's soooooo inspiring :)

 The 11 things posts going around: Danielle's, Moorea's, Kaelah's, Jess's

I just might HAVE to participate even thought I wasn't "tagged".  I've always been a sucker for these kinds of things :)  Did you?  Send me your link.  I'd love to see.

8/52 Weeks

1 painting (or part of a painting):

I painted for the longest amount of time in a while.  I took out parts of the above painting that I felt needed to go + added some new.  I'm trying to decide if it is done yet.  I think I need some time away from it.  I also started a new painting.  I'm playing around with assemblage/collage on this one.  So far I've just added some fabric scraps :)

1 sketch:

1 art journal page:

(Prompt from this e-course)

Currently.

Obsessing Over: Milk.  Haha.  I know, you would never guess it right?  I'm not sure what happened but the hubby has influenced me to drink large amounts of milk.  I've never gone through cartons like this before ;)  Strange?  Oh + by the way, I like ice in mine while hubby sticks his in the freezer.  Cold milk is the best.

Working On: Finishing my recent painting + starting a new one.  This Sunday I spend hours in the studio with little distractions (this hasn't happened in forever).  Vera would come check on me every now + then.  I even got a blister on my thumb, haha.  I think I am almost done with one painting + I did start a new one.  I added fabric collage elements to this one which is new + exciting.  I will post pictures tomorrow in my 8/52 weeks post.

Thinking About: The speeding ticket I got :(  I'm pretty bummed about it.  I'm trying to decide if I should go to court or just pay it.  I really don't want to ruin my pretty perfect driving record! 

Anticipating: I got management excellence again this year at work (3 times in row!) + I won a trip.  I can't wait for the packet to arrive so I can hear more about it.  I think it's to The Greenbrier in West Virginia.  Has anyone been?  Have any recommendations for that area?  It will be my first time in WV.

Listening To: Older Coldplay, haha...like when they were really good.  Also, I've been playing Kathleen Edwards "Voyageur" a lot.  I'm pretty in love with it.

Eating: Girl scout cookies.  Ahh!!!  I bought 4 boxes (thin mints, samoas, tagalongs + trefoils) on Sunday + have put a pretty big dent in them :)  It's so hard to choose only 1 flavor + then you end up eating them all.  What's your favorite?  Mine is probably thin mints if I HAD to choose only 1.

Wishing: I had more time.  It seems like there's never enough time to do all the things I want to do.  I guess I just need to be better at time management :)  It's hard with a full time job to get it all in. 

Art Lecture // Laurel Sucsy

I went to this lecture last night at Rhodes College.  I'm really enjoying these artist lectures by women with families.  It's very inspiring to me :)  Sometimes I find myself thinking you can't have both, but it's just not true.  You have to make the time to keep what you love in your life.  Here are some of the notes I took:

• Structure changing, but spaces stay the same
• Like moving furniture- collect + push around
• Painting talking back to her, start a conversation
• Got rid of marks + focused on color when painting in the grid
• Up in the air until last minute
• Didn't like the structure of the grid
• More spatial, super illusionistic
• Edges become abrupt- build painting with edges + each mark lines up with each other + shifts
• Task to maintain concentration so worlds don't pull apart
• Her world has been described as plate tectonics
• She's consistant in trying to make awkward slipping
• Shows the roots to her brain- missteps, version without the makeup on
• She feels everything she does is different- gestures, edges, time, consistently shifting
• No static, color/contrast, how paint applied
• Describes work like a music album- some slow songs, some upbeat, etc.
• Different brains on, different personalities

// current work //

• Hovers
• There's this thing you want to do + you don't do it.  You can only make what yours hands allow you to.
• Hard to create openness + finish a painting
• Turn works around to find a new "bridge"
• Works on same painting for years- crazy transformations, finds anchor but anything can change if she protects one area.  Holding on to right area?
• Hard to describe her new work because she is so personally attached.  She doesn't "know" her work until a year out.  She can still remember what music she was listening to when she made the marks.
• Discover one thing + find another
• Enters the work through small things
• Color choice is more intuitive + instinctive
• When she sees painting she sees shapes, landscape, etc.  Sense of light influenced by painting outside
• She loses a lot of paintings + loses stuff she loves, but keeps working.  Jokes she has a super appetite for failure.  Success rate low.  The whole thing has to work, not just the parts.  One piece went to a show, came back + she realized it wasn't finished.
• She has a certain time to paint + puts an apron on + creates rituals to make her paint at night so she doesn't go do dishes, etc. *I have talked about this.  I'll find myself painting a little + then doing the laundry, cooking dinner, etc.  Instead of focusing large amounts of time to my work.

♥ 

I hope everyone has a great weekend :)  I'm looking forward to it.  It's beginning to look + feel a lot like spring around here.

Alternatives to Traditional Roses for Valentine's Day

1. Valerie Confections // A Dozen Rose Petal Petits Fours, $50

2. Diptyque // Roses Mini Pink Candle, $32  

3. Thymes // Kimono Rose Gift Set(hand creme, bath salts and votive candle), $29

4. Korres // Lip Butter in Wild Rose, $12 *I bought some the other day + I'm in love  

5. Crabtree & Evelyn // Rosewater Eau de Toilette, $45

6. Miette // Box of 6 Macarons Rose Geranium, $14 or Rosettes, $5 

Highs + Lows...of the week

Highs:

-Hysterically laughing in bed about my hair + "poncho".  Apparently my bangs make me look like I should be on teen mom according to Zac or straight out of the 80's and....he got a major kick out of me saying that I looked sexy the other night.  He said "ahhhh hahahahahahaha in that thing?  what was that?  a poncho?  what do they call it?".  Yeah, I got the point.  Thanks. (Wait, is this a high or a low?)  It was pretty funny.

-Zac asking me pitifully at lunch "Do I have to eat clean too?"  He has been very supportive of me eating clean + he even tried it too.  Towards the end of the week we sorta stopped all together, but I plan on continuing it.  Just not so strictly.

-Eating breakfast with Zac before work.  We never do that.  It was nice.  We're usually rushing around in the morning.

-The smell of rain.

-Having a heart to heart when you least expect it.  In a bar, over beers + fries with Bourbon mayonnaise.  That should go on a separate line itself.

-Bourbon mayonnaise.  Thank you bardog.  It's the most amazing thing ever.  

-Zac ordered a book for us to read together.  He was so excited when I brought the mail into the house saying "I've been looking for that!".

-Zac writing I <3 U in ketchup on his eggs at breakfast :)  I looked at him thinking awe, that looks like he's writing I love you...then realizing, he is!  My hubby melts my heart.

Lows:

-Major tummy aches + pains from this clean eating thing.

-Cravings.  I went 4 days with no refined sugar + then I caved.  Big time.  I'm talking coconut cake at lunch.  Vanilla milkshake.  Pralines + cream ice cream in a waffle cone.  Don't judge.  I didn't eat it all at once or finish it all.  Haha.

-Both of my grandparents were in the hospital.  It's really hard to see the ones you love in so much pain.  I couldn't stop replaying them laying there helpless in my head :(

-Not going to the gym at all, but I did go to my usual pilates class.

-Laundry.

-The weekend never being long enough.

Currently.

Obsessing Over: Instagram.  I've talked about it before, but I am totally loving this app!  I'm having so much fun doing the January photo a day challenge + I'm so glad they are going to continue for the rest of the year (I think).

Working On: My new year's resolutions.  I've started a new painting, which I am really enjoying.  I've also done a sketch + art journal page every week so far.  I'm also working on my happiness + being less critical.  I consider myself to be carefree + free-spirited, but I'm not sure how true that is.  I let little things bother me + consume me.  I'm trying to LET GO.  I think it will bring me more happiness + the people around me.  I have to remind myself of this constantly because it is so HARD.     

Thinking About: The fact that I already wrote most of this once + typepad decided to delete it or I didn't save it :(  Bummer.  I'm also thinking about showing love to my family more.  I think it's the little things that make life + relationships so special.  I want to make sure I'm stopping to tell/show the people I care about that I love them.  It's easy to go through the day to day motions + forget about this.  I think there needs to be more love notes in my life :)

Anticipating: Spring.  I'm so ready for sundresses, bike riding, picnics + bare feet.

Listening To: My winter playlist.  It's so good ;) 

Drinking: Sparkling water with a splash of 100% grape juice + naked juices, along with the usual water + tea.

Wishing: It was the weekend, haha.  I think I'm always looking forward to that.

What are you up to?  I'd love to know.

12 Photos from 2011 + Year in Review

January:

Greens + black eyed peas.  Mimosas.  My bridesmaids threw me a gorgeous shower :)  Everything was so thought out + everything I like- vintage items, buttons + cupcakes.  Snow day.  Sinus surgery + having to stay at home.  More snow.  Play date with Vera at Shelby Farms.

February:

First wedding dress fitting.  Picked up our wedding invitations.  Snow day + sledding.  Valentine's Day + the huge bouquet that Zac surprised me with :)  Fancy dinner at home.  Cat Power record.  The search for the perfect wedding band, haha.  Collecting vintage doilies + glass vases for the wedding.  Our stock the bar shower with friends + family.  Sliders + cupcakes.  Bowling.

March:

Rainy urban sketchers day at a cafe.  Wedding hair trials.  Making pinwheels for the wedding with paper + doilies.

April:

We went to see one of my favorite bands- Band of Horses + it was pure magic :)  It was also getting super close to the wedding.  We got to see our wedding bands + had them engraved.  Wedding makeup trial.  I got to see samples of the wedding flowers  AND  I had my bachelorette party in Atlanta.   

May:

This was the best month of 2011 + EVER :)  We got our marriage license.  I was super busy making last minute things for the wedding.  Bridesmaids' luncheon, rehearsal + rehearsal dinner.  I married my best friend with the love + support of our friends + family.  We went on our honeymoon + had the best time exploring Paris + London.  So many special moments.  How do I even choose a favorite picture???

June:

I changed my name + got my first piece of mail with my new name on it.  I was super excited!!!  :)  My mom gave me her china + china cabinet.  We putup all of our new gifts we got.  Who knew china, pottery + crystal could be so fun?  Zac turned 28. 

July:

Zac + I had no plans for July 4th, so we went to Buffalo River on a whim + it was the best time.  We got our wedding pictures back + Tec made a beautiful video + keepsake box for us.  I learned to sew a granny square.  We were on a major brownie bingethat month, haha.  We cooked a lot this month too + made fried green tomatoes for the first time.  We saw another one of my favorite musicians- Jessica Lea Mayfield!!!  She was supposed to come to Memphis but canceled + then we tried to see her in London, but got the dates wrong.  I was so upset, but thank goodness she rescheduled in Memphis!!!  There was hardly anyone at the show + we got a table right up front.  It was awesome :)  I found another music love that night too- Ferraby Lionheart ♥    

August:

I got my hair colored darkened + started growing it out.  Zac + I started riding the greenline.  I fell in love with saltwater sandals + the color rust.

September:

Hot pink + red lips.  My 28th birthday.  Delta fair. Chili.  Zoo rendezvous with my sister.  New sewing machine!  Zac's best friends wedding. 

October:

Caramel apples.  Visiting my sister in Missouri + going to Diebold's orchard.  S'mores by the fire.  My mom + I's trip to California.  Surfing + the disappointment of not actually getting up for more than 2 seconds :(  My first Pinkberry experience!  Crazy jalapeno drink.  Cara Tomlinson lecture.  Hunter green Hunter boots!!!  Starting the sketchbook project.  Ra Ra Riot concert on Halloween night.  Yellow Ostrich's cover of "Time of the Season" by The Zombies that was stuck in my head for months it was so good.  Hiking Fall Creek Falls again.  It was as tough as I remember, but we had fire this time :) 

November:

Tiger basketball games.  Wassail.  Zac + I's sweet picnic lunch in the park.  Perfecting cornbread sticks.  Kacey's surgery + me being sick.  Vera turned 5.  Thanksgiving.  Hot chocolate + snow. 

December:

Advent calendar + activities :)  Traditions.  Topknots.  Zac's toy helicopter.  A Very She + Him Christmas on vinyl.  More snow.  Florida trip to visit Zac's Dad + see My Morning Jacket.  Remi.  One of the best nights of our life- the concert  "One Big Holiday"!!!  Serendipity + frrrozen hot chocolates.  Allergy testing + having my arm swollen for days.  Dinner at Ruth's Chris with family.  Holiday dress up party + winning best costume (made my night)!!!  My first checkmate.  Dinner at Circa with my Dad for Christmas.  Christmas Eve with Zac's family.  Jenga.  Christmas morning just the two of us.  Christmas Day with my Mom.  The vow to never make swiss chard again.           

2011 was a great year + I hope 2012 tops it.