The Life Pursuit

Au revoir! Leaving for Europe!

Yes - Tomorrow is the day!  Tomorrow we leave for 4 days in Amsterdam and 7 days in Paris.  I kinda purposely worked the past two days at my job so I'd be so beat tonight. I was worried if I didn't I wouldn't sleep easily - and I'm glaaaaad I did.  Even though I'm exhausted, I can feel the excitedness/anxiety/giddyness brewing in me.

Paris!!  I have wanted to go to Paris for as long as I can remember. I was at my mom's house last weekend helping her clean and I found an old book I purchased when I was trying to gather money to move there for school in 2003. It's called, "Entre Nous: A Woman's Guide to Finding Her Inner French Girl", and which was fun to re-read right before I leave! I cracked it open last night over some french toast to celebrate it almost being time to go.

Some of the things we plan on doing/seeing:

-Ghost tour in both Amsterdam & Paris
-Catacombs in Paris
-Going to Colette and Galeries Lafayette for some shoppppinnng ! Yes!
-Galerie LJ Beaubourg for the Fafi art show <3
-Climbing to the top of the Arc de Triumph
- Visiting Musée d'Orsay
- lots of other obvious ones but I'll talk more about that when I get back!

Wish me well!  I don't know if I'll be updating while I'm gone - it all depends on my little iphone and the wifi :) (and my time ! heh)

Things I love Thursday

So many things I'm loving right now!!  Here is a quick little list and some pictures:

1. CocoLulu's Gorgeous rings - super lovely antique looking brass filigree bases with floral cabochons.  I saw them on the front page of etsy for a second, and then it seemed the one I wanted was snatched up right away!  Apparently, I'm not the only one who thought her rings were gorgeous! 
2. Amieking's rescue me earrings - subtle but funky - I'm so so tempted to buy these for my trip.
3. wonderful art graffiti - I have a special place in my heart for good wheat pasted paper graffiti.  Its my favourite most definitely.
4. Moschino Heart shoulder bag - I discovered this the other day while looking on zappos for a good bag for my trip.  Totally out of my price range and not functional for what I'm needing, but now I'm dying to see it in person !  Its adoorrraable.  I'd like it even more if it was red!  I think Moschino's store is now on the list of places to wander into while in Paris.  Eee! Lets hope I don't leave with any $500+ bags.



 

5. 8" treeson - When I got my treeson in the mail this winter - my first thought was, "I hope they make a super large version someday...!"  How exciting! I think Treeson will make an excellent large scale vinyl figure.  Available in August 08.
6. This girl's style from The Sartorialist.. .  I love it.  I think its official that the anticipation of shopping in Europe has taken over my brain.  Gah, be calm my dear wallet.
7. Steel cable system from West Elm - I've been wanting something clean and simple to hang photos and inspriation pieces from in my room, and after seeing this on SFgirlbythebay's blog, I think its perfect!  I hope to get it when I get back from all my trips.  So many wonderful pictures I'd love to put out in my studio!
8. Julie's super cute towels and napkins - Julie is my hero when it comes to super cute and lovingly made crafts. 
9. this PeeWee Herman inspired top! m - I found it cruising around on etsy the other day - and I looove it.  Pee Wee is one of my most favourite characters ever.  I'm thinking I'm going to commission the girl who made this to create one for me.  Eee!  <3 Pee Wee.
10. eizo jacket by joodito!  soooo awesome futuristic - and its made from salvaged organic materials!  I really need window shopping on the internet.  :)

What are you loving right now?  Share some fabulousness!  :D
I'm off to go pack, slurp some tasty homemade latte and work on my zine till I crash.

Random blips of information!

eeeek I have been a horrible poster! I keep meaning to - but its been such a busy week and half.  Between preparing for birthdays (Olaava's was last week, Chris' is today!), attending the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year awards for the Southeast, making mini art for friends, organizing a quick wine tasting party, visiting with my cousin, working on my zine, and preparing for our trip to Florida this weekend annnd then our trip to Europe - my head is spinning!  Breaaaathe!  Oh my gosh.

I've been having lots of fun though - so its worth the hecticness.  Lots of fun parties, dressing up, visiting with wonderful people and creativity.  June definitely went out in a blaze!  Helloooo July. 

There is so much I want to post about, but time has seemed to escape me this past week and a half.  So I guess pictures will have to do for now!  I will try to post a few more times this July - but not sure how many opportunities I'll have.  I'll be in Florida the 4th-6th, Amsterdam the 17th - 21st, and Paris the 22nd - 28th. 

Everyone cross their fingers that I don't explode from doing too many things at once!! :)
I hope you are all well !

her neon heart

This weekend I received my copy of Jemibook's zine - which was suuuuper adorable.  With it, she mentioned she would take a trade for her newest one which tempted me into trying to make one myself for such purpose...  We will see!  My ideas are all over the place for content. :P

Right now I'm thinking about for subjects - mainly positive inspiring stuff for girls. Thinking about pages - maybe 10.  Lots of random thoughts - but its fun - I've never tried to make a booklet outside of work :) I want to try to incorporate stickers somehow, things I'm interested in, advice... I'm having fun just thinking about it ! So far I'm figuring out the content, and I have done a sketch for the cover.   Not a whole lot but its a step!

hmmm!  Think think think!

True Colors Concert & Cyndi!

So last night my mom and I went to the True Colors concert featuring Cyndi Lauper and the B-52's. (Photos!)  I was really tired before we left and not really sure what to expect due to being kind of out of it from my cold for the past week...We got there early, ate a little bit and settled in to our seats which were very close to the stage! (I was surprised - good job picking tickets Mom!) The opening act was a band called The Cliks - this was the first time I had heard their music and it was pretty awesome!  Lead singer Lucas Silveira's voice is sooo good - a great mix of melody and harsh scruffy rock sound.  The songs I liked best were "Oh Yeah", "My Heros" and their cover of "Cry me a river".  I really recommend them - I want to go get their cd now!

Up after that was Tegan and Sara - which honestly...I don't care for their music - its a little too folksy for me.  My mom really enjoyed it though, which a fair trade off since she seemed pretty bored during The Cliks...other than when she was trying to catch a glimpse when one of the guitar players did an awesome jump/spin move while playing.  (She was looking down every time it happened!)

There was then some stand up from Rosie O'Donnell - and then the B-52's came out!!  I have always really liked their music but I had no clue how fun they were live.  Holy crap they really are a "party band" as they claim - they had the whole audience going bananas dancing/throwing beach balls/screaming & singing.  It was totally hilarious.  That and Kate Pierson was looking super cute and her hair looked awesome.  I had a blast dancing to their songs!

Finally, at the very end Cyndi came out to perform.  She began singing "Change of Heart", and while I knew I would be excited to see her live and singing in person - I didn't anticipate how good she would sound, or how cool it would be... I don't really remember what I said when she came out singing on stage - but it was something along the lines of "OH MY GOD!" and I covered my mouth in shock like a little girl because - there was my childhood hero in the flesh! :)  I felt like a teenager seeing my idol - it was ridiculous. My mom found it really hilarious and said something to the effect of, "Did you ever think you'd get to see Cyndi in concert?"  And then the next thing we knew, she was hopping down off the stage, walking through the crowd and came straight over a few feet from where my mom and I were at - stood up on a table and continued to sing.  I managed to snap the above photo in between the OMGZ and goofy teenage-like gasps and tears of excitement.  It was really really ridiculous how excited I was - I totally didn't expect myself to react that way :)

She played a lot of her hits and then a few songs from her new album, Bring ya to the brink.  They were all very good - and the crowd was super jazzed through out the whole thing.  She ended up having two encores - during one she sang "Money changes everything" with Lucas Silveira (which was really really awesome, I am curious now if I could find a recording on the internet...), another she sang "Everyday people" with the entire cast of performers, and then of course, "True Colors".  During all of this, they released tons of multicolored gigantic balloons which floated over the crowd gently, falling a bit so we could push them back up into the air.  It was a great finale, and over all an amazing concert.  I'm glad I went, and so happy I was able to share the experience with my mother who introduced me to Cyndi's music as a little girl.   

art and chit chatting

So tiiired!  Its been such a nice weekend - visiting with the wonderful Mary - as well as fantastic Olaava and Lynn.  I'm a super huge fan of long conversations over glasses of wine that last into the evening - its one of my favorite ways to spend time with people! It always puts me in the best of moods.

Today I took a break and spent Sunday relaxing and finishing up a wood collage piece I had been working on.  I need to drill a hole in the back and figure out how to hang it - but for now - here it is!

I named it "Calendar Girl" after the song by Stars. (You can read the lyrics here.)
11x11x1" mixed media on wood. 

I am going to crash so I can rest up for the Cyndi Lauper concert tomorrow.  Excited!!!

Hope you are all doing well - more post later :)

Things I love Thursday

Hellooo - I am currently trapped in bed with a nasty cold :(  To cure my boredom from the nap marathon I've been partaking in for the past two days, I figured I'd make a post!

In between coughs, sniffles and sleeps - I have had little peeks at the interweb and day dreams about what I want to look up as soon as I'm feeling more able to climb out of ze bed of doom.

Things I'm interested in, wanting, or thinking about right now!

- heart shaped food and objects - two super cute recipes to share (ice cream hearts and fudge), and then a fabulous project: my heart wanders by Pia Jane Bijkerk.  Shes taking submissions from the internet of photos with hearts displayed through out in them.  They are very sweet and I'm excited to see the final outcome - if you want to send in a photo I believe that there are 5 days left! Go go go!

- shopping wants - cute mugs with goofy faces from Aranzi Aronzo, small red summer dresses to run around town in, "Daydreaming Panda" jar by Apak for only $600.00 (ahhhhh), lovely whimsical dream catchers from One Good Bumblebee, roller skates and a betsey johnson ring watch.  I haven't had a ring watch in yeaaaars - the cheesy temptation XD  San - calm yourself, your wallet is scared! ;)

-pink hair - since I cut out most of my teal streak, and the tiny fleck I had left is fading... I have been thinking about putting pink back into my hair.  Work is totally cool with that sort of thing, its just a matter of deciding where to put it! Until I decide, I have been looking at photos of cute hair - my favorite are some lovely "forever young" photos taken by WIP Hairport. (They do magical cuts and color!!)  Shaving the sides of my head has been lingering in my mind again as well, but I know my boss would have a heart attack if I did that ;)  So no go.

- boozerdoodle and Dr. Sketchy's here in Atlanta - I apparently discovered boozerdoodle a bit late, they had a event last week! blargh.  And Dr. Sketchy's is having an event here next Monday, which I wont be able to go to but I am urging others to check out because it sounds fuuuuun.

- CYNDI LAUPER!!  My mom is taking me to see her concert as a late treat for my birthday.  I've been a dork for her ever since I could walk - and my mom was actually the one who introduced me to her music - so the fact we are going together is really nice!  I'm so so so excited, I can't wait to see what her hair looks like and listen to her perform. 

What are you excited about right now? :)

the big 25

Hellooo! After all the birthday excitingness, I finally feel like I can sit down, relax and type up a blog entry.  This week was amazingly fun!  Possibly one of the best birthday/birthday weeks I've had in a long long time :)  I am feeling very lucky right now! Some of the highlights of this week -

- Graffiti exploring with Chris and trying to figure out sekrat codes
- Fun dinner at a converted train station with Chris and Jess
- going to the Indie Craft fair with pals - and practically melting (not really a highlight!!), but getting awesome art from Jessica Gonacha and saying hello to lots of people I haven't seen in a while
- Super goofy fun dinner with my mom and family/visiting with my cousin
- amazingly sweet birthday party with my friends, singing-winetasting-video game playing -art talking funtasticness.  I am so happy to know such wonderful people!
- awesome homemade heart shaped cupcakes and card by Laila, and a little handmade bird by Jessica
- and zomg other really neat gifts too !  I wasn't expecting to get gifts from people!
- tasty dinner visit with Chris' parents downtown
- cuute birthday card from all my coworkers - they are so nice :)

 

And last but not least - Chris had planned a surprise for me on the morning of my birthday... and it was a trip to the Kangaroo Conservation Center!! There were lots of kangaroos, wallabies, and other Australian creatures hanging about, and the whole place was huuge and open gorgeous land.  It was so so neat - I wanted to stay there and just watch the roos all day long in the shade but it was slowly getting very hot (even though we went early in the morning!).  I was hoping that we would be able to pet them or get near them for photos, but for their safety we couldn't go past the fences.  This is as close as I got to hugging a kangaroo:

 

Despite not being able to bond with them and try to convince the kangaroos to come home and be my friend - it was still a very awesome birthday surprise.  I didn't take many pictures while we were there, but Chris did take some really good ones, and he put them on his website.

After checking out the kangaroos, we took a quick spin by Amicalola falls and then sped home for the rest of the activities planned.

Needless to say, I'm exhausted!!  I'm going to go crash so I can have a good start tomorrow for work.

Hope you are all doing well!  :)

thank you to everyone who wished me a happy birthday!!

random late monday night thoughts

I have an awful goofy secret - I was super unproductive this weekend in the most fabulous way!  Yes!  And I loved it.  The best highlights of this weekend - I cut all my hair off and its now really short on the sides and tall on the top like one of my favoritest comic characters, Hopey from Love and Rockets.  It wasn't what I was thinking of when I had it done, but after words I realized the similarity was there.  I also had a fantastic time visiting all Saturday evening with Jennifer.  A+ super happy awesomeness. I hope to tackle some of the blog ideas I wanted to discuss last week during this week - like the orphan works bill, and my current things I love Thursday list, and my promise ring I had custom ordered for my future plans.  (I will explain!!)  Oh and Chris has his new camera in so I need to do my tutorial on transfers.  Yes! But all in due time - I don't want to go too post crazy this week, because this week is alllll about taking it easy and having a good time because... I turn 25 this week :)  I don't have any definite plans - Chris is taking me somewhere top secret the first half of my birthday on Saturday, and then in the afternoon I'll go check out the Indie Craft fair like I have done on my birthday for the past two years (its amazinggggg) and then I'll probably have dinner with friends or family or both.  Who knows!  I still haven't made up my mind :) Tonight Chris and I walked down and checked out this weird random string of numbers in Krog tunnel that I'm really curious about.  I'm coming to the conclusion that it means nothing - but it still keeps sparking my interest because its the same code on both sides of the tunnel facing each other:

I am too curious for such random things to be placed on my way to work!!  is it a code or nothing nonsense?  Eeek - I will never know...

I feel so giddy happy young excited this week - I'm looking forward to turning 25 so much.  It sounds like such an exciting adventure!

fantastic art funnn

I hope you all have had an excellent holiday break this weekend!  I am feeling pretty content and all smiles due to the last few days - they were exciting, filled with friends and art. Friday, I had a few of my friends come over through out the day and we ate chips and dip, made crafts & craaazy cupcakes, and watched a movie later on in the evening over a dinner made by my boyfriend. 

It was quite fabulous - and I learned a new transfer technique that I have been going nuts over all weekend from my friend Laila.  As soon as my boyfriend gets in his new camera this week, I'll take some better pictures of the large wood block piece I'm working on with this transfer method and explain how to do it.  The above image is two small postcards I made with the transfer technique for my cousin and my friend.

On Sunday, my boyfriend and I installed the new shelves on in my studio area and then I went to an super fun cook out at Laila's. We ate lots of tasty food, celebrated her friends birthday, played croquet and set off fireworks.  She also showed us some of the lovely artwork that her and her sister had made over the years and it was very inspiring!

I'm going to end there for now and try to post again Thursday.  I have a long long week ahead of me and I want to get to bed early so I can have a good start tomorrow!  On a closing note of a lovely friend filled weekend, here is a nice quote from one of my favorite authors:

Each friend represents a world in us,
a world possibly not born until they arrive,
and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.”
Anais Nin