Reverie

When I grow up I wanna be a mermaid.

2011-08-12T22:07:00.000-04:00

I've been swimming so much this summer and loving it. My roomate Kim and my friend Cassie and I swam out to explore a little island about a mile and a half out in the lake yesterday. I of course mentioned how I think I should've been born a mermaid and Cassie told me about this! Real, swimmable mermaid tails sold on Etsy! I am not the only delusional girl in the world! For an added thrill watch the movie Ondine- an Irish film starring Colin Farrell who plays a fisherman that catches a Selkie woman in his net.

Everyone Needs a Bubble Gun.

2011-07-18T23:17:00.001-04:00

This is the best $5 I have spent in a loooong time. Picked up this bubble gun at the flea market last Sunday and it has been hours of fun! It's especially effective for dousing the room in bubbles while dancing and doing my makeup for a night out and pretending I'm in an 80's music video. Lucky loves it too and I think when this last batch of bubble stuff runs out I'm gonna fill it with catnip scented bubbles that I picked up at Petco. You can get the same one here. Happy Summer!

The Pierces- You'll Be Mine.

2011-07-08T18:35:00.001-04:00

I must've watched this twenty times already...Their new album is amazing!

10 Things That Made Me Smile This Week.

2011-07-08T17:41:00.003-04:00

Swimming at Dusk

.My room mate and I have been on an intense swimming kick. We go almost every day after work and swim at least a mile across the lake and back. It is the most relaxing thing I've done for myself in a long time. I'm always amazed at how therapeutic water is.

Hippie Sunglasses

I heart these sunglasses! I'm buying a pair right after I type this. Nicole Kidman is also rocking an amazing pair in Practical Magic and Meg Ryan sports some funky blue ones in the movie The Doors.

Camping

This is my kind of camping...wine drunk out of teacups, headdresses and tambourines! I have yet to go this year but can't wait. Nothing beats sitting around a fire with good music and good friends.

Fireworks

We had the perfect view of our town fireworks from the front yard this Fourth of July and I feel like a little kid every time I see them. My favorite are the ones that look like weeping willows and the shimmery sparkly ones that seem to twirl off in all directions. Not to mention sparklers!

George Harrison

My favorite Beatle and the reason I just bought an acoustic guitar! Here Comes the Sun is such a simple song but it makes me so freakin happy every time I hear it. My goal is to be able to play it by the end of the summer...wish me luck!

Fireflies

I love seeing the fireflies slowly come out across the lawn on warm summer nights. I never had the heart to keep them in a jar when I was younger but I still love trying to catch them.

Flea Markets

I could be content shopping exclusively at flea markets for the rest of my life. Can't wait for one in Connecticut this Sunday!

These Photos

I just love love love this fairy nymph look. This would be such a gorgeous boudoir photo shoot for before a wedding. If anyone knows what these are from let me know so I can give photo credit (for the rest of the photos too). I'm so bad at that!

St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur

The flowers for this liqueur are hand picked by Parisian bohemians in the french alps and then tucked into bushel bags and bicycled down the mountain side to be turned into this dainty spirit....Maybe I'm a complete sucker for marketing but how can you not fall in love with that story?! I add a splash of it to Hendricks Gin and Tonics.

Bohemian Garden Parties

This was actually a set up for a wedding on the blog Daily Dream Decor but wouldn't this be a fun idea to do for a Summer Solstice garden party. Next year I will have to start planning early!

Douglas Hoffman.

2011-06-24T21:39:00.001-04:00

These are paintings! This kind of talent makes my head hurt!

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros.

2010-12-30T23:42:00.004-05:00

Love, love, love this band! Andy and I accidentally bought each other this CD, Up From Below, for Christmas so it has literally been on repeat since then..and neither of us are sick of it. These guys look and sound like they stepped right out of the 60's. Such a great vibe and lots of funky beats. Just all around great laid back hippie music...makes me want to buy a VW bus immediately!

Fashion Shoots.

2010-10-04T00:14:00.000-04:00

Here are some more amazing photos that I came across while browsing tonight. I am so excited about these last couple posts I can't sleep...haha I want to create faery costumes all night now! The photographers are Sofia Sanchez and Mauro Mangiello. I came across this on Clever Nettle blog, an adorable vintage clothing blog. I found so many other inspiring images tonight but I'll save a few for another day ;) Good night!

Faery Wedding.

2010-10-03T23:28:00.006-04:00

Oh my goodess! Somebody please ask me to marry them right now so I can have this! This staged wedding is absolutely beautiful and the rest of this blog had me mesmerized for over an hour. Visit Kiss the Groom to see larger photos and for other amazing weddings. The photographer is Elizabeth Messina. Wedding design credit is given to Tricia Fountaine. So ethereal and stunning!

Gothic Rose.

2010-09-20T23:16:00.000-04:00

I took this pic of one of the last roses in the yard today and loved how it came out against the backdrop of decaying foliage.

Lazy Summer Days.

2010-08-19T13:45:00.022-04:00

I've been spending the last few days at my mom's house after her wedding (pictures to come) this past weekend to look after the puppy and just to enjoy some "me time". I found this old crazy quilt in the closet and it inspired a summer afternoon photo shoot (ok not exactly a photo shoot, more or less I ran around the yard with my boyfriend's little cool pix camera and snapped photos like a mad woman while the neighbors looked at me funny). I have to ask my mom the full story behind the quilt. I know it used to be on her bed when I was little and I remember taking naps in her bed and falling asleep looking at all the different vintage patterned fabrics. I think a few of the fabrics were from my mom's old dresses when she was a girl. I love vintage treasures and heirlooms so now I am in love with it again and have it on my guest bed. I hope everyone is enjoying these last days of summer!

Book club.

2010-08-19T12:10:00.002-04:00

I've joined a book club recently with my sister and some friends. So far the selections have been amazing. We started with a pretty heavy one, a non fiction book that is currently on the bestsellers list called Half the Sky by Nicholas Kristoff and Sheryl Wudunn. It's about the oppression of women and how to turn that into better opportunities for women and girls on a global level. It was absolutely amazing! Life changing! As some of you know I volunteer regularly at the Rape Crisis Center of Central Mass as a sexual assault counselor. I had stopped volunteering for awhile due to my crazy life situation, but after reading this book it made me realize how good I really have it. I just started volunteering again this week because of it and am trying to plan a volunteer abroad trip as we speak. The second book which was right along the same "life changing" lines was Eat Pray Love. I couldn't have read this at a more appropriate time in my life. The author, Elizabeth Gilbert, relays her real life, year long trip to Italy, India and Indonesia on a quest to find herself. And of course now I'm trying to figure out how to finance a soul searching trip of my own. I also finally got around to reading The Alchemist. All of these soul-searching books are causing a mini-crisis of self but maybe that's exactly what I need right now! It's honestly been years since I've read this much. I used to be such a book worm and over the past years, since I've been out of school, I really haven't let myself just unwind with a good book. Now I can't get enough. I am waiting for the bookstore to order our next book club selection and in the meantime I've even picked up a copy of The Picture of Dorian Gray from my mother's bookshelf just to pass the time. I'm reading about a book a week and loving it! I feel like my brain is working again! This weekend our book club plans on going to see the film version of Eat Pray Love and then discussing. Our next book is Honeymoon in Tehran in case anyone would like to read along with us. (Thanks for the amazing book choices Katie!) Check out the trailer for Eat Pray Love and then go see it!

Inspiration Art 1.

2010-08-03T22:11:00.000-04:00

My friend Gina and I decided to take another stab at our "Inspiration Art" series. Every other week we will take turns emailing a photo, drawing or other piece of ephemera to one another. We each have 2 weeks to complete an art project based on this "inspiration". It could be a painting, mixed media or other and we can incorporate the actual image or just use it as a reference. We will each post our finished projects on our blogs. I just finished mine so have a look! I will link to Gina's blog as soon as she posts hers. Here is the image that I chose for week 1.

And here is what I came up with. I made a collage of vintage sewing patterns, buttons, lace and other vintage sewing items, and coffee as a "stain". I am going to mat and frame it but who knows how long it will take me to get to that so I figured I'd post it as is.

Forest Rogers.

2010-08-03T00:10:00.000-04:00

I am amazed by this artist, Forest Rogers, whom I stumbled across on this fantasy art website (no nerd jokes here...I am well aware). These were a few of my favorite pieces. Her work is reminiscent of Brian and Wendy Froud who are most known for their collaborative work on Jim Henson projects. I can't believe that a lot of this is done in Fimo and Polymer clays! I swore they were real people at first glance. Now I'm going to embarrass myself trying to sculpt!

Swift Fox.

2010-07-26T17:08:00.001-04:00

I have been seeing a little Red Fox on my boyfriend's road quite frequently and it's got me on a fox kick. I've been meaning to use him as inspiration for an art project for some time. I commissioned a painting from my friend Gina a few days ago - check out her wonderful work here. But I got impatient and did one myself. So here it is. Materials used: Vintage wallpaper, acrylic paint, ferns, and stain.

Gypsy Life.

2010-07-15T20:30:00.001-04:00

I've been "homeless" for a few weeks now as we are trying to save up some more money for an apartment. Not the worst situation to be honest. It has made me reconsider what's actually important in life and it's refreshing not to have so much "stuff" around me all the time. Don't get me wrong....I can't wait to start decorating a new apartment and stocking up on spices in fancy jars and exorbitantly priced bath soaps but for the time being I'm enjoying the gypsy life. I can't have everything with me so I've been forced to choose just a few vital things to lug around with me in the interim. I guess that says a lot about a person. If you had to fit your most important things in a backpack what would they be? Mine looks like this:
1. Kitty
2.Books (Currently reading The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway Half the Sky by Nick Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn)
3 Essential oils
4. Sundresses and bathing suit
5. Journal
6. Deck of yoga cards

I also somehow managed to fit the almost the entire contents of my craft room into the back of my car. Hey.... a girl's gotta create!
So, although it hasn't been too bad not having a permanent address, I am thinking that one of these lovely wagons would make my plight that much more tolerable. I am planning on owning one of these at some point in my life. Can't you just picture this as a backyard retreat?

Wolf Moon.

2010-01-29T22:25:00.001-05:00

Tonight is the first full moon of the new year. It is the Wolf Moon, the biggest and brightest full moon of 2010.

The moon has always held special meaning for me. I guess you could say it's become a personal symbol over the years. My mother always had pet names for my sister and I growing up. April was Sunshine because she was always happy and singing and up at the break of dawn ready to start the day. And I was the darker (ok moodier) child who stayed up playing all night and slept all day... so I was Moonbeam. One of my favorite stories growing up was a book that my Aunt Lee gave me called Little Daylight about a little princess who slept all day and played all night and whose beauty waxed and waned with the moon. I have never outgrown my love of nighttime escapades. I feel like I am on a completely different time schedule from the rest of the world. When everyone else is ready to relax and sleep I'm ready to go out dancing.

As I've gotten older the moon has come to represent a lot more for me. The ever changing moon phases and their power over the tides and earth fascinate me. One of my biggest challenges in life, and something that I work towards every day, has been to accept change and trust in the cycle of life...to know that there is light and dark in everything and that even when the world is at it's darkest point...a sliver of moon will appear the next night and the cycle will continue.

Native Americans called January's full moon The Wolf Moon because of the long, cold winter nights that left hungry wolves howling at the moon. In Native American folklore the wolf symbolized death and reincarnation. The wolf, though portrayed as an aggressive hunter in modern culture, is actually a very shy animal. It is said that if a person has Wolf represented in their totem, they have a natural psychic ability and should listen to their inner wisdom and will feel most at peace when at one with nature and when they learn to trust their intuition.

So it seems to me that while I admire the beautiful silver Wolf Moon tonight and while my New Years Resolutions are still fresh, it would be a perfect time to start over...to reincarnate (so to speak) into a new person....to let go of old habits and begin healthier ones, commit to accepting challenges and changes with grace and to make a pact with myself to always listen to that inner voice that I know is in there. Enjoy the full moon!

Tim Burton's Alice In Wonderland.

2010-01-10T20:47:00.002-05:00

I haven't anticipated a movie this much in a long time! Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland is due in theaters March 5th 2010. Check out these photos of the main characters...so creative!

New Art!

2010-01-05T20:00:00.001-05:00

I finally painted something! My boyfriend Andrew has been asking me since we started dating to paint him something. I finally got around to it. This piece is based on Odilon Redon's painting from my previous post. I used acrylic, pen and gesso on a 12"x16" canvas board. Though the man in the painting was not intended to be Andy, it came out eerily similar to him. I wanted the floral motif on mine to be more comic book-esque so I added pen details instead of leaving raw edges.

New Beginnings.

2010-01-05T19:23:00.002-05:00

Happy New Year! One of my resolutions is to get back to blogging. There are already a lot of changes for the upcoming year in the works. The major change being that I am moving. I've been here in my little cottage about 2 years which doesn't seem like long, but when you've moved as much as I have it seems like an eternity! It's been very bittersweet packing and getting ready for the move home in February. I really left my mark on this place and was finally able to sink my roots in here but the move will allow me to save some cash and possible even head back to school....which has been a long term goal. So as I'm packing I took a few pictures and used some old photos and compiled a little mosaic to remember my first real 'home' by. Here is to new beginnings and fresh starts!

Music of the Soul- Au Revoir SImone

2009-08-29T12:46:00.003-04:00

I am posting about Au Revoir Simone today. Their album The Bird of Music has been on repeat in my car and in my head for a few weeks now. There is one song in particular that I am just in love with. Here are the lyrics to Stars:

And since we met I simply cannot forget You are on my mind Yeah since the day we met I think I haven't slept More than an hour at a time You make wanna measure stars in the backyard with a calculator and a ruler baby I found a letter that describes how the moonlight will lead me to the distant place that you will be I don't know how but there's a power For now, it conveys a subtle mystery And from my house As I look out The stars align You make wanna measure stars in the backyard with a calculator and a ruler baby I found a letter that describes how the moonlight will lead me to the distant place that you will be The open sky Is mine tonight It gives a sign Of what I'll find The open sky Is mine tonight It gives a sign Of what I'll find You make wanna measure stars in the backyard with a calculator and a ruler baby I found a letter that describes how the moonlight will lead me to the distant place that you will be You make wanna measure stars in the backyard with a calculator and a ruler baby I found a letter that describes how the moonlight will lead me to the distant place that you will be

These girls are so talented. The lyrics on the CD remind me of someone who I would probably be best forgetting but it's so hard when you have such good music to remember and cry to. So that is what this CD is great for. Going through a breakup. It's not necessarily a heartbreaking CD or a breakup CD but when you are personally going through this, of course it seems as if the whole world is writing songs specifically for you. The Bird of Music has beautiful emotion laden lyrics and is just filled with sad love songs that leave you with a slight feeling of melancholy hope at the end of each one. I listened to it while painting constellations on my bedroom ceiling with glow in the dark paint...and yes crying.

I <3 Boxborough.

2009-08-27T17:46:00.003-04:00

I am so lucky to live where I do. Not only is my apartment super unique and wonderful but I am surrounded by conservation land and horse farms. I took a walk a few days ago and thought I would share the view from down the street. Enjoy!

Bottle Necks.

2009-08-27T01:39:00.006-04:00

Hey. Sorry I've been missing. A lot of changes have been taking place in my life right now. Some I have chosen to make....some have been unexpected ....I'm hoping that they are all for the best.

Before I get into all of that, I would like to announce that I am officially registered as a vendor at stART on the Street. This is a great arts and crafts festival in Worcester. This year it will be held on Sunday September 2oth from 11am-5pm. I'm super excited as this will be my first time vending on my own. To tell you the truth I don't have an awful lot of inventory so I am trying to motivate myself to get going on a few key pieces. I'll mainly be selling whimsical home decor and furnishings and a few pieces of wearable art. SO......I hope to see you all there!

For those who aren't able to make it to the festival, I am also creating an Etsy site (to be launched shortly) where you will be able to view and buy some of the items I am creating.
So....there you have it...the next step in my life...laid right out in blog form!

The first items up for sale are Bottle Necks-remember these? I had a few left overs from last year and I improved upon the design a bit. Each unique necklace is made from a vintage soda bottle cap. The cap frames a picture printed on high quality gloss paper and sealed with clear resin and hangs on a gold and black cord. I am selling them for $15 each plus shipping and handling. If you are interested in ordering a Bottle Neck before they are swiped up from the Etsy shop please contact me via email at ajoykennedy@gmail.com and specify: Moon, heart, skull, black cat, palmistry hand or rose. Limited quantities of each are available.

Thanks for being such a patient group of readers and I promise promise to post on a more regular basis!

The Uniform Project.

2009-07-14T03:32:00.002-04:00

This is the most amazing idea! Akanksha is an extremely talented and creative girl with a great vision. She started The Uniform Project to fund education for slum children in India. She is blogging about her outfits each day for one year to raise awareness and money for these children. The catch? She is wearing the SAME DRESS for one full year! You have to check this out!

Day at Wingaersheek Beach.

2009-07-09T22:26:00.004-04:00

Ben and I both had a rare day off together today. Even though it was chilly this morning we decided to take a trip to the beach. Our first adventure of the day was rescuing this pretty painted turtle from getting crushed by passing cars. This is the third turtle that we have rescued so far this summer. Mr. Turtle didn't appreciate the rescue mission. He hissed at Ben an then peed on him. Then we headed off to Wingaersheek Beach in Gloucester MA. It was a great, quiet beach in a little cove with plenty of rocks and tide pools to explore. It warmed up and ended up being a beautiful day. We had lunch at the beach and napped and read and then stopped at a few antique stores on the way home. All in all it was a nice, relaxing day. Here are a few pics.

Beauty product 'Must Have List'.

2009-07-06T22:33:00.006-04:00

My Makeup Bag by Ajoi on Polyvore.com

Beauty products by Ajoi on Polyvore.com

Though it is no longer my profession, I am a licensed esthetician and makeup artist. I still thoroughly enjoy playing with makeup and will take the occasional wedding makeup or photo shoot makeup gig. I am a self-confessed 'product junkie' and am extremely particular when it comes to my favorite products. I try to use the most eco-friendly and natural products while still focusing on great results.

As soon as people find out that I am an esthetician they inevitably ask me to recommend products to them. It has occured to me that there are so many women out there in need of some real advice on beauty products. Because of this, as well as my LOVE of reading about celebrities 'Must Have' beauty essentials, I decided to compile and share with you my own list. I am a dedicated student of the 'less is more' and 'beauty is only skin deep' schools. However, these are my favorite products in case I flunk out.

Skin Care~
Cleanser: Aveda All-Sensitive Cleanser- $21
I pre-wash my face with this creamy cleanser (that's right, my skin care routine is like a car wash). It has no irritating fragrance and doesn't leave a residue or dry skin.

Acne: Glymed Serious Action Pac- price varies
A kit for acne prone skin that comes in different stages for different levels of acne. More intensive but I find most people have better results with this kit than with Proactiv. Includes cleanser, toner, and medicating lotion.

Exfoliant: Cosmedix Pure Enzymes-$50
This brand is amazing but very pricey. I love this exfoliating gel mask. You can feel it dissolving dead skin cells and it leaves your skin so smooth and fresh feeling.

Blemish Control: Desert Essence Tea Tree Oil- $8.99
Just a drop on a damp Q-tip helps to dry up blemishes naturally.

Eye Makeup Remover: Aveda Pure Comfort Eye M/U Remover- $16
Very gentle. Works great. That's all you need to know!

Moisturizer: Bio-elements Beyond Hydration-$33
I have very oily skin so this light-weight, lavender scented, gel moisturizer is great to smooth on under makeup. It doesn't make my skin look like an oil slick.

Moisturizer with sunscreen: Glymed Photo-Age Environmental Protection Gel- $35
Not really a gel at all. Creamier lotion with an SPF of 15. Great for if you need a little extra moisture. And it smells like the beach!

Eye Cream: Cosmedix Eye Believe- $90
Anti-Aging eye serum. The tiniest dab firms skin around eyes...thank goodness because at $90 it needs to last a year!

Makeup~
Concealer: Jane Iredale Disappear Concealer in Medium Light- $24
Thick, creamy concealer and a little goes a long way. I tend to thin it out with a bit of moisturizer and blend over problem areas. A tube lasts forever!

Foundation: Bare Minerals Foundation in Medium Beige- $25
I will never go back to liquid foundation. I recommend trying to Get Started Kit ($60) to find your shade and to test out the products. Works well with other brands.

Blush: Nars blush in Orgasm- $25
I know, I know- everyone loves this blush. The most amazing peachy gold color, it works on so many skin types from fair to African-American.

Lip Balm: Jane Iredale Lip Drink- $12
Addicting. Silky smooth and very moistuizing. Plus it doesn't leave that gross film on your lips that so many balms an chapsticks do. Light citrusy flavor.

Lip color: Stila Lip Rouge in Baci- $20
I can't seem to find this at Sephora anymore and it was my favorite. I'm not super into lipsticks as they wear off so quickly and even use lip stains on brides. This one was like a felt tip pen in a great natural flushed peach color. Let me know if you can find it!

Lip Gloss: Jane Iredale Pure Gloss in Apricot Fizz and Cotton Candy- $15
Just the right amount of shine. Not sticky. Great sheer colors with a hint of shimmer.

Eye Liner: Ecco Bella Soft Eye Liner Pencil in Seal and Velvet- $15.95
I really like how soft and blendable this pencil is. Made with natural flower waxes.

Mascara: Maybelline Define-a-Lash Mascara- $8
Maybelline knows lashes man! This really does define and doesn't clump at all. Also comes in water-proof.

Bronzer: Bronzy Babe Fake Bake- $18
I'm not an advocate of bronzer, I'd rather use a swipe of a shade darker foundation followed by a shimmer powder. However, this one is actually natural looking and not orangey.

Shimmer Powder: Bare Escentuals Clear Radiance- $18
Natural, dewey shimmer that doesn't overpower.

Nail Polish: Essie Nail Laquer in Mademoiselle and Canteloupe- $8 each
Essie has great, formaldehyde-free colors that stay on really well. These are my two favorite shades. A delicate, french pink and a fun, coral that's great for summer. They also have a nail strengthener that works wonders.

Eyeshadow and other: M.A.C.- prices vary
I use M.A.C. pigments for eyeshadows, colored mascaras and liners, lipsticks and anything else. Their colors are superior to anything I've tried and though I love the colors that mineral makeup brands have out there, they don't tend to stay put as well.

Tweezers: Tweezerman Slant Tweezer-$20

Makeup Brushes: The Body Shop Makeup Brushes- prices vary
These brushes are all vegan and still work wonderfully. I always use brushes to apply makeup and sometimes even skincare products.

Hair Care~
Shampoo and Conditioner: Pureology Hydrate duo- about $55
I can't afford this stuff but ohhh how I love it. Has a minty tingle on the scalp and makes my hair feel like silk. The greatest thing is that it is completely vegan. Little do you know but I really only chopped my hair off because I couldn't afford Pureology anymore ;)

Runner Up: Giovanni Tea Tree Triple Treat Shampoo and Conditioner- $7.95 each

Styling Product: Giovanni Wicked Wax- $9.99
I don't like a lot in my hair but this pomade has just the right amount of soft hold when I want to have fun with my hair. This and a spritz of their hairspray and I'm good to go.

Body~
Body Lotion: Giovanni Body Lotion in Grapefruit Sky- $9.95
I don't use body lotion too often because I hate feeling greasy. This one is great though. I bought it because the smell is amazing but it's actually absorbs very well and is non-greasy and all natural.

Exfoliant: Sea Salt- price varies
Yup. Plain old sea salt. Just scoop a handful and rub over damp skin. Works great, it's cheap and it doesn't have any unnecessary ingredients. Add a drop of essential oil if you'd like.

Body Wash: EO Shower Gel in Rose Chamomile- $6.99
Great soothing smell. Rinses clean. Wonderful ingredients.

Fragrance: Aura Cacia Essential Oils- price varies
These are all natural and pure. Great fragrances. I put a drop or two in the shower for a spa experience and use them in homemade face masks and moisturizers.

Dior Miss Cherie Perfume-$56-$92
My current summer time favorite. Light and feminine.

Aveda Balancing Body Mist (Chakra 5)- $30
This herbal infused body mist comes in 7 fragrances to represent the 7 chakras. I like Chakra 5 which represents self-expression and creativity. Use after a warm shower, before and after yoga or spritz on a warmed towel and drape around your neck before meditating.

So there you go. Those are my absolute favorites. I'd love to know if you have tried any of these products and what you think. I'd also love to hear reviews of your top beauty product picks!

Hobbit House.

2009-06-30T01:33:00.007-04:00

Check out this adorable little hobbit house! I want to live here! Simon Dale and his family built this eco-friendly home in the Wales countryside with natural, recycled and repurposed materials. This family is just adorable...I want to squeeze them! Learn how to build your own and check out their inspirational story here.

Bilbo Baggins' House in Bag End from the film trilogy Lord of the Rings.

Music of the Soul-Michael Jackson

2009-06-28T01:54:00.011-04:00

Music of the Soul is back and of course I am starting with Michael Jackson.

There is too much to even say. I have always been a fan. My earliest memories of his music were learning his moves and listening to tapes with my cousins Rozlin and Johanna. They were older and my sister and I were their human barbie dolls. The two of them would dress us up, style our hair and do our makeup. Then they would teach us the lyrics and dance moves to "Beat It" and we would be sent upstairs to perform our "show" for the adults. I remember exactly where I was when I first heard of and saw a photo of Michael Jackson....in my Aunt Laurie's bedroom using her curling iron. Roz and Johanna were having a debate over who liked him more. I must have been 7 and my cousins were my idols. For them to be obsessed with a boy meant he must be the coolest person ever. I was hooked.

Now I will never forget the day that I heard he had passed away. I guess he was so much a part of American culture as I have come to know it that I never thought of him not being in the world anymore. I don't remember a party that I've been to that one of his songs hasn't been played and I don't think I will ever stop trying to do the moonwalk.

No matter what opinion you have of his eccentricities and the controversy surrounding him, there is no denying he is a legend. He contributed to over 39 different charities throughout his career by raising and donating millions of dollars and using his larger than life persona to draw attention to some of the most important issues of the 80's and 90's. His dancing completely mesmerizes me and even though every radio and television station has been playing his videos and songs non stop for almost 3 days, I still can't get enough.

What I love about the music is that each of my favorite songs triggers very distinct memories for me. I absolutely love the earlier material from the Jackson 5 days. "I Want You Back" will always remind me of my very first summer job: blueberry picking with my sister and my friend Caitlin. We learned every word and tried to choreograph our own dance to it that summer. I cry every time I hear "Man in the Mirror". And "Thriller" and "Beat It" are on every playlist for every party I have ever thrown. I was in total awe by the video for "Bad". I don't know that I can actually pick a favorite but "Heal the World", "Ben" and "Bad" and "Dirty Diana" would be in my top 10. And though I love Thriller, the album that launched him into super stardom, I think my personal favorite album is Bad. His performances have, and always will be, incomparable and the passion he brought to not just music but to everything he did is overwhelming. I have never been too much into live music (mainly because the crowds get to me) but he will be the one entertainer I will regret never seeing live.

His life was an absolute mystery, full of passion and secrecy. Media scrutiny, adoration, obsession, accusations and criticism. Creepiness and hopefulness. Curiosity and love. By the end it seemed as if he was creating a fairy tale world for himself to escape into with a dark, tragic ending. I can't wait for Tim Burton to make a film about his life. I know that biopics are not Burton's forte but what a great project that would be!

What an amazing entertainer, what an amazing talent, what an amazing life, what an amazing legacy. The King of Pop will be missed!

My sister and I performing at my Aunt's house 1994

Turn on Billie.

2009-06-23T21:48:00.006-04:00

Here is the new video from the talented Pierces. As you know from my previous post, I'm in love with them and I love this video. This is my absolute favorite song of theirs. It reminds me of an old Betty Grable film. Enjoy and share your love for them in the comments section, I want these girls to be around for awhile!

The Pierces - New Music - More Music Videos

Dream Bedroom.

2009-06-19T15:47:00.003-04:00

My good friend Jen of Jenloveskev was recently featured on one of my favorite blogs Design*Sponge. She did an amazing bedroom makeover starting with a few sketches and pics of some of her favorite items. She got such wonderful feedback and inspired so many readers to undertake projects of their own (including me). Thanks Jen! So over the next couple of months here is my plan for our bedroom. Let me know what you think!

Bedroom by Ajoi on Polyvore.com

Tattoo.

2009-06-17T19:21:00.009-04:00

Well hello there. Good to see you again. Sorry it's been so long. I have no excuses really...I guess I got a little discouraged with this blog. I feel like there are only a handful of people who actually follow this blog and I know I was started out doing this for myself like a journal...but it certainly encourages me to keep up with it more when I know that others enjoy it too. Well anyway...I realized the other day that the me and that handful of people are important enough to continue with it :)

Anyway, now that apologies are out of the way....Tattoos have been on my mind recently. I want more and I've finally made up my mind what I want (I'm not telling-it's a secret until I get it done).

I know that tattoos, piercings and body modification have a negative connotation to some people. Mainly that they "look trashy" or the cliched "You might like it now but you'll regret it when you're older". Yes, I can understand that if you get the tazmanian devil tattooed on your neck because your friends dared you to when you were drunk. However, I firmly believe that if you are getting a meaningful, self-representing tattoo, there is no reason that you'll regret it.

The history of tattoos and body modification goes so far back and is steeped in such meaning and sacred origin that I think that if you go about it the right way, the process of getting a tattoo can be a very deep or even spiritual experience. People always ask if my tattoo hurt. Of course it hurt but it was the type of pain that is self inflicted and because it is a repetitive pain it becomes almost like meditation. I actually really enjoyed it. I can see how people become addicted to them.

So, I will be saving for my next one and researching tattoo artists. If you have any suggestions let me know! I leave you with some of my favorite tattoo pics.

Odilon Redon.

2009-05-10T22:32:00.004-04:00

I saw a painting at the Worcester Art Museum when I was really little. I couldn't have been more than 6 or 7 but I completely fell in love with it. When I wake up after a dream I always remember them as looking like that painting. I never knew the name of the painting or who the artist was but I have always remembered it. I decided yesterday I would try to figure it out. Let me tell you it is really difficult to find a painting based on my 6 year old description and nothing more....blue and green and blurry and mushy, and a face that could be Jesus or maybe a fairy...and some bright flower blobs....
Anyway after a lot of searching and using some of my adult knowledge of Art movements. I finally found the artist.....French Symbolist painter, Odilon Redon. I still cannot find a photo of the painting at the WAM but as soon as I saw the name and his style it all clicked. Though I realize now that I have seen Redon's work before, I guess I never put two and two together. Now I am completely obsessed. He may even surpass Gustave Klimt as my new favorite artist. I am even planning on using a painting as inspiration for my decorating scheme.

Antique Chair.

2009-05-10T22:17:00.006-04:00

We have a big front entry way with a giant display cabinet/bookshelf but really nothing else. I have been keeping my eye open for a unique chair to display in the corner for sitting to put on shoes or to open mail. I FINALLY found one after searching for months on craigslist and not finding anything for under $300 or so. My sister and I stopped at an antique store in Grafton (I forgot the name of the place but I will update when I find out) where I picked up this great piece for next to nothing. It looks like a Victorian era Eastlake style chair, though I'm not too good at that kind of thing so I'm not sure. I know it has been reupholstered in this great fabric with crewel embroidery. That's why I fell in love with it. It looks like something that they would have at Anthropologie. The arms just need a little tightening but that's about it. Let me know if you know anything about this style of chair. I'd love to know. Lucky seems to be enjoying it anyway!

Lilacs.

2009-05-10T22:11:00.003-04:00

I'm so sorry that I have been M.I.A. for awhile. I had a medical issue a few weeks ago and spent a few days in the hospital and it's taken me awhile to bounce back. I am fine now but needless to say I wasn't my usual self for a bit. I am finally feeling re-cooperated...just in time to see the whole world burst into bloom! I am so excited for the warm weather and all the flowers. There was a little baby bunny in my driveway the other morning and a newborn pony at the farm up the street. It's so refreshing and a I have a great sense of relief that the long winter is over and it's a time to start over. I think I'm most excited for the lilacs!

Happy Mother's Day.

2009-05-10T22:03:00.004-04:00

I wasn't able to spend the day with my mom today because I was working but I did get to talk to her. We are planning to get together during the week to celebrate. We have had our trials and tribulations and ups and downs. We have given each other the silent treatment and at other times shared too much. We have laughed and cried and loved and hated. But through it all, I am so grateful that she is my mother. She has been through so much in her life and has overcome and become such an inspiration to me. She is the most creative, talented and genuinely beautiful and honest person I know. I can only hope to become half the woman she is. She is my best friend. I can't imagine it any other way. I love you so much mom!

Ma Maison-Studio.

2009-04-22T17:46:00.007-04:00

I had an unexpected day off today so I did some spring cleaning in the studio. Here are a few pictures. This is my creative space where I paint, collage, and attempt to sew. It's always a mess and every inch of it is covered with glitter but that seems to be the best for inspiring art.

My work space:

A work in progress:
A mixed media piece I did of myself for inspiration:

Baubles:

Did you doubt that there would be Parisian influence?:

My paint box:

A cozy reading nook:

Well equipped with decorating magazines and tea:

Paintbrushes:

Odds and ends:

Fabric scraps:

Storage:

And more storage:

As messy as it is, I do really love creating here:

And finally, every studio needs a unicorn:

Music of the Soul-The Pierces.

2009-04-22T13:11:00.007-04:00

They are sisters. They are super stylish. A little dark. A little bubble-gum pop. They are quirky and sexy all at the same time. Super talented.....no, no, no I'm not talking about April and I, silly. I'm talking about The Pierces, Catherine and Alison. (They do really remind me of us though.)

What I love about them is that they easily could have gone mainstream with their looks and their talent but they decided to do their own thing. On more than one occasion I've heard people say they are a little scary or weird...which I love, because I don't know how many times April and I have been described that way too.

In any case, I love their voices. They harmonize beautifully and have a very upbeat yet mystical sound. They incorporate a mixture of different instruments on the tracks which give their music an ethnic/gypsy vibe. Their third album Thirteen Tales of Love and Revenge is by far their best (as far as I know on this one they did all of the creative work themselves). Who wouldn't love a sister duo that sings "Don't be silly, turn on Billie, she's singin' us to sleep so we can dream our lives away. And if we wake up in full makeup, we'll paint the town pink cuz baby red is so passe"? Amazing. I'm not entirely sure why they haven't had more of a following...maybe because they are unusual but not so over the top eccentric that they fall into the Devendra Banhart category. And they are cute and poppy but not so much that they fall into the Britney Spears category. They are lost somewhere in the middle....but really aren't we all?

Earth Day.

2009-04-22T01:56:00.001-04:00

I am up waaaay too late! But I had to post a pic of my seedlings in time for Earth Day. Here they are! I planted a few flower, herb and veggie seeds in plastic egg cartons. They have been growing very well in their little makeshift green-houses. Hope you have a great Earth Day! Reduce. Reuse. Recycle!

Couch Surfing.

2009-04-22T01:28:00.002-04:00

Our friends Matt and Paulette clued us into a site called Couch Surfing. It's basically a social network with a twist. It's for people who want to travel on a budget and experience culture on a deeper level. You can post a profile and either offer your couch for someone to crash on or you can search for someone who has a couch you can crash on. It sounds like such a great idea so I signed us up and offered our couch/guest room. We were a little hesitant about safety at first but Matt and Paulette had a great first experience with their first surfer. They had a girl, Frederieke, from Germany stay with them for awhile last month. We met her one night when we all went to see a movie and she was a very nice. We figured we'd invite someone into our home first before traveling elsewhere so we can get used to the idea. Well, there's the update (plus it was a totally good excuse to post this awesome couch from Anthropologie). I'm so excited! I hope someone wants to come visit us way out here in the sticks!

I carry your heart with me.

2009-04-20T14:47:00.004-04:00

Many of my friends and family are curious about my tattoo. Though I'm sure there will be more to come, my one and only tattoo is a line from an ee cummings poem. The poem is called "i carry your heart with me".

My sister, April, is my best friend (as many of you know) and we are probably closer than a lot of siblings are so we wanted to get tattoos that represented our unique bond without having something too cheesy. We chose this poem because it is a beautiful love poem that best describes our relationship and incorporates nicknames that my mother has called us since we were little. I have always been "Moonbeam" since I was the moody night child. And April is "Sunshine" because she was the energetic day child. So April's tattoo says "You are whatever a moon has always meant". And mine says "and whatever a sun will always sing is you". Here is the full poem. It still makes me cry every time I read it.

i carry your heart with me

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in
my heart)i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go,my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,my darling)
i fear
no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want
no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

-ee cummings

I <3 Nebulae.

2009-04-20T13:35:00.005-04:00

Ben is very into Astronomy....NOT Astrology, as I so eloquently call it. He is always showing me the latest pictures of gamma ray bursts or explaining that a comet's "tail" does not actually "follow" the comet as it appears to or discussing star nurseries, the Big Bang Theory (which is also our new favorite sitcom) or dwarf galaxies and how black holes are born (yes Ben I actually did retain all of this information). I really am fascinated with it all and even more fascinated at all he knows but in all honesty much of the science of it goes right over my head and sounds more like a twisted, cosmic, fairy tale than reality.

I do however always love the pictures. They are just absolutely stunning and so surreal. These photos look more like oil paintings to me than real life. They give me the sense of being very connected to this giant, infinite universe and being amazed that I belong to this, while at the same time making me feel so small and alone and insignificant. At times I feel as if I am swallowing the universe and other times that the universe is swallowing me.

Anyway, let's talk about Nebulae, which according to Wikipedia are "interstellar formations of dust, hydrogen gas and plasma." The way I understand it, nebulae are the beginning stages of stars and planets (Ben correct me if I am wrong). The dust, gasses and other matter start to bond creating larger and larger formations and eventually get large enough to create stars. The stars then have enough gravitational pull to attract more matter to them, creating plasma which forms the basis for other planetary objects. So there are many different types of nebulae which all have different characteristics. So here are a few of my favorites.

The Fox Fur Nebula:

Inside the Eagle Nebula:

The "Fairy" in the Eagle Nebula:

The Rosette Nebula:

The Keyhole Nebula:

And I don't care what anyone says, this is totally a unicorn:

Royal Couture.

2009-04-17T22:51:00.006-04:00

I am in love! This is from a photo shoot with Emily Blunt in the new issue of Vanity Fair. I didn't actually read the article because I was so mesmerized by the photos by Michael Roberts and the dresses but I believe it is for a new period film that she is in called The Young Victoria (I'm assuming it will be similar to 2006's Marie Antoinette-at least the shoot resembles the one that VF did with Kirsten Dunst at Versailles for that film-even the color palette is uncanny). The second dress is actually a Dior gown that I blogged about in February and this shoot completely embodies everything that I pictured when I saw that dress. Of course, I must point out that it's really not accurate because it is clearly more French inspired than British as it should be to correctly represent the film. Not that I'm one to complain about gratuitous French Couture ;) Link to Vanity Fair to check out more amazing photos.

Ma Maison.

2009-04-17T21:31:00.010-04:00

I have been trying to enjoy my home a bit more. I tend to get so tied up in decorating and "fixing" and cleaning that it's easy for me to forget to take a breather and actually enjoy the comfortable sanctuary that we've started to create. While it is not my very own...it is filled with a lot of love and crammed with all of my favorite things. I thought it would be nice to start to share pictures of "ma maison". I don't have too many right now. This one is just a simple shot of the dusty perfume bottles on my bureau. I will try to post a few updated ones soon.

The Art of Bellydance.

2009-04-16T23:45:00.003-04:00

I can't sleep because I'm not feeling well....so I decided to play on my blog. I've been thinking a lot recently about beginning belly dancing classes again. I took classes in Worcester MA for a year or so and it is such a work out but you don't even realize it because it's just so much fun. My teacher, Shazar, was an older woman who was so uniquely beautiful. She was Egyptian and was just so graceful and feminine when she danced. Her husband Louie played drums while we danced. It was such a great experience.
Check out Shazar's page: http://www.shazardance.com/index.html

Though I really liked Shazar and her style, I'm hoping to find a class or teacher closer to my home and starting up again. I highly recommend this form of dance to any woman who wants to get in touch with their "inner goddess".

Anthropologie is in my blood.

2009-04-16T21:40:00.003-04:00

I was looking for images from Anthropologie catalogs to get some home design inspiration and I came across this amazing photo:What's funny is that I have a photo of myself that I made my sister take of me last year while antiquing in Maine (I say made because I specifically remember her making fun of me for wanting a pics of myself but this shop was just so cool that I needed proof that I was there). The photo she snapped and the one I took of the shop's ceiling is eerily similar ...of course it isn't such a stunning photo and I'm not wearing any wonderful Anthropologie fashions but you get the idea. Strange?

Music of the soul- Francoise Hardy

2009-04-13T22:10:00.005-04:00

One of my all time favorites. Francoise Hardy. She is a French lounge-type singer who was popular in the 60's. She is a style icon and chanteuse extraodinaire...did I mention she's French? Her music is fairly simplistic (though I think anything in French is fabulous) and it's very catchy. I highly recommend purchasing The Vogue Years which is a great CD collection of her work including "Tous Les Garçons et Les Filles" which is probably her most popular song. So awesome to listen to while washing your lingerie by hand in lavender water or drinking champagne and playing dress up before you go out with the girls...or something equally pretentious.

Springtime.

2009-04-12T21:57:00.010-04:00

It finally feels like spring! We did some yard work at Ben's mother's house yesterday morning before a great, hot, turkey dinner. Then we headed to my mom's for a second dinner of ham and turkey sandwiches, pasta and potato salad and some great desserts. My mom, as always outdid herself with all the pretty decorations. We played games for the rest of the evening and then headed home for movies and relaxing before the week ahead. I hope everyone had a wonderful day welcoming spring and spending time with family and friends!

Music of the soul- Devendra Banhart

2009-04-04T22:26:00.006-04:00

I couldn't wait a full week to post about more music. There are so many artists that I love, I really think I could post one a day and have enough to talk about for years. So, next is Devendra Banhart. He is an eccentric folk singer who spent most of his childhood in Venezuela. I first heard his music on his album Cripple Crow. But he has some older recordings and a newer CD out called Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Mountain. I am really loving this rootsy/folksy style that artists are experimenting with recently. There is a definite Native American, hippie, naturalist vibe to a lot of the music I am into recently. I don't know if that's a good way to describe it. Well let's see...maybe this is better....it's the kind of music I would listen to if I were going on a spiritual vision quest to Sedona, traveling on the back of an albino elk with my barefooted, long haired children in tow and we stop at every forest we see to build fairy houses and take naps and play in the grass, and maybe encounter a gang of gypsies who we barter flower garlands and stolen gold jewelry with and when we finally make it to Sedona I realize that the whole trip has been a red-wine and opium induced dream. Yeah...it's that kind of music.

Lila Star.

2009-04-02T22:23:00.005-04:00

My cousin Luke's wife, Lila Star, passed away after a very long struggle with cystic fibrosis. Today was the funeral. It was beautiful and of course very sad. They had only been married a few years and she was very young. She was a free spirit and her and Luke had the sweetest relationship. The family is happy that she is not struggling any more but our hearts go out to Luke. I just can't imagine going through what he is. Luke is a carpenter and spent the day after she passed building her casket from pine that he cut himself from the land that he owns up in Maine. How romantic and sad. Ben and I promised to learn from their story. Their love was so short lived but it was so pure. We have our whole lives ahead of us and are both in good health and there is nothing stopping us. I, like anyone I suppose, spend far too much time worrying and stressed about all of life's little trials. Lila was sick for her whole life and struggled to do many of the things that I am perfectly capable of, yet she was still such a genuine and beautiful person. I really have no excuses and it makes me a little embarrassed that I waste so much life and energy on trivial things. If nothing else, Lila has taught me that I should appreciate life a bit more, love a lot more and be sooo sooo overjoyed that I still have so much time.

Music of the soul- Bat for Lashes

2009-03-30T22:59:00.010-04:00

So as I've gotten more into reading other people's blogs I'm noticing a trend. People tend to pick a few things and try to update their blog on those things fairly regularly. My friend Gina is doing her altered art projects once a week (I was supposed to do this with her but have not been able to commit to it because of my art class). And my friend Jen (who is an art teacher) has been doing a fabulous daily update called Teacher Style Files where she posts her daily wardrobe: http://jenni-n-kev.livejournal.com/.
I really love this way of blogging. I feel like it gives readers something to look forward to. I don't want to steal their wonderful ideas so I've decided to start posting some info about some of my favorite bands and music. Music is such a huge part of my life. I seriously have so many themed playlists on my itunes. They are all soundtracks to my life. So I thought I would share. I will try to blog once a week.

I'll start this week with Bat for Lashes who is Natasha Khan. I am completely obsessed. I think I know every word on her first album Fur and Gold which came out last year and "What's a Girl to Do?" has been my ringtone on my phone for a year now and I still can't get enough. I have been chomping at the bit for the new album Two Suns to come out....and it's sooo close: April 6th! Her voice is so ethereal and very...haunting I guess would be a good word. Her videos are amazing and on top of all of this her style is so unique. Love her.

Anthropologie

2009-03-29T13:11:00.003-04:00

I just got a second job at Anthropologie, which is my absolute favorite store ever! I'll probably only be working a few days a week but it will be great to be making some extra money and it is just such an inspiring place. I'm going to have to really try hard to not spend my whole paycheck on clothes! Their new spring collections are so fun and colorful. I can't wait to start!

Rosey Outlook.

2009-03-18T12:27:00.002-04:00

I was organizing my photos and found this one that I took last year in Maine while antiquing with my sister. It made me smile and think of summer and day trips to visit my Gram, and farmstands, and cookouts and wearing no shoes whenever possible. Hope it does the same for you!

Sunday.

2009-03-15T22:15:00.006-04:00

We didn't have too much going on this Sunday. I re-potted a few plants that I picked up for free on Craigslist (if you haven't guessed-I have a bit of an addiction to Craigslist). They were all in desperate need of some help and their owner is moving to Alaska so he needed a new home for them. There is a palm-type tree, a little cactus, two tropical type plants which I can't identify and a sad little sprig of Ivy that is hanging on for dear life. We will see if I can work my magic on them. I also planted some flower seeds in plastic egg cartons a few days ago and I already have a few tiny sprouts! It is finally starting to feel like spring! Ben and I also got a few new fish for our tank-two siamese algae eaters and two beautiful angel fish. I also finished working on my "Vision Board" today. I made one of these at a job a couple of years ago and it was so inspiring I wanted to do another one. Basically you sit down and write out your goals and aspirations (short term or long term). Then find pictures that represent those goals and create your "board". I took it a step further and decided to keep a journal on how I am going to acheive those goals. It was really fun to make and the end result was just so colorful and happy. I love it! I'm going to post mine in my studio so that I don't lose sight of what my dreams are for this year. Here are the pics from a productive Sunday! Hope everyone has a great week! Paix et joie!

Vintage Art Supplies.

2009-03-13T19:07:00.004-04:00

I was running errands today in Concord MA and stopped into Thoreauly Antiques right in historic Concord center. This is by far my absolute favorite antique shop (and that says a lot). They have great vintage odds and ends that are perfect for assemblage and collage art and the owner is so helpful and charming. Today I couldn't resist a set of antique powdered pigment vials with the labels still intact. Lovely! We're off to pick up the new bed a few days early!
~Paix et joie!

Sketch.

2009-03-12T13:18:00.003-04:00

Ok enough about hair and beds and Meow Cats. Back to art. I've been focusing all of my creative energy into decorating recently and haven't sat down and actually created much lately. I'm working on a project for my Altered Art and Mixed Media class. The project is to make a doll...we can interpret that however we wish. I haven't decided if I will post pics of the progress or wait until I can show you the finished product. I did, however, manage to capture Ben in a candid moment watching T.V. a couple weeks ago. Here you go. Boy, he looks grouchy... I must've been making him watch American Idol.

Fun hair.

2009-03-12T13:05:00.005-04:00

I finally chopped off all my hair! I've been threatening to for awhile. And with the oppression of winter and spring just around the corner, I felt like now was the perfect time to 'lighten up'. My friend Jess did the cut and color. She always does such a great job. I really love how easy it is now and somehow I feel like it makes me more fun. I just had to post a few pics. Let me know what you think!

Shabby Chic Dreams.

2009-03-11T20:06:00.003-04:00

I am very excited! I just purchased this beautiful bronze king sized bed from Cindy on Craigslist today! We upgraded from my adorable, little, vintage, metal bed to Ben's king sized mattress and box spring a month or so ago. Ben insisted that his mattress would help us to sleep better...and I must say I've been sleeping better (I secretly think it's because of the valerian root and chammomile tea before bed). But since then I've been searching everywhere to find an appropriate replacement headboard. Finally found the perfect one. We are picking it up this Sunday. These are the pics that Cindy had posted of it. Don't worry...my cute little double bed is now in the guest room.

Meow.

2009-03-08T16:14:00.002-04:00

Got some cute pictures of Meow Cat sunbathing today. He is one of the loves of my life.

Bookshelf.

2009-03-08T16:01:00.002-04:00

Thought I would share a little side project with you. I purchased a cheap bookshelf at a yard sale last year for $5 and finally had the chance to do something with it. I added a decorative wood piece to the top center of the shelf and then painted the whole thing a pale mustard yellow with an aged crackle finish. I finished it up by rubbing stain into the surface to warm up the color and then loaded it with books and trinkets. Voila!

Laptop Therapy.

2009-02-23T18:27:00.005-05:00

I am officially full-blown sick. I've had an on/off temp of 100 and a very sore throat...not fun. I have been toying with the idea of vending at stART in the Park- an arts festival in Worcester this spring and I'm frustrated that just as I started to get inspired, I end up lacking the energy to put any of my thoughts onto paper or into art. So instead I've had to make do with the "paperwork" end of things: coming up with a list of items to make and sell, lists of materials needed, designing tags, searching the web for inspirational photos, etc... Thank goodness for my laptop. It will have to suffice as my medium of choice for now. I leave you with a few great photos from the talented contributors to Flickr that represent some of those ideas floating around in my head.

Spring 2009 Fashion.

2009-02-19T22:19:00.007-05:00

I have been defaulting on my art this week. I've been super busy and a little under the weather so I'm going to have to catch up on projects this weekend. In the meantime I've been OD-ing on tea and new spring fashion. Many of these lines were shown on the runway this past fall to be launched for spring, though I'm just getting a chance to discover them now. Here are a few of my favorites.

Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti
Monique Lhuillier:

Christian Dior:

Stella McCartney:
Tropical Grapefruit Green Tea by Celestial Seasonings:

India.

2009-02-16T16:06:00.004-05:00

I'm headed to my art class in a bit and just finished adding the final touches to my project. Thought I would share. My instructor gave us this Durer print as a starting point. We were told we could alter it in any way we wished. It immediately reminded me of India and I found these great National Geographic images that I used as added inspiration:

Here is the final product. I'm not sure what I feel about it. It is very different from what I would usually create but I am satisfied that I captured the "essence" of the images. Please ask if you have questions about materials used as I'm not going to bother listing them all....basically anything I could get my hands on.

Valentine's Day.

2009-02-16T11:58:00.006-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day! Ben and I celebrated at Monsoon in Maynard...it's the best Indian food you'll ever have. Then he bought me ice cream and flowers and we watched a movie. Thanks babe. I made Ben an altered art memory box. I created it in a vintage Romeo and Juliet cigar box and added photos of us, ticket stubs and some other pieces. The lettering is lyrics from the Styx song "Babe" which I know is incredibly cheesy but it reminds me of him so much. I hope everyone spent the day with someone they love!
Love,
Amber

Benjamin Burrows Photography.

2009-02-13T16:14:00.004-05:00

In other news: my talented, wonderful boyfriend just launched his new photography website. I am extremely proud of him (and maybe a wee bit jealous too). Check out the new site and tell him what you think. www.benjaminburrows.net

Eerie Art.

2009-02-13T15:34:00.006-05:00

I have amassed a quite large collection of vintage pharmacist bottles and was wondering what I could do with them other than display them in my kitchen cabinet and this artist came to mind. I stumbled across her Myspace page about a year ago and I am in love with her work. Her name is Lisa Mei Ling Fong and she is an assemblage artist. Her work definitely has that beautifully creepy, ethereal look that I strive to create (yet somehow my love of glitter always takes over). Every piece looks like it came out of a victorian curiosity shop. She has such a unique style, though I can't promise that I won't try to borrow some of her ideas :).Check out her website www.eerieart.com and her Myspace page www.myspace.com/eerieart. Here are a few of my favorite pieces of hers. Enjoy!

And here is a portion of my collection. Many of these are Victorian homeopathic bottles.

Altered Art.

2009-02-10T22:36:00.008-05:00

I began an altered art and collage class Monday nights at the Worcester Art Museum. So far it has been great for inspiring new projects. I'll be sure to post more as I create. In the meantime, my friend Gina and I have decided to organize our own art class. Every week we will be sending one another an inspirational photo or tidbit to base a piece off of. Here was the inspiration for last week:

And here is what I came up with:

The antique Valentine's that Gina sent reminded me of a vintage vanity for some reason so I decided to use an empty makeup compact. I distressed it with acrylic paint and sandpaper and then embellished it with bits of the actual print as well as roses, pearls, glitter and a small frame. What's great is that Gina and I couldn't wait to see how different each of our projects came out but they are actually very similar, I think we even used the same plastic roses that we salvaged from my craft room! Check hers out at http://abbreviatedfrom5feet.blogspot.com/ and stay tuned for next weeks project.

2009-01-30T18:58:00.004-05:00

j.o.b.

So I haven't posted in awhile. I lost my job months ago and I've been hiding my head in the sand, feeling too guilty about not working to allow myself to experience any pleasure.

Not a shocker I know, given the state of the economy. And somehow I am sailing by on that excuse. At parties or meeting new people when that inevitable question arises: "So what do you do?" it's not so terrible anymore when I tell them I'm unemployed. More often than not I get a sympathetic nod as if to say "Chin up, we're all gonna pull through this" or "Welcome to the club". The next question then quickly passes onto health care or the worsening economy and my woes are forgotten. What I don't say is that I was actually fired. Yes. My evil, amazon woman of a boss decided to make me her target and try as I might I could not meet her standards. Not only did she just dislike me but at my 3 month review she called me "self-righteous, immature, and irresponsible" and told me I "had a lot of growing up to do". I retorted that she was unprofessional and lacked good managerial skills. I suppose I can understand the "self-righteous" accusation. A month later I was let go. Anyway, it's been months and I've been peeling off various layers of emotions regarding the whole situation. It's uncannily like ending a relationship. I outline as follows:

Stage 1: Hate. Vivid images of my stilettos impaling my ex-boss through the head danced through my dreams.
Stage 2: self-pity. "Why does shit always happen to me?"
Stage 3: self-doubt and blame. "Maybe if I had just worked 80 hours instead of 75...."
Stage 4: Hate. I strongly considered kidnapping her dogs.
Stage 5: Pathetic mental collapse. "I can't apply at McDonald's, I don't have the experience, no one would want me now!"
Stage 6: Acceptance. This is finally my chance to move to Paris and sell love spells in the streets! I don't need a steady paycheck! I'm a unique, free-spirited woman! Damn the haters! Who wants to start a commune with me?

I'm hoping that the whole experience, if nothing else, has given me some time to reflect. I am re-discovering myself. I had fooled myself into believing that I like wearing pant suits and carrying corporate credit cards because I'm good at being a pulled together professional who eats sushi and gets massages once a month. What I really want is to be elbow deep in acrylic paint and sequins or teaching people expressive dance and I want to be able to cry or laugh whenever I want and not be worried if my mascara is going to smudge because my next client is coming in. No, right now I have no idea how I'm going to pay the bills but....really...how expensive is it to live in a commune?

I know we spend a lot of time defining people by their profession in this country but with a rapidly increasing unemployment rate and rising job related stress levels, I feel like along with everything else, it's time for a change. When are we really going to judge people not on the padding of their 401ks and the honors on their resumes but on the content of their character? I may be self-righteous. I may be immature or irresponsible. And at 25 I certainly hope I have a lot of growing up to do. But I am not my job.

-Amber

*I am still an advocate of sushi and massages.

My Birthday.

2008-10-11T21:44:00.004-04:00

Well Friday was my 25th birthday. Yikes! A quarter of a century old! Ben gave me my gifts the night before: new dishes that we have really needed (now we can stop destroying the earth with all the paper plates we've been wasting), and a sewing machine! Hmmm...don't I sound like little "Susie-Homemaker"? I wonder if that was his plan. On Friday,to celebrate we went for a hike at Walden Pond. It was perfect weather and I was able to get a few shots of the foliage with Ben's assistance. Later that night we went to Witch's Woods at the Nashoba Valley Ski Area in Westford with a big group of friends. We had a blast! Unfortunately we were having way too much fun and screaming way too hard to take any pics so the Walden Pond shots will have to suffice. I had so much fun and it was great to see so many friends~honestly it was the best birthday I can remember. Yeah, I'm loved. Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined. As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler.~Henry David Thoreau

Last of the Flowers.

2008-10-05T15:48:00.002-04:00

Here are the pics of my garden's last flowers. I don't know what they are all called but there is a Nasturtium, Marigold, Lavender. The multi-colored one is a 'Confetti Flower'. It's the prettiest little flower and it 'throws' tons of little flowerettes if you brush up against it-hence the name. I was really happy with how most of these photos turned out. The images came out nice and sharp (though I will see what Ben has to say). Enjoy my garden!

Garden Toad.

2008-10-05T15:29:00.004-04:00

I was out cleaning up the back patio today. Re-potting plants to bring indoors and putting away the outdoor furniture, getting ready for frost. There are still quite a few flowers left in the garden and I wanted to take a few pictures both to continue practicing my close-up shots as well as to remember how pretty the garden was this year. When I moved the patio table, hiding underneath was the fattest toad! So how are these for close-ups?Here are some pics of the toad and I'll post the flowers a bit later.

Creating.

2008-09-30T21:13:00.005-04:00

Finally another post. I actually started feeling the creative bug again and have been crafting while I have the free time. Ben and I joined his friend Jen and her husband on the 21st of September at Start on the Street, an arts festival in Worcester. Ben sold a few prints and I made bottle cap necklaces as a last resort since I determined at the last minute that the shadow boxes I was making were not yet fit to be viewed by the public. Anyway here is a pic of the final product. I'm dabbling with paint, mixed media, even papier mache and I can't seem to focus all of my creative energy on any one thing. I'm hoping that if I just keep making myself create then it will just start coming more naturally to me. Right now I am still way too controlling with it. It's been difficult to just let it happen. Blogging is another thing that will hopefully get easier with time. I seem to think that I must have something profound to say in order to type it out, though right now no one is actually reading these so I should probably just stop obsessing about how I sound and post away. I am also playing around with Ben's old camera. He gave me an assignment awhile ago to take close up photos to get comfortable with that setting (hence the other photos). So not only will you now have to be subjected to my meager attempt at writing but you will also get to see my photography progression (or regression). Enjoy! Well, here is to more craft projects and more blog posts!

Hello.

2008-07-30T21:01:00.000-04:00

I have officially started a blog. Why? Well, I would like to tell you it is because I have a lot of life-changing, earth-shaking information to share with you or even that it's because I have some incredible talent for expressing myself through the beauty of the written word. But really it's because I would like to think that having a blog will elevate me to a certain level of importance. Interesting and important people have blogs. You know: Deepak Chopra, presidential hopefuls and Paris Hilton.

Truthfully, I'm not really sure why I feel the need to blog. I have always documented my life in one medium or another whether it be painting, scrapbooking or writing. I have boxes overflowing with memorabilia from my life and journals full of useless facts about myself that I can only hope that one day when I am long gone, my family and friends will stumble upon and cry over and say "I can't believe what an incredibly talented and beautiful (grandmother, aunt, sister, friend...)we had. It's really so tragic that we never realized before. And now, alas, all we can do is publish her very unique life story to share with others".

I guess there is a part of me that believes my life is fabulous and enthralling enough that the general public will be entertained by my random musings, vacation photos, and various tales of debauchery that seem to occur for me on a regular basis. Really, who wouldn't want access to the inner workings of my brain and the link to my favorite site to buy pet toys from?
Hella interesting!

This will be a place for me to play, to vent and to share. My hope is that I will be forced to rediscover my creative side as I dig for even the most mildly amusing tidbit to post. I don't want to make any promises for the future but I can tell you that I metamorphosis more frequently than Madonna so I'll keep you on your toes. Hope you enjoy and visit often!
-Amber