Hello! I am so excited that spring time is right around the corner! I have stopped on the highway multiple times on my way home to pick daffodils. I just can't get enough of them! There are mason jars full of my favorite wild flowers in every room in my house. I don't think I have ever been THIS excited to be inside and outside at the same time! So lovely, and such a wonderful welcoming into the new season.

I wanted to share some photos of some new work. Last year I worked on a mur

al inside of an old steve and berry's building. There were all sorts of old panels left over from displays in the back of the warehouse. After the project was completed, they were gracious enough to give me some! And since then, I have found that I just don't enjoy painting on canvas that much anymore! Kris and I experimented on the panels with lots of different textures. I found that

unsanded grout might be my favorite thing in the world. Anyway, I have since started painting on these panels and I just love how they have turned out. They are bright and fun and full of texture and ready for SPRING!

I will say that teaching elementary art has definitely had some influence on my current painting style. In class we have been studying a lot of folk art (the kids LOVE it!) and we talk about patterns, concentric shapes, lines and bold colors just about everyday. We also just recently studied Jasper Johns in class, too (Did you know he was from Augusta? I thought the kids would

enjoy that!) so I've had some targets in my doodles as well.

The painting on the right is done on a much larger panel, and I actually did this one some time ago with intention to add to it. However, I walked away and now coming back to it I like it just the way it is. This one has the unsanded grout as a base, but it also has lots of decopauged things in as well that are not visible from the photograph. There are photos and pages from books and old art history notes all mod podged in there, too! I really want three of these long panels to go in my very boring, absolutely empty hallway upstairs. . . But we'll see how long that takes me!

Well Helllllllooo Internet! so, quick recap. I haven't blogged in a year. I got somekindacrazy busy, moved to the middle of nowhere, got a teaching job and my whole life has changed. Lots of fun and exciting stuff. But there is just this little tiny spot on my little brown couch that I can pick up somebody's internet. Strange, because I don't really have any neighbors. But, my living room also came with free cable (shhh!) so maybe I just have a magic living room. .. minus the bullet that may or may not occasionally come through the window.

Anyway-- all that to say . my little tiny spot on my brown couch usually gets enough internet to browse through pinterest once or twice before it goes out. But-nonetheless, I am ready to jump back into my relationship with technology.

I feel like I HAVE to write about my new years resolutions. I kind of feel like the new year hasn't really started until I not only sit and write them down, but also record them somewhere on the world wide web. So.. technically, in my head, its the first of january and I should celebrate a birthday in a few weeks.

totally cool with doing that.

So- in an effort that get my mind on the same page as my way-cool Andy Warhol datebook-here goes:

1. Start blogging again! (check!) 2. Go to LONDON. stamp my passport 3. Acquire a nice coozie collection. 4. DOMINATE the purple room ( my craft room ) and set up an awesome space. 5. Set up a booth at craft extravaganza. 6. be more frugal. clean out the pantry. 7. wear some timbas 8. Eat at EVERY restaurant in Wilkes County. 9. Spend a week at Mom and Dads. //spend awesome time with them and awesome time at the beach 10. REALLY discover new music (as opposed to last year when i literally listened to two different artists) 11. Go blonde again. 12. TRADITIONS. 13. Have dinner parties. 14. Be more intentional about relationships in Lincoln 15. journal for 100 days again. 16. drink WATER 17. visit the boys in nashville 18. read daily 19. take better care of my car 20. Bring bloody marys back onto the menu. It can .. be in a nalgene 21. Have slash make a lot of wreathes and put them on my door. 22. float down a river 23. make videos 24. get the internet. (like. in every room of my house) 25. be involved in Lincoln. 26. GIVE AWAY 27. cook a steak and eat some red meat. 28. Make great use of my planning period 29. Read Harry Potter again straight through 30. Get new glasses 31. Have slash take portraits of my family members. 32. Love something grand. 33. Wear a lip ring again, even if just for a day. 34. fill my window boxes with flowers.

I feel like I should have one more just to have a solid thirty-five, but thats all i got. Better get on it! Time is just a-flyin by!

Gentle Goodbye of Winter

I grew up in the south. and by south, i mean south. not necessarily just crazy-redneck-south, but citrus trees and beaches near by and warm weather all year long. Basically, no snow. Nope, this little one grew up in Camden County, nestled right between Jacksonville, Florida and Brunswick, Georgia. The last actual accumulation of snow was in 1989, and before that--1958. The point is, I never imagined that waking up to snow could be a normal thing. It snowed again last night here in Athens. This time, unlike the road-closing-snow we had last month, the snow just barely blankets everything. I love the perfectly tailored little bushes in my neighborhood; the snow collects on them making them look like little green and white bon-bons. (I tend to yell "happiness overload" to my roommate when we drive by. i LOVE them.) Anyway, this time it was a soft snow, and one that I feel like mother nature sent as a gentle goodbye to winter.

Thank you, mother nature. Im tired of winter and ready for some sunshine.

In other news, I got my GACE scores in yesterday, and I passed! I am one piece of paper away from being a completely certified Georgia Art Teacher! (that piece of paper should come in the mail any day now : ) ) I was so excited I shrieked at work when I read the email. There is no excuse now, I have to get a job. so, HELLO WORLD. hire me, wontcha?

So, January has left and February is here, and I didn't even give this lover's month a proper introduction or hello. I guess its better late than never.

Well. Lets look at that January list.

I did in fact finish the book Secret Life of Bees, however I did not return it to Katie. I did tell her though. The book was a lovely read, and I can't believe I put off reading it for so long.

I did make a January playlist, and put it in my journal. The new Decemberists album had quite a few songs on it--a favorite being the January Hymn. And Creepin' on In by Dolly Parton, featuring Norah Jones was also a frequently played song.

I did schedule several meetings with Fledge, but they all had to be rescheduled. Can I get half-credit for that?

I made no books, but I did gather papers for the start of it.

I did start a painting! I am doing a rather large painting for a friend, and I am excited about everything that it entails!

I did cook quite a few good meals, but none of them were in the crockpot. I made a BEAUTIFUL barbecue chicken pizza on my pizza stone, though. With made-from-scratch dough and homemade Barbecue sauce. I even tossed the dough in the air. I should get extra points for that.

I took down most of the christmas ornaments, but I will be honest and say that the christmas tree is still not taken down. It is half taken down though. But that happened in February.

I did get my parents awesome birthday presents, and I even got to give it to them! My parents came up to visit this past weekend to celebrate birthdays, eat good food and they even had an educational experience at Starbucks.

I did start my resume. Its a lame start, but I sent it off to be edited. Its a work in progress.. as it always will be, right?

I did, as mentioned in the previous post, finish 24.

And, last but not least.. I had a kickin' good time turning 24. Kat's Martini was the last drink of the evening, and oh, it was so good! She even left RPM to go to trappeze on her day off to make my drink! How presh. Dinner at Casa Mia, as usual, but with new friends this year. And, the best part... I didn't loose my phone or ANY of my belongings this year.

All in All, January was a good month. Lots of Lazy days, with a few really productive days squeezed in there. Lots of snow and ice. which means lots of cooped up days with blankets, hot toddies, and netflix. Visits with friends and family, a PLUS.

AND NOW!

February. or as my friend Jessica is calling it, Februlearning. Because I will have no list this month, just one simple goal: learn something new everyday.

Want to know what I learned about today? Check out this article on the Phenomenon of the Devil's Footprints.

Good for my soul.

So. I've been literally snowed in for the last three days. You think I would have accomplished a lot of things--there are so many things on that January list that could have been crossed off. However, I put ALL of my energy into crossing off number 16. Thats right, I finished season 8 of 24. in less than 48 hours. I am that committed. its an end of an era.. and its a very sad thing. Thats all I am going to say, because if i say anything more I will overflow and spoil everything for anyone who hasn't seen it.

anyway. Snow days give me happiness overload. the snowcapped everything. icicles. snowmen. neighbors coming out to play. snow just brings everyone together, and on my side of town, it was beautiful to see everyone walking around. Walking into town, walking the dogs.. or simply just taking a stroll. I love it, I love it, I love it! And, I have an incredible fascination with icicles. I don't believe that they are real. The idea of water freezing before it hits the ground: crazy. when jack frost beats gravity, lets just say, I'm impressed.

Its been wonderful to hang out with my roommate for this long, too. Even though we have lived together for almost six months, neither one of us had the schedule to hang out for extended periods of time. It was good. and Maisie always makes me laugh. and Laughter is good for the soul.

I have a feeling tomorrow things are going back to normal. I just got a text from my boss saying its back to normal operating hours. the universe is about to shift back into the everyday routine. so off I go to enjoy the last few moments of this snowcapped dreamworld.

Okay. So the resolution list was put up, and I can check off one thing already. But lets be honest, its pretty hard to pin a list up (or write it in a blog) and try to get to it all year long. Even looking over my list a few moments ago, I thought to myself several times, "you can do that later in the year." But when? I need deadlines. I need more specific goals. so I decided that I need to make a month by month list of things to do. So, Here it is.

75 Cent Wreath

One really great thing about working at Starbucks is that I get to keep most of the christmas decorations after the holidays. My home is full of little leftover holiday orphans. One of my favorite items I have collected is a beautiful holiday wreath made out of christmas ornaments and balls of yarn. When I was taking down the Christmas decor, I decided that I needed a wreath to replace the holiday one-- my front step just looked a little too boring without any sort of decoration.

I was discussing this with my brother and he encouraged me to make my own. He is one full of ingenuity and always finds a way to make something grand out of completely recycled materials. I was challenged. I balled up plastic grocery bags and wrapped them in yarn that was leftover from a previous project. I used up my entire stash of grocery bags, as well as most of my brother's. I found some wire in the studio and wrapped the wire several times around the bottom of a bucket to make the wreath base, and used tiny pieces of wire to "sew" the balls of yarn to the base. The silver balls are old ornaments my grandmother found on the side of the road and gave to me. Honestly the only cost was the 75 cent dragonfly ornament I found in the clearance section of walmart.

Tada! A beautiful wreath to adorn my door and welcome the the new year.

Quality time spent in Asheville: CHECK.

So. Its barely the first week of the new year and I can already cross something off my list! Two of my best friends moved to Asheville, NC over the last year and although I have visited them more than once, it was very brief. I wanted to spend some quality time in the city. I wanted to sit and drink a cappuccino. Wander around town. go out for drinks at night, then sleep in late and eat breakfast as the sun is setting. (okay, that last one wasn't really a goal, but it did happen. and it was wonderful.) I wanted to go to their favorite restaurants. I wanted to feel like I used to with them--like nothing mattered when we were together. I didn't want to be pressed by what time I had to be at work or how long the drive is, and if I'll make it in time for my shift.

I welcomed the new year on the streets of Asheville. It was glorious. I was surrounded by most of my closest friends and we hadn't a care in the world. just being together. we stayed out late, and then slept in late the next morning. The first day of the new year was spent cooking a glorious breakfast (by which time we finished and ate, the sun was indeed setting). We sat around the dining room table, drank coffee and ate until we were busting at the seams. We talked about resolutions and goals, and memories of the last year. We sipped on cappuccinos and wrote in our journals. Later we went to a tapas restaurant (beteadubs, I love tapas. but micah ogle, does not. i learned that) and ordered almost everything on the menu and sipped on Macallan 12. The next day was spent walking around town taking pictures and walking in and out of shops and drinking cappuccinos and searching, unsuccessfully, for a mug to go in my collection. Apparently asheville doesn't go for the "touristy" stuff. I am kind of okay with that, but I do really want a cheesy mug that says asheville on it.

Anyway. I of course could spend much more time there, and I expect I will, but this trip made me feel like I know where my friends live. I can picture where they live rather than just their living room. I experienced some new things: new places, new food, new coffee, new scotch, new corners and new streets. new memories.

2011 checklist. I am about to dominate you.

Resolutions

so. heres my list so far of twenty eleven goals.

paint lots of things. and sell them. and maybe give a few away.

TRAVEL. lots of places. take a road trip with Maisie to Chicago. Go back to Las Vegas. Head Northwest with Micah. Spend time in charleston. and nashville. Go ABROAD.

get a teaching job.

Start an Etsy shop.

take more photos. and get a new lens.

Scrapbook. and by that I mean, make at least one book that summarizes college. from start to finish.

discover new music. and make monthly playlists.

Spend quality time in asheville.

Learn about wine.

send a care package to Morocco.

Give away a lot. Minimize.

Cook more. remember that crock pot you threw a fit for? use it.

Enjoy the mornings.

Sew. make bags. makes things with fabric that i've made.

Enjoy a plate of fresh seafood-- its your favorite.

Make things out of dirt. do ten-minute pots.

Write in a journal that I make.

Send a journal to Africa and Europe. More specifically, to the people I know there.

grow my hair out.

send more handwritten letters.

run a race. okay. lets start with run. . . okay. lets start with buy running shoes.

buy running shoes.

Finish reading these books: 1000 splendid suns, Dry, and Secret Life of Bees, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.

(give Jess back Extremely and Incredibly Close

Read these books: Stieg Larsson series. Red Tent. Eat Pray Love. Frannie and Zoe.

Get a tattoo.

Work on fixin' the silent stutter.

Set up a studio with inspiration boards.

make more things out of wood. lets start with a light table.

draw more.

serve more.

join a small group.

Knit. or crochet. really just make something out of yarn.

Learn to "put up."

thats it for now.

2010. a year of change. and perseverance. challenges, hardships. as well as celebrations. lots of celebrations.

2009 ended well- on a barrier island with one of my closest friends. 2010 started in my car, racing to get back to athens by the stroke of midnight. alas, East Campus Road right behind the stadium is where Micah and I ushered in the new year.

It was a night of dancing and good friends.

So. 2010 highlights:

I started my Last semester of COLLEGE! woohoo. I learned to weld. I went to Pubprom and made new friends! Im pretty sure I turned 23..I finished the Harry Potter Series.

Oh my- I fell in LOVE. in love with Tim Riggins.

Lets restate: I fell in Love with TV.

24. Bones. FNL. Prison Break. Netflix became my best friend.

oh: Guest Check dates. and tall soy chai

I got a blackberry! but technology continued to hate me.

I learned to screenprint and fell in love with fabric design.

I had a yardsale. July was full of yardsales and goodbyes. I moved out of Chase Street Villa. and my best friends scattered.

I moved to the EAST side. to a small apartment. I started Student teaching. I fell in love with drawing all over again. I worked... A Lot.

I finally graduated.

The highlight list for 2010 isn't that long. There isn't much to make a list out of. I didn't travel much. I didn't listen to great music. I didn't see really cool things. But it was still a good year. I did learn to deal with change. I did learn perseverance with school. I did work really hard. I learned what its like to say Goodbye to good friends. and the importance of keeping in touch. I learned that sometimes distance is good and needed for relationships. I learned that patience is key. and something to be learned. I witnessed beauty. and simplicity. and I learned how beautiful and wonderful little kids are. I spent a lot of time with my family.

Id say 2010 was pretty good.

but heres a cheers to 2011.

I only have two more finals! woohoo!

I had my sculpture critique at eight o'clock this morning. Naturally, I woke up at 7:40.. on the couch. with everything still a mess. (i guess i should make it clear-- getting up at 7:40 isn't natural. getting up late is.) Anyway- For my final project I decided to make a clock. I started out thinking about how, even though military time is very simple to understand, it always takes me a minute to calculate what time it really is. So, the numbers start with 13 and end with 24. Thinking about the military made me think about my grandfathers--and how proud I am of their service. I recently learned what a Naval Mustang is, and that I am the proud granddaughter of one--Hence the reason for the horse in the background.

Anyway-- it was a fun project and I always love when I can make art that is functional and meaningful.

so. its finals time. and as much as i want to stick my nose into an art history book or spend countless hours at the studio... I resist. These scarves are what I have been making in my free time! tell me what you think.

Steel box project complete.

should be paying attention to class. instead- im thinking about home.

sanity

you wanna know why its been so long since i posted? because i have to freaking weld all the time (currently welding a 7 and 3/4 by 7 and 3/4 by 7 and 3/4 steel box.) and starbucks has become my life. and I am overwhelmed with ideas of paintings. and school is more than i expected. AND. (this is the one good thing )

ive been playing with this little one!Isnt she darling?! She is my beautiful niece Adah Catelynn! I have spent the last two weekends with her and my wonderful brother and sister in law.. so we set up a photo shoot for her! she is so photogenic.

anyway. back to welding and art history and painting. and drinking/serving coffee.
ill post something real. real soon.

love love.

some pictures from my last project with Lindsay Reynolds!
inspired by: Oh Joy!