it is possible that my blog is about to get a whole lote more exciting ....

DRUM ROLL PLEASEEEEEEEE!






WAIT FOR IT ...




MY MOM IS THE BEST EVER AND BOUGHT ME A DIGITAL CAMERA FOR HANUKAH. i am so so so so excited. it's a canon powershot SD790 IS digital elph, which means absolutely nothing to me. haha. it looks very pretty and the screen is rather big, so i'm excited. plus is has a million settings that i'm sure i'll never learn how to use. i can't wait to start playing with it and figuring it out, and taking pics of the millions of projects i've worked on!!!!!!!!!!

ps, happy hanukah & merry christmas to you all!

help me

why did the flickr faves picture turn out so tiny? god i suck at computers.

i promise i'm not this boring in real life

hello world.

i don't really have much to say, just wanted to say hi.

in the past few weeks i've had two mini-shopping trips @ papertales (so in love with my new stuff ...) & ordered some kits from story of my life ... AND got two books from amazon that i ordered ... this & this. LOVE THEM BOTH. can't wait to start JOURNALING more. i started slacking off while at the tail end of steady hand faulty heart (still have some tutorials to complete).

i'll leave you with some of my flickr favorites so that my blog isn't as freaking boring! and hopefully i'll have something fun to post soon.




flickr faves
Originally uploaded by dainjb

1. Adorable Shop!, 2. Mirror, 3. Cups, 4. Untitled, 5. come with me this time, 6. peony love, 7. my life book, 8. the glitterfest has begun, 9. Vintage Tree Toppers, 10. feeling festive, 11. paper chain, 12. leftover peonies, 13. ornament theme 08., 14. Vintage Pearl Necklaces - Pastel Beads, 15. Bird and Bees Yarn Wreath, detail, 16. wreath for bunny competition, 17. Yellow Painted Chandelier, 18. Scalloped Felt Tree Skirt, 19. Daisy Pop, 20. Charlotte's Room, 21. Untitled, 22. Ta Da!, 23. Pink Corsage, 24. Vintage Holiday, 25. [2 years], 26. Etsy Take Five Tuesdays, 27. Ali's album01, 28. trees, 29. Untitled, 30. Untitled, 31. Untitled, 32. Untitled, 33. Untitled, 34. House for Rent, 35. Home Tour, 36. Happy fridge

GOAL UPDATES
1. DONE, sewing machine is ready to go. now, i need to buy thread!
2. obtain a digital camera - still a work in progress (hopefully a hanukah present?)
3. buy new ink cartridges - still need to do this
4. learn how to make my blog pretty - still need to do this
5. find a job in a creative field - have applied (again) for a not-as-good paying job at paper source. i should have just stuck with it the first time around when i was interviewing for the assistant manager position. but "shift supervisor" sounds good too. i'll let you know how it goes
6. make friends with some crafty people so that i'm not always crafting alone - anyone? i need to befriend some crafties ... but i have a feeling it will be hard ...

GOALS:
1. obtain a sewing machine
2. obtain a digital camera
3. buy new ink cartridges
4. learn how to make my blog pretty
5. find a job in a creative field
6. make friends with some crafty people so that i'm not always crafting alone

i think that about sums it up for now.

i'm happy to report that this man will be our new president

obama_pop_art
Originally uploaded by orangebudd

i can only think of how this day will go down in history ... how in the many years to come, my future kids and grandchildren will ask me where i was when i found out that the first african-american, senator barack obama, was announced as our president elect.

it's the kind of moment that makes me thankful that we live in a nation where our voices can be heard, where anything, anything, is possible. i am also proud to live in a nation that will peacefully (for the most part) turn over hands to a new party. that is what makes america great. that is what we should be proud of. we are living in a place that allows democracy to be true.

there's lots going on today on the online world - facebook updates up the wazhoo, blog posts gone mad, news articles, etc. i think there are some accusations on both sides which are hurtful and immature. i think we should all follow the lead of Senator Mccain and Senator Obama - they both spoke gracefully and genuinely last night. we should start on a new path today, we should be united, we should work to build our country back up, because we have seen far better days.

we have truly witnessed something spectacular.

help me pick a planner!

ok, so i'm a huge dork and am already looking forward to buying a new planner for 2009. i love love love getting a new planner. it's one of my all time favorite moments each year. this year i want something a little more special than the usual ... normally i make a trip to staples and go through each one deciding what format i want, etc. but this year i don't want boring black.

SO, send me links. i'm pretty open to a monthly/weekly/daily format. as long as it has extra pages in the back or something for lists and notes, and is somewhat durable (and can take a bit of a beating).

thanks loves!

i've been scrapping like crazy but have nothing to show for myself ... sorry blog readers (are there any of you?) ... i will hopefully (cross your fingers) have a camera soon so i can post layouts, mini books, and new furniture & home decor! fun fun! i've been a busy girl.

i am also really trying to find a new job. anyone? please? i need something new. something not so mundane and boring. something crafty perhaps. something with people. hmmmmmm.

ok, this is a lame update, but it's been a while so i felt the need to post SOMETHING. hopefully i'll be back soon with pics!

"the leaves are falling back east ..." (ben folds)

hello blog world!

i spent the weekend up in LA, it was a good weekend. it was nice to be away and to spend some much much needed time with my best friend, alana. there's nothing like spending time with your best friend. it's really just an easy perfect kind of feeling. don't really have words for it. saturday was her birthday and we had a fabulous time that night singing karaoke for a crowded room full of friends and strangers. i hope people took good pics because it will make an awesome scrap page or two or three or perhaps a mini book is in order to celebrate the awesomeness of the birthday bash.

sunday evening when we got back home to san diego we were lazy lazy. i made two pages though - i'll have to scan them - both are using pics from the conejo photo shoot, since alana had printed some of the pics out i have lots to work with! (and lots more to print). i'll hopefully have a productive/creative week. i need it.

i'm still really consumed by the whole work thing - i'm becoming increasingly unhappy with my current situation and am desperately looking for something else. unfortunately, the economy sucks and the job market is quite pathetic. i'm reaching out - i'm racking my brain of people to contact. i need out of my current job. i don't want to drive myself insane.

this week, thursday, marks Yom Kippur ... the second of our High Holy Days ... and I have to say, I have definitely been feeling quite reflective since Rosh Hashanah. Thinking about where I am in life - where I want to go. The relationships I have - which ones are no longer healthy. I need to start thigs year with a fresh outlook- I need to purge myself of the unhappiness, the stress. I need to focus on the positive - I need to surround myself with people who inspire me and make me smile and laugh. I am going to work hard.

I realized on Rosh Hashanah how fitting it is that our new year comes during this time of the year. Fall is a time of new life - of shedding the old, of starting new. Fall embodies these characteristics and I'm finding it comforting that it is the beginning of this new year. It comes at a time when I'm really feeling the weight of the past year ... the weight of guilt and saddness and feelings of being lost. Things that I needed to feel and get through, but things that I'm ready to leave behind.

Here's to new beginnings ... xoxo, dain

thoughts on work

i am kind of regretting not taking paper source up on the offer for the 4th and final itnerview for assistant manager. when i drive to carlsbad, i don't regret it, because i would hate hate hate the commute. it's just TOO far to go. but, i'm seriously, seriously, seriously, in need of a creative job. i can't sit in an office any longer. i need to be interacting with people, inspiring people, making art, around pretty paper and stamps and pens and stickers and cards and stationery. i need to be an idea person. i need to help others make beautiful projects. i need to plan. i need to organize. i need to have the freedom to create. i need to wake up in the morning (most mornings, at least) and be glad that i get to go to work. i am waiting for a new door to open - waiting, praying, hoping - searching. scouring the internet for opportunities, and networking. networking is key.

sigh.

weekend update

while i didn't accomplish everything that i wanted to this weekend (i should be used to this by now ... i hardly ever get everything done. i set out to accomplish so much & always fall short, oh well) ... i did get some stuff done! i made some layouts & a mini book for the polaroids from the photo shoot. i used the tutorial from rachel's steady hand, faulty heart class ... contact paper instead of colored duct tape (still on my to-buy list) but it looks great! i'll take pics/ scan it, asap.

i didn't get to work on the pillows because i didn't go to my mom's (no sewing machine) though my friend carrie was nice enough to let me borrow her mom's --- BUT i forgot the pedal, so no sewing for me. bummer.

PAPER SOURCE WAS AMAZING. i mean, i knew it would be, because i used to gush over everything in the cambridge store, but this carlsbad store is BIG and i just seriously wanted to move right in. we spent a lot of time there and i got some things that i'd been wanting for a while. a stamp, mini envelopes, three sheets of paper, rabbit business cards, labels, etc.

i also bought a few things at Z Gallerie ... two candles (green in a glass jar with white & copper designs) and a WOOD GRAIN candle. plus an awesome mirrored candle holder.

browed at anthro ... and wanted everything. oh man, i am so in love with that place. mmmmm it's so delicious.

sunday greg & i cleaned (For real!) and then we went and got a dresser at pat's for cheap! they are going to refinish it (light blue is the color we decided) - shabby chic it up, and then we'll pick it up. i asked them to drilly holes for knobs but not to bother putting any in, since i'll splurge and get mis-matched ones at anthro (i've been waiting forever) ... can't wait!

pictures/scans to come. and some more crafty goodness.

a crafty weekend awaits me ....

the plan for this weekend is:

to work on some art journal pages for steady hand, faulty heart [i am seriously excited about the newest prompts, they are JUST what i need currently] ...

to find [cheap] plain fabric to use for the backings of some pillows. i bought scraps of heather bailey's fabric from the fat quarter shop, and am going to make some awesome pillows. so, buy fabric & sew them up area major part of this weekend's plans.

to go to papersource's grand opening - i am beyond excited. i will try very hard not to spend a lot of money. but, papersource & anthro & zgallerie & freepeople in one shopping center = minor freak out.

to enjoy a lovely saturday night with my amazing friends. i have realized lately how blessed i am to have such a unique group of friends. a group of friends who are drastically different, absolutely crazy [more pics of the photo shoot will be up soon for proof], funny, loving, accepting, and honest. i spend some time feeling sad that i don't have any "crafty" friends here in san diego [sadly they live in boston] - but, at the end of the day, i am so happy with who we have become, how we have grown, how our friendships have shaped, how we continue to bring laughter & joy & support to each other's lives. ok, sappyness officially over.

in other news, i've been obsessively blog stalking my little sister marta's blog about her adventures in africa. i check is CONSTANTLY, waiting for new updates, new pictures, new tidbits about her life in a new land. i'm obsessed.

and now ... back to work. hopefully more pictures soon! gotta find a place to develop the film from my diana+ (this is the experimental roll, i have no clue if they'll turn out).

xox, d.

polaroids are perfection

earth mother, flower child, sassy athletic sax player.
Originally uploaded by dainjb

this is my favorite polaroid from the shoot ... we only took 7 and they are all great - but this one is just perfect. the others are uploaded to flickr.

auntie dain with ethan

auntie dain with ethan
Originally uploaded by dainjb

some pics from the photo shoot are uploaded on flickr. there will be a ton more uploaded soon, and then eventually film will be scanned & polaroids will be scanned tonight. it was so much fun and i'm lucky that i have such a crazy and amazing group of friends. it was a fabulous day. i'll post more later, but for now here's a cute cute cute pic of me (in real life clothes) and baby ethan (my friend marilyn's sweet baby boy).

my new friend diana+

i got a diana+ camera from urban outfitters (so excited) ... but i totally have no clue if the film is loaded correctly. i've done some googling and youtube video watching on loading the film - but i still don't see a number through the red window on the back - so whatever. we'll see. it's an experiment. (well kind of, the film was expensive!! ... and the only carried black and white. which is a bummer because i wanted color. but i'll have to find a place that sells color 120 film). anyway, tomorrow i have a "photo shoot" with my friends from high school ... luckily they have digi cameras and i'll bring the diana+ and the polaroid. FUN!

if any of you have a diana+ or similar toy camera - any tips will be appreciated. i'm super excited about the pinhole setting. gotta play around with it! i'll scan the results for sure!

xox, dain

friday i'm in love

i can see this website easily becoming my new addiction: polyvore - i haven't had a chance to play with it, since i'm at work, but i love the concept and can see myself wasting away a lot of time there. check it out if you haven't before.

brown paper packages

today i received not one, but TWO amazing packages. one, from the amazingly talented kate & the other from the red velvet kit club. the september kit is delicious! it makes me excited for fall (or lack there of, here in san diego) ... the colors are divine, the sass lass papers are perfection, i can't wait to make some projects!

kate's gift was the book that i won on her blog ... it's amazing. seriously, it's perfect and i love it and it's now one of my cherished mini-books on the coffee table. i will hopefully take pictures soon (or kate, if you have pics, post em so i can link!)

the 2nd "session" of Steady Hand, Faulty Heart ... the online art journal class that Rachel is hosting is off to a fabulous start. The first two tutorials were just what I needed, especially since they didn't require me to wait to take pics. I'm still way behind on the first session since i don't have regular access to a camera.

anyway, hopefully pictures to come (no more crappy scans if i can help it)

some more crappy scans are up on flickr. i need to fix this situation. it's getting frustrating to not have a camera. my craft of choice relies on pictures and i don't have a proper camera - just doesn't make sense. the polaroid of course is fun, but it just doesn't cut it for every situation, and film is scarce. can't go wasting it!

i need some new inspiration. i'll let you know what i find.

rachel's Steady Hand Faulty Heart art journal class starts up again tomorrow, so that will be fabulous!

oh my god! it's a miracle

i quasi-figured out how to use my freaking crappy scanner:

crappy scan of the middle part of a 12 x 12 layout about my quasi-step nieces and nephew.

journaling reads:

Emma: such a little grown up, a good big sister, pure joy, a future scrapper.
Jett: rubs off kisses, but is always up for a sword fight. such a boy. laughter.
Kate: sweet baby, chubby cheeks, laid back, full of beautiful smiles.




crappy scan of the top-ish part of a layout about my best friend alana. this is one of my favorite pictures of her, which was taken in spain while she was studying abroad. the letter at the bottom of the journaling says "iyq" (say it out loud to figure it out).





i quasi-figured out how to use my freaking crappy scanner:

an epiphany!

i keep complaining that i can't post my work because i don't have a camera. DUH, i have a SCANNER. wow. i can't believe it's taken me all this time to realize that. it's not 12x12 so some of my layouts will be cut out, but hey, that's better than nothing, right? SO, i know what i'll be busy doing on this fine friday night .... :) expect a post from me (assuming i can figure out how to work my scanner .... yes, i really am that technologically slow)

adventures in book binding

last night i decided that after reading a tutorial on coptic stitch binding, i should totally attempt it on my own. i improvised a bit.

cut some cereal boxes to make the front and back covers, glued on some delicious teal & copper hambly woodgrain to the printed sides of the cereal boxes.

cut & folded 5 signatures (fancy bookbinding vocab) made up of 4 sheets each of plain white drawing paper.

found a needle, and some pink & brown martah stewart twine, punched some holes through everything with the needle, and sewed em all up.

it's by no means perfect, but let me say, it's pretty damn impressive for my first shot & not using "proper" tools - to make sure everything lines up EXACT. i am not good at EXACT, even tho i'm a perfectionist - it doesn't make sense, i know.

so now i have this cute cute notebook for drawing and thoughts and project ideas.

i will take a picture of it. (or maybe i won't.)

things that occur inside my mind

i've been thinking a lot lately.

about the healing process. about creating art, making something tangible. the process. cutting paper, strokes of the paint brush. gluing, taping, stapling, sewing. making something out of nothing. making something out of everything.

i believe that art heals. i have faith in art, i have faith in the creative process.


i went to college intending to study art therapy. halfway through i got restless - i felt stuck, i felt unhappy, i felt like i needed change - and so, i made a decision to change my major. just like that. since then, i've realized this is a pattern in my life. when my depression sneaks back in to my life, i don't recognize it right away. it just feel like an itch to make change - something's not right, so i just go ahead and decide to fix something without really figuring out what needs to be fixed first. so i tend to make decisions that i might not otherwise make.

i believe in art therapy more than i believe in anything else in my life. i've been feeling so strange lately - because i'm starting to see that i should have stuck it out - i should have fought through the urge for change - i should have graduated with a degree in art therapy. it's in my blood. it's the only thing i'm sure of. art is truth. it's the only truth i know, and i'm feeling such a strong pull back to my roots. back to the one thing that makes me feel whole. i am so glad that i'm continuing to create, continuing to heal and tell my story.

but ... what do i do now? where do i go from here? what do i do "with my life"? (aside from create). i don't think i'll ever feel fulfilled in a 9 to 5. but right now, i have to find a way to make it work. i have a mortgage to pay, school loans, bills, a life to live. so boring job it is for now. for now.

i have to remember that.

this is only temporary.

alright blog world, thanks for letting me get that out. it's been a hard monday morning.

ideas! and a trip to papertales!

i was SUPER productive at work today.  and by SUPER productive, i mean, i got a lot of great house ideas.  i DESIGNED a "headboard" for our bedroom - and by headboard, i mean, it's not a headboard at all really.  it's like a shelving unit inside a frame that will be over our bed.  the way our bedroom is laid out, there's no space for a night stand next to the bed.  this is quite inconvenient, so the shelves will be great, a place to keep an alarm clock, some knick knacks, etc.  i'm gonna go to home depot this weekend and buy some wood, and then build! yey for DIY projects.  i will most definitely post pics of the process and final product (ok, i'm probably lying, considering I DON'T HAVE A CAMERA).

AFTER work, i convinced greg to go to paper tales.  i wanted to stop by since they redecorated and got in a tone of new product. seriously, love that place.  ended up leaving with two jenni bowlin papers (navy & the yellow one on the top rack in this pic that's called "victoria" ), tickets (pink brown and greyish "who where when"), and mini bingo cards (lucky, home, adore, etc), a pink paislee overlay (like the hambly's but a bit thinner), and a hambly dandelion page, as well as a chipboard accordion book and memory box. 

also today, i added quite the collection to my "flickr favorites" here's the most recent page of my faves:

1. Bedroom via pointclickhome, 2. Emma Cassi bedroom, 3. Mark Lund white floors in bedroom, 4. designpublic.dk bedroom2, 5. Carrie's apartment SATC movie, 6. White floor, bedroom, via Desire to Inspire, 7. Bedroom via Living Etc, 8. Alan Higgs pink & lime living room, 9. White, pinks, yellow via marie claire maison, 10. em's*tattoos, 11. Living room, 12. Sunny Side pillow, 13. bed, 14. The Kitchen-Kitsch cabinet in all its glory, 15. Untitled, 16. Untitled, 17. Untitled, 18. Red: Color Me Monday, 19. Ma petite chambre, 20. Grow, 21. Cole and Son Cow Parsley, 22. I collect blankets., 23. Tutorial #5 - August Means", 24. Guest Room, 25. Chair portrait, 26. jamesmerrell.co.uk, 27. creature comforts, 28. The Home of Emma Cassi, 29. The Home of Emma Cassi, 30. il_fullxfull.25399751, 31. Tutorial #2, 32. Tutorial #1, 33. from Cottage Living website, 34. from Cottage Living website, 35. Domino Mag Inspiration, 36. treats by mail

CAMERA HELP PLEASE!

ok, please please please people, help me here...

i am in DESPERATE need of buying a camera / learn how to take pictures and not simply just point and shoot and hope for the best. whether this means i need a certain kind of camera or just need to learn a few tricks (or an editing program) - i think i'm ready to learn. i seriously am so bad at technology and wish i just had a friend that was awesome and would take amazing pictures for me, but really, i should just suck it up and learn how.

SO, suggest a camera, an editing program, a photo taking tutorial - anything and everything!

THANKS YOU MY LOVES!

xox, dain

I have loved Rachel's Art Journal class. It's been nice to work on something different - and in a lot of ways it's more up my alley than traditional scrapbooking. Guess it's that inner Art Therapist in me. I wish wish wish I had a camera to take pics of the pages I've done, even though most aren't complete yet since I don't have pictures to use! It's kind of hard a)not having a camera (other than a polaroid) and b)having lost all of my pictures when my harddrive crashed. SO, i'm hoping i can borrow a camera soon so I can finish the prompts - though the ones without pictures I've finished, and I've worked on the backgrounds and journaling for those that do need pictures. She's offering up a new set of prompts - on sale now at her etsy shop, here. I'll be signing up, of course.

I finished the mini book for my sister to take to South Africa (just in time, she leaves next week!) It turned out cute. Used mostly Heather Bailey's line. Super adorable. I hope it doesn't get trashed in her travels - a little worn is ok, of course, it adds character.

I have decided that I want to look more seriously in to opening a business. Not next week, not next month, maybe not next year. But in the next 5, I'd like to open up a shop. I know I have it in me - and I know that I want so badly to create a space that mixes the things I love - art, stationery, home decorating. A little botique of beautiful accessories, artsy touches, some jewelry, some bath products perhaps. I really want my friend Carrie to do this with me - she's an interior designer and has a great eye, I think it'd be fun and rewarding. And it's just something that's in me - I've tried to run away from it, but I really know that at the end of the day I want to have a business. We'll see, it's a long long way off.

Alright for now, back to the day job - perhaps a flickr inspiration post later tonight! Need to get some color on this blog!

xox, dain

9 minutes left at work ...

caught up a little on some blogs during my lunch hour ... so sad what an effect it's had on me not read up on my lovely blog reads!

i also got a chance to print the prompts for rachel's class - so i'm determined to work on them this week. gotta get some of this creative energy out - i think i'm in a funk - can't seem to express myself lately.

today is a special day. it's mine & my boy's 6 year anniversary. crazy. i think i need to do some reflecting on the past 6 years, maybe that will inspire a layout or mini book or journal entry, or something!!!

hope you are all well. xox.

RIP dear macbook

my macbook's hardrive crashed. don't know why. it happened sometime btwn wednesday night at bedtime & thursday morning when i woke up. i lost everything. it's my own fault, i know, and i don't want to hear about it - god, i cried in the apple store. i should have had it backed up, yada yada, seriously, how many freaking people have told that to me ... i know. i know. i'm seriously devestated. it's so silly, to be so upset - but god to think about the amount of photos, documents, music - all lost. to the computer heavens. and worst of all is i haven't had internet access at home since then, and i won't for 3-5 more days, so i haven't had any chance to read blogs & work on the journal class that Miss Rachel Denbow is hosting. SO PISSED. grrrrrrrrrrr. so i'm updating from work, real quick. no blogging, no facebook, no myspace, no email at home for a few more days ... so so sad.

my new motto is "Strew Flowers In Life's Way"

today in the mail i got a free people, anthropologie & ikea catalogue. such good stuff, can't wait to cut em up and use them in some projects. love love love catalogues. 

i also was super super excited to find out i was the winner on sweet sweet sweet kate's blog, i have never ever won anything before (that i can remember at least) - so it's even more fun! plus i think she's fabulous & can't wait to see my mini.  all in all, a pretty good day indeed.  

i really need to get some ink cartridge's for my printer because i'm  totally slacking on printing pictures to scrapbook.  i haven't scrapped any actual pictures in FOREVER.  and my best friend from college is FINALLY sending me our "back and forth" scrapbook after having it for, ahem A YEAR AND A HALF.  we take turns working on it - scrapping things of us together and then also of things that occur while we're apart so we can share that part of our lives.  it's cute.  so i need to print pics to use for that, i can't wait to get it and see what she's done, i'll have to take some pictures of it to post.  love that girl, she's so amazing talented. i keep bugging her to get on flickr or get a blog.  

i ordered more polaroid film too, phew.  i need to stock up! 

rachel's art journal class starts tomorrow, so excited, definitely needing some focus & inspiration.  

art journal class

i am super excited, i've signed up for a spot for rachel's art journal class ... i can't wait. i need some inspiration and i've been super stumped on journaling lately ... i know it'll be great, i love everything rachel does, and i absolutely loved the little journal kit i got from her a while back.  must must must eventually sign up for the red velvet kit club, i adore it, just haven't felt like i should spend the money ... but soon, especially now that i'm working 40 hrs/wk.  anyway, just wanted to update about rachel's class - go check it out! 

quilting

i posted a few more pics up on flickr, including some of the queen size quilt that i designed & quilted (with the help of my mom) for our bed. the story of the quilt - last may when i moved home after graduating from college, i decided i needed a project. i had made a quilt in 6th grade during summer camp at quilt-in-a-day, and since then, it's been my cherished bedspread. anyway, my mom has been in to quilting off and on for a while, she's such a perfectionist so she loves sewing perfect corners and all of that, haha. so anyway, we went up to quilt in a day and i started picking out all this pretty fabric, and then of course i had to pick a pattern to make. well, me being me, picks a quilt that's hanging up on the wall that is the one quilt in the whole damn place that they don't have an instruction book on, and no one even really knows what the deal is with it. well, i INSIST that it's what i want to make. the one hanging was a lap quilt. i wanted to make a queen. so, i ask for some graph paper, and with my neck straining up to 30 feet high, i draw out the pattern and then mathematically figure out how to expand it into a queen, how much fabric i'll need, how many different patterns of fabric, etc. it was seriously intense, everyone thought i was absolutely crazy. but i did it. and then, slowly over the past year, i cut all the pieces, sewed all the pieces, etc. then, it sat unattended to in my closet at my mom's house for months. and then finally we went to a quilt workshop that's offered through the community colleges and got advice from some serious quilters on how to finish it, and now it's done, and on out bed, and i love it. i love that greg & i sleep every night under the blanket that i made. it's so special. i love it.

a picture is worth a thousand words

ok, finally some pics. please excuse the poor quality, i am NO photographer & have no patience to learn editing and all of that. i just point & shoot.

most of my mini books:

some pages from my newest mini book a la elise blaha:

cover of the mini book i'm making for my sister to take with her when she goes abroad in the fall:

some pics of my mini book a la rachel denbow:



yesterday i took a class over at paper tales taught by amy hanson and this is what i made, i love it!:


the BEAUTIFUL black shabby chic hutch i got at pat's corner:

quote i painted underneath the bar (it's a jack johnson quote that says "it's not always easy and sometimes life can be deceiving i'll tell you one thing it's always better when we're together"):

i've been busy on many different projects and i'm dying to post pics! gosh. not having a digital camera is killing me.  i'm gonna try to get my sister to come over tomorrow and bring hers so i can post the mini books i'm working on, the necklace i made today at paper tales (so fun! i had such a good time) and the beautiful new hutch i bought a few weeks ago.  plus some other house hold projects.  so much! one of the mini books i'm working on is using some polaroids from my birthday last weekend, and i'm finally putting rachel denbow's book kit to good use. it's so cute.  it's a lot more writing than i usually do, and less scrapbook-y, but i like it.  and i got elise's "she could think of thousands of reasons to believe in fairy tales" paper kit and i can't wait to start working on that when i'm done with my birthday book. i have a bad bad habit of starting projects and never finishing them.  

this is turning out to be the best weekend ever.

i spent some time yesterday over at paper tales (my fave!) ... had to pick up a few more things for my sister's mini book ... and of course, picked up a few things for myself ... and signed up for this awesome charm necklace class that they are having on july 26.  so excited! love the girls over at paper tales (thank you michelle & helle) ... they told me about this awesome place in north park called Pat's Corner ... so my sister and i drove over there straight from paper tales and OF COURSE, i found this AWESOME black shabby chic hutch that they had literally JUST FINISHED refinishing, and it is now mine for a sweet $125 - plus i paid 20 bucks more for them to deliver it ... SAME DAY, so now i have the awesome hutch sitting in my condo, and it looks so perfect.  i'm in love with it.  the other REALLY COOL THING about pat's is that you can bring in furniture for them to refinish (repair, paint, shabby-chic it out) ... sooo going to bring them two chairs i have that needed repairing and painting! the house is really coming along! we even bought a 32 inch flat screen tv on friday (i think i have lost my mind?) .... i am going to borrow my sister's camera again SOON hopefully so i can post new pictures of the house & of a bunch of mini books i have going! 

happy 4th of july ... guess i should go eat a burger & drink some beer?

my head is going to BURST with ideas. i need someone to help me narrow it all down.  i'm on overdrive.

walked on over to Vintage Religion, which i've been meaning to visit since i moved in to the neighborhood.  such goodies in that place! got some awesome PaPaYa! cards and came home to spend the next hour and a half getting all googely eyed at Anahata Katkin's work.  OMG, can you say, NEW OBSESSION.  also go an awesome " MAKE ART NOT WAR" poster that i want to frame for the craft room.  i'm thinking a cool decorative black frame ... something like the frame above on the right but in black and rectangular ... links anyone?? (thank you amy rice from flickr) 

still on an intense wallpaper hunt.  i'm thinking something green - lime / chartreuse ish ... damask maybe?  some type of cool print.  or maybe i should seriously just use me some brocade hambly overlays .... so much love.  

home sweet sweet sweet home

lately i've been getting the urge to work on the house.  the living room wall / eat in kitchen wall is HUGE, and i'm talking HUGE ... 20-25 feetish high.  so in the living room part i want to make a "frame" out of crown molding for some awesome wallpaper in a 105in X 77in rectangle behind the couch.  i got the idea from the pic above on flickr (thank you homebug)

so, if you have wallpaper suggestions, post them!! (ok, i would LOVE LOVE LOVE to just slap tons of hambly on the wall, BUT i don't know if that's practical?  any input?) 

ok, the craft room needs a lot of work,  i can't even see the floor right now because there are piles after piles after piles of stuff. paper, magazines, cardboard boxes, bubble wrap, paint, beads, embellishments, stickers.  i need shelving, or something.  DESPERATELY.  

i think those are my two top priorities, craft room and wallpapering the living room, because i think whatever wall paper i fall in love with will determine the rest of the living room - since i can't seem to make up my mind about the color scheme / theme of the room.  

so overall, i just need some awesome home inspiration.  i need to go thrifting / garage sale-ing bad,  any san diego peeps want to go this weekend? 

polaroids & mini books galore!

quick quick update --- i finally got my hands on a polaroid camera. phew. for free, with 3 brand new 10 picture cartridges. yey! can't wait to start snapping away ... can't wait to do some sort of mini book project. i will be posting soon, i made a new mini book for keeping quotes that i like in. and i'm almost done with the mini book for my sister.

adventures in babysitting ...

well, sunday marked the beginning of caring for 3 children for the next 16 days. the parents are off to a land far far away (israel) and have left me in charge. a just graduated high school 18 year old girl, a 16 year old girl, and a 12 year old boy. i have my hands full. within the first, yes, FIRST, five hours of them being in my care the oldest two each had a new hole in their bodies. the 18 year old with one in her tongue, the 16 year old with one in her nose. i was not pleased. i don't think their parents will be either. i handled the situation well, as always.

hopefully the rest of the days will go more smoothly now that they know they can't get away with the kind of behavior. seriously, i mean, i remember being a teenager - but seriously?!?

anyway, today i want to cool scrapbook stuff in poway and got a few things - hambly of course (bamboo overlay, some more woodgrain (duhhhh), mod circles) ... some thickers, and some felt letters. i brought over my "travel" scrapbook kit - meaning a shoe box and a 12 x 12 box ... filled with random stuff to work on. haven't yet, but i intend to - gotta work on the book for my sister and just gotta CREATE, since it's been a few days.

alright, gotta take the kiddos to souplantation. wish me luck, i might need it!

bright and early saturday morning ...

ok so my internet is all wonky ... which has thrown off my plans to be super on top of things and post pictures! it only successfully uploaded one picture, so that's all you get.  sorry blogworld. 

i think i should take a class on photo editing / photography in general, and maybe one about web design or graphic design or something.  i think i would get ridiculously frustrated, and i'd probably be terrible at it ... but i see people's awesome things and i'm like grrrr why can't i do that. haha.  i just don't think i have the patience.  i'm all about instant gratification.  

random stuff:  a while ago i remember hearing about ifoundyourcamera and thought it was cool.  today i got linked to it from postsecret and was curious ... what a great site.  i think it'd be so cool to be reunited with old pictures. i'm sure i've lost a disposable or two at some point in my life that i don't even remember and it'd be awesome to stumble across it years later, so i can only imagine how people feel if they've found photos from trips or of loved ones, etc. 

oh, and, i'm currently really loving mandi's stuff ... check out her blog.  amazing things over there!

went over to papertales yesterday after work (seriously, can i hang out there everyday without being considered a stalker?) got some new hambly woodgrain (yey, i was almost out .. i literally use every little scrap of that paper ... mmmmmm ... i hoard it.  i want it in every color.) & a sheet of out on a limb, got some cute little journaling pages (making memories note worthy ... can't find the actual one i bought but i know there's a pic on the papertales blog), some jenni bowlin vintage inspired journaling pages, and some jenni bowlin punctuation raffle tickets, and an awesome sassafrass 12x12 ... (all my heart) 

so now i'll leave you with the one picture that uploaded .... 

a self timer pic of alana & i before the sex and the city pre screening.  sorry it's such a bad pic. 

an update, in list form.

i'm proving to be unreliable with this whole photo thing.  i'll work on it, i promise.  i've been so busy this past week! 

1. i got a new job, phew.  working as a case manager for the ymca child resource service. wow- a job in the field that i think i want to go in to (social work)! go me.

2. the day i accepted the new job i also got a phone call from paper source for a 2nd interview, very exciting.  that's on friday.  i don't have my hopes up, but i'm still going to do it, what the heck.

3. i started on a mini-book for my sister to take with her to south africa when she studies there in the fall.  she wants to bring an album of pictures to share with her host family etc, about her life here in the states.  so i'm putting it together all scrapbook-y and cute. 

4. i just ate an eclair and it was delicious. yummm.

5. i did not do as much art as i wanted to this past week.  i have received rachel's book kit and while i've marveled over the loveliness of it, i've yet to make it, it's sitting on the living room floor in the pile of craftiness that will eventually be made in to several mini books.  why on the living room floor you ask, when i have a perfectly good craft ROOM, yes and entire ROOM of crafty goodness?  well, i have a perfectly good explanation for that - the craft room is a complete DISASTROUS MESS and there's no way i can work up there.  this leads me to number 6.

6. i have yet to be home for a period of time long enough to clean anything in the house.  i just tackled the pile of dishes that had been piling up in the sink for days. there are piles everywhere that need to be put away.  i'm just so tired by the time i get home, and waking up at 5 am has proven more difficult than i imagined.  i'm waiting for a whole weekend of nothingness so i can put our home back together. 

7. i spent part of last week in la with my best friend, alana, and her husband, sam.  alana and i went to the skyy vodka (aids benefit) vip pre-screening of sex and the city on THURSDAY (a day before it was out) in hollywood.  it was fabulous.  absofuckinglutely lovely.  after the showing there was a q&a with michael patrick king and the one and only kristin davis (aka charlotte york).  she looked stunning, and is, honest to god, the cutest little thing.  i loved the movie, and loved spending some quality time with alana.  we also went to the skirball museum and saw the exhibit on bob dylan.  it was good, but i wasn't super impressed.  oh, and how can i forget, we also ate not 1, not 2, not 3, but 4, yes, 4, cupcakes at sprinkles.  ok, it wasn't that bad, three of us shared 4 cupcakes.  they are so good.  we got chai latte, pumpkin, red velvet, and black & white.  if you go to the site, be prepared to drooooool all over your keyboard. no joke.

8. i feel like i had so much more to write about, but i'm kind of drawing a blank. 

i've had a productive sunday morning.  i woke up at the ungodly hour of 6am ... couldn't fall back asleep, the cats were crying for attention at the closed bedroom door, which was peculiar since they had plenty of food and water.  anyway, i read until about 8 when i managed to roll out of bed and clean up around the house.  greg & i finally remembered to get the special stove top cleaner when we were doing errands yesterday - so i cleaned the stove and put away the new kitchen things that we brought over from my moms.  the house is looking more and more unpacked, which is a good thing, considering it's been ... eeek, going on  month 5 since i "unofficially" moved in, and going on month 4 since greg's been out here.  i just want the house to be DONE, but i know that it's going to take quite a bit more time - i have furniture to paint, furniture to buy, art to put up, kitchen stuff to purchase, linens & all that stuff to purchase.  the mixture of hand-me-downs and things i'd purchased over the past few years in anticipation of having a place that was TRULY my (our) own is definitely nice, but i dream of the day that everything in our house is something i've picked out because i LOVE it not because it was free. 

oh, i can dream.

tomorrow the goal is to FINALLY post some more pictures of the craft room and things i've been working on ...

hope you are having a good 3-day weekend! xox.

i just ordered a journal kit from rachel in her etsy shop ... super excited!  

destiny.

does anyone else get excited when people comment on their blogs?  it seriously makes my day, so thanks! 

well, i had a phone interview today for paper source.  FIRST, let me tell you, my lovely fellow san diegans, that paper source will be opening in SEPTEMBER in carlsbad at the forum. yey for us, right?! the forum is also home to anthropologie, zgallerie, and a bunch of other places ... some "mainstream" stores and some boutiques ... for those of you who have never been there. i also hear that free people is opening ... which would be really exciting.  anthro + free people + z gal + paper source, what more could i want?!  by the way my interior decorator friend carrie is the visuals girl at zgal at the forum so if you go there, say hi, haha, she's fabulous! 

anyway, my interview ... so, i have BARELY any retail / management experience.  ya, i minored in small business mgmt in college, and had an internship.  that's about the extent of it.  so i'm clearly not qualified to be the assistant manager of paper source.  i knew that.  but i thought, what the heck, i have nothing to lose.  the lady who interviewed me was a doll, and we had a nice chat and she seemed optimistic about my lack of experience.  she said that other things make up for it, and, worse comes to worse, would i be interested in a shift supervisor position instead.  seriously, i just want to work at paper source.  at this point, i'd be willing to freaking scrub the floor with a tooth brush (oh god, not really). a sample of how the convo went:

paper source lady: so what about the craigslist ad made you decide you'd want to work at paper source? (or something like that)

me: well, actually, i've wanted to work at paper source for forever, and in fact, i often joked about moving to la just so i could work there, even though i hate la with a passion.  gosh, i mean, how could i not want to work in a place that was filled with so much paper and prettiness? it really just makes sense, i mean, i hoard paper.  all kinds of it.  (but it didn't end there, i rambled on for like 10 more minutes about how much i love paper and how the stars and moon and sun must be alined perfectly and it's fate that a paper source is opening and needs employees JUST as i'm job hunting for like the 100th time in the past 2 years.  clearly, destiny at work) ... yes, i was that long winded and dorky. 

paper source lady: oh good, so you're familiar with our store ...

me: yes, i'd say so.

pictures of our home!

so apparently i'm a terrible photographer / photo editor and have no patience for that kind of thing.  (see, i really do suck at technology) BUT i still wanted to post these pics of the house.

amazing bookshelf that i got at the rustic rooster in cardiff (i am so in love with that place) there's a decorative floral motif at the top of it that's hard to see.  above this on the wall is the cluster of frames.

cluster of frames above the book shelf. still a work in progress, as half the frames are empty (and ugh, i fixed the crooked black on in the top right corner, don't worry).  the empty space below the black one is for a decorative plate that i framed but need to get a hook for.   this is in the entry to our bedroom by the way.
another purchase from rustic rooster is this awesome planter's table that i'm using in my craft studio.  it's a delicious blue and perfectly warn in.  i think it's one of my favorite purchases.
a little vignette that sits on the top of the white bookshelf on the left side.  i've played around with these a lot and have a feeling that they will be forever changing, but for now this is it.  the glass case is home to my grandmother's thimble collection.
the other little vignette with an altered book that i made a while ago.  well, i just decorated the outside, i never got to the inside ... maybe someday. 


ok that's it for now, in a bit i'll post some projects!!! 

jobs, obsessions, decorating, etc!

so for the past few months i've gotten increasingly obsessed with the idea of working in a paper / scrapbooking store. but not a lame one like scrapbook your life or even cool scrapbook stuff in poway (which i love, just wouldn't want to work there, i don't know how to describe why). anyway i have always LOVED paper source. like, omg, love that place. in college my classes were mostly in a building RIGHT ACROSS the street from one and god i loved going there. beautiful papers, fun cards & crafty gift things. god, it's just pure LOVE. and then, of course, i read elise's blog, and she works at the paper source where she lives in dc, and the obsession has just blossomed from there.

OK, to the point. yesterday i was browsing craigslist as i do every day because i'm going to be jobless in 4 weeks, and GUESS WHAT?! A PAPER SOURCE IS OPENING IN CARLSBAD. now, carlsbad would not be the most fun commute since i've recently moved from north county to north park .. but, i think i totally would do it. I MEAN SERIOUSLY, a job where i get to be surrounded by PAPER AND PRETTINESS ALL DAY? i don't want to get myself over excited, because it probably won't happen. i don't have a ton of retail experience. BUT i have customer service experience and so much craftiness experience, haha.

i just REALLY want to work in an awesome environment and i love paper stores.

ok, look at me, again, going on and gushing about all this stuff.

so i took some pics on my sister's camera and i was all excited to post them and i realized that i didn't bring the cord that connects the camera to the laptop. grrrr ... so maybe this weekend i'll get it and then i can post some pics of the projects i've been working on AND the on going project that is our home sweet home ...

thats my second biggest obsession ... decorating our home. it's so nice that we finally have our own place that we OWN. greg even sometimes seems interested in the decorating which is awesome. a few weeks ago we hung up a bunch of picture frames for a "cluster" wall ... and the craft studio is starting to get more organized ... it's a slow process but totally worth it.

alright, time to go help with dinner! have a great weekend (it's going to be HOT HOT HOT here paper source, camera woes in san diego)

i could spend hours looking at scrapbooking products

i went to two scrapbook places this week that i had never been (one is BRAND new) ... the first place i went, "scrapbook your life" - was not such a great experience. it's HUGE which you'd think would mean a TON of GREAT inventory, but not so much. i was VERY disappointed in the selection and in the knowledge of the employee. she was clueless about their stock and just in general about scrapbooking product lines. they didn't have ANY of the hambly, KI pop culture, love elsie, or thickers that i wanted. i did get a few pieces of sassafrass paper. i was so sad when we left because i was hoping for some good new stuff to play with.

BUT, today was TOTALLY AMAZING. i went to Paper Tales, an awesome little paper boutique that JUST opened this month. IT IS AMAZING. first, it is decorated beautifully. it's cozy and welcoming and feels like a place you could spend time, not just a giant faceless warehouse. it has personality and feels like someone's studio. i think i loved it even more because it totally matches my decorating tastes. ANYWAY, the inventory was great. all the new lines that i had seen online - got some hambly, and HEATHER BAILEY! ah! also got a few other things ... can't remember off the top of my head and too lazy to go upstairs to the craft studio ... sorry! SO FREAKING AWESOME. anyway i felt like such a dork while i was there because i was totally just gushing over the place. the owner, michelle, was friendly and knowledgeable and we talked about blogworld, which obviously was exciting since the only other person i really talk to it about is the boy, greg, and he's clearly not that interested in my paper / blog obsession. SO, the bottom line is that if you are in san diego, you must must must go to this shop. i can see myself spending a LOT of time there in the future.

ok, time to go play with my new stuff!

camera drama & so on.

i finally have my sister's camera, and i set out to take pictures of some of the things i've been working on lately, along with the prettyness that is my new home. BUT i can't get the pictures to come out well ... the color is all distorted and they don't look pretty like the photos that other bloggers post. haha, of course, that has NOTHING to do with the photographer right? i CAN'T BE TO BLAME for the crappy pictures. i think i just don't know how to play with the settings on her canon powershot and all that stuff about lighting and whatnot. i'll make an attempt again this weekend when i have some more time (& patience) to play around with technology.

so, once again, i'll leave you with some flickr love. sorry this blog is so dull. (oh, and a mini flickr rant - i hate when i want to post mosaics and blocks show up blank because people opted out of the mosaic thing, it makes me sad that i can't share the beauty!)



"1. more blues, 2. 20/366, 3. Untitled, 4. Untitled, 5. Dining room storage, 6. valentine leaves, 7. ready to go, 8. making stuff, 9. sidewalk 4, 10. from the doorway, 11. greens, 12. Untitled, 13. 035 : 365 dec 28 pause., 14. happy new year, 15. postcard / rare device, 16. 341: 1.7.08, 17. Ruby Reds, 18. suitcases, 19. christmas project #3 : advent boxes, 20. the houses, 21. green shelf, 22. my latest display, 23. new wall, 24. shadows, 25. hand made rolodex, 26. Dandelion World, 27. My Pastel Pink Heart, 28. Bingo journal, 29. Inspiration013, 30. Vintage game pieces, 31. Studio44, 32. Weird colored but delicious, 33. my desk-spot, 34. oranges, 35. Untitled, 36. at rock:paper:scissors">


OH, and as soon as pics can be taken i'm going to post some stuff to etsy for the first time, SO EXCITING! yey me.

blog world sometimes makes me feel like a major stalker.

oh well.

aw, flickr is love. i can't get enough of it.  

1. D, 2. D, 3. d, 4. ., 5. All Products, 6. DSC_0050, 7. DSC_0048_2, 8. 20 things, 9. My craft shop in the barn during the summer season., 10. unexpectedly, 11. Cherry Blossom Sky, 12. finding / found, 13. neonbike, 14. Dahlia XIII, 15. immediate embarkation, 16. Les vols éclo[t]s, 17. Untitled, 18. let your heart speak, 19. without a word, 20. Etsy: Take 5 Tuesdays, 21. Me, completely exposed and covered in glitter., 22. In the arms of the angels may you find some comfort here, 23. ..., 24. more blues, 25. 20/366, 26. Untitled, 27. Untitled, 28. Dining room storage, 29. valentine leaves, 30. ready to go, 31. making stuff, 32. sidewalk 4, 33. from the doorway, 34. greens, 35. Untitled, 36. 035 : 365 dec 28 pause.

so my sister comes home from college next week and i'll finally get to snap some pics of the things i've been working on, since she has a working camera. yay! 

i have so many mini books going on ... they are totally my new obsession (thank you elise).

i really wish life wasn't so stressful so i could finally sit down and figure out blog world // the online scrapbook  / paper art community ... i feel overwhelmed by all the blogs / challenges / sistv / kit clubs, etc etc.  it's like whoa, where do i start! 

i've been realizing lately how badly i'd like to have some local crafty friends to do projects with.  i totally love being in my craft room working on stuff, but it'd be super fun to have a friend or two who was also into this stuff.  my friends from college & i used to do craft nights every week -ish and i really miss that.  i miss having good girlfriends.  making friends as an "adult" in the "real world" is hard.

 

flickr favorites are love

oh blog world, i don't know if i'm ready

i'm kind of overwhelmed by this whole thing.  i'm consumed by this web of finding blogs - clicking from one person to the next, to the next.  and i'm starting to realize that A) i live in the wrong part of the country and B) i am so not cut out for all this technology (how do i make my blog look cool, how do i post my favorite from flickr, how do i link other people's blogs to mine, oh my god, i need to do some SERIOUS research) and C) maybe i'm just not cool enough for all these amazing people that i internet stalk. haha.  (i'm only half kidding).  

goal for the next week: figure out this technology stuff.  and find a freaking camera.  

as soon as i figure this out, i'm making a giant inspiration post!!!!!!! eeeeeeeeeeeeek.

hello blog world.

well, today is the day.  i've been slacking on this whole "starting a blog thing" for a while now ... mostly (ok, well, entirely) because i don't have a working camera.  because what's the point of blogging about my life and my arts & crafts (which is what i primarily plan on using this thing for) if i don't have a working camera ... right?  but perhaps this will motivate me to work it out, to get a camera, start taking pics, learn how to actually use this thing (ugh, i tried on livejournal for a while but everytime i wanted to post a pic it was a big ol' production because i couldn't remember how from the last time i attempted).  anyway, so today's the day i'll begin, in hopes that it'll launch me in and motivate me to do the things i want to do ... to get involved in the whole online scrapbooking / paper art world.  i just suck at the whole using technology thing.  quite good at obsessively reading / blog stalking, but not so good at the other stuff.  but today that all changes.

 and i'll leave you today with the quote that my blog name is from ---  "the beautiful is everywhere; perhaps more in the arrangement of your saucepans on the while walls of your kitchen than in your eighteenth-century living room or in official museums" - fernand leger