[ little observations ]

little "hun"

2012-02-02T14:52:00.001-05:00

We said goodbye to my grandmother over the weekend. It was ashort fight with pancreatic cancer, but in reality it was too long if you askme. I wish she had not experienced a single day of it. But, in true fashion,she did so with strength, grace, and an unwavering faith in God and what wasahead for her. And so a life well-lived came to an earthly end and I amthankful for the inspiration she brought to my family and my life. I am a fewdays late in posting this because I have been working out in my head what Iwanted to say about her. The truth is, she was never one for bringing muchattention to herself, so I will honor that and not plaster everything about herlife all over my blog. Instead, I will just share a small, yet big, part ofherself that she passed onto me. The love of antique shopping and estate sales.It was here, alongside of her, that I discovered a love for these stores andthe inspiration they brought to me. We would spend mornings wandering throughstore after store, and it became one of the few places that would spark myimagination and get my creative brain going. I would envision how I could usethe mismatched china set for an afternoon lunch, or the milk glass vase for mymakeup brushes, or the old quilt on a wall. Over the years I collected for myselfand began to find my own style. It was a mix of her (the elegant cut crystal,white milk glass, silver, and white linens) and me (organic objects, woods,graphic patterns, plants, pottery). I treasure every summer morning spent thisway and rarely do I go into an antique store and not think of her. This was the beginning of what I have begun to realize is a bigger calling—for my careerand craft. She will always be the root and inspiration for me.

There is something so bold about genetics and how we can have so much of a familymember in us. It is meant to be this way, written out long before we can knowit. In this way, our lives can be beautiful. I cannot say why I always had moreof a connection with her than I have with others, but I can say that over theyears the line has been blurred as to what is her influence and what isactually me. I am grateful I had so much time with her and knew her in the wayI was suppose to, as a grandmother. We all play the roles we are supposed toplay—sibling, spouse, parent, grandparent, friend—and they are important forspecific reasons. Although I will say, I think we all remember her as graceful,devoted, classic, quiet, and strong. She will always be there when I see red andpink roses, crisp white linens, cut crystal and milky white glass. She will bethere when I find myself wandering through my house rearranging my belovedobjects and feeling at ease when all is in place. Or when I use my good chinafor a simple afternoon lunch. When I pull out any of the pearls I have gatheredover the years, many from her, and feel suddenly polished. When I find myselfputting my family before any wish I would ever want for myself. When I findmyself unable to ever sit still and stop doing for those around me. Mostimportantly, when I sometimes catch glimpses of myself, as I grow older.

food photography

2012-01-23T10:13:00.002-05:00

I have been doing a little organizing and cleaning out in this new year. It is a great feeling to get things streamlined. I had a few days recently where I had some extra time to go through my phone and begin cleaning out some of the pictures I have taken over the last year or two. All of this to be said, because I realized how many pictures I actually have of food! Meals I have made, or enjoyed in a restaurant, or from the farmer's market. If you know me or have had a meal with me, you mostly like know it is a common thing for me to pull out my phone and photograph it before ever picking up a fork! I used to take these photos with my Nikon, but since I don't really have a food blog or an outlet like that, it seemed to be a little much. Now I just use my phone, because I always have it with me, and it seems less intense. I know I do this because of all of the beautiful colors that are naturally found in food, and also the creativity that comes from preparing it. But I am now realizing it is also a way of journaling. Documenting. As I scrolled through the pictures I could remember where I was, who I was with, why I wanted to "mark" that meal down in some way. Recently I downloaded a Hipstamatic lens called "Foodie." Again, if you know me, you most likely know I take a lot of Hipstamatic photos, so combining the two is perfect for this little tick of mine! Looks like I will not be stopping anytime soon! Here is a collection of some of my favorite shots from the last year and below a documentation of when they were taken!

Top left to right:

Dinner at Becco in NYC with Claire, that was the beginning of a fun and memorable night about town | Yazoo Gerst during one of my favorite Summer days spent by myself doing only what I wanted to do | Micheal Worthy's famous fish tacos during our vacation at the beach, I love every meal I have ever had with Michael and his wife/my best friend Brooke | gorgeous latte at Crema on a regular coffee date with Faith | Beef Bourguignon made by Faith for a perfect Fall dinner party at her house with Chris, Ellen, and Nekos | tomato soup with avocado during the cold quiet days of heavy snow at the beginning of the year | strussel muffins and fruit that was the start to one of the most fun yard sales ever | Silly Goose specialty "King Kong" couscous on a lovely summer evening with Claire | loads of produce from the Nashville farmer's market on the weekend of July 4th, that resulted in lots of pickled okra, frozen corn for the winter, and a festive cake for a cookout | apples from a trip with my parents to the farmers market in the fall, that was one of my favorite days | french toast from brunch with friends Adrianne and Megan | cheeseburger at the new local joint in East Nashville, The Pharmacy, on a really fun New Years Eve day with Nicholas | holidays flavors at Jeni's in East Nashville—a "night cap" after the performance of Charlie Brown Christmas at the Family Wash with Geoff, Katy, Claire, Susan, and Courtney | tacos from South Depot Taco Shop in Oxford, MS with Nicholas | Lunch at Edely's in 12 South before the holidays with friends Adrianne and Faith | Christmas turkey smoked by my brother-in-law Roy and it turned out gorgeous | bananas to go on toast with peanut butter and honey after a long new year's eve | strong cup of joe at Fido in Hillsboro Village with dear friend Kath while talking about life and the upcoming year

friday spin: blake mills

2012-01-20T11:30:00.001-05:00

I heard Blake Mills do a cover of Bob Dylan's "Heart of Mine" on Conan this week and have been a bit obsessed with him ever since. I have not really been familiar with him until now, although he has played with a lot of musicians that I do listen to— Dawes, Cass McCombs, Jenny Lewis, Band of Horses—so have most likely heard his amazing guitar playing all this time. But, he is doing his solo thing these days. I like Dawes and all of those other bands, but man, he is rockin' on his own. Here are a few of my favorites that have been on repeat this week.

2012

2012-01-02T21:48:00.000-05:00

I am a day late in the "new year" post because I spent January 1st giving myself permission to lay on the couch, watch the Law and Order: SVU marathon, and be lazy! However, I rang in the new year on a rooftop in downtown Nashville, dancing and laughing with friends. It has been years since I spent a New Year's Eve like that, but decided that I am 31, single again, and probably needed to mix it up a bit. I felt like it might be a good way to officially get back in the game. But really, it was just fun to get a new cocktail dress, put on heels, and feel a little sassy. I have mentioned before that I don't really make resolutions, and this year is no exception. However, I do actually feel more goal-oriented this year than I may have 12 months ago. Instead of just wishing for a year to go by without any sudden movements or changes I am ready to shift a few things about my life. I am grateful for the time I have had to be quiet and heal and gather myself back up. But, like a friend of mine recently said of her own goals for the new year, it is time to focus on myself and make changes for my life, that might get me to the next phase. And I finally feel confident enough that I am ready for that. So, here's to another one.

roots and reality checks

2011-12-29T13:52:00.000-05:00

Well there is nothing like finding out that your grandmother—one of the dearest people in your life—has an extensive form of cancer to snap you out of any bullshit sadness you may feel about where you think you are in your life. It is also a big reality check. We discovered that my grandmother has pancreatic cancer two days before Christmas, and it is far enough along to not be able to do anything about it. What a tough couple of days, but somehow spending Christmas day with my parents and grandparents in the hospital made perfect sense. There is a depth to what is happening with my grandmother and grandfather, that is so inspiring and so beautiful, it is hard to put it into words. I am thankful to have witnessed it all of these years. I am thankful to have some of those genetics in me. I am so grateful for all of the time I have already had with "Little Hun", and any time I will have. I am in awe of the strength she has always possessed, even now when faced with this.

The holidays do have a way of bringing you back to your roots. It is hard to be in a room full of your family and not be reminded of who you are, where you have come from, and where you are going. I needed that jolt back to myself, just in time for the start of a new year. It is also difficult to be faced with something as overwhelming and large as the illness of a loved one, and not use any time together to help and love each other.

Maple-Soy Chex Mix

2011-12-19T13:01:00.000-05:00

Holidays are not the same if there are no treats involved, right?! I am not the biggest fan of all of the sweets, but Chex Mix on the other hand, is one of my favorites! I found this recipe this year and have made it a few times already to give to friends and family. The seasoning for it is a good combination of that sweet and savory mix that is hard to beat! Thought I would share in case anyone needed an easy go-to for an upcoming party!

Here is the original link for the recipe. I found that halving it was a more manageable amount to make at one time. It made roughly two pans worth of mix. Here is the slightly altered version that I came up with!

Maple-Soy Snack Mix

6 cups Rice Chex cereal

3 cups Wheat Chex cereal

2 cups cashews (I used the whole and halves mix)

1 cup almonds

2 cups pretzel sticks

1 stick unsalted butter

½ cup maple syrup

1/3 cup soy sauce

1/2 - 1 tbsp. Thai red curry paste

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Preheat the oven to 275ºF. In a large bowl, combine the cereal with the nuts and pretzel sticks.

In a medium saucepan, combine the butter, maple syrup, soy sauce, and curry paste and bring to a simmer, whisking to dissolve the curry paste. Pour the mixture over the snack mix and toss to coat completely. Season generously with salt and pepper and spread on 3 large rimmed baking sheets. Bake for 35 minutes, stirring 2 or 3 times and shifting the sheets, until nearly dry and toasted. Let cool completely, stirring occasionally. (The snack mix can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks. Recrisp if necessary.)

little blue ring

2011-12-18T12:24:00.000-05:00

my ring

original image

I stumbled upon this beautiful little blue ring one day while looking at some blogs, and fell for it so quickly I immediately "pinned" it! The original link for the source of the ring was no where to be found though. Bummer. Since then, I have found myself looking everywhere for this ring, or one similar. Online, at jewelry stores, even considered asking a jeweler if she could make it! And then the day came that I found it. It is so close to the picture that I pinned, I couldn't buy it fast enough. A little Christmas gift to myself!

Turquoise supposedly is a "healing" stone. There is also belief that it provides protection, strength, and good fortune to the wearer. I am fine with any of that being true, can't hurt I suppose! But mainly, I love that it is like a tiny blue moon on my hand. And the reminder to keep searching. Which strangely enough is the motto of 400 Moons:

"We surround ourselves with things that we love.
Objects that speak to our soul.
It may take us a long time to find each object,
but we keep searching until we do.

Even if it takes us many moons.

"you took my joy, I want it back"

2011-12-15T08:39:00.003-05:00

So… itturns out those stages of grief are real, and we can’treally bypass them even if we think we have. Even if we think plenty of time has passed. Dammit. Looks like the whole “depression”stage finally caught up with me and has been lingering around me for the last month or so. I am just glad torealize it hasn’t been a mental breakdown like I wasbeginning to think. What a joy-suckage depression is. Any peace or balance Iwas feeling, any understanding of a bigger picture or ability to overlook theday-to-day bullshit has been zapped completely by it. I don’tthink the cold rainy weather has helped, or the upcoming holidays, or stress atwork.

All of this has manifesteditself in a lot of daily frustrations and being pretty down on myself. It hasmade me reactionary, hopeless, and angry. There have been a lot of tears too. A lotof indifference and disconnect. The truth is, I am far enough away from all ofthe loss and complete 180 my life took over the last few years and it is sooverwhelming that the only thing I can do is shut down. And while shuttingcompletely down is not really an option for me, I have, for the first time inmy life, been giving myself permission to not have to immediately get thisfigured out and learn some big lesson from it. I have given myself permissionto say out loud that it sucks that all of this happened. And to not have tofollow that up with “BUT, I am…gratefulfor this, or I have learned this, or I understand this…”.No, I am mad and sad that all of this happened. Took me a long time to gethere. BUT, (I know I just said I am not saying “but…”)I am also over this grief sucking the joy from my soul, and while I can’tmake the process change or go faster, I can at least maybe take care of myselfin the meantime.

I opened a daily email blastabout two weeks ago, which lead me to an article, which lead me to the sourcefor that article that was a book about maintaining an inner peace beyond all ofour everyday stressors. Pretty sure I cried when I read further into this book!(I am not kidding about how on the edge of my wall I have been). The booksuggests simple shifts in your thinking that can help. For example, beforegetting out of bed in the morning, state your intention for the day. Such as, “Iam calm. I am helpful today.” To say it in the present tense affirmsit. It also sets the tone for you day. I have also found that I can go to those words when a moment arises that might cause me to react negatively. Another exercise is while getting ready for you day, you anticipate moments that areahead and you “release”them down the drain. There is another suggestion for when your brain is going a million miles and hour, spenda few minutes writing down your stream of thoughts. When you are done, take afew more minutes to go back and read over the thoughts from an observer’sperspective. This act can calm your brain and detach you a bit from any crazythinking. There is a practice of singing "You Are My Sunshine" to yourself when you are at odds with a loved one. The idea is that it will bring you back to a reality that life is short and you should make the most of moments with your loved one while you can. That realization helps you put small arguments into perspective and let it go much more easily.

I know I am not the only onewho has ever dealt with anything like this, and I guess that is why I amsharing it on this blog. Of course I wish I were writing some beautiful take onChristmas and the holidays and all of the joys that they bring. And sure, Ihave enjoyed time with my closest friends, and I love thelights of my tree, and I can’t wait to spend a long week in MS withsome of the most important people in my life. Believe it or not, I have beenlistening to Christmas songs since December 1 and have been excited for the holidays! But the reality is, no matter if it is a holidayor any regular old day, we are all dealing with things that may not be ideal.Or that we wish we could change, and we can’t just yet. And there arethings around every corner, that if we allow them, will take our joy. I don’tknow about you, but when you are hanging on to any last thread of joy that youmay have in your life, you cling pretty tight and find a way to get it back. Ihope these little mantras and exercises actually will help in the long run. Ihope that anyone else reading this blog might take something from it too. That "You Are My Sunshine" technique might actually come in handy over the next few weeks as we all cram too many loved ones into a short amount of time.

The title of this blog is taken from a Lucinda Williams song that has been running through my head. "You got no right to take my joy, I want it back. You got no right to take my joy, I want it back. You took my joy, I want it back. You took my joy, I want it back..." I have inadvertently turned this into a bit of a "mantra" if you will. It may not be envisioning worries going down a drain, but it sure does the trick in reminding me I am finally angry enough at the grief and sadness and stress and anything that else that does get in my way each day to keep me from the joy I am deserving of. Whatever works, right?!

giving thanks

2011-11-24T12:02:00.001-05:00

Thanksgiving will be a bit different for me this year. There will still be turkey, and dressing and cranberry sauce. I will gather with my friends this year instead of immediate family—although I consider them my “Nashville family”—and watch football and eat and drink too much, I am sure. There are also plans to get together on Friday for leftovers and visit with some dearly missed friends who will be in town. But this year, there will be a lot of time that will not be filled with family or friends or festivities. I will have a lot of time to myself. To work on a few personal projects, watch movies, cook, and just have some down time. This time alone is what I am most thankful for this year. Not because I don’t want to be around others, or because I even necessarily have to spend any time alone. It is because I have finally reached a place in my life where this is not a sad or difficult thing... to be alone some during a holiday... and to not be lonely at all. I am thankful to be where I am in my life, even if it is not quite where I wanted to be. And I am grateful for the strength and healing that God has given me.

I hope everyone enjoys the time they have with their loved ones gathered around, and the time you may have by yourself.Sending love and gratitude to all of those who are in my life and those who are no longer here. Happy Thanksgiving!

a long time coming...

2011-11-16T15:48:00.001-05:00

I posted back in August about the flooding, luckily minor flooding, that happened in my garage/studio, and that it caused me to get my space reorganized and cleaned up. I also mentioned that during the clean up process my worktable had finally given in and had enough. This prompted me to begin the search for something more than two tables pushed together and held tight with kraft paper!

The truth is I have been on this search for years. Long before I married E, moved into the house and slowly began to convert half the garage into studio space, I had been on this search. It began when I saw a table in a picture of a letterpress studio and I knew this was the perfect kind of table for me too. Plenty of flea markets, garage sales, odd furniture stores and online searches later, and still, nothing. In most cases, my lack of patience would have swayed me to just buy any table that would work, but I have learned that sometimes waiting for what I know is just right is a better option. Because the luxury of time was no longer available, and finding this perfect table was not happening, what else does a girl do but go to her daddy to see if HE can build it! My dad is not only handy, but also creative, and when it comes to solving something, well he is your man! It took a few hours of wandering around Lowe’s to find all that we needed, and then only a few more to get it put together. And before I knew it, years of waiting were over. This in itself is a great feeling, but having my father help me with it makes it even better! Trust me, I know that it may not be as complex or fancy as some out there, so why do I love it so much? Well, it is the perfect height for ME, it rolls, plenty of storage underneath, long enough to have multiple projects going at once, it is simple and utilitarian, and it was built specifically for me by someone who believes in everything that I will create here. Yep, I was right about this one—waiting was the better option.

keep going

2011-11-06T16:07:00.003-05:00

Flat Press Studio "Keep Going" print, silkscreen on found map

The last few weeks have been so hectic I have hardly had extra space in my head to work on any posts! We go through phases at the museum that become so overwhelmingly busy, it is hard enough to get the work for that day done, much less anything else that may be on the list. This will continue well into next year, so I have to just mentally prepare myself to keep my head down and stay focused. It somehow always gets done.

But work has not been the only thing keeping me busy. There has been plenty of live music, friends in town, and beautiful Fall weather to get in the way too. However, all of those things have helped me keep my life balanced.

friday spin: lana del rey

2011-10-28T11:01:00.002-04:00

A year or so ago I got satellite radio and have never looked back! There are so many times a song will come on that I want to check out further, so I take a picture of the screen with my phone to basically jot the song down. The day I heard Lana Del Rey's song "Blue Jeans" was no exception, and I couldn't get to my phone fast enough!

There is a lot of hype and criticism out there about Lana Del Rey. She exploded onto the scene with her self-made video for the single "Video Games" in August and became a YouTube sensation. The criticism of her image being garnered by her managers and lawyers, including changing her name, has people wondering if she really has talent. Selective interviews and her stylized sultry image only add to the hype of whether she is a manufactured artist or the real deal.

I think she has a lot more going than most of the artists out there, so I am on board!

"Blue Jeans"

"Video Games"

friday spin: Hayes Carll

2011-10-14T10:46:00.000-04:00

There has been so much good music coming through Nashvillethe past few months, and every time I am out at a show I feel so grateful to besmack in the middle of a place—physically and personally—where I can experienceit. Hayes Carll played Mercy Lounge on Wednesday night as part of the AMAConference that is in town right now, and I had four cool girlfriends to gowith! I love Hayes Carll, and maybe it was the vibe of the night, but I made abold statement that he has moved into my “top 5” list. I may have jumped thegun on that one and declared that in the heat of the moment though, because I amusually careful to never really finalize that list. Too much commitment!However, I do feel confident in saying that he lives in the realm with ahandful of other artists that have my heart. Maybe it is that twang, or how hedraws it all out so much, but I dig everything about him!!

"It's a Shame"

"Stomp and Holler"

"A Girl Downtown"

"Hard Out Here"

"KMAG YOYO"

"I Don't Wanna Grow Up"

words to inspire

2011-10-04T17:01:00.001-04:00

wilco

2011-09-30T13:00:00.002-04:00

I am going withsome friends to hear Wilco on Saturday night. They just released a new album onTuesday, so I have been listening to it all week to be more familiar with whatthey will probably be playing at the show! I love Wilco—and am excited that this current albumis returning a bit to some of their earlier stuff. Even though I have seen themplenty of times over the years, and have heard all of my favorite songs fromold albums, I am secretly hoping they will bring a few of those back out thisweekend. Here are two songs from the new album that I am digging. And then a handful from older albums that I can never get enough of!

“I Might”

“Dawned on Me”

“You and I” (with Feist)

“I’ll Fight”

“California Stars”

“Jesus, Etc.”

“Forget the Flowers”

“Far, Far Away” (a little shout out to Ken Coomer onthe drums! Look at that hair! Love it!)

“Late Greats”

words to inspire

2011-09-28T13:33:00.003-04:00

friday spin: Soundland

2011-09-23T14:20:00.000-04:00

M. Ward at War Memorial Auditorium, September 21, 2011

Soundland is hasbeen happening in Nashville since Wednesday evening, and I am so pumped that Ibit the bullet and got a wristband. You can’t beat fabulous live music, much less four days ofit. Here is a sampling of what I have heard, and will be hearing!

Dawes "Western Skyline"

M. Ward “Fuel for Fire”

M. Ward “Oh Lonesome Me”—He played this with a couple of the guys from Lambchop and it was so great. It was even better to see the young hipster music scene kids sitting next to me have no idea who they were!

Foster the People “Pumped Up Kicks”

Jason Isbell “Cigarettes and Wine”

Codeine

Justin TownesEarle “Slippin’ and Slidin’”—Love this video, Joshua Black Wilkins is one of my favorite photographers in town, so no doubt his videos are equally impressive!

“Harlem River Blues” on Letterman. With Jason Isbell onguitar!

Jessica LeaMayfield “I’ll Be The One You Want Someday”

Apache Relay “Home Is Not Places”

end of summer

2011-09-22T12:15:00.001-04:00

“And so with thesunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as thingsgrow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginningover again with the summer.”

(F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby)

I love that line “life was beginning over again with thesummer..” I love itbecause I relate to it. I have always felt that I was most alive in thesummers. I was born during one of the hottest ones in Mississippi, so that might be why.With this Summer coming to an end, I can’t really say though that I felt as if my life “started over” or anything. Maybe it is better to saythat these last few months have been more focused on living and less focused onlife ending. This is a bittersweet thing, but I have to welcome it.

Fall is prettymuch here. I am already making pot roasts, turning the air conditioner off, andordering fall flavored coffees for my Keuring! The Harvest Moon has come and gone and when we wake up tommorrow it will officially be Fall. I amslightly bothered by how quickly time is moving, but I suppose that is what Ilove about the seasons. The excitement as each new one begins distracts from howquickly a year can go by.

So I am sayinggoodbye to a summer that was quiet but eventful. I was blessed with relaxing eveningswith friends—old and new, precioustime with family, and plenty of projects to keep my creative side going. I hada chance to heal my soul by the ocean, and later wake it up in the city. Therewas a lot of time to myself (which I have finally settled into), as well asmany opportunities to remind myself that I am fortunate to have so many coolpeople in my life. There is a fullness that has come from this Summer, thatwhile not starting over, has been a gift of renewal.

necessary days

2011-09-16T17:43:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was one of those days that I have begun to referto as “necessary”. These are days that whether they are good or tough, it isnecessary that you walk through it in order to experience something specific. Yesterdaywas a bit of both. I have found that one of the most difficult things aboutlosing someone is figuring out how to navigate a life that used to have that person soprominently in it. This is made even more complicated if you believe you stillfeel them around. Whether that is due to grieving, or because we need to tellourselves they are still available in order to cope, or because you really dobelieve that we never really lose connections—the place that your brain andheart can go is a strange reality. I am a believer that we never loseconnection. How this works is less important to me than knowing this as truth. Theopposite of this is to be punched in the face with the fact that they didactually pass away and are no longer on Earth. I found myself teeteringbetween both of these very real worlds. This space, in my experience, can be veryuncomfortable.

The following bit of writing kept coming to my mind. I foundit in August and had, for some reason, recently read over it again. The words “I am in the thousand winds that blow…and the “I have not left” were prominent in my thoughts all day. This wouldbe because they were part of what made my day necessary:

"Do not stand at my grave and weep, I am not there, Ido not sleep. I am in a thousand winds that blow, I am the softly falling snow.I am the gentle showers of rain, I am the fields of ripening grain. I am in themorning hush, I am in the graceful rush of beautiful birds in circling flight,I am the starshine of the night. I am in the flowers that bloom, I am in aquiet room. I am in the birds that sing, I am in each lovely thing. Do notstand at my grave bereft I am not there. I have not left." —Mary ElizabethFrye

A plaque was ordered monthsago that will mark the time E spent walking amongst us. I received the call in the morning that it was ready. As I stood over the plaque, after months and months of waiting…”Do not stand atmy grave and weep, I am not there” Ipicked myself up and continued through my day.

As I was leaving work and walkingto my car I could not help but notice how windy it was. Unusually windy. Unusuallybright and warm. “I am in the thousand winds that blow…. I am in the thousandwinds that blow..” Is he?

On my drive home I noticed a crazy homeless manwearing a Gibson shirt. I recognized it as a promotional shirt that E had usedduring his time with the company. Because he was in charge of taking theseto every event, we had ended up with a stack of them at the house. We used tolaugh a bit when we would throw a few into our Goodwill pile and wonder wherethey would end up. “One day we will see some crazy homeless guy wearing these!”After a difficult day I was grateful for that reason to chuckle. Grateful for this specific reminder to laugh—specific to only the two of us. "I have not left."

“I am in thethousand winds that blow…I am in the thousand winds that blow” and so maybe he is.

words to inspire

2011-09-13T16:21:00.000-04:00

friday spin: laura marling

2011-09-09T11:06:00.003-04:00

I have been thinking all weekabout what I want to say about this song “Sophia”,and have yet to come up with anything other than I am really, really lovingeverything about it! I heard it for the first time on the radio a few weeks ago(thank goodness for satellite radio!) and was not really sure what it was I waslistening to. Laura Marling is a young folk singer from England and has been onthe scene since 2008. And I must say, she has the whole folk thing down. I hadto do a double take to see which station I was on—andwas intrigued when I realized it was not actually the folk/vinyl station, butthe indie/contemporary station. Upon further listening, I have become a bithooked. The “I am embarrassed to admit how many timesI have listened to it on repeat” kind of hooked! That moment when thesong shifts into “when the bell toll, when the bell gon’chime” gets me every time!

“Sophia”

“Rambling Man”

“Ghosts”

“Blackberry Stone”

</iframe<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"> <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US">“The Water” with Johnny Flynn<iframe width="560" height="345"src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/a4QQ7HYYdWw"frameborder="0" allowfullscreen>

“The Water” with Johnny Flynn

old faithful shop

2011-09-08T15:13:00.003-04:00

I really love what the folks at Old Faithful are doing. They have some great items in their shop and I love the simplicity of what they are focused on. If I am ever in Vancouver I will have to stop in!

While it sounds strange, I really love that little screwdriver! I find myself having to dig through tools more often than I would expect, and this little guy might come in handy to keep in a drawer nearby. That day-planner is beautiful! And possibly perfect for me, considering you can pencil in your own months and days. I just reached the end of mine, only I didn't know it because I had not looked at it in well over a month! Hmmm..very tempting!

pottery class

2011-09-06T14:00:00.000-04:00

I start a pottery class tonight. I am excited to get my hands back in the clay. I don’t expect much more from this class than getting reacquainted with the craft, and the wheel, and glazing, and maybe doing a bit more slab building than I did while I was in college. And also to be happy that I am now at a place to get started back down this road that I feel strongly will be a long one in my life. You may remember this post back in December, but the fact that pottery is one of the only real long-term goals that I have, still holds true. I don’t expect to be gray in the near future, so the pressure is off to have this figured out anytime soon. But I know myself well enough to know that it takes me some time to find my voice in anything, much less be at a place of really having something refined and understood. Here’s hoping that getting back on the pottery wheel is like riding a bike!

a few inspirational images from Pinterest:

Source: flickr.com via Emily on Pinterest

Source: whatsgabycooking.com via Emily on Pinterest

Source: tracykendall.com via Woodchip and Magnolia on Pinterest

Source: designsponge.com via Emily on Pinterest

life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans

2011-08-30T12:18:00.003-04:00

"life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans"
(John Lennon)

I have never been to New York City, so when a dear friend moved there recently I jumped at the opportunity to get up there and check it out! Little did I know I would be there during crazy Hurricane Irene! I am at least glad I got a rockin' deal on that plane ticket. Anyway, what was going to be a weekend of going to the Met and the Brooklyn Flea, shopping, seeing Sleep No More, and eating lots of great food; took a bit of a turn on Saturday due to the weather shutting down the city. And the reality is, while all of those things would have been great to cram into a four day trip, it was still such a fun weekend.

I can't complain too much, we did manage to make a ton of stops on Friday—Central Park, SoHo, 5th Avenue, Times Square (which was totally weird to me), Restaurant Row, and we ended the night meeting up with my friend Kath and heading to a karaoke bar on the lower east side. It was here that she got the next two days started by singing "Rock it like a Hurricane," which was possibly one of my favorite moments of the entire weekend! Once it was clear that we would not be making it over to Brooklyn on Saturday, or anywhere outside of Greenwich village for that matter, we settled into two days of slowing down and making the most of it. Which basically consisted of finding one of the few places in the neighborhood open to grab dinner, great conversation over a few beers while watching it storm outside, and marathon Bravo tv watching.

Turns out the trip had less to do with me seeing everything I could while I was there; and more to do with me stepping out of my day to day and reminding myself that I am, in fact, living. It is easy to get into so much of a routine that we forget that we are experiencing things every day. A city with something around every corner can wake you back up to this. So can a hurricane. And stopping long enough to spend time with people that are in your life. And not worrying so much about walking in the rain.

estate sale finds

2011-08-23T12:40:00.000-04:00

I spotted an estate sale over in the 12South neighborhood Friday afternoon, and am sure glad I did! $8 later I walked away with these lovely finds:

A little ceramic crock, a wooden letter opener, and a very old children's book.

The ceramic crock is probably meant to hold butter, but right now it is storing some muscadines that I got over the weekend just fine! I have been looking for a letter opener, but that is the kind of thing you don't necessarily go out and buy unless you have a really organized office...which I don't...so I snatched this up the minute I saw it! The wood detailing is really beautiful and I think it is pretty neat/convenient that there is a ruler on the blade. And this children's book that is filled with folk stories was one of those buys that my gut told me to move forward with. Not quite sure what I will ultimately do with it, but the pages are really old and not holding up all that well; so I thought I might save the good ones but cutting them loose and letting them stand on their own for framing and art. Perfect for a cool kid's room!

when life hands you a busted water heater...

2011-08-18T16:59:00.001-04:00

I woke up yesterday, jumped out of bed, ran down to the garage (which is really the laundry room, storage space, as well as my studio) to grab something out of the dryer, and “splash”… stepped right down onto a wet floor. My response was nothing worth mentioning on my blog, but you can imagine when I realized that the old water heater that had been hanging on by a thread, had finally given up and was busted. Anyhoo, a few hours and a new water heater later I was back in action. The clean up could have been MUCH worse, trust me, so I thank the good Lord above that I caught it before it really flooded. And anything of real value that was down there was bypassed completely by the water, so I have to send a shout out to him for that too! At the end of the day, the mess that I did have to clean up could only be looked at as an opportunity to get my studio back in action! And to get some things reorganized. However, as I was moving everything back in, the leg of my worktable definitely came off…just fell to the ground! Granted, this worktable consisted of two misfit tables pushed together and covered with kraft paper, but whatever, it worked. It is no longer working. Just like that danged water heater. So, I am now on the lookout for an actual worktable. A few years ago I came across a picture of one that I have been pining for ever since—long wooden surface on top, storage space below, and it was on rollers. I spent some time today looking around for some other ideas. I would love to make it or have it made vs. buying one. Unless of course, I found a really great old wooden table that called my name! So that whole "when life hands you lemons.." quote could play in here. Sure, I can't say I enjoyed yesterday's fiasco, but it did result in a clean studio and a much needed jolt to improve my work space. A space that really does me so much good.

Here are few that I came across:

Source: tinywhitedaisies.tumblr.com via Justine on Pinterest

Source: ffffound.com via Superkitina on Pinterest

Source: mnml.it via Vik on Pinterest

Source: readymade.com via Susan on Pinterest

Source: None via twelve chairs boston on Pinterest

Source: factory20.com via Amy on Pinterest

painted floors

2011-08-16T15:32:00.000-04:00

I love the look of a painted hardwood floor. Especially when it is a light color...say white or pale gray. It is a perfect solution for floors that are in bad conditon and would need some major refinishing. But lately, I have seen it in rooms where this does not seem to be the case. There are so many options for color and pattern that it has nothing to do with hiding anything, it is about enhancing a room. In some cases it is the focal point! Here are a couple of my favorites from Pinterest:

Source: morganmoore.typepad.com via Amy on Pinterest

Source: blog.katiemaennle.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

Source: futuredomesticgoddess.blogspot.com via Brooke on Pinterest

Source: awelltraveledwoman.tumblr.com via Emily on Pinterest

Source: ginger-ella.tumblr.com via Cassie Nicholas on Pinterest

I also love the concept of a painted concrete floor. That is something I could do in my garage/studio!

Source: google.com via PJ on Pinterest

Source: erineverafter.blogspot.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

Source: s3.amazonaws.com via Leigh on Pinterest

crafty girls brunch

2011-08-15T19:56:00.001-04:00

I have been blessed over the past year to reconnect, as well as meet, some close girlfriends who are crafty and creative. I love to look back and see how people come in and out of your life at all the right times, and the wealth of creative friends that have been dominate in my life lately are nothing short of necessary and perfectly timed. I am at my best when I am creating something, and most of the time it is the only real way that I heal and grow. To begin to have others to do that with is such a nice change, and has been something I have truly missed since I graduated college.

Yesterday I had a few of those girls over for a Sunday brunch—to enjoy a beautiful day, to spend some time together, to nosh, and to make something with our hands. Appropriately enough, we made friendship bracelets! Here are a few snapshots from the day:

2011-08-12T12:12:00.000-04:00

The last two weeks I have spent more time scrolling through Pinterest than I have any other blog that I normally visit. I have been seeing this whole Pinterest thing here and there, but it was my mother who nudged me to it. Thanks mom! The minute I signed up I was hooked! I have spent the past few years pulling images and taking screen shots of things I wanted to remember, or found inspiring, and would put them into folders on my desktop. Thank goodness for this more organized way of managing all of that! It is also too much fun to share with others. You can find me HERE. Below is a sampling of what I have going so far:

how to hem jeans: a DIY for short people!

2011-08-08T17:06:00.002-04:00

This weekend I figured out how to do something that will change my life forever! And I am not exaggerating! I successfully hemmed two pairs of jeans without having to lose the original hem, resulting in jeans that DON'T look like they have been altered! At 5’2” there are very few times that I put on a pair of jeans and they fit perfectly. They are almost always way too long. Over the years I have tried to fix pants by cutting length off and making a new hem, only to have it look so obvious. Sure, a tailor is an option, but adding that extra cost is less than desirable, and I always felt like this was something I should learn to do myself. I recently found a pair of jeans that I loved and couldn’t pass up, but were definitely going to need to be hemmed. Days later I happened upon a tutorial on how to keep the original hem, so I felt like it was as good a time as any to try this out. It worked beautifully and I am not sure there are words that express how exciting this is!! For all of you other short friends of mine, here is the lowdown:

Put on the pair of jeans and roll up the cuff to the desired length. Pin it in place. Take the jeans off and measure the length, but do not include the hem in the measurement. Divide that measurement in half and this is the number you will use to pin the final sewing length. For example, I rolled mine up about 4.5 inches (I told you I was short!) and the original hem was about ½ inch. So I was really only working off of 4 inches. I divided that number in half and was left with 2 inches. I moved the amount rolled up, down to 2 inches and pinned it there. Using a thread that matches your jean color, you then stitch right underneath the hem. Try them on before you cut off the excess fabric to double check that the length is correct. Once you cut the extra folded fabric off, iron the hem down. It will barely be visible that there is a seam above the hem, and who looks that closely anyway?!

Top shows the original amount that I rolled up (the 4.5 inches), and the bottom
shows the amount divided in half and pinned (2 inches)

Measuring and pinning around the whole hemline

Stitch right below the original hem

Finished stitching

Cut the excess fabric off

Finished! You can't even tell they have been altered!

friday spin: 31 years playlist

2011-08-05T14:07:00.001-04:00

I turned 31 this week and had a few folks over for a little dinner party. My friend Ellen’s husband is known for his mad dj-ing skills so he put together a playlist of 31 songs. One for each year I have been born. I loved everything about it and it was the perfect backdrop music for the night. Thanks Nekos, you rock! Here is a sampling of a few of my favorites:

“This Must Be the Place” Talking Heads

“Monkey Gone to Heaven” the Pixies

"Doo Wop (That Thing)" Lauryn Hill

“In the Waiting Line” Zero 7

“Jesus, Etc.” Wilco

“The Lengths” The Black Keys

bold is the new black

2011-08-02T12:22:00.000-04:00

I was browsing through the mall over the weekend and popped on into J. Crew. They have their new fall line out now, and wow, talk about popping! This color palette is so BOLD and I am kind of obsessed with it. The red is the kicker, but every color under that is so cool. It is almost too much in the sense that the colors together vibrate a bit, but then they throw in a soft pink, or brown, or hunter green. I am not up on the fashion scene as much, so this may have been out there for the last few years, but I am really inspired by the palette they have gone with. It seems so fresh!

friday spin: a shout out to Claire

2011-07-29T16:35:00.001-04:00

I have a dear friend that is moving to NYC next week. We are sending her off in style tomorrow night, but I wanted to kick that off with a few songs today. She is one of my biggest supporters, and always loves my Friday Spins, so this one is strictly for you Claire! I will miss you terribly!

"New York, New York" Ryan Adams

"Empire State of Mind" Jay-Z/Alicia Keys

"New York, New York" Frank Sinatra

"The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin Groovy)" Simon and Garfunkel

this last song isn't about New York necessarily, it is really more of a little reminder for you...

Tom Petty "Wildflowers"

the marlow hobo

2011-07-27T08:33:00.000-04:00

My friend Howard once said to me that he will never understand how women choose their purses. Since he mentioned this, I find myself observing women and their bag/purse choices and I definitely get what he means. Often times it is exactly what I expect, most of the time it is not! It is a strange thing how women express themselves through this odd necessity. Whether we base it on what is trendy, or what outfits we are wearing, the fact remains that most of us have had plenty of purses over the years that most likely outline all the phases of styles we have been through.

Recently I made the decision that it was time to find a "grown up" bag. After many, many, many years of carrying purses that were either vintage store finds (aka always under $20) or trendier finds that I refuse to pay more than $50 for because I am not a big trend person (aka Target or TJ Maxx purses); I felt like I was ready to choose a bag that I would actually want to hang onto for many, many, many years! I had already decided it would have to be brown leather, the questions over the past few months have been ... what style? messenger, tote, hobo. Should it be more of a work bag or an actual purse? How big or small did it really need to be? Did I want handles or a strap? What sort of bag would be my style for more than a short season? After much searching I have found this perfect bag! Turns out I am a “hobo” kind of girl. Large enough for work, but still can pass as a purse. Perfect brown leather, sturdy bottom so it doesn’t slouch, two types of handles, and neither compete with each other, plenty of pockets, but not too many that it looks tacky, very little detail on the outside. And to push the point home even further it is named the “Marlow Hobo”. Get out of here! Of course I had to get it! And I couldn’t be happier! I think Howard would see me with this bag and agree that it fits me perfectly!

friday spin: holding on to black metal

2011-07-15T11:13:00.001-04:00

I only have one song today for Friday Spin. I have had this song playing all week—mainly in my head as I am cooking, or running errands, or walking to work; but also on repeat in iTunes. This week has been one of needing to hunker down and keep the headphones on to get some work done, and this song has helped me zone out. It also makes me want to dance, which is always a good thing!

"splendid" just about sums it up!

2011-07-13T22:11:00.000-04:00

There is a new ice cream shop in my ‘hood and I am pretty much in love with every flavor they have. Jenis Splendid Ice Cream opened in June and after tasting what I have so far, I would like to meet this Jeni and shake her hand! This is the best ice cream I have ever had, hands down, and I am not necessarily an ice cream kind of person.

Check out some of these flavors:
Salty Caramel
Goat Cheese and Black Cherries
Pistachio and Honey
Sweet Corn and Black Raspberries
Riesling Poached Pear
Bangkok Peanut
Rockmill Golden Ale and Apricots
Wildberry Lavendar
Tonight I had the Coriander Raspberry paired with the Lemon Yogurt—yum!

Oh, and did I mention they make their own waffle cones in the shop? Come on! Too good!
This place is walking distance from my house, which is probably a good thing because I have a feeling I will need that extra walk to counter balance all of the calories I will gain eating it every week!

Here is a link to an interview with Jeni and a recipe for her Sweet Corn & Black Raspberry Ice Cream. Look for her cookbook too!

This kid was in his pajamas and was so excited to
pick out his ice cream. Adorable!

flea markets and new friends

2011-07-12T13:25:00.001-04:00

I will have to say that this weekend was one of the more eventful weekends I have had in a while. After many years of going to flea markets, I finally experienced what it is like on the other side of the booth! The folks putting on Porter Flea did an excellent job with every little detail, making for such a positive experience. If they decide to do this more often—which they should—I will definitely be a part of it again! It was organized, well orchestrated, and the vendors were all unique and cool. The best part of it all was getting to know so many new people who are all out here doing the same thing—making things with our hands.

We did really well as far as our booth goes. There were so many questions, and so much interest in the terrariums. How to care for them…What were the different layers for…What kind of sunlight…and on and on. It was fun to spend a day talking to so many different people and getting to know them. Every part of the day was a success and I couldn’t have had more fun.

This whole "terrariums/400 Moons" thing has happened so organically, it was wonderful to step back this weekend and see how things can move along when you don’t overanalyze it too much. What started as making a terrarium or two for myself and some friends, lead to my friend’s husband seeing the potential in them, which then lead to a silly conversation about going in together and selling them, taking us further along as the brainstorming became real. When I came across the Porter Flea event, I knew it would be the perfect opportunity to try this out and see where it all might go! It also seemed like the kind of market that I would want to be involved in. I was 100% right about this. It was a great way to take a leap of faith and see what can come from it!

friday spin: ryan adams

2011-07-08T12:14:00.001-04:00

It has been a Ryan Adams kind of week. I can't remember the last time I listened to "Heartbreaker" in its entirety, and really, since I have listened to just Ryan Adams without mixing it in with a bunch of other music. Although, I will say he makes it into the majority of my playlists! Anyway, it made for a good week.

"Come Pick Me Up"

"My Winding Wheel"

"When Stars Go Blue"

"Oh My Sweet Carolina"

"Now That You're Gone"

"Call Me on Your Way Back Home"

"Chin Up, Cheer Up"

"Dear Chicago"

4th of July weekend

2011-07-05T10:55:00.001-04:00

The long holiday weekend was a good one. I spent it wandering around the farmer's market, making more pickles and pickled okra, hanging at Yazoo brewery, baking a festive cake, making terrariums, grilling and hanging out with friends on my deck, standing in line for some hot chicken at the Hot Chicken Festival, laughing hysterically at the movie Bridesmaids, and finally getting a cone of ice cream at Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream shop. I am grateful for a low key Summer so far.

farmer's market goods

prepping for making pickles and freezing corn

red velvet cake

festive red, white, and blue cake topped
with fresh berries from the market

4th of July bubbles!

Hot Chicken Festival in East Nashville.

Sweet Corn and Black Raspberries ice cream

Making Pickled Okra

2011-06-27T23:45:00.003-04:00

I love pickled okra—is that a Southern thing? I don't know, I don't care...I love it! So when I came across some lovely okra at the farmer's market the other day, I decided it was time to try my hand at making my own. I have made pickles before based on this recipe, and they turned out pretty good. But this time I did it a little differently. I will admit that I cheated a bit and bought a little packet of Dill Pickle Canning Mix that I found at the grocery store as the base for the flavor. It is essentially all of the seasonings you could put together yourself (salt, dill seed, etc) but I have a history of not using enough seasoning in things, so thought this would be a good place to start. If you go this route, it will make two regular sized jars worth of pickled goodness.

You will need:

2 Ball jars with lids
Okra; about 20-24 pieces
(If you want to make pickles, you will need about 14 small pickling cucumbers. Cut off the ends and spear)
Ball Kosher Dill Pickle Mix
Vinegar
Mustard Seeds
Whole garlic cloves
Fresh sprigs of dill

In a saucepan on the stove combine 2 cups of water, one cup vinegar, and the contents of the Dill Pickle mix packet. Heat until boiling. Rinse the okra. Once the liquid comes to a boil pour the liquid over the okra and let it soak until it reaches room temperature. Takes about 30 minutes. Pour a layer of mustard seeds into the bottom of the jars (About 1 tablespoon, depending on your taste). Place the okra into the jars alternating the direction of each piece. Leave enough room to cram a few whole cloves of garlic and a few sprigs of dill in between the pieces. Pour the room temperature liquid over all the contents in the jar leaving a little room at the top. Seal them up and put them in the fridge! Done! You can dig into the jar the next day, but they will definitely be better if you can hold off for a few weeks.

Some of you may be more traditional with your canning and pickling, so no judgement! Actually, if you are, any advice is welcome. I choose to go with the quick method because I won't be keeping these long enough to need to store them. I also like this approach because it is not as intimidating. Perfect activity for a quiet Summer evening!

Clean jars and wash okra

Ingredients

Soak okra in the liquid for 30 minutes

Stuff jars and pour liquid over all the contents

Store in the refrigerator for 3 months,
but mine don't make it that long!

friday spin: buddy holly tribute album

2011-06-24T11:47:00.002-04:00

I got a notice from NPR this week that their First Listen segment was focused on the Buddy Holly tribute album “Rave On Buddy Holly”, and was stoked to finally hear it in its entirety! I have caught a song here and there on XM and have been reading about it over the past month or two, and will have to say I love it like I thought I would! I discovered Dylan when I was about 14 and my entire outlook on music changed. I was quickly running down the path of rock, indie rock, alt-country and so on. But before all of that, I was a kid sitting in the backseat of the car singing along to the “oldies”. I love everything about the oldies, and a Buddy Holly song is no exception. This album is right up my alley as it combines the music of my childhood with the artists of my adulthood! The album comes out next week.

Cee Lo Green “You’re So Square (Baby, I Don’t Care)

Fiona Apple with Jon Brion “Everyday”

The Black Keys “Dearest”

Modest Mouse “That’ll Be the Day”

She and Him “Oh Boy”

John Doe “Peggy Sue Got Married”

Julian Casablancas “Rave On”

Here is another great version of "Rave On" by M. Ward featuring Zooey Deschanel (She and Him). It was on his "Hold Time" album.

there is a light and it never goes out...

2011-06-14T11:36:00.002-04:00

There is so much today that I want to say about Eric. I have been "writing" this blog in my head for months and cannot seem to piece all of it together, so have decided to keep it simple. The day I met Eric he told his co-workers he had just met the girl he was going to marry. He told me this a few weeks later on our first date. He was so sure of this and there was no waivering. I loved that he was never afraid to feel exactly what he felt and to express it with no holding back. There was some part of him that was so in tune with a bigger picture that he never really questioned it. I can definitely say I have never met anyone like him or have been seen so clearly by someone. Loved so clearly by someone. He brought this intensity to everything, and at the risk of sounding crazy, I can still feel it. Some souls vibrate and he is one of those.

As much as I have battled with wishing that things are not as they should have been, I surrender to knowing that they are. I can only surrender to that because of faith and because there have been little signs along the way that feel like E reminding me of this. I can now understand that at the core of everyone there are key characteristics that now matter what we experience in life, or battle with, or even when death finds us, will we lose. This is what I believe was/is at his core: kindness, openness, love with no boundaries, joy, playfulness, and creativity. That is what I believe he still is. There is this whole other thing happening around us that we are missing every day. To understand this or to even just consider this, will allow you to live a different life. I have never experienced anything like this past year. But, I can actually say that about every year I had with Eric. I learned more about life and love and myself than I had in the 25 years before knowing him. I am and will forever be grateful. "There is a light and it never goes out..."

Eric was a beautiful writer and there are loads of poems, essays, and lyrics that I am constantly coming across. I have stumbled upon the following bit of writing in various places over the past year, and after much research into where it came from I have settled on the belief that it is his. It goes like this:

"It says here that you completely changed, that you floated up into the sky without all that dead dead weight and took your place among the stars. I catch pieces of your shine from time to time. I catch pieces of you from time to time."

This says it all. I miss you E, I love you. It has hard to believe you have been gone a year. There is a void that many of us feel because you held a part of our hearts. What a life, what a soul.

on the road, but not to bonnaroo

2011-06-10T10:26:00.000-04:00

Bonnaroo is this weekend, and as always Nashville is a buzzing! I do love that this festival is right down the road. There is a great roster of artists this year and as much as I hate to admit it, I am glad I will not be there! Actually I say that because instead of braving the hot sun, camping, and having a constant film of sweat on me for three days, I will be at the beach!! While I expect it to be hot there too, there will be a giant ocean and a pool to jump in and cool off. I guess I will have to rely on my ipod for those moments I want to pretend I am there hearing all of the wonderful music. So for today, here is a list of the artists I would be trying to catch if I were there. For all you festival go-er’s, have a safe and happy Bonnaroo!

Beirut "Scenic World"

Low Anthem "Ghost Woman Blues"

I have been loving some Hayes Carll lately...and will post more of his stuff on another day, but here is a funny little song for today.
Hayes Carll "Another Like You"

My Morning Jacket "Circuital"

Dan Auerback "Trouble Weighs a Ton"

eric spang photos

2011-06-02T17:32:00.003-04:00

I love these two photos by Eric Spang. Especially the blonde boys rolling down the hill.
Makes me think of Summer. And being free. And happy.

this is what 5 months old looks like...

2011-05-31T13:43:00.009-04:00

I love this picture so much. Although it may look like he is crying or screaming, he is actually just smiling and trying to come in for a kiss. Adorable! It is strange to see characteristics of so many people in one child. I am convinced he has my eyes...not the color, but the size and the way they talk and observe.

happy bday

2011-05-24T16:02:00.003-04:00

Happy Birthday to two of my favorites. Bob Dylan. And also to E. His birthday would have been yesterday. I wonder if he ever realized they were a day apart?! Might have been something they talked about when he guitar teched for Bob back in the day...

Sending birthday wishes out to both!

Photograph by Richard Avedon

E in Australia

Forever Young

May God bless and keep you always

May your wishes all come true

May you always do for others

And let others do for you

May you build a ladder to the stars

And climb on every rung

May you stay forever young

Forever young, forever young

May you stay forever young

May you grow up to be righteous

May you grow up to be true

May you always know the truth

And see the lights surrounding you

May you always be courageous

Stand upright and be strong

May you stay forever young

Forever young, forever young

May you stay forever young

May your hands always be busy

May your feet always be swift

May you have a strong foundation

When the winds of changes shift

May your heart always be joyful

May your song always be sung

May you stay forever young

Forever young, forever young

May you stay forever young

friday spin: the moon

2011-05-20T11:37:00.000-04:00

May 17, 2001; Moon from my back yard

Strangely enough, the moon has been on my mind a lot this week. Weird, I know!
I am doing some brainstorming for a few projects that I am working towards, and am in the process of reading through some old writings, emails, and lyrics. The moon is a reoccurring theme in all. Then, on Tuesday night the moon was unbelievably beautiful! It was so full and bright and clear. So today I wanted to make a playlist of some of my favorite songs that are also inspired by the moon!

Neil Young “Harvest Moon”

Josh Ritter “You’ve Got the Moon”

Van Morrison “Moondance”

Nick Drake “Pink Moon”

Tift Merritt "See You on the Moon"

for Eric...

"See You on the Moon"

Three legged dog, remember when you brought him home.
He was talking to himself cause he’d always been alone.
April is a fine time, just thought you’d be around in June.
I guess we never really promised, but I’ll see you on the moon.

I’ll see you on the moon, where everyone is well,
And you never have to wait if you got a story to tell.
And way deep down inside, you always know just what to do,
When you’re flying all around up there on the moon.

When I was a little girl I was always coming round.
I haven’t really changed much. I’m just in a hurry now.
April is a fine time, but now I’m thinking about June.
We never really talked about it, but I’ll see you on the moon.

I’ll see you on the moon, where everyone is well,
And you never have to wait if you got a story to tell.
And way deep down inside, you always know just what to do,
When you’re flying all around up there on the moon.

Three legged dog, out there making a fuss.
I’m trying to get to sleep. It’s down to the two of us.
April is a fine time, just thought you’d be around for June.
I know we never really promised, but I’ll see on the moon.

I’ll see you on the moon, where everyone is well,
And you never have to wait if you got a story to tell.
And way deep down inside, you always know just what to do,
When you’re flying all around up there on the moon.

friday spin: the frames/swell season

2011-05-13T15:08:00.000-04:00

The Frames, Chicago, October 22, 2005, Park West. Glen Hansard with the SG.

Last week I mentioned E and I taking a guitar to the members of the Frames a few years ago. A shiny, red SG to be exact. So I figured I could round that whole story out with a feature on them this week. Like I said, E met them backstage at a music festival and became such a huge fan. He kept in touch with the guitar player and was happy to do anything he could to help them out when it came to guitars and gear. This was pre-Swell Season and the film Once, so being able to drive to Chicago, meet up with them, take them a guitar, and get into the show was a little more doable. Actually, I take that back. We did the same thing a few years later (minus the guitar) when they came to the Ryman as the Swell Season, and actually got to spend a little more time with them after the show. E had worked with a lot of musicians over the years, and did his fair share of guitar teching. Most would not play a guitar that they were not familiar with, especially during a show. But that was not the case with the lead singer, Glen Hansard. In the middle of the set he pulled the guitar onstage, sticker still on the pick guard and everything, and rocked it. That was a pretty proud and happy moment.

"Fitzcarraldo"

He is quite the story teller, if you have never been to a show to experience it. One of the few people that can tell really long stories in between songs and it is never too much. This next song hits a little too deep, but it is one of my favorites.

"What happens when the heart just stops"

"Revelate & Star, Star"

"Fake"

"The Blood"

"Say it to Me Now"

the beginning

2011-05-12T11:11:00.000-04:00

I came across this poem the other day in some old emails. At the time of receiving it, I was not necessarily in a place to be able to completely understand it. 3 years (actually 30 years) in, I can now absolutely relate. I love to come across something like this; a poem, a song, a book, a piece of art that at one point was of interest but you put it aside. And then it finds you again. At the perfect time.

In out-of-the way places of the heart,
Where your thoughts never think to wander,
This beginning has been quietly forming,
Waiting until you were ready to emerge.

For a long time it has watched your desire,
Feeling the emptiness growing inside you,
Noticing how you willed yourself on,
Still unable to leave what you had outgrown.

It watched you play with the seduction of safety
And the grey promises that sameness whispered,
Heard the waves of turmoil rise with relent,
Wondered would you always live like this.

Then the delight, when your courage kindled,
And out you stepped onto new ground,
Your eyes young again with energy and dream,
A path of plentitude opening before you.

Though your destination is not yet clear
You can trust the promise of this opening;
Unfurl yourself into the grace of beginning
That is at one with your life’s desire.

Awaken your spirit to adventure;
Hold nothing back; learn to find ease in risk;
Soon you will be home in a new rhythm
For your soul senses the world that awaits you.

- John O'Donohue

mixed bag of inspiration

2011-05-11T15:21:00.000-04:00

I have bookmarked a few things over the past few weeks that I love and want to post about, but haven't really felt the need to focus an entire blog on each item. So, I am going to combine them into a quick snapshot. Hope you like them to!

Leah Duncan + Satsuma Press letterpress and textile collaboration

I love patterns, illustration, and letterpress; so was happy to come across this collaboration piece between two talented ladies. It consists of the lovely illustrations by Leah Duncan and is printed by Lynn Russell of Satsuma Press. I have been an admirer of Leah Duncan's work for a while now, and was happy to come across Satsuma Press through this collaboration between the two.

"Light as a Feather" necklace from Dogeared

Dogeared has gotten a lot of press for it's karma necklace, which I have yet to get for some reason, but I also really love this necklace. Most of their jewelry is rooted in symoblism and the concept of wearing something for it's meaning. I am a big fan of that idea, and this particular symbol holds a lot of meaning for me.

"Cockatoo Feather Dress"

Speaking of feathers....I can't get over this dress. First, the fabric is gorgeous. Second, the shape of it is so beautiful, but simple. Seems perfect for a summer evening. And third, the fact that it is $500! Wonder if I can find someone who could make this for me?!

putting entire branches into vases vs. fresh cut flowers

This seems to be a trend that keeps popping up on interior blogs and magazines. I support it fully!
The above image is by architectural photographer, Casey Dunn.

"Recycled Denim Jute Rug" by West Elm

I love all of the shades of blue that are happening naturally in this rug. Blue is the only color that I can truly say I like EVERY shade of. This may be the perfect rug for my bedroom?!

josh ritter

2011-05-06T12:06:00.000-04:00

If you know me at all and we have ever discussed music, I have more than likely tried to push a Josh Ritter album on to you. And more often than not, it is well received. I am not some crazed fan of his or anything, but he is definitely on my list of favorite artists. I would even go so far as to say he resides somewhere in the top three. I first heard him in Chicago, way back in 2005. E and I were there to visit a friend and to take a guitar to the guys from the Frames. He had met them a year prior at a music festival, fell in love with their music, and with them, and had stayed in touch. We got to the show late, just in time to get the guitar to them, and to catch the last few songs of the opener, which of course, was Josh Ritter. I will never forget walking into the venue and hearing him for the first time. It is way too dramatic to use the word magical, but it actually was. I have been sold on everything he has put out since. He is a beautiful writer. Some of my favorite lyrics are from his songs. I also think it is intriguing that his songs can be so sad, but when he performs he has a big smile on his face. He came through Nashville less than a year ago. This time I caught the whole show in a venue small enough to actually see him. He played and sang every song as if he was having the best time! It made for a really wonderful show. Anyway, I have been wanting to do a Friday feature on him since I started doing this, so here we go.

"Girl in the War"

"Good Man"

"Change of Time"

"Long Shadows"

"Monster Ballads"

"Empty Hearts"

"Here at the Right Time"

friday spin: playing catch up

2011-04-29T08:20:00.002-04:00

I did not get around to posting any music last Friday, I apologize to all 5 of my faithful blog readers! Here are a couple of songs that have been floating around for the past few weeks that have not made their way into any Friday Spins yet.

The Head and the Heart "Down in the Valley"

Blind Pilot "Look at Miss Ohio" (Gillian Welch cover)

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros "40 Day Dream"

Good Old War "My Own Sinking Ship"

Good Old War "That's Some Dream"

This time last year Nashville was about to be hit with a 100 year flood. We had no idea what was around the corner. I suppose that is how things go. Floods, deaths, changes. There are a lot of memories from those few days, but one of the better ones involved this song.

Ryan Adams and the Cardinals "Let it Ride"

R.I.P. Chris Feinstein

oilcloth outdoor table

2011-04-27T21:17:00.000-04:00

In my attempts to update the back yard, I can't help but notice that my outdoor furniture could use a little sprucing up too. So, I am trying to find inexpensive ways to do this. I have a wonderful and huge back yard, but don't necessarily have much shade and protection from the elements, so any furniture I have out takes a beating. For example, this little table. This was part of a larger set that E had many moons ago. The larger table and chairs were passed on to a friend who moved into a new house a few years ago—but this table was too useful to not hang on to. The only problem is, the white base and "glass" top show any bit of dirt and it never really looks clean. So, I found a can of red spray paint in the garage that I had used for another project. There was still had plenty left and thought it would be a great color for the base. For the top, I spent about $7 to get this pretty floral oilcloth at my favorite local fabric store. I cut it to the size of the top, added a few drops of super glue to reinforce that it would stay put, and popped it back into the base. A few bucks later and I now have a bright new table to enjoy. And I still have plenty of oilcloth left for another project!

marimekko + crate and barrel

2011-04-26T21:29:00.000-04:00

There are a few things out there that I will actually swoon over, and Marimekko is top on that list. If you are not familiar, Marimekko is a Finnish textile and clothing design company that has been around since the 1950s. Their designs consist of bold colors and timeless patterns that can be seen on textiles, clothing, bedding, plates, cups, even umbrellas (I mention those in a previous post). My first Marimekko item was a beautiful shower curtain that features a green and white block print that I got from Crate and Barrel. Crate and Barrel has had a relationship with Marimekko since the 60s and over the years have used their patterns as backdrops for their store designs, as well as carried select bedding and bath items. There are very few Marimekko stores in the states, so C&B has been one of the few places that you can easily order from. However, they have just launched a full out Marimekko Shop! It has a wider variety of items to brighten up any aspect of your home and life. A year ago, while wandering around the square in Oxford, MS I stumbled upon an actual Marimekko store there. SO RANDOM. I could not contain how excited I was that this was so nearby, and by the end of my visit was talking design with the owner like we had known each other for years! I got my second item there—a bright yellow coffee mug that features a running calf, that to me, looked like he was flying! You can see a green version of this mug in the image below. It sounds crazy, but I feel a bit brighter every single time I use that mug. The Oxford location is no longer there, so this online shop makes me very, very happy!

Photos from the Oxford, MS location

yard sale

2011-04-24T21:13:00.001-04:00

Saturday turned out to be a great day to have a yard sale! Thankfully the weather held off and although there had been crazy storms all week, it did not rain at all by the time Saturday rolled around. I made some good money, got rid of things I have been carrying around for years, and cleaned out some closets and the attic. All of that is well and good, but had I not joined forces with four other friends to do this, it would not have been nearly as much fun! I am fortunate to have hilarious friends, but combine that with all of the the strange people that come to yard sales, the bizzare items we all have collected, and spending roughly 10 hours together, you will end up with so many laughs it makes all of the work worth it. It is interesting to see what people will buy, as well as, what they don't buy. For example, the Jester head on a stick went within the first hour and half, but the Brookstone ipod dock priced at $10 did not sell! I believe most people thought it was some sort of strange fan though, so that could have been why. And then there was the fake cameo necklace that brought us many, many laughs...turns out it was a hot ticket item. Yet, the beautiful piece of amber was left in the pile at the end of the day. One of the TWO bread slicers were sold, but the 8 piece dinner set that was a really great set seemed to not cut it. And then there was the zipper purse—a purse made entirely of zippers—that had many lookers, but against all of our pushing it was never sold. That was actually the item we all decided had to sell in order to make this entire thing successful! And then there was the Ninetendo DS that was stolen! We all feel pretty sure it was the strange guy that was making us all very nervous. Believe it or not, he CAME BACK later in the day!! Acting equally weird, but all five of us were up and hovering around him, so he left. Unbelievable!

So, Claire had a wacky old man hit on her multiple times, Bobby became our "Manager", Susan discovered her ability to stage the tables for maximum selling, Heather's Jr Prom dress was the source of many jokes, and I laughed more than I have in a long while. Oh, and I was also the top seller! And thanks to so many friends that dropped by to say hello!

so apparently I make these now...

2011-04-18T23:08:00.000-04:00

Here is the latest terrarium that I have put together! My friend Susan saw my first post and asked me to help her make one. After looking at different containers, we decided upon this large, square shape. She wasn't sure how she felt about adding feathers, marbles or rocks; and felt that something a little simpler might be more her style. So instead, I decided to cram as many plants in it as possible letting the variety of succulents give it its texture. Because the container was square and would show more of the layers than a curved container might, we decided to make that a focus. I layered the bottom with a two-toned combination of shiny white sand and white rocks. It contrasts well with the dark soil and makes the shades of green in the plants pop.

I have an order for two more already! Not to mention I found a pretty awesome container recently that will be a perfect home for a tiny red fox that I have...so let me know if you want in!

record collection

2011-04-15T10:21:00.001-04:00

Last weekend I decided it had been too long since I listened to my records; so I pulled some of my favorite, dusted off the record player, and opened the windows! It was a perfect afternoon of some of my favorite songs. The timing is good as Record Store Day is tomorrow. I am looking forward to spending the day with friends, perusing through the racks at Grimey's, and picking up some more vinyl for my modest, but dearly loved collection!

Neil Young "Comes A Time"

Otis Redding "Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song)"

Talking Heads "Take Me to the River"

Tim Buckley "Song for Janie"

Bob Dylan "Don't Think Twice, It's Alright"

This is quite possibly one of my favorite songs of all time.
Van Morrison "Into the Mystic"

friday spin: danger mouse

2011-04-08T14:30:00.000-04:00

Famed musician, songwriter, and producer, Danger Mouse and composer Daniele Luppi have been working on what is being called a "Spaghetti Western-inspired" album for the past five years. It is set to release May 17, but they have revealed two singles from the album—one with Jack White, the other with Norah Jones. I am partial to both of these musicians and love most of what they put out, but these songs are great! I have been listening to them all week and am looking forward to the full album. These two singles will be issued as limited edition-vinyl releases on Record Store Day next Saturday, so move it on down to your local record store and snag a copy!

"Two Against One"

"Black"

If you are not familiar with Danger Mouse, I would encourage you to do a little reading up on him. He has played a large role in a lot of really great albums—whether it was producing or actually collaborating with other musicians. Another project of his that I love is his collaboration with James Mercer from the Shins. Last year they released an album under the name of Broken Bells. He has also produced two of the Black Keys albums—Attack and Release and Brothers—and with talk of him being spotted around Nashville ever since the Black Keys' recent move here, maybe a third. It seems he has some sort of magic touch and great taste in friends!

"The High Road" Broken Bells

"The Ghost Inside" Broken Bells

"Same Old Thing" The Black Keys

"Things Ain't Like They Used to Be" The Black Keys

"Howlin' for You" The Black Keys (check out some earlier Friday Spin posts for a few others songs from this album)

umbrella shopping

2011-04-04T15:58:00.001-04:00

I was having a discussion with a friend recently about umbrellas. About the fact that we never want to spend any money on one, but always wish that we had when it is raining out. She had found a colorful one on sale somewhere and finally decided to get one, and was saying what a difference it made. I can say that I have never really purchased an umbrella that was over $10, and they are all usually black. I think I may have had a red one at some point, but feel pretty sure I borrowed that from a friend! My current one (black, of course) was a freebie from a vendor backstage at Bonnaroo, and after 5 good years it has finally gone missing! It has always been the kind of thing that when I come across one I would like to get, I decide I would rather spend my money on something else. So, with all of this being said, I need to get a new one and think it is time to spruce it up a bit! It is raining something awful here today, so all of this umbrella browsing has helped add a bit of cheer. I am a huge fan of Marimekko, so feel certain I will go that route, but have always loved the MOMA umbrella with the sky on the inside. I wish I had that bright yellow one today, but will have to make do with an old Yankee's ball cap in the meantime.

MoMA Sky Umbrella; Marimekko Unniko Umbrella; The Classic Umbrella in Marigold; Totes Bubble Umbrella; Marimekko Mini umbrella in a pattern I am not sure of; Bella Pagoda in Black and White; Classic Vintage Burberry Umbrella; Marimekko Petrooli Compact in Orange and Pink; Brooks Brothers Tattersall Umbrella

friday spin: Fleet Foxes and First Aid Kit

2011-04-01T08:26:00.003-04:00

Like a lot of folks, I am big fan of Fleet Foxes. They have a new album coming out May 3rd, and have been leaking some of their new songs. All of which are of course great! Here are a few for your Friday listening pleasure:

"Helplessness Blues"

"Battery Kinzie"

"Grown Ocean"

And while I am focusing on Fleet Foxes, I have to mention the sister-duo from Sweden who go by the name of First Aid Kit. They released a video in 2009 where they do a cover of Fleet Foxes song, "Tiger Mountain Peasant Song", which spread rapidly and got their name out there. A friend forwarded their album to me last week, and I must say that I can't stop listening to it! However, I need to put out there that as impressive as it is, it is almost too much, right?! I mean is this for real? These two sisters harmonizing so beautifully in their flannel in the middle of the forest? This is a whole new level of hipster! But they are precious, and their voices are perfect together. So, here are a few of their songs that are so good you will forget that they always seem to be singing in a forest.

"Tiger Mountain Peasant Song"

"You're Not Coming Home Tonight"

"I Met Up With a King"

"Hard Believer"

air plant terrarium

2011-03-28T21:09:00.000-04:00

A dear friend's birthday gave me a reason to dream up another terrarium last week! This one is a bit different than my desert terrarium. It is similar in that it is super easy to care for, but this one requires even less attention! For those of you who lean this way, here is how to make one like it:

Air Plant Terrarium
- Open glass container. I found this one at West Elm. I loved the pedestal on it because it added a little more interest to the whole piece, but you can easily find a similar shape without the pedestal at most craft stores.
- Sand. I choose a sand that had a larger grain to give it more texture. Also, consider using a black or colored sand for this style since it is so promient. Creating an uneven layer adds dimension.
- 2-3 air plants, depending on the size of your container.
- An object that will add some visual interest. I found this lovely little owl at a local garden store, but a colorful rock could be used too.

Air plants are so easy to care. There are many varieties and shapes out there, but they all basically need air and a light mist of water. The easiest way to do this is to keep a water bottle on hand. Give the plants a quick spray weekly. Another way to water them is to dunk them quickly in water and let them air dry before placing them back in the container.

Voilà! A lovely terrarium that takes less time to care for than it does to make!

friday spin: ready for the weekend

2011-03-25T11:46:00.000-04:00

It has been a long week. A little bit busier and more stressful than I expected, so I am really glad it is Friday! I don't even care that it is suppose to rain, I am just looking forward to a low key weekend. So this morning I have quiet, drony music on. Enjoy!

Lord Huron "The Stranger"

The Walkmen "Stranded"

Delta Spirit "Ransom Man"

Horse Feathers "Curs in the Weeds"

Sigur Ros "Untitled (Vaka)"

baby cowboy boots

2011-03-22T23:42:00.000-04:00

I got these little cowboy boots for my baby boy nephew a month or so ago from a shop in town called Tweed. The minute I saw them I had to snatch up a pair! Tweed is a great little children's shop over in Edgehill, and they carry a wonderful variety of items — clothing, toys, note cards, books, bags, you get the idea. There are hand-sewn clouds hanging behind the register, and all the items are arranged in such an artful way. There is even a hanging reading nook for children that resembles a tree and has fabric leaves sewn all over it. And if that wasn't charming enough, the lovely girl who owns it will wrap up your gift and attach a handmade card that she constructs while getting to know you. Lovely!!

Baby Boy has a little more growing to do before these fit really well and don't come flying off as he kicks his legs. He has finally discovered he can do this, and can't get enough of it! However, he still looks pretty darn cute in them if I do say so myself!

friday spin: bright eyes

2011-03-18T10:06:00.001-04:00

I went to the Bright Eyes show last night at the Ryman. I was fortunate enough to be introduced to his music during my college days, so have been listening to his albums for many many years. I even remember driving hours to go hear him back then—a bunch of hipsters crammed into some small bar, and no matter where you stood you could still see him really well. Anyway, quite a different scene these days! He released a new album back in February, and while his sound has really shifted over the years, I still really love everything the he puts out. I kind of feel like I have grown up along side of his albums. So today I just want to share his music. Here are some of my ultimate favorite songs from the over the years, and one or two from his new album that seem to be making their mark as much as the others have.

"one for you, one for me"

"bowl of oranges"

"poison oak"

"trapped in a hole"

"ladder song"

"you are the roots that sleep my feet and hold the earth in place"

"Laura Laurent"

"road to joy"

releasing the wolf

2011-03-17T14:01:00.001-04:00

A few weeks ago I drove past a little art gallery over in the 12South neighborhood and noticed a painting in the front window—I have not been able to stop thinking about it since. I had just enough time where I was stopped in front to be able to see that it was of three wolves in the snow; two interacting, one off in the distance. There was something about the colors, and the shadows in the snow, but what I loved most was the perspective. It was almost as if you were looking down on the wolves from above. Anyway, as I mentioned before I have not been able to get this image out of my head. So yesterday, because the weather was amazing, I decided to take a break from work and head over and check it out. It was more beautiful than I expected, and I love it. I was secretly hoping it would be something I could afford, but of course, it was way out of my budget! So I will just have to enjoy from afar! The artist is Diane Tremaine and most of her subject matter is of animals. I actually really loved all of her work, but the wolves and the horses were my favorite. This particular painting is from an experience the artist had observing a captured wolf being released back into the wild. I won't go into detail on why this painting resonates with me, but the wolf symbolism is the biggest part of it, and knowing the background behind it makes me love it more.

One my way out I stopped at a relatively new joint called LB's Market House that is right next door. I have a friend who works there and have been excited to check it out. It was as cool as I expected it would be. LB’s is a new market and deli that uses fresh, local foods, and also carries plenty of items that are not food related. I walked away with a chicken salad sandwich that was the perfect ending to a leisurely lunch break.

Diane Tremaine "Closing In"
48x48, Oil on canvas

desert terrarium

2011-03-13T21:41:00.001-04:00

I have been wanting to take a stab at making my own terrarium for a while now. This weekend I decided it was time to go ahead and try it. I also wanted to see if I could do it for less than $20! Here is what I came up—the glass container cost me $6, two bags of rocks were $5, each plant was about $2.5 each, and then I used some soil I already had. All of the trinkets—the marbles, the feather, etc., were things I already had around the house too. Bringing the final total to right about $20! The fun of it is being creative with what container you want to use, or which plants you like best. I love succulents, so I went with more of a desert style; but many others use ferns and moss, even orchids. Some are strictly focused on an artful arrangement of the plants, while others are built around figurines, making it a small little world. There is something intriguing about bringing a collection of plants indoors and placing them on display, often times literally under a glass globe or bell jar. It combines nature with art, and causes you to take a second glance.

I am no expert, but in my research on building and caring for a terrarium there seemed to be a bit of a formula. A glass container, a layer of rocks or gravel for drainage, a layer of soil, then the plants. Often another layer between the plants and the soil is added to regulate moisture, some use rocks, others moss. If you go with the style I choose, you will want to get a container that is open at the top. But, if you go the tropical route, you will need to have a lid of some sort to hold the moisture in. This will create a small ecosystem within the container that will maintain itself, with only the slightest bit of watering.

Below are the directions for what I made and a few links that I found helpful. It was a lot of fun to make, and I expect it will not be the last one I put together.

Desert Terrarium
- Glass container that is open at the top
- Place a layer of rocks 1-2 inches thick at the bottom
- Layer of soil. I laid the soil down unevenly to allow for a little more depth and dimension, basically created a small hill on one side.
- 3-5 succulent plants, varying in size. Number of plants is determined by the size of your container and how crowded you might want your terrarium. Shake the dirt from the root system and place in soil. Add any extra soil in order to secure the plants.
- Cover with a layer of small rocks. I went this route vs. sand because of the ease of watering and not having to deal with sand getting all over the plants while putting it together.
- Place any found objects around the plants to add color and make it uniquely yours!

Allow for sunlight and water every two weeks.

Terrarium links for inspiration:
DesignSponge feature
Martha Stewart
Etsy terrarium search

friday spin: melancholy

2011-03-11T11:28:00.001-05:00

I will openly admit that 75% of my music collection contains slow, sad, moody songs. Lately I have been pulling from this part of my itunes, so that is what I have put together for today. Believe it or not, it is a lovely day here in Nashville, even if this music doesn't reflect that!

the national "slow show"

the frames "the blood"

josh ritter "here at the right time"

the tallest man on earth "troubles will be gone"

mumford and sons "after the storm"

shop terrain #2

2011-03-10T14:28:00.000-05:00

I have already mentioned this store/website before, but in the process of looking for a few gifts I found more stuff that I love! I have heard and read a lot about using different salts lately in cooking, so am curious about that Pink Himalayan salt. Also, I think it would look beautiful on the kitchen counter! The bird house and garden stakes would be perfect for my updated yard. And the top right item is a grain measure...I bought a stack of these a few years ago at the flea market and love them—they hold all sorts of art supplies in my studio. (Little secret...I only paid $10 for mine as opposed to $24! Nashvillians, let me know if you want the scoop on where to find them!)

the rural studio

2011-03-09T15:31:00.003-05:00

I mentioned last week that I was going to Mississippi for a few days. It is a significant drive, and while some of it is interstate, the majority is not. It consists of small roads winding through even smaller towns. There may be miles of nothing but land and trees, and then a quick surge of houses. Possibly even a store or two. Some of the areas I passed through are so rural, had I not already been familiar with it, I might have been alarmed by the conditions of some of the houses and buildings. But, if you look closely, you see what people have done to make use of what structures they have. I even began to notice some really interesting houses that were stepping outside of the simple box and working within the land. For example, there was one house that was literally built into the hill on the property and only a portion of it sat on top. It was actually quite impressive, and from what I could tell, clever.

It got me thinking about a program called The Rural Studio. I was lucky enough to catch a documentary on it last year, called Citizen Architect, and have had it on my mind ever since. The Rural Studio was established in 1993 at Auburn University by two architecture professors—Dennis K. Ruth and the late Samuel Mockbee—with the purpose of improving the rural areas of Alabama and providing actual experience for architecture students. There are so many amazing things about this program—not only the education, but also the experience and relationships that are gained. There is also the challenge to be creative with the surroundings, as well as the materials used. I admire the concept of teaching the responsibilities of the profession and inspiring younger generations stepping into the field to approach it differently. I highly recommend taking a few minutes to look through the projects on their website, and try to see the film if you can. Even if architecture is not your thing, you cannot deny the beauty of what is being done here.

Hale County Animal Shelter

Harris/Butterfly House

Antioch Baptist Church

Akron Boys and Girls Club

Willie Bell House

friday spin: road music

2011-03-04T10:10:00.000-05:00

I am headed to Mississippi for a few days so am going to focus today's mix on road music! I like to make a new mix anytime I am taking a trip, and this time isn't any different. So here are a few songs I have included this time around:

Earlier in the week I went to the G. Love show, which took me back to college. G. Love and Special Sauce, how can you not like that? Well pair him with Avett Brothers and I am definitely on board. The Avetts have produced and appear on his most recent album that just came out. He is a mix of funk, blues, rock, and now bluegrass, and it always seems to get you moving. This is the album title track:

G. Love with the Avett Brothers "Fixin' to Die"

A good road mix for me is a combination of upbeat with just enough mellow, and I like to throw in a few that literally talk about traveling. Just to keep me in the right mindset. I also included a few that remind me of home. Happy Friday, hope you enjoy the music no matter where you may be this afternoon!

Grace Potter and the Nocturnals "Low Road"

Adele "If it Hadn't Been for Love"

The Decemberists "All Arise"

Roseanne Cash "Miss the Mississippi and You"

Feist and Ben Gibbard "Train Song"

Justin Townes Earle "Mama Said"

"Wanderin'" (I am not necessarily a fan of this particular video but it had the best sound quality!)

found while walking

2011-03-03T13:47:00.002-05:00

I tend to look down when I am walking. I have read that not making eye contact is a sign of insecurity, but that is not why I do it. I am just always looking for things—unique leaves, rocks, feathers, patterns, color palettes happening naturally, odd everyday objects on the ground. I like to take pictures of these things; sometimes I pick them up and take them home to find just the right spot for them to live. One of my favorite moments I ever had with E was doing just this. We were on a walk, it was in the middle of the fall, and there were so many amazing leaves and pods on the ground. I kept stopping to pick them all up, creating my own little bouquet—when out of nowhere this huge wind came and literally swept every little leaf off of this one cluster. I clung tightly to it, and was so upset to be left with a measly stick, until I heard E laughing, which then of course had me laughing; and then we couldn't stop. Everyone turned to look but it didn't matter, we could NOT stop laughing. I love to remember that moment. I still have all of those little things I collected that day. In true fashion I photographed them when I got home and found a spot for them in my bookshelf.

This blog focuses on just that. In blog land it is hard to come across an original concept to focus on, so it is refreshing to stumble upon it. It is interesting to see what other people find and how it makes its way into their artwork and patterns.

I don't think people do enough of this. Observe what is around them. We seem to always have our phones in front of our faces—which I am also guilty of—but what are we missing in the meantime? Sure, there is some balance needed here, whether it is our phone or the ground we are focused on. But what if today, instead of pulling out something to occupy our attention when we have a free moment, we instead look around us and see what is actually there. Maybe we will find a pretty leaf, maybe a beautiful sky, or maybe we will share an unforgettable moment with the person standing next to us before the wind takes them away.

two months, one week, and two days

2011-03-02T15:42:00.000-05:00

This baby boy is a little over two months old already! Time flies! You always hear how fast they grow and there is a reason for that—it is true. I get to see him this weekend though and cannot believe how ecstatic I am about that. Pictures emailed and texted, even little videos help me get my fix, but holding that baby in the flesh is the ultimate!

yard makeover ideas

2011-02-28T11:33:00.001-05:00

With the past few weekends feeling like Spring, I am starting to get excited about getting some outside projects going. I am thankful to have such a large yard, so there is plenty of room for some nice beds, trees, even a garden; and still give the dogs plenty of room to run. I already have a few ideas of what I want to do—basic things like extend the beds in the front and lay down some mulch, pull up some bushes, replant more, trim back others. But, there is one area in the back that I really want to make into a shady sitting area for the dogs and myself. Haven't quite figured out how yet, but have been scanning through images that I have pulled for inspiration. All the healthy green grass, and sunny skies are a stark contrast to this dreary rain we are having here in Nashville today!

All images can be found here.

friday spin

2011-02-25T10:09:00.002-05:00

The past few Fridays I have found myself posting music, so I have decided to continue that and actually make it a weekly thing. I am calling it Friday Spin and it will consist of either music from favorite albums, a show I have seen that week, or what I have in rotation on my ipod at the time. Some old, some new. I used to be much better about staying up on the newest bands around, but find it a bit exhausting now, so no judgement if you have heard most of this years before I find it! That is not what this is really about anyway; there are plenty of more hip and qualified folks out there doing that, I will leave it to them. Instead I am just sharing what I have playing in my head at the time. Music is a huge part of my life, always has been, and I enjoy having an outlet to focus it. I don't want this to be a one-sided post either. Please leave comments and suggestions of what you all are listening to! There is too much good music out there, let's share the love and get it heard! So to kick this Friday morning off:

Bob Schneider "Let the Light In"

Radiohead's new album has been making its way around and this video has been all over the place. I love Radiohead, always have, not sure if I love this album as much as some of the others but appreciate them no matter what. This song and video are quiet impressive though, if you like that kind of thing, which I do:

"Lotus Flower"

I have read about Jessica Lea Mayfield a lot lately, and each time it is from a website, blog, or email blast that I trust, so I jumped on over and checked her out. Good stuff for sure, and the combined efforts with Dan Auerbach from the Black Keys and a few other musicians only reinforced my decision to get it! I am already glad I did.

"Our Hearts are Wrong"

"Blue Skies Again"

Speaking of the Black Keys, this album came out last year, but I still think it is one of the better albums I have heard in a long time. I saw them for the first time from the back side of a stage in Australia a few years back and was instantly sold. They were my favorite act of the whole festival and continue to impress:

"Next Girl"

"Tighten Up"

to read or not to read

2011-02-23T10:55:00.001-05:00

While I am not necessarily the most dedicated reader out there, I enjoy it, and have a real love for books. There is something so intriguing about the act of finding a book and making that decision to take it home. I don’t have a huge library, but what I do have, I feel, is a perfect representation of who I am. I believe most people’s collection of books are, and always enjoy observing others’ shelves when I am in their home. I have hauled my modest group around with me for years and can’t imagine my rooms without them. Being a designer I am drawn to the book covers. Unless I already know it is something I want to read, I absolutely judge a book by its cover. I lean this way with wine labels too. If I see one that stands out to me, I tend to pick it up. I also love to peruse the rows of books to look at all of the illustrations and fonts being used. It is a great source of inspiration. And then there is the smell. I love the smell of a new book—all crisp and freshly printed. I also love the smell of an old book, especially from a library or an antique store.

With all of this being said, I bought myself a Kindle recently. And to be honest, I could not love it more!

This is such a surprise to me because it is the opposite of all of the above, but a few months ago I downloaded the Kindle app for my phone and found myself reading a lot. A LOT. I am the kind of reader who usually has a few books going at once, but the problem is I tend to not finish any of them. Having the majority of those books in one place that is as portable as it is, seems to be the key factor that is making the difference for me right now. So I decided that I would jump on this change and not question it too much, because at the end of the day I am reading more. I am still not sure how I will manage to grow my collection, but I expect that I will. I see this as an opportunity to walk into more used books stores to find those that are keepers, and make more room on my Kindle!

friday tunes

2011-02-18T10:34:00.003-05:00

In keeping with the past few Fridays I am going to kick off the weekend with some of my favorite tunes from the week! Can't think of a better way to start a Friday morning.

The Arcade Fire won a well-deserved Grammy this week. Although winning a Grammy has less to do with my love for them than the impact of the first time I ever heard them. I couldn't get enough of it. That was their first album. I have been a fan ever since. Two of my favorite songs from the most recent album:

We Used to Wait

Suburban War

Low Man —these guys have been around awhile, but I am just now coming across them. This song has made it on to every playlist I have made for the past few months.

"Angel from Montgomery"—cover by Old Crow Medicine Show from the John Prine tribute album

Jackie Wants a Black Eye —saw them a few weeks ago...the show has come and gone...and I still can't quit listening to this song!

the music of Parenthood

2011-02-11T10:40:00.002-05:00

One of my favorite shows on right now is Parenthood. I love it for plenty of reasons, but one big one is the music. Whether it is a song I already have on my ipod or a band I am hearing for the first time, I think they do a great job of using the music to accompany the storyline. I mean, how can you go wrong with a show whose opening song is Bob Dylan's "Forever Young"?!

here is a sampling of some of my favorites:

And to note, not all of the music they play is so whiny...just the stuff I like!
Enjoy some more Friday tunes!

garden & gun

2011-02-08T16:22:00.003-05:00

Immediately following college graduation I applied for a job to be the designer for a magazine called The Oxford American. I had known this magazine since it had been in the early stages of production out of Oxford, MS and respected it so much; so it was nothing for me to want to move to Conway, Arkansas to work with it. The only problem was, as I mentioned before, I had just graduated from college. I had no clue how to design a magazine from front to back, and I got the impression that there were no other designers working there. A few years later I DID actually design a magazine front to back. A fashion magazine for Nashville. That lasted one issue only because the owner squandered all of the money and apparently took off to Toronto! Through that experience though, I realized a few things: (a) I would have been totally screwed if I had somehow talked my way into the OA job because I would have not been able to design on that level at that time (b) what a difference a few years can make because I actually put an entire magazine together in less than a month, and (c) as I had always thought, I really want to work for a magazine one day. Well, I recently came across one that made me remember this. It is called Garden & Gun; and don't let the name fool you!!

It is, and I quote from their website, "A Southern lifestyle magazine that's all about the magic of the new South—sporting culture, food, music, art, literature, people, and ideas". It is sleek, well written, well designed, cool, and unpretentious. All things most folks don't usually associate with the South, except for maybe unpretentious. I can only speak for the more recent issues, as they are the only ones I have seen, but here is a recap of what those have contained: articles on Sea Turtle rescue after the oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, urban farming, duck hunting in Mississippi, Justin Townes Earle, longtime friends who now distill their own whiskey, and some photographs by this artist titled "Lost Boys". There are articles on food and products that are created in the South. The first issue of 2011 is a Music Issue and not only do they feature The Avett Brothers, but they also focus on Steve Martin and his bluegrass music. There are beautiful films on their website to accompany many of the articles, as well as a few of blogs to follow.

I appreciate what this magazine is doing for the South. It is highlighting what I think a lot of us know is happening down here. And it is doing it with beautifully written articles, inspiring photography, and an honest approach to what it features. I love the South, and am proud to be from here. I get how some of the stereotypes are absolutely true and I wish that weren't the case. But, I don't feel the need to think that what is happening here is less than desirable, that there are all of these other places that are so much better. Of course, I love to travel, and see new places, and experience other cultures; but it is good to come home. The voice this magazine has is absolutely the "new South". It is hip, and educated, and real, and interesting.

lissie

2011-02-04T13:06:00.005-05:00

I heard this little lady play last night at Mercy Lounge. Good stuff. I met up with some dear friends, who were dear enough to introduce me to her music a year or so ago. My friend passed her EP on to me saying "I have a small girl crush on her". I now know what she means. Girl crush in the sense that you wish you could be as cool as her. Play and sing and perform like her. I always feel that way when I see someone perform, in awe. It is the one thing I really wish I could do, but always have to surrender to knowing I never will. And that is okay with me. Makes me really appreciate it more when I see someone do it well. Especially when I see a girl who can really rock a guitar.

Little Lovin' is one of my favorite songs of hers, but was surprised a cover that she did last night was the one to blow me away. I am not necessarily versed in hip hop, so have no idea who this group is that they covered, nor have I ever heard this song "Pursuit of Happiness"—so no judgement! I was just strangely blown away by their take on it and thought her performance was powerful.

Enjoy some Friday tunes:

my love for william eggleston

2011-02-01T21:58:00.004-05:00

I was introduced to William Eggleston's work during college. I immediately fell for it. I understand it. It makes sense to me. More so than a really beautiful black and white photograph of a landscape—not that there is anything wrong with that! Maybe it just has more to do with the fact that his subject matter is primarily shot in the South, a lot of it being in and around Mississippi and the Delta. It is subject matter that is familiar.

Anyway, the Frist is currently featuring an exhibit on him, so recently I went. What a treat to see his work up close. There is an image that I have looked at many times, but only after standing inches away from it did I notice an airplane in the upper left corner. This made me smile. I love his work because of this. Everyday images, but if you look closely there are so many layers to it. For the longest time, the only art book I had was a book of his photography called 2 1/4. I have spent a lot of time looking through this book and every time I turn a page I am always left wondering why he captured that image. What was it about each particular moment that caught his attention? I love that it is never explained either. We are spoon-fed all of these messages and symbols and meanings, it is refreshing to have to look a little closer.

His color palette is the other thing that RESONATES with me. A pale blue sky against a bright red car, a tree covered in vines that are the most beautiful shades of green, a lady in a navy dress sitting on a bright yellow wall, a white man dressed in a black suit next to a black man dressed in a white jacket. If I were only looking for color inspiration, I would find a new palette in every image. But I am looking for more reasons than that. The content of his photography is intriguing and confusing. It sometimes feels too private. Other times, is light. But never boring.

I am happy to have this exhibit in town for a while longer. I expect to visit a few times. I am also happy to have purchased my third "real" art book because of it.

lottie+doff mac+cheese

2011-01-28T08:13:00.002-05:00

I have a minor issue with taking pictures of the food I am eating, as you may have already noticed! But I don't talk much about how much I enjoy cooking! There was an interest at a young age, but over the past few years I have actually learned to prepare food well. E had a love of cooking and I learned a lot from him. He was the kind that didn't need a recipe. Could just throw it together and voilà! I still need the recipe crutch but have been doing it long enough now to be able to prepare a handful of dishes by heart. Trying new recipes makes me a bit uneasy though. There is nothing more disappointing than spending time in the kitchen only to have the food turn out so-so. This has happened quite often for me when I have tried something new! But this was not the case for this Mac + Cheese last night. The recipe came from a blog that I frequent, and it really turned out the way I had hoped it would. I didn't have red pepper flakes so left that out, and I would maybe put in less onion (only because I tend to like less onion in all food), but I will definitely add this to my list of keepers. Try it! It is perfect weather for this comfort food!

january, snow, and peace

2011-01-26T14:39:00.002-05:00

There has been more snow these past few months than I have ever experienced. It has been cold. Gray most days. This winter has been difficult. I have been stuck inside, so I am reading more. Mostly about grief. Whether it has been someone else's experience or just facts about the process. I started with one story, which led to another, which leads to more. I tend to "go to the literature" when I am presented with something new. To get a bigger picture of it all. In the end I believe this will be a rewarding thing, but lately I have not been so sure. It brings up realities and feelings that at this point in healing might be better left untouched. But I know better than to pretend it is not there, so I continue forward.

I was presented with something today, however, that renewed my belief in the bigger picture. Reminded me that energy and love and souls never really separate. In the midst of this sadness, this grief and mourning, this gray, dormant, quiet space I am in; I was given a gift of true peace. To say I am thankful is an understatement. It is life-altering.

fred shand quilts

2011-01-20T11:49:00.003-05:00

If you know me, you know I love the store Anthropologie. I love their catalogs, mostly for inspiration, and still have the very first one that I got while in college. So receiving their email blast is equally exciting! Although, there are some days I just have to delete it before opening because I don't even want to see what I can't afford! I am thankful today was not one of those days. They featured some of their new items that will wake up your dwelling. One of which were these quilts and pillows by Fred Shand. The part of my soul that is the artist was singing this morning as I scrolled through the items. I have a belief that one day I will be experienced enough of a quilter to make art quilts that would hang on the wall. Not the kind you see in log cabins, more along the lines of these.

where do my bluebird fly

2011-01-18T14:31:00.004-05:00

I feel the need to share this video and song. I have been to this exact place. With E. We had lunch right there to the left in the area under the umbrellas. They joke in the beginning of the video about it being right in the middle of the tourists. And it was! But, we didn't care. We were together in Australia, nothing else mattered. What a beautiful day that was. What a beautiful and sad memory that is. What a beautiful and sad song this is. I find it a bit haunting though. In the way that songs can sometimes touch on something that you are feeling and you don't really know how to say.

"Where Do My Bluebird Fly"
The Tallest Man on Earth

Oh, well I knew you shook the set-up baby,
of all the leaves up in the ground
And I know our song is all but healthy
as I see dry leaves fallin' down, oh
With all this fever in my mind,
I could drown in your kerosene eyes oh
You're just a riddle in the sky
Oh, where do my bluebird fly?

And as the early sign of dawn and thunder
I see you stir the fog around
And when you find the voice and gears of sunset
we'll hear that high and lonesome sound, oh
And I will question every wind
if they gone through the glow of your eyes oh
You're just a riddle in the sky
Oh, where do my bluebirds fly?
I say where do my bluebirds fly?

Oh, well I know you stroke your feathers baby
upon the ghosts along my trail
And I know our lie was sold and buried
before I knew it was for sale, oh
With all this fever in my mind
I could aim for your kerosene eyes oh
You're just a target in the sky
I say where do my bluebirds fly?
I say where do my bluebirds fly?

dancing, climbing in the attic, and long weekends

2011-01-17T16:46:00.002-05:00

The first few weeks of this new year have somehow slipped by me! Plenty has happened, but nothing worth going into detail about. All of this snow and cold weather seems to slow me down a bit. However, this weekend was one of the better weekends I have had in a while.

Dancing on lower Broadway.
Working with a dog trainer
Found a cool new hangout that is just around the corner.
Had some great help with cleaning/organizing the attic.
Spent time with a friend that I have not seen in over 5 years.
Finally met her two beautiful little girls.
And, believe it or not had plenty of time to catch up on terrible tv!

This is the last long weekend for a while, I am thankful it was a good one!

new year

2010-12-30T15:11:00.006-05:00

With a new year comes reflection on the year gone by. We make lists of things that were memorable and words that sum it up. We make more lists of resolutions for the new one in front of us. I feel pretty sure that when I continue to look back on this year all that will come to mind was how shitty it was. It was a terrible, sad, difficult year, and I am content to see it go. Clearly, not every part of it was terrible, but as a whole you get what I am saying. As far as my expectations for 2011—well, I have none. I literally want nothing to happen. For it to be uneventful and boring. That would be wonderful actually. I wonder sometimes that if I didn't make any big sudden movements, would I slip by unnoticed for a while. I know how ridiculous this sounds, but it is a true thought that I continue to have. I also know it is unrealistic, so am only halfway serious about all of this.

As much as I am not one to make resolutions at the start of a new calendar year, there are a few concepts that have presented themselves to me over the past few months. They have been on my mind enough to feel like a new year is a good time to delve further into them. A month or so ago my therapist told me that I need to learn to "just be". It sounds so simple, yet it is a concept I have been searching to define for years and years. To just BE. To be who I am, where I am in life, when I am, and how I am at all times. Seems simple, yet why is it so hard for most of us? And I KNOW I am not alone in this. So I have been mulling that over for a while now. The other day I decided I would google "How to Be" in my search to have this answered. Let me just note that the first EIGHT entries where focused on some Robert Pattinson movie with this title. I think this is so interesting. I am not sure what I was looking for, maybe a book, or some article of someone else delving into this further, but instead I got a million images of the star from the Twilight series. Chalk it up to my fault for trying to "google" this issue! So, it looks like there are no manuals on this. No easy way to go about it.

I also recently read an article in one of my favorite magazines about a woman who challenged herself to ask her loved ones how she could love them better. This is such a scary concept, what would people actually say?! But it is such an amazing idea. Why would we not want to know this? What a challenging and rewarding shift that could be. I am assuming the age-old theory of one has to love themselves before they can love others comes into play here. It is not that I don't love who I am, but we could all be a little kinder to ourselves. I feel if I can understand how to BE a bit more, I may not have to ask others how to love them better. It may happen naturally.

The one thing that has obviously come from this year was learning to understand death more; which in turn forces you to look at life. I have found myself letting go of things that used to hold more importance in my life, and grasping onto the things that are truth. I can see that in doing so there is more opportunity to actually live. And live well. I may still want to give 2010 "the bird", however, I can't help but give it credit for being the year real transformation began.

Happy New Year to all of you. May you burn your lists of expectations and instead experience life!

the best little christmas gift

2010-12-29T08:41:00.002-05:00

On a Tuesday morning, December 21st, the sweetest little Christmas gift arrived.
6 lbs. 12 oz. 21 inches long. My nephew Hunter.

What a relief that all went well, and what a miracle a new baby is! I may be partial but this baby is so sweet and beautiful, and a rockstar. His entry into the world seemed like it was just another day! He wasn't crying or freaked out, but rather just taking it all in. And my sister and brother-in-law are rockin' it too. I have never really watched this process up close, but am amazed by how naturally humans figure it all out. Of course, there are plenty of books out there to inform the parents, but I am not sure that is it. To see a day old baby figure out how to get food and cry when he needs something, well, there is definitely something built inside of us to be able to do that.

It was a very different Christmas this year, and for that I am grateful. I can't really think of another "distraction" that would be as enjoyable as he is!

christmas gathering

2010-12-19T23:40:00.004-05:00

When I moved to Nashville, I only had about three friends that already lived here. Granted, they were some of my best friends and past roommates, but coming from college and a small town where I had established friendships that had grown over many, many years; it was a leap to get out there and really have to meet so many new people. And start over essentially. It was at my first job that I met some of the key people who have been in my life all of my years in Nashville. Countless birthday parties, holiday gatherings, New Year's Eve's, weddings, and trips. We have all been through so many phases together. Good and bad. And as different as we all are from each other, our time together is still filled with as much laughter and conversation as the days we first met. We have been a family. This year a lot has happened to this family...there was the passing of E, a marriage, and a new baby. And the new year will bring even more change as our little crew is going to be saying goodbye to friends moving to Portland, Oregon and another to New York City. So this year's holiday gathering was kind of bittersweet. We had a new "member" in the form of a tiny 8 month old join us! But, it might also be the last time we all gather like we have all these years for Christmas. Unfortunately, change is inevitable and necessary, so there is no need to dwell on it. It was nice to spend an evening with wonderful friends and food and enjoy the time we do have together.

elephant ceramics

2010-12-17T12:55:00.001-05:00

When I see work like these pieces from Elephant Ceramics it makes me stop dead in my tracks, sit quietly, and really take a look at what it is I am seeing. There were a million thoughts that were racing through my mind at first glance. "Where can I BUY one of those platters?!", "What a beautiful shape.", "This photography and styling is unbelievable!", "The blue is my favorite, oh wait, no the white. Oh that green!". You get the idea. I come across a lot of inspiring things, this blog is focused on that! But rarely, do I stumble on something that I keep coming back to look at. Over and over. There are so many things done right by the artist Michele, that I will openly admit I am envious and in awe.

I spent a few semesters of college in ceramic classes. I loved everything about it and still do. In fact I decided a long time ago that when my hair begins to turn gray, I will cut it into a chin-length bob, dress only in black and white, and set up a small pottery studio. This is actually the only goal I really have in my life. The only thing I have ever really wanted to works towards. To one day spend all of my days with my hands in clay and glazes, listening to music, stripping everything down to the simplest of needs, and creating beautiful, utilitarian forms. I hardly come across a piece of pottery that I hate, but a lot of it is lost on me. The pieces from this studio however, have reminded me why this medium can be so beautiful.

knitting and yarn

2010-12-09T12:42:00.004-05:00

This is the perfect weather to be sitting at home, cozy in your "knock-arounds" and doing something crafty! Sewing, knitting, making things out of felt. Although I don't know how to knit, all of the following images make me truly wish I did!! I am kind of flipping out over that yellow blanket, and was willing to find someone who did know how to make it for me, but the yarn might be a tad bit out of my current budget! Maybe one day. Maybe one day when I can knit it myself! I would, however, be up for finding someone to make me one of those striped blankets in a full size vs. the baby blanket size!

I have referenced Purl Soho plenty of times while looking for quilting patterns, or books, or fabric. But am taking a second glance at it in relation to all of the yarn and knitting projects. I love to go into fabric stores and browse all of the textures, patterns, and colors; but there is something more appealing about yarn. Maybe because you strip away all of those varieties of textures and patterns, and focus on the subtle variations in color and types of yarn. The palettes in some of these blankets and projects are so inspiring, I cannot seem to pick a favorite! Much less stop looking at them all!

Top L to R: Super Easy Baby Blankets; Last Minute Knitted Gifts book; Pixie Dust Lap Blanket; Pixie Dust yarn; Jade Sapphire Cashmere yarn; Brooklyn Tweed's Shelter yarn; Easy Baby Cardigan; Pixie Dust Lap Blanket

i always laugh in oxford

2010-12-05T23:35:00.002-05:00

I spent the weekend in Oxford, MS with two of my oldest friends. I have had these friends in my life for over 20 years! It is a funny thing to know people that long. All the phases you go through together. What a blessing to still know each other so well. But, I should have gotten more pictures. I guess it is a good sign that I didn't even think to get my camera out though. My main purpose for the trip was to help one of these friends pick out paint colors for his house that is in the process of being rebuilt. I have never had to come up with a palette while the house is still only concrete and frames. But, it pushes you to really use your imagination and think about the final picture. I think we were successful!

The best part though is whenever I leave from a few days spent with these friends I always realize how much I have laughed. The kind of laughing where you are doubled over and crying. I would say that most of my friends are people that I laugh with, but this is different. I suppose that has been a big part of what has made 20 years go by so easily!

thanksgiving

2010-11-24T10:15:00.006-05:00

A beautiful little hand-typed poem that I found in our front yard one day. E and I came home to find
paper floating around in the air, as someone nearby was burning stuff, and there it was.

Some years it is hard to really feel the weight of being thankful. Some years go by and while there are many important things that happen, the impact has been lost by the time the holiday comes around. Others it is so heavy it is all you can do to not shout out loud how grateful you are! This year for me is so heavy with events and changes and experiences and tragedy, I would be lying if I said I only felt thankful for it all. Let's just say that it is a bittersweet version of Thanksgiving.

But, there are a few things I would like to share that I am thankful for this year. The first would be my time with E. I have mentioned that on here before, but on those days when it is really hard to believe he is gone, I can only feel thankful that I even knew him at all. That he changed my life the way he did and that he loved me. It is hard to focus anymore on the hard stuff when someone gets further away from you. I am sure that is just part of the grief process but I also am beginning to believe it has as much to do with our loved one still being present in some way, helping us let all of that go. The loss is still too much some days, and I can't say I am necessarily thankful for that. Maybe one day I will be far enough away from the loss to be able to understand how necessary the grief process is in order to grasp what living really is. Which leads me to the next thing I am thankful for, the strength to move through all of this. This strength that I have had has not come from me, it has clearly been a gift from above. There is no way I possessed that on my own. There is no way any of us do. It has also been given to me through little prayers and thoughts and well wishes that are sent out to me. The outpouring of people who showed up during the week of his death still astounds me. There is something to be said for how we live our life on earth and how it effects those around you. E truly did effect those around him, in a way that most of us only wish we could do. To look around and see the variety and the number of people that were not only there to celebrate him, but who have continued to show up speaks loudly about who he was. I am so grateful for all of these people in my life. To be held up in times when you can't do it by yourself is such a humbling feeling. I cannot express the love I have for all of these people in my life. I have been stitched closer to my friends and family that were already there, and can now also call those that have known him all of these years, dear friends of mine too. It is a very large group of amazing people.

I am also thankful for the opportunity to face really hard roads and to be forced to dig deep and really look at who I am. Who I really am going to choose to be. Honestly, there are more days than I am comfortable admitting where I ask the "why me? why did all of this happen?" questions. And on those days I am absolutely NOT thankful for all of these hard roads and opportunities to face who I am becoming. But the bigger part of me realizes we all have to at some point or another, and I guess while I wish I had been given a little more time before experiencing this, I am thankful to be where I am in my journey. Mainly because I am having to learn how to just "be." How to forgive myself and to take care of myself and to live in each moment. To be okay with where I am in every step of life. This has been/is a hard lesson for me to learn. But I believe this is a lesson we continue to learn and refine all of our lives. This crash course has been difficult to swallow and be okay with, but when we don't have a choice in making it different, we have to surrender. As I am surrendering, I am seeing the beauty of how life can unfold. It is a hard thing to forgive yourself or to truly, truly love yourself; but it is necessary and I am thankful to be at a place of understanding that now.

Grief is an unbelievable process. And it is a process. I can't speak much to it as I am still in the depths of it, hopefully one day, but there are moments of absolute peace and clarity, and then two hours later you can be so lost and angry you want to throw your hands in the air and just step out for a while. At least that has been my experience. Which brings me to the last two things I am thankful for right now. The first is my home. When I say home I am referring to not only the house, but my dogs and all that is contained there. There are many days when it is just me and the dogs. I absolutely know they miss E and they understand it is different. The beauty of dogs is that they sense when you are sad or need love, and they give it freely. It sounds crazy, but the three of us have clung pretty tight through this. If I didn't have them there when I got home to greet me and lay next to me it would be a much lonelier space. Some mornings it has been strictly the fact that I needed to get up, let them out and feed them that I have been able to get going into my day. And the house itself is the ultimate comfort. I know what it is to live out of suitcases, and have friends and family graciously open up rooms to you. I have experienced this a few times in my life and as thankful as I am to them, it is still not "home." Settled. This "home" may be the thing I am most thankful for. As alone as I may feel most days, I don't when I am in the house or the yard with the dogs. I feel like I have some place to be, that not everything has been uprooted and taken from me. E loved that house so much and as crazy as it may sound, he left such great energy here. I can paint the walls and rearrange furniture but it still feels like the house we both loved and I am happy to still call it home.

And the last thing I am thankful for is a new baby coming into the world and into my life. Into my family. The timing of it all is a reminder of why we need to have faith. It was a struggle for my sister and brother-in-law, but had this baby come at any other time it wouldn't have been perfect timing. There is a bigger picture happening here and the reminder is a blessing. Besides how can one continue to want to throw in the towel when a baby is on the way. This kid doesn't have a clue what he has already done for his aunt.

Happy Thanksgiving to any and all that read this blog.

rose perfume

2010-11-12T16:25:00.002-05:00

This is a "trend" that I completely support! I bought my first bottle of Rose perfume when I was in college. It was called "Paris Rose" and it was the perfect scent. Light, fresh, classic. Not overpowering or old lady! They stopped making it a few years later, so I bought a few bottles before it would no longer be available. I am down to my last bottle of it and only use that one for special occasions. Last year I ventured out to Stella as an everyday perfume (which for me means once in a while); so I am really interested in checking out this Stella Sheer! I imagine all of these scents would go perfectly with a crisp white shirt, a strand of pearls, and some classic ballet flats!

Seen in the December 2010 issue of Real Simple magazine

Lonny magazine

2010-11-11T18:13:00.003-05:00

The day I received my last issue of Domino magazine was a sad day indeed. If you read my post back in January of 2009 you might remember. But today is a really GREAT day! Thanks to my mother who reads my blog and recognized the magazine being discussed on Oprah, I have found THIS! Lonny magazine!! It is basically the online version of Domino. However, it may be a little more genius. Started in October of 2009, by the former market assistant and photographer for Domino magazine, it is a bi-monthly online magazine that reads like a rag, but the unique features of the web allow for being able to click on items and be redirected to where you can buy. There is also a different level of interiors being photographed—not as staged, instead, actual real living spaces. Anyway, for those of you who have been missing this magazine like I have, this site may fill that void for you! Now that is one less thing to be sad about, right?! Happy browsing!

Read the New York Times article that explains much better than I have!

david stark holiday from west elm

2010-11-10T15:57:00.002-05:00

I opened my email this morning to find one from West Elm advertising their David Stark holiday collection. It is focused on recycled materials and everyday objects that have been given new life as holiday decor! Anyway, this prompted me to continue to look and see what else is out there this season. Lots of neutrals and clever materials being used. I have been hesitant about how much decorating I will do this year, and definitely haven't felt the need to buy anything new; so it is inspiring to think about reusing what I might already have and to MAKE a few new decorations and gifts.

Season's Fleeting Wreath; Leaf ornaments; Snowflake Doilies; Metallic Leaves; Screen Printed Wrapping Paper; Yarn Skein ornament; Recycled Paper garland and Red & White twine; Card Garland; Winter Ice Canape Plate

smell good stuff

2010-11-07T09:31:00.002-05:00

It definitely turned Fall/with a touch of Winter this week! Time to pull out coats and scarves, and make soups, ciders, and all foods that are cozy! My friend Faith came over the other night bearing a wonderful gift that is perfect for this time of year. A satchel filled with spices that once put on the stove to simmer will make your house smell so festive! It reminds me of home because my mom does this too. It is so simple, but packaged the way Faith did makes for a great little gift. So here is the scoop:

Throw the following into a swatch of fabric and tie off with a ribbon:
2 cinnamon sticks
2-3 whole nutmeg
Palm full of whole cloves
Palm full of whole All Spice

Attach a handmade tag with the following directions:
Cover with water all contents of package and sliced oranges. Boil then simmer. Lasts one week.

Pair the package of spice with 2 oranges and you are set! Happy Holidays!

auntie em goes shopping

2010-11-05T12:54:00.003-04:00

My only sister is having her first baby at the end of December. I will officially be "Auntie Em"! I could not be more excited about this baby, and as the date gets closer, I find myself constantly searching for the cutest baby stuff I can find!

I am obsessed with all of these items. I mean, those Rainbow Blocks are SO beautiful I want a set just for myself! And, I have been eyeing the Eames elephant stool for years now. And that little red fox onesie paired with those moccasins will make for the coolest baby on the block! Oh, and no worries, sis, I have already gotten the "My Aunt Rocks" shirt! ;)

Wooden Rainbow Blocks; Cord-Roy Elephant; Wooden mobile; T-shirt; Gray striped sleep sack; Wooden Nesting Cave; Fox Onesie; Moccasins; Eames elephant

terrain

2010-10-29T11:48:00.003-04:00

I am not sure how I came across this site, but I absolutely love everything on it! They have such beautiful everyday objects. I have found that if you surround yourself with the simplest of beauty, any normal task can become more enjoyable. Such as making homemade pickles and placing them in an etched jar, or using medication out of a cobalt blue bottle. It doesn't take much.

an anniversary remembered

2010-10-21T14:43:00.004-04:00

Four years ago E and I were married. October 21st, 2006. I can honestly say that day was one of my favorite. Top 3 for sure. I know it is cliche to say things like that, but it is true. To be gathered with all of your favorite people, with good food, atmosphere, and energy; and to marry someone that you love so much — well it is hard to beat a day like that. Alot has happened since that day, and to not have E here anymore is so hard to believe. I have been nervous about this date coming up for a few months now. But I decided that instead of feeling lost and sad and wishing things had turned out differently; I would find a way to make this day great. The 21st of October has been such a wonderful day in my life for the past few years and I don't want that to change. That seems like a better way to remember E and our time together. Seems like the next best thing to him actually still being here and being well.

I have been looking through our wedding album today. I was asked to send them to another girl who is having her wedding at Carnton Plantation too, and wanted some inspiration. But of course, it was poetic that it coincides with our anniversary. It is definitely hard to see them and to see how beautiful E was, how in love we were. But it is so nice to be on this side of it all and to not regret a day of it. I am thankful for every bit of time with E — all the good, all the bad, all the sick and the healthy days, and the life we stitched together. I am thankful for how he loved me unconditionally, and for the things I learned from him. I am also thankful to have had such an amazing day in my life and beautiful photographs to remember it by.

more photos here

all photographs by Micheal Howard

yellow owl pendants

2010-08-26T17:46:00.002-04:00

I have been working really hard this afternoon to avoid doing any actual work! So of course I began to peruse my favorite blogs and websites—which in one sense is "work" because it provides LOTS of inspiration that I am able to use in my projects. Anyway, I have always loved what is coming out of Yellow Owl Workshop, but these pendants are too cool. I definitely want to get the Color Wheel, but am not sure I can pass up the Earth/Fire and Air/Water ones. I am a fire sign; E was air.

[ little observations ]

little "hun"

food photography

friday spin: blake mills

2012

roots and reality checks

Maple-Soy Chex Mix

little blue ring

"you took my joy, I want it back"

giving thanks

a long time coming...

keep going

friday spin: lana del rey

friday spin: Hayes Carll

words to inspire

wilco

words to inspire

friday spin: Soundland

end of summer

necessary days

words to inspire

friday spin: laura marling

old faithful shop

pottery class

life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans

estate sale finds

when life hands you a busted water heater...

painted floors

crafty girls brunch

pinterest

how to hem jeans: a DIY for short people!

friday spin: 31 years playlist

bold is the new black

friday spin: a shout out to Claire

the marlow hobo

friday spin: holding on to black metal

"splendid" just about sums it up!

flea markets and new friends

friday spin: ryan adams

4th of July weekend

Making Pickled Okra

friday spin: buddy holly tribute album

there is a light and it never goes out...

on the road, but not to bonnaroo

eric spang photos

this is what 5 months old looks like...

happy bday

friday spin: the moon

friday spin: the frames/swell season

the beginning

mixed bag of inspiration

josh ritter

friday spin: playing catch up

oilcloth outdoor table

marimekko + crate and barrel

yard sale

so apparently I make these now...

record collection

friday spin: danger mouse

umbrella shopping

friday spin: Fleet Foxes and First Aid Kit

air plant terrarium

friday spin: ready for the weekend

baby cowboy boots

friday spin: bright eyes

releasing the wolf

desert terrarium

friday spin: melancholy

shop terrain #2

the rural studio

friday spin: road music

found while walking

two months, one week, and two days

yard makeover ideas

friday spin

to read or not to read

friday tunes

the music of Parenthood

garden & gun

lissie