Pinterest, We Heart It, and Falling asleep

Hey Everyone!

I am tired today...really....really.....really....tired.

So I just thought I would share a secret with you. 

Before I go to bed every night and I have already put my beautiful mac laptop away, I get my phone to set my alarm for work the next day and then sneakily go to We Heart It.

I am definitely a Pinterest girl.  I love making my boards and I get excited when I see new images to pin and when people I don't know pin my pins.

Yet, every night I go to We Heart It, click on the word Love or Beautiful to bring up images related to that and then scroll through some pages.  There are less words and clutter than on Pinterest and I can just look and not think. 

I usually end up falling asleep with a happy heart because the images make me smile.

You should try it. 

Falling asleep to beautiful images is lovely.

Cupcakes and Cashmere Blog

Tomorrow...

Love,

Jess

Illustrator Ellen Van Engelen and her sketchbook

I know it's not time yet for an artist showcase, but I needed/wanted/NEEDED to share an illustrator that I came across.

Her name is Ellen Van Engelen and she is an illustrator who grew up in Belgium and lives in Antwerp.  She has worked for numerous huge magazines like The New Yorker, The Guardian, New York Times Magazine, GQ Russia....so yeah, she is definitely a big deal, but I just came across her art yesterday and it is AWESOME!

I particularly love her sketchbook, so that is some of the work I am going to show.  When I look at the work I think it feels spontaneous, emotive, interesting, and it truly captures the feeling of the people she is drawing.

Aren't these sketches amazing!  I kind of have a thing for looking at other artist sketchbooks.  Being allowed into another artists spontaneous world makes me feel like I'm sneaking a look at my sisters diary or listening to adult conversations when I was a kid.

I feel like I'm doing something wrong but at the same time something sooo right.  Does that make sense?

Be sure to check out more of her work on her website....I think I could stare at her drawings all day!

Until tomorrow,

Love,

Jess

Home is where your heart is Stamp on LoveUPaperly and Some inexpensive Wedding Dresses on SimplyBridal

Hello Lovelies!

I am sitting on the recliner with ice on my neck, but I am freshly showered and I just made a pretty new paper flower so I'm feeling like I accomplished something today.  Oh, I also went to work, and Mer and I filled out some paper work.  I am also planning on eating chocolate later...maybe for dinner, so that will round it out for a nice Monday.

A new adorably, simple stamp is available on LoveUPaperly for only $1.10!

I have had this image in my head for awhile and it was nice to finally carve it out and stamp it!

I think it is such a sweet stamp and I could imagine it being used for a house warming or a reunion, or maybe stamped on napkins.  Cute, right?!

Now onto Wedding Dresses!  I am still looking and I came across the site Simply Bridal and the reviews are good and the dresses are great prices!

These are three of my favorites, each one $200 or under.

Gemina Gown

Roxanne Gown

Kaitlyn Gown

Simply Bridal is not a paid sponsor, but I would definitely check them out.  At least it might give you good ideas!

Love,

Jess

Lovely Sunday Crafting Photos

Hi All!  What I really wanted to say was Hey Y'all, but i'm not Southern.  Though Maryland is below the Mason Dixon line, so is it o.k.?!

Well, I have been crafting A LOT lately!  Mostly a combination of wedding stuff and not being able to sleep so it keeps me occupied.

I wanted to show you some paper flowers that I made.  I know it's not the usual Sunday photo, but I think their lovely!

I'm thinking maybe I'll do a tutorial, but I have to finish the chalkboard glasses first!  I have crafting ADD so please bear with me!

Love,

Jess

Friday (Saturday) Artist Showcase Shauna Richardson

I fall in love easily.  I always have.  With people, with things, with art, with places.

I have found a new love today in conceptual artist Shauna Richardson.  I just found her series "CrochetDermy" which I am going to feature today.

Here is how the project is described on her website:
The unique body of work she terms ‘Crochetdermy’ evolved out of the exploration of the theory that  ‘Anything can be art’. She uses crochet to sculpt realistic life-size animals – uncanny taxidermy-like forms. Crochetdermy combines themes such as objects, collecting, craft and realism and experiments with accessibility and audience.

Isn't this series amazing?  Just looking at the images I found the art to be disturbingly detailed and bizarre.  It makes me slightly uncomfortable just like a real taxidermy would, but they are also hauntingly beauitful.

What do you guys think?  Impressed?!

Love,

Jess

Radio (Blogger) Silence

Hello All!

I usually try to keep this blog and my posts upbeat though I do share some personal stuff that is going on.

These past few days have been difficult for me for numerous reasons, especially yesterday, hence I imposed blogger silence on you.

When I looked up the term "Radio Silence" the definition that stuck out was this:
radio silence is a status in which all fixed or mobile radio stations in an area are asked to stop transmitting for safety or security reasons.

 I hereby coin the phrase "Blogger Silence".  When I say this dear readers, you will all know that for safety reasons, usually for myself or family, I needed to take a few days off.

I will post Artist Friday either later today and tomorrow and I hope that imposing "Blogger Silence" will be few and far between.

Enjoy your Saturday's, drink some coffee, lay in bed, enjoy your family!

Love,

Jess

A Harry Potter ButterBeer Recipe, Bad Blogger, and an awesome wedding

Hello lovelies!

I know it is Wednesday and I have missed two days of blogging, but I have an excuse.

I have been feeling a lot better, neurosurgery was four months ago, but in the past two days I have been soooo swollen and I think as a result I am having burning and complete numbness in my hand again!

To make you feel VERY sorry for me all the numbness is in my dominant hand.

Do you feel sorry for me yet?!  O.k. life is still good so onto happier things! 

I found an ahhmazing butterbeer recipe on the very awesome blog called IndieJane. 

Amanda who runs the blog seems very cool and is also a rad photographer!

For those of you that don't know (really, you don't know?!), butterbeer is a drink in Harry Potter written by J.K. Rowling, that both the kids and teachers partake in.  I also believe it is the featured drink at the new Harry Potter world in Orlando, Florida.

Here is the recipe:
cream soda
butterscotch topping
heavy cream

Foam: 
You’ll need about 2 tablespoons of butterscotch topping per 1/2 cup of heavy whipping cream. Whip the cream and butterscotch together for just a few minutes, until it thickens somewhere between what you started with and whipped cream. You can also sweeten it more if you like.

Butterbeer:
Heat about 1-2 tablespoons of the butterscotch topping (depending on how “buttery” you want it) in a cup for about 30 seconds, just long enough to let it liquify a bit.
Pour the cream soda (slowly!) over the butterscotch and stir well.
Top with a bit of the “foam” and drink away with your kids or partners/friends who are going to think you are soooo cool!

 Recipe and Image from indijane photography.  Check her out!

I also want to give you another link. 

I about jumped off the bed last night when I was looking at Style Me Pretty, a great wedding blog, and came across these images.  They are so dreamy and exquisite and if I wanted to wear a princess dress this would be the one!

Wowzers, right?!  Find more images and a description by the bride on Style me Pretty, entitled Charlottesville Wedding by Jodi Miller Photography.

Lots of Love,

Jess

Adoration for Elie Saab 2012 Spring/Summer Collection

Good morning!  Happy Tuesday!  Is everyone awake yet?!

I thought I would share some love for Elie Saab this morning.  I know a lot of other bloggers have already shown dresses for his Spring/Summer 2012 Collection, but in case you haven't seen them I thought I would put them out there too!

I know I talked about him in an earlier post, but seriously, his clothing just looks magical to me.

The way it moves, the way it flows, the detail work.  It is breathtaking!

So enjoy the beauty on a Tuesday!

What do you guys think of the color scheme?  There are a lot of yellows, mustards, greens, and some hints of orange in this collection.

Personally I think that I am still drawn to the pieces in the collection with more muted colors.

I also added one dress from his 2011 collection that I LOVE!  Can you guess which one it is?

Love,

Jess

Lovely Sunday Photograph and a brand new item listed on LoveUPaperly!

Hello and a happy Sunday to everyone!

This weekend has flown by and I seriously wish we all had another day to rest.

Well, I wanted to show you a brand new item listed on LoveUPaperly.  I am going to start offering original, hand-carved stamps for purchase!

My goal is to offer these handmade stamps for an inexpensive price so that everyone can have a little homemade, adorable goodness in their crafting life!

This adorable Kitty Cat is only $1.25 plus shipping and handling.

So now onto the lovely Sunday Photograph.

Bold Goldfish 8X8 photograph by PictureBook on etsy

Isn't this photograph great?!

The Photographer is Layla Blackshear.  Check out her etsy shop here.

I love goldfish, I seriously have an affinity for them! 

I'm not sure if it is the mad face they make (check out said mad face on bottom right of photograph) or the lovely neon colors.

I always kill them if I own them myself, but I am definitely thinking of buying this image!

Until tomorrow,

Love,

Jess

Artist Friday

Happy Friday!

What a very, very, very, loooong week!  I am glad to finally have two days to do homework, sleep late, watch t.v. with my sweetie, and maybe take some naps!

I am highlighting an amazing artist today who I am very excited about.

Her name is Liz Wolfe and she is a conceptual photographer who is living and working in Toronto, Canada.

She has no artist statement available on her website, but from my own perception she uses everyday objects and items, manipulating them and making the viewer look  and see in new and exciting ways.

Sugar Hills

Yellow Shoes and Sardines

Popsicle/Cupcakes

Red Shoes/Tampon

Lollipop Garden

Carrots/Peppers

Distorted Cones

I think her work is so interesting.  I love how everything is in bright and happy colors but that conceptually when you look closer there is something a little off.

Sort of like life sometimes, right?

Look tomorrow for the end pictures of my chalkboard glass tutorial!

Lots of love,

Jess

First Tutorial: Chalkboard Glasses for our wedding in two parts

Hi everyone!

I know I missed blogging yesterday, but let me tell you that you will not be disappointed with today's post!

I am going to show you step-by-step how I am going to make chalkboard glasses for our wedding as favors for our guests.

Let me first say that if you are someone that follows directions to a tee you are going to be horrified by how I do projects!

I stink at following directions, especially when it comes to crafts.  I don't like to measure, I cut things where I think they should be cut, and I don't always use the materials that you should.

Let's just say, that some things work and out some things don't, but it is ALWAYS an adventure!

So here are the ingredients that I am using:
White Dry Non-Sanded grout that can be bought at any hardware store
Acrylic Paint (I chose black but it can be any color)
Glasses (I bought mine for 97 cents at Walmart!)
Tape to make the square or shape on the glass (I couldn't find our painters tape so I am actually using medical tape)

The first step is to tape off the shape on the glasses to be able to paint the chalkboard paint.

Using my medical tape I cut strips and put them onto the glasses in a square, overlapping.  I think you could probably do it in any shape and I am thinking maybe a heart might be cute?!

I think with painters tape or masking tape it would be easier to get straight edges, but I work with what I have!!

Next step was to mix up the chalkboard paint.
The original recipe called for :
1 cup paint
2 tablespoons Dry White Non-Sanded Grout

I was only doing two glasses so honestly I squirted some paint into my bowl (acrylic black) and poured some grout on top.

The next step is to stir the paint together, and it seems the most important rule is to try and get out all of the big lumps.

I then painted the mixture onto the glasses, pretty thick so it would cover completely, because one of the last steps is to sand it down so that it is ready to use with chalk.

Now, I need to let the paint air dry (you could probably use a hair blower if you want), but I need to go cook dinner, so we will finish the tutorial hopefully tomorrow!

Hope you enjoyed it and it was easy to follow!

Love,

Jess