Attack of the Migraine and Other Things

Happy day after Thanksgiving!

I woke up with a list of things to do today about a mile long and I had high hopes to jump into them and be super productive.

However, it is 12:43 pm and I suddenly feel the world tilting and beginning to spin.  I have vestibular migraines, I have had them since I was eight.  Having one is like being on a spinning teacup ride at Disney World but you are not able to yell for it to stop.  Unfortunately, my inner ear carries the controls and it decides when it wants me to stop feeling dizzy.  As you can imagine, having migraines that make you dizzy also means that any sort of ride that could make you dizzy is not something that you think is fun!

So instead of vacuuming, doing school work, and working on art, I have taken two Dramamine and I am going to lie down and try to sleep it off.

It feels like having decided to slow down this week from waking up at 5 am and going to sleep at 12 am and studying with every free second my body is also deciding to slow down and make me rest and sleep.

I am working on some new one of a kind prints for my Etsy shop LoveUPaperly that I think will make really good gifts for the holidays.

With that, I will leave you with some of my latest pins from Pinterest.http://www.pinterest.com

Lots of Love,

Jess

Image from Offbeat Tumblog

Magisso Tea Cup

Quote from KatieKDid Blog

illustrator Lim Sweng Hee

Monday Blog Routine: Poppies and Epiphanies

Happy Monday Everyone!

I woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning.  I was tired and feeling sorry for myself for no particular reason.

When that happens if I have time I will get myself out the door for a walk which usually brightens my spirits.

I didn't have time this morning.  I was running late, I had a horrible headache, and one of the cats had spilled their water dish all over the floor I had just cleaned.

So instead I went to a blog that I try to read at least once a week, usually on Monday morning.  The blog is called Poppies and Epiphanies.

This blog is one I have been following for about a year and it is a blog that reminds me not to feel sorry for myself and to be grateful for everything I have.

The writer of the blog is Victoria Cornish who also runs a nonprofit with her husband called Imagine It.

She is living with an incurable form of cancer and has been documenting her journey since getting the diagnosis.  I find her inspiring and also very real.  She writes when she's scared, when she's happy, when she's sad and currently she has been talking about a bucket list that her and her husband made together and I have relished in reading her posts as she checks off different things on the list she wants to experience.

I don't know why Monday mornings aren't the best for me, but when I read her blog I am reminded of so many people that are perservering through unimaginable things and I too can buck up and jump into life with both feet.

I would absolutely recommend visiting Poppies and Epiphanies.

For those of you that don't know these are what poppies look like:

Image found on History Mike Blog

I also think this is what my epiphany would look like:

found on Bing

Lots of Love,

Jess

Inspiration for a Tuesday

Sometimes I need inspiration. Sometimes a little and sometimes ALOT.

I have always found comfort in words. Books have always had the ability to make me feel better and as I have gotten older I love finding sayings that can sum up how I feel with a few short sentences.

Here are some of my favorites:

Aren't these great? I feel ready to start with some new projects and embrace my life when I read these.

All of these quotes were found on the blog Little BGCG.

Lots of Love,

Jess

Being an artist yet trying to be consistent

Hello lovely readers!
I have to apologize for completely and totally slacking on the blog posts.

I had been blogging like a good little blogger for a few months and really felt good that I had been consistent about something.

This brings me to the topic of my post. 

I love to blog.  I love finding cool things on the web, reader others blogs, and sharing what i'm thinking. 

That brings me to being an artist.  The way that I create might seem insane to some artists, but honestly, I first need to feel inspired.  Not just a little inspired, but REALLY inspired!

Whether it be dreams, seeing something while i'm driving, or a song that hits me the right way, I HAVE TO FEEL IT!

That then takes us to the process of actually making something.  I wish this wasn't true, but usually the first time I draw, carve, make something it looks the best.  Whatever the image may be it does not look over drawn or over thought.  When I start to make adjustments and fix things I feel the image starts to feel too worked.  (I discovered this when I was in grad school in a very halted conversation in Venitian style italian with my intaglio professor).

I have found in the last couple of weeks that this also relates to my blogging.  I haven't felt inspired lately.  After the hype and workup to the wedding I have felt exhausted.  I have also had some ugly chronic medical issues that have caused me to be in bed and asleep by 7:30 or 8:00 p.m.

So, the question I have been asking myself is how do you as an artist be consistent with things without it feeling fake or forced?

That is the question.  I don't have an answer yet.  When I do I will let you know, but I would love to hear other's thoughts.

How to stay true to yourself and who you are as an artist/writer/creater without forcing it.

Lots of Love and hopefully more consistent blogging to come!

Jess

Two new cards, Insomnia, and Mer's wedding inspiration board...

Hello out there!

Sorry for the radio silence yesterday! 

I have been having such a hard time sleeping (not sure if it is insomnia or the neck pain) that around 8 last night when I thought about blogging I couldn't get up! 

I was FINALLY comfortable in bed, with the icepack just right, my curly hair not bothering me, and my smushy pillows lumps in just the right place!  There was no way I was going to move to even go to the bathroom! 

I did get up in the middle of the night for an ice pack replacement but I finally slept pretty well!

How has everyone else's week been?

The really exciting thing about today was that I worked on two new cards yesterday that I put up this morning on LoveUPaperly. 

One is a set of three Thank You note-cards and the other card say's Hugs & Kisses.  Particularly good for Valentine's Day which is right around the corner!

The other images I wanted to show you was from an inspiration board I made for Meridyth for our wedding.

Remember I made one for myself from this blog post?  Well, I made one for her as well which I consider to be "classy".  Let me know what you think!

If one of these images is yours or you know the person who owns it please tell me and I would be happy to cite it!

I Love, Love, Love the ruffled cake on the bottom.  Gorgeous!

So, I think we are getting pizza and salad tonight which I could not be more excited for!

Until tomorrow,

Love,

Jess

More Valentine's Day cards and Friday artist showcase

Hello, hello!

How is everyone doing today?  It is about 60 degrees here in Maryland which is a nice change from the very cold weather, but weird for January.

I wanted to share a set of new cards I put up on LoveUPaperly.

Four cards with envelopes to match are $8!  Each card is letter-pressed and stamped with a hand-cut linoleum stamp.  I think they are super cute!

Sort of on the same note, since I have been busy making art lately, I was thinking today about all the wonderful and very talented artists I have had the opportunity to live and work with and I wanted to talk about a two of them today.

I went to graduate school in Venice, Italy at the Scuola Internazionale Di Grafica.  This means that not only did I have the opportunity to live in Venice for a year, but I was exposed to AMAZING artists!

Greg Murr:  Not only is Greg an interesting guy and a great cook but his attention to detail and the nuances of his art are really beautiful.  In Italy he would spend hours mixing different shades of the same color, he also loves coffee, a lot!

Claire Rau:  Claire was my graduate thesis adviser, but also an amazing artist, strong woman, and confidant.  Without her, school would not have been nearly as focused or challenging.  On top of it all she is an amazing artist making strong social statements while working with a variety of material in sculpture and prints.

I recommend clicking on their links and looking at their websites which have their artist statements, portfolios, and contact.

So, I am thinking that Sunday I have been trying to do a lovely photograph (I forgot this last Sunday! Oops!), and Friday will be Artist Showcase Friday highlighting a new artist or two every week.  What do you guys think?  I would love suggestions or e-mail or comment about a new artist to highlight!

I hope everyone has a splendid weekend!  I am going to make some new cards tomorrow that are perculating in my head.  Can't wait to show you!

love,

Jess

Inspiration: Gifts to Give

Christmas and Chanukah are right around the corner and if you are anything like me you have been browsing the internet rather obsessively looking for cool presents.  Meridyth and I are actually not buying presents this year.  Times are tough, as I sure they are for many of you, but that doesn't mean that I am not in the holiday spirit and that I can't look at all the amazing things I would like to buy for people!

Row One:  Cloud Mobile from GoshandGolly, Puzzle Piece Rug from Rosenberry Rooms, Dog Hat via Sweethoots
Row Two:  Awesome wall decal from CherryWalls, Paris Poster by Moxy Creative House
Row Three:  Urban graphic candles from RE-SURFACE, Adorable Moustache Ring from smilingsilversmith, stylish satchel from Urban Outfitters

I am a Tortoise

I spend a lot of time looking at things online.  Being a wedding photographer and lover of pretty things I love, love, love, sites like dwellinggawker or pinterest which lets me look at those pretty things in an easy space.  I also love looking at other wedding photographers blogs and this morning I found a Nashville wedding photographer that not only has amazing images, but also wrote something personal on her blog that really rang true.

The photographers name is Alex Bee, please check out her site if you haven't it's awesome, and she wrote something about being a tortoise instead of a firecracker.

When I read this I immediately thought to myself, this is me!

To me, being a tortoise means that accomplishing things is never easy.  Not only do I second guess myself, but there also seems to be so many roadblocks in the way.  I know a lot of people go through ups and downs, but have you ever looked at someone and just thought that even though they had to work to get what they wanted you bet you would have to work twice as hard for the same thing?

I honestly am not trying to be negative, but I have always been one of those people that things just never seem to fall into my lap.

To make a point to this post:  There are a lot of things in my life that feel hard right now.  I'm in pain from my surgery, I can only work a few hours a week, I'm questioning if my art is good enough to sell or if people will even like it, Meridyth is still looking for a job (she was let go from her company in August).  Things are hard and kind of suck.

Then I remember...I'm A Tortoise!  I go slow but will eventually find my way.  Remembering that not only gives me hope, but makes me smile.

So here's to all the tortoises out there!  May each of you find your way as slowly as you must!

love,

Jess

(Source: Demetri Martin)

First Inspiration Board

So here are some goodies from around the web that I have been loving, I hope to make this a regular Friday occurance!  Enjoy and have a great weekend everyone!

Row 1:  Seating by Moda Collection from freshome.com, Closet into an office per countryliving.com , pretty pink fingerless gloves from etsy Tenderlove
Row 2:  Craft Room inspiration from Craftaholics Anonymous, Adorable handmade plush whale from The Craftinomicon, Gorgeous one of a kind craft from Deloris Petunia
Row 3:  DIY pompoms suggested by Honestly...WTF, Beautiful handmade fabric from Lauren Rossi in Philadelphia, Underwater hotel in Norway from Unusual Hotels of the World