Creating and Living in the Moment

Lately...

FIRST AID KIT///Tonight in Portland

First Aid Kit is playing this evening at the Wonder Ballroom.  Are you going? I hope I'll see you there!

I might cry tonight...

Chalkboards///

Finished a new chalkboard for SECo. today.

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Today's Chalkboard

Started a new piece at the Schoolhouse Electric Factory and Showroom today in Portland. 

It's always a somewhat meditational experience washing away the old art for something new. Having a craft that is impermanent and very of-the-moment has helped me with getting rid of a lot more than expired chalkboards.

Sometimes planning on paper is necessary by playing around with scale and typography is important. When you're working on something that's so large it's hard to get a grasp for what it will really look like when people see it because you're so close as you're drawing the actual piece.

 Today is left looking like a blue print...

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Images from Schoolhouse Electric and my Instagram. 

Magical People///Polaroid Film

I feel that I am a very lucky girl.  I feel that I have reached a very good point in my life.  A point where I have found some friends that no matter how far or near, they will know my heart and I will know theirs. 

This past week was such a culmination of quality time spent with many of them.  

A few perfect moments were caught by a girl who makes up a nice lil chunk of my heart.

Love these ghostly images.

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All images by Cat.

Two Girls/ Two Shirts

A clip from Portlandia guest starring Miranda July.

No, but seriously.

Wednesday Night Productivity///

Staying in and scanning photos, finishing a painting and planning some magical adventures. Comfy clothes necessary.

Cocktails and A Concert///

High waisted slacks and a sweet cropped button-up felt totally sexy on the dance floor.

Meadham Kirchhoff silk blouse,
Long wool coat,
A.L.C. black pants,
Gastone Lucioli black high heels,
Leather handbag,
House of Harlow 1960 vintage costume jewelry,
House of Harlow 1960 vintage costume jewelry,
Fortune Favors the Brave western necklace,
IMAN Luxury Moisturizing Lipstick Iman Red, 

Monday Morning

Sandro beige cardigan,
Etoile Isabel Marant check shirt,
Wrangler,
Jeffrey Campbell fringe boots,
House of Harlow 1960 gold cocktail ring,
Beanie hat, 

Cafe Press and Central Seattle Library

Taking my first vacation in a year and eating French food and exploring the Seattle Library with my sister today.

3 1 Phillip Lim v neck cardigan,
Proenza Schouler long sleeve shirt,
VINTAGE CLOTHING denim jacket,
BLANK skinny jeans,
Isabel Marant stacked heel,
Surell loop scarve,
Knit beanie

Painting Walls

Loved getting to paint the walls with my girls at Alkaline Gallery on First Thursday while Lib's video played.

February Sun

February sunny days and bike rides...

Crew neck top,  
Rag & bone denim skinny jeans,  
FAIR+true bright colored socks,  
Peep toe clog,  
Alexander Wang drawstring bag,  
ASOS black and gold jewelry,  
Soixante Neuf stone jewelry,  
Avanessi yellow gold jewelry, 
The Row gradient lens sunglasses

A Week of Fotos/// Night & Day

set 1: strung out

set 2: bebefaces

set 3: that girl

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A Waterfall Braid///revised

I've been doing my own take on a waterfall braid recently.

I begin with a french braid near my right temple and slowly let it drape down to a braid on my left.

I only add hair from the top and let the hair around the nape of my neck fall loosely.  So instead of adding hair with each plate like you would with a standard french braid I only add hair every other plate.  So easy, it takes literally five minutes.  

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Saturday Style ///A Perfect Hat

My dear Ashley can pull off a cap and red lipstick better than anyone.

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High-waisted Slacks///

I'm in love with my new slacks that I found while digging in the Goodwill bins. The waistband makes me so happy.

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Take A Tour of the Schoolhouse Electric Showroom///

Chalkboard /// Accept the good

I cherish the chalkboard my friend Jake gave me when he moved away. I've done a lot of chalkboard work in the past for local businesses in Portland...but I'm taking the opportunity to do a little "time based art" in my own home.

Portland Style

Some styling I did for HELLOvintage - my shop will be up again soon folks! Right now all I can do in Portland is layer layer layer...it's a dry winter - so we're taking advantage of not having to wear a rain coat errr day.

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Refresher Course in Being OK///

So, January is always a rough month for me. This year seemed to be incredibly so as I spent my first holiday season truly single since I was 18. I didn't think it would be as rough as it ended up being.  I'm very much a fly by the seat of my pants - live life to the fullest type of person. Happy and motivated and a big lover of all. This time of year however is where I usually take inventory of my life - what I'm doing currently, where I've been and where I'm going. 1 Year, 5 years, 10 years...will I be happy if I'm on a similar path? My usual answer is no. As a true Aquarian I constantly find myself on a very individual journey that I try to share with people as much as possible, even if I'm not good at it. It's a journey that if I perceive as stagnant or at least static usually sends me into a spiral of depression come January. This also usually has to do with the fact that the weather is shit and we all need Vitamin D to feel good. My birthday also comes in early February - a new year...another birthday on the horizon - what have I accomplished? I will admit that yes - this a poor pitiful me time of year, where I am harder on myself than I ever need to be. The worst part being that this year it physically manifested itself in the form of an indescribable migraine.  

But the beautiful thing is that I am already seeing the urge to come out of my winter hibernation and get out of this cave of self pity and depression.  

With no one else to lean on I found myself talking to my Mom - something I feel like I haven't really done in years. Yesterday she came to Portland and having her close was simply all I needed. She helped me realize the satisfaction that comes with the love only family can give.  We took a nap together and as a nearly 27 year old woman, spooning up against my Mama, I have not felt more comfort in a very long time. I feel like the headache reached it's pinnacle last night and tonight I am feeling better both physically and emotionally. That headache was me purging this pain...letting go of all of the self doubt and anger that filled the holes that arrived when I was forced to let go of the things that I loved. We all know we need to grow up and let go of things that aren't good for us. I thought I had gotten over it all - the holidays made me realize I'd been holding on to a lot, picking at emotional wounds and not letting them heal. These wounds will leave some scars, no doubt. But I'm pretty sure I'm ready to stop picking. We are stronger because we go through these realizations and can appreciate what we have and what sticks around.

I'm ready to be proactive again. Ready to stop beating a dead horse.

Whatchu got 2012? Come at me.

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