Giveaways, sales and tempting offers. | Art by Vanessa De Lacy

Giveaways, sales and tempting offers. | Art by Vanessa De Lacy

Act now before it's too late!! Vanessa's work is awesome!

another year....

I'm back. I took a pretty long break from the internet over the Thanksgiving holiday. I got back into town Saturday evening and spent the remainder part of my long weekend trying to finish up homework. Today is my birthday and my goal was to be finished by today but of course I'm not. Just a little more to go, though. I really want to spend my day working out, fixing yummy lunch and working in my studio. I will still make those things happen, I just have to finish this boring homework first.

I feel weird being another year older. I always get kind of cry-y on my birthday. I wish I was little again and I got birthday parties. Like when I was thirteen and I had a skating party. That was fun. Or when I was much younger and had a pizza hut party. I always wanted an old fashioned party where people dressed up and drank from punch bowls and listened to records. That would be fancy. And streamers and balloons! My heart skipped a beat. But anyway I'm too old. And there is stupid homework to be done.

So I think as a treat to myself I'll catch up on all my favorite blogs. It seems like I've gotten some new readers lately. Welcome welcome! Take your coat off and stay a while.

Tomorrow I'll post on my Thanksgiving. It was a great day. Once I found mom's famous mashed potatoes I was set. Those are my favorite... ( : Hope you all had a great thanksgiving if you celebrate. If you don't I hope you had a fabulous day anyway.

I'll leave you with some of my favorite pictures from the web of doggy parties:

Okay I'm sure you're sick of looking at these but I finally got some nice photos taken of these pieces and I was excited to share. Last time, I promise!

Tomorrow I'm leaving on a jet plane (how many times a year do you think that phrase is said by someone when they are going to be flying?) and going to Kentucky for Thanksgiving. I'm looking forward to my trip but know it's going to be a whirlwind. Tomorrow night we're having my birthday party with my family, Thursday is Thanksgiving (duh) and Friday my three best friends are all driving to my hometown so we can hang out! I'm so happy!

Hope you all are having the same kind of whirlwind happiness!

See you Monday if not sooner.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Oh! And thanks to all of those who were pro-cat. Hopefully there will be a cute allergy free kitten in my future. Cross your toes.

^^

Today is the day I give my presentation in art history. Im one part completely chill, two parts totally terrified. So instead of thinking about that I'm taking a minute to think about Megan Whitmarsh's work and how much I love it. Click here to see more and love it, too.

I'm also thinking about this adorable kitten. I'm allergic to cats but I like to pretend that if I just get one my allergies will take care of themselves. My boyfriend and I looked up kitten adoption agencies yesterday. I want want want a black Persian kitten just like this one. It's hard finding a rescue shelter for them but I'm going to keep looking and keep hoping that my allergies will heal once they come face-to-face with this cuteness.

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I'm currently loving this shop. This is a paper goods shop by Jessica Wolf called Paper Acorn. I've featured her older shop on here a while back but Paper Acorn is pretty new. This is a great place to buy some Christmas gifts and holiday decorations.

This weekend my friend Janey is in town! I'm excited to get to see her but I'm also going to be pretty busy with the end of the semester coming so soon. I'm back to being really happy with what's going on in my studio right now. I'll post updates soon. Oh and... that presentation for my art history class? Still not prepared... But whatever. I'm chill about it. I love ignoring responsibilities. I should be just fine when I get out of school right? Right?

Last night one of my students had his BFA show and it was really great! He put a couple of his prints in the show and I felt really good. I love having moments when I feel like I'm succeeding as a teacher. I just care so much about my students making great work and really loving the act of making art. Nerd.

You guys have a good weekend!

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Yesterday I watched an amazing documentary.... twice. I called it research. I mentioned in my last post I'm doing a project on art in L.A. Well, I really want to focus my research on how the place makes the artist. L.A. is such a magical place, I would imagine it would be hard to live there and not be influenced by your surroundings. My friend Claudia recommended I watch this documentary called Mayor of the Sunset Strip. It's about this guy named Rodney Bingenheimer who started out practically homeless and turned into this huge presence who made so many music careers. Many people call him the Andy Warhol of the west coast. He really was a lot like Andy but I think he wasn't as much of an opportunist... and much much easier to like. He's a really lovable person who can break your heart in seconds. This movie has a great collection of musicians featured in it. Rodney is credited as helping start so many careers including David Bowie's. He's this magical creature, I dare you not to love him. Check out the movie and let me know what you think.

Wow! I just discovered this artist, Jackie Bos, via hot child in the city. I love love love her work. I've been really playing with my own work a lot and combining drawing and collage in a more cohesive image and Jackie has done that in ways I may never understand. Click on her name to see more of her fabulous work. Click here for her shop and here for her blog.

In more personal news I think my cold is starting to ease up. Thanks to those who sent well wishes. I've had an okay day so far even after I accidently threw away some contacts that needed to go in someone's eyes... oops! But I had a great class with my intro to printmakers and they are making some really great relief prints. Now I have to spend the rest of the day working on a presentation about art in L.A. This presentation is due Monday. I'm just starting... I get worst student of the year award. If anyone has any thoughts on the subject I would gladly hear you out.

Have a good Tuesday!

I'm still feeling ill but I'm going to spend today ignoring that. I have to much to get done. I figure if I'm not feeling better on Wednesday I'll go to the doctor. I may even go tomorrow. But for now, ignoring. And reading these comics on A Softer World. I've loved these comics for a long time. They are very dry and the humor is sometimes startling. I think you can click on the ones I've posted to see them larger but check out the website for all their archives.

And have a good Monday. And if you're sick, ignore it hard!

Sickly Saturday

Artwork by Aili Schmeltz. I love this artist. I'm pretty sure I first discovered her on Aesthetic Outburst.

I'm feeling very very sick today. It's awful! I'm going to go to the studio for a bit just to keep my energy level up but I feel so terrible.

But last night was great: pad thai, Battlestar Galactica, and a good looking boy. I have to admit that I really did not like the ending of Battlestar but I won't give away any spoilers. I look forward to talking to my friends who have seen the whole series. If you have seen this series please talk to me about it. I want to know what you think.

I had a doughnut and oatmeal for breakfast. A little bad, a little good. I'm hoping it will cure this head cold. Have a great Saturday!

Tonight I'm very excited. I'm going to eat thai food at my favorite restaurant and then my boyfriend and I are finally going to finish the last episode of Battlestar Galactica. Yes, for the past month or so we've been plowing through the series. It's so good and addictive! All of my friends who have seen the series are excited for me to finish the last episode. Call me a nerd if you want... I recommend you join the ranks of us nerds and check it out. It's so hard not to love.

Artwork by Liza Corbett. Work here, blog here.

I spilled coffee on myself this morning. But I'm not going to let that effect how my day goes. Plus I'm at home so it's the best case coffee spilling scenario.

Yesterday was a sort of dreadful studio day. I'm not really digging the work I'm doing right now. But! I had a great run-in with nature when I went behind the studio to make a phone call. A deer ran right by me and another stopped and stared at me. I was a little nervous because I didn't know whether deer attack. No attack, just a neat moment. Even weirder, blogger Maria-Therese at afiori also had a close encounter with two deer. I really hope they are trying to tell us something wonderful.