Super Fancy Feathery Giveaway!

My studio is currently in absolute shambles, but that's a good sign that I've been hard at work. But now I'm seriously freaking out. It needs a major clean up. Isn't there some TLC show that can come over and clean this for me? I can cry on cue if the need me to do that.

So what have I been so diligently working on? These award badges! I have always been wild about the shape of award badges and I finally decided to start making some of my own using upcycled materials. I use pretty much anything I can get my hands on. This first batch is important because for the past month I have been volunteering every Tuesday at a place for mentally disabled adults. I have helped with an art class and have really fallen in love with the whole experience. Today is my last day with the class so I wanted to make a little something for all the students and the two other teachers. This was the idea I came up with. It says "Art Star" in the middle because I wanted it to be something that reminded them of the class. The work they have all made has been beautiful and touching. It's amazing how you can really communicate with people through art.

Once I was done making the ribbons for the class I thought it would be neat if I made some for my shop. They all have pins attached to the back so they are easy to wear. Before I start putting some in my shop I would like to do a giveaway. I haven't done a giveaway in FOREVER!! Over the past few months my readership has really soared. Thank you all so much for reading and supporting my blog and coming back time after time.

Please enter to win this super fancy badge that can be worn with the feathers up or down. All you have to do between now and Sunday is leave a suggestion for a good summer read. I have a stack of books waiting to be read but I could always use more suggestions. On Monday of next week I will use the random generator to pick a winner. I hope you'll play!

<3

Work Week

I just got back last night from my trip and I had such a great time! The drive home was long and a little bit boring but we listened to Sarah Silverman's book and that kept us pretty entertained. If you like Sarah Silverman it's worth checking out.

Today I start my job and start moving in to my new home. I'm exited about one of those things and super super nervous about the other thing. Guess which is which... Hopefully I'll do great at work. I have huge fears of my klutziness taking over and dropping trays filled with beer. I should practice before I go in.

Don't forget my giveaway going on... My friend's Pepsi Grant Project really really really needs your votes! I have a question and I don't want to sound whiny but I really really need advice... What am I doing wrong? I have had this giveaway going for a while and only one person signed up. I'm super grateful for that but I'm just wondering what I'm doing so I can know for future giveaways. Maybe I'm doing too many but I think it's fun. Please give me some feedback so I can have more successful giveaways in the future. Even if you don't want to sign up for mine I still encourage you to vote vote vote! I would love to see this project win!

Okay I hope that wasn't too whiny. Now that I'm out of school and have more time to devote to this blog I really want to see it do some great and exciting things. I would love your feedback on what you would like to see.

Have a great Monday!

Yellow Bike

Hiya!

Remember the other day when I said I rode my bike to the studio and then it got a flat? Im so lucky that happened because my boyfriend stepped in to help and totally pimped out my bike. I'm new to bike riding so I don't know much about it and really didn't know how to do any fix-ups. I bought this bike used from my friend Joanna. Oh man, this bike rode so smoothly after be fixed. I had no idea it could be that way! Moral of the story, my boyfriend is amazing, and I should learn how to fix a bike. Is that a moral?

Today I get the keys to my new place but I'm also heading to my parents' for a few days. I'm looking forward to the trip and will probably be taking a long weekend break from blogging. Since I posted like a million blogs yesterday I think I will probably be okay. ( :

Have a wonderful weekend!

Don't forget my giveaway! Go Vote!

Giveaway to Vote

Remember when I wrote about my friend Eric's Dumbo Press and the Pepsi Refresh Project?? Click on the link to be reminded or watch the video here and see what Eric has made.

(p.s. this is a different video than the last. It features some famed printmakers such as Michael Barnes, Sean Star Wars and Joseph Velasquez. It was made by the infamous Grue)

I just found out that you can vote every day. Every day! Voting ends on June 30th. Eric is currently ranked #218 and he has to be in the top ten to win.

I think this is a very very important project. Eric wants to travel to schools and teach people about art and printmaking while doing it in a fun and new way.

Here's what I'm going to do to help. I am having a giveaway between now and then end of June. All you have to do is go vote here and then leave a comment on my post. You can vote everyday and then comment every day for more chances to win. Let's get Eric's project in the top ten!

And you will win this print:

I will even throw in a frame.

Now go vote!!

Ugh. I thought I would be more rollercoastery/trainwrecky during my actual thesis semester but it seems that it's the aftermath where I am at my worst. I've been out of school for a week and I'm already fighting feelings of failure. I'm scared, stressed, nervous and worried.

But! I did watch this movie last night that gave me a nice boost. Whip It has been out for a while and I'm so glad I finally watched it. It was a fun girl movie that feels so encouraging, cheesy as that may sound. It sort of made me realize that I still haven't quite figured out who I am yet. Like I talk about in my thesis show, part of me wants to still be 16 years old while part of me wants to be a grown-up doing grown-up things. The only problem is I don't think I know exactly what grown-up things means. I have a certain idea of what it means and I think it just doesn't fit who I am. I think I'm going through growing pains. I wish I could just take some tylenol but I have a feeling it's not that easy.

Anyway, sorry to keep sprinkling this blog with gloominess. I'll balance it out later with something fun.

Like my giveaway. Sign up here!

Summertime Giveaway

Since I've been updating my shop so much I thought it was time to also have another giveaway. So... I picked out this little drawing that is 4.5" x 6.75" and made with gel pens and markers. This is my thank you to you for being such great bloggers and readers!

Leave a comment telling me one of your favorite artists. You will be counted twice if you post this giveaway on your blog. I will randomly select a name on May 23.

Go!

gray days

babes for days., originally uploaded by jackie young..

I don't know what to say today. Yesterday wasn't my favorite day but it ended well. I finally try the new Mediterranean restaurant in town and it was absolutely delicious. I can't believe it took me so long to try it.
I love this photo, check out Jackie's flickr.
My giveaway is still slowly trucking along. It wraps up Monday. If you haven't signed up yet please do. I'm so excited with all the new music suggestions. I look forward to checking it all out.
Now I'm off to the studio.

Inspiration

Thank you so much to everyone for the feedback on my house. My critique went well yesterday with my professor. My biggest challenge with the house is going to be figuring out how to make the roof. I've started on it but I don't love it. My professor gave me some advice but it's still going to be tough.

Don't forget my Giveaway going on until Monday! Sign up to receive this framed drawing of a little ghost.

Lately I've been thinking about the transition period that happens once you graduate. It's a chance to make all new work with different themes and ideas. I'm really looking forward to this and have started coming up with inspiration for my next body of work.

Have you all seen Picnic at Hanging Rock? If you haven't Netflix it immediately! This movie is so dreamy and wispy and beautiful but also really terrifying. It's probably the scariest movie I've seen without anything scary happening. Just thinking about it gives me chills. I love that with the visuals of this movie you would never expect it to be so frightening.



Also, if you haven't seen Henry Darger's In the Realms of the Unreal it's worth a watch. Darger is a very interesting guy. He was a janitor living quietly in Chicago and when he died tons and tons of artwork was discovered in his apartment. He created this graphic novel of the same name that was turned into a film that is both a showing of his novel and a documentary about this outsider artist.



And I am always inspired by this movie, Grey Gardens. The Edie's keep me on my toes. This movie is so beautiful and sad and heartbreaking and funny. Every feeling I try to put into my own work. This is definitely definitely worth a see if you have not checked it out yet. The new, non-documentary version is actually really good, too. I was really concerned when I heard about it but I think it was handled well and Drew Barrymore did an amazing job.


I have another critique today at one. I'm off to get ready for it!

Home

I have some updated photos of my house! I've been working extra hard in the past week to start getting it all pulled together. I have two critiques this week with my professors and I'm more than a little bit nervous. The house still isn't finished yet. I started laying out the faux wood floor but for now it's only temporary until it gets moved to the gallery. Also you may notice the white strip on the wall, I'm missing wallpaper there but that will soon be remedied. This weekend I went with my friend Jessica to buy the furniture. She was helpful because I was being a nervous wreck about it. I knew the furniture could potentially make or break the piece so it had to be perfect. I'm pretty pleased with what I found. Now my biggest challenge is the roof. I don't love it yet. I'm hoping my professors will give me some good advice. My reception is April 22. The countdown is on.

Don't forget my giveaway going on until Monday. Sign up for a chance to win a framed drawing!

To those of you going to SGC this year I'm so bummed out that I don't get to go. Think of my while I'm stuck in my studio.

Giveaway!!

I am the absolute world's worst at taking pictures and editing them. So... what do I do? Take the same picture twice and edit them both poorly(?) and hope two wrongs make a right...

This framed drawing is here for the giveaway! I'm so thankful for all my readers and I think it's definitely time for another giveaway. What do you do? Leave a comment and recommend some good music. A band, song, anything. Also, if you re-post this giveaway leave another comment saying you did so. This giveaway will go to next Monday, March 29.

This is in a 10" x 10" white shadowbox frame. It is a mixed media piece with some pastels and and screenprinted collaged paper in the top right. The ghost was created on a manilla envelope and also collaged on. I hope you like it!

Remember this couple that is trying to win their dream wedding? Well now they are doing another giveaway while also trying to get your votes. You could win that gorgeous necklace at the top. All you have to do is go here to vote and then leave your comment here. Tell them abeautifulparty sent ya! If you have already voted you can leave a comment telling them that. Go now...

Unfreakout

This is an old painting I did when I was playing a lot Fantasy Zone 2. Check out the neat graphics in that game.

I feel much much better since my last post. I got all the written things done I needed to do yesterday and even made it to the studio and was pretty productive. Today I have to help with a print sale the printmakers are having. After that more studio time then teaching. I'm looking forward to checking in with my students. They have been a really great class. This teaching thing is okay.

Thank you to the sweet comments on my last post, really cheered me up.

I promise to return to my blog with more interesting things to say shortly. And remember, as soon as I reach 80 followers I'm going to have a giveaway! I'm really excited about this!

See you soon!

My Current Wishes

my room, originally uploaded by Tender Letters.

I was thinking of some wishes I have but they all felt like selfish wishes. But I'll list them anyway.

1. Still wishing so hard that I get into New American Paintings. Please cross your fingers and toes. I believe in the power of positive thinking.

2. I wish I had a solid week all to myself where I can do anything I want. I would catch up on blogs, make any kind of art and craft I feel like doing that is not thesis show related, have playdates with my my best friends, and make fancy dinners for my boyfriend.

3. I wish days were longer than 24 hours and I only needed five hours of sleep.

4. I wish I knew for certain I will be okay when I graduate.

5. I wish every person I know and love lived within twenty miles of me. We could have bbq birthday parties all the time.

6. I wish wish wish that everyone in the world could be happy. I really do wish that, it's not a nice wish I tacked on at the end to make me look not selfish. It's so hard for me when I hear about other people's pain because I then hurt so bad for them.

What are your current wishes?

Special thanks to Westervin for featuring me on their blog. It was a delightful surprise to see that this morning. Don't forget that you can vote for them to win the Crate and Barrel wedding here and then enter their giveaway here. It's a win-win situation because they are an adorable couple that should win and you could win a gorgeous necklace. Everyone wins! Well, except for all the people who don't win the necklace. But never mind that. Just vote.

Okay. I'm going to quit while I'm sort of ahead?

Leaving for a fun little spring break/family visit trip tomorrow so the posts may be sporadic. Have a great rest of the week!

Two things

I just found this 1903 first ever version of Alice in Wonderland and it's really stunning. It may even be better than the new 3D version. You decide. I am just trying to figure out what it must have been like to see this movie in 1903. It had to have felt like such a magical experience.

There is a really awesome giveaway going on right now. This adorable couple is trying to win a dream wedding from

Crate and Barrel. If you vote for them here and then post your vote

number

on their blog here you will be in the running to win the amazing

embroidered necklace shown below. Also, when you post your comment on my blog please

say that you saw this giveaway on my blog.

THEN! you tell everyone about the giveaway and they say they saw it on your blog.

THEN! you get more chances to win that amazing necklace. This

couple really seem

fabulous. Read all about their dream

wedding and then just TRY to not adore them. TRY! Or don't try and

just vote

for them to win.

(Sorry this format is weird, my blogger is cutting off words weirdly.)

Alrighty, back to reality. There is coffee and a treadmill in my future and I'm only looking forward to one of those things. Guess which one.

Have a great weekend!

Christmas Giveaway Winner!!

Okay so I didn't do the best job doing a screen capture but this is the winner of the giveaway: #4...

From Emily Barney at It Builds Character:

"Now you can bet that Old Donner felt pretty bad about the way he had treated Rudolph, and he decided the only thing to do was to go out and look for his little buck. Mrs. Donner wanted to go along, naturally, but Donner said, "No. This is man's work."

Emily send me an address and I'll get this to you... and that other piece you've been waiting for? Bonus!

Happy Holidays everyone and thanks for playing! I'll have to do this again sometime.

Oh, and my favorite quote from A Christmas Story:

"Only I didn't say "Fudge." I said THE word, the big one, the queen-mother of dirty words, the "F-dash-dash-dash" word!"
-Ralphie

I just want to take a minute to say how stunned I was to hear about Brittany Murphy. I know people get annoyed with celebrity culture and people paying too much attention to celebrities and I'm not trying to be annoying. Regardless of her celebrity status I think this was a very tragic death. I grew up watching Brittany on TV shows and movies so I guess in some ways she symbolizes growing up and the friends that come and go during that period. I think that sometimes celebrities just serve as the face of things going on in each person's lives. I think Brittany was very charming and it's so tragic that her life took such a bad turn. It's tragic when this happens to anyone. I know I will use this time to ultimately reflect on those I've lost in my life this holiday season and find some way to turn that into a positive. For those of you going through the same thing I wish you all the very best. And lots of fudge and happy holidays.

Thank you all so much who gave such great advice on my last post. It was very encouraging. Last night my dad and I had a conversation about life and other important things and we agreed the best thing you can do for a person is be encouraging. I can definitely say there are so many encouraging people in my life including all my amazing blog readers. Thank you all so much. I only hope I can extend the same amount of encouragement.

I do encourage you to check out my giveaway which is open until Christmas.
Happy Holiday Week!

Giveaway!!

Since I recently won a giveaway I feel like I should return the giveaway karma in the world and offer my own giveaway. I'm offering this hand-cut piece that is made of screenprint and litho prints. It's about a foot tall. From now until Christmas the comments will be open. Please leave a comment telling me your favorite quote from a Christmas movie. I will use the random number generator on Christmas day to pick a winner!

Good luck and have fun!

Feeling Yucky on a Grey Day

I got a late start to my day today because I'm not feeling so well. My allergies feel like they're going crazy.  It may be because I sat outside till late last night playing scrabble.  I had such an enjoyable time doing that (and I won both games!) so I guess I can deal with these sickly consequences today.  It's just hard to get motivated to move about too much because my throat hurts and my head feels fuzzy.  So while I wait for the worst to pass I'm catching up on my favorite blogs and listening to Joanna Newsom.  I absolutely love her music. It reminds me a lot of Cocorosie.  I feel like someone is telling me little fairy tales set to music.  Here's a picture of her.  Isn't she beautiful? She sounds just like she looks. Does that make sense?

Yesterday I went to see the movie Up.  I've got to admit I'm normally not a fan of these kinds of movies.  I think I'm the only person alive who didn't like Finding Nemo or Shrek. I just can't get into it.  But this movie seemed so different and the beautiful old house combined with the millions of balloons was real eye candy for me.  Those are my two favorite objects.  Why did I never think to draw houses being lifted by balloons?  Though I wouldn't call the movie my favorite I did cry my eyes out through most of it so luckily I was hidden behind huge 3D glasses. It really touched on a lot of things that I'm very sensitive to. Just thinking about it makes me want to cry a little now but it may be mostly because of my foggy head.  Up is a movie definitely worth checking out. The visuals are amazingly beautiful.  But be prepared to cry.  Or at least sniffle a bit.  I admittedly cry easily at movies but this is one that is hard to avoid a few tears.  My movie partner might disagree. He might have even laughed a bit at my sobbing.  It's okay. It was a little funny when I got in the car and started crying all over again while talking about it.   Im sensitive!! 

The other day I found a new blog (new to me) that I have apparently lost.  I thought I stuck it in my following list but but it seems I did not.  Anyway, she posted a photo of what was inside her purse and encouraged other readers to do the same.  Here is mine.  You may recognize the table from the bar photo in my last post. Yes, I did this at a bar.  There was some downtime when people left the table to do various activities.  

In my purse you will currently find my wallet, a book of animal stencils because you never know when those will come in handy, a parking ticket (oops.), my cute kitten calendar that i never use, cigarettes (nasty habit, I know), a beer top, cell phone, chap-stick, lipstick, eye drops, power compact, pen, sharpie (for writing on those gross bar tables), more lipstick (color name: princess), a pile of receipts, notes, and show cards, my ipod hookup for my car, my holga lens cap, keys, a pearl necklace my friend Jane gave me, a headband and you can't see it that well but an egg from a quarter machine with a toy dog inside.  Seriously, I'm like a little kid when it comes to my purse.  I have to have activities and toys constantly so I never get bored!

Post what is in your purse (or man purse for any gentleman readers) and let me know about it!

Hope your day is going well!  My giveaway is still going on so check it out!!

Etsy One Year Anniversary Giveaway!

On June 20th I will have had my Etsy shop for one year!  To celebrate I'm giving away this handpulled lithograph print.  If you're not that familliar with the lithograph process check it out here.  As some of you know I'm in a bind without a digital camera so I took some quick snapshots of the print with iphoto for now.  Better pictures to come.  And I can't find my ruler so I can give exact measurements but it's a bit larger than 8"x10".  The piece is called Ghost Home and is marked as an artist proof. The edition was limited and some of the prints will turn into monoprints.  Please click on the links to learn more about printmaking, that's what I'm in grad school for!

Okay, so how do you win the print? Go to my Etsy shop and tell me your favorite piece.  What do you like about it?  Also major love will be given out if you post a link of this giveaway to your blog.  On June 20th I will randomly select one of the comments using the number pulled out of the hat trick.  I'm very excited about this and hope you are, too!  More pics to come of this print, I promise!