heartichoke

Present

2009-11-04T23:56:00.000-08:00

I am here.

It takes a certain recipe of insomnia, wine and silence to take the time to write here. I don't have much to say, I suppose. Mostly just that I really like where I am right now.

My only real responsibilities are maintaining creativity and feeding myself. Being able to devote a certain amount time to making art is a wonderful privilege. I find myself thinking differently and enjoying everything that I am learning in the process. With the prospect of graduation finally becoming real I've been spinning around some ideas for what to do next and with surprisingly little self induced pressure. I have a couple ideas that I'd never really considered before a few weeks ago, so I'll wait to see if I'm still excited about them in a few months before I share. In the meantime I'll share one of most favorite songs.

I hope everyone is settling into winter nicely.

FTW

2009-09-30T22:10:00.001-07:00

I just learned what that meant. I'm so out of the loop that I had to google it. In other news I also learned today that when someone orders a martini it is assumed to be gin....whoops. AND most importantly I learned that Man is a most clever cracker. But really though go here to his new website and read his top ten list of funniest craigslist ads that he came across while job hunting along with commentary. Really, go now and be prepared to pee a little while reading.

road trip '09

2009-09-06T23:56:00.000-07:00

good times

Bean day

2009-08-27T23:01:00.000-07:00

It was a great day at the zoo today with the little bean :)

Fuck yeah!!

2009-08-17T23:20:00.000-07:00

Long time no blog. I'll apologize later but check this shit out!!! It's Man on stage with Soul Kata at the Triple Door. It's amazing. Period.

It's been a crazy busy summer with both of us hankering down in our respective caves working our asses off in pursuit of living the dream and this is (his) product. A dope ass performance at one of the swankiest venues in town.

There aren't enough words to express how proud I am of my man. And if you haven't checked him out yet you can find him here, here and here. :)

...

2009-07-15T14:31:00.000-07:00

I don't quite know what to think about this...maybe just that I'm glad I don't watch tv.

autotune news

2009-07-13T21:15:00.000-07:00

funniest thing- ever.

New website

2009-07-12T19:49:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my world of fun.

(two points for anyone who can remember where that line's from)

That's what I've been working on today. I'm going to have dreams of dreamweaver tonight.

sunday

2009-07-12T12:06:00.000-07:00

Last night I watched a thunder storm slowly roll into the city from the peninsula. It's one thing that I love about my job, that the sun sets as the night wraps up. Like a fiery red curtain call, the place quiets as the sky darkens and it's wonderful. It was eighty degrees at sunset and the deck was humming with content customers and sighing workers. Everyone in a daze and winding down when we were all startled by thunder. A roaring far away thunder that made everyone pause for the slightest moment before we were back to work. As the sky grew dark purple and the sun red and you could see lightning and streaks of rain come down from the clouds across the water. It was so surreal to know that storm was headed our way but for now we were still eating dessert and drinking martinis but all I wanted was for that beast of a storm to pour down right there, right then. Drench everyone and really shake them, and myself.

Today there is only a gentle rain, calmed by the journey I suppose, but it's comfort enough. Nice to hear the rain again and every thing's a little quieter and I don't want to leave the house today.

Detour

2009-06-22T23:30:00.000-07:00

I'm allergic to my friggin bed. I'm not even kidding. After two weeks of sniffling, coughing, booger blowing and feeling great otherwise I finally realized today that I have freaking allergy. To my bed. I go to work: feel fine. Go to school: fine. Come home: fine. Step foot in the bedroom: coughcoughsneeze. Lay in bed: eyes water and I begin to cough up my lungs. Damn.

Other than my inability to break down alcohol, which I usually just simplify as an "allergy" when explaining to people why I'm so wasted all the time (because bringing up enzyme deficiencies seems to be a real buzz kill for most) and my spontaneous swelling of mouth, feet and hands when I get stressed out or touch a certain type of metal found only on weird smelling department store hangers I have gotten by pretty easily without a traditional allergy. I'm pretty convinced that I psychosomatically cause my stress symptoms out of pure boredom but was actually diagnosed as being allergic to stress in 8th grade. Ha, I'm pretty sure I was just allergic to tween boys or locker rooms or any other traumatizing adolescent accoutrement but whatever. This is a full fledged stereotypical allergy with irritating symptoms and all. So now I'm out to sleep on the couch tonight and if this little controlled experiment doesn't work I'm cutting my head off tomorrow.

In lieu of anything significant to say I direct your attention here. Text Messages from Last Night is the funniest collection of absurdity I've seen in a while but you can search your very own area code to see what all the wasted people are thinking in your city. Score.

Here are some of my favorites:

Made Ya Look

2009-06-07T19:57:00.001-07:00

Alright, I forget where we left off. Heart problems, ok. Turns out googling my brains out was not the best idea because four weeks and three doctor appointments later revealed not a thing has changed since my last cardiologist appointment- eleven years ago. He said I'm good to go, I can run up flights of stairs and pop babies out without worry. Cool.

In other news: it's the dreaded finals week where I try to squeeze every lecture from the quarter into the next 12 hours, because I'm clearly focusing on other priorities right now, which culminates in a three hour test at eight o'clock Monday morning. You would think I should get credit just for passing the social experiment of being trapped in a room of 300 kids at the crack of dawn after days of sleep deprivation but sadly, no.

Also this little lady finally scored herself a job. A sweet-ass one no less. You're looking at a full fledged server at one of "Seattle's finest seafood restaurant" dum-da-da-dum. So here I am, one step closer to becoming a professional server - my goal is to become this plump Paula Deen-looking lady who has worked there for 24 years and calls everyone Sugar. I get to wear starched white collared shirts, 70's fish button ups on special days and a seasonal fruit or fish pin if I so desire, which I do, naturally. As of today I'm halfway through my eight, possibly nine, day training session (bootcamp) and I'm feeling more and more confident milking old men - for cash (sicko). Also no one is allowed to visit me at work. Partly because I want no evidence of me in a trout shirt but mostly because I'm constantly on edge worrying that any minute they're going to realize I've been faking my years of experience by merely distracting customers with my smile and perky boobs- so for the sake of anyone witnessing me wet myself out of pure nervousness- no fish for you. It's gonna be a long summer of an intensive Spanish class and driving all the way to Ballard to serve the golden agers their Sunset Dinners before 6 o'clock (bedtime). But for now, I sit in front of the computer convincing myself I'm making progress (but hey, aren't we all).

Ps. Man has a shiny new blog (muahaha- I win) here that you should check out posthaste. There are some great pictures of what's been going on around the house in my absence. I'm gone all day and come home to find pieces of a concrete wall in the driveway, the garden ripped up and a man sized hole jackhammered into the ground. sheesh.

Hello, friend.

2009-05-26T22:06:00.000-07:00

I'll start by saying that Man taught me the proper use of the comma a while back and I'm pretty excited about it and take every opportunity to make up for my misuse of it the last 23 years as often as I can. Thanks, Love.

In other news I had round one of my cardiologist appointments this afternoon. It was- gooey. But in the last eleven years they have mastered the art of the goo and now it's warm when it hits the chest. If someone would have told me that two years ago, going to that appointment would have been a horse of a different color. I can just picture the nurse twittering the latest updates in echocardiogram technology and me thumbs upping in approval (can you do that on twitter?). But yes, there were a couple hmmms from the technician, questions I did not have answers to and answers she was not allowed to give me- turns out this lady can rub my boobs for an hour but is sworn to secrecy by the doctors and I have to wait for appointment number two to hear the results. Oh well. She did transfer me to a doctor more specialized in this, although she wouldn't say what this was, and moved my appointment up a couple days causing a little intrigue and slight worry- but as my weekend horoscope said there's nothing more in life that I enjoy than worrying- true.

It was a long whirlwind of a weekend that sucked in part of last week too. A lot of mom time with a two day celebration of my mom's birthday last week then Man's mom in town from the other side of the country this weekend. There were many trips to the mall and dare I say too much eating although it was a much appreciated break from our eggs and top ramen meal plan around these parts.

It was all pretty great and I am pooped. Yet instead of catching up on all the work I should have been doing this weekend I will share all the pretty things I have found tonight. A compromise, a bit of real news and a hint of fun stuff. But I warn you with all this family in town, too many episodes of the Cosby Show and a little too much boozin on a couple nights got me thinking, and more embarrassingly talking, about family and futures with Man. Gasp. Point being I want them. And in celebration of not finding out that I'm not dying (or at least not hearing it from the nurse today) I spent entirely too much time here looking up pretty pictures. Hello my name is Ashley and I'm a lady: I have uncontrollable hormones this week, my heart swells when I see babies and some day I want to get married. Suck it, because I'm not pretending anymore.

genius.

2009-05-11T23:46:00.000-07:00

So. I’ve been sitting in front of my computer for a couple hours reading eloquent entries into this young family’s life and remember that I used to be a good writer. Or rather, at some point in my early childhood I had the potential to be a good writer. Now writing is almost harder than speaking because it seems in the last few years my brain has purged a good chunk (chunk, really?) of its vocabulary and I cannot seem to form coherent thoughts at my own command. Anyway, I decide that I should do something about this and instead of writing the paper that I have been avoiding like the swine flu, which I DID have by the way, I decided to do this. So this, my friends, is a very long update as to what’s been going on in me lately.

Let’s start with the absence. I stopped writing (here) for a couple reasons. The first being that I waste way too much time on the internet finding new fascinations in other peoples lives and their pretty things instead of cultivating my own overgrown pile of interest and priorities. The second is that there is no real reason for me to pick and choose through the pile of crap that is the internet (why do I have to capitalize internet? I refuse.) then re-post my favorite things except to distract other people from their own daily piles of crap. So I declare now that I will write here when I have something to say (with the occasional crap pretty picture in case you are only in need of distraction). I’m guessing this is a pretty common blogger reaction, somewhat of a midlife crisis/ whiney tween bullshit kind of deal so I don’t feel that bad about it. I just don’t want to contribute to the virtual landfill out there. I fear getting some huge garbage bill for overloading some blog server when they realize I have been wasting their precious web space. Ugh.

Alright so now that that’s out of the way (I told you this is going to be long): The good stuff. Welcome to the self obsessed/indulgent/critical world of me. It’s my blog, you came here to read it, suck it. My life as of last week was an exhausting juggling act of working and schooling frosted with the guilt of doing both pretty piss poor and the self resentment of falling further in debt by my fat tuition bills and my lazy ass not working more than three days a week. Fine. Fast forward to today and I’m trying every self prescribed combination of both distraction from real life and intense concentration necessary for priorities like writing a history paper. (Maybe I just don’t get it because clearly, I don’t, but why the fuck do I need to write a paper on the vague history lesson I have chugged in the past four weeks that will be identical to that of 167 other fucks in this class? To prove what I’ve learned? Fuck you and give me my money back because I didn’t and don’t need you to make me feel bad about it.) Whew. I digress, but really this teeter-totter of productivity and self denial had my head ready to explode. Then I got fired.

Well, not really. In the most passive aggressive Seattleite way my boss (who we like to call The Greek because he’s just as fucked as that guy from The Wire) laid me off. That’s really a whole other long winded story that YOU probably don’t need to hear because you already have. A long enough story that was cause for congratulations from most people. Celebrating the hope that I would no longer be bullied by the most ridiculous cast of assholes anymore and celebrating the fact that you will never have to hear about it again. You’re welcome.

So yes. At this point I am jobless but hopeful (and already have a job interview tomorrow so you need not worry, Dad), completely disillusioned by school and my seemingly unreachable art degree (another whole separate post), and I find myself sitting next to my grandma on Mother’s Day. I haven’t seen my grandma in what has probably been years but today she has decided to take a break from her Reno traveling, care-taking in Arizona (for a man who can’t be more than a few years older than herself) wild and crazy life to hang out with us shmucks all day, probably because we were celebrating her. But it was great, we sat together as she laughed at crappy MTV reality television, reminisced over how difficult I was to babysit and telling me how she just lost fifty bucks betting against Manny Pacquiao in the big fight. It was good times. We cooed over the newest addition to our family (thanks to my cousin who apparently makes gorgeous children) and she warned me not to have children too young as she slips into a story about her exhaustion as a seventeen year old mother and how she would cry when the baby, my oldest uncle, would cry and how you don’t sleep for days when babies get sick. Check. Then she turns to me and asks, “Can you have babies?” [Insert record needle screech here]

Over head spinning and the deafening sound of my heart stopping I manage to catch some “because of your heart?” and “I thought that’s what they said when you were a baby?” blahblahblah as much enjoyment as I was having moments ago in this rare connection with my grandmother she managed to rip the world out from under me. Happy effing Mother’s Day. kid. So like anyone would I pretend it never happened, sit patiently for a polite amount of family time, hug my mom goodbye and hope she can’t hear the five bajillion questions that are pounding through my head then rush home to google my brains out.

Okay, time out. In case you don’t know, which I’m guessing you do because I’m pretty sure only four people read this blog and probably only two of you have made it this far into this beast, I’ll catch you up. My heart is effed up. And not in a messed up, I have a hard time loving way, which I’m not saying I don’t, it’s just not what I’m talking about today. I was born with a quarter sized whole between my hearts two upper chambers. I usually try to break it down in the same infantile way my parents did when I was little but it requires too many hand gestures and sympathetic-don’t-feel-bad-for-me faces so you can just google your little fully functioning heart out. It’s ASD, and not down syndrome which is the first thing that pops up, that would be too easy. It’s atrial septal defect. I was listening to this inspirational speech on-line (shut the F up) and this lady talks about creative minds and that we shouldn’t be ashamed of the things we were born to do. Well, I was born to die. BUT I DIDN’T so don’t feel bad, actually don’t feel anything. It is what it is, I got surgery before my first birthday, probably caused more than my share of grief and heartache, not to mention debt for everyone that knew my tiny self and was all good after that. I couldn’t’ even get a doctors note to get out of gym class. I have a freaking heart condition people.

Fast forward to today and my ignorant ass is avoiding doctors appointments out of sheer laziness and a lack of excitement of the thought of someone rubbing cold sonogram gel on my chest for hours. Pretty hot, I know. Well…turns out at this check up, now twelve years after my last cardiologist appointment, half my life ago, they tell you these things. Like which birth controls are bad for people with congenital heart disease (hello, I’ve been on birth control for almost 10 years, it’s the 21^st century) and the bajillion tests I’m going to have to take before I even think about becoming pregnant (one that involves a catheter, awesome) to see if my little old heart can handle it. Bitches. This appointment is pretty much to tell you all the big scary things you were too young to hear at the last appointment. And yes, they are right, if I learned these things at age eleven my Spice Girl loving ass would have been first in line for a lady bic razor after a long night of steno notes folded into hearts and table footballs to my closest friends and a tear soaked diary entry longer than this one, yes it is possible. Or maybe just a eating disorder, whatever.

But yes, after almost 1,500 words to get to the good part I’ve become exhausted of thinking about this, which was really the covert intention of the whole thing and I’ll wrap it up. After a long night of crying, whimpering, laying on Man’s lap in silence, with him eventually able to drag my ass out of bed with the promise of baking cookies and watching the news to reveal how fucked the rest of the world is in comparison to my own problems (my own inference, not his, but yes he really did bake cookies) I calmed down and realized there just wasn’t anything I could do about it. I made a doctors appointment first thing this morning and we’ll get to the root of this, or rather they already did 22 years ago and they’ll just tell me all about it. And I’ll tell you all about it.

Thanks for listening.

yes please.

2009-04-13T21:57:00.000-07:00

I want that chandelier. It will be mine.

For Easter

2009-04-10T13:01:00.000-07:00

Also you can make this squirrel say whatever you want! hilarious.

best diet. ever.

2009-04-07T21:57:00.000-07:00

Get your wisdom teeth out then just as you're feeling better contract the flu. Tada.

Needless to say I didn't accomplish all my spring break goals but I've got these two bad boys to add to the list. Yes please.

Also the sun decided to grace Seattle with it's presence. Yes please. again.

Your House

2009-04-01T22:17:00.000-07:00

Olafur Eliasson. 'Effin incredible.

Update:

2009-03-29T17:12:00.001-07:00

Holy shit! Baby otter!

That is all.

You aren't Dumbo, baby elephant

2009-03-29T16:49:00.000-07:00

Sorry It's been so long. Big spring break, mini vacation, teeth pulled, lots of couch, nothing much really. But have you seen this site?!

Ok, maybe I'm out of the loop and everyone already had this bookmarked and are already over but maybe not. It makes me feel so much more normal for dubbing over my cats every action. She would be just as rude and sarcastic as I make her seem if she could talk, trust me.

I'm trying not to laugh hysterically as to not rip out the stitches in my four new mouth sockets. Which with the recent addition of some fancy jaw bruises make me look like Quagmire and Rihanna's love child. Just in time for school tomorrow.

swap meat and lamixx

2009-03-18T10:16:00.000-07:00

This little number just came in the mail today from Jacqueline a la lamixx and I love it! It was a recession-spending-stimulate-the-economy-with-my-tax-refund present. I'm just doing what I'm told right, Barack? Hopefully this will be my only splurge but this little grey wool number is pretty tempting...

Ok, so new favorite etsy shop. Check. New Favorite website: Dear Old Love. It's a sweet little collection of anonymous notes on love and all of its intricacies such as:

Also, I'm done with finals!

Slow Skate

2009-03-10T21:43:00.000-07:00

This is my new favorite band. The should be yours too. They were on the Ball of Wax compilation with Matt. They couldn't make it to the show so they projected this video in the their place. It's probably good because I would have drunkenly accosted them to secure my place as their biggest fan/stalker. The drawing is from their website. They're awesome. Sigh.

Ok

2009-03-03T23:56:00.000-08:00

...on a lighter note:

What. The. Fuck.

2009-03-03T23:38:00.000-08:00

Really though?

"Shawty got drunk, thought it was all a dream."

In the words of TI, "He Chris, he coo"

What is going on in the world and why did the DJ on the radio compare TI to Mark Twain because he used big words like "accomodate" in a phone interview?

YES!

2009-02-26T23:58:00.000-08:00

I'm not the only one who thought that voice sounded familiar!

The original:

The page:

Together:

It's everywhere! Olbermann, The Huffington Post, and The Daily What has a hilarious picture of the two of them. Heck, there's even a facebook group.

Meet Bean

2009-02-24T22:29:00.001-08:00

I know, this is long overdue but this picture to too cute not to share. This is my littlest sister, Sabina Mae, at the zoo. She's almost eight months old is making noise and movin and shakin. I hope I'll be as cute as her when I grow up ;)

mmhmmm

2009-02-24T08:13:00.000-08:00

I love:

2009-02-22T00:35:00.000-08:00

in no particular order.

...going out to breakfast more than any other meal.

...that we've lived in this house over a year and the bedroom lightbulb just went out for the first time tonight.

...that the two places I've sat for too long in front of my computer tonight, the couch and the bed, had power cords plugged into both of the nearest outlets.

...coming from a big family and the rare occasions that we all come together.

...that I'm no longer afraid of the future.

...blankets on couches.

this picture:

and these plates:
goodnight:)

ohhyeahohyeah

2009-02-20T13:03:00.000-08:00

That's my happy dance song, in case you didn't know. I have a long weekend of drawing and sewing and I am so excited! And I found a spring break project:

After I finish this little project :)

Ptttthh

2009-02-18T19:39:00.000-08:00

- is the sound of my tongue sticking out.

So you're coming back, eh? Well this is one girl who's not gonna be waiting at baggage claim with a big hug saying how much she missed you, Ken Griffey Jr. You left and now Alex is a druggy and Edgar Martinez isn't DH, he's a road down in SODO. Look what you've done.

I'll watch the mariners when they bring back Jay Buhner, Joey Cora, Randy Johnson, Lou Piniella and Dave Niehaus is announcing in between Wheel of Fortune commercial breaks.

I'm her mom- No she's not

2009-02-17T23:50:00.000-08:00

This girl is hilarious!
My second favorite line: "I want pie-I want beef jerky-screeech". Pure genius.

Also, I found the owner of the beautiful doily dress, her name is RubyPearl on etsy and I'm too lazy to link it but not too lazy to post another one of her pretty numbers, tada!

:)

2009-02-14T14:01:00.001-08:00

cup of joe

e.d.b.

cup of joe

Happy Valentine's day, folks. My amazing man gave me a beautiful easel, my first real piece of art equipment!)

Success!

2009-02-10T00:37:00.000-08:00

I had a very exciting weekend in my real life of working, playing and sewing. I made a new sweatshirt on Friday and on Saturday I found a couch and my correlle plates and bowls! I now have a set of butterfly gold plates and bowls and one provincial blue mug.

Success in the hypothetical future life promised by completing school...Not so much. Moving said couch was the activity for Sunday.

I did have time to find these though:

For Mariah:

For Becca (I think that says bex?):

Heck yes!

2009-02-06T21:52:00.000-08:00

In celebration of NOT failing my midterm today and it finally being Friday I took to the sewing machine and pumped out this bad boy!

This is sweatshirt experiment #2 and I think I really like it. I've been saving this ratty old zoo sweatshirt for something amazing and I'm glad it finally found it's home. I really dig the cowel neck that I can hide inside...like a turtle.

Sweatshirt #1 is pretty awesome too and I was planning a sweatshirt photo shoot, hence the sexy eyes and stretched and toned self-picture-taking arms, but unfortunately the good 'ol camera ran out of batteries. Oh well, the anticipation lives on.

Holy Begisis and toast!

2009-02-04T20:54:00.000-08:00

Someone made a yo yo in my honor! Ok, not really but I'm going to tell myself that.

They also make felt food pillows like these:
Holy toast, eh?

And twilight, remember that?! No, not the book, fool (yeah, you know I'm talking about you). The wonderful time of day that makes driving in rush hour bearable because it's just so darn pretty, well it's back! And I'm the happiest girl in the world!

Hello, lover!

2009-02-03T17:12:00.000-08:00

And by lover I mean sun.

I've missed you a whole lot and you make me very happy. I know we have a love hate relationship but I usually only hate you when you burn me or when you make me sweaty and cranky but I've especially missed you lately and could really get used to having you around more. My wallet would love to see more of you too so it wouldn't have to pay for heating but my abs say they can wait a little longer for your return. Either way it was good to see you today and hopefully we can do this again sometime soon.

I'm about to sit down for a long night of writing and drawing but before I do, time for some odd animal art:
via frame story
via Emma's design blog

Yes, please

2009-02-02T15:03:00.000-08:00

So one of my dad's hobbies is sending me house listings, usually in quiet neighborhoods and usually close to his house in a fatherly effort to get us to consider moving out of our exciting neighborhood. The more listings I see the less hope I have for eventually, and no time soon, finding a house that meets my prerequisites. When you find a house like this let me know.

I'm guessing it will look a little something like:

Decorno
With a chandelier in the backyard, of course.
And a beautifully tiled entertaining area big enough for all of our business acquaintances
decorated with furniture like this:
and accessorized with things like this:
:) capiche?

things I'm really digging:

2009-01-31T22:53:00.000-08:00

Long time no blog, so I'll make it up by offering this random assortment of good stuff.

I like graphic art like this:

nearmoderndisaster

and like this:

Alyson Fox

I love the faceless people and really need to experiment with gouache (and I think the puppet might be Lamb Chop).

And this guy, because Matt used this to prove that Will Ferrell is funny.

The Landlord from Will Ferrell

And these, for good measure.
:)

I want to be a hamster

2009-01-26T18:35:00.000-08:00

-of the adorable sleeping variety. Yay for my first full weekend off in over three years, boo for having the busiest weekend ever. I would consider paying someone large amounts of money to drive me around until I fall asleep and then carry me to bed. That sounds a lot creepier than how I imagine it.
And good 'ol facebook can always articulate my exact emotions better than I can:

why not

2009-01-21T19:29:00.000-08:00

Now we can all be president. I'm pretty sure this was the only prerequisite. Paint yourself red, white & blue here.

just one of those days

2009-01-21T11:51:00.000-08:00

You say sofa, I say couch

2009-01-21T00:42:00.000-08:00

Either way I'm on the hunt. Our couch looks a lot like this, a little less green, a little less little and little less plastic.
I want something comfy with soft arms for napping and deep enough to spoon but I swear there isn't a cozy couch that isn't blobular and ugly. Yes blobular. Someone, show me a beautiful and comfy couch. This is the best I could come up with. The term "overstuffed" just doesn't seem appealing when I'm shopping for something to veg out on.
But I did find this little beauty. Ooohwee I'm in love.
ps. I made the feather head piece i'd been swooning over, it's pretty awesome.

January 20, 2009

2009-01-20T01:26:00.001-08:00

I'll let him do the talking.

If ya don't know, now ya know

2009-01-20T01:22:00.000-08:00

Kurt Halsey is swell.

...so is the Biggie movie....and so is Benjamin Button. I cried in both. What?

Yeah, three day weekends and yay tomorrow!

rockstars

2009-01-16T23:42:00.000-08:00

Can I please share how friggin cool my little cousins are? I just saw these pictures of them and I'm so impressed with their awesomeness. I absolutely love the look on the littlest one's face as she's dressed up as corpse bride.

lovely indeed

2009-01-15T01:25:00.000-08:00

Bird and Bear

mmmm.

Birds of a feather

2009-01-13T23:08:00.000-08:00

...make beautiful accessories. I can't decide to buy or make....but either way they will be mine.
And look what popped up when I googled new born kittens. Apparently you can find them at Target now. They really have everything I want and don't ask why I was googling new born kittens.

And the dish ran away with the spoon

2009-01-12T23:42:00.000-08:00

For some strange reason I've had the urge to hunt down these old corelle dishes that I had growing up. The cereal bowls in particular. Then I will sit in front of the tv before school eating frosted mini wheats and watch shining time station before I run for the bus.
And after hearing about these spoon rings all over the place I finally came across them here today. Pretty good (say in best Larry David voice)

ugh

2009-01-09T20:59:00.000-08:00

Where are you brain? Why have you abandoned me? Perhaps you left me some time ago and I haven't noticed until now, which is quite disconcerting. If you were here I wouldn't have slept through my alarm on the second day of school, left my art assignment next to the front door, gotten lost walking to class everyday so far, left my wallet and ID in my other bag and lost my keys twice today.

If I only had a brain.

And if I had an ounce of dignity I would quit my job and never look back.

And my semi-new years resolution, as of last night, was to minimize the whining...that's going well.

Also, you can find that lovely print here from JessicaZ a la etsy.

pretty pictures

2009-01-06T14:42:00.000-08:00

So I've never really understood how or why engagement photographs exist. Some of the first i'd ever seen were of old acquaintances reenacting the actual proposal which is... awkward. But I came across these in my quick e-adventures between school and work and, sigh, I think I get it.

A Cup of Jo

Max Wanger

January

2009-01-05T00:17:00.000-08:00

'Tis the last night of winter vacation, something I will miss dearly tomorrow and even more when I become a big kid and my schedules are not determined by schools. Tonight I am avoiding the inevitable by quilting instead of counting down the hours until Monday. Outside it is snowing again. This is me in my fancy heeled galoshes knee deep in the last snow and an awesome mailbox I found while trekking back from work.

back

2008-12-29T13:54:00.000-08:00

I'm back after a wonderful mini vacation in California. Good to be home and glad to see Seattle defrosted while we were away. Christmas was great! The biggest perks of coming from a broken home are more family and more celebrations. I spent a lot of time behind the sewing machine making presents for people including a sweet hoodie made from reclaimed t-shirts, pictures to come. But I found this beauty a while ago and I really want it. I want to make it. And I want her hair. I don't remember where I found it, somewhere in my etsy adventures, but it's great.

Glitter is the herpes of craft supplies

2008-12-17T23:52:00.000-08:00

The topper to our amazing pink and white tree is a homemade star crafted out of construction paper, the finest of glitters and hung from the ceiling. Yeah, it's pretty awesome.

And have I mentioned how much I love winter break? It's snowy and beautiful and I have all the time in the world to make everything I want. Today I made these leg warmers, a hat and a cowley neck warmer out of one discarded sweater. I am in love with them.

And I sent a friend home with a set of matching screen printed and monogramed scarves for gifts for all the ladies in his family. Tomorrow I sew world peace :)

'Tis the Season

2008-12-14T15:05:00.000-08:00

Successfully convinced my man to let me get a 9 foot tall gaudy white tree and decorate it with pink, purple & gold bulbs. Trying to fit said 9 foot tall tree into the car was a little more challenging.

Tada!
And a tiny video of the cat's first christmas tree (yes, I know am a huge dork):

Tada!

2008-12-14T01:21:00.000-08:00

The last of tonight's project is complete. I also think I learned to embroider...I think.

More time means______________

2008-12-13T20:03:00.000-08:00

More work, yes.

More making, yes.

But most of all more blogging! And look what I've found: very pretty things! My new favorite as of this minute is the rule of threes and they post things like this:

and this:

and this:

I LOVE the calendar! It's such a simple and innovative idea. I'm working on my own little calendar to give as I'mAStarvingStudentYouGetNoPresentsThisYearForgiveMe gifts.

The last picture is someone's cat food and water dishes, which look exactly like my cats food and water dishes. Well not exactly like mine because those are crystal and mine are oversized ceramic coffee mugs but nonetheless I get points by association. I love the cat portrait, I'll be taking that idea- yoink.

That is all. Now commencing day two of nog drinking & scarf making. Did I mention it's our FIRST snow in the city! Yay!

Friday nights

2008-12-12T21:39:00.000-08:00

Just put up this beauty after toiling over it for many a late night. It has a more "round" pattern than its predecessor, trying to avoid another Georgia O'Keeffe reference- thanks Rebecca. No one wants one of those wrapped around their neck. Also if I'm going to continue down this scarf road I'm going to need to recruit a model because my solo attempts were no good. I do however like this blurry picture of myself. I look real seriouslike. I probably only like it because it is blurry and you can't see my face. I kid, I kid. And the smokey eyes too, ooo baby.

Maybe I'll take a lesson from the lovely and modest folks at American Apparel. Any volunteers?

Now I commence my scarf making/nog drinking/Santa Clause watching Friday night. Thing #73 on my list of things to do over break. Pajamas and all.

Done!

2008-12-10T10:00:00.000-08:00

I survived the eight am final, who knew it was still dark at 6:30? Not this girl.

Now it's time time for the wondrous three week winter break! In celebration of three weeks with nothing to do, I shall make a list of all the things I want to do in no particular order:

Get christmas tree

Decorate said christmas tree

Make house smell like the holidays- I'm thinking lots of smelly candles. Lots.

Make & send christmas cards for friends & family

Make thank you gifts for all (three) of my lovely customers!

Get scarves up in the shop. I don't care if I missed the holiday rush, people will still be cold

Make a sweatshirt from my own design

Read a book

Spend one entire day in pajamas and don't leave the house

Watch a christmas movie while drinking nog

Get my wisdom teeth out, yes I still haven't done that and no, I am proof they do not make you smarter

Do a snow dance.

I think that'll do for now.

Also, I love these great hand drawn journals from zippitydooda. They are a collaboration of many artists with differing themes throughout the year.

2008-12-09T12:46:00.000-08:00

If you like pretty check them out. They remind me everyday why I'm in art school, collect pretty things and create. I don't know how they do it but they do and it's amazing and I love them.

Also, in less than 24 hours I will be done with finals! Right now I'm off to clean the print studio at school after a night of frantic sewing, gluing and cutting and cleaning my own studio. Then one last final at 8:30 am, gasp. Then make tons of pretty christmas presents, update the shop, makemakemake, then Christmas, then California. Yay!

Also you can find these adorable little original paintings here. She's pretty awesome!

Done and done

2008-12-06T02:20:00.000-08:00

Turns out you can get a lot done when procrastinating.

I also think my old paint rags are really beautiful.

Yes please

2008-11-29T17:46:00.000-08:00

In my recent internet adventures I found the greatest studio ever from the geniuses at Somethings Hiding In Here. They make beautiful funky things in their beautiful funky home/studio. It is my inspiration for maintaining my new studio (i.e. my dining room takeover). It's funny to clean it one day and have a craft explosion the next.

Hope everyone's thanksgiving was delightful. Ours was full of friends and deep fried bird. delicious.

Sunday

2008-11-23T21:31:00.000-08:00

So few hours left in the week. But look at this pretty little clock that I found while out rummaging today. He's pretty darn adorable and still works. Unfortunately the ticking that I thought would be delightfully nostalgic turned out to be quite mesmerizing and has already put me to sleep at my desk. Maybe it will just have to be for looks. This will be the third clock in our house that won't tell time properly. Fitting if you know us.

$$$

2008-11-21T19:53:00.000-08:00

I pulled a bunch of prints together for my first print sale and my school's last print sale this past week. I'm becoming more efficient at busting out cards and having a lot of fun packaging and making thank you treats to send out with orders. I made this little guys to send all the way to Brooklyn!

The goal for this weekend is to get some scarves up in the shop and to get some sleep.

Where the magic happens

2008-11-16T00:04:00.000-08:00

Although I tend to be kind of a neat freak, it's nice to be able to drown in pretty things. I survived the post office this morning sending out my first etsy package, not too intimidated anymore.

And I RECEIVED my first etsy package today too! She's a sleepy little polar bear that makes me smile and is my new best friend. You can others like her at Olive Bunny Books.

Yay!

2008-11-15T00:21:00.000-08:00

My first sale in my second day of being open!!!
Thanks Madeline!
This is what you'll be receiving very soon!

Busy bee

2008-11-14T22:24:00.000-08:00

That's my little faux bois card (2nd in on the bottom right) on the front page of Etsy! Whoohoo!

I've spent the last two days cutting, pasting, stamping, sewing, taking pictures, posting, drinking lots of coffee and smiling because I'm actually doing it! The shop is up and running and I'm slowly adding things throughout the day. It's kind of nerve wracking to be so exposed but hopefully someone will like my things as much as I do. I have a tontonton to learn but I'm confident that I will learn as I go. For now I wait....

2008-11-14T01:18:00.000-08:00

Oh my gosh! I did it. There's no turning back now. I think I'll put in my two weeks notice at work tomorrow. yes...
You can find these tiny guys in MY NEW SHOP!

the big idea

2008-11-07T20:36:00.000-08:00

...trying to get the etsy shop off the ground this weekend. Make logo. Make website. Make things to sell :)

tada!

2008-11-05T22:35:00.000-08:00

Inspired by pick-up stix spaghetti, this is my first attempt at stop motion. And my first time using IMovie. I'd say it was a success. As successful as an 11 second movie can be :)

2008-11-05T19:20:00.000-08:00

YES! We win!

also..

2008-11-03T20:47:00.000-08:00

this is the most clever thing. ever.
Check out couch sex at eatPES

Obama eve

2008-11-03T18:34:00.000-08:00

Just filled out the absentee ballot after many lies to campaign callers affirming that I had indeed already voted, yes democrat. Although it was fun to be consumed by daily updates and have a logo to paint on everything for twenty months it is very exciting that it will all be over tomorrow. I also have no idea what news stations report for the three years in between elections. And am I allowed to wear my Obama paraphernalia post campaign?

My Saturday nights.

2008-11-01T23:45:00.000-07:00

Kurt Halsey, I'll Make My Own Friends

Indeed.

I am good at life. I swear.

2008-10-30T23:55:00.000-07:00

I am finally done with a blurry week of tests. And now I want to sleep. Forever.

greetings

2008-10-29T21:00:00.000-07:00

Hello. I am Ashley. I am new here. It is lovely to meet you.

I am a creative young one who's dream is to nothing more than to stay home and make pretty things. For some reason it is hard to explain this to my professors. I am in art school but this continues to convince me that I am not an artist.

I have lived in Seattle my entire life. I love that the sound and smell of rain reminds me of home wherever I am.I live in a beautiful house with my wonderfully talented partner in crime Matthew and our two furry and demanding roommates Scout and Clementine. I serve coffee by day and beer by night and consider my co-workers and customers some of my closest friends.

I like clean dishes, socks, hair, hands and paper. In no particular order.

I do not like unglazed pottery or chalk.

tada.