Baby, I'm Coming Home

The New Year is rolling around and despite my resistance to make a resolution for the past few years, I'm trying to decide on a few for 2013. Currently those weighing most on my mind are drawing in my sketchbook more (maybe a 365 challenge) and creating a more organized plan for my posting.

2013 is a big year for me! I'm graduating from The University of Findlay with my first degree. I am applying to MFA programs at The University of Texas, KingstonUniversity, The University of Oregon, Washington State University, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, The University of Colorado, and East Tennessee State University. There are a few more locations I am looking at but am up in the air about applying to a total of 9 masters programs.

There are so many ifs and buts floating around my head right now. What can I do but tackle each day that comes one at a time? I could be bogged down about the shear amount of work I have before me, but I'm excited about what all of that work means for me: new experiences!

In light of all this newness … here are some wonderful tracks to listen to as a reminder of the year on its way as you scroll through my roundup of Crafts I want to try from my Pinterest account.

White Winter Hymnal

Fleet Foxes

What Are You Doing New Year's Eve

EllaFitzgerald

Soon or Never

PunchBrothers

The New Year

DeathCab for Cutie

Here We Go Again

RayCharles featuring Norah Jones

Auld Lang Syne

TheCast

Travel Corkboard, found on Life Blessons

Sequin Wall, found on Oh Happy Day

Sesil Coasters, by The Space Between

Wine Cork rug from Crafty Nest

Organic Art by Paul Schick on Greige

Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Hobby {Happiness}

Idle hands are the devil's tool. Think of it as if God's plan is for your happiness, then the devil's is for your sorrow. Boredom is a disease, a sickness that affects the mind, body and soul. Today I saw a sign that read You're not bored, you're boring.

It is so incredibly true! If you are one of those people who constantly needs to be entertained, or find yourself always saying I'm bored, then I strongly suggest your find a hobby.

No, drinking is not a hobby. No, your job is not a hobby. Sitting on the internet looking through random crap isn't a hobby either. I'm talking about finding something to do in your spare time (and don't act like you don't have any) which you can see through from beginning to end that gives you some kind of product or valuable asset.

Why should you have a hobby? TheImportance of Hobbies For Stress Relief states “Hobbies are often thought of as activities for people who lead quiet, relaxed lives. However, people with full, busy, even stressful lives may need hobbies more than the average person, and benefit greatly from having hobbies in their lives” (Elizabeth Scott, M.S).

But don't just chose something random that you don't give a hoot about. Find a piece of furniture in your living space that needs updated, or nurture a fruit-bearing plant of a fruit you love. Make an abstract painting to hang on your wall, take bike trips, join a sport league. In my opinion, the more options you give yourself, the less stressed you will be; I personally enjoy five or six different hobbies.

So think about things you love watching about on TV, or that empty space on your wall and go fill your hands and your time!

Once again, I believe Pinterest is a wonderful place to start: check out my Crafts board for some ideas of things you can make.

Today is life-the only life you are sure of. Make the most of today. Get interested in something. Shake yourself awake. Develop a hobby. Let the winds of enthusiasm sweep through you. Live today with gusto. - Dale Carnegie

Image Roundup: Crafting Ideas

I am in with love crafting, making old things new, refurbishing furniture, and doing things that, in general, enhance a living space. Using a hammer is fun, spray paint can completely change a room, and taking something apart to put something better back together is a huge thrill.

The word “visionary” comes to mind when I think of what kind of people look at some old piece of junk and see how beautiful it could be, either in a perfect location or with a new coat of paint. I find myself cruising the streets of Findlay looking at all the old houses even and thinking about the fresh face I could bring to this city. It's a massive dream of mine to flip at least one house in my future.

In the meantime, however, I will settle for using crafting to bring new life to old things. When I am sitting around twiddling my thumbs, I like to skim through my Crafts board on Pinterest for ideas of things I could be creating. So, here are some crafts I really love from my board that I hope to be accomplishing soon:

DIY Sharpie a stencil on a plate. Bake at 350 for 10 mins = permanent

Piece of wood, 4 legs, padding then staple fabric

 

Painted "wallpaper"- using a stencil

 

The Daily Telecraft: DIY: Mystic Shoe ... diy canvas shoes

Creativity is a drug I cannot live without. - Cecil B. DeMille

Magic Gold Pen

I have two crafts for you today. One is yet another cute inspiration from . . . love Maegan where she used nail polish to spruce up the ends of chopsticks. Since I am going through a hardcore gold phase though, I used my gold pen.

This second one I intend to use as a jewelry holder when I get home from Arkansas. I took mini terracotta pots, painted them, gold-ed them (yes, with my magic gold pen) and hot glued them together.

I love the chopsticks and need to make an Asian dish soon to use them with, or take them with me to a Chinese restaurant . . . maybe not. The pot jewelry holder turned out nicely enough. I'm not crazy about the colors and the hot glue needs reinforcing on one spot but other than that it's holding together nicely.

Quote about creating things: True happiness comes from the joy of deeds well done, the zest of creating things new. - Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Shoot Her!

For my birthday my brother gave me an awesome camera... and I freaking love it, so now you will have to put up with my showing off the pictures of lame stuff I have taken in the past 3 days. The good news though is you can now expect good pictures on here and not just crap from my phone!

Click to see instructions!

And now for the star of the show: my kitten, Don Quixote.

Quotes about photography:

If I knew how to take a good photograph, I'd do it every time. - Robert Doisneau

My idea of a good picture is one that's in focus and of a famous person. - Andy Warhol (have I mentioned that I hate Warhol? This quote pretty much sums up why)