Blah,Blah,Blahg

A TRIBUTE TO A BEST FRIEND...

I am notorious for being a sporadic at best blog reader.  One of my favorite's when I remember is Liv's, the uber talented  creator of 'A Field Journal'.  Her family pup passed away recently and she made the most amazing tribute album (click above).  It is so incredibly well done and creative (as everything she touches) but the sincerity of her loss made me teary eyed.  I am so sorry Liv, my heart is with you.

FREE ART! JENNIFER SQUIRES

{elviage trees by jennifer squires}

Jennifer Squires is one of my Flickr contacts, I am always delighted to see a new upload from her, she has quite the eye.  I love simple, clean and above all great light.  She always hits the mark. When I clicked on this image I noticed she blogged about it as well and wouldn't you know she is giving copies of these away FREE?  Yes, FREE.  There's rules of course, she can't give a copy to everyone but if you think that this beautiful capture would have a nice spot in your home than go over and check out the deets here. Good luck!

GET READY FOR YOUR CLOSEUP...

In our Souvenir Foto School classes I always try to express it's not the camera it's the photographer.  No one ever has a great meal and asks the chef, "That was amazing, what kind of oven do you have?" Now do they? In class I try to help the students get rid of their need/desire for excuses and hopefully I inspire them to see things in a new, exciting way.  Me?  I am a slacker.  Not even teaching my own class gets me shooting.  In fact I woefully did not do my final assignment--three photo's that represent you.  I still plan on doing it but I have been busy. Excuses.  One excuse that I am not going to settle for is the one of not having my camera with me and missing a potential shot. I have a phone, I have a very fancy schmancy phone (as Ace will attest I have NO clue how to use). I just wasn't seeing the kind of results that I wished I could get from it, there was something not right.  Then I downloaded CP Pro app ($1.99) that makes my Iphone camera have zoom capabilities! I am all over my Iphone excuses and have been happily shooting away each day. I hope that maybe this will inspire you to take some more photo's and capture the extraordinary in the ordinary. These photo's were taken on my walk to the Flea and at the Flea.  I have passed this tree hundreds of times and only noticed it when I decided to shoot it. Here I was for weeks grumbling there was no inspiration, the same ol' thing and looksy I actually just went out there with a new mindset and viola inspiration struck!

Most of you that read this Blahg are creative types (I already know you are smart, beautiful and have a terrific sense of humor or else you wouldn't be visiting) but fill me in what do you do to get inspired? I am always up for trying new things as long as it doesn't involve going to a new zipcode without my blankey sort of thing.

NO BEAGLES WERE HARMED...

{image by christopher gilbert}

Thought you might need another smile on this gloomy Monday. There's a couple breeds of dogs (beside the bully breeds) that make me break out in a toothy, goofy, grin when I see them Dachshunds are one, I am trying to convince my pal Candace to adopt one. Basset hounds, too cute, Brussels Griffons (like lil' ol' men or Ewoks) and the good ol' Beagle as shown above.  They don't have any of the quirky characteristics of the other dogs mentioned but maybe it's because they seem so "normal" and yet are so silly that they make me smile. This photo seems to sum their personalities up quite well, looks normal but...kinda like me...

THANK GOODNESS IT'S MONDAY....

Whitney B. from Whisker Graphics fame sent this in to kill us with cuteness. Done....

BUG UNDER GLASS

Maybe it's because my bank account was wiped out or maybe it's the pull of inspiraton from Holly's Interior Styling group, whatever it is I have an unbridled desire to shop my head off (very unusual indeed).  I found this Etsy store above (by a professional etymologist!), the whole lot of it is up my alley, the pretty butterflies, the sweet specimen tags, the proliferaton of blues from royal to aqua and everywhere in between.  The prices are also very nice, if you have been looking for butterfly specimens lately (you haven't?) well if you had, you would agree that for the beautifully built frame + specimen this is a GREAT deal. They had me at bug anyway so who am I kidding?...

ANYONE WANNA BUY A WATCH?

I started stalking admiring Roxy Marj a couple months ago when she replied to an ad I had placed.  She is so talented, sweet and obviously has a keen sense of humour.  These watches made me smile and made me want something I have never thought I wanted prior. I love her Sunday Best series it's magazine worthy, really, visit her often, I do...

URSA

{artwork lisa chow}

This lovely print appeals to both my inner nerd and inner Victorian with a dash of latent hipster thrown in, you?

WHENN CUTE STRIKES...

This isn't my best photograph ever but I love her little teddy bear face.  There's evidence that Bella has been on the sofa by all the hair (she's not allowed on) G.G. you see is close to perfection and doesn't shed, make a mess or drive her Mommy to tears, well tears of joy...

INTERIOR STYLING GROUP

{photo via ethanollie flickr}

I have been super inspired by Holly from Decor8's new Flickr group called Interior Styling.  Being that I work in the high-end + high stress interior design field I lost a lot of my lust for interior design and interior design centric blogs  a while back, no thank you but this is clever and the key here is 'styling' versus the intimidating' design'  (please note there are a few designers that still make my heart flutter). I am more interested now in seeing how 'real' people create their abodes and so I find this little (big) group just fitting.  This is the photo that had me clicking away for a couple hours.  EthanOllie have an Etsy shop called Trampoline and they definitely know how to work a room.  The color of these walls? Don't get me started they are in my opinion--SUBLIME.  This was their sons' 'little boy' room, heck I would take it now as my big girl room, love the globes, books, trim, wood floors, etc. The chair?  I can appreciate the design but not for this tookus, I need something a little more forgiving on my bony rear. The chair just does not call, 'curl up on me please', BUT it does look perf in this vignette no? If you are looking to revamp your space this is a great starting point and I am loving her challenges.  I think this is Holly's 'big idea' and this could definitely turn into a book for her. I mean the talent in that group will make you blink and there is something for everyone.  I took to my space with gusto this weekend and even though my space looks even more like a hospital room than ever(think white and more white, oh yeah and sterile) I am decidedly content. I will try to post my bathroom before and after this week but I still haven't touched my holiday party photo's so don't hold your breath...

P.S. Thank you to everyone for your kind words yesterday in regards to my identity theft situation, it meant a lot to me that even though the cyber world was temporarily cruel that there are more good people and good things that transpire from the internet than bad and your comments proved it.  I am always grateful for your hello's and 2 cents but it meant more when I was homicidal than it does on any ol' day. Thank you.