have a NICE day
Friday, August 22, 2008Labels: inspiration
Yesterday I came across this blog Operation NICE and had to read through the whole thing. It's always a little disheartening when people are surprised to see the door held for them. I remember a few months ago Josh and I had a cart full of groceries at Meijer. A guy and his son came in line behind us with about six cases of pop. I told the guy to just check out before us. He stared at me in disbelief and I think even said, "Are you sure?".
I try to do something nice everyday but it's easy to get caught up in my own world. Sometimes I don't even see what's going on around me. Or sometimes I see things I could do but chicken out. I still kick myself for the time I didn't help the single dad bag his own groceries.
Check out the blog and maybe we'll all remember to be a little nicer this weekend. I love the idea of leaving little postcards saying nice things around town. Maybe I'll try that out...
amelie
Tuesday, January 22, 2008Labels: inspiration
So I realize I'm a bit behind on times but I finally saw the movie Amelie. It made me want to wear a red dress, dye my hair a bit darker and chop it off in a cute bob. It also made me want to learn French and ride a moped with a cute boy. The movie was captivating and the imagery was incredible. Two days later I'm still thinking about it...
happy new year
Wednesday, January 02, 2008Labels: inspiration
"To acquire knowledge, one must study;
but to acquire wisdom, one must observe."
-Marilyn vos Savant
make art not war
Wednesday, October 17, 2007Labels: inspiration
My little art journal is coming right along. I've been averaging about a page a day. Some are really simple, some take a little more time... Sometimes I can feel myself looking at them critically but I stop myself. I'm not trying to create pieces of art to sell. I'm just creating.
Often times throughout the day I think about what I will paint that night. A couple times I have even been inspired by something random during the day. I'll sketch it out on a scrap piece of paper and then tuck it in my art journal for later use. I really like this routine of creating art in the evenings. I also really like going to work with yellow paint under my fingernails.
art journal = started
Friday, October 12, 2007Labels: inspiration
I did it! I started an art journal last night. Josh and I got some Chinese and then went to Hobby Lobby. I walked up and down the art supply aisles just looking for things that jumped out at me. I got some paintbrushes, acrylic paints and some cheap pastels. When we got home I set everything out and just started painting. It felt really good. I kept it pretty simple but I already have ideas for more pages. I'm excited to see where this goes. I'm really trying to work on my perfectionism when it comes to this stuff. I didn't even worry when paint got on other pages. I think this is going to be good for me!
just create
Thursday, October 11, 2007I've been reading Donna Downey's blog and she's been doing a painting a day. That pretty much blows my mind. Although I consider myself a creative person and have always loved art, there is some very intimidating about it all. I'm sure it has something to do with my self confidence or something, blah, blah, blah... Labels: inspiration
Yesterday she linked to a lady on YouTube that talks about art journals. Her name is suziblutube and I think she's fabulous. Start with her video "How to Keep an Art Journal #1" She's like a zen master for creating art or something. But she has totally made me think I could keep an art journal. I think I'm really going to try and do it. We'll see how it goes!
Some Flickr groups that have provided inspiration:
daily something
art journal
collage crazy
The Draw Squad!
Wednesday, October 18, 2006Did you ever watch Commander Mark Kistler on "The Secret City" or "Imagination Station"? Oh man, I loved him! I can remember turning on PBS, getting out my paper and pencil and drawing whatever he drew. Labels: inspiration
Yesterday I found that you can actually watch videos of him on his website. Within the first five minutes of one he reminded me why I loved him so much. He started by asking us to get out our pads of paper. Then he said, "Now you're ready to flow across that paper like the genius that you are." Killer mustache and awesome sound effects... I think that I need to meet him. I sat there with my head rested on my hand with this sappy, reminiscent smile on my face. For a few minutes I thought I was eight and my mom was making cookies in the kitchen. He makes me want to draw and be a little kid. So...I paused the video and drew.
"Stand back, Paper Dominator! Hi-yah!"
"Dream it, draw it, do it..." I now have his book added to my wish list on Amazon.
sappy goodness
Wednesday, September 27, 2006It's true, I'm a sap. Always have been...always will be. I blame my parents. My mom taught me that it's okay to be emotional and to wear your heart on your sleeve. (She does. I do as well.) And my dad gets choked up at sentimental parts in movies but you only know it because his face turns red and his nostrils flair out a little. Labels: inspiration
I watched these videos and I'll admit I teared up. It's funny though how something like a commercial can inspire you. Anyway, I just thought these were good videos. Watch them, then give a hug or do a random act of kindness. You'll feel better. I know it. And don't worry about being a sap. It's not so bad, really.
pixelated gradient
Friday, September 22, 2006Labels: inspiration
Did you see Jay McCarroll's Spring line at Olympus Fashion Week? I loved it! He was my favorite designer from Project Runway Season 1. I love all of the straight lines and colors. The jacket in the bottom middle...love that. When I first saw the top middle shirt I thought aloud, "Looks like a pixelated gradient". Unfortunately Josh heard me and has been making fun of me about that all the time. Okay, yeah...so I'm a nerd. I've accepted it!
Unrelated...I have added a blogroll under links. I have about a million links but these are the blogs I regularly check. Let me know if I'm missing a good one!
the arts
Thursday, September 14, 2006Labels: inspiration, music
You never know what might inspire you. Music, art, random things you walk past... Here are some things that have inspired me lately.
Music
I am completely obsessed with the song Fidelity by Regina Spektor. I caught the video on TV a week or so ago and have listened to the song about a hundred times. Great video.
Yesterday I listened to Ben Kamen for awhile. Totally rainy day music...
I was perusing Pure Volume and happened upon these guys: The Elliot Project. Very enjoyable.
Art
I ran across the artist Rania Hassan. Check out these awesome paintings that incorporate knitting. I love them! I think they would be perfect for my craft room.
I've been enjoying the Flickr group: get crafty!
Also check out Tiny Showcase. I ordered this one in June.
Creativity
10 Steps for Boosting Creativity - "Don't watch TV. Experiments . . . show that watching TV causes your brain to slowly trickle out your ears and/or nose. It's not pretty, but it happens."
Surviving a day job with your creativity intact
inspiration
Thursday, August 17, 2006Labels: inspiration, knight light, music, the one with friends
I don't know if it was the double shot of espresso in my latte or the time I spent with my friend Emily but I drove home tonight feeling so inspired. We talked a lot about photography and I just really feel like I'm supposed to develop my couples portfolio. We talked about me doing some pictures of Emily and her husband. I just feel like I have loads of ideas for cool couples shots. So I drove home talking a mile a minute to Josh on my cell phone. I decided that I'm going to do as many pictures of couples I know to expand that portion of my portfolio. I already have some specific ideas for my brother and his girlfriend and they don't even know that they're going to be models for me. I want to take pictures by old buildings, in alleys, by brick walls...my list could go on and on...
I have been addicted to this song by Hellogoodbye called "Oh, It is Love". I think that has inspired me as well. Anyway, I'm excited to start on this. I think I could just keep rambling about this. This is me hopped up on caffiene, feeling really tired but very I.N.S.P.I.R.E.D. It's a good feeling. More to come...
stop-motion
Tuesday, August 08, 2006Check out this Stop-Motion movie - Between You and Me. Amazing. Labels: inspiration
Here's some info about Stop-Motion.
friday
Friday, August 04, 2006Labels: inspiration
OK Go - Here It Goes Again
live, do, future
Friday, July 28, 2006Labels: inspiration
"live in the present. do the things you know need to be done. do all the good you can each day. the future will unfold." --peace pilgrim
future
Friday, June 16, 2006Labels: inspiration
Can't you just see me sitting here? Designing things, editing pictures... I love to look at pictures like this (courtesy: PBteen). I could stare at it all day. I love imagining that someday I'll have an office as nice as this with real matching furniture and huge windows. A place where I can be productive and creative.
window
Wednesday, May 17, 2006"People are like stained glass windows-the true beauty can be seen only when there is light from within. The darker the night, the brighter the windows." Labels: inspiration
-Elisabeth Kubler-Ross
you are you
Friday, May 05, 2006Labels: inspiration
Spring is my favorite season. I think I say that at the beginning of every season. I just can never decide. Something though about everything turning green again and coming alive. And the flowers...Don't get me started on the flowers.
Today is a beautiful day with the sun shining bright. In honor of it, I even wore my "Sun Shine Makes Me Happy" t-shirt. (Which I can't find online so I'll have to take a picture to post.)
And because it's Friday, some Dr. Seuss quotes for you:
"Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You."
"Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So... get on your way."
links, schlinks
Friday, April 28, 2006Labels: inspiration
It's been statistically proven impossible to have a bad day after listening to this song. Enjoy!
Man asks about weighing a head - Ask Metafilter [link]
One of my favorite after-school shows growing up was Kids Incorporated. I never thought I'd be able to see another episode but ah, the joys of the Internet. Click on KI-TV to view entire episodes. [link] And in other KI news...my favorite person on the show was a girl named Stacey. So cute and I always loved her clothes. I was looking through cast information and just found out that Stacey is now Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas! I almost fell out of my chair.
Here's a fun quiz called your personal dna. I was a benevolent inventor. [link]
Watch this video about humorist Art Buchwald. He's in a hospice facility after deciding to quit treatment for kidney disease. [link]
Real Simple article "10 Things You Can Stop Worrying About" [link]
Interesting article about the book Strapped: Why America's 20 and 30-Somethings Can't Get Ahead. [link]
Hope you all have a great weekend.
quotes
Thursday, April 13, 2006Labels: inspiration
I have a journal that a friend of mine got me for Christmas a few years ago. I had decided then that I would use it as a quote book because I was always writing down quotes I liked. I started it in January of 2003 and it's still going strong.
I read through it the other day and I just felt so lucky that I started it. It really kind of gives an account of my life for the past three years. Where I've been...what I've been doing... Quotes that stood out more before I met Josh were about being patient and afterwards about love. I have quotes that made me laugh out loud when I read them again. Ones that I "accidentally" wrote in twice.
The page in the picture makes me smile...
"You need to learn to speak Kimberly" is what Jess and I would tell Josh when we first started dating. Jess could always translate my actions and said that it was only because she could speak my language. Josh was clueless in the beginning but slowly learned to speak "kimberly".
"It is right to be contented with what we have, never with who we are." - Sir James Mackintosh
I just love quotes.
Patience
Wednesday, January 25, 2006Labels: inspiration
"Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering you own imperfections but instantly set about remedying them - every day begin the task anew." -Saint Francis de Sales
"Patience is the best remedy for every trouble." -Titus Maccius Plautus
Oprah
Monday, January 23, 2006Labels: inspiration
My co-worker lent me his wife's copy of the Oprah 20th Anniversary Collection. I left work at 3 on Friday and popped that baby in. I watched it until 7:00 when some of our friends showed up. Basically I watched it whenever I could this weekend. There were some tear-jerkers! I did fast forward through some things but for the most part I watched them all. (All six discs.) It was neat to see a lot of the episodes that I missed since I haven't really been able to watch Oprah since college.
As always I was amazed by Oprah... All that she has done, seen... I mean, she's friends with Nelson Mandela. It does make me want to really make a difference in the world. I want to use my life to help others. Obviously I don't think I'll be making as big an impact as Oprah but I hope to leave a small impression some day.
i like paper.
Thursday, January 12, 2006So I love paper. Anything to do with paper...journals, stationary, construction paper! The first place I go usually in Target is either the purses or the stationary aisles. Borders: I make a beeline for the journals and cards. There is a ton of cool stuff online and I'm getting quite the bookmark list. Labels: inspiration, retail therapy
I'm drooling just thinking about Kate's Paperie. This mint journal...yummy. The whole section dedicated to paper.
I really like Lotta Jansdotter. Really cute stationary and some funky bags I love...
Of course there is always Paper Source. Someday I will blow a ton of money there, I just know it. I bought the paper flower kit and made one for each of my bridesmaids. It was hard work but I LOVED IT!
Elum Designs is so clean and pretty. I love their letterpress designs.
Heidi has some cute note cards as well. Jenni Bick has some cool handmade photo albums.
And some fun cards...check out:
debutante riot
Knock Knock
Sidepony
sugar lily
uncooked
Potion Brand
And then there's russel+hazel...semi paper related...the best looking office supplies you'll ever see. Working girl chic is what they call themselves. The new Audrey collection...if only I had $48 to spend on an expanding file tote. See Jane Work is another good one for cute office supplies.
The pretty paper sucks me in everytime.
Romanticizing Creativity
Wednesday, January 11, 2006You know what I think would be cool? Is if someone asked me what I did for a living and I could say something cool like, "Oh, I'm an artist" or "I'm a writer". I have this romantic view of what it would be like to be an artist/sculptor/writer/photographer... I imagine living in a huge downtown loft, with vaulted ceilings. Canvases all over...paint everywhere... Books galore. Creating art EVERY day. I guess my desire to do something creative is getting the best of me. I've talked about it before. Labels: inspiration
I guess I keep hoping that someday I can make a living being creative. Even if it is slightly less romantic than what I have pictured.
Random "Random Act of Kindness"
Friday, December 16, 2005In this month's Real Simple there is a whole article on some suggestions for random acts of kindness. Labels: inspiration
"When someone leaves a pie plate or a casserole dish at your house, return it with something tasty inside." [Real Simple, Dec '05]
