Call of the Wild

Photos courtesy of Michele :)

Hanging Rock

I went hiking today at a local state park called Hanging Rock with Milo and some fellow classmates.  I sadly did not have my camera.  Here's a shot from the top I took with my phone.  It was a beautiful 360 degree view.

After the hike we drove over to some cascades with a beautiful little pool below a large rock wall with a small waterfall leading into it.  Milo was in heaven, playing with the dogs of some friends.  Michele had her camera and I asked her to send me pictures so I'll post those once I get them.  It was like a scene from a movie.  Beautiful!

Stina

Probably my all time favorite artist: Stina Persson.  Her images are so beautiful...

View more of her work here.

New Beginnings

This is a photo in Georgetown in April.  Taken with a film camera.

I've begun to meet fellow filmmakers in the DFP at Wake from my year and above.  They all seem to be genuine, curious, and passionate people.  I'm so lucky to be able to work alongside such driven, humble beings.  I'm very excited for our bootcamp which begins Tuesday....but also a bit terrified.  But, if you're not nervous, you're not challenging yourself.

Fingers crossed this week goes by smoothly...leaving me with a bit of encouragement rather than discouragement.

Kitty Love

Now, I am not a cat person but being a HUGE dog person, I can certainly understand the companionship of a pet. My best friend lost her kitty confidante of something like 14 years this week and it breaks my heart. Losing a pet, especially one that was there since childhood, is hard. You really can't remember your life without them in it.

I was once told that dogs (but I think cats apply too) spend less time on this Earth because they know they're purpose and they love unconditionally they're whole, short little lives....something it takes us humans much longer to do. So, they come into our lives, they help us, love us, understand us and leave us a better person than we were before. And I like to think they're running around in doggy heaven or in a cat's case, they're lounging around in kitty heaven.

Tigerlily

I am growing hugely interested in & attracted to Native American art, design, & culture. Perhaps it's my supposed Native American heritage....but everything about it I find mysterious & wonderful & beautiful.

Tree Love

There's a beautiful historic park here in Winston-Salem called Bethabara Park and inside are these beautiful River Birch trees. I literally just can't stop thinking about them...the way the bark curls and peels off the trunk & branches. Simply lovely! (These are not my images...next time I'll take my camera.)



















I am sad to say I have not been making enough things since I've been here in Winston. That does need to change...I've been collecting ideas...just have yet to execute. But, tomorrow I start my new job in the bakery (of a grocery store...haha) but I'm quite excited because aside from packaging and stocking the shelves with the items we make...I actually get to make them! And he said if I'm willing I can learn to decorate cakes....I obviously jumped at that opportunity! Fingers crossed this happens sooner rather than later.

Away We Go

As always, I'm inspired by the idea of travel...with tons of free time on my hands, today I put in one of my favorite movies "Away We Go" and with that plus my recent decision to pick up the book "Into The Wild"...plus the idea of travel itself...I was led to this art journal entry. I used a lot of Western imagery (nowadays I'm eager to explore the Western culture of my native land).

I noticed an annoying recurrence today when uploading this entry...when I photograph my work it seems it is lacking tremendously. This appears half done at this point...yet again. I'll revisit it in the coming days. There's always something positive that comes from stepping away from something for a couple of hours or days so that when you return it is with a more clear and objective eye...

It All Ends

I have been horrible about blogging lately. I blame the move...and then the lack of internet after the move. But, I'm finally settled and have tons of free time until I get a job. I'm hoping this happens sooner rather than later!

A couple weeks ago my best friend and I threw a Harry Potter party in spirit of the release of the final film. She and I grew up with Harry from age 10 until the final book was released, the summer before my sophomore year of college. It was a sad sad sad day. However, at the very least we still had the films to look forward to (as awful as they were). But after July 15th at around 2:30am, my childhood abruptly and finally ended. At least that's how it felt. We walked out of the theater feeling lost and even deserted. However, there is some comfort in knowing that Harry will always be there for us to return to on the many pages J.K. Rowling gave us as well as deep in our hearts.

Here are some images from the party. Now the images I just don't feel do the party justice. We had snitches hanging from the trees and the pergola, bunting in the house colors, home-made butterbeer, chocolate frogs, cupcakes decorated with house-colored, home-made icing, jelly beans, and numerous other Harry Potter themed decor and foods. (Now this was also my sister's 13th birthday party, so luckily we had more guests than just Jessie & myself). We screened the 7th movie Part 1 while eating and relaxing in our Gryffindor wardrobe. Oh it was a fabulous night, well-worth the hard work and I will forever be proud and unashamed of my somewhat obsessive nature when it comes to the wizarding world given to us by the beautiful, talented, & brilliant Jo.

Jo, thank you ever so much for sharing this world with us and giving me a childhood that consisted of eagerly awaiting the arrival of a book. The anticipation of that moment for me is matched only by the excitement of seeing a loved one after prolonged separation and the excitement of stepping onto a plane off to explore unknown land & cultures. And, I think that's pretty impressive for book!

Let's Dine

I have finished my dining room chairs! They were $6 a piece, purchased at different times...sanded, painted and dressed with little cushions. It's really a shame I didn't take before & after pictures...

Finished just in time for move-in.