A mini book in drips and drabs.

Well I am slowly working on my first ever mini book. And I mean slowly. Since its coming along slowly I figured I would just starting posting pages as they get done. Why not?

I am using the wooden album that came out of Mandi's kit, also bits and pieces of the paper she created. This is what I came up with for the cover:

I went a tad Pollock on this wood cover as well as on the back(not shown). I did some stamping and I used lyrics from Jesus and the Mary Chain "Just like Honey" song which I wrote in my favorite letter stickers, which are by Adorn it I believe.
"Listen to the girl as she takes on half the world"

This mini is going to really pay tribute to my twenties, and I feel that those lyrics really spoke touched on what they were all about. I had a blast, I had crazy times, sad times, road trips, new friends, learning experiences galore, I feel like I really did take on half the world during my twenties and I only hope to take on even more of the world in my thirties:)

This is the first page and what not a better way to start off the book then with the first picture of my first New Year 3 days after turning twenty?

I don't think I am completely done with this page, but I decided to post it anyway. And as you can tell I used some help from Death Cab with partial lyrics from "This is the New Year". So there you have it, one page down, many more to go.


The other day I stumbled upon the most beautiful artwork I have seen in quite sometime( aside from my boyfriend's, just in case he reads this). The subject is quite simple(this is her cloud series), yet gorgeous at the same time. Really rather breathtaking.The artist's name is Ambera Wellmann.

Aside from clouds she paints other landscapes, portraits, reproductions and the list goes on and on. Amazing is all I have to say. I am quite enamoured by the cloud paintings, there is just something about the sky that can leave me day dreaming for hours on end.


I also just wanted to promote my sister and her new Art Fire store:) She makes some pretty jewelry, so you should go and check her out. She will gladly take custom orders as well! Pleased To bead you.


These rings happen to be one of my favorite items she makes. I need to get her to list more, she has some really pretty ones.

Ok, off to watch some movies and just relax on this rainy Saturday evening.

A week like no other.

Thank you to everyone who has left comments or who has emailed me.

It has been a tough week, I am so not gonna lie.

On Monday I spent the day with my best friend and her family. I tried to be there the best I could for her but its just been so difficult, there is so much that still needs to sink in for her.

On Tuesday I attended the wake. It was the saddest one I have been to yet, two brothers taken away.

And tomorrow we will attend the military service for Thomas as well as his brother.

I still cant believe that this has happened, but I have had a couple of good cries. Aside from all the crying we have had some good laughs, some funny stories, some good memories about our friend.

I am never personal with my blog, I am usually just blogging about silly adventures and scrap related items, so this is pretty heavy for my little home on the internet. Its hard for me to just let it go on without writing about it and tucking it away in the archives of a place I come to at least twice a week to connect with friends and family. Things will go back to normal but its important not to forget about those times when we had to climb big mountains and remain strong. And that's why I am blogging about this all. And maybe just maybe it will reach out to someone who is careless sometimes and gets behind the wheel after a few drinks.

At the funeral there was an image of Thomas and his brother Joseph that was just so touching. It was of them on the beach walking together at their brother's wedding. I like to think that is what they are doing right now together, and forever, side by side.

So very sad.

My best friend's husband as well as a friend of mine was killed this morning(story here). I am deeply sad by this and so very angry. A drunk driver hit him and his brother early this morning as they were walking to the diner, both have passed away. I have no words to explain how upset I am. Everything that has been bothering me this weekend or this past month just seems so stupid and so insignificant at this point.

I am off to be with my friend and her daughter tomorrow.

So long, farewell Monday:)

Moving right along.......................on to Tuesday I say! This weekend was a good one for one reason and pretty much one reason only, I saw one of my very best friend's finally after a few months. This particular friend has come so far and I am very proud of her and I really look up to her for just how much she is hanging in and getting by. It was well worth the worst subway ride pretty much ever(yes I know I said I would not complain about the city anymore, however its really the summers in the city that kill me) The heat was killer and I wasn't feeling all that well to begin with, but as soon as I sat down on the couch directly across from her it was just so nice, I missed it. To reconnect with someone that you were so close with for about 10 years now(I am talking like sister close, and no, no one will ever be like my real sister, but you get what I am saying) is just so refreshing and so almost like going home I suppose I should say. And that's pretty much all I have to say about that:)

After I left her place I headed on around the Brooklyn Bridge park and got some photos, but the sun was so bright and in my eyes, and they just didn't come out so great. But non the less they are of one of the most beautiful bridges I have ever laid my eyes on. I watched a show last month on the History channel about the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge, it really blew me away and actually made me appreciate this structure so much more. So that's that.



(This is actually a view of the Manhattan Bridge)



(these images are the Brooklyn Bridge)





There was art sculptures on display in the Brooklyn Bridge park, this one caught my eye. It was a sort of quilt soft sculpture made from found fabric and steel rods. You can read more about it here, it will explain it to you better then I can. Very inspiring and beautiful in person.




Today on the way home from work I listened to the newest Craft Sanity podcast and it was just so eye opening and interesting. It was about this family of 8, mom and dad both graduated art school and decided to live as artists(not working for the corporate world)and give it their all to live a life they love. They have 6 children all of which are un schooled as they put it, and the whole family creates! They also live very natural, self sustaining, and have so many great views on life that I just never really thought about. I highly recommend you listen to the podcast or at least head on over to their blog or their Flickr.

I just wanted to give a little shout out to my sister. She is referred to by me as the bead lady, haha. She creates really pretty jewelry, my favorite happen to be the rings and earrings she makes. She has finally opened up an Art Fire store called "Pleased to bead you" because as she says, she is pleased to take custom orders(pretty cute) Anyway, with the holidays around the bend, why not pick up something for someone on your list or just for yourself?

Well I am off to try and work on my mini album, but first off to make some iced coffee. Have a great night!!

Oh and you thought I would leave with out posting some music??

Lissy Trullie

oh all the memories.

Today was quite a day I tell you. It included going to my storage unit and finding my unit locked with the companies own lock EVEN THOUGH I PAID! Yes, it was a pain in my ass(pardon my language) It was their error but I had to go through a maze of storage units in order to get to their darn office which was locked and which I proceeded to kick a few times and use some obscene language when all of a sudden some guy came and unlocked it. Felt a tad stupid.

Anyway, that was the storage conflict. But aside from there being problems, I decided to take out two boxes of photos I had in there for the past year. Man oh man what a walk down memory lane. Many many good times I had especially during my twenties. So that leaves me with what I shall make my first mini book about.....................a tribute to my twenties because as some of you may or may not know, on December 28Th, 2009 I will be turning thirty. Bye bye twenties, you have been a crazy but sometimes wonderful ride. Ok, no goodbyes yet, I still have about 4 months, geez.

I have compiled a beginning pile of photos that will go into this book, it will be good therapy:)

Well that's my huge idea for the night. I am dreaming big I suppose.

Now I leave you with a song that is stuck in my head........................

Films films films. Trailer heavy!!!

I have movies on the brain. Probably need to sign back up to Netflix and also finally go use my $50 dollar gift card to the Angelika(for those of you who don't know, the Angelika is a great old theatre in SoHo that plays Indie films mostly).........................its calling to me.

Movies I wish to see this summer but probably wont make it to:

1. Harry Potter and the half blooded Prince




2. Funny People




3. Orphan




4. Julie & Julia



5. 500 days of summer




6. Inglourious Basterds




7. Paper Heart






8. Taking Woodstock




9. Away we go.




10. UP




11. Adam




Hopefully I at least make it to one, but which one???

Also I saw a trailer for this film which looks oddly fun and interesting.............well here's the trailer:




And what really prompted this post was this post that I read just a few minutes ago. Me and my boyfriend watched this film no more then 2 months ago and I have been meaning to post about it but just always forget. Anyway, its a beautiful film about friendship really. It has gore(it is a vampire movie) but its nothing like I have ever seen before. It really gets to you.




And well there are tons more movies coming out in the fall and winter, how will I ever catch up?

What shall this title be?

I never can think of a title for a blog post, I give up. From now on they are gonna make NO sense at all!!!!

Yesterday as I was leaving work, I had a rather Amelie moment. I noticed this blind man who I see all of the time, walking to and from the care center that he works at. Now over by where I work it can get pretty harsh with traffic(we are talking NYC streets here) I mean even when I am trying to cross the street with a stroller people still don't give me the time of day. Its all because they are all in a rush to get into the Holland tunnel and head home. So anyway, I saw this blind guy, probably younger then me and he was just so confused, nervous more then ever trying to sense whether or not he should cross(people will not even make room for the crosswalk part, they stop right in it) I went up to him and I asked if he was having problems and he joked and said "People don't care, they will just run me over" Well I just couldn't leave him there trying to struggle crossing the street, so I led him all the way down 3 blocks to the E subway uptown. The whole way there though, he was asking me questions of what was going on all around him. The things we take for granted, I tell ya.

We made it down to the subway and after the staircase we split ways. I cant believe how that man travels the subway and does that everyday, its actually amazing. To be in a place like NYC and be blind, blows my mind. What strength he has. From now on I am going to try and not complain so much about the city and all of its chaos, because if he can do it I sure as hell can.

Well I think that's my story for the day. Talking about all of the other silly things in life just wont match up to that. So for now I am just gonna leave you with a layout I did using the new October Afternoon products I received from their giveaway. Um, I don't have the names on me right now and I am trying to locate them on the Internet, but I just cant seem to find them. Hmmmmmmm.......

Ok, this layout is about me and the little girl I used to take care of last year. I was their live in nanny for about a year, and me and her were super close. I tried really hard to veer her away from all of that Disney Music(Hannah especially) and I used to play alot of my Indie rock in the car. Some of the songs she really liked and one of them was "That Time" by Regina Spektor. We used to especially love that part that goes like this :

"Hey remember that month when I only ate boxes of tangerines So cheap and juicy, tangerines "

I think it was the part "so cheap and juicy" that we thought was so funny, I don't know. So anyway, I made a layout using that part of the song.



There is a dark spot on the Hambly overlay part, thats me with my camera, ick.




Tonight is gonna be a late night at work. I should go and pack up a project to work on.

Have a great day:)

Tuesday love.

I hold a special place in my heart for Tuesday's while others may just think of it as one more day closer to Friday. They are my day off and they make the rest of the week doable for me!

Today I am about to head on off to the Post office, so if you won one of those RAKs on my blog at the beginning of the month, they are finally on their way. So be on the lookout for them.

After that, I am thinking a swim finally in the pool that sits in our backyard! The sun is out and I think a swim is in order.

Yesterday I received two packages in the mail myself. One was the Housewife Kit created by Mandi and the other was my October Afternoon prize I won over on their blog.

First off, the Housewife kit is really something special. Mandi designed all of the papers herself, which is just amazing, and who doesn't love some indie paper designing?? She also threw in some buttons, vintage pieces, some white and red bakers twine and a great handmade wooden mini album(and I may have listed these all wacky but you can see what the kit includes here)
Now I just have to think of how I am going to go about this whole kit, that's the part where I get stumped, why of course.

Second off the October Afternoon package had about 16 pages of their newest paper that is coming out and two sets of alphas, they have some great stuff coming out. I am in love with a few pieces of that paper they sent me, so vintage and fun. I will make some layouts and share sooner or later.

Well my bicycle finally came and my boyfriend put it all together for me yesterday, there were a few problems such as he didn't attach the brakes!!! NOR did he know that he forgot that. Also we are having a tad problem with the back tire rubbing against the fender, oh and we cant seem to attach that front fender. Small issues, but other then that, the bike is in great condition, I am in love with it.

Last Friday I finally made it over to Portrait Bug which is way uptown(NYC). It was one of those hot days why of course, and the subway was super brutal for such a long trip from Soho. But it was worth it. They had a nice selection of scrap booking supplies and also a portrait studio and a pretty decent size crop room where they hold classes. I also ran into a fellow Scrap in style member who works there, so its nice to know someone in the area. I am going to try and make it to some of their classes this fall when its cooler out and less hectic.

And now I will leave you with a song:)

The Joy Formidable
"Whirring"

Heres to you John Hughes!!

I cant believe John Hughes has passed away. His movies were such a staple in my life especially my childhood growing up in the 80's.
Jake Ryan was my first ever huge crush, and I wasn't the only girl. I wanted to be like Molly Ringwald in Pretty in Pink, so hip and creative. I loved Uncle Buck like he was my own uncle, what a love able character. Gosh I can go on and on, Vacation, Ferris, Mr Mom, Home alone, so on and so on.

May you rest in peace, you will be missed.

Heres to you John Hughes.

forgot..............

New Modest Mouse video directed by Heath Ledger..............

Show and tell time.

Well I did three layouts in one week. Hmmmmmm, that seems like alot to me, but I know there are quite a few people out there that can do more then that in a night. I think part of it is my past art school experience, trying to get everything right, then in the end it doesn't end up right. I really fiddled around with these, I tried to stay away from gesso and over doing it. I am proud of myself. I mean I still stitched(luckily this time I used a paper piercer) so that took some time, but other then that, they took under 2 hours. Ok, ok, on to the showing part. You can click on the images to see them larger(as if you didnt know already? hehe).....................................

"Love Birds"
This one is to honor the relationship that my boyfriend has with my sister's African Grey Parrot, Chicken(yes thats its name) Will is a huge animal love and he has a special spot in his heart for birds. Chicken is a chatter and Will loves to chat with her everytime we visit my sister. I snapped this photo awhile back of him sitting up by the cage talking with her. Finally got around to scrapping it, and it gave him a good laugh. The journaling says "Will and Chicken BFFs"



"Good Day Sunshine"


Finally dug into that Sassafras I bought at Sisiversary. Bright and sunny with a picture of Melissa(my good friend) lounging on the lawn of the Ben and Jerry's factory in Vermont.




"Vintage Love"


Well it appears that I doubled scrapped the same photo. Oh well. After I did this one, I remembered scrapping the same photo just last week. But whatever. I finally cut up some of that Sassafras frame pattern paper with all the cute vintage images in them. Love this paper.


And speaking of bikes, check this out................................


You can be entered to win one of these beauties, so just head on over to the Lovely list for details.

Dear Sunday.

Oh why oh why are you so bitter sweet?? I love your laid back appeal but despise your impending doom of Monday, ick.

But if I do have to say one positive thing about Monday is that I have off on Tuesdays, that makes Monday a tad more doable for me.


Last night our cable was out(and has been out) we had to resort to our DVD stash, which I have to say is pretty damn good. Anyway, we decided to watch "Lord of the Rings" , don't mind me some pretty elves especially ones named, oh say.............................Orlando:) Ok, that's off subject though. So while we are watching that, I remember hearing that Viggo Mortensen is an artist as well as an actor(well acting is an art, but I am talking painting and photography) I didn't know exactly what sort of an artist he was, that's when google came into play. His stuff is just so interesting, almost like Sabrina Ward Harrison. Very collage, mixed media.

I especially love this piece he did. Its entitled "Self Portrait"

You can find some of his photography here.

Speaking of photography...................................................I have been loving visiting this blog at least twice a week. Aside from gorgeous photographs, she also has some delicious looking recipes. Its just a great blog to read and look at for sure.

And I love everything that this very crafty lady creates!!!! If you need inspiration for any art or craft project, be sure to visit her blog.

Oh and one more, for all of you foodies. If you love to cook, love to read blogs of others that do, then be sure to see what this lady has going on over at her site. Great pictures as well as stories of everyday life around the house, adventures in cooking and in general making things:)


And before I go, I have a video from Yo Gabba Gabba. Its the Ting Tings and well I love the Altered Images version of this, but I think that the Tings Tings did an great job covering. I think I need someone to sing this to me for my birthday. Love it! It also reminds me of Sixteen Candles(the movie)





and here is the original...................

Yay, so um, Happy Birthday to anyone who is reading this and has a birthday today or coming up.

Hello Saturday.

Well, even though I could have slept in late, I totally did not. But I felt refreshed and better. I think I always feel better about waking up early on a weekend, because I know I don't have to go to work. I also think I am probably not the only one who feels this way.

I was finally able to find a bike. I was on the verge of buying a new one that looks like a vintage cruiser, but I didn't cave in. The new one seemed like a good idea because they were going for way cheaper then the ones I was finding here in NY, and they of course wouldn't have any problems, so less of a headache. Why does everything have to be so much more money in NY? Anyway, I have been following a pretty decent bike over on Ebay now for a week, it is a Vintage Huffy Holiday Sportsman bike in pretty good shape and in an army green color. The thing with Ebay and buying a bike off of there was the whole shipping cost issue. Sometimes the shipping would be way more then how much you would buy the bike for, so I got lucky when this guy was offering free shipping. Needless to say, I went on a bidding war with two other people last night and I came out winning the bike for a mere $81 bucks. For a while I was keen on getting a bike with a color that would pop, but then when I really thought about why I needed the bike, color wasn't so much of an importance.

There she is, now she just needs a basket for my books I have to return to the library.

Here's a pretty good site for bike baskets if you recently have gotten a bike or are looking to just replace a basket on your old bike.

On episode #100 of Craft Sanity, Jen spoke with a women who creates the most beautiful, intricate birds and soft sculpture animals I have yet to see. It was a great podcast to listen to on the very rainy train ride home last night. I recommend you go check out her blog and website. Lots of inspiration, lots of eye candy.


Also, another video podcast I enjoy is the Etsy(you can find it on Itunes, or just watch them on your computer on Youtube) . They have several episodes, my favorite happen to be the "Handmade Portraits" and the "Theres no place like here" shows. The "Handmade Portraits" one is a show that focuses on one crafter or artist. You get an inside look on their story, their creative process, even their studio. Then on "Theres no place like here" you get a peek into a crafter or artists home, where they spend most of their time. I highly enjoy these podcasts, they make my train ride go all the more quicker. Recently I watched an episode of "Theres no place like here" and I really liked these two girls styles, especially the girl behind The Snail and the cyclops. But of course the woodsy, vintage style behind Forest Bound is fantastic as well.





Speaking of styles, on Thursday The New York Times wrote up an article on the new Antiquarians. I absolutely love this decorating style, because I as well as my boyfriend are huge collectors. I also have alot of friends who are all about antiquing and thrift shopping in order to decorate their homes. There is just something so much more special about having something that has been loved on in the past then purchasing a new shiny plastic item to say put on a table or shelf. I mean I love Target, don't get me wrong, but I rather go on a treasure hunt at an antique store. But anyway, the people featured in the article have a very interesting style that includes a taxidermy items, Victorian pieces, very Natural History Museum meets hunters lodge.

One of the two girls featured has a blog, some new reading material for you!


Well, that's about it for now. We are off to lunch and running some errands.

Till later!