UPPERcase Magazine

I am a huge connoisseur of magazines. I spend way too much money on magazines and books. I know, I know, there are such things as libraries – however, I have a difficult time understanding the concept of borrowing. Hence, my history of large overdue fees and late fees from Blockbuster. So, I buy. I have stumbled across a new favorite source of inspiration… Uppercase Magazine.

Started by the talented and amazing Janine Vangool, Uppercase tag line is “for the creative and curious”, which, of course, explains my fascination.

Back In Action!!!

This has been a very busy 6 months of my life.  When I started this blog this summer, I had all the time in the world.  I wasn’t teaching, I was building a kayak with my dad, and I was enjoying a blissfully relaxed summer with super G the wonder mutt.  I spent days perusing design blogs daydreaming about the day when I would be in demand and successful.  It was lovely.  Then BAM!  Success happened.  It was sudden and wonderful… and very, very unexpected.  I wasn’t prepared.  I went from a life of balance and bliss… to chaos and stress… and sugar.  Copious amounts of sugar and caffeine.  SO.  Now, after several months of juggling and little sleep… I am BACK!  I have an arsenal of blog information that has been so inspiring to me – but I didn’t have time to post it.  So here goes the first inspiration… This video of a fabulous designer from Fab.com.  I have been preparing for my second fab.com sale and I must say – I HEART FAB.COM.  Not only are the folks over at Fab talented and efficient – they are so wonderful to work with.  They make everything appear seamless.  It is amazing.  I highly recommend either being a designer or simply buying anything that fits your fancy from these folks!!!

Miami Design District ~ Part 1 (My Staycation)

I was supposed to be in Chile right now.  I was actually supposed to be on Easter Island and exploring the vast wilderness and diverse culture of Santiago Chile for three weeks during the month of July.  I have an art show in Chile and on Easter Island and I was oh-so-excited to see my work in such an exotic venue.  I had planned and plotted and purchased 3 books on hiking and Lil hole in the walls to eat.  I was ready.  Unfortunately, the tides of chance shifted, and my travel partner broke her leg.  Yep.  One week before we were to fly into the Chilean blue yonder.. she was playing tennis.. and pop!  There went the leg.  Thank God I bought travel insurance.  I am notoriously cheap.. but something told me to click the travel insurance box before checking out.. now I have even more evidence to listen to that little voice that is so often right.  So… here I am.  On my staycation.  Determined to make lemonade out of lemons.. I decided to both work on my kayak with my dad and explore South Florida for much-needed inspiration.  So, last Friday I kidnapped my friend Julie and forged my way into the wilds of the design district of Miami.  It was exactly what the doctor ordered.
This adorable small person was enjoying my window shopping.

I want to print this out and blow it up and put it over my couch – to remind me where I am and how to keep my feet in today.

Amazing work by Shepard Fairey on the Wynwood Walls

Adorable Julie infront of the Shepard Fairey mural

The bar at the Wynwood Kitchen and Bar

Miami’s version of wildlife

Cool outdoor patio at the Wynwood Kitchen

I am a total sucker for peeling wallpaper.

Oh boy, I have had days like these.

So seriously cute with that hat on!  I almost stole it from her.  It was an amazing outing and adventure.  I am hell-bent to make this summer shine.  Last summer was filled with heartbreak and long days at the hospital (my brother was ill – he is 100% spot on healthy now - HOORAY!!!) – so- heart all healed and brother healthy as a horse…  I am determined to have a summer full of adventures!!  Life has a funny way of turning your plans up on it’s end and asking you to re-route your path.  So here I am.. google map in hand.. seeking local adventures and finding bliss in unexpected places.  I have two more weeks of my staycation until I am San Francisco bound.  So look out South Florida.. here I come!

Gifts from the Sea

Today I opened the kiln and was given a gift.  I was so happy with my latest experiment of texture and color.  I have been diving a bunch this summer and spending lovely evening walks along the shoreline.  My favorite time of the day is dusk – and my favorite place to be is on the beach or in the mountains.  I took my latest inspiration to the studio and viola!  Here are a few of my lastest favorite things.  More soon to come.  As soon as I get the sand off of my feet.

Photo of the day- Plate

This one was easy! Here is a new design fresh out of the kiln this past weekend- I am starting to experiment with terra cotta. Such rich colors and yummy earth tones!

Photo of the day- Sign

I love Kurt Vonnegut and this quote. I take this as an absolute sign to keep making my art and never give up on my dreams. I needed this sign today (sent to me by a good friend while I was feeling a bit overwhelmed in my studio). Thank you for your wisdom Mr. Vonnegut.

Inspiration and Creativity ~ Help for creative blocks.

I am not sure about you all – but I spend so much time in the studio creating ~ there are some days when I would rather clean my closet out then go to the studio.  Simply because I have no creative ideas!!!  Well, fear no more!  I stumbled across this little gem on a trip to Barnes & Noble this past week.  Evidentially I am not the only one with this problem.  So my new friend Randi Feuerhelm-Watts (she also has a blog) has created this fabulous creativity tool to help blast you out of those creative blocks!  “Wide Open ~ Inspiration & Techniques for Art Journaling on The Edge” has oodles and oodles of sparkable nuggets of creativity inside every box!

Each one of these delightfully designed cards has an excersise to help you get your creative juices flowing.

Each card has a image on the front

And a party in the back!  I am so excited to work with these cards this weekend.  I will post some of my “inspiration” work next week.  Happy Friday!

Photo A Day…. Opening

Today’s Photo is “Opening“.  I glazed some pieces yesterday and was anxious to get to the studio this morning to see how they came out.  Here is a picture of me first opening the kiln and what I saw, to my delight! (Often, I have opened the kiln and squealed – not in delight but horror of the bad glaze combo or blown to bits piece inside).  Not today!  Today was sheer happiness. Hooray!

Photo a day – Pirated Fun!

So…

I am an artist by day and night and I am constantly looking for sources of inspiration.  I found one such animal over at my friend Amber’s absolutely inspiring blog – “Usual Bliss“.  Amber’s blogging actually prompted me back into the world of blogging.  After spending most of the past week stalking her blog and being completely inspired I decided to start over- I had taken a 10 month hiatus and realized that I wanted to start an entirely new blog full of inspiration for other artists, such as myself, who spend copious amount of time perusing the Internet trying to find that creative spark.  (Thank you Amber!!)  Upon looking at Amber’s fabulous blog and life – I saw a link to her challenge to take a “Photo a Day” ~ which, in turn, led me over to Fat Mum Slims ridiculously cool blog.  So.. here I am.  Pirating other fabulous lady’s blogs .. two days back in.. and taking up the challenge to take a photo a day.  I may need to break down and buy the new iphone 4 for this project.  (I still have my handy 3GS in its Otter Box from 3 years ago!) So here is the list of this month’s photo challenges~

Now, since I will be starting – in true rebel style – in the MIDDLE of July – I will be starting today off with Texture.  Yum.  One of my all time favorite things to take pictures of and to create on almost all of my sculptures and plates!  Wanna start this challenge with me??? I would love to see some of your photos!  Here is mine for today…(btw~ this was an easy one.. I took a picture of this mornings piece to come out of the kiln! hee hee hee)

Happy Thursday!  Now go take some pictures dagnabit! ~L