One Rare Bird

Crush of the Week: Cassia Beck (part 2)

Last week I shared Cassia Beck's amazing photography with the promise that this week I'd share her equally amazing collage art pieces. I am a huge fan of mixed media artwork, and I'm especially susceptible to said artwork involving vintage images of people. Add to that Cassia's eye for color, design, and simplicity and my crush has become officially euphoric. Not to mention her art causes my insides to burst with happiness!

"These quirky and playful scenes are made by artist and photographer, Cassia Beck. Cassia uses vintage magazines, cut paper and her own photography to create tongue-in-cheek scenarios with a vintage feel."

Thanks again Cassia for being my Crush two weeks in a row. I'm off to buy this next image immediately! xo

What Month Is It Again?

You'd think that after nearly 12 years of living in Oregon I would be used to the fickle and oh-so teasing Spring weather, but alas, I am not. I'm convinced the weather is a sinister jokester who only yields one or two warm, sunny days at a time to get our hopes up then dashes them by bring on the cold and rain. Well I've had enough hopeful optimism for one year. I give up. Music Monday is officially dedicated to Winter. (I also happen to adore all these songs and that might have a little something to do with today's theme.) Happy Monday!

White Winter Hymnal by Fleet Foxes

  Winter Winds  by Mumford & Sons

Cold Desert by Kings of Leon

I'm Out

I'm going to the doctor this afternoon for an outpatient Hysteroscopy and D & C. After that I'll be in bed sleeping off the medication and nursing my uterus back to health with lots of movies and a good book. Wish me luck! See you Monday...

Baby, Picture This

"The greatest healing therapy is friendship and love." ~Hubert Humphrey

Cassia

Healing

Prompt 19: Healing  _{^{{via Reverb 10}}}

"What healed you this year? Was it sudden, or a drip-by-drip evolution? How would you like to be healed in 2011?" (Author: Leonie Allan)

This is a big question and I feel completely ill equipped to answer it. All I can say is there has never been one particular thing that has brought healing to my life, and even though I've had moments of realized progress, it has never happened suddenly. Most of the healing work I've done has taken a lot of intentionality, mindfulness, and a learned ability to love myself. The more gracious, loving, and forgiving I am with myself the more healing seems to come. It requires an enormous amount of work and effort, but in the end healing brings me peace, love, and acceptance. As for specifics, I can't think of any healing in my life that is over with - it all seems to bleed together.

"Our sorrows and wounds are healed only when we touch them with compassion." - Buddha

"When I stand before thee at the day's end, thou shalt see my scars and know that I had my wounds and also my healing." - Rabindranath Tagore

{images by Shira Sela}

Pining for Mad Men

I've been having serious Mad Men withdraws lately, and with the postponement of Season 5 until 2012 I've become embarrassingly desperate for the harsh, drunken, and adulterous ways of the cast. I especially can't wait to see how Betty Draper deals with her caged existence and how Don's new marriage works out in the coming season. Until then, these video montages will have to do...

Betty vs. the Pigeons

Parenting 101

Bottoms Up

Crush of the Week: Cassia Beck

Today's post is simultaneously one the most exciting and overwhelming posts I have done to date. Putting together all my favorite toys from the 1980's was nothing compared to choosing what images to share from Cassia Beck's extensive collection of photography and art prints - they are all amazing! So I will start by admitting there are no words to describe my crush on Cassia. None. And because I can't bring myself to edit this down any further, I've decided to break my crush into two parts: photography today and art prints next week. I dare you not to love Cassia immediately.

Thank you Cassia for being my crush this week (and next!) xo

Take My Love and Take It Down

Billy Corgan's cover of Landslide by Fleetwood Mac has always been a favorite of mine, so after Glee covered Landslide in a recent episode, I couldn't resist sharing the original version - along with my favorite competing covers - for Music Monday. I listened to all three versions back to back and I'm still not tired of the song. Happy Monday!

Landslide by Fleetwood Mac

Landslide cover on Glee

Landslide cover by The Smashing Pumpkins

Carry Me Away

Kaitlyn Sullivan

"The air up there in the clouds is very pure and fine, bracing and delicious.  And why shouldn't it be? - it is the same the angels breathe."  ~Mark Twain

Cassia Beck

Marcene Perry

The Light Fantastic

"The desire to reach for the sky runs deep in our human psyche."  ~Cesar Pelli

Antonia Rios

Alice B. Gardens

Give It A Try

Prompt 18: Try _{^{{via Reverb 10}}}

"What do you want to try next year? Is there something you wanted to try in 2010? What happened when you did / didn’t go for it?" (Author: Kaileen Elise)

There are two things I've been wanting to try for awhile. The first is getting a tattoo. I've wanted one for ages, but until recently there hasn't been anything I passionately wanted in permanent ink. But that's no longer the case. I know what I want and I have plans to get it this year - only you're going to have to wait to find out what it is :)

The second thing I've wanted to try - if it isn't obvious from the pictures - is  get a pixie cut. I used to have short hair and I loved how simple and easy it was, but I've never had my hair this short: pixie short. So on my birthday last week I decided to go for it, and so far, I'm totally in love!!

And my very girly-girl daughter was absolutely horrified that I cut my hair "like a boy". HORRIFIED.

I'd Rather Be Thrifting

 

Ashley G

I started thrifing when I was 13. It all started with vintage 501 Levis and grew to include grandpa cardigans, retro graphic t-shirts, and beat up Birkenstock's - a look I proudly sport to this day.  But my obsession with thrifing took a backseat for several years while I transitioned from teenager to young married woman, Californian to Oregonian, then whatever-I-was-before to Mom, and now I'm happy to report that I'm back on track. Granted, most of my thrifting energy goes toward my Etsy shop, but  sometimes I stumble across a vintage find that I would never dream of putting in my shop. Here are a few of my recent finds...

{world globe via Goodwill}

{vintage t.v. via Nordstorm's display sale}

{breakfast tray via Goodwill}

{matching vintage tins collected over time from various places}

{pyrex bowl and butter dish via Goodwill}

{pyrex bowl, juicer and pitcher via Goodwill}

{metal lamp shade via Humane Society thrift store}

{mid-century kitchen canisters collected over time from various places}

I also can't help but share some of my favorite items currently in my shop. I always feel a twinge of sadness when parting with items because I usually won't sell anything I don't  already love or use myself. But ultimately my shop funds my habit, without which I'd go insane.

Upcycled Cake Stand

Stacking Mugs

Lamp Base

Crochet Pillow

Rug