Newport

I realized I never posted about my trip to Newport a couple of weeks ago..oops. 

It was weird going back to Newport (Salve really) for alumni weekend. As it was my first alumni weekend. But it was awesome. I spent lots of time outside (something I don't do much of now with my work schedule), and got to see some great friends.

I got a new picture of my name on the Athletics Awards plaque in Rogers :) 

The sunset looked absolutely gorgeous when I was out to dinner with friends. 

The BOSS was also on display, and I thought it was awesome. This top piece was one of my favorites. 

Salve's rose gardens never seem to disappoint. 

A smoothie full of hope. (Really mango, pineapple and strawberry, but it was called Hope Island) 

So I pretty much didn't want to leave but I had to get back to work on Monday, but I am looking forward to the next time I can go to Newport again. 

Ch-ch-changes

In less than one week I will be moving into my very own apartment, and not just for the school year like I have the past two years. It will definitely be an adjustment, but I am excited for what is to come. So in preparation for my move, I have been trying to figure out how I want it to be decorated. My main concern is really my living area/studio space. I have been really fortunate to have half of a basement as my studio for the past couple of years, so trying to fit everything I want to bring with me will be a bit of a challenge. I can't move out without my beads, yarns, and papers.

Thankfully, Pinterest was invented to help me figure out how I want my space to be! As an already avid pinner, I created a board specifically with apartment ideas.

In terms of color, I want a more beachy appearance, aka lots of teals, blues, tans/whites.
Much like this courtesy of design-seeds.com


I really like this set up, but in the colors shown above. I am bringing my inspiration boards with me, so this is a perfect set up for them, plus it gives me a lot of space for storage without taking up too much room. Image via Pinterest courtesy of http://www.brightboldbeautiful.com/

courtesy of http://www.completely-coastal.com/

Wicked cool displays of beach finds (perfect because my mom brought me back some awesome shells and coral from Florida!). More about those later! :)

And I definitely want to have at least one gallery wall (my apartment has really high ceilings so it will be awesome!)

courtesy of http://jenniferjohner.typepad.com/jennifer/2011/05/floor-to-ceiling-photo-wall-aka-how-to-hide-all-of-those-switches-and-things.html

I can't wait to be able to move in and start decorating (and creating) when I am not working!

Sarah Kay: If I should have a daughter ...

I found this video on website called U lala, see below for their about information courtesy of their website. Katherine was actually one of my fellow classmates in high school.

Watching this video inspired me so much. Sarah believes in the empowerment for people to be brave and go after what they want and to be able to share it with others. That is what I am doing with my jewelry making and really these blog posts. I am sharing what I believe in and what I put my heart and soul into.

You should definitely check out more of Sarah Kay's poems, as well as the U lala website. Originally just based in Purdue University, has now expanded out to more colleges and universities. http://www.u-la-la.com/school/

Provincetown

As I mentioned in my previous post, my mom and I also went to Provincetown after the Brewster Flea Market.

Provincetown, or P-town, is definitely a fun place to go. My mom and I go at least once every summer. It is such an artistic environment, from the beautiful gardens in everyone's yards or the different paintings in the numerous galleries.

Besides looking at the galleries, there are two shops that we always go to no matter what. One is the shell shop, and the other is the taffy place connected to the shell shop. Talk about two for one shopping! I got some shells and taffy. The taffy is long gone, but I have a project in mind for the shells that I will share here when it is done.

Warning picture heavy!

Part pink part purple hydrangeas, gorgeous (and there were so many of them!)

One of the beautiful gardens that we saw while we were there. 

I can't remember the exact type of rose this was. Does anyone have any idea?

Pink zinnia. Love.

Love the layering and the spiral. Will definitely be using this for inspiration. 

If I were to ever have shrubs in front of my house, I want them to be a wave like this!

more of those roses. 

I love that the chairs are rusted, it gives them such character. 

A super delicious cupcake that I clearly couldn't wait to take a picture first before taking a bite. 

Run down dock. 

Yummy roasted vegetable and pesto panini with onion rings. 

It was a great day to spend with my mom! 

Inspiration photos

Here are some pictures that I have taken in this beautiful weather that we have had lately. They will definitely serve as inspiration for some new pieces.

Monday Inspiration

“There's a difference between interest and commitment. When you're interested in doing something, you do it only when it's convenient. When you're committed to something, you
accept no excuses - only results.”

~Kenneth Blanchard 

Steal Like an Artist

One of the sections of Steal Like an Artist is Don't Throw Any of Yourself Away.

This is particularly important to me because I am involved in so much. Not only do I make jewelry, but I also  go to school to be a nurse and manage a lacrosse team. Is it a lot sometimes, yes, but could I truly give up one and be okay-no.

"Don't throw any of yourself away. Don't worry about a grand scheme or unified vision for your work. Don't worry about unity-what unifies your work is the fact that you made it. One day, you'll look back and it will all make sense."


Now I wrote the above while I was still in school, and now not being in school I realize how much I miss it. Granted my time since graduating from school has been busy, for other reasons, I haven't felt the inspiration to make new jewelry. I have been knitting a lot more, which has been really soothing, but I want to get back into making jewelry because I have a show coming up soon and would like to have more new pieces for it.
I can't keep hoping that inspiration comes to me, I need to go out and find it.

Yet another blog post with updates

Yes, I have been silent yet again on this poor blog, but there have been legitimate reasons.

The first: I graduated from college. Yes, it is hard to believe that four years have gone by so fast. Unfortunately I still need to keep studying because I will have to take the NCLEX exam in order to become an RN which I will be taking this summer.

The second: Not as great news, my Nana passed away. I was able to be with her which I really wanted to do, so I am very thankful for that. She was my inspiration for becoming a nurse, and I will miss her very much.

Monday Inspiration

There's only one rule I know of: You've got to be kind. 
~Kurt Vonnegut

Courtesy of Steal Like an Artist :) 

Monday Inspiration

Instead of counting the weeks, I am merely going to title these Monday inspirations, because we all need a pick me up on Mondays.

"The work you do while you procrastinate is probably the work you should be doing for the rest of your life"
~Jessica Hische

Courtesy of Steal Like an Artist :) I will be having a lot more quotes from the book, as well as an important post about the difference between stealing and imitating. 

Monday Quotes Week 48

Beautiful things don't just happen. If you want something marvelous, you've got to make something marvelous. 

Monday Quotes Week 45

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient; bearing with one another in love. 
~ Ephesians 4:2

Monday Quotes Week 44

I'm stronger because I had to be. I'm smarter because of my mistakes. I'm happier because I have overcome the sadness I've known and I'm wiser because I have learned from my life. 

Monday Quotes Week 43

In honor of Martin Luther King Day:

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. 
~Martin Luther King Jr.

Monday Quotes Week 42

Normal is not something to aspire to, it's something to get away from. 
~Jodie Foster

Monday Quotes Week 41

Believe in yourself-
in the power you have
to control your own life, day by day, 
Believe in the strength 
that you have deep inside, 
and your faith will help
show you the way. 
Believe in tomorrow 
and what it will bring-
let a hopeful heart carry you through, 
For things will work out
if you trust and believe
there's no limit
to what you can do. 
~Emily Matthews 

Monday Quotes Week 39 & 40

I realized I never posted one last week, so this week you will get two!

It takes nothing to join the crowd. It takes everything to stand alone. 
~Hans F. Hansen

All you need is 20 seconds of insane courage and I promise you something great will come of it. 
~We Bought a Zoo (love this movie, watched it on my way back from Ireland this past summer)

Monday Quotes Week 34 & 35

Yes, I know I didn't post a Monday quote last week (sorry), so this week you will get two!

Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle.
~Christian D. Larson

If you've got a little tiny dream, all you have to do is think about it, work on it every day, and you'll get it. 
~Sebastian

Monday Quotes Week 33

I am going to succeed because I am crazy enough to think I can. 

Monday Quotes Week 32

Your life has purpose. Your story is important. Your dreams count. Your voice matters. You were born to make an impact.