Have A Cup of Cocoa...and Some Art!

Sometimes life makes me really friggin' mad. That's putting it simply. For a happy distraction I wanted to post some neat pictures! I recently came across this installation series by french artist Mademoiselle Maurice and loved it. Rainbow origami geometric street art. That just sounds awesome! She's also a great photographer if you want to check her out ---> [photos 1 & 2]

I love tangible art like this. Little bursts of absurdity, suddenly appearing one day on your normal route, special because you know it could be gone just as fast.

Two things about these origami installations immediately reminded me of one of my favorite artists, Andy Goldsworthy, the circles and the ephemeral materials.  Goldsworthy is seriously amazing and his work is all about using with what he has, where he has it in an effort to understand nature through the cycle of change (hence the circles?!) - "movement, change, light, growth, and decay are the lifeblood of nature." Reading his statement was probably one of the only times I've actually understood an artists philosophy, haha. I absolutely love how visually arresting his work is, I recommend a google image search if you want to see more! I like that he describes his materials as not just "material itself, it is an opening into the processes of life within and around it. When I leave it, these processes continue."

Quotes and Images by Andy Goldsworthy (3&4)

Madimoiselle Maurice may not use exactly the same materials per say but the idea is still there for me, just replaced in an urban setting. Within the urban context, I really like that she often uses big geometric shapes and found the artist, A Common Name, as a result of digging for some more secret street art installations. If you live in or around Los Angeles, you may see some - that is if your paying attention!

[A Common Name, Geode Street Art, Photos 4 & 5]

I'm including these last two just because I'm thinking on the theme of circles, and because I really like these photographs by Denis Smith.

[Want to see more balls of light?!? ----> Photos 6 & 7]

I was drawn into the ball of light series because how cool are those orbs?!?! When I began thinking about this whole post of photographs and the circular themes running through each different artist I really started seeing the balls of light as people (odd as that sounds!) just standing there, letting their light out. I want to be standing where that ball of light is! They represent to me the accomplishment of adventure, like finding the geode or origami art, which can be as simple as just being out and interacting with your surroundings. 

When I started this post I was just trying to cheer myself up by sharing some pictures I like but I guess I started having a total school moment because now I can't help but make some connections with these photo groupings and why these images really resonated with me. Artist wise, it's almost an even split with two urban style females and two natural style males, but the main message I received from these groupings is the idea of venturing out and acting with and within the space around you, be that nature or city, and learning about the cycles of change through those interactions. I'm left with tons of questions (I shall apply the general 'you' if anyone also has questions...or answers!) which is ultimately the point of art I suppose...do any of these images have you thinking critically?

How do you interact with your surroundings? Would you notice any of these pieces were you to encounter them in your daily routine? How do you identify the cycles in your own life? How do you affect change and how are you effected by change? 

I Wore: Stripes - I Felt: Spunky

I dressed up as a zebra for Halloween so to create a mane I french braided my hair and then pinned in black ribbons up and down the braid. I actually really loved the effect and have been wearing the ribbon tied bobby pins quite often...I think they add a little extra spunk to the spunkiness of this outfit!

I know this isn't exactly a ground breaking outfit but I love this sweater which is perfect for layering, and I'm still in love with these Target pants. I think I need more of them..in an assortment of colors! I'm so pleased that my boots fit over these pants! I have some seriously large calves which have definitely caused problems for boots and layering before.

I need to remember to wear long necklaces with scarves, otherwise I end up playing the peek-a-boo game with my necklace like here. But this scarf is just so big and warm I can't help but wear it all day! 

In other news, I have news! Or I will in the very near future. Some semi-exciting things are coming up soon...and I don't just mean the holidays! Stay tuned!

I Wore: A Sweater, Felt: Cozy

I have become a master layer-er. By this I mean that I'm usually wearing at least 4-5 upper layers, hopefully two bottom ones, plus one or two pairs of warm socks inside my warm (yet still somewhat unsightly) hiking boots. Plus usually a scarf, hat, gloves, jacket and raincoat! When I leave the house in the morning I feel like Randy from A Christmas Story, "I can't put my arms down, I can't put my arms down!" 

This leaf necklace is also a friendship necklace! At least, that's what we decided it should be when my friend and I realized we were both buying the same necklace! The flower charm is actually an addition - something I just can't help but do to my necklaces; combine, conjoin, borrow, enhance etc. I'm constantly switching chains or charms or what have you. The flower square was a wonderful gift the other day at work and I was just so pleased! She said no one would buy it because it was broken and that she was just waiting for the right person to give it to. Yay! Spread love, receive love. All the flowers are real, pressed flowers between two pieces of glass and soldered together. I love her work, and I actually have another of her necklaces that I got on my first visit to Seattle - so the collection grows!

This is probably my most favorite scarf in all the land! Super soft and warm, warm, warm! I love it so much and I'm glad carried it through the summer because I literally wear it everyday now. I really love that it has texture and pattern to it while still being incredibly simple. I love being warm and cozy and this sweater is a recent Target purchase. I'm really hoping to bundle up with some more sweaters, even with all of my respectable winter clothes being 1,000 miles away I don't own any sweaters so they are definitely something I've been allowing myself to buy! 

I did it! I finally tried the sock bun! I was really worried because I have long, spastic hair and I really didn't think it would work very well but boy do I stand corrected! It's amazing! And so easy! Aaaand, really good for dirty hair...not that I have super unwashed hair right now, hee hee. Also, quick little unintentional secret about this last shot - I LOVE that I can see the inside of my glasses which are blue! Yay!

With all the rain here (I'm still trying not to be surprised) taking pictures outdoors isn't very easy. And the lighting inside isn't so great, in fact, from a photographers perspective it's downright terrible. The new apartment is basically a basement apartment so these front windows are the only windows with light and they actually don't receive any direct sunlight unfortunately. I thought about taking a break from blogging in these winter months but I realized that I actually really enjoy it - probably because it's easy and I can do whatever I want or make as little sense as I please. So we'll see what happens. It's nice and empty still so theres plenty of room for shoots (although we hope to change this soon! Plans in the works!). 

These socks were such an awesome gift from my QB (bff)!! They are a collaboration between the company 'Throx' and one of our favorite authors Christopher Moore! Throx are socks but instead of two you get three! Throx are the cure for the missing sock! Now these stripy socks are 'f*cksox' (from Moore's made up profanity "'f*ckstockings!" which I highly recommend using) and every purchase benefits MS research. If your interested in your own Throx - click here!  It's a win, win...win win win. 

Yes, that is a plant. On a box. He's still recuperating and doing quite well if I do say so! I had one more casualty over the weekend with my bubbly toes plant but my zebra (Haworthia Fasciata, if your fancy) looks to be making a full recovery! On that note, it's time for a watering! Have a fantastic day!

Milkmaid Dress

I learned that the new backyard is ever so slightly sloped, so I'm always leaning slightly upward. Target had a bunch of really amazing summer dresses this season and I had my eye on a few. By the time they went on sale, this was one of the only styles left and while I like it, I don't know that I love it. I love the upper portion, grey lace and eye hooks with the sweet floral pattern but I really dislike the band of hot pink around the bottom and the 'segments' of the dress. What is that all about?! Why not just make the dress, why break it into three sections and add that weird pink stripe? I don't know but what I did discover is that the strange segmenty things are super swishy! Perfect for twirling!

For some reason I have dubbed this dress, the Milkmaid Dress. Not even sure why. My hair has gone beyond in terms of fading, I just haven't had time to re-do it so hopefully I'll find the time soon. Almost all the blue is gone and just kinda looks like sickly chlorinated hair or something. Maybe it will turn green and then I'll have a new color! I keep dreaming of chopping it short and dying all my hair but then I remember how nice it actually is having it down in the winter for some extra warmth!

Speaking of warmth, these boots are sure keeping me warm! I should look into waterproofing them so I can wear them on rainy days as well.

I Left the House with No Pants

So this is what I wore. And it wasn't until I was leaving Trader Joes, as the wind gusted up, that I realized that I wasn't actually wearing a "bottom" per say. I was just so excited about these boots, then the olive color with flowers, then olive and flowers and maroon (oh my!) that I really just forgot. I was like, woah! Love it. Done! I am so not a leggings only type person, I mean I get it and all, super comfy but I've only recently graduated from blue jeans here! I felt exposed for about five minutes and then laughed for another five sine I've never even had a 'forgot my pants!' kinda dream. I spent the rest of the afternoon trying to channel Donald Duck, talk about someone who can rock it sans pants!

 

When I got home I actually put on a skirt and decided that I really did like it better without. I think I officially wore a shirtdress, maybe? Haha, so who knows, maybe I'll venture out sans pants again!

Also notice my sad little plant! He's the roughest of the bunch right now. The past few months have been super hard on the few plants that I did keep and this one is just stress shedding so he's recuperating in the one sunny spot of the whole apartment. I wish the new apartment had more direct sunlight but my plants are pretty tough and they'll adapt. But speaking of new apartment, I am pretty over the whole 'no furniture' thing that we have going on right now. I just want to sit on something legitimate! Haha. Hopefully soon we'll go get our stuffs!

Outfit: Leggings & Flower Shirt (Target) Olive Shirtdress (Cotton On) Boots (Thrifted)