crackling / dripping

L - Nikon / T - Nikon

Much of my weekend was spent on my etsy site – opening a new one and adding photos to both. It was a very productive weekend but I was getting rather tired of looking at the computer for so long so yesterday afternoon I took to the outdoors with a book and a cup of hot spice tea, built a fire and just sat listening to the fall of leaves and the birds fighting for berries, and the fire crackling. I didn't read 2 pages of the book - just sat and poked at the fire and listened. And tried to keep Evee from stealing logs off the fire (no, she's not so smart). It was wonderful. / i've spent this whole weekend working on a mural-type piece for the dog rescue center that i've been volunteering at. since the owner knew i was interested in art, she recruited me to design the new storefront and paint it. a bigger job than she knew. but i've really enjoyed this new way to be creative. it's something that's completely not in my style so it's pretty fun to jump out of my comfort zone and do something very different from what i'm used to. today's task took place twenty feet above ground on scaffolding and i'm far more tired than i expected to be for working six hours. taylor's bed-time keeps getting earlier and earlier, haha."

busy / busy

L - Nikon / T - Nikon

I took an extra 2 days off from work for Thanksgiving and I have really taken advantage of it. I worked non-stop, almost, on new Christmas card designs for my etsy site, filled some etsy orders, and I'm making ornaments to list on there as well (check back later). Plus I got the lights on the tree, the wreaths on the windows, lights on the bushes, candles in the windows and have gradually started decorating inside. This 1st day of December actually felt like December. The temperatures were low and I enjoyed a fire in the fireplace all day long. I think kitty has enjoyed me being home - she's sleeping right here looking so cozy. It's too bad we can't have 3 day work weeks all through December isn't it. Imagine all we could accomplish in preparation for the holidays. It sure will be hard to go back to work tomorrow.
one of my final projects for photography is to create a zine. it's titled "a portrait of an abandoned abode" and i used film images of photos i took at the abandoned house. i worked on the layout when i was home and mom gave me some suggestions on how to put it together but of course i modified it to fit my needs. for instance instead of stitching it together i used black hair bands and i actually like the way it looks. i have to hand out 1o of my zines in downtown athens. should be interesting.

artwork / housework

I got another package today. I love getting mail. I think that's why I order so much from etsy - well that and I love so many of the handmade items you can find on etsy. I discovered mixed-media artist, Pam Carriker the other day and was so drawn to her work, I bought two of her prints. One titled "grow" and the other " empty nest" - how appropriate, right? I think they'll make a perfect pair hung together in my bedroom don't you? / see we keep our beds made. we're entering a "best decorated room" contest. i'll send better pictures later.

etsy shop / balance

I worked hard today getting my etsy shop set up. It was fun but I've been sitting at my computer too long and now I need to get up and do some exercise. / i didn't take this image today - it's one i took when i was working on my alice in wonderland project, but i thought it sort of represented my weekend - trying to balance different groups of friends, school work, drawing, photography gig, photo editing, laundry, etc.
"Work and play are words used to describe the same thing under differing conditions." —Mark Twain