Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Wrapping Presents

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Last night I spent time with my friend Bowen, who is back from Wittenberg University in Ohio.  I helped him shop for Christmas gifts (and also helped him spend his Starbucks gift card!)  and wrapped them when we got back to my house.
This year I rolled everyone's things and placed them in paper lunch bags and addressed them with india ink.  If you try this, be sure to place something thick like a sheet of cardboard in the bag when using the ink so it won't bleed through.  I also found that when I had three items of rolled clothing to stuff, it filled the bag to the top so that I couldn't fold down and staple the lip.  I simply slid another bag over the other end and placed the gift on its side!
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Sunday, December 19, 2010

Keep Warm

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Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! I hope everyone is spending time with friends and family.

I have a list that I'd like to tackle with my loved ones this year:

Christmas Caroling
Construct a Cardboard Village
Try 3 New Recipes
Drive Around to Look at Neighborhood Christmas Lights
Read aloud The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
Go to Candlelight Service on Christmas Eve

Keep warm!

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Children's Books


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Tonight my Mom showed me a new children’s book she had read to the kids she substitute taught: Snowmen at Christmas written and illustrated by husband and wife team Caralyn and Mark Buehner.  My mother and I have always had a heart for children’s literature and especially enjoy the illustrations.  Hidden in each picture of the snowmen are a cat, a rabbit, a mouse, a santa face and a tyrannosaurs rex.  This prompted me to grab some of my favorite books growing up and read them aloud with my roommate, Amber.  The three of us poured over the pages and took it in turns to point out the silly details and jokes slipped into the illustrations.  Two of the books I grabbed were written and illustrated by the same author, though I had never known.  Peggy Rathman wrote two of my favorites: Goodnight Gorilla, my “first book” and Ten Minutes Till Bedtime, a story I fell in love with when I was much older.  Peggy loves the tiny details, and tonight we found another treasure she had hidden for us: a scene from Goodnight Gorilla made a cameo in Ten Minutes Till Bedtime.  If you have children or simply want a beautiful book to giggle over, I heartily recommend checking out Peggy Rathman.


I don’t want to spoil all the surprises in Goodnight Gorilla, but I will say pay attention to the balloon.  
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Sunday, December 12, 2010

First Snow

I can't remember the last time we had December snow.  Little flurries flew up in plumes towards me as I made my way home from GA Tech.  It kept up all day, but none of it stuck.
This weekend I drove to GA Tech to see Cam and the rest of our new friends.  While they studied for their finals, I worked on painting.  I'm sorry for not keeping up this semester, but here's the gist of it: I love ink and Watercolor!  Now that I'm out for winter break, I can fill up my moleskin book for The Sketchbook Project.  My theme is Happy Thoughts and I'm planning on illustrating everything with collage papers, ink and watercolor.  Here's a look at what I finished this weekend:
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This last guy was spurred from a conversation this weekend I had about "The Living Christmas Tree" which is a Christmas Concert put on by First Baptist Church of Gainesville every year.  But upon hearing the title, a friend of mine was confused and admitted they had envisioned an evil tree that ate children...it was too good an idea to pass up.  

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

My Work


Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Learning with Pigs

I am thrilled to report that I finally know how to quickly and seamlessly remove the background from images so that they stand on their own, skimpy and striking. Yay Mac!
My lap top case came in the mail this morning from Womensgirl and it is perfect! I'm a bit crazy about Japanese fabrics, and this little French piggy pattern is no exception! My new lap top fits snuggly inside this case's plushie innards.

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I also wanted to show off this lovely shot Jim Haynes got of me and Cam all loved up at our Senior Prom.
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Friday, August 6, 2010

Tough Week for the Wallet

In the past week I have purchased:
4 new tires
1 new side mirror
1 Macbook Pro
1 iPod Classic
1 Laptop Case
Assorted Dorm Supplies
12 Books for School
Art Supplies for School
2 Movie Tickets
1 Pair of Dress Pants
1 Ticket to the Relient K Concert tomorrow evening

Phew. Needless to say I will be tightening my belt for the next few months to ride out this unexpected explosion of spending. College and and minor accidents like driving over nails really add up when they're tossed at you within the the same span of seven days.

Here's some positive: Much of this spending has been put toward some worth while investments. A life-long PC girl, I'm is still trying to wrap my mind around the many splendored qualities of my new Mac and am tickled by the rainbow of watercolor paints and fancy brushes I need for my Watercolor class. I've also found two truly lovely paintings that make me sigh every time I look at them.

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Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Grow

I've tried to compose a post dozens of times now. I keep attempting to anticipate my audience when I have none. This summer I've spent a lot of my time researching on the creative business community and trying to prepare myself some sort of a game plan for these next four years. I guess I've been so dazzled by other bloggers that I've felt a little small and too embarrassed to post. Now I'm remembering why I wanted to do this in the first place--not to be adored and quoted--but to share my experiences as I grow. And to grow I have to make some attempts at composition. I know that six months down the road I'll smile and roll my eyes at my beginnings, but everyone has to start somewhere.

So, onward.
In three weeks I will be moving into my dorm room with my bessie mate, Amber. Over the summer I have accumulated a staggering number of throw pillows in preparation--I'm pretty sure I have a problem, but am not overly concerned. Today Amber and I are visiting Brenau to see our room, because we're design freaks and want to plan out the layout in advance. Hopefully I'll have some photos to share coming up.

I'm going to commit myself to posting at least once a week. I've found that in processing my experiences to arrange a cohesive post I'm forced to evaluate my progress. I look at where I've been and where I'm going. So tag along and we'll see where I end up.

Monday, April 19, 2010

Cow Tin Surprise!


It's such a good feeling to want to spread the news. Jim Haynes of JHPhotography has been incredibly kind while working with me on my Senior photos (he took the lovely cow shot for my banner), my Portfolio, and Prom pictures. He’s a true southern gentleman, a laid-back sweety-pie. On Saturday, he snuck in an additional surprise with my Senior photo wallets: a tin with my favorite cow shot! He’s such a good guy, and I’ll be posting more of his work within the next week or so.
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Sunday, April 11, 2010

Plastic Bags and Making Up My Own Mind

If I were to be honest with myself, I would say that my interest in the environment has never been born on my own steam: I’ve simply picked up my mother’s habits. I recycle and pick up litter when I come across it and feel sad when I think of sea turtles choking on plastic grocery bags. It’s like growing up in a Christian family and hearing the truth all your life, but one day having to decide to believe it yourself.
My mother has always said “I am the Lorax, I speak for the trees” and now I am fast approaching the time when these decisions will be my own, no one is making me, and no one will be looking.
This video is well worth the eighteen minutes. Don’t be turned off by the strange narrator, stick it out until the very end: the last line makes the film.

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Doily Tote

Doily Tote
I found this project idea on Design*Sponge and suddenly knew what to do with the canvas bags I’ve been saving for a rainy day. This project is very simple, all you need is a canvas tote, black paint and a paper doily.

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Either Way My Pants Still Fit

“There was a boy named Eustace Clarence Scrubb, and he almost deserved it.”
----The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis
What a way to begin a book. Round of applause for C.S. Lewis.
I can hardly remember what it felt like to be discouraged. I have 6 weeks left to go—of compulsory schooling, that is. I’ve been tinkering with this page bit by bit (I’m trying to peg my essence while simultaneously making it appealing and marketable) so I hope ode de Rachel hasn’t proven too stinky in its early stages. We’ll get there.
My past week has held 3 field trips, tie-dye, picky penguins, soccer, and the simple perfection that is white cotton. Details? Yes, I suppose they would help to clarify.
Tuesday—I Cantori (the advanced mixed choral ensemble) visited Piedmont to practice Britten’s Rejoice in the Lamb for the first time with our new organist
Thursday—I Cantori performed Rejoice in the Lamb, scored straight Superiors, melted faces, and I had Zaxby’s and O’Charley’s all in the same day (still recovering)
Friday—Chem II went to the Georgia Aquarium clad in coordinating done-it-ourselves tie-dye. Oh, and the picky penguins? Those bad birds would try nibblies of each fish the nice trainer handed them and would then promptly spit them out.
Later that evening—I went to my boyfriend Cam’s soccer game with our two besties: Amber and Andrew and learned all about fowls and how there are only certain kinds of pushing aloud. We came back to my house and watched Rat Race while Cam and Andrew worked their way through one free coupon’s worth of Outback’s Blooming Onion and Pumpernickle bread. (I refrained, was still recovering from Zaxby’s, O’Charley’s and the Varsity we had to eat for lunch earlier that day).
Saturday—Slept in until 10:30 and then went to the Brenau Spirit Day with Amber, my bff and future roomie, and toured dorms. I managed to tuck away a little bit of BBQ in the dining hall and Pakistani later that evening when we went over to friends for dinner.
I will probably never need to eat again.
Oh, wait, I already have. Because today after church I went to the mall and picked out my exquisite white cotton graduation dress and had a kid’s meal at Little Tokyo.
And a Great American Cookie.
I suppose I’ve walked, sung, and cheered off all those extra calories.
Either way my pants still fit.

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Crafter

I am a crafter. I’ve cut and folded paper all my life and for the next four years I’ll be at Brenau University pursing my degree in Studio Art. I want to design stationary, wedding invitations, etc. I’m not interested in art with a capital “A”. I just want to make small somethings that remind people that they have souls. I suppose I’m in the business of warm fuzzies.
I stumbled across Etsy about a year ago and am now a devoted follower of many shops and its blog, the Storque.

Here are some of my favorite products:
12 Double Lace Edges Aged Paper Lace Pack
Liberitae - Sailor Flats 6.5
A trio of teardrop terrariums- 3 moss terrariums

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Under Construction

My name is Rachel and I am taking the first big-girl steps towards making something of myself. In the mean time, I'll just make something for you. Follow me as I attempt to emerge gracefully from these last tangled weeks of high school: I'll probably have scabby knees by the end, but at least I'll get to toss my graduation cap in the air.
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