Inexpensive Artwork

Did you know that some wallpaper websites will send you free samples?  I visited Farrow and Ball and they mailed me 5 free wallpaper samples (free shipping, too!)!!!  I have been thinking about what to do with them...

I could make envelopes, use them in my art journal, wrap presents with them, make ornaments, make gift tags, etc. etc. etc....  But I thought they are just too pretty to "destroy."

SOOOO I'm going to frame them as-is!  I think they make beautiful artwork!

I'll post again once I've assembled frames.  In the meantime, what do you think?

(These 3 matched the best... the other 2 were completely different color palettes...)

Two-Cents Tuesday

What a fruitcake...

Drama, drama, drama...

A Night with Andrea Bocelli

Andrea Bocelli in concert!

Friday night, November 23rd, HP Pavillion, San Jose, CA.

SJSU Choir performing backup.  

Got my backstage pass.

Kelly and I were pretty excited!

Found our schedule for the night.

Rehearsed with the orchestra (HP Pavillion, San Jose).

After the concert we took pictures with the man, himself!  He's a lot taller than I expected!

He was apologizing for accidentally bumping someone.

I think Dr. Benson and I were relieved when it was over. (And also very tired.)

One of the encores... Shows the choir but not me :(

It was a great experience.  I was a little bummed because I was sitting behind the bass drum and tam-tam so I couldn't see anything (while sitting).  :(  But I got to hear everything!  And even though Mr. Bocelli is increasing in years, he still sounds great!!!  

Around the house - Korean Paintings

Ok, so I've had these Korean paintings for... years... (got them in Korea in January of 2010...)  I was looking for frames, but that is difficult because they're painted on some sort of board and are slightly warped...

Can you believe it, almost 3 years later I finally had the brilliant idea of attaching twine to the back!!!  What took me so long to think of that?!?!  Now I just need to get around to hanging them... (3 years later they'll finally be on my wall.  haha)

Not the prettiest glue job... but it's done!

Two-Cents Tuesday = "What is your life goal?"

Many people have asked me something along the lines of, "So what do you want to do after you finish your Master's? What is your life goal?"  My answer?


"Housewife."  That response is usually returned with looks of horror.  It is a shame that the desire to be a housewife requires justification.  I guess that is society these days.  But seriously, here are the reasons why I want to be a stay-at-home-wife:

1.  I'm tired.  I not have a lot of energy, due to recent health issues.  Merely the thought of working full time exhausts me.

2.  I am dying to practice my other instruments (piano and violin).  I would love to be good enough to accompany.

3.  I want to cultivate other artistic mediums (painting, photography, etc.)

4.  There are about a hundred recipes I want to try.

5.  I have a few great ideas for books (novels, poetry, self-help) that I want to write.

Some people may think that these are selfish reasons.  It's not fair for my husband to do all the work and for me to just sit at home and have "fun" all day.  But I disagree.  I think it is the role of the husband to be the provider for the family.

I am realistic about the fact that if I am a housewife, the majority of my time will be spent cleaning, baking, running errands, etc, and I might not have time to accomplish all of the things on the above list.  But I do know that if I worked full time, my "free time" would consist of household duties, leaving no time left for creativity.  Does that make sense?

Here's the problem: It is very difficult, almost impossible for a family to survive on one income, especially in these days and current economy.  So, unfortunately, I may not get my wish...

What is YOUR life goal?

A week in instagram

I studied Sonata form

I ate dinner with my favorite Brazilian

I listened to an amazing orchestra concert

 I laughed

 I shuffled through leaves

 It rained

 It was chilly...

Collections

[Don't forget to help me win... I joined a new website (knock-off of Pinterest) in the hopes of winning $750 toward my wedding.  Please go vote for my "Tie the Knot" board!  Fee free to spread the word via facebook or email!  http://www.favery.com/Juliesmithmusic/660/boards/tie-the-knot]

When I was a freshman at APU I learned that my top "strength" was Input.  You can look up the Strengths Finder books and resources to figure out what yours are... but basically what it means in a nutshell: I remember things (especially details, hence the reason I've remembered my top five strengths from a test I took 7 1/2 years ago), I have collections of things (translation: pack rat)...   Over the past few years I've actually been very good about not being a pack rat - purging, organizing, donating, etc.  Anyhow, LONG STORY SHORT:

Some seashells I picked up while in Florida last summer... 

Of course I had to put a quote on one of them:

Now the question remains... what to do with them?  

Maybe candles like this?

from Martha Stewart

Facebook.com/alonewithmytea

Some kinda young'un

Found this in my digital files the other day... Who's that cutie?

This reminds me... I need to go through and scan a bunch of old pictures at my parents' house.  I was supposed to do that when I was living there, but it's just so tedious.  I might invest in a photo scanner like this one.  There are some projects I have in mind for old photos... (I love this project by A Beautiful Mess.)

Around the house - Birdies

[Don't forget to help me win... I joined a new website (knock-off of Pinterest) in the hopes of winning $750 toward my wedding.  Please go vote for my "Tie the Knot" board!  Fee free to spread the word via facebook or email!  http://www.favery.com/Juliesmithmusic/660/boards/tie-the-knot]

This post is random.  I was taking pictures of my birdie salt and pepper shakers... A Christmas gift from my mom last year...  They're so cute, I love them... They need to be polished... 

Fun with maps!

[Don't forget to help me win... I joined a new website (knock-off of Pinterest) in the hopes of winning $750 toward my wedding.  Please go vote for my "Tie the Knot" board! http://www.favery.com/Juliesmithmusic/660/boards/tie-the-knot]

Random facts about Julie, continued...  

I have always wished that I lived in the days when the world was being discovered... so that I could be a cartographer!  I love maps!

I found this map at the University's bookstore... I attached it to a cork board and used pins and thread to "map" out my world travels thus far.  I ended up having to take it down and use the cork board for wedding planning, but I'm planning on making a permanent cork board map soon!

What thinkest thou?

Help me win!

Hi Friends,

I joined a new website (knock-off of Pinterest) in the hopes of winning $750 toward my wedding.  Please go vote for my "Tie the Knot" board!

http://www.favery.com/Juliesmithmusic/660/boards/tie-the-knot

You might have to create a profile in order to vote.  PLEASE vote for my board!!!  I could really use $750!!!

http://www.favery.com/Juliesmithmusic/660/boards/tie-the-knot


Feel free to share the love!  Let everyone know that they need to vote for my favery board!!!

http://www.favery.com/Juliesmithmusic/660/boards/tie-the-knot

Love you!

Julie

Fall is vague

Trees are whispering,

moonlight is glowing,

everything else is

silent.


Midnight creeps up

out of nowhere,

silent houses stand still,

and I am left with

only nostalgia -


feelings I've never known,

thoughts I haven't dreamed,

memories I've never lived.


Fall is vague,

and I find myself wondering

why...?


JS 11 / '12

What's in your journal these days?

Gluten-Free isn't always healthier

Hi Friends,

Today I thought I'd address the "gluten-free" issue.  Many people know that I am gluten-free.  I wrote a long explanation why here.  But as I've been doing more research, I've found out that gluten-free doesn't always mean that you are healthier.  Often the substitutes (rice flour, etc.) can make you feel bloated and make you gain weight.

I follow a blog by a woman named Maria who is a nutritionist and health expert.  She posts recipes and thorough explanations for what we eat, how it affects us, and what are better alternatives to all the junk out there.  Her post about gluten-free and inflammation was very interesting.  If you are at all curious about going gluten-free, please check out this woman's blog!  There is also a recipe attached to every post.  Today's is pumpkin waffles.  I am excited to try it soon!

http://mariahealth.blogspot.com/2012/11/pumpkin-protein-waffle.html

Two-Cents Tuesday

Get out of your comfort zone, travel, experience new cultures...  

Many of these photos are repeats from previous blog posts.  They are the ones that I keep going back to look at, to remember how crazy my life has been, to be grateful for the amazing experiences and wonderful memories, to wish I had even more experiences and memories to look back on, to wonder what the next adventure will be...

Stamp Ideas

Ok this is a random story, but when I was a little kid I wanted to be a stamp designer.  I'm not talking about the kind you put on letters.  I'm talking about rubber and ink stamps!  I still love to go into stationery stores and browse the stamps! 

Someday I'm going to buy a stamp-making kit.  They are affordable and look easy enough to use! (This would be a good Christmas gift, hint hint...)

Over the past few weeks I've been sketching stamp ideas in my art journal.  Here are few that I like the best...

Leaf

My future initials

Monogram idea (casual)

Some soon-to-be sketched ideas are:

- Return address

- Flowers

- Geometric shapes

- More monogram ideas

- Future last name (The Arthurs)

What are your favorite stamp designs?