For the love of

For the love of work in progress

2011-10-17T12:58:00.000-07:00

Pages for a book dummy that I'm working on, in the very dough draft stages...

For the love of collaboration*

2011-10-15T10:26:00.000-07:00

A series of image groupings I made from various photo sequences I've been shooting for over the past year. These will serve as visual directives in a collaboration I am working on with a local writer. Oh the possibilities!

{use of images by permission only}

For the love of cacti

2011-09-30T15:56:00.001-07:00

I've recently decided that it would be a good idea to start collecting small plants for the terrarium project I've always dreamed of doing when I have the right space for a giant glass sphere..NOW is the time!!

Wouldn't these little darlings at the market make for a perfect start!

For the love of lantern slides

2011-09-30T15:13:00.000-07:00

What are lantern slides you ask?

Lantern slides were the primary materials collected in visual resources collections during the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th. Most were produced using analog photographic processes to create positive transparencies on glass plates which were then housed together with a protective layer of glass for preservation. As record keeping systems have taken significant strides between then and now, we are left with the dilemma of how to keep, preserve and showcase these unique objects which have become artifacts of our imaging past.

For the past few weeks, I've been exploring this wonderful world to select and design a display for a group of images from these slides, to be unveiled at the open house event at VSW on October 13th!!

For the love of the cold?

2011-01-25T22:38:00.000-08:00

It's a tad bit chilly here these days! Cheers to the first day of the semester folks...new studio blog is in the works!

For the love of the unique qualities in all of us

2011-01-18T21:39:00.000-08:00

This post is a bit different than most of the things I write about, but I'm feeling in the mood for sharing some of my most random habits because I find that thinking about how people structure their lives is very interesting and humorous.

take a seat.

FYI:

One: For better or worse, I go about everything with an all or nothing approach. I put my heart into my chosen passions and all else falls under the radar most of the time. I like to think it keeps me focused but it also gets me into trouble.

Two: I will never be one who uses drawer space for it's full potential because I hate putting things away. However, I have counted a grand total of 28 drawers at my disposal in my room currently.

Three: I am literally addicted to Wegmans rice pudding, and am not ashamed because it's damn good.

Four: I love small things. Anything small really, especially if it's typically normal sized but it made the same way but tiny.

Five: I have a strange addiction to purchasing dish ware and glassware in mismatching sets because I love that it adds variety to every meal.

For the love of lovely little creatures

2011-01-18T00:20:00.000-08:00

SC and I kicked off this weekend with an epic day trip! First we made our way to the College though which our Masters program is accredited

(It was our first time to the campus, ever. We had to google map directions and still got lost)

But alas we got our paperwork squared away and are official "grad students" now that we have our crisp new ids...hah

This is our new friend bruce. He is a goat with sparkly blue eyes. We met him when we ventured to a small farm owned by a man selling peacock feathers.

It was an animal abyss! I've never seen so many unique creatures "living under one roof" We even got to meet two hilarious emus who loved pecking at anything they could get their little beaks on!

Look it's an animal parade...they love each other :)

Momma lamas are so adorable...this one has a little one on the way <3

Such a beautiful bird, I wanted to go right home and start drafting up some new patterns from it's unique color scheme

and gorgeous tail feathers!

For the love of book covers

2010-12-26T16:09:00.000-08:00

I'm so thrilled to be getting into the world of "artist books" this year at VSW and surrounding communities. If you don't know what artist books are, check out some of my favorite independent publishing organizations like J&L Books, Ugly Duckling Presse, and The Ice Plant.

I adore the following book covers, for their lovely aesthetic that inspires me to keep making books!

This cover by Jason Fulford for Ben Doller's book Faq: (The New Series) which is now on my post-Christmas wish list!

This cover by Pat O'Neill is absolutely stunning, Another Kind of Record, is a selection of the dozens of the collage-drawings, found texts and digital composite prints he has gathered and altered over the last several years.

For the love of being back in action!

2010-12-22T21:45:00.000-08:00

As I signed into to blogger and realized I've acquired 8 new "followers" since my last post, I felt a tinge of blog-slacker-guilt :/ Not to worry friends, I am back in action after grad school boot-camp! I have a month off to sleep, play, think, read, and learn to knit!

Christmas is almost here and I'm not sure what it is about this year but I haven't really bought into the material craze of the season, buying only a few materials to make handmade gifts (that will be finished after Christmas because I think it's more fun to spread out gift-receiving a bit)

Also- Meet "Nikki-Pickles" she says Merry Christmas to all and to all a Good Night!

For the love of inspiration*

2010-11-24T21:01:00.000-08:00

I have a reputation for being obsessed with the following things over the last few years:

- Japanese paper

- Sewing

\ Sewing on Japanese paper

- Buttons

- Birds

- Textiles

\ Crafting & Quilting

To further my obessions and inspire yours, take a gander at these~

japanese folds are genius, who knew you could make a purse in 2 minutes?

an awesome way to recycle old t-shirts!

stitched place cards- just in time for thanksgiving

I hope to adapt this sweet idea into a version of my own calendar!

Glad to know other people love sewing paper as much as I do.

last but not least, a touch of cuteness

For the love of knowledge

2010-11-21T20:01:00.000-08:00

As the writing and research elements of our exhibition project are making strides towards the finish line, I have a love-hate relationship with the whole thing...but am super excited about the work we've all done coming to culmination with an online exhibition featuring some of the most innovative artists whose work is housed in the VSW Collection.

The research center at VSW is home to a such a vast array of information that is mostly overwhelming but extremely helpful in curatorial work especially because of our rare book collection and archive full of amazing work by amazing artists!

books, books, books...

Cheers to a much needed week long break from classes... which means I have time to blog and get more research done!

For the love of Top Chef*

2010-11-16T21:33:00.000-08:00

I am a proud 2nd time champion of the YMCA's "Top Chef" competition at Teen City!

This week's challenge was to prepare a dish using a selection of staple materials, which included each team's choice of bread option that must be incorporated into the meal in some way. My teen partner was a doll, and she was so excited about our cooking adventure, and even more excited when we won!

feast your eyes on this winner: we have an open face egg sandwich on a fresh bagel, with diced tomatoes, onions and green peppers, topped with spinach and homemade hollandaise sauce.

This is the big leagues folks...here we see the judges in deliberation. classic

As for grad school, things are picking up and getting crazy as the semester winds down! The Y has been acting as an escape from the stressful grad student land :)

For the love of autumn adventures*

2010-10-18T12:16:00.000-07:00

I was exuberantly happy to spend 5 days at home this week with my lovely family! These kids are incredibly inspiring in their joyful sense of adventure <3

For the love of places and spaces*

2010-10-01T17:23:00.000-07:00

Oh hey there friends, I've been a terrible blogger during my transitional phase going into grad school...but I feel like I have no excuse now because everything is in full force now and maybe I'll get back on my blog-posting feet and update more often!

Here are some tid-bits from the last couple weeks:

M.S. and I shot our first ever 16mm film using an "old school" bolex camera last week in the park where we rigged a cloths line between 2 trees and filmed some beautiful movement and textural elements with these lovely fabrics!

I got some new Toms shoes and fell in love with them...now me and L.T. have matchy matchy toms shoes squared <3 They like to hang out on our fire escape.

The light has been giving me lots of inspiration, especially when it shines through these old studio windows.

The apartment is slowly but surely coming together and gets cozier as the days go by. I love our cute little windows overlooking the courtyard and all our little nic-nacks and plants on the sills.

For the love of the new digs*

2010-09-04T19:29:00.000-07:00

Oh hey world, I got a new place and it's super fab. Here are the views from my bedroom windows... an extreme difference from country living back home all summer, but it's grand all the same :) more to come shortly!~

ps- I'm officially loving my new little life as a grad student and all things associated with that and my fabulous new roommate and all the fun times sure to be had this year!

~cheers

For the love of the bitter-sweet

2010-08-25T10:14:00.000-07:00

After spending an entire summer in my favorite place {home} with my family on the river...it's time to say "see ya soon" and pack up my things {yet again} and move back to Rochester for grad school.

It's really a bitter-sweet ordeal because moving means, not being a part of the day-to-day lives of beloved parents, brothers, grandparents, niece and nephew, uncles, aunts, and cousins. It's such a unique blessing to have most of my extended family members within walking distance from my parents house, and this summer has been the most relaxing, rejuvenating, fun and exciting summer of my life!

As it winds down and am finishing the always overwhelming process of packing up my life...I'm super excited to move to a new apartment with a new roommate and start a new city-art-student life and meet lots of cool new people and finally be fully invested in my career as an artist.

for the love of blogger

2010-08-21T21:58:00.000-07:00

Hey just kidding....I'm back!

Wordpress way far too complicated and much less photo-friendly...so I'm sticking to blogger because

I also realized I can have more than one blog in my name...sweet!

I'll be starting a studio blog this week with the new and exciting ventures and inspirations of life as a graduate art student!

2010-08-09T20:45:00.001-07:00

I've officially given up on fixing the formatting of this blog!

visit me @ ahopetaylor.wordpress.com

For the love of the river

2010-08-05T20:43:00.000-07:00

Having this "at my doorstep" everyday is the most glorious situation I could imagine. The River is my peace, where I feel most at home, a refreshing change from city life...

For the love of current events

2010-08-05T20:36:00.000-07:00

I am currently/most recently....

*inspired by:
- the musical talents of The Low Anthem and The Swell Season (who are currently on tour and played the most amazing show I've ever experienced last week!)
-The River (we've been spending a lot of time together lately, me and good ol St. Lawrence...as it should be)

*working on:
- A new quit for my daybed (my first ever quilt, since the one I made in a sewing class a long time ago...which doesn't really count) I've been collecting fabric for a couple years and just got the pattern for FREE online!
- more books, earrings, and prints for our market shop!

*convinced I'll never:
- be a lazy parent (I've seen the 2 extremes, and with all my little family members around, I've realized it's much more fun to entertain/teach/play with/learn from kids than it is merely "watch" them and keep them from harm...and everyone's better off!)
- get sick of making things
- settle for the easiest thing (I like accomplishing things even when I don't have to...which is how I've kept busy all summer without having a job!)

*hoping I'll always:
- love kids and encourage their imaginative abilities
- be able to come home to Taylor Lane

*missing:
- City festivities (places to go & things to do after 8pm)
- my social life (home= 98 % family time...as it should be)

*appreciating:
- down time to work on projects that have always been on my "someday" list
- the peace and tranquility that comes with living in the country
- the hilarious antics of my niece and nephew on a daily basis
- time with my gram <3

For the love of updates!

2010-07-08T19:40:00.000-07:00

It's been a super-unnecessarily-long time since my last post...life took some pretty crazy turns, so it's time for updates before I start posting on current life 'n times >

numero uno: Through some pretty challenging times recently...

I've learned a lot about people, about trust, about my instincts in conflict, about attitude, and about when to walk away or when to stand my ground. I have a lot to learn but my eyes are definitely open to think through all these things on a more consistent basis. For the record {the.gals.in.the.above.photo.are.superstars- among others who aren't pictured above}

numero dos: a certain turn of events led to one of the best decisions I've ever made...saying goodbye to {Rochester} for a couple months!

numero tres: to follow the note above...I said a spontaneous hello to {Clayton} again- after 5 years - being away/doing my own thing/attempting independent life/missing my family/working my ass off! And for the record- I intend on doing the exact opposite while I'm here- that is: taking a break/loving my family to bits and pieces/being creative and productive in ways I want to be/not working my ass off!

numero quatro: I've know this gal pal since kindergarden and it just so happens that we are still bffs and we will be attending the same grad program this fall. In anticipation of such wonderful ventures- we've decided to start a small business {combining our creative efforts} to sell fine arts goods at the village market every week <3>

We are: Thimbles & Thamms - more to come on this exciting adventure!

For the love of one year ago this month...

2010-05-05T19:48:00.000-07:00

Happy May to all and to all a grand adventure!

... this weekend will officially mark one year since graduating from college, which isnt a huge deal, but reminiscing about all that went on during the days/weeks of these eventful month last year is bringing to mind some surely adventurous memories....

There were so many breathtaking scenes I encountered at around this time last year: Most taking on a post-grad road trip around the East Coast

[all photos i took, no edits necessary]

Sunset over the Dunes in South Carolina: such a unique and beautiful landscape

Dusk on ocean time: taken from a fishing pier in South Carolina, and interesting place with very interesting people!

Thousands of boulders and flat rock make for an awesome breakwall off the coast of Boston Harbor.

A small pond about half way to the summit of Mt. Monadnock: truly wonderful

The view from the top of Mt. Madnadnock: the most challenging climb I've ever done, but also the most rewarding!

For the love of scattered thoughts

2010-04-26T20:11:00.000-07:00

I am determined to create an adventure

But much like the photo below- I feel like my life can be categorized into multiple boxes with various shades of the same color! Its all one continuos pattern of experiences and memories and goals and expectations, but those elements can be so very different from day to day or week to week that it's an interesting challenge to bring it all together lately.

I recently spent a week where I like to call (home) but is no longer where I reside for the majority of my time...I did a lot of loving, relaxing, thinking, laughing with my family. It's a difficult transition between there *clayon-hometown: family bliss-

[in a house on the hill is where my <3>

back to here *rochester- independent city life: good times, awesome friends, cool job, busy weeks, fun weekends!

In short: I'm not sure how the puzzle pieces of my life fit together but as long as I can see it happening someday, that's good enough for now.

For the love of floral bliss & lovely friends*

2010-04-14T18:49:00.000-07:00

This weekend was simply grand for numerous reasons...

1. It was filled with sunshine & flowers

2. (Lou) came up to visit and we chilled like good old times and I love spending quality time outside with people who appreciate the beauty of nature like I do

3. I had much needed moments of solitude, inspiration and peace on my bike/hike adventures through the park.

4. Salads have taken a turn in the right direction by introducing fresh strawberries & vinaigrette (thanks Suz)

We witnessed something new: a lady walking her birds!

5. Spring is simply glorious in it's mildly hot temperatures when you can be outside without being hot or cold

6. I got to climb trees and feel adventurous & free.

bam. nailed it

For the love of first bike rides of the year*

2010-04-10T09:58:00.001-07:00

I picked up my ride from full moon vista on saturday for the start of a long-awaited riding season and have been riding ever since!

As soon as I got home with my beloved bicycle, I took her out for a spin around town...re-visiting my favorite route from the fall, and exploring new territories, topping the ride off with an adventure in fence hopping to find a short cut :)

{photo by m.sortore on first ride of '08}

Today's ride required a bit more endurance as I tested my "bike-shape" which was better than expected! *thanks to the good ol YMCA

I started out around 2pm in the beautiful 65 degree and sunny weather, and just followed the road wherever it took me for the next 3 hours...

I made my way out to Pittsford, found the canal path, made some pit-stops along the way to relax and make phone calls to catch up my family. After making my way back to the city, I made sure to basque in the sun's pre-setting glow around 6pm at highland park under the magnolia trees.

There were cutie little families with kids running around, people taking picture, and others just sitting in the grass enjoying the beautiful peace this season creates.

~Bike season is sure to be glorious and adventure-filled~

For the love of all things grand*

2010-03-31T19:44:00.000-07:00

Such things are extremely pleasurable to me (generally speaking):

- drinking an ice cold glass of fresh lemonade *any time of year

- Walking in the door to my parents house upon arrival for a long-awaited visit

- Laughing with my all-time-favorite niece and nephew *m&M

- Discovering new inspirations in nature

- Hitting a crucial turning point of a project in the studio

- Gliding down steep hills on my bicycle and feeling the wind rush past, making my eyes water

- Looking through pictures of college adventures and realizing how much fun was crammed into 4 years

- Going away for the weekend! *any change of scenery is good and I have 2 trips in a row this month :)

- Laying in the sun, listening to waves on the docks by the beach at my parents house

- Eating a totally rock-my-world meal

For the love of Sunshine & Signs of Spring!

2010-03-04T08:56:00.000-08:00

It's noon on a thursday and I'm sitting on my sunporch listening to some acoustic folk hymns watching the icicles melting and dripping down the windows through rays of sunlight that is creating shadows from the homemade paper snow flakes we hanging on a string from one end of the porch to the other.

*it is well with my soul*

The sun has effectively risen the temperature of this room to be the hottest place in the house! I'm realizing that at this point in the winter, there are few things that excite me more than these signs of spring...

Also- on another positive note: I received notice today that I was accepted to the Masters of Fine Arts program at Visual Studies Workshop!

With lots on my mind about the coming year, this is an exciting opportunity for sure.

Cherio!

2010-02-26T15:28:00.000-08:00

I woke up today with high hopes of hibernating all day, when I realized I still had to work my AM shift (despite the snowday)! The results of this were devastating to my mood and my reaction was less than graceful...but after much profanity and shoveling, I eventually rose above and came to grips with working because I still had all afternoon off!

Soo... Cheers to the "big deal snow storm" that has quieted the lands of Rochester and surrounding areas!

It's been a lovely afternoon in the house...I caught up with my roommates, we watched some episodes of friends, I cleaned my room, organized my closet, made more piles of paperwork to sort, watched a movie, cooked a delicious dinner like the good old townhouse days, and listened to Ingrid while watching the snow out come down <3

For the love of Snow DAys*

2010-02-26T15:13:00.000-08:00

src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_s6Wm4XHDKOY/S4hYZZ8ROmI/AAAAAAAABwM/vAwKsdt3nZQ/s400/IMG_0325.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442697343160892002" />

I woke up today with high hopes of hibernating all day, when I realized I still had to work my AM shift (despite the snowday)! The results of this were devastating to my mood and my reaction was less than graceful...but after much profanity and shoveling, I eventually rose above and came to grips with working because I still had all afternoon off!

Soo... Cheers to the "big deal snow storm" that has quieted the lands of Rochester and surrounding areas!

It's been a lovely afternoon in the house...I caught up with my roommates, we watched some episodes of friends, I cleaned my room, organized my closet, made more piles of paperwork to sort, watched a movie, cooked a delicious dinner like the good old townhouse days, and listened to Ingrid while watching the snow out come down <3

For the love of artistic pursuit*

2010-02-15T21:33:00.000-08:00

I finished my grad school application/portfolio today! *Talk about last minute (it was due today) gotta love procrastination...but I just got so out of the "working student" loop that I forgot what it was like to have real deadlines and how long it takes to write essays and statements and such academic things.

As I was compiling images for my portfolio, i started to remember how passionate I was about my work a year ago and how my confidence has shifted greatly as I the months go by. Getting further into a job that has nothing to do with my artistic career, with tons of student loans, no studio space or time, I've started to slowly loose the drive that helped me create these little darlings for my thesis show:

*Cheers to taking a big step in the right direction to pull myself out of the "artists can't make it in the real world" attitude.

For the love of Taylor Lane

2010-02-15T07:31:00.000-08:00

I'm back at home on Taylor Lane for the rest of the week~ It's cozy, crazy, and highly enjoyable. I'll be hibernating around here--most likely in my pajamas, laying in the recliner, playing with my niece and nephew, sewing with grammy and catching up on the little things that don't get done during the normal work week.

For the love of Rihanna*

2010-02-08T20:11:00.000-08:00

Ok so, I have a broad range of artistic influences in my life...one of which is music. I love so many types of music and like most ppl-- have (car) jams- (studio) tunes - (bedtime) melodies- (around the house) singalongs- (ect)*

But as of late, Ms. ALL STAR RIHANNA has been winning in all those categories! *I'm thinkin it's a phase, but none the less...check her ouuut <3

For the love of Rising Above (stress)

2010-01-12T20:19:00.000-08:00

I must admit that my daily outlook on life has been suffering since the busy Holiday season came to a close. Mostly because I started to get behind on the tedious tasks (like cleaning, organizing, scheduling, planning, ect.) Everything seemed to pile up since I started my new job the day after returning back to the city.

I decided that feeling overwhelmed by this was just not going to last, so I've been chipping away at my most avoided tasks all week *and it's only tuesday but I'm starting to look at the glass as HALF FULL again!

Cheers to rising above and being productive!

*more to come on the big steps in the right direction (like my new closet space, recipe plan, and simplicity goals)

For the love of SUmmerrr

2010-01-11T16:39:00.000-08:00

I truely miss summer.

my current anti-seasonal depressant activity has been cooking and looking back at summer time photos <3

For the love of 2010*

2010-01-01T14:39:00.000-08:00

For the love of sister adventures*

2009-12-27T07:54:00.000-08:00

You've all heard about my fabulously fun road trip to Philly a few weekends ago....but here are some more treasures from the journey :)

Top 5 Reasons {we make good sisters }

1. We both put effort into the little things in life, like using vintage treasures from grandparents house to decorate our living spaces <3>

2. We can both appreciate beautiful things, and share excitement in each others inspirations

3. We love ridding trains and people watching and chatting about life's perplexing questions

4. We may not see each other often but we both realize it's important to pick up the phone and keep in touch!

5. We love cities and adventures and can just find interesting things to do no matter where we are. There's no doubt we'll {laugh . talk . learn something new . enjoy life} every time we get together <3

2009-12-26T21:24:00.000-08:00

Just a quick note about how how I vow to kick this bad habit of pushing my work as an artist to the back burner of daily life!

Here's the plan:

1. Continue increase the amount of visual inspiration in my virtual wanderings

(ie: less facebook, more artist blogs, design sites)

2. Set concrete goals and narrow down next years prospects of school/business and turn them into realistic and feasible possibilities

(still working out these details...shoot me a note with any helpful hints!)

3. Sign up for a letterpress class at Genesee Arts and get involved in the local art community

3. Start making ART AGIAN!

(ie: books, prints, collages...)

-- Updates to come: Perhaps this list will hold me accountable --

For the love of being Home for the HoliDays *

2009-12-26T17:04:00.000-08:00

~ Merry Christmas ~

{ our.family.tree }

{ our.family.treasures }

{our.family.fun}

{ our.family.warmth }

For the love of Holiday Bliss*

2009-12-20T10:32:00.001-08:00

Holiday Festivities blog teaser *more photos to come

The past two weeks have been filled with an abundance of blissful holiday activities~

1. Road trip to Philly

(adventures around the city: cute photos & fun times)

2. Hosting our first annual Christmas house party on 71 Alliance

(over 40 people showed up!)

3. Attending my first ever "company Christmas party" at the Plaza hotel

(danced the night away)

For the love of road trips*

2009-12-11T19:47:00.000-08:00

Well I'm off to visit the wonderful philadelphia area this weekend and looking forward to not only a change of scenery but to some sure-to-be stellar adventures with m friend Kelly Ann* in our fav-o city of 'sisterly.love'

...its a long drive, but well worth it because....

{philladelphia itself is lovely and exciting, not to mention that Kell is my absolute favorite person to spend time adventuring around cities with, we will be going downtown on monday for some festive fun}

Kell's 'philly fam' aka: people she's connected to significantly are really great, I'm looking forward to seeing everyone I've met there, and especially to meeting her fab bf for the first time and giving him the sister test!

We take awesome pictures wherever we go, and anytime we spend together is treasured because we can appreciate our friendship for what it is and connect in awesome ways when we get to have face-to-face conversations and do things that are equally thrilling for both of us!!

For the love of *small things

2009-11-19T08:57:00.000-08:00

Since I'm a relatively small person, work with lots of small kiddos and adore most small things....this online magazine caught my attention as I was blog surfing today!

This issue explores a ton of creative kid adventures, includes an amazing variety of photos and articles put together by artists who are clearly given credit (which is not true for most magazine spreads) and lots of fun tid-bits of info on random "small" things!

Best of all: It's free to subscribe and receive each new issue through email, so get yours!

Seriously, awesome... kudos to the editors [Olivia Pintos-Lopez and Christine Visneau] for this this fabulous collaboration!

For the love of hiking daycations!

2009-11-13T09:42:00.000-08:00

The roommates and I all had the day off on wednesday, so to Celebrate Veteran's Day...we took a trip to the gorges of Ithaca!

It was fabulously scenic

We were equally adventurous

A lot of painful jumping photos happened

We made it all the way down to the waterfall

We climbed up mini hills and swung on tree roots, and got abruptly reprimanded.

((all in all. great way to spend a day.))

For the love of *The Little Rascals

2009-11-05T05:50:00.000-08:00

I've had quite the craving for childhood memories these days sitting at home... yesterday we watched some adorable home videos from 1991, it's so funny to see how much we have all grown up yet stayed the same in all the little personality quirks and facial expressions we have!

Now playing....The Little Rascals, one of my all-time favorites!

"You are a rare rose in a garden of weeds, you have the sophistication of a woman of 12."

"He's smoother than a babies bottom, and he smells better too!"

"Darla, would you thank me for it...if I asked you for a... big wet one?"

"A he-man so manly, that if he fell off a building, he'd go out of his way to land on a girl."

"I'll trade you my pickle for a nickel!"

For the love of the last 2 months*

2009-11-04T09:12:00.000-08:00

So... I've had plenty of time to ponder the [great.grand.good.bad.ugly] aspects of life from my sickbed in (home quarantine) for H1N1+sinusitis+bronchitis for the last 1o days!

On that note: In my prescription drug-induced fog...I am actually starting to see the end of this horrendous sickness in the near future, my fever broke yesterday and I was able to walk around a bit, talk on the phone, and feel considerably less aches and pains than the past week.

ps- I was the queen of sarcasm when it came to H1N1 before I got it... and fyi, it's no joke, especially with the nasty complications I developed! So take lots of vitamins and wash your hands often!!

In light of all of this, here are a few things I've been appreciative of over the past 2 months:

I was able to spend some quality time outdoors on 2 wheels whenever I was motivated to ride my bike, I wholeheartedly loved freedom to explore and expand on inspiration [that I'm sure will be useful as soon as I can get back in the studio]

Fall is a good time to be festive and celebrate. I love having a nice place to host theme parties, dinners, small gatherings, ect. Entertaining is always a good time at *71 Alliance

The chic autumn style is to.die.for. All shades of yellow are my new style obsession* These shoes are my glamourous friend Meg's wedding shoes from the most innovative, fun-filled wedding a few weeks ago. [love & cheers to the Sortore's]

There are few things that compare to my fascination with nature and color, so October wins the prize for most brilliant collaboration of those two things.

I think we can all appreciate the extra hour of sleep we get, even though it means less daylight. This year I spent that hour in the emergency room, but it was funny to look at the clock and realize the 2 hours I spent there was literally cut in 1/2 when the clock should've turned to 2am but went back to 1!

These months are the start to Hot Chocolate season* yippee. All the days and nights of coming in from the cold chill of winter are coming up, but hot drinks are often the saving grace to this prolonged season of below freezing temperatures.

The last couple months before the frost hits always seems to be the best time to enjoy being outside! Cheers to fun.fall.adventures*

For the love of my favorite local letterpress designer*

2009-11-04T08:55:00.000-08:00

Here's the latest beauty from Rachael Hetzel [*pistachio press:]

There's a Full 12 month Calendar and a tear-away. Both are letterpress printed and the imagery is inspired by vintage china patterns.

It's a fabulous giveaway going on right now, so check out her blog to enter. I sure did, but if I don't win... chances are, I'll buy one anyway and you should too :)

ps- more photo posts of my festive fall activities to come!

For the love of *friends & weddings & reunions!!

2009-10-29T06:28:00.000-07:00

To my favorite BobbyWes Crew

Our dear Friends Val & Neil got married about a month ago.

Friends traveled from near and far to celebrate with them.

We all stayed in a lovely Bed & Breakfast for the weekend to soak up the opportunity to be all together!

The details at the Lindenwald Haus B&B were stunning*

Top 10 reasons I treasure time with this crew:

#1. They are random and hilarious!!

The Story:

Wedding Officient: "And the reception will be held at.....in a couple hours.."

Kell: (speaking far too loudy, almost shouting among other quiet and patient guests)

"What the FriCk are we supposed to do for 2 hours!?"

Me and Laur: "KELL what is wrong with you!?" hahaha

Our friends: "There's a salvation army up the road...let's Go!"

#2. I laugh incredible amount whenever we are together!

We stayed up past most of our post-college life bed times the night after the the wedding. This was honestly one of the most fun nights I've ever had!!

We played some of our favorite games, including The Bowl Game and The Question Game. Both of these games are very simple, and require only paper and pens- but have been the source of some of the most hilarious and entertaining inside jokes with this crew! The games themselves aren't funny at all...but the people make the game what is is...and in the case of this night...WE ALL CRACKED UP AN EXTREME AMOUNT!

#4. I have the "big sister" I always wanted! Kelly Ann Nelson and I are a good team. Although we are completely different people in so many ways, we can relate on a level that means so much to me! We stand by each other through triumph and excitement and support each other through sadness and defeat. Growing up with 3 brothers, I would say I'm glad to call Kell* my favorite sister!

#5. They are caring and compassionate toward people. Almost every one of us works for some sort of non-profit or service oriented organization to better the lives of people around us. This type of common attitude helps us to care deeply about one another and interact genuinely, catching up on life when we are able to spend time together!

#6. They like are fun and fit, and able to climb/run/jump/explore just about anywhere!

The story: We found an old box car and decided to live out our childhood stories of the Boxcar Children!

#7. They can make anything fun!

Example: Bocce Ball with pebbles, duck tape ball toss, the bowl game

#8. We are all incredibly good looking ;) For a big group of young adults, we can hold our own on the style scale! I love getting together and sharing cloths/accessories with the girlies, and appreciate the unique outfits we seem to assemble as a co-ed team.

#9. They are willing to go on all kinds of adventures, just for the sake of being adventurous.

The story:

Our friend Nigel from the Tom-Tom GPS lead us to what we thought would be the perfect place to see a nice selection of beaded moccasins.

This was not the case. It was instead a tiny cabin, up a dirt road, appearing to be a closed information center for who knows what?

#10. Everyone brings a completely unique personality to the group and we appreciate each other for who we are. We are completely ourselves when we get together, and no matter how much changes in each of our lives- and how long it's been since we've seen or heard from each other-- our friendships remain the same!

For the love of getting a chance to think!

2009-10-28T12:27:00.000-07:00

Apologies for not posting in ages! I have so many things to catch up on with some photo posts of this fall's festivities!

The bad news:

I am sick with the flu (H1N1?) Not sure but I definitely have all the symptoms of it and was advised tostay home until I feel completely better, so I don't risk spreading it to all the kids I come in contact with everyday at work! So quarantine at home is where you can find me!

The good news:

I am forced to stay at home in bed, which means there is plenty of time to read, write, blog, watch movies and sleep. (things I don't do much these days with my crazy schedule)

Top 10 things on my mind today:

1. I have too many responsibilities, being sick should make them all go away, but I guess it doesn't when you're an adult.

2. Family is an absolute treasure. Mine is unique, emotional, compassionate, and hilarious. The extended family I hold dear all live on/near Taylor Lane in Clayton NY and it's sheer joy every time we get together.

3. I really like birthdays. No matter who you are, what you do, where you are...you have one day to celebrate yourself.

4. I adore hearing people speak other languages, even if I don't understand...it makes me feel cultured.

5. Color is what creates the a huge amount of visual pleasure in my daily life, yet somehow seeing the world in black and white (pictures/video) showcases true and sustainable beauty and even more than that, rain creates a quiet peace in gray moments that can transcend feeling.

6. Living life as an artist (art making, viewing, interpreting, participating, debating, thinking critically) will always be an overwhelming necessity for me.

7. Most of the time my mind is filled with thoughts bombarding one another but when I have a paint brush in my hand, the world gets quiet and what's left are only the real, true elements of life's questions.

8. Everyone needs to feel like they are part of something bigger then themselves. We are meant to live in community and care for one another. Unfortunately people look for this kind of comfort in places where it is fleeting and uncertain. This makes me unsettled almost daily.

9. I am a fan of almost all types of food. Even when I'm sick and can only eat soup- I think about what my first real food meal will be and get really excited about it.

10. I am blessed with so many lovely friends, some of which were recently married, some recently had their first child, and some just got engaged! I am truly excited for all these things!! And it makes me realize: I want to fall in love, and have a chance to experience life in all it's complexities with someone special. I am hoping that journey is not too far from now.

For the love of Oxford Lawn Parties*

2009-10-02T07:42:00.000-07:00

Introducing one of the most stylish, unique and charming couples I know!

Meet Kyle & Meg

at their unique version on a "Jack & Jill" Party: appropriately re-named the

"Charles & Anne Oxford Lawn Party"

to fit an old fashion british prep theme.

Meg: a lovely bride-to-be, what a darling she is*

Kyle: the handsome lucky young gent

They will make a splendid pair!

A little rain never hurt anyone.

{Observation is key to success}

Who's up for a game of croquet!?

Brother of the bride: quite a striking gentlemen if I do say so.

{ A rousing game indeed. }

Cherio mate.

The after party at my place: games not for the faint of heart. excessive amounts of laughter were involved.

the men were clearly always on task.

Sister of the groom: perfectly prim and proper*

(the adore opening presents together)

a surely laughable group.

it took a couple of shots but we got it!

{ cheers to the happy couple! }

For the love of a fall full of firsts*

2009-09-29T09:54:00.000-07:00

Try to say that ten times fast! As I am basking in the glow of my cozy front sunporch, looking out at the beautiful leaves on trees blowing in the brisk autumn wind...I am slowing falling in love with fall all over again. It seems that fall always marks significant points in my life, and this year is no different.

I have such notstagic feelings of fall in previous years, whether it meant a new season of soccer with early morning practices and putting my all into the sport all season, or starting a new college life in 05, and getting re-acquainted with way of life as a student every year following that for the last 4 years.

NOW this fall marks a new season completely and it's starting to feel like everything is fitting together just right!

::: So here's what's new in my fall of *firsts* :::

I am officially NOT going back to school in the fall (for the first time since the age of 5)

and I have begun the climb of a "career path" whatever that means. Basically, I found a job that I am enjoying for now (that has nothing to do with my college education) with hopes of settling into the organization, gaining life experience and enjoying where I'm at and figuring out the rest someday.

I started my position as a *first time youth pastor at Heart & Soul- more to come on this at some point! This photo is not my youth group, they are all the fun and talented teens that I worked with this summer :)

I am beginning to think about studio work again in a real and feasible way for the *first time since graduating, and am finally getting my in-home studio up and running!

I am living in a city for the *first time ever and completely adoring all things about it (except parking) Not to mention that I have my own room again for the first time in 4 years! I've devoted a huge amount of creative efforts to make my room an aesthetic oasis and I adore it!

For the *first time ever- I am (mostly) financially independent and stable enough to support myself because of the many doors and connections that have opened up for me and the lessons in financial realities I'm learning are certainly priceless* In fact- I'm a little nervous to admit, but I paid my first bill yesterday!

And last but not least- I am in my *first wedding of two close friends who absolutely adore eachother and I'm so thrilled to be a part of their special day! The photo above is from their Jack & Jill Oxford Lawn Party to celebrate the pre-maritial lives with friends- more photos to come!

cheers life~

For the love of KTP* and The Office*

2009-09-26T09:15:00.000-07:00

This thursday marked the day of birth of Katie Elizabeth Phillips (who happens to be my most fabulous housemate) we share a mutual adoration of The Office tv series so this year's party was Office Themed!!

We invited our friends and asked them to come dressed as their favorite or most fitting character :) We played Office trivia and Ktp trivia and gave away themed prizes! All the decor was inspired by the "office parties" from the show, basically hilarious! It was a grand old time.

*Happy day*

Karen and Angela obviously enjoying themselves

(Katie, It's your birthday.)

{meet the cast:}

Hello my name is: Meredith and I am an alcoholic

Hello my name is: Dwight K. Schrute of Schrute Beet Farms

Hello my name is: Karen the office hottie with an attitude to kill

Hello my name is: Pam and I love mixed berry yougurt

Hello my name is: Toby and I don't know what I'm doing here

Hello my name is: Angela and I love my cats more than anything in the world

Dunder Mifflin Paper Rocks!!

For the love of biker love*

2009-09-21T06:55:00.000-07:00

Ok number 1:

I love bikes, bike culture, bike gear, bike trips, bike buddies, bike paths, biker men, and pictures of bikes... basically the list could go on and on.

*smalls bike matches the graffiti- just chillin at the dam while we were watching it open on the canal*

number 2: I have not been riding as often as I would like, but the few rides I have taken have proven to rejuvenate my days like no other!

*bike shop along the canal path= free tire air, score!

number 3: Cold weather days are almost here so I must get more rides in before the frost hits!

*3 biker musketeers*

number 4: I love having friends who share the same love, and getting to know new bike friends!

For the love of Daniel*

2009-09-15T10:09:00.000-07:00

In attempt to keep up with my blogathon friend kell...I will blog about one of the many things most recently on my mind :)

Some of you know that my "Rochester Family" is full of a whole lot of amazing people who make it bearable to live so far from where my parents, siblings and extended family. A hugely significant part of this group are The Colons. The are my home away from home, they've been with me through a lot over the past four years and I love them a ton! Louis and Joanne {my pastors} are an adorable young couple with an adorable son named Daniel Alexandro and he's the most beautiful child I know!

*Guess what, as of next week...I will be spending lots of time with this little guy when L & J begin their work schedules and her mom has to return to Puerto Rico.

{I will get to watch him play the many musical instruments he has almost already mastered, listen to all his little stories, and cutie little laugh and help him practice his english *since he's basically bilingual at the age of 3!}

We will have tons of fun!

For the love of local flavor*

2009-09-10T15:22:00.000-07:00

Hey there Hi there :)

Here are a few shining stars among the local art community:

{photo: mine: george eastman house: pond}

This work below by Rachael Hetzel of {Pistacio Press} is a beautiful example of her many talents as an artist, teacher, and letterpress printer!

*And greatest of all, It's a giveaway...so check out her blog!

"My work is about storytelling and the fluidity of memory. This print was made after the loss of a family member. It is a view of what could be considered an ordinary day. For me the piece captures both the sadness and hope in everyday life." -RH

Work by Alice Drew {Ceramics} is something I am certainly a fan of!

Not only is she a close friend of mine, but she happens to do amazing work in ceramics, using an innovative thermo-screenprinting technique. Her site is not up and running yet, but you can find her at the Clothsline festival at the MAG this weekend!! *We are working on an artist trade as soon as I get more of my work ready!

For the love of new adventures*

2009-09-08T18:05:00.000-07:00

Hey guess what?! I started a new job today, and it seems pretty fabulous. I had begun to doubt the world and all its ways when I graduated from college, had an degree that qualifies me for nothing that pays, and my summer job ended. I was on the hunt (going on interviews, sending out tons of resumes daily, visiting places, trying to make connections...ect) I started to wonder why no one wanted to give me a chance and really realize what I had to offer!

*Then the YMCA took me under their wing, and it's an exciting journey with this awesome organization. The people are super nice, and most of them have hilarious sense of humor.

I feel like I'm actually getting over the fence in the work world because I'm a part of something where I can learn and grow and move up and last by not least *earn money to fully sustain myself for the first time in my life!

This will be the most interesting scedule I've had in a while:

6:30am- 9am: Kindergarden "wrap" program at Jefferson Ave Elementary

9-2: TIME OFF

2-6:30pm: SACC program at East Rochester Elementary

*cheers to kindergarden kids and after school activities.

For the love of baby *t

2009-08-29T09:50:00.000-07:00

Announcing the newest member of the family!!

{what's up ladies}

My lovely cousin Rachel and her husband Bernie just welcomed a new baby boy into their family of 2 other adorable children (madison & emily) I adore their little family and was so glad to spend some time with them this week!

{His name is Thomas George Bernhardt and he is simply darling}

Aw tiny babies are my favorite!

{9 days old}

{he's a mellow kid}

{he has long legs, arms, fingers and toes}

{he is loved}

{siblings}

{adorable}

For the love of *Abstraction

2009-08-24T07:12:00.000-07:00

My latest artistic endeavors include being involved in the . Abstraction . exhibition at The High Falls Gallery. It was a pleasure to meet and work with the director there to hang the instalation pieces. She had no shortage of advice on my life as an artist, and was an immediate supporter of my work, which was a huge point of validation for me.

Having just finished my graduating thesis show with full support of my professors, friends and family...I was feeling confident to step out into the arts culture (where no one knew my name) And it was good that I landed this show first because I had only planned on submitting the one large painting *but when I brought it to the gallery, the director's comments included "Oh, HoW LoVelY, do you have MORE?!"

So, needless to say...I jumped on that and brought her most of the pieces from my thesis show installation *which ended up hanging right next to the show title banner!

:No winter coat?:

4' x 6' Oil, Acrylic and graphite on Board

:New paint on old walls:

Artist Book in Collage

*fingers crossed for many more

For the love of city bikers

2009-08-23T17:19:00.000-07:00

On my first week (off) on an indefinite vacation between jobs...I took advantage of the opportunity to ride my bike almost daily! *I love that everything seems closer when I'm on a bike because I can take the "back city" roads and it's so much more enjoyable that ridding in an air conditioned hazard to the environment...even though it obviously takes me double the amount of time to get from place to place, TiMe FliEs wHeN yOu're HaviNg FuN!

{photo I took of K on one of our *night rides}

One of our biking highlights is when we see other bikers on the city streets and get the "helment nod" or the "handlebar wave"...after they pass we always say "bikEr LoVe!"

For the love of 8/8

2009-08-07T21:36:00.000-07:00

Hey there guess what? It's a cool day of celebrations today, actually one of my favorite days of the year because I was born today 22* years ago :) Here's a tribute to last years camping shenanigans...this year will be a small crowd with minimal plans to ensure full relaxation and beach time <3

{there's a chance we went camping on an island far away in a thunderstorm with no tent fly and lots of open screen windows...it was a long night}

"Oh hai spidey...you sneeky little thang"

Too scared to touch bottom, good thing I have a big sister <3

I'm an easily distracted boat captain

lovely place of peace *where I grew up

For the love of moving day!

2009-07-31T19:02:00.000-07:00

It's finnally here... the day I can officially start getting settled into a place for more than months at a time. I place that will be my new permanent address, a place that is far from where I grew up, a place that steps up and out of 'college living'...a place I can call "home" as I venture into the responsibilities and realities of life as wanderlust who has chosen her city and hopes to stay a while.

{image not mine}

CHEERS to all the conversations, adventures, late nights, collaborative meals, hilarious stories, relaxation, comfort, projects, parties, and life that is sure to happen here.

*photos of new place soon to come*

For the love of this whirlwind life*

2009-07-25T15:03:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I've posted... this picture by {ktp} does a good job of explaining why. I absolutely look forward to the summer every year and long for warm days to fill with projects and activities. Most of the time my "picture" of summer somewhat of an exaggerated reality.

{4example}

I had a month off to do completely nothing *or* complete a lot of somethings...meaning I could have been super productive and accomplished all the projects I had been putting off for a time in my life when I actually had "spare time"

I quickly realized that most of this spare time was put to use recovering from 4 productive years of college and embraced my time of rest as it would be my last chance to live 'lazily' for a while!

...So now I'm a little girl in a big city with big plans and a small budget. Post college life has turned out to a whirlwind of busy bee chores, to-do lists, packing- moving-unpacking- packing agian- and moving agian, work preparation, self-evaluation, and attempts to figure out a transition that I have a feeling, may last a while :)

For now...I'm okay with the chaos as long as I have two feet on the ground that can keep on going.

For the love of afternoons in the citay*

2009-07-10T09:42:00.000-07:00

.... it's good to be a city girl

{ brilliant city colors }

*reflections of the city*

(( favorite time of day when the sun makes everything glow ))

<<>>

.... cheers to the sunny days and time to play ....

For the love of *coming back home to H&S

2009-07-06T08:50:00.000-07:00

It's been a challenging and rewarding past couple of years for Heart & Soul Community church. Almost 3 years ago we made the decision to leave the building we own at 1185 Clinton Avenue because of major structural problems and health & safety concerns. The Eugenio Maria De Hostas Charter School on Clifford Ave was kind to allow us to use their auditorium for our sunday services from for the last two years!

So, to make a long story short...a lot of prayers, hard work, and thoughtful donations have taken place this year, making it possible to start the building project so that we are able to meet there once again!

(cutie baby daniel colon)

This sunday [June 5, 2009] was our first sunday back at 1185, where we held the service outside because the building is not yet completed.

God provided a lovely sunny afternoon, perfect for out outdoor activities. Sunday school was held in the back yard, beneath a large shady tree

(our pastor: Louis Colon)

I have so much love for Joanne & Louis and the rest of the H&S family! We are all so thrilled to be back home!

For the love of a picnic at the park*

2009-06-20T16:24:00.000-07:00

I love how this transitional phase in our lives gives us random week days of free time and that we all choose to be productive with our lovely days together*

{ last monday was spent at Letchworth state park- which I am ashamed to say, I've never fully experienced apart from riding in a bike tour that went through part of the roads in the park }

<<>>

We walked and drove through the vast lands of the beautiful state park and found many fabulous things on our journey.

*contrast is a wonderful thing*

I look for '`texture`' of all kinds

... the waterfalls completed the scenic wonder of the day...

[[ take a deep breath and realize things ]]

for the love of being outdoors*

2009-06-12T18:36:00.000-07:00

There are so many things I adore about traveling in warm weather!

...and the trip re-cap continues...

*after a long day of city walking, shopping, and talking-- this was the most refreshing feeling anyone could ask for. Wadding in the fountain at Penn's Landing, watching the sun's fleeting shadows dance over the calm crowds of people enjoying their own moments of peace*

{this picture was taken by my lovely friend L* right after I thought I dislocated my elbow jumping off the dunes-- I guess my painful grimace looks the same as my smile}

:: sisters always find adventure ::

I appreciate that my friends maintain their thirst for adventure even when the weather doesn't cooperate- we walked the city on the coldest day of the trip!

{I'm pretty sure this had a painful landing but I love it}

*When I was 7 I asked my dad to build me a balance beam. He did, it consisted of two logs and a 2x4'' plank-- I spent an extreme amount of time outside on that beam for the next two years... consequently I have an extreme ability to balance on most things*

-- A* is was a sure source of entertainment throughout our days of adventure-- we decided he should have been one of the Krat brothers from "Krat's Creatures" because he is very lemuresque --

* like a bird *

Birds are the most fascinating creatures to me, I try to be like them every chance I get.

:: Of all the wonderful things to see, the greatest places to be, and the wonders of the deep blue sea ::

I'm glad for travel and a chance to be free.

For the love of *Engagement!

2009-06-08T14:58:00.000-07:00

The long awaited engagement of my *dear friends Megan and Kyle finally happened! For the last 2 years, we've seen these two love birds become an adorable and hilarious couple that are quite obviously perfect for each other.

{aren't they cute}

{they were engaged at the always beautiful Letchworth state park- which was also the place they had one of their first *special moments in their relationship}

I must thank Kyle for introducing this *megan girl ;) into our group of friends 2 years ago... she's truly a treasure to friends, family, and obviously her fiance!

She is an incredibly genuine and adventurous woman with a great eye for photography, style and innovation-- so I'm sure their wedding will be the loveliest)

Kyle is also a dear friend of mine who was always thought of as a great *potential catch by all the girls in our group through college. He is a sincere and hilarious guy who has a good grasp on what matters in life. When he met meg, we saw all those great [boyfriend] qualities come out and it was clear that this was a perfect match!

Cheers to the happy couple!

For the love of blue skies

2009-06-06T08:22:00.000-07:00

Just getting back from a 3 week adventure around the east coat (NY-- NC -- CT -- RI -- MA -- NH) I wasn't sure how to begin blogging about the amazing places I've seen and explored. So here goes... themes by scenery instead of location:

Mount Manadnock, NH

Rockport, MA

Mount Manadnock- Summit, NH

Jockey's Ridge, NC

Kill Devil Hill, NC

:::: cheers to blue skies ::::

For the love of simplicity*

2009-05-16T21:39:00.000-07:00

True Life: I have TOO MUCH STUFF!

I've always been a collector of all kinds of things- as most artists are- but this has proven to be a definite downside of moving back and fourth between home, school, and summer housing over the past 4 years. The word moving just gives me an automatic headache!

**so tonight I decided that it is officially time to begin to SIMPLIFY all of my belongings**

because I finally feel like I can make some definite decisions about what I do/don't need for this next phase of my life!

[[phase 1: cloths/shoes]] it's a slow process, but at least it's happening-- I can see a huge rummage sale in order!

For the love of blind dates

2009-05-15T20:29:00.001-07:00

So, I am shamelessly addicted to Joanna Goddard's blogs, she writes for glamour at Smitten and also has a personal blog called Cup of Jo. I think Jo and I could be friends if we ever met, but for now, kell, meg, and I will just have to settle for our one sided blog-reading "friendships" with her...

anyways- she set two of her readers up on a blind date, and I (of course) read all about it on both blogs and got all sappy and hopeful* Contradictory to what I told my sister-in-law today: "I could really care less- I'm fine on my own, I like being independent. It's not like I'm out on the prowl looking for a man to have babies with!"

Anyways- In the realistic and honest picture of my life:

A.} I am fully confident with my independent life and have ambition and energy to on my own if I need to.

B.} I like men- I like meeting new ones, secretly crushing on one's I don't know from across coffee shop tables, and appreciate what men bring to the world. I love having guy friends and I have 3 brothers and an awesome Dad. I know what I real man is and what I'm looking for in a relationship.*

C.} I'm (admittedly) picky for what I think are the right reasons, like [faith-honesty-integrity-humor- and compassion]

D.} I'm looking forward to the next few years of my life- and have no idea what's in store, but am hoping somewhere in there will be perhaps *a new friendship with a nice guy? *a blind date? *someone to spend rainy saturdays watching old movies on the couch with? *to be swept off my feet someday?

E.} As the wedding invites flood the mailbox from friends my age tying the knot- I do get a tad bit impatient, not about the concept of marriage- but just it might be nice to have a date to dance with at all those weddings*

F.} I'm open to suggestions! I'm good at meeting people and like to think I can have a pretty good time anywhere- so set me up people*

For the love of summer time*

2009-05-13T14:05:00.000-07:00

I'm fabulously excited about summer...I love the weather, the flowers, the friends, the picnics, the green grass, and the sunshine!

...some of my fav photos from last summer!

:: spring time in paris ::

:: lovely bike rides and green grass ::

:: swimming with the fishes ::

:: the birthday crew ::

For the love of life-long-learning*

2009-05-10T20:53:00.000-07:00

Ten things I learned over the past 4 years (in college):

*in no particular order*

1. the grass is different color greens everywhere you look

[it's more about accepting and embracing where you are and realizing if you look hard enough- you already have a place where you're able to sit, stand, run, jump, play, laugh, cry, and just be.]

2. Don't underestimate the power of a good *jump for joy*

[celebrate life for all it is and take everything in as you experience it, be in the moment.]

3. When it rains, it pours* put on your rain boots and jump in the puddles!

[Be prepared for hard times, and recognize that they don't last forever...and are in your life for a reason- to provide opportunities for learning and growth, so try to find joy in all things]

4. Stop to smell the flowers*

[appreciate the little lovely things in life- it's not always obvious, but they're everywhere if you're paying attention]

5. People are kind of a *big deal*

[treasure the people in your life who have played a role in shaping who you are. Always invest in relationships as much as others invested in you. Be sure they feel loved and appreciated for who they are]

6. There really is no place like "home"

[sometimes all you need is a good does of grandma's hot chocolate and popcorn while working on a sewing project to remind you that the place you grew up can never be replaced- even when you're only there for short periods of time. Treasure those days and moments with family]

7. Be prepared for the long haul

[expect your to be stretched in many directions if you are going to be a productive and proactive person in every aspect of life. Things don't just fall into your hands, you have to work for them, prepare, and be determined.]

8. Broaden your horizons

[this world is a beautiful place, expand your perspective on life through traveling, taking in and appreciating other cultures, and learning through experiences outside your comfort zone... explore everything! ]

9. Embrace the calm before and after the storm

[There will always be times of trial and tribulation in your life, but take advantage on the time your have in the transitional periods to reflect on how those things affected you and what you can learn from them]

10. The path is never straight and simple

[Life is a complex formula to navigate, allow yourself to experience fully in all the ups and downs and turn-arounds. As long as you continue to seek God in all things and absorb the wisdom of those around you...you'll be on the right path.]

For the love of sunrise at the beach*

2009-05-10T19:50:00.000-07:00

As the final days of my college career grew closer, I began to have more stress, less sleep, and more excitement and taste for adventure than ever before! A combination of all these things led to one of the most beautiful starts to a day I've ever experienced.

Let's set the scene...

It's friday, May 8, 2009: (the last day before graduation)- 5am- and I had been awake since thursday at 9am (writing a research paper and my senior thesis) So I decided to take a little break and go out to watch the sun rise over the beach with my lovely friends to celebrate this momentous day!

*I've been to the mountains, I drank from the fountains...there's more than one answer to these questions, pointing me in a crooked line*

off to see the sun!

*so glad our paths crossed*

...journey onward...

....

...and (yes) the swans were released just for us

*peace*

There aren't too many words that can describe how I felt on this absolutely beautiful morning, but what I do know is that I was wholeheartedly grateful for the friendships that have grown into lasting bonds full of amazing adventures, peaceful moments, learning experiences, and genuine conversations. As I begin to reflect on the past for (long) years of my life, it's the people who have been a significant part of my learning process.

For the Love of catching up with Spring*

2009-05-02T15:09:00.000-07:00

Oh hey there Spring...How the hey are ya? I've been a bit preoccupied with school and such things to tell you how much I adore your sunshine, green grass and blue skies. Please tell Rochester to give us more days with all these things!

Dear Vines, you intrigue so many parts of who I am*

Dear friends, I love semi-spontaneous meet-ups and being able to catch up after it's been too long*

Dear dead flowers on trees, you are beautiful...

Dear peeling tree bark, you helped me realize how much *color* matters to the world

Dear more friends, thanks for being you and making good adventures out of anything!

[lou] found her joy going *off the beaten path, making her way through the woods down a hill like the mountain climber she is.

[kt] walked and talked and wandered about like the wanderlust she is

[me] I tried to capture small bits of beauty and enjoy the moments of inspiration like the artists I am.

Dear trees, I want to be like you*

So, spring...how's about you stick around and be friends with summer and shoe away any signs of winter that come our way!

Ps- I'm glad I've gotten to enjoy these moments with you*

For the love of new additions to Taylor Lane

2009-04-12T21:39:00.000-07:00

About 50 years ago, my grandparents moved to Clayton, NY from Boston, MA and decided to buy a large portion of land on the St. Lawrence River. Their hope was to raise their 5 children in a humble home on Taylor Lane, and allow them the freedom to someday return and build homes on the property with families of their own.

That is precisely what they did. My dad [second oldest] was the first to build...our beautiful log cabin home at 38192 Taylor Lane in 1991. Now, all but one of his siblings are here with their families [and that one is only 20 minutes away]. Some of my cousins have even returned "home" to Clayton and settled back in with their lovely families!

Taylor Lane is a place of grand amounts of love and cherished memories. It's not only a place where I grew up, but a place where family is found always. It's a "Street" named for the sole purpose of our families inhabitance, and will always be.

Now is the time that Taylor Lane welcomes home my brother Corey, his wife Brianna and their amazing little children Mason and Mylee!

My mom, "Nana" worked very hard with the handy help of my dad "pop-pops" to remodel the entire first floor of our house into a fabulous apartment for their family. She is absolutely thrilled about having her grandchildren here, and is doing her best to balance this addition to the list of things and people who want and need her love and attention!

My dad also plays super-parent a lot of the time, working hard constantly to provide the kind of life not one of us really deserve. We are all so blessed to have the parents we do who would give us the world if they could.

Meet: Mason Nathaniel Taylor- an energetic little rascal who loves to run, jump, talk, ride bikes and be adorable. He is full of energy all day long is a hilarious playmate for his "aunt sissy" <3

Meet: Mylee Rae Taylor- a beautiful little girly-girl who takes after her "aunt sissy" and holds her own against her rough and tumble brother, she has the most adorable little voice and a face that could melt anyone's heart <3

For the love of great musicians

2009-04-10T20:30:00.000-07:00

During my time at home *E has been sharing some of his trade secrets on following great indie musicians and some of the amazingly innovative work of these artists is astounding to me.

I am currently falling head over heels for this European site that features out-of-mainstream videos produced by musicians during their "off-circut" shows and I havn't been disapointed by one yet!

My favorites so far are definitely the many videos by Bon Iver....such raw emotional talent!

Also loving the fleet foxes!

And speaking of great musicians, why not mention a fabulous non-profit initiative called The Yellow Bird Project whose mission is to raise support and funds for charities through supporting artists and musicians who design t-shirts to sell for a charity of their choice... check it out and buy a t-shirt!

For the love of 'almost out of here!'

2009-04-05T21:41:00.000-07:00

This weekend has been overpopulated with the stress of a 30 page paper, homework catchup and to top it all off, trying to re-vamp my thesis! School is a mostly terrible thing in my eyes at this point in life... Although, I definitely worked hard and played hard over the past 4 years [which have significantly affected my life] I do appreciate what college has been for me... but I'm so ready to bring it to conclusion and escape the confines of all things "school" related!

{BUT for NOW}

--deep breath--

I'll just figure out what it is that will keep me in school being a productive college kid for the next 33 days!

For the love of the city market

2009-03-31T16:06:00.000-07:00

The first market run of the season was a grand success! It was a beautiful saturday to spend the day in the city, and I have no regrets about neglecting the vast amounts of work I was supposed to be doing over the weekend :)

We stopped to check out this great pasta stand, and were inspired to follow in their footsteps! After purchasing some assumed to be delicious *sweet potato pasta, a.h. started talking to the people about their business, and we were assured that it changes lives [basically- they started selling pasta at the market as a weekend hobby, but the business was so successful that they can fully support themselves from their earnings and have the whole rest of their week free as birds] which...is obviously quite an appealing situation!

{Sunlight:Blue&Brown:Lovely:Patterns:Shadows}

The colors were amazing. I love going places with people who notice aesthetic details of life that provide the fuel for all kinds of creative endeavors.

I am rediscovering the wonderful opportunities of taking pictures while holding my camera at my waist....I loved looking through all the images after leaving the market, and I think I came home with some treasures.

::{A fabulous day in the neighborhood}::

For the love of Spring

2009-03-21T11:17:00.000-07:00

This winter has brought such.feelings* of misery to my life during certain points of freezing cold snowy weather up in the Rochester tundra. I'm remembering so many times when the nasty weather ruined travel plans, made me want to never leave the apartment, froze my feet and hands...and forced me to drive short distances I would normally walk, and most devastating of all- left me no option to ride my bike for months!

So000... yesterday being the first official day of spring and it's a joyous occasion!! Here are a few of my favorite reminders of what spring means:

[spring means *green]

:there's just something about that first game of hide & seek that happens when we start seeing glimpses of green that mother nature decides to share with us

{spring means * strappy sandals]

:I am a shoe fanatic, so it's pretty much a big deal because warm weather shoes are just more completely exciting then insulated boots! It's a wonderful feeling to bring out the spring shoe collection and replace all the boring winter.weather.blues.shoes

[spring means * being outside with friends]

:Warmer weather provides so many options to the question of what to do in our moments of free time! Last spring brings back memories of picnics in the park, cookouts on the beach, outdoor sports, walks with friends, nature hikes, and just being outside appreciating the sunshine!

-photo by Meg Brask

{spring means * biker love]

:Stella has been cooped up almost all winter, but over the last few weeks... she's been out in full force! It has been amazing to ride with Katie and Sarah every weekend since the warmth has hit the city...and we even took the big step to join the Rochester Cycle Club, so now we are officially serious biker ladies :)

{spring means * happy colors}

:because I'm driven by aesthetic pleasures, color is a significant part of my inspiration. Seeing people dressed in bright colors and fun spring-time accessories has been exciting! In celebration of this, I went through my closets yesterdays and bagged up all the drab colorless sweaters, hats, gloves...and replaced them with some bright treasures like this *sunshiney scarf from anthropologie

For the love of 'Lines & Shapes'

2009-03-09T22:34:00.000-07:00

This great little artists collective 'Lines & Shapes' seems to be right up my alley. It's a powerful thing when artists can set aside the individualistic ego that 'comes with the job' and pool their creative efforts together!

For the love of candy

2009-03-03T16:32:00.000-08:00

While blog-surfing during my utterly boring astronomy class...I stummbled upon this lovely baking blog that featured step-by-step instructions to make candy buttons! So naturally, being that those things [candy] & [buttons] are in my top 10 most loved...I just had to feature it in today's posts.

[1] Heat candy in microwave

[pour carefully into mold using icing tube or plastic bag]

[allow time to set and cool- pop out of mold]

TA-DA!! *perfect favor for any occasion or just to enjoy!

[photos by Bake it Pretty Blog]

For the love of Rocyeun Kim

2009-03-02T11:17:00.000-08:00

This friday The Davison Gallery hosted the opening reception for International artist: Rocyeun Kim, Her show, "Fit to be Tied" featurted her most recent installation pieces. The show was completely stunning, which was inspiring to me for my thesis work, as I will be working primarily in installation. I was excited to have an opportunity to talk with her about her work and share a bit about my own.

I learned that we have a lot in common artistically, and think very similarly in terms of the conceptual notions behind working as an artist. She is such an accomplished artist, but maintains a truly humble attitude about her work. She used to work as a painter doing large scale work, but found it to be too combersome and inflexible for the types of ideas she wanted to convey- so she moved to fibers, textiles, and other versatile materials. She gave me some great suggestions and questions to ask myself during the process of mapping out and setting up an installation. She's just a darling and such an inspirational woman in contemporary art! Below are photos from the show:

For the love of Hope

2009-03-02T10:36:00.000-08:00

After a week of ridiculously stressful days and enough internal freak-outs to put a damper anyone's spirit...

[my new mantra]

On the more serious note...A proactive approach to this crazy time of life has recently included starting a new book, called "Seeds of Hope: A Henri Nowen Reader" by Robert Durback. I stummbled upon it at Suzie's house this weekend, remembering how much I loved "In The Name of Jesus: Reflections on Christian Leadership" By Henri. and after reading the first 7 pages- was convinced of it's extreme relevance to my current struggles. So far I've reached page 16 and am continuing to be amazed by his powerful wisdom and insight.

For the love of Anthropologie!

2009-02-24T16:08:00.000-08:00

Anyone who knows the details of my life would know...any opportunity to step foot in an Antropologie store is extremely exciting! Last week, while adventuring around Philadelphia while Kell was hard at work...I took a day for my *anthro visit* and it was simply fabulous!

Top 5 Reasons I love this company:

1. Their consideration of the details of aesthetic value is effective

2. Their displays and designs in retail locations, catalogues, and on the web are unified in the store's artistic vocabulary.

3. Their hiring practices support visual artists [each location has a visual team]

4. Many of their products are unique [and fabulous]

5. Their catalogues, web-design and store displays provide consistent inspiration for my fine arts work

[paper birds in windows: right on]

[M is for Moss on walls]

[The glory of growth is a springtime oath]

[Happiness]

For the love of front doors

2009-02-22T10:21:00.000-08:00

In the midst of my wanderlustful adventure in the past week, I became fascinated by the variety, simplicity, and beauty of the many front doors I walked past in each city. I loved how certain details exist in these spaces for very specific reasons...like to convey an inviting tone, or perhaps the opposite. I also contemplated the thought process behind these details...I had just never considered what I would imagine to be my perfect front door? How does one choose color, shrubbery, doormat, or otherwise?

These are a few of my favorites.

*a warm welcome*

-- table for two --

~the happy couple~

*Brilliant blue*

{where I've been}

For the love of the frozen St. Lawrence

2009-02-02T18:55:00.000-08:00

Last weekend was a beautiful time of frozen fun with friends in the Thousand Islands...where I grew up. Our short time there was filled with such a plethora of activities...the photos below are some of my favorites from our adventures on the river!

*shAdySadows

*we aren't scared of -3 degrees

*islands in walking distance

Is this legal?*

*life's made more interesting with brothers

*channel markers

all tired out from the hike*

*no diving allowed at current temperature

For the love of faces and spaces

2009-01-24T21:55:00.000-08:00

What do you get when you calculate:

4 artists

10 bags of cloths & accessories

1 lighting studio

3 floors of rooms under construction

1 nikon D70

5+ hours creative thought

13 fashion magazines

1 box of assorted make-up

1 ton of fun:

= THESE PHOTOS!

ode to anthropologie*

*daydreamer

A symphony of sound*

*I'll have the combination platter

so ready now*

For the love of photOfaShionExraVagAnzas

2009-01-24T21:20:00.000-08:00

We artists...this what we do.

*whisper in my ear a secret you won't hear

trusty traveler*

excitement in every inch*

*birds & words and wordy birds

For the love of sounds

2009-01-22T20:02:00.000-08:00

As I was walking down the stairway of my friend maps apartment....I decided that I really enjoyed the funny squeaky chirpy sound of the steps [it's like no other staircase I've known]. I then decided that I really loved a lot of random sounds and I always try to remember them when I hear them and think to myself...AH that is an amazing sound!

Here are a few of my favorites:

*the sound of the footrest opening on my favorite old recliner chair in my parents living room.

*the sound of my bike tires on all smooth roads

*the sounds of birds of all kinds

*the sound of conversation in cafes

*the sounds new babies make when they first wake up

*the sound [kell] & I both make when something is either hilarious, shocking, or both.

*the sound of my pencil scratching the surface of a wood panel painting

*the sound of a mixture of laughs during a hilarious event or story

*the sound of [kissing] on the cheek

*the sound of [ice-melt-salt] under shoes in the winter

*the sounds of city crowds