Full Circle

I know it's been a while since I last wrote, but as you may have noticed, I have been making some very life altering decisions lately. What I've decided is that I'm going back to school to finish my art degree in Graphic Design. Since I already have a laundry list of previous credits, this will only take me two years to complete.

Trey and I still intend to continue learning about real estate to prepare ourselves for the right time for us to purchase. A few setbacks that gave me such a stressful time last week have thrown a wrench in our plans, but we're mostly undeterred.

Graphic Design Lab

These photos that I've posted are photos of the La. Tech University School of Art where I studied my first year in college. I've come full circle back to the place where I started. It's kind of funny because back then, I couldn't wait to move on to better places. Compared to all of the places I've been, and there have been many, this public university has the best art program in the south central and the most beautiful, clean campus.

Now, I can't wait to get back. The only thing is that I won't know if I've been accepted to the school until Thursday. I'm kind of nervous because the timing is right down to the wire. Classes begin soon, and deadlines for this and that are looming. Eeek! I'm biting my nails down to nothing!

Investor To Be: That's Me!

Big news here! Trey and I have found the first property that we hope to be investing in. It's a duplex with lots of charm, and character in the Garden District. Tonight, we took the plunge, met with our Realtor, and put an offer in to the seller. It's too soon to tell where the tide will turn, but we should know if our offer is accepted by this coming Monday. I'm keeping my fingers crossed, am holding my breath, and am smooshing my face up in a wincing/smiling manner. Can you see it? Good thing I didn't post a photo of me doing this. Scary. I'll keep you posted as things develop. So excited and nervous!

And by the way, isn't this photo that has nothing to do with my topic really dreamy? I love how clean, fresh, and organized it appears to be. If only every corner of my home looked this way right now.

Less Vs. More

Years ago, when my husband and I were newly weds, we lived in a 700 square foot apartment. It was cramped, but high on style, high on cozy, and we were so very happy there. We talked a lot about the kind of life that we could build together, as we still do.

At the time, one of our big ideas was that less was more. We talked about how most people buy more house than they need and end up paying a massive mortgage when they could otherwise be using their money for more profitable endeavors. One day, we vowed, we'd build and live in a micro home.

Now, I know you are probably thinking that we had some pretty crazy notions, and that our new love for one another was seriously getting to our heads. Well, we still think it's a valid idea, and maybe one day we'll down size. These photos were all taken from the HGTV website. All of these homes are 900 square feet or less. It just goes to show that you can do a whole lot with just a little space.

In a lot of cases, I think that small homes are cozier, more friendly, and inviting. Since there is a shortage on square footage, it forces one to pair down possessions and to really think about what one's money is spent on. I mean, do you really need one more comforter set when you already have 2 and only one bed?

7 Random Facts

New Orleans artist unknown

I've been tagged! I feel like I should now be running around the edge of the front yard chasing and pummeling the random walkers who come by every day whilst I shriek, "Tag, you're it!".

The Rules:
Start with 7 random facts/habits about yourself. People who are tagged need to then report this on their own blog with their 7 things as well as these rules. They then need to tag 7 others and list their names on their blog. They are also asked to leave a comment for each of the tagged, letting them know they have been tagged and to read the blog.
Randomness:
1. I don't own one pair of solid white socks. Not one. They are all funky colors and patterns, and I wear them way up to my knees.

2. I like to take long drives by myself so I can sing my favorite songs at the top of my lungs, all the while pretending that I'm really a rock star.

3. I used to be obsessed with the idea of circus side show "freaks" like the contortionists and the fire breathers.

4. Some of the careers that I've considered have been..(are you ready for this?) actor, musician, writer, artist, fashion magazine editor, fashion stylist, fashion designer, interior designer, psychiatrist, college professor, linguist...and I'm sure there's more. Whew!

5. For 7 years I wanted a male Boston Terrier, whom I'd name Mr. McDoogal, so I could dress him in plaid, argyle, and little spiked collars. Finally, I got my Boston Terrier Lulu (female). The farting, burping, bug eyed, smelly baby girl that you see at the top right of this blog. Awww! Right?

6. Currently, I'm obsessed with the idea of getting my nose pierced with just a little dainty stud. I have no way of justifying this to anyone who would be shocked and dismayed by this except for, "What?, Indian women do it to ease the pain of childbirth. I might get pregnant one day. Shrugs".

7. I am presently the recipient of 15 free magazines that I got through my father in law's unused Delta Sky Miles. Yes, I said 15. A bit extreme, you say? Never.

Complete Geek
Check him out! This blog is so funny, and it's not just because he's my hubby.
I'll let the rest of my friends off the hook this time, but next time it's "Tag, you're it!"

Bath Junkie!!!

Recently, I got the chance to duck into one of my favorite bath stores, Bath Junkie. Their customizable products range from bath salts to shampoo, from makeup to doggy wash, home cleansers and much more. What a treat for my cousin Kayla and I to get the complementary warm water, hand scrub, and moisturizing treatment. Afterwards, our hands felt baby soft.

Of course, I knew I'd end up buying something because I've realized by now that unless I really want to spend my money, I should not even set one little toe into that place.

Ultimately, I ended up buying a house wives dream product. It's a multitasking, antibacterial, non-toxic cleanser. You customize the scent to your liking, and it drowns out the usual harsh chemical smell that most products have.

There are over 200 fragrances to choose from that can be mixed and matched. They have "menus" with plenty of great scent combo suggestions. I chose Pink Sugar, Spring Fling., and it is yummy. Who knew that I could ever be so excited to go home and clean? I'm telling you, it's a dream product! My house smelled of sweetness for nearly 2 days.

Studio: The Other Side

For some reason, I got the urge to rearrange my studio the other day. I didn't know I even had that much energy to spare, but suddenly I was moving heavy furniture, sweeping, and clutter busting like a woman hopped up on too much caffeine. This is a view of the other side of the room, which I've never shown until now. I love to sit on the daybed and look out of the big arch window at the massive old pecan trees, the magnolia, and the sky.


Eventually, I think I'll outfit the daybed with large backing pillows, and bolster pillows for the sides, making it more of a sofa than a bed. This bookshelf, above, is a 3 tiered vintage oak piece that my mom and I searched for when I was a child. It's exactly what I had wanted, and we were so thrilled to find it at a large flea market in Shreveport, La. I love the memory of that day when I discovered rock candy and antiques. I swear that I could literally feel the energy of each old item we brought home that day.

Be Lame or Get New Frames?

I was checking out the Lenscrafters site just now because I am in the market for some new glasses. Shhh! Don't tell my mom. She forbids me to fraternize with her competitors. Just so you know, she's been in the optical business for many years; same crappy company, and I'm not going to drop any names here. Thank you.


Right now, I'm not sure how realistic a new pair of specs really is, (especially these name brands). Wow! I have expensive taste too. The ones on the top by Dolce and Gabbana are $300 and I doubt it's because of their superior make. You're paying for the name. I get it.

Seems like I'm obviously leaning towards the butterfly frames. That's what they are called, and this flower child does not know why.

Since I've been saving my money to buy a new car, I have wanted to spend it so badly. It wasn't until I started to pad the piggy that I started shopping for Citizen watches and trendy frames. I must not let the urge defeat me. Must not...

Hotel Chic

Okay, here we go again with my Sarah Richardson design obsession. This time, the images are from her other show, Design Inc. Just like her other web site, you can scroll through photos of every room she's done so far for the t.v. series.

I really like the colors in the above room. They are so fun and vibrant, especially with all of the patterned fabric and accessories dotted here and there. It almost feels like a Pier 1 ad, but somehow way cooler.


For some time now, I've been a huge fan of hotel style design, and I think these next two photos capture that ambiance perfectly. They are simple, and chic. I would just love to have this black and white room transplanted into my home. I usually don't like the idea of copying a designer room because I think it's too impersonal, but for a look like this, I can make an exception.

Finally, this last room is so yummy and girly to me. I seem to gravitate toward color combos of pink and chocolate brown. Originally, I wanted to use this color pairing as my YD brand image logo, but decided against it after all because I thought the pink would put some ladies off. I believe that a lot of women see pink as a symbol of weakness, and in this womens' lib day and age, pink has been relegated to a color just for little girls. It's a shame, really.

Big Bird and Tall Tales

I was just reading My Bella Colle's blog and thought the Sesame Street Quiz was hilarious. Since I quite enjoy doing silly things for fun, I thought I'd take the quiz. So, here are the results.

You Are Big Bird

Talented, smart, and friendly... you're also one of the sanest people around. You are usually feeling: Happy. From riding a unicycle to writing poetry, you have plenty of hobbies to keep you busy. You are famous for: Being a friend to everyone. Even the grumpiest person gets along with you. How you live your life: Joyfully. "Super. Duper. Flooper."

The Sesame Street Personality Quiz

Wow! These quizzes are pretty accurate.
You know what's funny about this? When my mom was a kid, she had a school assignment to write a short story for underprivileged children who didn't have books to read. Everyone's stories were mailed off all over the country.
My mom's story was about this giant yellow bird that was a friend to all children. This was long before Sesame Street, mind you. Then, when I was a child singing along to "...tell me how to, how to get..." my mom was shocked to see the Big Bird character. She's still quite suspicious that some big shot read her story and stole her character idea.
Kind of ironic, right?

New Rings, Oh My!

Unfortunately for my savings account, today's work at the day job was far less than profitable for me. As it turns out, I was completely seduced by a ring that has been sitting in the "Special Box" for months. The Special Box, for your information, is where we keep all of the fine jewelry worth eagerly snatching up from people who come in to sell their pre-loved jewelry. The goods are refurbished and are then subsequently released to find new and caring owners.


See, this is my first and relatively new wedding set. I have loved it very much. Trey is a little heart broken that I actually bought a new set. Like I said, it is not a replacement, Dear. It is just another flavor, if you will. I had to explain that even a wedding ring, though a symbol of our love and commitment to one another, can be a fashion accessory. I just needed another one, kind of like I need all 24 pairs of my shoes, and all 15 of my purses. You get it girls, don't you?


You see, this set is absolutely a personal statement, these new rings. They are a lovely pairing of classic meets modern. The "engagement ring" is tried and true vintage. Someones Grandma must have really cherished it. The brand new band has a contemporary flavor with its seemingly scattered bezel set diamonds. I got a great deal. Wink, wink! Ah, am I in a great business or what?

My Birthday: A Short Summary

Yesterday was my birthday, so around noon, Trey and I met with family for lunch at R.J. Gators where I had one yummy Pina Colada. [Good Drink + Good Company=Good Time] I really did not expect to get so much. It was a huge surprise for me to receive greeting cards stuffed full of money and to get gift cards to my favorite stores, (so pretty I almost didn't want to use them, see next paragraph)!

I'm sure you can guess what happened next. I went to spend my birthday money, of course! My favorite purchase of the day, at this time, is a pair of dial up weights from Target. I aim to get buff, or at least to not be so fluffy. Though, a close second favorite would be my Victoria's Secret p.j.'s of which I am now pleased to be languorously lounging in. Trey calls them my circus clown pants and at random times will burst into song" Ya ta da-da...". I may decide to lift weights in them later, which would make me the "Amazingly Strong Woman" minus any freakish side effects such as a beard.

After the gratifying shopping excursion, "Who says money can't buy happiness?", Trey and I arrived home where we met with my cousin Kayla who made me Red Velvet Cupcakes. My favorite! While greedily indulging in junk food, we watched a surprisingly good movie, "Stranger Than Fiction", which is what I, hands down, consider a happy ending.

In My Closet of Old

Here is a look into the closet of my past. I think it's much more interesting than my current status quot "adult" wardrobe. Some of you will probably wonder if I actually wore this stuff. Yes, I did. Very proudly. One of my recent posts "Adolescence" inspired me to do this one.

The dress above is one that I got in a store in Soho, in NYC, when I was 16. It only cost $10 bucks, which is an amazing bargain if you've ever been shopping in the Soho! If I would've met my husband in the days when I wore this dress, black knee high boots and fishnets required, I believe he would have instantly fallen for me. (Shh! He still reads comic books.)

This wrinkled and stained little number was once a lot cleaner looking. Don't know how or when the stains happened. I got it in New Orleans, when I lived there, at my favorite thrift store on Magazine St. called The Fuzzy Monkey. Man, I have some great memories of the times I wore this dress. Concerts, parties, that time I had too much to drink at the Flogging Molly show and got sick all over Toulouse St. Um, yeah, I digress.


Lastly, but not least, is my patchwork hippie skirt. This thing was made with lots of love. It's in the details. I got it in Ruston, LA. when I was going to the university there, La Tech. There was this little hole in the wall thrift store off the main drag, Trenton St. Don't remember what it was called, but the little old lady there was so nice. My boyfriend at the time, Gary, and I helped her to clean her store for free. She just had a lot on her plate, and we liked her so much. I wonder what happened to her.

Disclaimer: The clothing you have just seen look a whole lot better when worn by the little, short artist girl who owns them. That mannequin is just too darn perfect!

Adolescense

Here we go again. More colorful photos from my Flickr favorites. The theme here is "Adolescence". These are some things that remind me of what it was like to be a kid. Some of them are pretty self explanatory. Like most girls, I'm sure, I talked on the phone a lot. It's funny because these days, I really don't like talking on the phone unless it's for a definite purpose.

While I never ate cupcakes this pretty, I certainly did enjoy a Little Debbie cake every day after school while I watched shows like Animaniacs and Saved By The Bell. Come on, don't hate, you know you watched those shows too.

Speaking of S.B.T.B., I was friends with a girl named Tess when I lived in Baton Rouge who claimed to know every detail about every episode that ever aired. It turns out that Dustin Diamond, the guy who played Screech, came to B.R. for some publicity thing, and we got to meet him. Tess challenged him to quiz her on any episode he wanted, and if I remember clearly, she never gave a wrong answer.


Anyways, I digress. This flower is just very pretty, and I had to add it because I like the colors. When I was a kid, I didn't really care for flowers because they brought bees to my door, and I was deathly afraid of bees. Okay, who am I kidding? I still whimper a little if one gets too close.

Now, this photo looks like it could've been taken by me circa age 13, but it wasn't. It was taken recently by some kid who lives in the U.K.. See, back then, when I was a kid, I had it in my head that I did not want to look like everyone else. I would wear the most outlandish getups; stripes with polka-dots, bright patterned stockings, big strange hats, and so on. Most of the clothes in my closet cost $15.00 or less because I was convinced that the best clothes in town came from Goodwill. My dad thought I was one strange bird. He would offer to take me shopping at the finest stores in the mall, and I'd say, "Nah, let's go to Goodwill!" My, how times have changed. Well, we all have to grow up...don't we?

Inspired by Blue

I've been searching for inspiration a lot lately, and consequently, I have been very inspired. I just thought I'd share some images with you that I like. The color blue always seems to illicit a dreamy response from me. Hence, the blue theme. It makes me want to get my sketch book out and doodle until my heart's content. I found the above photo on Flickr. What I really like about it is its rugged beauty. It seems that lately, I'm more drawn to imperfection than I am shiny and new.

This photo, also found on Flickr, transports me. I am walking on the streets of a fabulous city such as New York or San Francisco. In a crowd of pedestrians who are rushing off for a bite to eat during lunch hour, I'm drawn to this lovely window. Amid this frantic pace, time stands still only for me while I'm taken in by the gently illuminated colors.

Finally, we come to this photo which was taken in one of my favorite places of all, New Orleans. I don't remember where I found it on the net, and I also can't tell you how many times I have seen this odd work of art parked on one of the narrow streets of The Quarter. I wish I had a photo of it from all angles, and mostly a close up would be nice. This old Bug is covered with tiny plastic toys, Mardi Gras beads, paint, rhine stones, and so on. It commands an audience everywhere it goes. Check back here with me soon for more eye candy photos because I'm off to hunt for more now.

Studio Friday! : 3 Wishes

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade yvettedesigns.etsy.com

If you had a magic wand what 3 creative issues would you solve? Maybe they are space issues that you are experiencing in your studio or issues about creating itself?

Three wishes. This is a great topic! Okay, for my first wish:

1.I would love, love, love it if I could start getting sales on my Etsy site. http://yvettedesigns.etsy.com
I have had it for half a year now, but I didn't get serious about it until just recently. When I first opened the shop, I was selling my jewelry at work faster than I could replenish my supply. Now, that I'm working in a different environment things have changed. Isn't it ironic that I work in a jewelry store now, and my jewelry sales are at a crawl?

2. I would love to have the time to dabble in all kinds of crafts and hobbies. I have a feeling this might be a common theme among all of us, time.

3. This doesn't have anything to do with the studio, but I wish that every day in Louisiana was like it is today. The weather has been absolutely perfect at around 75 degrees. I opened my windows this morning, turned the a.c. off, and breathed in the cool natural air. Aaahh! It just set my morning off right, you know?

Have a happy weekend, everyone!

Rambling

Hi, everyone. I hope that anyone who is a mother, or who has a mother had a good Mother's Day. Phew! That was a bit redundant wasn't it? Oh, well. At least I got my point across.

Lately, I've been completely overtaken with the desire to promote, promote, promote my jewelry. So, no wonder it's been a couple days since I last blogged here. I've barely wanted to get out of the office chair, I've been so glued to the computer reading about places to get the word out, how to go about it, and such. The Etsy forums are priceless. Speaking of Etsy, the photo above shows Etsy ads, so at least I know they know how to get their own word out. I've also spent my time taking a lot of photos of the new jewelry with the cloud dome. More to come very soon too. See the latest at: http://yvettejewelrydesigns.blogspot.com/2007/05/cool-new-stuff.html



On a completely different note, Trey and I went to visit his parents yesterday. His Dad is a meteorite hunter who has found hundreds of pounds of space rock in Kansas. Coincidentally, he found them all right outside of Greensburg, Ka. where the mile wide tornado struck and demolished everything in its path., and is also the town he used to stay in during his time away from home. Just days after it happened, he traveled to the area where he shot video footage driving down the town's main drag. Building, after building for the duration of the video were all reduced to rubble. Trees were stripped of their limbs and in some cases, the bark had been ripped off. It was terrible, yet amazing to see just what nature can do when she wants to.

Sorry for the down note. There's not much else to tell, but you can marvel at the space rock in the photo above. It looks relatively small, but this baby weighs at least 50 pounds! I literally had to drag it to the window to get a good shot of it.

Studio Friday: Pride

This week's topic for Studio Friday May 4th: sin #7: PRIDE!What feeds your desire to feel that you are more important or attractive or better or more special than others? How does this excessive feeling of pride feed your Ego and distort your reality? How does its shadow become your downfall? Is there a way that you see towards a healthier way of being?

Ooh, this could possibly worst of all of the 7 Deadlies. I do have a bit of pride in myself, who I am, what I stand for, etc. Though, I usually think of it as good self esteem, I realize how pride used in a negative context can be a problem because it serves to divide us from one another. At times, I tend to think of myself as being unique and therefore separate from the world. However, in my heart, I know that this cannot be true. Despite the identities that we carefully cultivate for ourselves, we are all essentially the same.

I have actually been working for the past couple of months on letting go of my ego, and the unyielding idea of who I am. Letting go of my ego is important to me because I know that without it, I will be able to accept others for who they are without judgment. I will be a much more loving, understanding, and compassionate person. This is the only unshakable truth about myself that I choose to own. Happy weekend!

Tagged! I'm It!

Oh, gee, little ol' me has been tagged. I'm supposed to tell 7 random facts about myself, then tag 7 other bloggers, post a comment on their blog, and list their links on this entry. Since I don't know but a few of you, I'll do what I can. So here it is folks:

1. I'm an artist without a cause. ( I haven't find my niche in the painting world because I love so many subjects and never seem to stick to one.)

2. I have moved 17 times, all over the place, and I'm only 25.

3. I'm a bit of a sissy. I don't like to sweat, and I don't like bugs. Thump me and I bruise. It's amazing!

4. If I could be anything when I "grow up" I'd be a rock star.

5. I can raise the right side of my lip like Elvis.

6. I'm a full blooded Hispanic girl with a 100% Cajun culture.

7. I've always been a big supporter and defender of underdogs. I've taken in a lot of strays.

So, there you have it. Seven more things about me that you know, and maybe some things you didn't care to know. Really, guys, my Elvis impersonation is good. Now, here is the very short list of the people I have tagged. Can two be considered a list? Well, it'll have to do.

http://apunkincardcompany.blogspot.com/
www.ringofdoom.net

Lost Friday

Wow! This week just flew by and I didn't even have the presence of mind to notice it. I completely forgot about Studio Friday. I just realized it, and I actually feel like today is Saturday. Anyhow, I know that it is not because my young cousin Kayla went to her Senior Prom last night. Aw! She looked so pretty in her shiny dress with the shiny jewelry I made for her. Unfortunately, these photos don't do either subject justice, Kayla, or my jewelry.

I'll admit that my distractions are stemming from an intense focus on what the next steps I'll take with Yvette Designs will be, and how I can gain more peace in my life. Trey and I are toying with the idea of, starting next month, not buying anything that we don't absolutely need for an entire year. It is a challenge that if accomplished would no doubt change our lives.

Also, I posed to him this question: Do you think you could move away from this beautiful spacious house, and leave most of our possessions with all of the amenities that we have to live in a small apartment with no television? He couldn't even fathom it. He has never had to be without cable t.v.., but I did it for years (the whole scenario), and I know how freeing it can be, and how much time can be gained from it. We both, however, agreed that we could not live without the Internet. he he. Our one, small, guilty pleasure. I want to be a citizen of the world, not chained to my home. One day, maybe we'll cut the cord. The cable, that is.

Departure

Greetings from vacation land! Well, really it's a vacation of the mind because I'm just dreaming of going away. It's been raining and gloomy all day, so I began to conjure images of sunny summer days. It's been too long since I've gotten out of town and I am officially ready to go. These pictures were taken in Orange Beach, MS on a short vacation last summer. It's amazing how many great memories are made during even the shortest of stays away. May you and your loved ones take a real vacation this summer, and may you make many warm memories to draw upon on rainy days.