Tag Archives: art

On Inspiration

I keep waiting to be inspired. And then I am inspired by absolutely everything, but I don’t have the words to write. As the glory of spring blooms around me, I am reminded that I need routine in my life. A routine of being inspired. A routine of creating art. A routine of writing.

I am reminded of one of my all-time favorite quotes:

Be regular and orderly in your life, that you may be violent and original in your work. -Clive Barker

It is so often that artists credit their routines with inspiration for great art. It seems so simple, yet is often a challenge to stick to that basic schedule. In essence, not only do we have to plan to be inspired, but clear the time and space for it to happen.

When I find myself uninspired, I know it is time to make energy move. It’s time to clean up, clean out, organize, and simplify. That time is now.

Stargazing with Sagan

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If you’re taken with this image, please check out more of Francesca’s work at her Flickr photostream. You can see more of her work at her blog, website, and comic.

This post is part of a feature on this blog called a Simple Image, which is just an image with links to the photographer’s or artist’s own website or blog. If you would like to have your artwork or photography featured, or if you have suggestions on who should be featured, please contact me via email.

Deep in the Heat of Summer

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Love A La Carte features all the little things that make my life just a little more delicious.

Confession: I have Olympic fever. I’m not usually a sports fan, but these London Summer Games have me constantly watching, Tweeting, blogging and reblogging about the amazing athletes and their stories. I think what gets me is that each person from each country has their own unique and interesting story about how they came to be part of the games, what happens while they are there, and what they take with them from the world stage. I’m particularly blown away by some of the youngest and oldest Olympians out there – the youngest show such poise not usually seen in folks their age and the older competitors show such stamina, such drive. It’s incredible to watch. I loved the Opening Ceremonies, particularly the way London brought together all the countries with the Olympic torch. What a perfect metaphor for the games themselves!

There are a ton of other things I’m grateful for and am loving lately. Here’s a list of just some of them:

♥ Perrier. ♥ Marc Jacob’s Lola perfume (on me, notes of peony, clove and cinnamon spice with just a hint of pepper, creamy musk, and fresh pear). ♥ Brownies and Broomsticks (murder, mystery, magic, baking, running, insomnia, sexy men, and smart women – what more can one ask for?) . ♥ Grace Potter & the Nocturnals. ♥ Drop Dead Diva. ♥ The woman someone should write a book about. Is it me? You? What does she look like? How does she act? She’s one special lady. ♥ Emotional Brilliance by LUSH (I know, I know, I’m gaga over this company. But, handmade vegetarian and vegan products, natural organic ingredients, no testing on animals, and they don’t use palm oil, what’s not to love?!). ♥ The 2012 London Summer Olympians (especially Louis Smith (GB), Jordyn Wieber (USA), Missy Franklin and the entire swim team doing a video of Call Me, Maybe (USA), Zoe Smith (GB), Guor Marial (Independent), Lee-Marvin Bonevacia (Independent), Reginald de Windt (Independent), and Philipine van Aanholt (Independent). ♥ Great and practical post on how to buy and take are of high heels. ♥ Working with Creative Services on design projects. ♥ Project Unicorn. ♥ These guys became human film developers when they ate 35mm film. What?! You have to see it to believe it. ♥ Some advice we could ALL stand to remember: Don’t Lose Your Creativity. ♥

Summer Lovin’

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Love A La Carte features all the little things that make my life just a little more delicious.

♥ The above illustration from wishcandy.net. ♥ This makes my heart jump up and down with happiness: the Business 9 Women Kept Secret for Three Decades. ♥ Affordable Care Cat (the Supreme Court upholding the Affordable Care Act was HUGE good news for this country, a huge win for the underprivileged and for women in particular). ♥ How neat is this documentary on the Cave of Forgotten Dreams?! ♥ This article on mental health really made me think: Why Americans Are Anxious, Stressed, Depressed, and Fat. What do you think? Are we addicted to novelty? Is technology too much for our brains? Do you find yourself overwhelmed? I know I do. Sometimes I just have to step away from the computer and the phone and take a breath of fresh air. ♥ Some fantastic combination of art and science: Berndnaut Smilde Makes Real Clouds Appear Inside Gallery (and photographs them). ♥ Making plans for a vacation and getting out of the city for a week for time with my family, relaxation, and lots of time by the water, both beach and pool. ♥ Taking a well-deserved coffee break. ♥ Getting stains on my fingers from fresh summer fruit, especially berries. ♥ Thunderstorms. ♥ LUSH’s Ocean Salt scrub, which is great for tired feet – I use this for at-home pedicures. ♥ Having a really rotten argument turn into a learning experience. ♥ Second chances. Or third. Or fourth. Or… ♥ Candy-colored Post-It Notes. ♥ The Princess Bride (forever a favorite). ♥ Trips to Barnes & Noble because new books are so exciting! (And walking around among books is good for the soul.) ♥ Discovering new music via friends online. ♥ Dressing up for no reason at all. ♥ Looking at photos from past vacations and trips and loving how utterly happy everyone looks. ♥

My Summer Beach Vacation Spotify Playlist:

This wonderful chat between friends about beauty, gratitude, and self-love:

Spring Fever

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Love A La Carte features all the little things that make my life just a little more delicious.

♥ popping bubbly to celebrate the completion of a huge project ♥ walking outside in the sunshine ♥ these 5 Manifestos for Life ♥ watching tv shows without commercials (thanks, Netflix!) ♥ getting a thank-you package in the mail for helping out a friend overseas ♥ buying gifts for someone… just because ♥ orange juice ♥ the intersection of art and science that brought about the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts to creating rainbows in the sky ♥ The Adventures of Merlin (or Merlin), the British tv show (obsessed! – I LOVE the Aurthurian legends, The Mists of Avalon is one of my favorite books… anyone else?) ♥ this Impressionism exhibition at the Carnegie Museum of Art, recapturing the radical nature of the artistic movement ♥ my new favorite drink, which still needs a name: St. Germain, pomegranate juice, soda water ♥ getting my first BirchBox in the mail ♥ 15 Clever Ideas for Instagram Photos ♥ drinking tea from Cherie Anne Designs ♥ Harry Potter Weekend on ABC (I love that they include deleted scenes!) ♥ sending little notes via e-mail or Twitter DM to congratulate friends on their successes ♥ the 90s alternative station on Spotify ♥ having friends who are embarking on the Camp NaNoWriMo adventure with me ♥ this awesome, inspirational article from Gala Darling on 10 Ways to Make Your Instagram Photos Pop (with application recommendations!) ♥ reliving my adventures in Indonesia by blogging about it and reading my mom’s take on the trip, as well ♥ buying books from a brick and mortar bookstore ♥ bright, multi-colored Post-its ♥ tips on How to Start Your Blog with a Bang (good tips for new and old bloggers alike) ♥

this inspirational commencement speech by Neil Gaiman at the University of the Arts (2012)

Beautiful Beltane

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Love A La Carte features all the little things that make my life just a little more delicious.

A Lesson in Creativity from Hitchcock ♥ What I Know About Beauty Now That I’m in My 30′s (I’m actually looking forward to my 30′s…) ♥ dreaming about travel every night ♥ co-independence, a blog post about relationships and knowing and loving yourself first ♥ sharing a blogging passion with my mom, who also chronicled our adventures in Singapore ♥ lynda.com ♥ Another great post from Eat the Damn Cake (this one’s about the power of positive thinking!) ♥ an exhibition of Leonardo DaVinci’s anatomical work reveals a genius centuries ahead of his rivals ♥ Gala Darling’s “Style Tips”, which include bathtub mimosas, talking on the phone, alternative flower vases, sparkly eye-wear, and the celebration of Beltane! ♥ going to the Spoutwood Fairie Festival to celebrate Beltane with some of the best people I know! ♥ this quote: “Don’t fight what excites you and what lights you up inside.” – Matt Cheuvront ♥

Oh, Darling, Let’s Be Adventurers

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design by Fifi du Vie

Eat Like an Artist in 2012 ♥ my new Wonderland playlist on Spotify ♥ iCal ♥ the above image from Fifi du Vie ♥ Being Erica ♥ Jay Z and Kanye West’s Watch the Throne ♥ Move and the world will get the fuck out of your way. – <3 Hey Amber Rae ♥ Pinterest ♥ This post about a true adventurer and his 365 photography project (make sure to watch the fascinating and moving video). ♥ the complete works of Shakespeare free for iOS ♥ Shit DC Says ♥ letterpress business cards ♥ John Legend’s cover of Adele’s Rolling in the Deep (can you imagine if they collaborated? OMG.) ♥ Adobe Bridge ♥ mimosas ♥ President Obama singing Al Green’s Let’s Stay Together ♥

What adventures are you up to? I’m brainstorming my own for 2012…