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Alex Box & Rankin

While browsing online today, I came across some...

INNNSPIIIII-RAAAAA-TION!!!!!!!

Oddly enough, up until today, I had never heard of Alex Box.  She's fantastic!  She's the Make-Up Artist behind the UK brand Illamasqua.  She does the runway make-up looks for the likes of Alexander McQueen, Stella McCartney and Karl Lagerfeld.  

She just released a book of breathtakingly artistic make-up images shot by photographer, Rankin.  Due to the respect of their copyright on their images, I dare not post them here!  Instead, I'll link you to Rankin's website where you can drool see for yourself!!

Try NOT to be inspired by the color, texture and creativity that is ooooozing out of these photos.

.........

Amazing quote on the Illamasqua blog:

ODE TO MY ALTER EGO

MY ALTER EGO IS THE PERSON I WANT TO BECOME.
SHE'S DARKER, BOLDER, BRAVER.
SHE'S A MORE INTERESTING VERSION OF ME.
SHE DOESN'T HOLD BACK.
SHE DOESN'T GIVE A DAMN.
SOMETIMES, I LET MYSELF BECOME MY OTHER I.
WHEN SHE WALKS OUT AND TAKES OVER,
I FALL IN LOVE WITH WHO I AM.

Patchwork Pippi

This week Evan and I went to the eye doctor to pick up his new glasses, which happens to be right by the library.  I realized that I have not been into a library or checked out books since.. well, I guess since college 2 years ago - but even then it was only because I had to.  I haven't done it because I wanted to since I was REALLY young!   I have had this craving to buy new books lately but I've also been on this "saving money" kick.  So I thought *duhh* I should see what the library has to offer!

It turns out that they had a ton of awesome crafty books!!!  Aaaaaahhh!!

I left with a few.  One of them is this:

This book is so simply designed and so full of inspiration.  

I wish I could show you every single page of it and all the cool things there are to make!  

But that would take forever so instead I'll show you the first thing I decided to make.

A stuffed elephant!  Haha!!

This is their version:

I love the print they used.  It's so cute and works so well in the design.

I didn't have anything like it so my elephant makes a different statement :)

The book divides projects into how long they take to make.  This was in the 4-8 hour section.

It ended up only taking me 2 and a half hours!

I guess I'm super speedy!

I named her Pippi.

Here she is... the guardian of the sewing machine!

I plan to make many more projects from these library books - and I will share them as I go!!

I'm so excited to learn more new things!!!

Card Catalog

I hope to one day own such a collection of books that I need a card catalog just to keep them organized.  I'm talking floor to ceiling (need a ladder with wheels on a track) collection! 

A friend of mine sent me a package the other day (I just love getting real mail!!).  Inside it was a book that she said I must read.  I'm excited.  I know it will be good - because she is an English Major currently - and has read A LOT of books!!

We went into Barnes & Noble on Saturday afternoon just to get ONE book that I had in mind to get.  I practically freaked out as I looked around and got distracted along the way by all the amazingly awesome books and journals and magazines calling my name.  I maintained my will power and only left with the book I went in for... plus one more.  Not bad.

This is the one that I wanted:

This is the one that I just had to get, even though I didn't go in there with the intention of buying it.  A blog that I frequently read (http://afancifultwist.typepad.com/) had mentioned in a post of hers that she was featured in Artful Blogging magazine.  Then while at B&N... I spotted the mag on the shelf and instantly grabbed it and purchased without thinking twice!

As it turns out... it is packed FULL of super inspirational artists and bloggers that I'm so excited to finally know about.  I can't wait to begin reading their blogs too!  (Don't worry, I'll share them with you!)

 What an addicting little blogiverse this is!

Physical Labor

I'm exhausted!! 

Let me show you why...

I wanted a bookshelf to go here:

 

So, I bought one - then built it.  By myself.  Even the parts in the instructions that said "this step requires two persons".  Technically, it DOESN'T require two persons.  Unless those two people only have one hand each. 

Here's how big it is:

 

And then finally... I filled it!!  I'm on my way to having that huge personal library :)

 

Eye spy: two chopstick holders from Brimfield!

I still have one more book shelf to build (for the bedroom) but I'm way too tired now, so I'm saving that for another day.

I'm thinking about slingin' some paint on it somewhere/somehow. 

Any ideas??