I like to pop in from time to time to show you what I think is really cool. I found out about the photographer, Amy Friend, through The Jealous Curator (you should definitely jot down TJC for future reads), I instantly fell in love with all of her work. My favorite has to be her Dare alla Luce collection. In Italian, Dare alla Luce is a phrase said to describe the moment of birth, and she used it for this collection of hers because she's giving life back to old photos. How cool is that?
"Through small deliberate interventions, I altered these vintage images, allowing light to pass through them. (After all, photographs are made possible with light.) In a literal and somewhat playful manner, I aimed to give the photographs back to the light, hence the title of the series, Dare alla Luce, an Italian phrase used to describe the moment of birth."
Whimsical, unusual, nostalgic, and charming. Last week, I spent a bit of a lot of time over at P.H. Fitzgerald's photography portfolio website. These photos inspire me to take more photos and to go outside more often. I forgot to mention that I am now a member of the Zipcar family! Meaning that I can rent a car for a few hours - giving me the opportunity to get out of the city and into the corn fields. Boy do I miss the corn fields.... they're the best here in the midwest.
The first photo I'm sharing reminds me of the mini road trips that I miss. Thank you P.H. Fitzgerald for bringing me back those memories and getting me excited to get in my first Zipcar.
I really came across the blog of the handcrafted denim company, Imogene and Willie. I felt like I had to share their story with you because I was extremely moved by their words {you should watch their video on the front page of the website} and their dreams for their company. It made me feel good and confident in growing my business to know that there are companies out there like Imogene and Willie, who are completely devoted and love what they've created. Recently, they paired up with Anthropologie. As myself, I can only imagine a fear of your small-business company, or basically your child, turning into something that you didn't want it to grow to. The idea of mass production, or someone turning your company into their idea. Reading the I+W blog, I read that they were hesitant - and almost paranoid - of joining forces with Anthropologie... and that they are normal, passionate, and creative people living in Tennessee who happened to work hard at what they love and turn it into something.
Imogene and Willie are now apart of Anthropologies Made in Kind project, whose purpose is to display fresh emerging talent. They're also sponsoring a giveaway for your own custom pair of jeans, a t-shirt, and Anthro goodies! All you need in a Pinterest and some time to put together a collective board of denim. Get on it!
These are the kind of people that inspire me to keep creating. And I think that everyone should always be hesitant of what you chose to do, and always follow your heart because if you don't, you'll be always thinking "what if?"
I stumbled across Natalie Joos' blog Tales of Endearment through Tumblr earlier today. I've been on it for a while now and I must really like it because I just got lost on it for... oh, almost an how? Really though, it's hard not to get lost on it! Every post tells a different story about a different inspiring women with flawless fashion, and your eyes are drawn to the photos where you see Natalie's love for fashion, and what she does! They're great reads with great pictures. If you like reading about about inspiring and successful women who all have different killer styles, you'd dig it.
So that's what I'm doing right now. I'm just sitting here, reading blogs, and listening to a lot of Coeur De Pirate. I was contemplating to try to enjoy a Chicago night out, but as the clock ticks later, I feel more and more comfortable in my studio. This week seemed to be busy but slightly unorganized, hence the lack of posts. That sort of annoys me, but I keep telling myself it'll be easier soon and I'll get there. I did manage to finish another bag for Laura & next issue of The Bohemian Collective. I can't wait for her to receive it. I have another new bag I'm starting (maybe tonight) for another exciting Bird Trouble bag supporter, but I'll share that with you closer to the date!
Other than that, this week has been one of those weeks where I think about traveling. I started looking at apartments in SF Bay Area, reminiscing about my past year residence there. I'm not considering moving by all means, but I like thinking about when would be the next right time in my life to check out a different city. This is the longest my residence been planted in Chicago and I love it for right now, but I always have that itch to go everywhere and anywhere.
I had a giveaway for the Shabby Apple last week and was supposed to announce the winner yesterday. Thank you for your patience and dun dun dun... the winner $50 credit giveaway is Mary Beth! Who happened to love the I'm Late! I'm Late! dress. Thanks everyone! Mary Beth, Shabby Apple will be in contact with you! Thanks everyone for joining in!
Even if you didn't win, don't forget that you can still receive 10% off from Shabby Apple for another two weeks. Just use my coupon code when you're checking out : birdtrouble10off
Have a wonderful weekend! You'll hear from me again if I don't melt away here in Chicago. It's hawt here.
I´ve been watching a lot of videos lately from blogs to blogs, to youtube, to Vimeo (just to name a few) to gain inspiration. I´ve never been on a video kick like this. I´m glad I fell into this because it´s important to stir up where you look for inspiration, and look somewhere different for a change. I found these other artists motivating and I felt the need to catalogue them into my blog for myself, and for you! I´ve been finding really interesting ones with really uplifting ones too.
Please enjoy them and let me know your thoughts!
I think I was just really drawn to her little weird personality and how she started with saying she´s a control freak, and giving that part of her
personality a reason to why she loves doing what she is making. I also thought it was nice to see her motivation but, to be honest, this is totally different from my typical artists and tracks on my playlists, but I liked it! I have never been introduced to music
like this. It was refreshing to hear something totally different.
Oh and before I move on, Dazed Digital is awesome. I geeked out on it for so long last night, I had to remove myself from it so I could actually go to bed at a decent time, but I did save it in my bookmarks for future inspiration. On to the next video...
Okay, what?! Thermoreactive ink? I wish I could read Keep Our Secrets! I mean, I had some really cool books when I was a kid, but this is so neat. It reminds me that I never mentioned that I recently picked out some
of my favorite books from when I was a child that were left at my parents house. I currently have them in a wooden crate in my
bedroom and I´m going to start reading them again.
ABOUT KEEP OUR SECRETS:
Two young children wander through their noisy
house and quiet back yard with fresh eyes, discovering a hidden world full of
strange and delightful surprises. Featuring heat-sensitive, color-changing ink
on every page!
Each drawing has hidden images beneath,
visible only when the reader rubs the page to warm the disappearing black ink.
Among the hidden images: a man in the moon, a briefcase full of hidden messages,
and a tree that doubles as a high-rise apartment building for squirrels.
