More motion graphics.

I've been having a difficult time being creative lately. There are a lot of things I want to do - ie: create prints for above our bed, crochet, make ornaments, decorate our house, etc. I'm just having a really hard time finding the time, and more importantly, the inspiration to even start on any projects.

I stole this animation from my friend Hanna's facebook page in hopes that it would give me a hint on how to overcome this brain block. I find the music to be a bit...melodramatic? Depressing for sure; but I'm wiling to try anything to get inspired again. If you watch it, just turn your speakers way down.


29 WAYS TO STAY CREATIVE from TO-FU on Vimeo.

Next week, Eric & I will be floating the grand canyon. I'm hoping the change in scenery will help.

Cat door

In an attempt to get the cat litter box OUT OF THE MIDDLE OF THE HALLWAY we put a cat door in the kitchen so Little Lord Burlington can go downstairs to do his business. It's not working though. He can't figure out how to open the door.

As you can see, I'm going to have to touch-up the chalkboard paint. Kids, this is what happens when you don't sand your surface prior to painting.

Lookit I Made!

While we were in Kalispell last month, my mom gave me a crash course on how to crochet! I've wanted to know how to knit and/or crochet for a while so I could make a nice throw or something, but decided my first project should be considerably less ambitious. I made a dish rag! :)

I love how nubby is it! Will persevere in an attempt to one day make a throw. I have to now, Eric bought me this book at Borders' going-out-of-business sale:

Ah ha!

So this is what our bathtub would look like with white tile!

Good to know! Won't be doing that!

Best. Animation. Ever.

So cool.

Fische und Schiffe from ADAA Gallery on Vimeo.

Bathroom Planning

It has been confirmed; we are going to attempt to remodel our bathroom before Thanksgiving! This is what our bathroom looks like now:

No shower, brown tile, butterfly wallpaper....I'm really looking forward to brightening it up and GETTING RID OF THE CARPET!!! Seriously, who puts carpet in a bathroom?! Nasty.
Here are some inspiration photos.....

I love white tile. And this shower curtain cracks me up.

I think this will be what our master bath looks like.

kinda cool sink.

I really like this sink. Pedestal for two.

I could handle this vanity.

And these last two are probably my favorite:

I really like the floors and the wooden "rug" in here. I would very much like to have a pedestal sink, but I think we'll probably need counter space. Finding a vanity I like has proven difficult, however.

This image intrigues me because I was surprised to find myself really liking the white and peach. It's lovely and feminine but it also leads me to wonder what would happen if we kept the peach tub we have and did white everywhere else.....? With maybe hints of peachiness? It would save us $295 but perhaps the tub color isn't subtle enough....?

I'm trying to imagine this with white tile. I don't think it's working.

Concrete Poured

Another thing Eric knocked out this weekend was pouring a pad for the air conditioner. Once again, I was impressed with and kind of surprised by his mad skills.

Diggin' a hole

Smoothing it out

Ta da! Air conditioner in place

This seems like a little project but it's something that had to be done before we can start on building a back deck...

Entryway Progress

Last weekend Eric dug into the house with a vengeance. I think my parents' help on our bedroom has inspired him and shown him that progress is possible! I think.

So this weekend he worked like a mad man digging out more stumps, pouring concrete and TILING OUR ENTRYWAY!!!!!!

The first thing Eric did was to patch the hole left by this wall. This took a few days of patching, drying, and sanding. And then one of careful texturing.

Lord Burlington loves to supervise

 Sunday saw the bulk of the work; Eric was determined to get the tile laid.

Laying tile

Yes, I do occasionally help

After waiting a couple of days for the tiles to set, Eric then grouted them...

wiping grout from the tiles

This is what they looked like this morning:

The grout still has to cure and be sealed and I guess Eric has to add an edge piece, but I couldn't wait to share. I'm so excited to have another project crossed off the list!

I am all about this

My newest favorite tool is Pinterest. It's a great site that stores images & links of things you love/are inspired by for later reference. I've only been using it a week, but it has already drastically reduced the number of images stored on my computer, emails I send to myself, and girly posts I leave on Eric's facebook wall. It's basically just a giant inspiration board!

This is what my homepage looks like - it's an assortment of things I like + the images that people I "follow" have collected.

This is my collection of "boards" - the categories I've sorted things into.

Thank you Chrissie for the invite! Just Pin it!

Drawringzzz

I've been busy at work making comps for the "concept" stage of G&G's advertising pitch to Big Brothers Big Sisters. The concept (which is not mine) has to do with mimicry (if it's not obvious) and the ads will be placed in reservations in five regions of the country. G&G will show my illustrations to BBBS and they'll decide if they like the concept and how to proceed from there.

I'm not going to lie, I traced some. There wasn't time not to. But this project has been good for me because I've learned a lot more about using Photoshop! Thanks, Mike!

Something

I nearly forgot....

Kitty eats trees

I got nothing today (we're in the middle of a couple of projects and I want to wait to post them until they're finished), so here's a video of my cat. Because I like my cat. And I want to know if videos can post on here...

Accessories!

I have finally found it. After MONTHS of searching for an affordable lamp in the style I like, Lowe's has finally delivered. One for each bedside table! Which, btw, I also have to find.

Now I just have to decide.... white lampshade or lovely linen lampshade.....(I like the linen but it tends to blend in with the walls).

see? Lineny or white?

I don't think I ever mentioned it, but the color of our walls is a really light greyish brownish color. Greige? Is that a color? Because it's that color. Sometimes it looks a bit browner than I like, but overall, it's nice. Here's a photo of my paint colors - the darker is the walls, the white is the ceiling, and the fabric is for our headboard (actually, the fabric is the upholstery fabric I bought for my sofa, but Eric had me get extra to do our headboard too):

Eric and I cannot agree on the size of said headboard. I want it to be at least 4'3" tall (measuring from the ground). He wants a shorter, more streamlined board. On his side is the fact that foam is sold by the yard in 2 foot wide segments. Foam is not cheap. So for us to require only one strip, the headboard can only be four feet tall (a little less than two feet above the bed). We've measured the 4'3" headboard out and taped it to our wall. This is supposed to help our decision.

Our headboard is going to be similar to this one from Crate&Barrel. Except a rectangle. We're not going to attempt the curve.

I also found a rug. It's for Eric's side of the bed so his toesies are protected from the cold floor when he gets up in the morning. I'm only going to show a corner of it because....I'm unsure of the color scheme and I don't want to be judged. I'm not unsure of the rug color, I love the rug, I'm just getting used to this recent color change. Originally our bedroom was going to be greys & blues and now it's going to be greys & sagey greens & shades of white. Why the change, you ask? Because of the sofa fabric. Which has been decreed to also be the headboard fabric. Which will be nice. It's just different than the grey I had planned and now I feel a bit unsure of what to do. Like, what kind of bench storage ottoman thing do I get now? And how do I break the news to Eric that we're going to need a new bedspread...?

Type Time

I have received two amazing gifts in the last couple of months. The first is a chest of old newspaper type, the second, a typewriter!

Eric's aunt Julie loaded up this huge file cabinet of type and hauled it all the way from ND to CO and then Eric's parents drove it from Co to Billings. Thank you to all who lifted, pushed, shoved, and carried this thing to our home. It's pretty stinking awesome.

Box 1 of letters

Box 2

 and #3, my favorites!

The typewriter was given to me by my friend, Hanna. I've always wanted one and I'm so excited to use it! Even Eric has enjoyed clacking away - he's started using it to write our checks. The only one in our household who doesn't love the typewriter is the cat. It's too loud for his sensitive ears. Big baby.

B is for Brindle! and Brianna!