Thoughtful Thursday: Growing Up

Lately I've been thinking a lot about where I'm going to be in the next year or so. Right now as you all know, I'm on my very last fall/winter break from school. The last time I'll have a month and a half to kick back and enjoy spending quality time with my family. Soon everything is going to change, and I hope I didn't take too much for granted.  After June the 4th, which is my graduation date, or close to it, life begins on my own.

I don't know if I've told you guys this but I"m somewhat of a Taylor Swift fan and I recently got her new album.  She wrote a song about her moving out and having her own apartment for the first time and she is singing to all the younger listeners out there who are in middle school or high school who are ready to grow up fast and do things on their own.  Little do they know when they actually get to that point, they are going to be wishing they were little again.  I can't tell you how many times I've said this in the past two months when I see little children running around. I say to myself, " Oh, to be little again, without a care in the world." They are such bundles of innocence with no worries at all.  On the other end of the spectrum, I can't say I have no worries or responsibility anymore because of course, our lives are full of them. I'm just taking it one step at a time to see how the journey will unfold.

Taylor's song is called  Never Grow Up. I know we all have to at some point, but the message that she is sending is not to rush yourself into it.  Also with a sister who just turned 13 years old, I"m dedicating this song to her.  I love you Amy ;)

Click here for a listen

Never Grow Up

Your little hands wrapped around my finger

And it's so quiet in the world tonight,
Your little eyelids flutter cause your dreaming

So, I tuck you in

Turn on your favorite night light

To you, everything's funny

You got nothing to regret

I'd give all I had, honey

If you could stay like that 

Oh, darling don't you ever grow up

Don't you ever grow up 

Just stay this little 

Oh, darling don't you ever grow up

Don't you ever grow up 

It can stay this simple

I won't let nobody hurt you, won't let no one break your heart

And no one will desert you 

Just try to never grow up, and never grow up 

You're in the car on the way to the movies

And, you're mortified

Your mom's dropping you off

At fourteen, there's just so much you can't do 

And you can't wait to move out someday and call your own shots

But, don't make her drop you off around the block 

Remember that she's getting older too 

And don't lose the way that you dance around in your PJ's getting ready 

for school

Oh, darling don't you ever grow up

Don't you ever grow up 

Just stay this little 

Oh, darling don't you ever grow up

Don't you ever grow up 

It can stay this simple

And no one's ever burned you 

Nothing's ever left you scarred

And even though you want to 

Just try to never grow up 

Take pictures in your mind of your childhood room

Memorize what it sounded like when your dad gets home

Remember the footsteps, remember the words said 

And all your little brother's favorite songs 

I just realized everything I had is someday gonna be gone 

So, here I am in my new apartment 

In a big city, they just dropped me off

It's so much colder than I thought it would be 

So, I tucked myself in and turned my night light on 

Wish I'd never grown up

I wish I'd never grown up 

Oh, I don't wanna grow up 

Wish I'd never grown up 

Could still be little 

Oh, I don't wanna grow up 

Wish I'd never grown up 

It could still be simple 

Oh, darling don't you ever grow up

Don't you ever grow up 

Just stay this little 

Oh, darling don't you ever grow up

Don't you ever grow up 

It can stay this simple

I won't let nobody hurt you

Won't let no one break your heart

And even you want to 

Please, try to never grow up 

Oh, whoa 

Don't you ever grow up 

Oh, whoa 

Never grow up 

Just never grow up

Florence Broadhurst

Today is the first day for "Wild Card Wednesday" and I wanted to share a book that I am currently reading called Florence Broadhurst: Her Secret and Extraordinary Lives. I got the book at Anthropologie a little while ago. I just started reading it a few days ago, and I'm already half way through and can't put it down. Florence Broadhurst is a very eccentric woman who grew up in the 20s. She never let the art world out of her sight no matter where she went.  She is known for her brightly colored retro wall papers and her very extravagant personality.

There is a huge mystery behind the death of Florence, which was a murder in 1977, and it's one of the reasons why I can't put it down because  I've got to know exactly what happened. She was still living a full life at 78 years old, and from the story thus far,  I don't think she was finished creating.   Also, Florence's stream of events are all so interesting. Her career path changes so many times, along with the name she gives herself each time with some other secret events.  The best part is that everywhere she goes, and everything she does is based off of her purely, raw talent. I would tell you the whole story so far, but of course  I wouldn't want to spoil it. This book is such a great read and I recommend it for anyone who wants to learn something new, or just to get to know another amazing artist.

Something to Look Forward To

photo by libookpearson-( I am in love with her journaling skills)

Hello Friends! 

So, You and I both know that once I've started with class back in Savannah in the past, my blogging has been put on the back burner, but I want to stop the back burning and create a day to day system.  I originally post whatever inspiration comes to mind, or whatever I happen to see during the day that may spark an idea for a post, but with all the chaos that's going on around me it has been hard doing it while I'm in school. Soooo, I am going to prepare myself by creating a blog topic schedule for myself day to day to make things a lot easier and natural for me when I  post. This will be something to look forward to, because not only will I know, but you guys will know what to look forward to each day I make a post.  So here we go, and here's the schedule:

Mondays: Blog Praise (I will be praising a blog each week for you guys to check out!)

Tuesdays:  Textile Tuesdays (any textile artist, pattern, or product I fall in love with that particular week will be shared- after all, it's what I do!)

Wednesdays: Wild Card Wednesdays (could be about anything!)

Thursdays: Thoughtful Thursdays (This will be a more personal post that will allow me to connect better with all of you guys.  Thursdays are usually the last day of my school week, so i'ts a day to think about what all was accomplished and learned throughout that particular week. I find myself pondering the most on Thursdays, so you guys can give me your opinions and let me know what you are up to as well! I look forward to inspiring one another about life <3 ) 

Fridays: Photo Fridays (As you all know my passion for beautiful photography)

And that's it! I hope you are looking forward to it as much as I am :)

Blog Praise: Dottie Angel

I'm starting a blog praise at the beginning of each week, or a blog of the week rather.  This week I want to praise Dottie Angel, by Tif, who  I found through the Artful Blogging magazine (Winter 2010 issue). I absolutely love her eclectic style, and the imagination behind "Dottie Angel" herself. Tif also has an etsy shop with more of her work and beautiful images. Enjoy :)

[Click images for details]

All images taken by Tif.

First Snow of the Year

I absolutely love snow. In the little southern town of Florence, Alabama snow is rarely seen, or rarely seen by me to say the least. We usually get our first snow when I have to leave from my holiday break to go back to Savannah for classes, but I'm so happy I get to see it today, and I wanted to share it with you. To all of you guys who never get to see snow, I dedicate this to you :) This is a view of the snow falling from the lake.

Have a Lovely Weekend

I'm warm and cozy, ready for the Holidays. I hope you all have a fabulous and relaxing weekend! Here is my current favorite holiday song. Enjoy :)

{photo by Marie Louise Windsor}

"Christmas Tonight"  -Dave Barnes and Lady Antebellum's Hillary Scott

Ana Montiel

Ana Montiel is a print designer, as well as a free lance art director and designer. She is based in London and all of her patterns are done by hand. Ana also does beautiful illustrative work. I love how abstract her work is. There are many geometric shapes in her patterns but she achieves them in a very organic way with color and placement creating so much movement in her prints. Great work Ana, and keep up the good work! Check out her website and her blog for more. 

Illustrative Works

{click images for location}

Fossil Finds

I am absolutely loving what I've spotted at Fossil. I recently visited an accessory store and a clothing store, and I seriously wanted to buy out everything in each one.  Here are a few things I was eyeing while I browsed. Enjoy!