moving day.

Hello all! 

Vintage Refashioned now has it's own space. Hooray! Please join me here for any and all updates about my work. 

I'll still pop in here to post my thoughts on life, politics, humility and sensitivity. Which honestly was the reason I began this blog in the first place. It's time for this space to return to it's roots. 

Here is the Walt Whitman poem that inspired the title for this blog. I hope it inspires you.

This is what you shall do: love the earth and the animals, despise riches, give alms to every one that asks, stand up for the stupid and the crazy, devote your income and labor to others, hate tyrants, argue not concerning god, have patience and indulgence toward the people, take off your hat to nothing known or unknown or to any man or number of men, go freely with powerful uneducated persons and with the young and with the mothers of families, read these leaves in the open air every season of every year of your life, re-examine all you have been told at school or church or in any book, dismiss whatever insults your own soul, and your very flesh shall be a great poem and have the richest fluency not only in its words but in the silent lines of its lips and face and between the lashes of your eyes and in every motion and joint of your body.....

space.

my mini banner

paintings in Jim's space

my shared space. gorgeous wall painted by Jen

Pistachio Press

my little friend, the studio cat

It's been far too long since I posted here. I've been busy moving in to an actual studio space! I'm splitting a small area within a larger shared space. My studio mates are Rachael & Jake of Pistachio Press,  Jim DeLucia, and Jen of Beeswax and Horsehair. I couldn't ask for better folks to share a space with. Each and every one of them is incredibly talented, supportive, and encouraging.

I'm looking forward to spending as much time as I can here, working toward making a serious business out of my crafts, and having a shit ton of fun.

More to come soon, as I have tons of new ideas to share.

new-ish

A collaboration with my good friend Rachael at Pistachio Press! I absolutely love these. You can find the entire set of eight: art, bicycle, books, dog, rap, unicorn, vampire, and zombie in my shop.

Back on my feet

This afternoon I went out for a run for the first time since mid October. It's hard to say why I stopped. I guess life just took over in the autumn. We moved, friends opened a new stationery shop, the holidays came and went in a blur. And before I knew it, two and a half months had passed since I last got out there.

I was nervous that I'd be cold and unpracticed. That I'd forget all I'd learned in the fall. I still haven't even finished the Couch to 5k program yet. But the moment I set foot out the door I felt better than I have in months. It was amazing just to be moving again. And the stride, the breathing, the energy - it all came back to me like it had never left.

It took me until age 36 to realize that it is possible for me to even do this, let alone like it. But I think I can actually say that I love it.

36 years to understand that I am capable of this. That I can push myself. That I can do more than I thought I could.

I am built for this.
:)

oh dear.

It certainly has been a while.
Hmmm.... I could offer excuses or explanations, but they will all sound weak and sad.

Life gets busy.

But I miss it here. So I'll be around so more. That I can promise.

to the river

So much time has passed. Yet it hardly seems possible. Much of my time this winter has been spent trying to figure out how to like it more. I bought a short coat so that I may venture outside for a walk in the park - something I live for in the warm weather. But the cold just oppresses me and keeps me indoors. Earlier in the year, I vowed to myself make a list of things that I truly love about winter in an attempt to make it less overwhelming. As the sun shines now, it seems a little past due, but knowing the weather around here, I am sure we are in for another cold snap. So, here goes.

Things I love about winter:

1. The way the light looks different at night. Is it the reflective property of snow that makes the evenings look so much brighter? It's a quality of light that is so hard to define.

2. That feeling of complete and utter quiet that comes over the world when it snows.

3. The crows and bare tree branches silhouetted against the sky.



Every evening, without fail, the crows of this city migrate to the river. This happens year round, but it is especially compelling in the winter. I have yet to find out if they are all headed to one particular spot or if they line the banks of the Genesee for miles, filling the bare trees with crow-shaped leaves. It is haunting, somewhat mysterious and altogether beautiful. It's as if they know something that I don't. Trying to capture this on camera has left something out.... It can't compare to the real thing.

Blue Moss

Just want to say a quick thanks to Michelle over at blue moss for featuring me on her super awesome blog today!


What a great way to start the day!

joAnn
p.s. - the Seattle map is newly listed in my shop, as well as Portland. (Ukraine was a custom order)