Macrame Update

I recently completed three new macrame pieces which are currently for sale in my Etsy shop. Come take a look HERE.

♥ anne

JILL BLISS

I came across Jill Bliss' work the other day and just thought it was so beautiful that I had to share it!

You can see more of her art here on her website and follow her on Instgram @jill_bliss or view her photos here if you aren't on IG.

♥ anne

salvation mountain

earlier this week we spent a few days in palm desert with my mom celebrating my birthday. and since we were in the general area of salvation mountain i decided that we had to go. i've been wanting to go there for years. the first time i heard of it was from the tv show, California's Gold (you can view the episode here). after that i was pretty determined to get there. 
ruben and i got up early and ended up going alone on friday morning. and i'm glad to report that it was just as awesome as i thought it would be. i highly recommend making the trip and if you want good lighting for pictures i'd suggest going at sunset not in the morning like we did.

♥ anne

max dalton

how amazing are these illustrations by max dalton?!!

he doesn't miss a thing! i love yoko in the super rad beatles poster, "the rug man, it really tied the room together"-awesome!, we have wes anderson, guitar gods, westerns and every horror legend including ash from army of darkness (one of ruben's favorite movies). genius!

check out more here.

♥anne

samuel and archibald

several months ago, i did a swap with the very talented whitney gardner. below is the woodblock print i just had to have, it was love at first sight. i believe it is her grandpa, archibald. a few months after receiving it i read east of eden (my new favorite book) and couldn't help but see the resemblance in archibald and how i pictured samuel hamilton would look.

"Adam saw a big man, bearded like a patriarch, his graying hair stirring in the air like thistledown. His cheeks above his beard were pink where the sun had burned his Irish skin...After a quick glance Adam came back to the eyes, light blue and filled with a young delight. The wrinkles around them were drawn in radial lines inward by laughter."

♥ anne

estate sale treasures

Look at all my goodies!

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Among other things, I bought an old metal lunch box, a cool little leather camera case, a Kodak Instamatic x-15 camera, which I believe is in working condition, a rad old cheese crate, a vintage Polaroid with case with film inside, an old book, some vintage lingerie, the cutest crop top I've ever seen and last but not least an amazing Paint by Numbers painting.

Needless to say I'm pretty stoked right now! I'm not sure if the Polaroid works but, considering what excellent condition it's in I'm betting it does. The lens is one of those that pops out and there was extra film in the case. You wanna know what's even crazier? I got it for $5!!!! YAY!

Hope your weekend is going great!

♥ anne

a sweet surprise

Yesterday, while browsing through The Salvation Army, I came upon this most lovely framed print. I picked it up, admired it, then set it down and kept walking. A few minutes later I was still thinking about it, so I went over and grabbed it and put it in my cart. I wasn't sure what I was going to do with it, but I just couldn't leave without it.

When I got home, I decided to take it out of it's ugly frame and look at it closer. When I opened the back, I saw this-

I felt like I had won a free prize! But it gets better. I assumed the original picture was on some sort of cheap paper, but to my surprise it's an actual photograph! This made me adore it even more.

I want to live this scene out. Everything is perfect! The girls, the clothes, the hats, the bike, the country lane...

So, do you think it's as lovely, dainty and feminine as I do?

At this point I'm not certain what I'm going to do with it. I'm not sure it's something my hubby would dig for our home, so I'm thinking of selling it. BUT, I do love it so! AAHHHH! The hard decisions we face in life.

♥ anne

Good Friday

But He was pierced for our offenses,
crushed for our sins;
upon Him was the chastisement that makes us whole,
by His stripes we were healed.
Isaiah 53:5

The Crucifixion, by El Greco
1596-1600
Museo del Prado, Madrid

I saw this painting when I was in Madrid many years ago. El Greco has since been one of my favorite artist. Hope you all have a wonderful day.

♥ anne

p.s. On a much lighter note...if you have not entered my giveaway yet, please do so here :D

living art

I have been in love with these framed succulents for quite a while now. Seeing as how they are pretty costly, I'm going to attempt to make one myself. Mine will not be as grand as those pictured, but I think designing one (even if it's small) will be a lot of fun.

All photos found via Flora Grubb Blog.

My Christmas Cards

Well, my Christmas cards are finally done! There are three different designs in the set- a Dodge Valiant, a VW Bus and a Fireball. The originals are water color and ink and all three say, "Merry Christmas" on them. They are up for sale in my shop, so come check them out.

♥ anne

Does your man have P.A.???

Hahaha! That ad is the greatest thing I've seen in a long time! I mean the first thing I look for in a man is Pipe Appeal! Doesn't every sophisticated lady? hehehe Ok, I'm not saying to start smoking or anything, but pipes sure are pretty awesome! And I think they smell good too. I found that set for my husband at an antique store a couple of months ago. I think they may have been his favorite gift I've ever given him. Now he just has to start using it. Wait, I take that back. We'll just put them out for decoration for now :)

p.s.- don't I look ladylike holding a pipe?

p.p.s.- this is what happens when I'm in the house for two days straight. Sick babies+ no sleep+nursing 24 hours a day+cabin fever= crazy!

papa and pipe by the Black Apple and the print is by matteart

I Am A Child

"I am a child,

I'll last a while.

You can't concieve

of the pleasure in my smile.

You hold my hand,

rough up my hair,

It's lots of fun,

to have you there."

Neil Young- "I Am A Child"

I love this song so much. We all know time goes by so fast with our little one's, and this song reminds us to really try to enjoy every moment with our children. Being a mother can be an overwhelming job at times, we get lost in the everyday stresses and forget about living in the present. Let us renew our motherly vows and make an effort to really be there for our ever needy children.

Artists starting from the top: The Paperboat, Shelli at Studio Mela and Tummy Mountain.

The Weather was Nice, We Slept in the Grass

I am in love with this print by Danna Ray! Not only do I want to own it, I want to be the girl in it. I first saw it at Where The Lovely Things Are (if you have not been there, do yourself a favor and go) and have since been thinking about it. Sleeping outdoors is always magical and I think this illustrates that perfectly.