DIY Wall Paper.

Last week I was washed over with a fit of inspiration.  I plucked impressionist prints out of an old book that husband purchased for me.  I removed my polaroid wall as seen {here.}  And lined the dreamlike images in rows and columns, taping them to the wall with masking tape.  I'm in love.  It truly adds warmth and panache to our space.  More photos to come.  

THE RULES by: Corita Kent via Keri Smith.

Culture Club: 100 Things.

Recently I was introduced to Keri Smith by way of {this} girl, who found Keri through one of her friends.  I fell in love with Keri Smith's 100 Ideas to write in a journal.  I thought this would be a fun activity to share with my girl friends from college.  Who by the way are scattered from sea to shining sea now!  We started last week, and have been doing one assignment daily.  Some of the tasks include:




1.  Go for a walk.  Draw or list the things you find on the side walk.

2.  Write a letter to your future self.

3.  Buy something inexpensive as a symbol for your need to create, (new pen, a tea cup, journal) use it every day.  {The picture above is my talisman fulfillment for number 3. It's a tiny movie camera, and when you click the handle the lens lights up and makes a projecting noise. Perfect daily reminder of what I love.}

4.  Draw your dinner.




The tiny assignments have been such fun to work on. It's particularly fascinating to see how my friends interpret the assignment and make it totally their own.  I feel that women should always stay sharp, and flex their creativity.  If you want to join in the fun, check out Keri Smith's blog {here.}  She has a pdf to down load her 100 things.  Let me know how it goes!

Creativity Tuesday: Our Library

Today's creative journey takes us to my library. I'm quite certain you've seen this technique before: color coordinating books. Another great idea is turning the books backwards so that only the pages show. If you have a small apartment as I do, I strongly suggest this for your personal library. As stated before, I am Obsessive Compulsive. Color coding allows calming visual order. {click on images to enlarge.}
On the shelves I enjoy contrasting stacking methods, and create an interest mixing in chotchkies.
An idea to steal: our magazine rack is a towel rod from Ikea. I love how the rack helps emphasize a lounge-esque feel to the corner.
Integrating bad art: I'm an art snob. When my husband brought this boring impressionist oil painting home I was disgusted. However, it's OUR home not MY home and he deserves representation. After some trial and error I found that it looked smart on top of the shelf with our kitschy, Russian stacking dolls in front. I'm pleased with the results, and Bryan is too. I hope you found an idea to inspire your flat.

Procrastination Station: Alphabet Magnets.

Yesterday I finally spray painted

my alphabet magnets.
The color is just fantastic,
and it incidentally matches my china!
My fridge looks so much livelier now.
P.S. Sister will be visiting in T-two days.

New Work.

These stolen pictures are from Bryan's latest creative submission.

I'm forever interested in seeing what he'll come up with next.

I think he's pretty darn talented. I'm biased, I realize, but he's brilliant.

I am perpetually inspired by the creative undertakings of my husband.

He exposes me to what I normally wouldn't uncover for myself.

As always: DO NOT tell Bryan that I showed you this!

{click on images to enlarge.}

Graffiti: Santa Barbara

I keep finding amazing graffiti everywhere I go.

Oftentimes it's when I'm driving and can't stop to photograph!

Inspiration Station: December Board.

This is my blue period for my inspiration board.

It's odd how a simple change can make a dramatic difference.

My Fort Update!

Oh, my word! Remember my entry {here} for the

Where The Wild Things Are fort contest?

Well, I made it onto the site! I doubt I'll place

because there's so many extraordinary forts, but I'm

oh-so pleased that I was recognized! Hooray! Check out

my photo and browse other incredible entries {here.}

Wild Thing, You Make My Heart Sing.

Bryan and I both participated in different WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE contests. I entered a fort making contest in anticipation for the flick. And Mr. Yazzie had a company contest for Urban Outfitters. He had to build the rootin' tootinest Wild Things concept possible for his store in Studio City. I think the Yazzies held their own for both contests. But I'll let you be the judge of that! Click on images to enlarge.

Ashley's Top Secret Fort.

Let the wild rumpus begin!

Bryan's wild front window.

Don't you love the wind blown tree?

I love the blossoms he made from cash wrap tissue!

Post Script: DO NOT tell Bryan that I posted this. He will absolutely slaughter me if he finds out I stole his pictures and exploited them. But I couldn't help myself, I think he did a brilliant job. He's so freakin' talented it makes me a little bit sick....and proud.

Inspiration Board: October

On Saturday night I felt quasi uninspired.

Therefore I immediately created a new
inspiration board.

It is oh-so much fun! The process brings out the kid in me.

{Click on photo to enlarge.}

Where do you draw inspiration from?

Inspiration Station: Step Into My Office.

In lieu of my thirty day life injection, I purchased some raw cork and pieced the squares together on the backboard of my desk. I must say, I am very pleased with the handsome results. I had such a wonderful experience creating an evolving inspiration board. My favorite part is the polaroid with the lovely pressed flowers taped carefully to it's bust. My work space may seem miniature, but soon she will become mighty. I'm a huge advocate of an office being an inviting, attractive space to usher creativity, innovation and perpetual development.

What is a life injection? I feel instinctively that my life needs a shot of creative adrenaline administered right to the proverbial tukus. I feel that lately I'm standing in the way of my own success. I've been tricking myself into thinking that I do "enough." Enough? Really? {Which isn't true at all.} I need to be living my life to the fullest to ensure preparedness for each and every opportunity that comes my way. I'm currently at a B-, I'm doing okay, barely above the average, but I want that A+ to give me a competitive edge.

For the next thirty days I will be experimenting with approaching tasks differently. Clearly what I've been doing, just isn't working. I will be rising at 6am daily, {which is the hard part for me} continuing my exercise regimen, and allotting myself found time to work on writing, rehearsing, role submissions, personal reflection, mediation and spirituality. All of this before ten! My mates Amber {from New York} and Sandy {Los Angeles} are joining me in this personal pilgrimage. Because now is the time to succeed! I've grown tired of my old bag of tricks, I desperately need some new ones. So, join me if you will. Apply a life injection as you see fit into your own existence. And please, let me know what transpires! I want to leave you with an amazing list of ten secrets of Creatively Successful People. Click {HERE.} The list truly made me stop and think of how to improve myself creatively. Good luck!

Cooking Up Dreams.

I've found that I seem to be getting older. {Which is brilliant!}

I feel like I'm barely becoming the woman I should

have always been. But I didn't know how to download

the Ashley version 3.0. properly. Shards of my general

core have always been in existence, but the program is

finally beginning to congeal together.

Lately I've been sauteing on the numerous things I want to learn

or perfect. Baking and cooking is sky high on my list.

Last Tuesday I took some action in developing in that area.

I shadowed the lead pastry chef at La Grande Orange to

learn new techniques for baking. We focused on pies!

I was a tad nervous, but the butterflies dissipated and

I began to get more comfortable. I learned several

new techniques that I'm excited to implement into my

own kitchen. This week I want to make a different pie

using my new found set of skills and secret tips.

Time to crack open my ever growing collection of cook books!

What are you learning about?

photographer for image source unknown.

All The Right Type.

Every L.A. woman is a gracious and creative hostess.

No two soirees are ever alike, and neither are her

invitations. I have a couple of gatherings coming up, and I am

pining for a typewriter to combine with my odd-ball

card making methods.

You might say, "Just use a computer." Easier said than done.

I'm not very competent when is comes to using computers.

And more over, quality card stock smears in our laser jet printer.

And so, I am searching high and low

for a proper functioning typewriter

of my very own. I'm hoping for one of the

following looks:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

*Yellow wallpaper image found at:

http://callmetheens.blogspot.com

1. http://hi-and-low.typepad.com

2. http://mytypewriter.com

3. http://somenewtrend.files.wordpress.com

4. http://www.esquire.com

5. http://www.philipkdick.com

Procrastination Station.

Foreward: I give all creative credit to the Glendale visual team at Anthropologie.

{A very bright idea ladies!}

Yesterday I made a family calendar composed entirely of post-its. Bunnie and I are huge post-it advocates, and this just makes sense for our ever changing schedules. I can't wait to buy more post-its for special day color coding. AmaZing....with a capital Zing!