Winter 2011 Inspiration Board.

A temperate California winter has ushered in the year 2011.  It's a time for new beginnings, an assessment of the past, and steadily looking forward to a gilded present and future.  I'm currently inspired by:

1. Chanel's Fall 2009 collection; Victorian Equestrian meets sultry menswear.


2. Black and White.


3. Ribbon/String


4. Birds/feathers/nests/luck


5. The music of; Yeah Yeah Yeahs {Isis EP, & It's Blitz!} Blonde Redhead {Penny Sparkle} Arcade Fire {The Suburbs}

Creativity Tuesday: Finding David the Gnome's Village.

I think I finally found David the Gnome's Village.  There was no sign of David's fox friend "Swift." But I have a feeling they were on an adventure.  No doubt some where in the forest together. 

Creativity Tuesday: Fall Procrastination Station.

Sister was in town this weekend. We were able to spend Sunday together playing. We decided to have craft night that evening.  We pulled out some water colors, and created patterns for fall leaves.  I used a cookie cutter as my template for the leaves.  Then cut them out of the water colors.  I love fall with all my heart.  Since the leaves don't change in Los Angeles, I make them change indoors. 

Creativity Tuesday: Personalize your notebooks.

I enjoy using notebooks to jot down ideas, lists, prayers, quotes, sketches, etc. It's amusing to see the culmination of these disjointed ideas clumped together in one book. Since high school I've personalized my notebooks covering the original artwork. This morning my notebook was a basic Thomas Kincade creation.

Front:
Back:
Then this afternoon I read an inspiring article in SPIN magazine about Allison Goldfrapp of Goldfrapp and Debbie Harry of Blondie. They both didn't get their "Big Break" until their thirties. Can you believe that? Deeply inspired, I made them my new cover art, adding emphasis with scrawled arrows, then using masking tape for protection. Make your books, note books, agenda's, and folders specific to you and only you. Feel inspired and liberated by your unique creation.

Procrastination Station: Dream Magazine.

One of the procrastination stations that
I've been working on is a
personal dream magazine.
It's filled with ideas, self prescribed advice,
inspirational quotes, articles, photos and oddities.
It makes me quite giddy.

Procrastination Station: Urban Bookmarks.

I never, ever have a pretty book mark to use. And so it is, I decided to retire my usual hair pin proxy for a beautiful pager marker. Steal my How To for you next Procrastination Station!

Step One:
Next time to you go to Urban Outfitters, save your clothing tags. I have always admired the out of focus, dreamy quality of the pictures printed on the tags.
Step Two:
Grab your scissors, a bit of string, Sharpies, glue stick, and some heavy stock paper.
Step Three:
Cut the stock the same measurements as the tag, adhering securely.
Step Four:
Add your message or image on the back. I simply write, "Ashley's Bookmark." Simple is good, simple is our friend.
Step Five:
Poke the card stock based on the existing hole of the tag. Pull a string through the hole, and tie luggage tag style.
Step Six:
Enjoy and admire the loveliness of your kept page. P.S. friends and family be expecting one of these lovelies in the immediate future!

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.

Procrastination Station: Valentine's Garland.

I dolled up my space with a Valentine's Garland.

It makes my heart oh, so happy every time I look at it!

What I used?
1. Fairy Lights
2. Doilies
3. Pretty Polaroids
4. Cut out Hearts
5. Wooden Clothes Pins

Polaroid Happiness.

This is one of my favorite polaroids.

The content?

a cupcake.

a vase filled with succulent branches.

ancient volumes.

endless sunshine.

Llaves.

I needed a little inspiration.

I think I found it.

1. slevansantiquetrunks.com

2. countryliving.com

3. geekology.com

4. watchmgv.com

one lump or two?

Tea anyone? Isn't this lovely?

Don't you want to frame this?

Don't you want to have a reusable bag

with this print all over it? I do.

Buy a print {here.}

Procrastination Station: Map of L.A.

I've been slowly making an abbreviated

booklet of "Yazzie Fractured Fairy Tales."

A story of love, intrigue, dreams, and laughter.

Featuring none other than the Bunnies.

I'm having such a great time

creating a new theme for each page.

Above is my map for our Los Angeles life together.

Isn't it precious? {Don't answer that!}

Click on image to enlarge.

The scene behind is my courtyard 1 story below

Tell me about the story of you.

Procrastination Station: Calendar Cover.

Call it the effects of education,

but I still use an academic calendar.

Yesterday afternoon, I decorated the front cover.

Oddly enough, the design morphed into

something strangely symbolic to my life.

It makes my heart dance every time I see it.

Don't you just love creating beauty?

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!