Monday, September 27, 2010

No. 7 - Dubliners

I'm not moving very fast through my Unread Library. Dubliners was good and offered a glimpse into life in Dublin at the turn of the century. This collection of short stories is pretty political; notes on the author describe him as being "the greatest literary rebel of our time [...] He rebelled against social and literary conventions, against Catholicism, and against Dublin, the city at the center of this magnificent early collection of stories." (book jacket).

image from Barnes & Noble

This book definitely put me into a fall mood: gray, somber, and something I would expect to read in school. :)

I'm now working on an added book to my list, a friend lent me The Screwtape Letters. So far, it's very interesting and definitely making me think.

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Fall Wardrobe

**I had this post ready to go, and then realized it was coming right after my "Abundance" post. I love clothes and the thrill of finding a smokin' deal, but who I am doesn't come from my clothes. And I know that who I am comes from who God says I am, and that blows my mind. So just a clarification, cause this post could look pretty ironic without this disclaimer.**

For the last few days, I have been staring into my closet with no hope of inspiration. This time of year is so hard! I'm looking forward to fall clothes and closed toed shoes. Cardigans and jeans and layering! But it's still over 100 degrees out. (correction-high 90s) I'm torn between "this may be the last time this year I can wear these sandals/dress/skirt" and "I can't wait to wear these boots/tights/sweater."

Besides what I already own, I'm hoping to add to my fall wardrobe (and hopefully for crazy thrift store cheap!):

a high waisted grey pleated skirt. (totally inspired by this outfit on ModCloth's blog)
an colorful embellished navy cardi. (same inspiration)
tall patterned socks.
new tights (I am very clumsy and tights don't really last more than a season with me!).
something purple. (weird, purple is my least favorite color)

Also loving:
  

Anthro prices are way out of my budget, but it's still fun to dream. :)

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

The Sunday Creative - Abundance


Still working through Dubliners, it's good, but it's short stories so I'm not invested in the plot, since I finish a storyline with every chapter. It should be done soon...
This week's prompt for The Sunday Creative is abundance. And I knew exactly where I was going with it. John 10:10 says: "The thief does not come but to steal, rob, and destroy. I have come that they may have life and have it more abundantly."

A life with Christ is a life that is full. No matter what I don't possess, my life is full. There is no void in my heart because I've found the One who can fill it. There is no hopelessness, because Hope lives in me. There is peace, because He is with me. There is joy, because I've been redeemed. My life is abundant because of Jesus Christ and I am so, so grateful that He came.


I am by no means a paper/ink/free-hand kind of artist. I like digital art because I can make everything perfect. I can Ctrl-Z as many times as I want. There are thousands of fonts that can change the look of any word. But there is something so personal, vulnerable, and real when I put my ideas on a piece of paper. It really is a stretch for me. I can't take it back once it's written in Sharpie pen in my notebook. :) But I love all the decorated sayings and modern calligraphy pieces out there and decided to let it inspire me. Maybe I'll start being able to put more and more of the millions of thoughts floating around in my mind down on paper without caring what it comes out like.

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

The Sunday Creative


I missed a week! This week on The Sunday Creative our prompt is "comfort."

Comfort vb 1.To give strength and hope
n 1. Consolation 2. Freedom from pain, trouble, or anxiety; also: something that gives such freedom

I find comfort in:
-using Illustrator over any other Adobe programs :)
-teal and light coral together
-the scene in Little Women (the Winona Ryder version) where Jo finishes her book and slides a red geranium into her raffia-wrapped manuscript
-my pup, Banjo, who always sits right up against me
-The Comforter, Jesus (Matthew 5)
-my closest friend, who knows me so well that I can't hide anything from her
-white blankets and good books

I'm sure there are more, but for today, those are the things that I am wishing for. :)

Monday, September 6, 2010

Mansfield Park

I finished Mansfield Park this weekend and loved it. I have read enough Jane Austen books to know what to expect (I mean, they are love stories after all, the girl always gets the guy) but this one had a twist that I wasn't expecting. The entire book I wasn't exactly sure how it would turn out. Would Fanny's feelings change? Would Mary Crawford change her mind? Is Mr. Crawford actually a nice guy? I had no idea! But then, in classic Jane Austen form, the last two chapters held all the twists, turns, and wrapped everything up like every good romance should. Not to mention Ms. Austen's humor and subtle satire on wealth and marriage; which is always fun.

And now onto No. 07 of my unread library, Dubliners by James Joyce.

Friday, September 3, 2010

The Sunday Creative

This week on The Sunday Creative, our prompt was "illuminate."

illuminate.

sweet stillness
dark and silent
damp with early fog
day's first light
intruding the night
sun presents itself
with mighty gentleness
an echoing whisper
spreading warmth
over the land
and my face
peacefully illuminated
by the dawn

I love morning. There is something so precious about a fresh, new day.

Rio del Mar, early morning