Sunday, December 19, 2010

2010 Report Card/Best and Worst of 2010


One of my favorite annual issues of
People arrived last Friday -- the Best and Worst issue, where you get to re-experience all the best photos/stories/gossip/gowns from the past year ALL OVER AGAIN. I also recently completed teaching my first year at Emerson and got to do something I've always fantasized about: grade people. And this is college, so my grades count, bitches!

In honor of these two exciting events, this blog post will be a hybrid of superficial ratings and photographic highlights of the past year. 2010 was an odd year, to be honest. Not awesome, not awful. So here we go!


CAREER: A-


Pretty much solid developments in this category. I upgraded from back-server to server at Lineage and landed a competitive teaching position. And I actually genuinely love both my jobs. I really enjoy expanding young minds and telling people what arctic char tastes like (a more delicate, flakier salmon). And I think I'm pretty good at both, though we'll see if my instructor evaluations confirm or refute this. I don't know if I'll teach another year at Emerson or not, but I think I will definitely continue to teach...somewhere and in some capacity.

Oh, and on the writing front, I picked up some freelance work from Time Out Boston. Because like 2Pac, I have "ambitionz az a ridah" [sic].

HEALTH: B


I had bronchitis for basically all of October and mysteriously contracted
strep C, which is rare in humans and common in horses (!), in June. And I gained 5 lbs. But hey, I didn't have a kidney stone and my belly button remained infection-free!

LOVE LIFE: B-


I mean, it's still a passing grade. After a significant relationship ended in February, I dabbled on Match.com and began what I thought would end up being a significant relationship, but it flamed out quickly. My feelings on this relationship are best captured in this Rosemary Clooney song:



(p.s. I want that dress big time)

The year is ending on an upswing though, with a new gentleman in the picture. For fear of jinxing it, I'll stop there. It may not be love, but for now, it's nice and that's enough for me.

FINANCES: D

Once upon a time, I actually would put some of each paycheck into a savings account. That time is...not now. I have no emergency nest egg and I'm tired of living hand-to-mouth. Being broke is cute and charming when you're 20...not so much when you're 30, as I soon will be. I need to be better at budgeting and have more discipline when it comes to eating/drinking out. And my rent eats up way too much of my income, so if I stay in Boston, I think I need to suck it up and live with roommates. Sorry, studio :(

TRAVEL: A

I went to Holland and Belgium in July! Read all about it here. I also made it to St. Louis, New Haven, Chicago and New York.

ENTERTAINMENT: B+

I saw Peewee Herman on Broadway. Loved Black Swan, Catfish, and The Social Network. Listened to a lot of Florence + the Machine and Robyn. Saw a Puccini opera and a burlesque version of The Nutcracker involving a gigantic candy cane penis that sprayed snow. Watched some shitty reality television. Spent too much time on YouTube. Should have seen more live music.

And now, some photos of BEST moments from the past year. I don't think I will include photos of worst moments, because come on, when I'm crying and drinking alone in my apartment, who wants to take a picture? Maude can't operate a camera.

At a black-tie wedding at the Harvard Club

My first Red Sox game

With my best friend Jon in Chicago

Boarding the train to Bruges

Celebrating my Dad's 65th

On Cape Cod for Labor Day

Halloween

at the Lineage holiday party

Ok, 2010....maybe you weren't so bad....

Stunning artworks using Lego

I went to Lewers Bequest Gallery with my husband this morning (I had the best day!) and was quite taken by a giant artpiece on the wall beside us, entirely made of Lego pieces.



I have to get one myself! Entirely unique! How awesome to have Lego artwork on the wall!

So I scoured the net for more gorgeous inspiration:


Starry starry night, Van Gogh; image from Ed Hall's site, complete with details here
.


Spock from Star Trek; by artist Motion5, as found on technabob.com



Alfred E. Newman, by artist Motion5, as found on technabob.com



Escher's, via here, taken at Legoland 2006.



My favourites are the Lego renditions of pop artist Roy Lichtenstein:



Kiss V 1969, via Brickworkz



Girl with Hair Ribbon, by Eugene Tan, via Brick Pop



Wham!, by Flickr user pricer45



Sunrise, via Moc Pages


Oh and check this awesome conference-size table made from Lego! I love it :) Made for advertising agency Boys and Girls, this bespoke beauty is made up of 22,742 lego pieces.


Image, and more information via walyou


More on another awesome Lego project soon...

You can buy your Lego bricks from Brick Link.

Friday, December 17, 2010

nancy Drew custome order




THE MYSTERY OF THE BRASS BOUND TRUNK



INSPIRATION for this commission Nancy Drew suitcase.







The process












I sold this Nancy Drew suitcase to a school out in California, later I had an inquiry in my mail box from my main funky findZ on line store asking if I could make another nacy Drew suitcase , this was from a sister who wished to give it to her sister who is a Nancy Drew fan. she had favorite book covers and had a very special fabric which I scaned and made prints , I have provided it here for a free image to toerhs who love Nancy Drew. She wrote me a letter expalining how special this fabric was to her, I did not have the heart to cut it up . I used quite a bit of this in my design, loving the blue.


FREE TO COPY!

The two cases are very different, yet I enjoy them both, admittedly , and it is clear to see , I spent quite a bit more time on this second case. I applied allot of acrylic paints and finished off a brass look with gold pearlized paints.


First Nancy Drew that sold to education foundation in California

Nancy Drew custome order




THE MYSTERY OF THE BRASS BOUND TRUNK



INSPIRATION for this commission Nancy Drew suitcase.







The process












I sold this Nancy Drew suitcase to a school out in California, later I had an inquiry in my mail box from my main funky findZ on line store asking if I could make another nacy Drew suitcase , this was from a sister who wished to give it to her sister who is a Nancy Drew fan. she had favorite book covers and had a very special fabric which I scaned and made prints , I have provided it here for a free image to toerhs who love Nancy Drew. She wrote me a letter expalining how special this fabric was to her, I did not have the heart to cut it up . I used quite a bit of this in my design, loving the blue.


FREE TO COPY!

The two cases are very different, yet I enjoy them both, admittedly , and it is clear to see , I spent quite a bit more time on this second case. I applied allot of acrylic paints and finished off a brass look with gold pearlized paints.


First Nancy Drew that sold to education foundation in California

CUSTOM ORDER
groovy funky and functional

take her on the plane





Vintage recycled suitcase title 'Day at the Beach " (view transaction here )was purchase, after payment the buyer noticed that it mentioned that it was not recommend for airplane travel at which time I offered to make a similar suitcase that could go into the belly of the plain, with much style I might add.

Here is the result. I found the most groovy vintage 1960s fabric in the same color tones as the original case, this is a Samonsite which is a better case than the original, I did not add beads or outside trim other than vintage rick rack and lace which could be covered in varnish.

Funky inside when you open your case! The same fabric, vintage trim , soft feathers and gems of frogs and turtles. Note the nice straps for holding in your luggage.


View more of recycled art by C.REINKE

This case has an extra compartment!
SAMSONITE VINTAGE QUALITY

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Christmas shopping ideas with Culpepers :)

Aren't these gorgeous (and affordable) Christmas ideas??


Jam Tales teatowel, $18.50 from Culpepers



Rituelle Soaps, $2.90 each from Culpepers



Annabel Trends - gardening pack for the kids, $22.90 from Culpepers



Abode Aroma Diffuser, one of my favourite perfume diffusers for the home, $44.90 (will go on and on for three months), from Culpepers









All prices are in Australian dollars.