Hide Out: My Woods

When I need a moment to exhale and lick my wounds, part of my Girl Cave ritual is to visit the seminary woods.

It's a rejuvenating spot that feels like another planet full of plants and powerful branches-- though the city street is only a short walk away.

There is a small cemetery tucked into the trees where the only sound is snow.
Plenty of room to breathe here and paw prints on the path.

A little river runs through it full of ripples and pennies from passersby.

Where do you hide out when you need a moment?

My Photography Skills are Nil

I don't have any Photo game..none, zip, nada..
But there may be hope, Cerebral Dilettante's shared her secrets on photography ..so I'm sharing those secrets with all the other photographically challenged folks who are in the same sinking photo boat.
http://cerebraldilettante.blogspot.com/2009/09/my-photography-secrets.html

My Home Away From Home in My Home

Hello BonBons! My fort project has evolved! It is now a room-sized boho inspired installation that takes up my entire parlor. It's a smaller house inside of our existing house--a tented living room or sorts. We've been enjoying it thoroughly: having dinner picnics, morning coffee, cat naps and slumber parties in it all week long:

When I wake up, I want color all around me.

Coffee for two is best in a tent.

Milo and I enjoy the sun spilling in--

Let's curl up for a few late morning winks.

Milo chose the sheepskin for his snooze.

Piping-hot afternoon tea for three.

My parlor is now a palace for gypsy-queen-kittens on the prowl.

What are your creature comforts today?

Broad Strokes: Lady Artists to Peep: Volume 4

Welcome to another edition of Broad Strokes: Celebrating female artists of past and present. This installment is all about the surreal: ghosts, goddesses and day dreams. Let's get to the gallery!

Audrey Kawasaki
Status: Alive and Kicking
Medium: Painter























Alma Lopez
Status: Alive and Kicking
Medium: Painter























Maria Flore
Status: Alive and Kicking
Medium: Photagrapher



















Do you have a favorite in the round up? An artist you'd like to see featured? Discuss!

Updates: No Rest for The Wicked!

Hello Puddings!* I'm not dead--just down the rabbit hole again! The candle has been burning at three ends for the past month. Here's a quick recap at what's been brewing here at HerSpeak Headquarters:

The Barn Owl Ballyhoo was a complete success! A night brimming with local art and awesome musical performances. You can peep the details on the Drippy Lip Productions page.

I had the pleasure of doing make up for a collaborative lingerie runway show with Beauty and Project M. The designer envisioned a pin-up look: cat eyes, ruby red lips. My Favorite! You can check out the scene here.
I've also started my special events assistant internship at the Milwaukee Art Museum. We host some of the most extravagant events in the city--I get to go behind the scenes, be in the guts of the museum and see how the magic happens step by step.


Headquarters is covered in glitter dust again as I begin a new series for exhibition this December: "Kitschmas"! We're excited to present a punchy show to cure those too-cute-Christmas blues. It will be grounding to get back to the studio this week. :)

I've missed all of you, my blogosphere bunnies! I hope to find time to visit each one of you soon! This week is mayhem in the making: time for Halloween! What have you been up to, my pretties?

Wishing you much Love, Paint and Rock&Roll. <3

Collaboration Station: YumYumArt & Skallywag Fashions Photoshoot

Hello Dewdrops! It's been an insane week here at Headquaters: rehearsals, final preparations for our event this weekend and a case of the "really-busy-figures-I'd-catch-a-head-cold" blues. BUT I wanted to take a moment to share a recent project with you. A few weeks ago my dear friend Heather of YumYumArt and I collaborated with Skallywag Fashions on an evening inspired costume shoot. The film is finally developed and we are pleased to present: Nocturne!

Need more creepy couture?? View the entire gallery here!

Birdie Bokeh - Friday Feathers

Light makes photography. Embrace light. Admire it. Love it. But above all, know light. Know it for all you are worth, and you will know the key to photography. ~George Eastman

For some info on Bokeh - Click - HERE

Randomocity: Studio + Sweet Sites

Hello, Snapdragons!*

It has been a busy string of days at apartment #5: artmaking, class going, work working and of course, chaos in the best ways possible. Thusly, this post will be a bit ragtag and short on theme. SO without further ado, bring on the randomocity!



I've been glued to the computer during the evenings working on pieces for my illustration class. And truth be told--I'm struggling! I am a painter, not a mouse clicker. The whole approach feels foreign and clunky to me, but I'm practicing! Here are a few peeks of my early attempts at digital work:





Aaaah ((contented sigh.)) A clean studio, is a happy studio. (If you can call a closet a studio. And I am.) No longer are you a pit for school clutter and paper rubbish, my sweet.



In other artsy fartsy news, if you haven't already checked it out I would highly recommend stopping at this blog for a cup of tea and visual respite. My dear friend and exquisite Chicago photographer, Julie Lynn Ivens has a beautiful collection of works inspired by nature, wild women and other blissings. Plus, she's a total cupcake. Go visit. Really. You're gonna love her.



Whilst I'm plugging, I would also recommend this freakin' juicy gorgeous meditation by Goddess Leonie. I just started it this week and I can't shut up about it. The meditation is elegantly paced and beautifully performed by our favorite Aussie Goddess. Heck--this amazing woman could sing-read me a grocery list and I'd feel euphoric.



I discovered an excellent book snooping about at the library last week wondering where the heck they moved the Conjure and HooDoo selections, Special Topics In Tarot: Tarot & Dream Interpretation by Julie Gillentine. Though I am a total novice to tarot and this book is geared toward more advanced interpreting techniques, I am loving it! Great layout, clear writing, interesting ideas and most importantly it's helping me further familiarize myself with my deck and suggests great, simple ways to integrate tarot into your daily routine. Hooray Books!



Now, I'm off for the weekend to visit my parental units, eat all their food and plug away on a painting assignment. I'm looking forward to a few days of low key lazing about and re-juicing. Wishing all of you a refreshing, rejuvenating weekend!

Until Next Time--

Much Joy and Merry Making!

Summer Sanctuary: Cabin In The Woods

*Last week I enjoyed a three-day-long holiday with my family at the cozy cabin home of my Muffin's family! Both the company and the scenery were the best a girl could ask for. I adore the northern parts of Wisconsin: the landscapes, the wildlife, the flora and the weather. It was a treat to be whisked away from over-stuffed-in boxes and screaming city busses to a place where you can ACTUALLY see stars, the soil is loose and sandy and between loon songs you can hear a pin drop. We spent time with our toes in the lake sipping strong coffee and watching a muggy summer moon-rise. And most importantly--there was space to just Be. Here are a few images from my recharge weekend:

"The Dirt Smells Good Here..."

I can't wait to go back in the fall to watch the leaves change before everything in the woods tucks in for winter. Now dearies tell me; where is your hideaway?

Until Next Time--

Much Joy & Merry Making!~*

Gypsy Chronicles: Pittsburgh + Philidelphia + D.C.

Me becoming better aquainted with a tree in a Pittsburgh park...

Hello Friends! I have returned from my wanderings with empty pockets, aching feet, a camera full of pictures and best of all--brimming with new ideas! It was five days full of paint, pavement and big ass sandwiches! Here are just a few of the many highlights from the Spring Break Train Extravaganza!:

Pittsburgh

Philadelphia: Washington D.C. :

Now, onto other business!

12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women:

Secret 11: Subtracting Serenity Stealers

This last week McMeekin asks us to hone in on what it is that distracts us and zaps our energy, as well as gain a better understanding of our creative style. When I reviewed the list of Burn Out Warning Signs I had to giggle—welcome to University Life. However, I did find the Body Signals challenge, in which you identify how your body reacts to intense stress, to be extremely helpful. So often we wait until it’s too late before we pay attention to what Body is telling us! Personally, when I am overbooked or overwhelmed I begin biting my fingernails. I nibble them down the wick almost manically. Now I know that this is one of my Burn Out red lights—when I start biting, it’s time for a break!

McMeekin also introduces the Magic Wand, a tempting instrument that allows you to envision what your life would be like without unnecessary stressors. What would we wiggle our noses, tap with a wand and Poof! say Good Bye to? My list of expendable pressures took up an entire page of loose leaf. I know what that means:

It’s time to prioritize and Bibbity Boppity Boo, Bitch.

What unneeded distractions and demands would you erase with your wand?

Until Next Time,
Merry Making and Many Blissings, Friends!~*