Whats necessary?

I’ve stopped thrifting for the most part.. which is why there have been so little posts. This blog I started to inspire others to take their shopping towards thrifting and re-use, rather than buy into corporate America. However, after I moved into a much smaller place, I’ve not really needed to own anything in addition to what I already have.

I don’t really need anything. And that was my number one reason to spend money on things at all.. if I needed them. I think it’s a healthy attitude to only buy what you need, or what you can use (as I often buy things I dont need, but get alot of use out of). Basic principals of simple living.

Instead I’ve been spending my hard earned cash on mostly groceries (I rarely go out to eat, and would much rather make my own food), social entertainment (movies, drinks), gifts for other people (i really like giving things to people I care about), and (most recently and for one time only) shoes (because i can wear them every day).

Even so, I feel like I’m spending unnecessarily. After this weekend, the next time I get paid will be the end of march. So I will go almost 2 months without a paycheck. This is not a big problem, as I set aside money during the year to float me during my slow season of work. Last year I went almost 3.5 months without getting paid and survived. But even though I have more than enough in the bank to live comfortably the next 2 months, (aside from going on a planned vacation for a week or two), I will keep an even tighter hold on my wallet.

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Vacation.

I finished nannying the little boy on friday. Today is his first day in day-care. My 2 jobs went down to 1 job. I feel really good about this, for I really need to be refreshed. Dont get me wrong, I loved taking care of Theo. He was the best baby in the world. But I am burnt out still from last fall. I need a vacation. I need to feel rejuvenated. This is the only time of year I have time to do so, and it’s right before wedding season starts back up again.

I am affected by the world around me. In order to feel renewed, I need to see/do something I’ve never done before. I need new experiences. I need new inspirations. I guess this is something I will always need… to get away, reset, and fill my mind with newness. Last year I went to France for a month. This year I’m trying to go to south America for a short trip, and then a road trip as an additional trip. I need to see parts of the world I havent seen yet. This will get me excited to go back to “work.” I put it in quotations because I love my work. I love the I can take photographs as a career. It is work, but it’s also my passion. And right now I feel like I’m neglecting it a bit.

Possibly I will try to carry my camera around more. I long to shoot film, but my Hassleblad is so heavy. I’ve been looking at alot of black and white lately. Perhaps I will order some film today. The passion is there, I need to release it.

super great practicle x-mas gifts I got

every year i ask for tools. this year i asked for some power tools. every year i don’t get them because no one likes to buy tools for a girl. oh well.

but, this year i’d like to increase my adventure count. before i do that, i need gear. my family has equipped me this christmas with a L.L. Bean 40 degree lightweight sleeping bag, a pair of waterproof hiking shoes, and rain boots! Paired with my backpacking pack I bought earlier this year, I think I’m ready for anything. Let’s go camping!

These gifts are great because I will reap the benefits of them over and over again when I am in need to. I don’t have to feel unprepared anymore when we go on trips.

hooray.

Art Shop 2k9!

come to this! I will have so many things to sell!

Silhouette Profiles

Amanda and I are making these for artshop. This one is Theo, the little baby that I nanny. His birthday is in a few days, and this is his present from me.

To make this I took a photo of Theo’s profile. Then I imported it onto my computer, brought it into Photoshop and outlined his face. I deleted the background and filled in his silhouette. Then I smoothed out the edges (I had to give him a fake neck because he was wearing a hoodie and it wasn’t visible). I made an oval around him, and selected a background color (yellow), then printed it onto photo paper and framed it with this adorable ikea frame.

These will be available for purchase at Artshop:

Art Shop 2009
Featuring 60+ Artists Displaying and Selling Their Work
Opening 6-10pm Friday, December 4th
with free food, drink & music
& Continuing 11am-4pm on Saturday, December 5th
at F&N Gallery, 2007 Frankford Ave. Phila Pa 19125

more on the studio

my friend, meg of paper stampede made this paper mache bison head for our studio. i love it. the shelf underneath was found by my sister at a yard sale and she painted it white.

our closet

past clients/friends Diana and Ryan constructed this equipment closet for us last weekend. It’s amazing.

new additions to note are our shelves:

these are made from trash picked closet doors, and ikea shelf brackets.

our chalkboard wall, painted by cassidy and dustin

our showcase of wedding work

and custom molding around our front door, cut and installed by me!

Bikes, it’s how I get around

So Frank Dicicco decided that he’s going to pass a bill which requires all bicycles in Philadelphia to register their bikes… like how cars do. link Some how he thinks this will enforce the law better. News flash: there are already bicycle laws, they are just never enforced, which is why cyclists see fit to break them. Requiring registration of bikes WILL NOT SOLVE THIS! The only thing it will do is cause mass confusion, stress, and complication for cyclists and those who attempt to fine/ticket cyclists for breaking laws. It will also put money into the city’s hands (the $20 registration fee).

There are so many problems I see in this area. This will probably take up much of my night to post.

In the meantime, please raise awareness and all hell on this guy and his dumb bill: frank.dicicco@phila.gov

New house, new home. new bedroom.

this is now what my bed looks like. at night.

note the macbook pro.

Studio Party

We are having a studio party! It’s finally (almost) finished! The details:
Studio Party, Friday Oct 2nd.
3237 Amber Street, 2nd floor south
starts at 8:30
byob

In the last few weeks we (Cassidy, Emily, Amanda, Dustin, and I):
put up shelves (trashpicked closet doors)
seriously cleaned and painted 1 bathroom
painted the outside walls to our studio
hung up photos!
painted the back door (soon front door as well)
built a closet! with shelves!
rigged up 2 pulley systems for our backdrops (no need for backdrop stands)

It’s looking incredible in there with all of our cardboard boxes stowed away and photos finally on the walls. We’re going to pull down one of the seamlesses for a backdrop for “photobooth” pictures, and hopefully borrow a projector to project Dustin’s cat photos on the walls. I meant to take photos today of all the progress we have, but that will just have to wait until friday.

100 dollar project, a sponsored portrait project

the idea:

Alot of my friends ask me to do fun photoshoots with them. I’m usually all for it, but I really wish I could be doing more, if I had the means to. I often have really elaborate ideas, but lack the funds to put it into action. So I want to extend a little project to my friends, or anyone else that is willing. I call it the “100 dollar project”. If you give me 100 dollars, and brainstorm with me with an open mind… I will use every last penny on props/wardrobe and anything else I need to make an amazing one-of-a-kind image of you. None of this money will go to me.. it will go towards making a crazy cool photo of yourself.

the specifics:

you give me 100 dollars and I keep none of the money for myself, but use it all on wardrobe, props, makeup, hair, film and processing, etc. towards a photoshoot that you will model in and I will be photographing.

the rules:

1. this is assumed to be a solo portrait. meaning only a photo of yourself. if there are more people involved, i’d probably have to ask for more $. this is not for promotional shots of your modeling career, your band, your art, etc… if you want those types of pictures, contact me separately and we can do a photoshoot in which I get paid.

2. you allow me 100% artistic direction. this will be an art project that i conduct, and you sponsor and model in.

3. after it all is over, i’ll give you a big print (prob 11×14), signed and dated.

other things i should mention:

if you agree to this project, you must be willing to work with me in attaining wardrobe and props (going to thrift stores or vintage shops), scouting locations, and brain storming on theme and personality of the photoshoot. it will likely take more than a day to do.

i really like making ironic or awkward portraits. if anyone has seen my old work, you will know this already. with this said, be assured that i wont be taking “pretty” pictures of you.. but rather pieces i consider to have more of a story to them, pictures that make you question.

also. i really want to do this. let me know if you want to also.

Donated by Audrey, found at yard sales

A few months ago I visited my sister in state college. She is a much more avid thrifter than I. Some of her finds and her home design has been featured on various sites including Design Sponge. Sometimes, she gives me some of these great finds of hers. Since we now have a nice big new studio, she sent me home with various items that would deem useful for our space. The above photos are some of the items, plus, she gave us an awesome end-table (pictured in previous post showing meeting area of our studio), and other bowls, lamps, etc.

Also, now that I’m in the big space, I’m able to take “proper” photographs of my finds. Behold the micro-studio! Soon, I will have a permanent table-top area in which to photograph small objects in. Yessssss.

Thanks Audrey for helping us out with awesome second hand items!