The New Year

Happy New Year, everyone!

I love this time of year because I love new beginnings. I get real excited periodically throughout the year, looking to reinvent myself and expecting change, so New Years just makes it more official for me haha. I know some people don't like the idea of resolutions, but I am not one of them-I like lists and I like feeling inspired and I always want to be better (at everything).
I've really enjoyed reading through all the 2013 retrospectives that have been posted this week, but I'm going to save my favorite outfits for my blogiversary in February. Instead I just wanted to reflect on the past and the future, for me mostly, but you're welcome to read along.

Looking back on an entire year is kind of mind boggling for me. It's hard to pick out the major life events from the huge mess. Thank god I have a blog to document it all, am I right? Here are some things that happened in rough chronological order:

-I opened my Etsy store, and I'm so proud of myself for how successful it's been! There were a few slow months that got me kind of down, but I really have high hopes for it this year. Thanks to everyone who's made a purchase!
-I decided not to work retail over the summer, which was a really good decision for me, since working at the mall was a huge source of my anxiety.
-I celebrated by 1st blogiversary, and my 2nd anniversary dating Travis.

-One of my pieces was published in my school's art and literature magazine, and iconnoumag published some of my art.

-I dyed my hair bright red. It's weird looking at pictures of me with brown hair now, I feel like I'm really a red head at heart :)

-I got to visit the Grand Canyon! Seriously breathtaking, I'm so glad my family got to go.

-I got an internship doing graphic design at my Mom's work! Although I'm not sure office work is my calling, it was a really great experience, and I'm so lucky that I can put it on my resume.
-I turned 21 and started drinking (seriously I never drank before).
-I went on a road trip to Boston for a Science Fiction Convention.
-I became friends with my boyfriend's friends.

-I had a beach day.

-I bleached my hair! How's that for courage?

-Then I went back to a bob and dyed it pink. The year of hair experimentation for sure.
-I hung my first gallery show.

-My art changed a lot, and my focus shifted from more naturey scenes to girl-power portraits. I still really love the children's booky work I did in 2012, and I'd like to find a way to combine it with this new feminist stuff I'm doing. Side note: I've been told I look like my paintings before, but dang, this one is practically a self portrait at this point! And I did it back in June!
-I actually made some money and was the most self-sufficient I've ever been.

I may or may not have used facebook's year in review to aid in recollection for this... I swear some of the things they picked for me (A throwback of my from middle school, holla)!

Don't get me wrong, it wasn't all sunshine and rainbows. I also struggled a lot with anxiety and a little with depression. I had relationship troubles and I was insecure sometimes. But I think it was more good than bad, and that's important.

2014 promises to be a big year, huge even. I'm going to finish my senior thesis project, and graduate in May. Then I'm going to Italy for a month with Travis, and I'll be moving out towards the end of the summer. I don't even know where we're going yet, as it depends on what grad schools offer Travis the most money! I'll have to get a job and support myself in a new city. I'm going to have to say goodbye to my college friends and see my family a lot less often. I'm scared and excited. As far as resolutions go, I plan to:
1. Keep up my work outs.
2. Be more positive. Complain less.
3. Relationships take work. I'm going to think before I speak and be more patient with the people I love.
4. Make more art!
5. Be strong and work hard. A lot of change is coming my way.

Here's to the New Year!

Explorer

I wasn't planning on taking pictures on this day, but then I saw that the creek had flooded from our recent rainy days. I was like oooooooooh I can wear my galoshes and wade out there it'll be so cool socool! It was pretty cool, but I got a little cocky and went too far out... and had to walk back to the house with water in my shoes.

I had packed this dress away for winter ((neatly thrown on the floor of my closet)) because it's so light and summery, but if you'll notice, I'm bare legged in these shots. SC is throwing us these warm weather curveballs mid December. I wish I could say I'm not used to it, but that's just kindof how winters go around here. I keep seeing all you northerners and westerners in your snowy shots and I'm kinda jealous I won't be getting a white Christmas! And I'm afraid my hair is no longer pink by any stretch of the imagination.

In other news, my Dad's semi-homeless friend and his brother (from when we lived in VA 15 years ago) came and spent the night last night. Pretty weird sitch, but I always liked them, they're nice guys. They brought their dogs, too, much to Kit's disappointment!

I also put a filter on these... just messing around. I don't know what I want my style to be these days.

Dress, Cardigan: Thrifted

Boots: JuJu

Scarf: Knit by my sister

Etsy Update: Winter Things

Just added some cozy things to my shop! Take 20% off with code WINTERBLUES because you know now that Christmas is over you need something to keep you going.

Cow Cardigan

Menswear Coat

Red Coat

White Beaded Cardigan

Snowflake Sweater

Tartan Pinafore

If you want to buy something more modern/inexpensive as hell, check out my Shop My Closet store! You can also buy my art at Society 6 now!

Shop My Closet

Hey everyone!

I've been doing a big closet cleaning before I go back to school, and I'm selling a few of my less-worn items (and they're really cheap)! Click here to Shop My Closet!

Cupcake Dress

Sheer Top

Bow Flats

Mustard Cardigan

Eshakti Dress

Also restocked my etsy store, I'll post an update soon! You can get 20% off over there with code WINTERBLUES , and I'm also selling my art (on tons of things) at Society 6!

Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone!

I hope you all got exactly what you wanted and spent lots of time with your families. I've had a good one so far! Gonna go see The Hobbit today yeauhh. I took these Christmassy photos with my sister after we opened presents in our pretty red and green dresses. They turned out bright but it was really freakin cold, and I guess I didn't notice on the display. We're still cute tho!

I guess I mean freakin cold by SC standards, because it's actually in the 30s. This dress was my Christmas gift from Travis, and the polka dot button up was one of my presents I opened today. I've been wanting some button ups for layering, and I got a few from Old Navy. Pretty psyched. And sleepy at the same time.

On Me

Dress: Modcloth

Shirt: Old Navy

Shoes: UO

On Emma

Dress: Forever 21

Tights: Target

Shoes: Payless

Happy Holidays :o

Art Lately: Finally Some Personal Work!

Now that school's over, I'm so excited to finally get to do some painting for ME!

Queen.

Woodsy Babe.

Coolest girl I ever drew.

MADOKA!! <33

...and a commission or two :)

As always, I love working with people on portraits, and I've added some more vintage to the shop! (Also made a Shop My Closet if you're interested!)

Scarfy

Once upon a time my hair was curly. Anyone remember those days? I think I bleached and dyed the waves out of it, which is pretty sad. Maybe they'll come back when I got back to my natural color, which'll happen eventually. The peachy color is looking pretty orangey, too, so I'll have to figure out how to keep it pink. You guys, I have no idea what I'm doing.

I'm really happy with this outfit and these pictures, though! Get this, though. I pulled this Henley out of a pile of clothes my sister was giving away, and she said I gave it to her when she was in the 7th (!!) grade. That's like 7 years ago! I see why I passed it off on her... it doesn't fit my boobs right and it's also super long to accommodate the era's low rise jeans. I forgive it's issues, though, since it works so well with this dress.

My sister made the scarf, and I love it! So cozy.

Travis is in Italy now, and I got called back into work at my summer internship for awhile. Not doing anything designy, just filling out spreadsheets. But hey, I'll do boring work for $10 an hour! (Stressful work, not so much.)

Dress: Dear Creatures via Piperlime

Shirt: Hella old

Scarf: Hand-knit by my sister

Shoes: Thrifted, UO

Tights: Target

Coat: Wet Seal