What to do while you wait.

I tend to observe a lot. Something that I have observed over the past several years is that we are beginning to lose the value of waiting as a culture. If we want something we can probably find it on amazon and have it shipped to our house in two days. Food is fast. You can stream entire tv shows on Netflix. There isn't much we have to wait for these days, so our sense of patience can be a little skewed at times.  

Dont worry, I don't want to go too deep with this one. I won't go on a rant about the good ole days. 

I've just noticed that people have become so uncomfortable with waiting. Just watch, the next time you are in an airport, or a waiting room, or are even in line for something - pay attention to how long it takes for someone to pull out their phone to scroll through the social media feed that they've probably already see 3 times prior to that moment. We've all done it.  

While I have no qualms with social media, or phone usage, I do think there are some healthier ways to use your time while you wait, so that's the topic for today...hence the title. 

 Short Term Waiting

Lets start with some thoughts on short term waiting. I have very seldomly lived close to all of the things that I do/am involved in. That being said I have always prepared for the worst in the case of boredom. This is a short list of healthy things to do while you wait for a bus, a plane to land, or during a break between two classes.  Basically any kind of short span of time where you might render yourself on the bored side of things. 

1. Read

I always have a book on me just in case I have a couple hours of waiting time on my hands, you never really know. Reading is a good way to get out of your environment and maybe learn something on the way. 

2. Write/draw

Reading is a great way to get away, however writing is a great way to document. Write about what you have been thinking about or draw what's going on around you. Or make things up! Either way it's a great way to excercise your mind while you wait.   

3. People watch

There are always plenty of interesting people in crowded places. See what stories unfold. 

4. Start a conversation/ allow people to talk to you

When your waiting it's a great time to catch up with people, send a text to someone you haven't heard from in a while, or call your parents. Also sometimes it's entertaining to not close yourself off and let people talk to you, most people are nice if you treat them nice. Just be careful... Use your judgement to talk to the right people or else you may find yourself unable to get away from someone who is particularly chatty. Also there are people you probably shouldn't talk to.  

5. Go places

I think this one is the most important... Maybe it's just because I like it. If you find yourself with a couple of hours to kill, between classes, appointments, or whatever else it may be, go exploring. Find out what's in walking distance from you if you don't have a car. Or see how far you can drive before you have to turn around an go back if you do. Who knows, your new favorite place might be just around the corner. You just haven't found it yet. 

Long Term Waiting 

Now lets talk about long term waiting. This is a little bit of a different story, it's less trivial. Long term waiting means that you are applying for jobs, or your waiting on an email, or a phone call, or you have new found free time from a recent life change. This sort of waiting can seem indefinite, as if you could be in that place of discomfort forever. This kind of waiting warrants a tactful sort of response. Here are some things to do when you find yourself in such a season. 

1.  Dream

Its really easy to loose sight of you dreams when you come to a road block in life, and I think that's why it's so imperative to hold on to your dreams even when it may not make the most sense. When you're waiting for life to happen keep dreaming up crazy ideas about what the future can hold for you. Pray about them. Keep being optimistic about the future even if it's really hard. You're gonna have rough days, I won't lie to you, but don't give up.  

2. Work

In other words keep making things. If you're a writer, write. A painter, paint. An accountant... Account? You know what to do. Resist the urge to watch all of 30 Rock on Netflix for the 3rd time just because you feel mildly depressed. I may or may not be speaking from experience here. The moral of the story is don't forget to do what you love during the times when you don't necessarily have to.  

3. Learn

This is a big one, and it's really easy to miss out on. When you find yourself with a lot of extra time on your hands it's the perfect opportunity to learn. There are literally endless resources to choose from and most of them are free...FREE. Podcasts, YouTube, books, skillshare, just take your pick and get to it. 

4.  Organize

 Don't allow yourself to slump down into of a routine of not getting out of bed until 1:30, and never leaving the house or showering or doing laundry. Get up. Even if it's to show the  employees at target that your outfit is on point. 

5.  Get excited about something (even if it's dumb)

 It's good for your mind to have a sense of anticipation about life. Find something you enjoy and get excited about it, it'll give you something to talk about with your friends so you don't have to tell them about only your problems. Plus there's so much to be excited about! 

February is...

...Waking up a little bit earlier.  

I started working full time in August. Which means that everyday I have to be up and functional by the time 8:00am rolls around. It's one of those things that I didn't realize that I enjoy. I really like getting a good relaxing start to my day, and a great way to do that is to give myself a little extra time in the morning.  

...A solid morning routine. 

With the above being stated, I've sort of come into a pretty solid morning routine, which includes a little reading, a little writing/drawing, a cup off coffee and plenty of time to get ready. A decent amount of time in the morning is the makings of a good day in the life of Francyne.  

...An office to decorate. 

In mid-January the sign company I work for started construction on my new office space. I knew it was coming, I just didn't know it was coming so soon. I thought it was going to be April by the time the ideas would come to fruition. However, now the space is constructed and painted. All that's left for me to do is to make my little work home in there, and scrubbing the tile floor.   

...Brightly colored pottery. 

I painted my office a pale yellow, and I figured it was enough of a nutral color that I could have some fun brightly colored vintage accents. So I've been pursuing the aisles of my local thrift stores, goodwills, flea markets to find some fun pieces. Resulting in these pieces of pottery. My plan is to put some plants in them, we'll see how that goes in an office with no windows.  

...Glittery markers.  

They are just as awesome as they sound. February is finding more excuses to use them. 

...A cup of coffee made by your mom.  

My mom makes me coffee literally every morning, and waking up knowing there is a cup of coffee waiting for you is the best.  

...Attempting to be a little bit more organized. 

I'm currently working two jobs, paying off student loans, taking an interest in my own creative career,  enjoying life and friendship with the people I care about most, and planning for the future. All of these take investment and care. And to be able to spin all those plates... And hopefully be able to spin a few more plates in the future I need to work on my orginizational skills. 

...Jackets and jeans.  

A solid jacket and a good pair of jeans have been my wardrobe go-tos as of late. You'll probably see a lot of that in February. 

...Reading The Artists Way.  

I've started the book a few times and have yet to finish it. I guess I'll be getting my morning pages on soon.  

...Building a giant corkboard.  

I'm in the process of buying the supplies. Don't worry, you'll hear more about that later. 

Happy Birthday!

I can't believe its been a year since I've had my own little corner of the internet. So many wonderful things have happened as a result, and I've quite enjoyed the journey. I think there is a lot of value is showing your work to the world. And additionally there is certainly a lot of value in sharing your adventures with other people - and this year has been filled with a lot of really great ones. 

I don't have a lot of additional words for you on this fine fall morning (and oh man, it is fine.) other than a solid and hearty thank you. Thanks for going on a bunch of adventures, and reading about the weird things I like, and appreciating my work. I really like you, and I hope this next year is a truly magical one! 

You're stellar!  

-Francyne

I'm back, yo.

I'm not going to lie to you. It's been a while. Since I'm not very good at just picking up where I left off, it's update time! Here are schfifty-five things I've done over the past three months... When I wasn't talking to you. 

I... 

1. Made some shadow puppets at 1 am over a word document.

2. Cut some intricate stencils.

3. Became obsessed with glitter. 

4. Hung out with a lot of teenagers.

5. Became a gangster.

6. Got into a pool noodle fight.

Photo credit: Amanda Metzger

7. Watched Space Jam.

8. Went to Ireland.

9. Took some pictures of my feet.

10. Hugged some friends.

11. Went on some adventures with my travel buddy, Amy.  

12. Said hello to the Cliffs of Moher.

13. Put some flowers in this guy's beard.

14. Made a rad balloon hat.

15. Downloaded a shutter speed app.

16. Google image searched Brandon Flowers.

Photo credit: google

17. Got some battle wounds.

18. Went thrifting.

19. Laughed in a much needed giggle circle.

20. Watched the Lego movie... Twice.

Photo credit: The Lego Movie

21. Went thrifting again. 

22. Ate some square donuts. 

23. Sank at Lake Erie.  

24. Went to Canada.  

25. Sat around some campfires. 

26. Designed and built some marquee letters. 

27. Heard some one word stories.  

28. Smashed some things.  

29. Gave away a flower crown.  

Photo credit: Denton Field

30. Tried on this jacket... And regretted not purchasing it.  

31. Bought roller skates for $2. 

32. Found out that my dog is the perfect travel companion.  

33. Hugged this bear in a gas station.  

34. Watch the ISS go over Boulder. (Not pictured: the ISS)

35. Took some walks.  

36. Caught some butterflies.  

37. Picked some flowers.  

38. Drank some coffee.  

39. Took more walks.  

40. Live tweeted The Princess Bride.

41. Found a dinosaur. 

42. Said hello to Denver.  

43. Google image searched Groucho Marx.  

Photo credit: Google

44. Made fudge with my grandad.  

45. Contemplated whether this was a grape or an olive. (It's a grape.) 

46. Went frisbee golfing.  

47. Waded in some freezing cold streams.  

48. Ate some ginormous pizza from Cosmos.  

49. Fell in love with these robots.  

50. Enjoyed some mountains.  

51. Decided that windmills are awesome.  

52. Made some flower crowns.  

53. Explored the inside of Boston Avenue Methodist.  

54. Made some stickers. 

55. Google image searched Shia Labouf. 

Photo credit: Google

I hope this has been mildly satisfying for you.  If not I'm sorry. Please know there are lots of things on the horizon, so stay tuned. It's gonna be a party. 

Peace out for now, 

-Francyne

The things I like this week.

Gasp. It's Monday, and you probably are wondering about the things I like. Fear not, you will not be disappointed. 

1. Outdoor movies

The dinosaurs they built for ths movie still hold up to today's standards in my opinion. 

I have this friend, her name is Amy. Yes, she is the same Amy who sends me letters (still haven't sent mine...I'm sorry...I'll get my life together soon, I promise). She also reads my blogs, and tells me when I have typos. I love that lady. Anyway, back on topic. I have list on my phone of movies that Amy hasn't seen, and this summer she agreed to let me make her watch them. I say let me make her, because I'm not really sure if I was going to give her the option to not watch them. 

Photo credit Kelsey Hicks

Either way we've been doing them outdoor theatre style, projecting them on the side of Amy's house. I'm kind of in love with it. I mean, you can look at the stars and watch a movie. Wonderful. We've watched Jurassic Park, Star Wars IV and V, and tonight we are watching Meet the Robinsons (I know it's not a cinematic staple, but that movie is precious, one of my favorite animated movies.)

2. Legos

Me option 1

I babysat two boys and a baby girl last Saturday along with my friend Emma. One of the boys is obsessed with Legos. It was pretty adorable how he had his different collections in different piles all around the house, and when he was done playing with one set he would put the whole collection in a plastic bag. I have to say the kid might be more organized than me. Which isn't really saying much, I can be a mess sometimes. 

Me option 2

Emma and I made some lego self portraits to share with the world, and they made my heart happy. It also inspired an hour or so of looking at lego pictures on pinterest. I regret nothing. 

3. Thrifting  

Okay, so right now is probably the worst time for me to be spending money, but there is just something I love about thrifting. I think it's because it's unpredictable. You can walk into any given retail store and behind every display, every item of clothing, every piece of furniture, every single product package there are several people (and in some cases hundreds of people) that have spent months researching and designing products and just what it is that they can do to make you buy what they are selling. Don't get me wrong, I'm a designer, I love that these things exist. I'd be sad if they didn't. But there are no rules when it comes to thrift stores, because you can't really prepare for what people decide to get rid of. Some of my recent purchases are two radtastic dresses, a pair of classy brown ankle boots, a jean jacket, and a earthy mug with humming birds on it.    

4. Glitter  

I bought 16 oz. of glitter this week, and I'm not going to apologize for that. 

5. Clean laundry

How can you not love clean clothes? The smell, the feel, the options. I did laundry this week, and I will admit to you that I'm genuinely excited about it. 

6. Star Wars 

This is the movie crew, it was raining so we couldn't watch it outside.  

As I stated previously, I'm making Amy watch movies this summer. Last Monday we ventured to a galaxy far, far away and we made sure to bring Amy along with us. The plan was to just watch episode IV, but the gents in attendance were quite convincing in making it a double feature. So Amy got a full dosage of the robot shenanigans of R2-D2 and c3po, the bad-boy charm of Han Solo, the cleverness of Yoda, and the unfortunate 2001 digital updates that is Star Wars. And the good news is, she didn't hate it. So I consider that a win. Also all of this was done on Star Wars' 38th birthday, due to exceptional planning on my part. On top of that my invitation text was pretty clever, so you should be happy about that. 

Popcorn was made.  

7.  A good morning cup of coffee

Its a great way to start your day, but also eat an apple or something.  

8. Olan Rogers

I'm going to preface this with I have always had a ton of respect for Olan Rogers. From the Balloon Shop days way back when, to his more recent endeavors, I've always been a fan. His humor is typically dead on for me, and I always appreciate how he can take a simple story and make it something hilarious and over the top funny. While his videos are typically funny or cinematically creative, this latest video caught me a little off guard as he used a very conversational tone with his audience. It definitely struck a chord with me. The subject matter is just brilliant, and it really made me think a lot about what I'm doing here in this blog. So that was nice, but also I love it when you have the opportunity see some one talk about something that they love doing. Olan is the real deal, and I have loads of respect for people who have the ability to share what they love in such a genuine way.

Olan you're stellar. 

Now that you've read this go watch all his videos, I mean you can read the rest of this later.  

"The people that are remembered are usually people that aren't the most popular people. They're usually the people that went the other way."     

9.  This Apple Commercial

I vaguely remember this commercial from when I was little...but I watched it more recently in my graphic design history class a few semesters ago, because we were talking about the typeface Garamond, which is what the words "Think different." are set in. I sort of internet stumbled across this commercial a couple nights ago and...I've watched it at least 10 times since then. I've also been thinking a lot about innovators and imitators. So it's quite possible that might become a blog post soon. Just a warning.     

"The people who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world are the ones who do."

10. Disco Balls

My friend Olivia took me to a Matt Kearney Concert a few weeks ago, because she's wonderful and she loves me. Also the tickets were free, so there was that. Neither of us were really big Matt Kearney fans, like I knew maybe three songs of his, and Olive knew maybe four. So we both literally went for funzies. The Concert was at Cains Ballroom in Downtown Tulsa, which is a super cool place. Throughout the opening band's set they would randomly turn on this disco ball in the middle of the ballroom, I tried several times to get a good picture of it, because it made me happy. I was unsuccessful at getting one I really loved. Then...something wonderful happened. Matt Kearney disappeared from the stage for a brief moment while he sang. It didn't really catch me off guard, the man is the physical embodiment of chill. Like, I would not have been surprised if he had come back on with a cup of tea to drink while he talked about his next song. But then...then... he came back wielding a medium sized glittery ball. 

I uttered this sentence to Olivia, "Is that a disc...OOOOOOOO...*inhaling high pitched mild screech*"

I got really excited about it, I mean, it looked amazing. I also heart glitter. 

Also the opening band Judah and the Lion was incredibly entertaining. So if you wanted to look them up, I would support you in your decision. 

I will leave you with this picture of them smashing a tambourine. Good day!

You may say I'm a dreamer.

Yeah...I took a week off of blogging. I needed to refocus a little, life muchness. So I'm back friends, and I missed you (even though unless you tell me that you read that I have no idea who you are...and thats okay. I like you a whole bunch anyway.) 

Dreaming. 

It's really important. 

Stagnant water and water that is constantly flowing are worlds apart from each other. I would never jump haphazardly into a pond of stagnant water. Especially here in Oklahoma, there are snakes...probably amoebas... mosquitoes...crayfish...that weird light fish from finding nemo...and just straight up mucky things that could swallow you whole in there. Not to mention the fact that most of our bodies of water here are pretty gross. Also most of Oklahoma is a body of water right now...but that's another story for another day. Long story short, I'm leery of bodies of water that are naturally brown, as one should be. 

Water that is constantly flowing and moving is a whole different story.

1. It doesn't smell weird. 

2. You are not constantly worried about the safety of your toes, because you can probably see them.

 3. If you needed to drink it, you probably could, and you would probably not die. 

I just want to go ahead and clarify that I am not a scientist, these are just blatant observations. The moral of the story is: an active mind is a healthy one. Thats why old people do puzzles and play card games.

I've always been a bit of an out of the box thinker. Every craft I did in grade school, Sunday school, or other group creative activities, I would always challenge myself by thinking, "How can I make mine different?" Or "What can I do to make this project cooler/better/more interesting?" It meant that my coloring sheets featured rainbow donkeys, purple ducks, and hand drawn flowers and trees, because sometimes the provided landscapes were just not quite enough for my tastes. Also I hated the idea of all of the projects looking the exact same. 

I have a subconscious "What can I add?" mentality. It's not competitive at all, it's creative. It's not uncommon for me to get a set of directions, get halfway through them, then start making up my own. This is not always successful, actually, most of the time it fails miserably. But about 1/57 times it turns out super cool, and I'm glad I did it. So in my brain it's kind of worth it, but also I can't not be creative. 

There are so many beautiful things in the world, and I'd be sad if I didn't bring something to the table. 

My definition of dreaming is to see possibilities in the world around you. 

Some of my most depressive states have been moments where I forgot to keep dreaming. To keep thinking up ideas. 

I always want to be dreaming, and thinking creatively. And I want to be around people who do the same.    

"You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one."

-John Lennon   

The things I like this week.

It's the start of a new week already? I guess it's time to talk about some things I like then. Here we go...

1. Old books

Anthro mug perfection.  

I have been hollowing out books like crazy for graduation presents for a bunch of wonderful girls that I've mentored since they were in the sixth grade. The gifts were all a book, a letter, a coffee mug, and a necklace. And I loved watching them open them. 

2. Fire stations

I just realized the other day that fire stations are just about as quaint as it gets sometimes. Big garage doors covering sometimes old fire engines, I don't know, I just like them.  

3. Applesauce

Having your wisdom teeth taken out has the ability to make you very aware of what you are eating. Applesauce is the perfect dental surgery food, I like the cinnamon applesauce best (in case you were wondering.)  

4. X-acto knives

Gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate. 

The further I get into the whole art/design thing the more I realize how vital of a tool the mighty xacto knife is. I try not to leave my house without one in my car... It's kinda weird to keep one on your person at all times. Well, maybe not that weird, boys carry pocket knives. I'm going to need to think about this some more. 

5. These tiny jars

Sharpie for scale

I made necklaces for all my graduating non-children. And I used these precious little jars, Amazon.com is amazing, it seriously makes all my dreams come true. I also really like it when people make normal sized things really tiny. ​

6. Squirrels  

There is nothing more terrifyingly beautiful than making eye contact with a squirrel, because they are either going to attack you and steal your watch, or they are memorizing your face so they can bring you nuts should your paths ever cross again. Science. I just want to let you know, I made eye contact with a squirrel this week and I wasn't attacked. This is how I know I'm a kind person. 

7. Lightning bugs  

I made my first lightning bug sightings this week, and I got really excited. Those bugs are rad.  

8.  Sno cones 

The famed MAC attack

Another first of the summer (and by summer, I mean summer vacation. It's still spring.) happened this week: first sno cone. I have a friend, his name is Blake, he is a sno cone artist and aspiring youth pastor. He works at Paradise Ice in Owasso when he is not interning with Xtreme. I asked Blake what his favorite sno cone was and he said he had a special concoction called the MAC attack. Yesterday, he made this special concoction for me. It was delicious, and you should get one, because in Blake's words, "No one is sad when they come to get a sno cone."

9.  Celebrations

Owasso graduation. That's my Peri singing, like a rockstar.  

This has been a week filled with graduations and the subsequent graduation celebrations. Lots of bittersweet moments as I realize some of my sweet friends will be moving away at the end of this summer, but they are all going to do such wonderful things, I'm sure of it. 

This picture is filled with some of the most wonderful people you will every meet. These ladies are my heroes.  

10. Storm watching

Never cross a flooded stream on foot.  

When you've grown up in Oklahoma, storm watching is a common occurrence. After party hopping all day Saturday, my last stop was the late night graduation party of my dear Abigail. At about 10pm it started pouring down rain, and it just got progressively worse and worse. Not to worry, we just sat on the kitchen floor and chatted it up, and then later found a place on the couch with a quilt to snuggle under. And all was well. 

I just can't stress this enough.

This past week was busy, like really busy. I think the last time I was this busy was the week before my capstone show last November. And even that might take a second place to this week, which is really saying something. Capstone is a lot of work, and I didn’t make that whole process easy on myself at all.

It all hit me on Sunday morning during church. I had committed to do way too many things in a week, and I hadn’t accounted for the fact that I was graduating, and receiving an award and would like to celebrate both of those things at some point. Silly Francyne. So I got out a pen and paper and started to write it all out, day by day.

It was terribly overwhelming in my brain, and it was a little less than terribly overwhelming on paper. And the hardest part was that it was all things I really wanted to do, things I was genuinely excited about. So weeding out the non-essentials wasn’t really an option. I realized that my week was going to be insane, and I was just going to have to mentally prepare myself for that.

Getting stressed out is an easy response to difficulty.

I’ve seen it happen so many times, and I’ve lived it out so many times. Stress induced pleurisy?  Check. Mild hair loss? Check. Constant misplacing of everything important you own? Check. Crying in your car because you don’t know how you’re going to make it through the week without disappointing someone? Check. Neglecting to eat? Check.

I sort of had a little bit of an epiphany my last semester of school. I was stressed, and I had a lot of work ahead of me with not a lot of time to do it. I literally didn't have time to waste by stressing out about things, I just needed to get to work. So when people would ask me how I was doing, because students in capstone always seem to be mildly frantic…thus the caring questions, I would always tell them that I was busy, and I had a lot left to do, but I was doing well.

How you respond to stressful situations is really key. You can either fuel the fire or work to contain it. It’s called being proactive or reactive (sorry for the business-y words…I’ve watched the antics of Jack Donaghey on 30 Rock way too much this week…Synergy?). You can look at your situation in utter horror and frustration, freak out all over the place and make your friends hate you because you are a ticking time bomb…Okay, that was a bit dramatic, but maybe not too far off. Or you can take it all one step at a time, remember to breathe and take care in talking through the issues you are facing.  

I mean, Jesus even talks about this…so it must be important.

 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

(‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭34‬ NIV)

So you see what I mean. You can waste your time stressing out over circumstances that you can’t change, or you can spend your time working efficiently to lighten your load, little by little.

Here are some things that help me when I’m stressed:

1.     Write it all down.

Give your brain a little bit of a rest by taking some time to process and prepare. Someone once told me that you never regret preparing for something, and I've never forgotten that. Physically writing things out helps me to remember things and helps me to start the process of getting work done. So get out a piece of paper and start preparing, yo.  

2.     Try not to lose insane amounts of sleep unless absolutely nessacery.

Emotional upheaval in the life of Francyne means that she needs more sleep. I try not to do this to my friends, so it's really important that I get mild to adequate amounts of sleep. There is an exception to every rule (or small piece of advice), sometimes you need to loose sleep to get a project done. And I like it best when I lose track of time and a project makes me lose sleep when I'm not even trying. 

3.     Treat yourself.

Sometimes it's best to change scenery, so get up early and treat yourself to breakfast. Breakfast is good for you.  

4.     Be careful who you talk to.

When you are stressed out, it's not good to spend a lot of time with people who can get you worked up easily (I'm incredibly easy going... So it does take a lot.) just be aware of who you are spending your time with, and if they are helping your situation are hurting you. 

5.     Don’t procrastinate, get to work.

'nuff said. Moving on.  

6.     Don’t be afraid to be boring for a little bit, sometimes you need it.

Sometimes you need to go home early to get stuff done, and that's okay.  

7. Celebrate the little victories along the way.  

Buy yourself celebratory stickers if you need to.  

8. Take care of yourself. 

This one is really important, because hospital bills are expensive. Drink water, take vitamins, eat vegetables from time to time, sleep. Neglecting to do these things is not good for your health.  

9. Focus on life giving activities during your free time.  

I tend to get more frustrated if I attempt to do things that already frustrate me if I'm in the middle of a busy season. So focus on activities that bring you a lot of life when you have some free time. Nature walks are a personal favorite of mine.  

10. Breathe. 

 You're going to be okay. Busy seasons don't last forever. Keep going, and keep breathing. 

Remember, take it one step at a time.  

The things I like this week.

Holy crazy week, batman. This one has been a doosie, but I would like you to know that I survived, got my wisdom teeth taken out, and am currently in bed recovering for the next couple of days. It'll be a nice (but unfortunately very painful) change of pace. Maybe thinking about the things I like this week will help.

1. When the peonies bloom

I always notice when my dad's peonies bloom every year, and they never fail to make me smile. 

2. Vintage textile patterns

My friend Abbey and I found a whole ream of this awesome fabric at a vintage sale we went to, and we found it for quite the deal. I love this stuff. And it really aided in our backdrop making for our vintage photo booth at the gathering on main. 

3. Maps

I alway think maps are interesting and cool. I'm also thinking about starting a lot of map projects. 

4. Interactive things

We asked people to tell us their story in 5 words, then we documented it with a Polaroid picture.  

I wholeheartedly believe that the best way to get people interested in your work is to involve them in it. That factor is one of the many things I love about Xm Productions. This week our project was Owasso's gathering on main, and we had all sorts of interactive and interesting things for people to do.

Spraypaint chalk was made.

5. Funny hats

That's Hannah, she's adorable. 

Whether it's a cowboy hat, or a graduation cap, I'm in. Also I graduated this week, so that was fantastic. 

These artists are just as talented as they are wonderful people. I'm so glad I got to learn, travel, and dream with these absolutely incredible students. 

"Hear ye, hear ye." - Gary Moeller 

This guy is 89% legend and 11% the lovable grandpa everyone wants in their life.  

It's always great to learn from people who are both incredibly knowledgeable and entertaining, and that would definitely encompass Denny Schmickle. Plus he makes rad patterns, so respect. 

6. Chalkboards 

In addition to the millions of other things I did this week I drew on 5 chalkboards for the Mother's Day brunch at my church. I loved the challenge and the fact that I could draw a lot of flowers, because Mother's Day.  

The stageing area... 

7. Umbrellas

Only it never rains when I have one on hand.  

8. Thunder storms

It has stormed a lot this week because it's spring time in Oklahoma. I wouldn't change a thing though. I like the lightening and thunder. 

9. 30 rock

30 Rock is the best show to go to when you have a lot on your mind grapes.  

It teaches you vauable lessons like:

-never go with a hippy to a second location

-treat every week like its shark week

-you shouldn't use ghost busters for evil

and  

-you can have it all, but also you can't.  

10. My mom

This post would not be complete with out some Mother's Day love. My mom is by far the sweetest person that I have ever had the privilege of knowing, she is unbelievably kind to everyone she meets. She is definitely the greatest mom anyone could ever ask for, and I'm glad she's mine. 

 Now go call your mom, or watch an episode of 30 rock or something. 

Lemon, out. 

Hashbrown Busy.

It's been a crazy week filled with lots of awesome creative things, and incredible people. I still have a lot ahead of me, and am not sure I can gather my mess of a brain into any sort of cohesive interesting thoughts. I figured it was best to go simple on this lovely Friday. So ladies and gents, this is what my week has looked like via the Noir filter on my phone. Enjoy.

Photo credit: Amanda Metzger  

Photo Credit: Denton Field

Photo credit: Denton Field

Photo credit: Denton Field

Photo credit: Amanda Metzger  

The things I like this week.

Happy Monday. It's that time of the week where I unashamedly tell you about the things I like. Enjoy.

1. Green leaves.

Hammock view. 

I sort of touched on this in my last post, but there is something special about spring in that it kind of comes out of nowhere. One day your confused on how many layers you should be wearing, and then a few days later you walk outside, take a deep breath, and realize there are flowers all over the place. As a result I've spent some quality time in my hammock this week, but shout out to the people whose allergies are really terrible during this time of year. I'm sorry deep breaths of spring aren't as enjoyable for you. 

2. My cozy plaid shirt

This shirt is magic, I have no idea where it came from, but I love it. Every stripe of it's oddly coordinated color scheme of flesh tones and smokey blues. Its super cozy because it's not a flannel material, it's almost a terrycloth sort of fabric. Whatever it is. I heart it. 

3. The Divine Comedy

White free range chicken, tomato, mozzarella, and pesto sandwiched in a rosemary bagel. There are few meals that I crave on a regular basis, but this is one of them. Just in case you were wondering, I'm always up for a Divine Comedy from The Phoenix. So you just say the word and we'll go. 

4. Society6

Have you ever wanted a pineapple patterned phone case that was designed by a really cool person? I know I have. Everyday. You can now purchase things like phone cases, t-shirts, coffee mugs, throw pillows, and yes, even leggings with my designs on them, and I'm probably way too excited about it. Check it out, http://society6.com/francynemelberg

5. Fruit Stands

I really wanted peaches last Thursday, and every spring/summer there is a local fruit stand near my house that always has the best peaches. Unfortunately I jumped the gun a little on the whole peach wagon because they aren't in season for a few more weeks. I did buy a couple tangelos though per the suggestion of the fruit stand attendant, and they were delicious. 

So just FYI, tangelos are in season.

Couldn't help it.  

6. Unexpected flower crowns

I think it's a really magical thing when you capture the undeserved affection of a child. Myself and my friend, Denton had to drop of our ministry truck at another local church. We were greeted by two women and a little boy, probably about 3 years old. When Denton began explaining the ins and outs of the truck to the women, the little boy got really restless for his mom's attention. I looked at him and asked him a simple question, "Do you want to make a flower crown?" And to my surprise... It actually worked. We made crowns, and caught ladybugs while he explained to me a very rough interpretation of Star Wars. It was precious. 

You can't just buy your own flower crown, some things in life must be earned.  

7. Dimes

I had a very long internal struggle over this dime I found in the Barnes and Nobel bathroom. I ended up leaving it on the bathroom floor for someone else to have an internal struggle over.  

I like them because they are small and really shiny. There's really nothing else to explain here. ​

8. Unexpected Upgrades

That's my brother. 

On Thursday I went to the premier of the Avengers: Age of Ultron. My brother bought the tickets and all I had to do was show up. So naturally I thought it was just going to be your normal movie theater experience, except this time I would be forced to sit next to one complete stranger (sitting next to strangers in movies is one of my least favorite things). When we walked into the theatre neither of us were expecting to have these awesome seats to enjoy the movie from. It was wonderful. Oh and the movie was pretty great too. And brother sister time was pure gold.

There's always that guy. Props to him... Props to him.  

9. Coloring

It's been a really busy week, filled with lots of reasons to celebrate. So part of my weekend was filled with celebratory banner making with some awesome and precious kids that I watched over the weekend. We killed it. They looked great.

10. School plays

Clap if you believe! 

 I made a trek out to Skaitook to see my sweet friend Kate's play. Normally when you go to see someone in a play they are a character, or have a solo, or something like that. Kate was in the play, she was Wendy's daughter Jane at the end, and she rocked that part. However, when she wasn't acting on stage she was playing the music for THE ENTIRE PLAY. I was so beyond impressed at, and proud of, this 8th grade rockstar. Also Peter Pan always makes me happy.

Isn't she precious?  

I now want to see an epic rap battle of history with Peter Pan vs. Captain Hook. I feel like there is a lot of material there.  

Remembering the Process

I drive a lot. And by a lot I really mean it, a lot. On any given day, when I decide to get out of my house, I spend at least an hour in my car, and it's often more. This has been the trend for a while now, I mean, I got my drivers liscence when I was seventeen (I am currently 24), and everything I do seems to always be at least 20 minutes away. 

You would think because I drive so much, I'd be really good at it, but I'm not. I bet the ratio of car wrecks is probably right though (heavy sigh). 

Exploring has just become something I do. If I have some dead time, it's not uncommon for me to take a journey down some new roads. I think there are always really interesting things around us at all times. But too often we either don't notice them because we are to busy or distracted to see them, or we never find them because we neglect to go looking for them. 

I was driving the other day, and by pure happenstance I ended up driving by a place my parents had brought me to when I was little. I vividly remember being there; playing in the grass, looking at the train tracks. What I never knew was where the place actually stood, it honestly could have been in another state. The crazy thing about being a kid is that your are very rarely concerned about the process. You aren't typically concerned with where the money your parents have comes from, or how that said money makes it possible for you to turn the light on and off in your room, or that wasteing water actually costs your parents money, or that being on time is a thing that you have to do when you are an adult and that's the reason why they can get so frustrated with you in the mornings. 

Growth is often a slow progression that you don't notice until you take a moment to stop. 

Its like the change that happens between winter and spring, which is something I love. I always remember winter ending, and I always remember the daffodils blooming in mid-March. However, in between then and about this time of year, literally millions of subtle changes begin to happen. Leaves start to sprout, the sky slowly gets more blue, the sun feels just a little bit warmer day by day, and then suddenly you look up and realize, "Oh, hey. It really is spring." 

The question, "Do you know how to get there?" Is not something you are asked until you are a mildly responsible person. When you are simply a passenger you're not concerned with directions, you can lay in the back seat (in a way that probably makes the seatbelt completely ineffective) and watch the powerlines go up and down in the window, or you can take a little nap, or you can daydream, or even play while listening to your brother's awesome discman.

When you are driving, knowing where you are going is kind of your job. I will admit to you that a good 30% of the time I'm completely lost, but I have more than my fair share of common sense, so it doesn't take me long to figure it out. Plus, GPS exists now, and has gotten me out of many a jam. Directions are hard for me because I thrive on landmarks, and most people just explain the roads. I can't remember things if it's just a bunch of numbers and a sequence of stop signs. But tell me about all the things I will see on the way and I will undoubtedly get there. 

Too often we underestimate the process. We speed because we need to get places faster, we get frustrated over inefficiency, we forget to teach people along the journey because it may serve as an inconvience. We miss opportunities, because the we want the finished product more than the adventure (that kind of hurt my heart a little bit to write). We often miss the fact that a journey well made makes the final destination that much more interesting, and more beautiful.

The thing is, once I know how to get somewhere, I very rarely forget. Its all like connecting dots, and connecting those dots to more dots, and drawing little lines between preexisting dots, because when you connect dots the world you know gets a little bit bigger and the world you don't gets a little bit smaller. 

And I want my world to be filled with dots, and lines, and more dots. 

The things I like this week: Earth Day Edition

Last Wednesday was Earth Day, and I don't think I've taken note of Earth Day since the third grade...you know, that time in your life when you involuntarily celebrated all the obscure days for the sake of education. So in order to make up for my neglecting to observe Earth Day for the past several years, I decided to tribute it with a things I like post. Thus, the things I like this week are mildly earth day themed. Don't overthink it. 

Without further ado...

I present to you...

The things I like: Earth Day edition.

1. My globe necklace

This necklace rings like a bell. It's my theory that a fairy lives inside it, she feeds on sunshine and the hugs of others, but gets angry when you shake her.  

When I started to go to college I soon found that I had a lot of dead time between classes, and this little necklace was found on one of the many adventures I went on during such a slot of dead time. Claremore has, like, a buzzillion antique stores. So, obviously, I had to explore all of them. I found this treasure for only $5... Which admittedly is probably more than I would typically spend on used jewelry, but I loved it, so a purchase was indeed made. I never travel with out it, and it's always my go to necklace.

I totally broke it on earth day... Which was a bit coincidental. Nothing a little glue can't fix. (Insert a joke about continental drift here) 

2. Sunny Saturdays

Killing some time with some coffee, and....uhhh.... Working on this blog post. Awkward.  

I spent the majority of my Saturday outdoors.  I was doing a bunch of things, but truth be told, even if I wasn't doing things I would have gotten my hammock out and chilled all day. The weather was beyond perfect. 

3. When a puppy loves you

I have this precious friend, and her name is Sarah. She is quite possibly one of my favorite people on the planet. Sarah rescued a puppy this past week and is now trying to find a new home for this sweet girl named Susie. We were all sitting on the ground outside, the puppy snuggled up in Sarah's lap, minutes from a puppy nap when Susie gets up and plops down in mine. My heart was warmed.  

I know you paused your scrolling to look at this precious face. Don't try to deny it.  

4. The relaxation of a good nature walk

It has been far too long since I've had a good nature walk. It will happen soon, don't you worry. You should take one too, get off that couch and out of that computer chair, leave your phone in the car and go look at some pretty trees, and clouds, and flowers, and birds, and.... Just go, okay? 

5. Mylar thermal emergency blankets

Xtreme prom has got my brain whirling with ideas of what I could do with this stuff.  

6. Pineapples with friends

I think I'm always going to do this... So you should just get used to it.  

Do to some miscommunication, a little laziness on my part, and poorly timed fruit cravings, I didn't get to eat any of my last pineapple. I was crushed. Pun intended. After telling my tales of the slight woe I had experienced I came to Owasso and was greeted by pineapple MK II. I was probably a little more excited than one should normally get about fruit. The next day I hung out with some friends and watched some movies, the pineapple was brought. We ate it, and it was delicious. It was indeed everything I wanted in a pineapple. Even though I had to google how to cut it, life skill: learned. Also special thanks to Kevin for giving me a pineapple, and special thanks to the lovely ladies who shared it with me.

7. My plants

I'm not really sure if I have a green thumb or not...but I can keep a plant alive. Or at least my track record for keeping plants alive is good (it's not so great for hermit crabs and fish, but we won't talk about that. RIP David Bowie.). However, I really think it's all do to the fact that I can't finish a glass of water without getting distracted... so my plants get my leftovers. I have 3 plants in my window, a Christmas cactus (that always blooms on thanksgiving), a wondering Jew (that I grew from a leaf I disected in my intro to biology class), and an avocado tree (given to me by one of my teachers at RSU. Her name is Anh-Thuy, so the tree's name is Anh-Tree). I'm trying to plant the top of pineapple MK II, we'll see how that goes, I'll keep you updated on that one.  

8. When you end up driving into the sunset/a really cool cloud formation

I drove from Catoosa to Tulsa, Tulsa to Owasso, Owasso to Claremore, Claremore to Collinsville, Collinsville back home to Catoosa last Thursday. The Claremore to Collinsville trip is when I caught the beginning of the sunset. But also sorry for all the driving places, earth. 

I drive a lot, which is not good for the earth. I'll own that one. I will admit to you that driving long distances is, reluctantly, one of my favorite things. Something that makes driving a long distance even better is driving into the sunrise or the sunset. I mean, it's quite obvious to the why of it, but I'll say it anyway, it's beautiful no matter where you are. Also clouds can be pretty anytime of day, so if you're lucky enough to catch one of the millions of lovely displays that can happen on any given day take a minute to enjoy it. 

9. The smell of freshly cut grass

My dad started mowing the lawn this week. It always reminds me of spending all day climbing trees, riding bikes, playing in the dirt, or day dreaming about building forts outside with my brother during the summer.

10. The occasional birds eye view

I really like it when you view something mundane from a new perspective. Kind of like when you have been in a certain environment for a long time and then the occasion arises when you have to stand on a table and you see the entire room from a new perspective...I know the lamest things are interesting to me. Anyway, I got to go to the top of the Williams building in Tulsa about a month ago, and it was seriously one of the coolest things I have gotten to do in a while. 

Thanks for stoping by and reading things. Now go plant a tree... or recycle... or save an animal or something. Happy Earth Day! 

Party Planners Anonymous

First off I would like to acknowledge that I get to work with some pretty stellar people on some really awesome things. This week was no exception. 

I got to be a part of designing, and decorating for a Prom. Xtreme Youth Ministries is the youth group I grew up in, and I still volunteer a big chunk of time to them, because I love what Xtreme is about. Every year they put on a prom for all of the students, and it's always loads of fun. There's music, food, games, and tons of fancy dresses and dapper suits.

Amanda and Denton admiring the dance floor on one of our late nights. 

This year the theme was glow. To our huge advantage, we had 4 UV LED lights on hand that we could use. So those made just about anything either glow, or at least change colors. When we first settled on the theme, there was one thing we all knew and all agreed on: we wanted an incredible dance floor. We thought about renting one, but that proved to be too expensive. Then there was talk about physically building one, but that might prove itself to be a liability. So Kevin (the guy in charge, also another MVP) had that ingenious idea to paint it directly onto the floor. Obviously the tricky part of this is a) Finding a paint that will glow, and b) Finding a paint that will wash off our concrete floors with ease. With some experimentation we found that Sargent Art's fluorescent tempera paint was just the stuff to do the trick (and spoilers: the whole floor came off with just water and a floor machine, easy peasy.) A little masking tape, some post it notes for planning purposes, and some foam rollers later this lovely floor was born. 

So much disco. 

The next thing we worked on were our chandeliers. After getting inspired by some of the art we came across at the poetry slam at Living Arts in Tulsa, Denton and I did our research on how we could make some similar things. Party backdrops were $9 for 2 8x4 sections, which is a deal if you just want one....we wanted about 40 of these things. That stuff adds up, yo. Denton had a stroke of genius when he suggested using mylar thermal emergency blankets. They are essentially made from the same material, and are very close to being the same size. The only difference? One is shredded for photo ops, and the other is stored in the backpacks of people who are going hiking for long distances (or maybe other people too...I have no idea. I bet smart people keep them in their cars. Maybe I should do that.) So we bought sixty of these little guys, and they came out to about a dollar a piece. Also cutting them up was easier than expected, we (I say we, there were a bunch of fantastic people rocking thier, scissors and tape skills) just cut along the fold lines and taped across the top. Then with some zip ties and a hole punch we attached them to some PVC pipe frames that we had. 

The one draw back to the mylar was that it tore very easily once it had a cut to follow. So we had a rule, "If you tear it, you wear it." 

Some pre-party shenanigans with Amanda and Nate. It's hard to tell in the photo but both of them are wearing mylar accessories. 

Overall I think the party was a huge success. Everyone seemed to be having a wonderful time, and me...I had a blast! 

Tap the pictures to see more from the party. 

The things I like this week.

Happy Monday. Enjoy this list of things I like. 

1. Rainy days

Its been one of those April weeks where it rains a lot. I honestly don't mind it, it reminds me of Europe. Also sleeping through a thunderstorm is my favorite. I honestly think it makes me sleep better. 

2. Lisa Frank

Because baby animals, bright colors, and glitter have a special place in my nostalgic heart. Plus I found a bunch of stickers at target for $0.30. Score. And if the question is, "Should I bring my Lisa Frank trapper keeper to my college class?" The answer is a most emphatic, "Yes." 

Excuse me while I nerd out.  

3. New journals

It's green.  

Few things make me feel so accomplished as closing a journal after filling the last line. And few things fill me with such anxiety as putting the first ink stroke in a new one. Both are good things. 

4. Getting mail with stamps  

My dear friend Amy has been sending me letters, and they never fail to put a smile on my face. Rest assured Amy, I'm about half way through your letter and you will receive it in your mailbox soon (P.s. You're wonderful). Also if you would like to send me letters, and I deem you a worthy and trustworthy individual, I will gladly give you my address.  And possibly return the favor. 

5. Going new places, experiencing new things

I tried something new on Saturday, I went to a poetry slam. It was pretty awesome. Especially considering that I went into it genuinely knowing it was either going to be incredibly lame or utterly fantastic. Luckily, it leaned on the side of utterly fantastic. There was booing when the judges gave poor scores, and cheering when they gave great ones. I also noted that it's good for the soul to see new faces, go new places, and hear new voices. 

6. Rainbow Aviators.

I may be jealous because my pineapple can pull them off better than I can.  

Sometimes I get way too excited about silly things, and that is exactly what happened when I came across rainbow aviators for the first time. And rightfully so, I might add. These were given to me by my good friend Denton... Probably for saving his life or something like that. I'm not a hero, but these glasses certainly make me feel like one. *salutes* Gracias, señor. 

But seriously...it's like seeing the world through all the filters on instagram, depending on which color you are looking through. Which is wonderful and distracting whilst driving. 

7. Amazon.com

For obvious reasons.

8. Ok Go's Music videos

This is an always thing. If I'm having a humdrum day I like to make a stop by youtube and watch these insane music videos. They make me super happy. You should watch them, so they can make you super happy too.

9. Patterns

I'm always, always obsessed with crazy patterns. So I'm currently exploring that avenue. I mean, what's better than a pineapple? Approximately 126 pineapples displayed in an aesthetically pleasing way, obviously. 

Still on pineapples.

10. Hatitude

Hatitude - The feeling of unmatched confidence one gets from wearing a killer hat. 

Its a thing, tell your friends.  

In conclusion, I will leave you with this 90's blessing.  

May your day be brighter than your trapper keeper, and may its Velcro never wear out.  

On Journaling

I finished a journal this week, and there is always a feeling of accomplishment that comes with finishing a book. In June it will mark the fact that I will have documented 11 years of my life in books that are now filled with stories, ideas, doodles, and notes. Some of these books are your classic composition notebook, and others are leather bound journals I probably spent a little more money on than I should have. I honestly have no preference when it comes to the quality of the book, so long as it's filled with paper. Well... actually I almost like the composition notebooks better. When I'm using a fancy journal I feel way more pressure for the content to be good. A $0.99 composition notebook doesn't hold anything against you if you mess it up a little. But there is also a little bit of pride I get when I carry around a moleskin journal I love. So yeah...we're back to no preference. 

So I've figured since I've been doing this for so long, I might as well share some of my process...of...things...

Here we go...

Francyne Melberg on Journaling:

1. Don't put a lot of pressure on yourself.

I, admittedly being a nerd, have read a few books on journaling. Some of them encourage you to, uninterrupted, write two pages every morning. Others suggest supplementing your writings with photographs and doodles. Are these terrible ideas? No. They are great ideas. However, my advice to you is to not put so much pressure on yourself when it comes to such things. When I begin to put this kind of pressure on myself, I feel like a failure if I miss a day, or forget to get photos developed, or my doodles are bad. This book is all about you and what you want it to be, so don't make it a chore. Just have fun with it. If all you do on a given day is put the sticker you got from the fireman who was collecting change in his boots at the stop light, that's completely okay (and I've done this on several occasions.) Give yourself some breathing room. 

2. Carry your journal with you everywhere you go. 

I always carry a sketchbook, journal, and whatever book I'm currently reading (right now it's How to Think Like a Great Graphic Designer by Debbie Millman) with me at all times. 

I'm very serious about always having a pen and paper on me. 

That sounds so nice doesn't it? The truth is I have a major fear/straight up anxiety of being somewhere - in class, a lecture, church, a waiting room, long car ride - without pen and paper. There is just a certain amount of comfort I get from having the option to write or doodle at a moments notice. Also not having that option totally freaks me out. I like to live like I could have a stroke of genius any moment. What is the first thing you need when you have a stroke of genius? A trusty pen, and some paper. 

3. Be yourself. 

You don't have anything to prove to a blank piece of paper. And not everything in life has to be instagramed.

Although you will instagram it at least once.

You can follow me on Instagram if you want.  

4. Document, document, document

These were used during the summers, I tend to travel way more during that timeframe.  

I really like to view my journals as little collections of the bits and pieces of my life. I always write down the places each journal has been to in the front cover of each book. And when I'm traveling, or even when I'm not, I often tape ticket stubs, fortunes, stickers, nifty things I find, or stamps from my mail on the pages. So collect things.

5. Don't forget to dream.

On the back cover of every book I write my Artdeas...I know, it's not a very interesting thing to call it. My Artdeas are a list of crazy, insane, stupid, and/or genius ideas I have while a journal is in use. I sometimes go back to them and think about how I really need to do some of them, and then there are others that I have no earthly idea what I was talking about. Either way I definitely believe there is great value in writing down ideas...both the crazy and not so crazy.

6. Always doodle in the margins.

Even if you can't draw very well.

7. Nothing is sacred.

I tell myself this often. Even more so when I start to take myself too seriously. My philosophy on this is I never want to be hindered in life, what I do, or create by what I have. Don't be ridgid. My mom would probably scold me, but I have painted, carried rebar, and taken nature walks in my favorite dress, all without any indication that such things have happened. Would I say this is wise? Absolutely not. But, why would I ever not do something I enjoy because of how I'm dressed? The same philosophy applies to my journals. Whenever a child is bored I don't bat an eye at letting them doodle in my books. It's just paper, and they sometimes draw some really precious things that make me smile when I come across them later. Essentially what I'm saying here is don't be so uptight that you freak out if someone else writes in your book, or if you end up having to tear a page out, or if the edges of some of your pages get a little water damaged. That's just part of life. 

8. Treat yourself to a package of your favorite pens from time to time.

Yes, that is a pineapple. 

I always, always start each book with the unspoken intention of only using one pen throughout the whole thing, and I always, always end up failing. Well, I've done it once out of 27 books, it's not a very good success rate. I like to buy a new package of sharpie pens from time to time. I enjoy them a whole bunch, before I inevitably loose every single one of them. 

9. The first page of a new notebook is always terrifying.

This will never, ever change. I always get an twinge of excited anxiety every time I start a new book. Just decide that whatever happens you'll keep going. Even if your first page ends up being the place where you doodle at lot. 

10. Tell stories.

Whether they are light hearted, or deeply rooted, you'll really, honestly be glad you did.  

A snapshot of a bit of the collection. I feel the need to clarify that I started journaling when I was 13... But also I still put stickers on things. So do what you will with that information.  

The things I like this week.

It's a Monday, and Mondays can be hard. So I figured I would take this opportunity to perk you up with some of the things that made this past week special for me, and/or some of the things that I just straight up like. I've compiled a list, and I hope you enjoy it.

1. Shoes with wheels. Preferably roller blades. 

View fullsize

View fullsize

This week definitely ended on a high note when I had the opportunity to rock some rented roller blades and got to skate in seemingly endless circles with some of my closest friends. I also attempted to teach some people...because apparently the children born after the year 2000 don't make it a habit of roller skating on a regular basis. Sad I know. It was entertaining to say the least, and so full of nostalgia. Even though my knees hate me now, worth it.

2. Relient K

Since the only time I actually listen to a CD anymore is in my car. I decided to load up my 6 CD changer with my scratched up Relient K CD's. Blissful car rides ensue. Also this is what a RK concert should be like.

3. Marbles

I walked into a store that I was 74.9% sure there would be nothing cool in, and found the most beautiful wall of marbles I have ever seen. I can't remember with the store was called, but it was basically pinterest in a room. 

4. Lightroom

I will never view photo editing the same way. Also these are some of the gems from my last senior photo shoot. Abbey is just beyond beautiful.

5. Pineapples

Although I haven't had the chance to doodle a pineapple at this point, I will soon. I was perusing the mall this week with one of my good friends, and pineapples were everywhere. I think it's going to be a summer trend. It kind of makes me smile.

6. Burn Your Portfolio

This book by Michael Janda is pretty stellar. I would highly suggest it to anyone who wants to make a living doing creative things. 

Heres the link to buy it...I know you want to.

Burn Your Portfolio: Stuff they don't teach you in design school, but should

By Michael Janda

7. Wishes

It's that time of year when these little guys are popping up all over the place, and I love it. I also spent a chunk of time blowing wishes into a pond. My friends love me. 

Here's hoping they all come true.

Have a lovely Monday. Remember people who complain about April's showers don't get to enjoy May's flowers (it's a new rule.) 

We all just want to belong.

I've been thinking. I've been thinking about human need to belong. Dare I say, the human necessity. 

This summer I had the opportunity to be a part of some really awesome things, it's almost surreal. You know you were a part of something incredible when you look back and think, "Did that really happen? Or am I just making things up again?" I tend to live in my head a lot, so I wouldn't be surprised. It happened though, it really happened, there were witnesses. So I'm not crazy. Anyway. Moving on. The summer left me with a lot of tidbits of somewhat deep thoughts. One of them was: people will be more interested in the work you are doing if you allow them to be a part of the process. 

Have you ever been escorted through a school hallway as a proud child showed you their artwork hanging on the bulletin board? Or maybe the better question is, have you ever been that child? "Mine is the duck with the purple nose!" or "My donkey is the one that is a rainbow!" were just a couple of the things I said to my parents when I was given such an opportunity. There is nothing better to a seven-year-old than a piece of their handiwork occupying a slice of the much coveted bulletin board real estate in a school hallway. Well, except candy, and big cardboard boxes, and snow days, and blanket forts...I guess a lot of things were better, but it's still a good feeling. I wholeheartedly believe that there is value to be found in putting your small fingerprint on something a lot bigger than yourself.

So belonging...

Everyone wants to be a part of something, whether they are willing to admit it or not. It's why little girls start clubs, it's why old ladies read books together, its why young men go to as many concerts as possible, and it's why old men eat doughnuts together at 5 am. 

*Side note: I will never be an old man, but I absolutely cannot wait until I can eat doughnuts at 5 am without any qualms from my circadian rhythm.*

Belonging. We want to feel at home. Yes, home is a place. More importantly, however, home is a matter of the heart, a state of being. I think we rarely talk about it, but this need runs pretty deep. We want to feel at home in our minds, in our hearts, in our bodies, we even want to feel at home in our relationships with others, and in life stages in general. I know that I do, sometimes desperately. We may never say it out loud, but we all want to know that we are at home where we are, with the people that we are with, doing the things we are doing. We want to know that we are wanted. 

Feeling out of place is a terrible feeling. Lack of belonging has its way of breaking our hearts (sometimes in the dumbest ways.) No one enjoys being left out of a club, or likes being abandoned in a relationship, or takes great comfort in the fact that they missed out on an inside joke. These things have a way of making us feel like we showed up to a black tie event wearing sweatpants and a t-shirt with coffee stains on it. I don't much like the idea of trying to make interesting conversation, with people so classy that my heart is crying, whilst staring at my unmatched socks and trying to hide the fact that I probably haven't brushed my teeth yet. 

Goodness, fancy parties can really come out of nowhere sometimes.

The more I look around the more I realize that I exist in a world that is both unrelentingly busy and bored to the point of insanity all at the same time. I live around so many people who are never alone yet almost unbearably lonely. What a paradox we all are. We keep ourselves so busy, yet few things can actually hold our short attention spans. It's all quite odd. 

I hate it, but I also like it. I hate that I like it, and I like that I hate it...but I hate liking it. Don't worry, I'm just as confused as you are...because paradox.

The general population of people who have cell phones are almost attached to their devices because they want to know whats going on in the world at all times. The internet has sort of become this place where everyone can come together and be on the same level. It's lovely how the young, the old, the losers, the drama queens, the socially awkward, the overly confident... and so on, can all come together and be a part of something. It's a place where kindred hearts and common interests can build communities in an instant. Just like old men eating doughnuts at 5 am. Your income doesn't matter, because it's free...doughnuts aren't even free. We lose sleep scrolling through the internet, refreshing feeds, liking things, all because we want to be a part. We all want to have say in what color the dress is (or insert the next viral event, because this one will soon be forgotten. That is, until TimeHop starts reminding people a year from now.) And even if we don't care, it's at least nice to have the option. The only problem is, that sense of belonging is so short lived. Also its impossible and frustrating to try to keep up.  

So where does that leave us? I really don't know.

I guess all I can really say is, put your fingerprints on things (that is, unless you happen on a crime scene...). Be a part of life with people you care about. And more than trying desperately to belong, allow other people to belong with you. When someone shows up to your impromptu black tie party wearing a fleece onesie and their retainer, go home and change. Put on your fuzziest socks, and bring an extra pair for your poorly dressed friend...Onesies typically have those little grippies on the feet. There's surely to be a long, well buffed hallway somewhere that you can sock slide in. 

Make the Stuff You Love to Make.

I recently just finished a pretty big, random side project. an illustrative menu on a chalkboard. Chalkboards are sort of the bane of my existence in that I always, always bite off more than I can chew. If you know much about my artwork, you know that I tend to be a little crazy with the details.  I have somewhat of an addictive personality, I love repetitive tasks. For whatever reason they make sense to me…and things making sense makes me feel safe. Lame, I know. Either way the bigger the canvas the more time and energy I expel on the project. Obviously. 

So this brings me to my next thought. I do a lot of stuff for free. Like a lot of stuff. As a young artist, it's probably not good for me. Professionals around me are always saying every time you do creative work for someone make sure you have a some sort of contract and you get paid in some form, even if you're bartering. In a sense I totally agree, it's super easy for people to take advantage of the creative community because most people don't necessarily see all the behind the scenes work that goes in to making something. So if all creative individuals allow themselves to be pushed around and never get paid…I see a problem there. Artists are some of the hardest working people you will ever meet because there work is never done. They are always seeing the world and thinking of more ways to make it even more lovely. Thus if they can get paid for what they do, they most definitely should. 

My problem? I like making stuff, so when I come across a project that I think I would really enjoy I want to do it regardless of payment. Thus I do a lot of things for free, but it rarely bothers me. 

So to the artist: do what you love. Keep making work and get paid when you can, but don't neglect a project that you would enjoy because of the money aspect. 

To the patron: support your local artists and arts community. Even if you can't buy a thousand dollar painting, buy a cup of coffee for that forlorn soul doodling in the one corner of the coffee shop with good lighting. 

This is a time-lapse of the chalkboard I did, I seriously had so much fun making it. Please enjoy!

Traditions

I'm not sure where I developed this deep sense of nostalgia, but for whatever reason, I'm really into personal traditions. Drinking a chai latte from Shades of Brown (one of my favorite coffee shops  in Tulsa) on the first day of Fall is one of my most cherished personal traditions. I started it 3 years ago, because I was way too excited about the upcoming season and the weather changing. When you live in a place that gets as hot as Oklahoma does during the Summer you really start to enjoy the 3 weeks of fall before winter comes and throws ice on everything…or worse Summer comes back for a second run. Oklahoma weather is weird, but you get used to the constant weather changes. I don't really have a reason why I turned it into a tradition other than the fact that I love a good chai latte…and fall is pretty cool (no pun intended). 

Granted I think tradition is a slightly over used word with odd connotations. Thank you, Fiddler on the Roof. It's not really the way I see it. I think tradition can be something beautiful so long as it stays somewhat flexible. The truth is life is very rarely going to turn out the same way from year to year. Life ebbs and flows just like the tide of the ocean. It's a little bit obnoxious how that works, I won't lie. Some years will be better than others. Some years will be fuller that others. The value of tradition is that from year to year you have something to look forward to, something to mark a place in your busy life. 

Plus drinking a hot cup of chai latte and working on art is oh so good for the soul.