My Kurt Halsey Frederiksen Collection

Hi all! Happy Monday. I wanted to shake things up a bit this week and break free from my typical blogging schedule. Today in particular I feel like chit-chatting about my Kurt Halsey collection while sharing some information about the artist. If you haven't heard of him it is about time you did!

Image source: Kurt Halsey Frederiksen Facebook page
ABOUT THE ARTIST:
Kurt Halsey Frederiksen has been creating and showing his art professionally since 2000 when he graduated from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. His artist statement - "Influenced by my hopeless romantic and super sensitive mindset, I pay far too much attention to the little things in life and in the relationship between two people. In constant need of reassurance, explanation, closure, and attention, my paintings are made." - best sums up his work. Frederiksen's paintings and drawings have been exhibited in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Santa Monica, San Jose, Philadelphia, Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, Tampa Bay, Portland, Baltimore, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Houston, and Toronto. Check out more of his work on his website here - kurthalsey.com.

MY COLLECTION:

Kurt Halsey Frederiksen - Art Star Gallery, opening reception invitation, 2005.

I instantly fell in love with Kurt Halsey's work early on in high school. I can only guess that I was first introduced to his artwork via LiveJournal. His paintings and drawings are so relatable, quirky, and genuine. As soon as I saw his work I was hooked.


Kurt Halsey Frederiksen - Art Star Gallery, opening reception invitation, 2005.

Kurt Halsey, Urban Outfitters, Triptych, 2006.

In 2005 I am pretty sure I checked his site weekly. The pieces up in the Art Star Gallery at the time were on sale and I desperately wanted to own an original. I saw one of his pieces for the first time at a bowling alley - Lucky Strike - in Los Angeles (a fun gift thanks to Ellen Degeneres who flew a group of us from Chicago out to L.A. for a Chicago show...), I freaked out and had to get a photo with it. I wish I still had that photo. Anywho...


Kurt Halsey canvas bag - gifted to me, christmas, 2005.

I was shocked a few months later when my mom purchased an original piece from his show for my 16th birthday. I am so blessed and fortunate to own this piece. I love it. I relate to the piece far too much for my own good. I look forward to passing this piece on to my future children :]


Kurt Halsey, Breathe Deep and Breath Easy, 2005.

This Christmas I was blown away again when I found a special little present under the tree. My mother managed to have a Hushabye book signed for me.


Kurt Halsey, "Hushabye Book", 2011.

Needless to say this is one of my most cherished collections. Are any of you fans of his work? I have seen some of my blogging buds with tattoos of his work. I would love to hear more :]

WHERE TO BUY HIS ARTWORK:
For original pieces - Kurt Halsey Storenvy.
Prints and merchandise - Art Star.
www.kurthalsey.com

Have a fantastic day!!

Week in instagram

Hi all! Hope you are enjoying the rest of your weekends. Mine was a lot of fun. Friday was girls night out - we hit up the town and I ran in to my junior prom date (I didn't actually know him when we went to the dance - my friend set us up because I really wanted to go - pretty sure we only said five words to each other at the dance) haha. Yesterday I spent the afternoon thrifting. Today my mom and I are going on a tour of Mies van der Rohe's Farnsworth House, needles to say I am prettttty excited.



My week:
1. Celebrated my dad's birthday with an angel food cake and mocha frosting.
2. Found an old polaroid from when I met Johnny Depp.
3. Played with the miniature farm animals at Hobby Lobby while Brian looked at frames.
4. My stylish surprise from Modcloth came. I will show it off with better photos later in the week :]
5. My cucumbers are growing!!
6. Awesome thrift find. Stitched Native American portrait.

Feel free to follow me on Instagram if your don't already.

Have a beautiful Sunday everyone.

Thrifted Thursday - Worldly

Hi all, Another Thrifted Thursday here. I have been working on cutting down on my thrifting excursions. I just donated 4 trash bags worth of clothing and other items - eeep! It sure feels good though to clear up some space around here. I also am in the process of setting up an ebay account to sell some items that need new homes :] With that being said let's move on to the goods, shall we?



This little Buddha makes me so happy. How could you not smile while looking at his sweet grin and round belly? He is a sign of joy and wealth - two very wonderful things. I picked him up about a year ago for under $2 :]



Oh, you know...just an original Vincent van Gogh...reprint. Haha. So nothing too special other than the fact that I love his sunflowers. I like that it was printed on canvas instead of poster paper and that it brightens up just about any room. I thrifted this piece before starting college. An oldie but a goodie.



I thrifted this guy Sunday afternoon seeing as he was half off. It depicts - Yeibichai, the Night Chant - which is a ceremony held once the snakes are asleep in order to cure patients of nervousness and insanity. If performed improperly the singer or patient may lose their hearing, sight, cause facial paralysis, or crippling of the legs or arms - bummer. I only know this because the of the story attached to the back, haha. I personally thought it added to its charm.

My friends and I are headed out on the town tonight. Pretty darn excited. Anywho, have you thrifted anything spectacular lately? I would love to hear about it.

Wardrobe Wednesday - Houndstooth

Hi all! How is your week goin? I can't believe it is already Wednesday - phew. I have been applying to jobs like a mad woman. Please hire me people! Applying for jobs online is so difficult, with an endless sea of applicants, how do you stand out? Wah, wah. I am hopeful though. It will happen. I am just hoping sooner than later.



Oh yeah, I cut myself some bangs yesterday. I think they are a fun change. I need to get an actual hair cut - sorry to all my hair stylist friends. I know, it's bad. Anywho... I am just in the mood to ramble today it seems. I just feel like I have so many little things to chit-chat about. I also started working on my health and fitness. I downloaded the MyFitnessPal app (alliemc123) and bike an hour each day. Anyone else using this app? It is awesome because it allows you to be mindful of what you are eating and chart your progress for exercise :]



Outfit Details: Dress - Dorothy Perkins | Cameo & bag - thrifted | Wedges - Target | aaaand sweetpea.

This dress is a lot of fun to wear - a tad short for me but I am dealing with it. I look forward to styling this dress for the fall with fun tights and cardigans. Four years ago I would have never pictured myself twirling around in dresses, and yet here I am! I have done a complete 360 when it comes to my style and I couldn't be happier. Tehehe.

What are you all up to for the rest of the week?

Stylish Surprise - Pt. 2

I just found out there is another Stylish Surprise deal going on at ModCloth. I definitely bought one more surprise. Check out my last two surprises here. I can't wait to see what comes. I have an addiction, haha. Let me know if you get one :]

P.S. If you are new to ModCloth and looking to spend more than $50. Use this link - ShyScout's referral - to receive $10 dollars off your purchase :]

Also - Have you seen my Most Wanted Monday - Tattoos post from earlier today?

Most Wanted Monday - Tattoos

Hi guys! Hope you all had a good and relaxing weekend, mine was just that. I had fun celebrating Brian's birthday with his family and then with friends in Chicago, saw my cousins, had sushi with my dad, and did a bit of gardening. Today is my dads birthday. I baked him a yummy angel food cake with mocha frosting - his personal fave :] I have more job hunting to do today, wahoo. Please send me some good vibes!

For today's Most Wanted Monday I thought it would be fun to show off some tattoos I have fallen in love with recently. My mother specifically told me she couldn't handle if I got another one this weekend, so of course I want another now (see my tattoo here). Just one on my inner arm, or maybe my thigh? Hmmmm. Obviously I don't have enough thought put in to it to get one...just yet.

Floral

1. Poppies - Sang Noir.


2. Orchids - Davie Hale.


3. Bouquet - Josh Cerny, formerly at Steady Tattoo. Now at Live Fast Die Young Tattoos.

Animals

4. Tattoo Commission - Nan Lawson.


5. Fox - Unsure of artist, found on Baked Fish's Photostream.


6. Bird/floral - Unsure of artist, found on Mariah is on Fire's photostream.
Not Katie's from Skunkyboy...but close-ish (?).

Cameo

7. Grandad cameo - Miguel Angel Tattoo.


8. Cameo - Katie's Pencil Box.
Basically - put some flowers, cute animals, and a vintage frame around it and - BAM! I kid, sort of. Looking to get some new ink, or have any recently acquired some? Let me know! I would love to see/hear about it :] Happy Monday y'all!

**If you know the artists of the tattoos above please let me know so that I can fix the links on my pinterest and credit them. I hate when people pin things without the proper links attached.