Tattoo love - Rik Lee

Rik Lee is an incredible artist from Melbourne, Australia. I came across his work a while back and instantly fell in love. To see more of his wonderful artwork please visit his site here: Rik Lee's wordpress.

"He works with grey lead pencils, textas, watercolours and his computer." I find his quirky subject matter, clean lines, and bold colors absolutely stunning. And to top it all off he does commissions for tattoo designs!! Once I save up enough funds I would love to contact him for commissioned piece.

I hope you all enjoy his work as much as I do :]
You can also purchase prints, apparel, etc. at his shop - HERE.

Most wanted Mondays - prints

I am a major fan of anything overly cutesy/beautiful to hang on my walls (who isn't though - am I right?). Here are some recent prints that I have stumbled upon and fallen in love with. I just may have to add some to my collection...

ParadaCreations. Astrological Signs Modern Print Art / Poster "12 Signs of the Zodiac" 8x10 Original Hand Illustrated Birth Signs Drawings.

ruffhouseart. Kitchen Utensils Letterpress Art Print.

ashleyg. Clementine.

Paper Parasol Press. Illinois Letterpress Folk Wycinanki Woodtype Print.

annie bach. Whale nursery art. Cute pink sea creature on blue. 8.5 x 11 art print.

Gingiber. Quilted Fox Print by Gingiber.

I bought these BA lovelies for my boyfriend for christmas :) (I love Frank Kozik <3)

Alan Forbes - 1997 - Misfits.

Frank Kozik - 1996 - The Nomads.

Weekend round up - zoo excursion.

Hi all. Yesterday the fam and I decided to take advantage of the unusually warm weather - 50 degrees in January! - and headed to the Brookfield zoo. In January and February four days out of the week are free to visitors (saturdays included), which ended up being an extra bonus. Below are some of the photos I snapped on our zoo excursion.

If you live in the Chicagoland area I highly recommend visiting the Brookfield zoo.

Later today I plan on hitting up some of my favorite thrift and antique stores with my momma. I plan on starting a new thrifting segment which I am pretty excited about in the upcoming week.

Hope you all had a lovely weekend :)

New layout!

Hi all! I just posted the new layout. What do you all think - any suggestions? I think I will be making new layouts fairly often - it is just too much fun. Who knows, I may even start designing them for others...

ch ch changes

As of two days ago I decided to become vegetarian. I can't justify eating often sick and tortured animals any longer (eep sorry end rant - I just have to keep telling myself this to keep motivated). I have grown up on meat my whole life so giving it up is going to be quite difficult. I am taking it one day at a time but I think it is best for my health and the lives of the animals I will not be consuming. Wish me luck!

Are any of you vegetarian? How did you make the transition? Any tips?

Latest update - I am going to Japan! I went a few years ago with my dad and brother but it was only for three short days and spent the majority of our trip in Beijing, China. My friend Mike is currently teaching over there so I am going to visit him for a little over a week while his school is on spring break. I am beyond ecstatic! He lives in Minato-ku, Tokyo - so we will be spending the majority of my 10 day trip in Tokyo - I hope to hit up Shibuya and Harajuku again among other places :) . We also are hoping to make it out of Tokyo and head to either Kyoto which I heard is beautiful or to Hiroshima. I will definitely keep this blog updated once I am there. I can't wait for sushi every day and karaoke!!!

Here are some photos from my last trip there:

Also - I am OBSESSED with Blythe dolls.

Image from BlytheLife.
So naturally I have to scoop up one or two while I am there. I have been doing my homework and tracking down the best toy shops that carry Neo Blythe. There is obviously Junie moon which I will have to go and see - great excuse to get to Shibuya again!

Images from 8Tokyo.
They also carry her at the Kiddyland stores which are so much fun. They carry quite a variety at various Mandrake stores as well. EEEP! I cannot wait for this trip. I have been saving up and it is going to be a blast.

My latest thrifting obsession is to look for the rare 1972 Kenner Blythe dolls. I know she is out there in some dusty box. I need to start going to estate sales and what not and rescue her.

Images from The Rogue Dolls.
One more crazy Blythe thing - Blythecon 2012, yeah, I think I need to go!

Anyone else obsessed with them?

Looking to 2012

Happy new year everyone! Initially I had hoped to be blogging again once finals ended but the last few weeks have been such a whirlwind. After a few minor and major mental breakdowns (soberly-crying at a bar the night of my last final for example :-/) I survived my last semester of college. In the end I ended up graduating cum laude - phew.

Graduation day seemed like an outer body experience. It was 9 in the morning and I was still recovering mentally and emotionally from the week before (I don't handle stress and lack of sleep well). Next thing I know I am crossing the stage and being congratulated by the president, Dr.Bowman. Two weeks later - I think reality is finally sinking in. I'm excited and terrified to finally be free from it all. Without a job and school I literally am free to start fresh, which I think is a perfect way to start off the new year (alright, not completely jobless - still working freelance thankfully).

Anywho, Christmas and New Years Eve was fun and spent with loved ones. I am so thankful for my wonderful family and friends. I won't bore you with the details but it has been so nice to have down time.

2012 is going to be a great year. I plan on:
- Finding a job(s)
- Launch my website
- Taking blogging seriously and spiffy up this site in the process
- Learn to cook
- Take risks
- Road-trip with the boyfriend
- New tattoo
- Attack my closet
- Move
- Quit apologizing for everything