Etsy Art

(Portrait of Gertrude Stein, Pablo Picasso) 

When I was younger, I became somewhat obsessed with F. Scott Fitzgerald (as I have explained HERE). I tried to get my hands on anything he wrote and when I did, I devoured it. When I had exhausted his works and it still didn't satisfy my hunger for all things 'Jazz Age' I moved on to anything that was written about him. I discovered that Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald spent quite a bit of time in Gertrude Stein's salon in Paris. Gertrude Stein entertained the bohemian expats of the early 1900s. Picasso, Hemingway, Cezanne, Fitzgerald...they were all there, whiling their days away discussing art, literature, food, drink....art....

There is a photo of old Gertie's salon and rows upon rows of original artwork race up the wall to the ceiling. I forever wanted to live in that room. 

Now that I am a tad bit older, I think it might be time to invest in some artwork myself. With the invention of the internet, it is almost too easy to find art that strikes a cord. 

Below are some of my current favorites: 

(Sitting Together, Leah Giberson)

(Pool Diving, Cathie Carlson)

(November, Clare Elsaesser)

(Poolside, Samantha French) 

(San Francisco, Matte Stephens)

Sensing Sunday: March 6, 2010

(Paris Breakfast by Carol Gillott)

What I am:

Hearing: 'New Slang'-The Shins. Has been stuck in my head for two days and I don't remember hearing it lately. When I found this video of it over Garden State, it started to make sense to me.

Seeing: Getting ready to start my lil French movie marathon. Marie Antoinette, Moulin Rouge and Chocolat. Thinking of watching them in chronological order. Or maybe in reverse chronological order?

Smelling: My French Cassis candle from Cost Plus World Market.

Tasting: Nothing, yet. Thinking of making some madeleines and a pot of Cafe Du Monde coffee to go with my flicks. I am saving making the beignets for Tuesday.

Feeling: I have been somewhat out of it lately (hence my Garden State reference). It has been a very stressful week and I haven't felt at all like myself. I am forcing myself to enjoy the time off of work that I have and doing things that make me happy. Today I am escaping to Paris via French movies and French food.

Life Is Too Short...

(Life's too short for the wrong job on pandaeraser)

...for the wrong job.
My good friend/cousin Andrea posted a series of ads on her tumblr feed. The message came across loud and clear in the most creative way.
It did get me thinking though...
True, life IS too short for the wrong job but how, in today's economy, do you realize this and change your direction in life?
Thoughts anyone?

PS. Yes, I am aware that I am missing my last 'Picture This'. I haven't found an appropriate photo yet.

Picture This: Day 29

(The Master of Puppets by Chiara Fersini)

Day 29:
A picture of something that makes you angry. 
I have been a little overwhelmed lately. For the past couple of years I have been trying to construct a new perfect world for myself over and over. Just when I think I have it all, something happens and I don't. I have too many balls in the air and it is a struggle to try to keep them all up. Having to give up a certain amount of control is what is making me angry right now. I try to take on the world's problems and each time I do, it seems that 20 more get thrown in my direction. I take it all on with a smile, each time convincing myself I can do it. Each time suppressing my increasing frustration. I end up like a pressure cooker and at some point it has to all some to a boil.
I am bitter and angry this week. I am angry that I can't control certain aspects of my life.
I am aware that the only person that I am hurting is myself. I am aware that in the grand scheme of life, what is going on right now in mine will only be a minuscule blip in my lifetime.
In order to get past my anger, I have to be able to let go. I struggle with that.

Picture This: Day 28

(Monsters under the Bed, Mike Cressy)

Day 28:
A picture of something you are afraid of. 
This is a hard one. I am debating on posting with complete and total naked honesty that may make me more vulnerable than I ever wish to be (which is scary enough in itself), or....maybe I should admit to something surprising and silly. Do I take the easy route or the hard one?? Hmm.....
Easy route wins out...sorry.
When I was little, it wasn't so much the dark that I was afraid of, or imaginary monsters hiding under my bed, I was afraid that someone was going to come through my window in the middle of the night and take me away. I grew up when 'Code Adam' was implemented in every shopping center and when Polly Klaus was taken from her very own bedroom, during a slumber party. Neither of those poor children survived. It was a scary thing growing up.
I had a line of defense though...I thought it was a very legitimate defense at the time. The plan that I had worked out in my head was this. As long as my feet were carefully tucked under my blankets, and I stayed very, very still at any noise I heard, then a would-be kidnapper would never see me and I would be safe.
Excellent plan...right?
I thought so highly of this plan that years later when I spent my first weeks (by myself) in my first apartment (BY MYSELF!) in San Francisco, I put this plan back into action.
I had never lived in an apartment before. I never realized the walls were SO paper thin. Waking up one Saturday morning, I heard (what I thought to have been at the time) footsteps in my front room. I was scared OUT OF MY MIND! Survivor mode kicked in. Immediately I covered my feet and laid as still as I possibly could....for 2 hours!! Finally, when I thought it was safe to get up, I carefully crept out of bed and carried on with the rest of my day.
Come to find out, this was typical apartment living.
I still cover my feet, even though I now have the Pup and the Mr. to protect me.