An Etsy Round-Up: Mixed Media.

via kendrabinney.

via michelemaule.

via SweetMess.

via aprilawakening.

via JuliaJensenStudio.

Via KristenVanPatten.

via MyAntarctica.

via corid.

What a Day for a Daydream (aka 2012 diy Blog Cabin Giveaway)

An email just came into my inbox telling me to sign up for the diy Blog Cabin Coastal Retreat 2012.  

This girl isn't afraid of dreaming.  I'm signing up every day until the deadline.  Boy, the thoughts of winning a vacation home in Maine worth $700,000, it makes my head spin.  First off, I've always wanted to visit Maine:  the coastline, the seafood, the scenery, the antique shops, sigh.  Secondly, the money would change our life.  

We'd get our house finished without worrying about the money being spent.  The bank would be paid off, and Joe would have a decent start at a college fund.

2012 Blog Cabin.  Image via DIY Network.

Thirdly, we'd get to take our first ever family vacation (mind you, I'd have to pay someone to come farm-sit until we got back).  Joe seeing the ocean would be huge (you should see her when we play at the lake, I can't imagine what seeing the ocean for the first time would be like for her).

I'd also get a start on buying the old John Deere building in town and turning it into a gallery and community art space.  That's been a huge dream of mine for quite a long while, and with the extra money, I could make it a reality.  Not failing to mention, I could focus more on my artwork and photography and make it more of a career.

So, here I sit daydreaming about going to Maine to collect my prize, and where my life would take me after that.  Of course I have The Lovin' Spoonful's song in my head now, so I'll put it on here so it can be stuck in yours too.

Wish me luck, okay.  If I win, I'll put a huge giveaway on here from my shop.  So, see, I'll share the wealth.  Come on, Maine!!  And if you are the DIY Network, I would really, really, really like to win--if you couldn't tell.

Great Find: Django Reinhardt

I stumbled across this song/musician today.  I've been listening to his albums ever since on Spotify.  Great tempo to get a lot of work done.  I hope you like him too.

Finding My Style.

Up until now, I've never really had a "style."  From birth until age twenty most of my wardrobe was labeled "country."  I preferred Wrangler jeans, boots, belt buckle, and a t-shirt.  It was just an easy go-to closet for my life.  Fast forward a bit, I got married, and we decided to have a baby.

A photo of me from college.

Now, I don't want to shock anyone, but pregnancy has the habit of doing a number on your body.  With my daughter I gained about fifty pounds--stretched my belly out about four foot in front of me, and I've spent the past three years trying to find some semblance of my previous body once again.  Since giving birth, I've only felt comfortable in baggy shirts, and otherwise ill-fitting clothes.  I felt deflated to put it mildly.  Nobody told me that your body didn't just bounce back, and I was oblivious to the battle I was in for.

Huge Pregnant with Joelee.

I've worked so very hard, and by some sort of anomaly of physics, my stomach went back to where it was supposed to be.

Earlier this Spring--finally feeling more like me.

So, now I find myself at a bit of a crossroads.  I severely need to throw out the clothes in my closet.  It's not such a great loss.  All but a handful of things came from the thrift stores because I knew I wasn't going to be wearing them long (never did I think three years worth of ill fitting clothes would be in my fate), and I'm the cheapest person in the world when it comes to shopping.  I'm ready to have a wardrobe that reads "put together."  One that has a good mix of artistic, cool, western, casual, vintage, and feminine, but tough.  I've been scouring Polyvore and Pinterest and I've found some inspiration.

First up, blazers.  I love the way they punch up an outfit.  This brown one is really nice, but I also like the idea of bold pink or a navy blue.

Via Pinterest / HM.com

I wear a pair of FatBaby Ariat boots on a daily basis around the farm, but I'd like to find a fancy pair of dress boots to wear to town or to get togethers.  This pair is particularly lovely.

Dan Post Boots via Pinterest / Sheplers.com

I also want to up my femininity a bit.  I like the pencil skirt silhouette and dresses that reach at least knee length (I'm a prude that way, ha).  I like the vintage style of dresses too.  Women looked so classy in the 1920s-1950s era.  That's what I'm going to strive for.

Via Pinterest (this is glamorous).

I also want to add a couple of trench coats to my closet.  I need a jacket other than my barn coats, what can I say?

Via Pinterest (Tulips and Flight Suits).

I also have to learn how to do my make-up and hair.  I know a twenty-seven year old female should already know these things, but believe me, I don't.  I can throw my hair in a ponytail or bun, and I can put on mascara, but that's about the extent of it.  On an artsy twist, I'm really digging the tied up scarf look.

Via Pinterest / Keikolynn.com.

I want to grow my hair out a bit more, and learn how to do a simple tossled look like this beautiful girl's hair.

Via Pinterest / Boxno216.com

Another feminine look that I'd like to emulate.  Love the lacy cut outs, and that it stays classy.

Via Pinterest / Style Me Pretty.

I also need to invest in some sort of a handbag.  I've made it all this time without a purse, but I'll now admit that I need to find one (that's such a mom thing to say).  This piece via Love Maegan, is beautiful, but way out of my price range.

Via Pinterest / Love Maegan.

This one is pretty swanky too, but I imagine I'll find a second-hand one instead of spending much money on one.

Via Appetite on Etsy.

So, there you have it.  All-in-all I just want an updated, grown-up look.  I'm looking for pencil skirts, blazers, blouses, dark-wash boot cut jeans, belts, camisoles, fitted tees, button-up fitted shirts, shorts (that aren't hoochie-length), ballet flats, peep toes, trench coat, dresses, pumps, dressy boots, etc., as well as some better fitting clothes to wear around the farm, and workout in.  I'm sure this new wardrobe will be built slowly, but I'm looking forward to this new version of me.  If anyone has any advice, fashion blogs I should check out, or words of encouragement to help me through this huge undertaking, I'll take what I can get.  Also any opinions or thoughts on my above choices would be graciously taken as well.

Progress on the House.

As you can see, the house has changed dramatically since the start of the project.  It was an ancient house with good bones, and Mike has turned it into a show place of a home now.  Next step is framing out the windows and doors and putting in floors.  The bottom story is almost complete!

Interior Dining Room Facing Stairs and South Room, Bottom Story, Circa 2008.

Interior, Upstairs, Circa 2008.

Exterior, Rear of the House, Circa 2008.

Living Room, Working on Foundation, Circa 2009.

Exterior, Rear of the House, Spring 2012.

Interior, Working on Painting Drywall, South Room, August 2012.

Interior, Kitchen, August 2012.

Interior, Kitchen/Entry, August 2012.

Interior, Dining Room, August 2012.

Living Room from South Room, August 2012.

Where I've Been.

Sorry for the long absence.  I've been a very busy girl this summer.  Our bottom story has been completely gutted, insulated, drywalled, and is almost done being painted.  My birthday (and numerous days before and after) was spent on the scaffolding painting primer onto our ceilings and belting out various songs way too loudly and out of tune.

Photo of me hard at work, taken by my two-year-old daughter.

I'm just about sick of painting walls, but the house looks completely different.  I just wanted to apologize for my lengthy disappearance and let you know about my house and about my 365 project for the coming year.  I've been painting a painting a day on a standard sized playing card.  Granted I'm behind already (after painting walls all day long, the last thing I've wanted to do was anything with a paintbrush).  But, I'll be catching back up as soon as the house is done being painted.

Here is an example of one of the portraits I've done:

You can find other finished pieces here, in my new shop for my original pieces:  JuliaWrightArt.

So, now that the summer is winding down, I hope to get back to work on my art, and blog, and fun stuff again.

Stick with me.

Craigslist Cravings: 1950s Craddock Buffet.

This little lovely needs to be in my house pronto.  Via Bloomington Craigslist, $75.

Some Treasuries From Today.

Contrasting Heavily.

My Little Deer.

All Natural.

A Birthday Wish and a Gift for You.

My birthday is in a little under two weeks (August 4th), and I've got a wish/proposition for all of you. I'd love to have lots of new fans, and the best way I see to do that is to offer an incentive. If you share my Facebook page / Etsy shop on your Facebook page or blog, then I'll create a small work of art just for you as a thank you.   

It might be collage, pen and ink, acrylic, pencil, or photographic.

Needless to say, it will be handmade, and it will be made just for you.

Just send me a message or email telling me how you promoted my shop (a little Happy Birthday wish wouldn't hurt either) and include your address and a single word for me to use as inspiration and I'll get to work on your little artwork.

 These images are just some examples of my work.

I sure hope that you'll want an original piece for your own collection.

It would make for an awesome birthday present.

Thanks in advance!!  Oh and be sure to pass this post along to anyone who may want to promote me too.

I Made an Etsy Treasury: Renewal.

See it Here.

Sale Announcement!

There is a sale in my shop available until late July.  Great chance to get large prints.

More info here:  The Gallivanting Girl.

I Made an Etsy Treasury: Perfect Solitude.

Find it Here.

I Made an Etsy Treasury: Sweet Dreams

Find it Here.

Nothing like a barnyard strip.

Holy cow, I was out opening a gate to let the horses out into the pasture this morning, and this horrible pain started radiating out of my upper thigh.  So what is a girl to do?  I kicked my boot off, undid my belt, and jerked my ever-loving leg out of the jeans.  There was a huge welt starting on my inner thigh from what I assume to be a wasp-sting.  Although the little darling was no where to be seen.

Two things:  (a) I'm very glad we don't have any neighbors, and that the barn was between me and the road.  (b) Wasp stings hurt more than any little tiny stinging insect should be able to inflict.

So please get a good laugh out of the image of my wasp-dance in the pasture this morning.

I love Etsy: My Birthday Wishlist.

Here.

My birthday is in August, so a long way off, and I don't expect anybody to spend the kind of money asked for on this page, but golly I'd own each and every one of these pieces if I had the cash to spend.  What fantastic items there are on Etsy.  I swoon every time I window shop.  I like the idea of a wishlist, so I wanted to showcase all these awesome items.  Enjoy.

Another Cozamia Giveaway via Kiki's List.

Night Peonies in Blue by Cozamia.
(this is my favorite)

Yes, I'm entering yet another Cozamia giveaway--odds are eventually I'll win one.  I love her work so much, but don't have the budget to buy artwork yet (we still need drywall, floors, and such, ha).  This one is via Kiki's List, and if you feel the way I do about Cozamia prints, then you can enter too.  Details on the giveaway here.

A Life-Sized Dollhouse.

The farmhouse from a recent gallivant.

If I ever had extra money.  I mean a ton of extra money.  This beauty would be mine in a heartbeat.  I would fix it up and visit on the weekends.  It'd be a superb guesthouse even if it happens to be about 10 minutes away from my farm.  It would be a showpiece after I'd get done restoring every inch.

I love the summer kitchen.  I love the two-story porch.  I love the extra long windows.  I love the rolling pastures that surround it.  I love the must-be-ancient tree that grew up beside of it.

I don't know anything about it.  I think it's sitting vacant, but perhaps someone lives there.  I do know that someone keeps cattle back behind it, but there never seems to be any vehicles in the drive or other signs of someone living there.  They keep the grass mowed and that's about it.

Sigh, someday.