We Go Tonight

I am so glad that today afforded me the time to finish a painting that I've been planning for months. After getting used to the 9-5, it's really nice to have a whole day to myself to run errands, be annoyed by snuggle with the kitties, and paint to the sounds of The Breakfast Club.

This one's titled Put Them To Sleep- it's posted along with some more information on ye olde etsy site. This is a really big, vibrant piece...I am so happy with it that it is currently hanging in our front hall. :)

We're all pretty bizarre. Some of us are just better at hiding it, that's all.

**ADDITIONAL NOTE: At The Seams was recently featured in this treasury on etsy. Being chosen for a treasury is always an exciting honor...go check it out!

Losing You

And now for a general update on the lives of Mr. and Mrs. Johnson:

Vegas was amaaaaazing.

That place is worth it for people watching alone, not to mention sights, shows, food, and gambling. I went in with a complete disdain for gambling and came out with a slight craps addiction. Pics can be found here on my flickr.

Although we are glad to be back home, we can't wait for our next trip. We are planning to go to Houston in August to visit some of Corban's extended family, who I have never met. I hope they like me. Then, a tentative vacation in October for our 2-year anniversary! We just got our passports in the mail and are itching to use them...perhaps a trip to Mexico is in order?

Also in August, I am taking my first painting class since grade school! I signed up for a fall term Painting 1 night class at Brookhaven College, and cannot wait to start learning the basics. I feel that I have lately plateaued in my artistic progress, especially skill-wise, and am very excited to get a fresh perspective, learn from my peers, and work on building a strong technical foundation. It is scary, though, knowing that my work will be critiqued in a very open way, something that I have always done whatever I could to avoid; hopefully this experience will toughen and motivate me to really start getting my work out there for all to see and fail to understand. :)

Oh, and I finally got the new Sleeperstar album and the new Octopus Pie book in the mail! Please go check both of these artists out...the first are fun rock/pop/indie Dallas musicians, the second a fabulous web cartoonist. All of these people are inspiring in their talent and dedication.

Time to bust out some paints before I have to return to the daily grind tomorrow. Love...

Sick Cycle Carousel

Well, the car is once more tippity-top, and at no small expense to my pocket book. I am most definitely ready for Vegas, which is happening in less than TWO DAYS.

Things I am STOKED about this summer:

James Thurman paintings for the hiz-ouse (already received and hanging in the home.)

The much-anticipated Sleeperstar record, Just Another Ghost.

Last but not least, the Octopus Pie boooooook.

I just may run away to be a hippy/gypsy/surfer soon. I'll let you know.

Furious Angel

Picking my car up from the shop for the second ridiculously expensive repair in six days. Handy development right before Vegas vacation, huh? Details to follow.

I Wish

Just got At the Seams posted, you can check it out here.

Checking out Gordon Biersch tonight with Ashley and Michael. SUPER EXCITED.

**Edit**

Also, C and I watched the Rangers kick the piss out of Tampa Bay on Friday.

He surprised me with my very own Rangers gear! Love my man and my new hat. :)

So What

In the spirit of being back into The Game, I finally finished a piece that was promised to a good friend freaking forever ago. It is titled Stink Butt, and I'm pretty pleased with it, if I do say so myself. :)

I'm also finally getting around to posting this piece that I completed late last year.

At The Seams

It's not up on etsy yet, but I will let you know when it is. The thing is huge, so I'm not sure how shipping would work. Life does have its little trials, doesn't it?

Anticipation is mounting as we look forward to a Rangers game, Bulgogi, Wicked, Vegas, and the new Sleeperstar album this month! Now time to go catch a happy hour.

I Got A Girl

Memorial Day weekend was epic. Lake, boat, drinks, Spaniards, etc. You don't get pictures because I was too busy with the general epic-ness to take any.

To add to the afore mentioned epic nature of this weekend, I was featured in an etsy treasury! This one is cheese-themed, which has stolen my heart completely. What is better on this earth than cheese? Nothing. Click here to check it out and leave some comment love.

Even after a very thorough scrubbing, I still feel incredibly lake-y. I hope that everyone else enjoyed some proverbial lake-tastic time of their own.

Ballbreaker

This year was my first visit to Taste Addison. I didn't have any of the food, but I did buy a pretty sweet hat, so I consider the experience a win. I didn't remember my camera the day of, but I wandered around a few days before the festival and documented the construction. Photos:

There are two boys (last name Johnson) in the living room right now fighting over the intricacies of Lost. Apparently we are unwittingly one episode behind. Balls.

The Way You Make Me Feel

I was recently accepted into an organization of amazing etsy-ers based out of the north Dallas area called...what else...North Dallas Etsy! These women are fiercely talented, with savvy business sense to boot. Why they let me in, I'll never know. That being said, I am totally honored to be a part of their group, and eagerly look forward to learning all that I can and having some solid etsy support. I had the immense pleasure of meeting some of these ladies this weekend at the monthly meeting. I will now proceed to promote the hell out of their shops (because they're awesome). LINKS!

Really Bad Kitty (RBK) Creations

Aside from the fact that I am in love with the Katamari vibe of this bouquet, these wedding creations are the bomb. Also, they were featured in the most recent Brides magazine. Talk about le-git!

Jenny M. Jewels

Owls are hot right now. Plus, this girl totally knows her stuff. I watched her knock out a beautiful ring in about three seconds flat. I feel woefully ignorant of the intricacies of my craft compared to her wealth of knowledge.

Before Our Time

I love the antique-y feeling of this shop. Every piece is so feminine and romantic. Plus, the earrings are all nice for sensitive ears (like mine)!

Sydneys Designs

Um...can we talk about how freaking adorable these little dog coats are? REALLY FREAKING ADORABLE.

Teddy Started It

Now, this is an idea. Totally natural products for every day problems. I will most assuredly be purchasing some Buzz Off.

There were also two other new members at the meeting. I hope they enjoyed the experience just as much as I did!

Inverness Studios

Primitive Hodge Podge

I sincerely look forward to getting to know these women and hope to have some news of crafty shows to share with you in the near future! For now, I rest after my tiring day of sitting around my parents house eating chili dogs and playing with my mom's new (my old) Mac Mini. My life is very difficult, as you can see.

Salude!

Electro Cali

I'm back! Finally got a new piece finished and up in the shop. My sabbatical is officially over, and I am back with a vengeance! For all of those whom I owe paintings, I haven't forgotten you, and I apologize for being a total lame-o.

Rainbow Vom

May is going to be in-sane. This is ok. I can handle it. I can handle anything. I am superwoman.

Texas Rain

"There's only us, there's only this,

Forget regret, or life is yours to miss,

No other road, no other way,

No day but today."

- Rent

"If you can't laugh at yourself, life's gonna seem a lot long than you like." - Garden State

"I've been dying since the day I was gone,

Head down, beating my fists on the floor,

Going crazy, feeling so far from my home."

- Bearfoot

"I traded all my tshirts for a suit and a tie,

I see a stranger in the mirror and he wonders why."

- Sleeperstar

"The road to happiness lies in two simple principles: find out what it is that interests you and that you can do well, and when you find it, put your whole soul into it- every bit of energy and ambition and natural ability you have." - John D Rockerfeller III

Feeling nostalgic and contemplative. Interpret as you will.

C and I attended our first professional baseball game ever at The Ballpark in Arlington this past Friday. Communal experiences are such wonderful and interesting things. We laughed,

we cheered,

we drank,

we rallied,

the Rangers won.

Also, there were fireworks...set to Elvis tunes. :)

It's time to start figuring things out, enjoying life, building something to be proud of and excited about. There's no better way to spend one's time alive. After all, it is so transient. It would be a shame not to make the most of it.

"I'm too old for a slow parade,

Think it's time to go my own way,

Oh my, gotta keep moving on,

Oh my, my, gotta keep moving on."

- Sleeperstar

I FEEL THE NEED...

...the need for tweed.

C is cooking up a pot roast for tonight and I cannot wait to consume it.

I am either experiencing some wicked allergies, or a mildish cold.

The desire to purchase something on etsy is strong. Maybe it's time for a little treat. As always, I will keep you, the reader, informed of my impulse purchases.

Tattoo Tuesday #2- Summer 2010. This one will be epic.

Grad school is officially a part of the life plan. This is serious bidness.

April is nuts. Wish me luck! Happy Sunday...Chelle

Bullseye Trigger

Hello, Internet. How have you been? I have missed you.

Things have been a little crazy as of late. I got my first big girl job and have been trying like mad to seem as though I have any idea what's going on. It's amazing how much less time you have to mope around and be depressing when you're trying to appear useful for eight hours a day. It's exhausting.

This may seem trivil, but I am very proud of the fact that, aside from a morning bowl of cereal with a dash of skim milk, I have mostly given up dairy. Oh, cheese, how I miss you. Oh, queso, how I miss you. Tragic, yes, but it is for the better.

My first real vacation in several years is coming up in June. The hubby and I are going to Las Vegas with some friends. They are mainly focused on the gambling. I am mainly focused on the food. So many culinary powerhouses are based in Vegas. I am looking forward to a food orgy the likes of which would make kings tremble.

As for today, I am going to visit my great grandmother in Durant with a very good friend and my little sister. Then, it's down to Shertown for some time with's C's folks. It is sure to be a delightful and exhausting day. :)

Enjoy the weekend, etc...Chelle

Fallback

Hello, blog. It's been a while. I have a few things to say:

1. My Soft Spoken hat came in last week! Just in time for all this warm weather. I guess that's what I get for ordering a knit hat in March. But, whatevs, I freaking love it.

2. Corban and I went to our first (collective and individual) professional sports game! Fake-cheese-nachos, sweaty men with funny noses, $8 Bud Light, and good friends is definitely the recipe for a good time. Go Stars!

3. For those of you who don't know, I got a job! A real one. Full time. I get my own desk and everything. :)

Happy Sunday, everyone, don't forget to get back your clocks. The government took an hour from us. I wonder what they will do with it...

For How Long

I have not been feeling good for several days, so I'm quarantined in my apartment, watching Jane Austen movies and eating chocolate ice-cream. Life is hard.

Check out this fabulous impromptu gift from my sweetheart.

Feather earrings that I have been wanting for forever! Forgive the sucky picture. They came from LaurenLuvS. Go look at her pretty things.

Ugh. Time to heat up some pizza rolls and dive back into Pride and Prejudice. Happy Tuesday!