MODERNLUNACY.COM

Clutter vs. Creativity

Modern Lunacy — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 17:53:00 GMT

I come from a family of "pile-ers" and tend to feel most secure when surrounded by my "stuff." I've been feeling weighed down lately by all this clutter.

I am an artist who prefers a clean, light work area; it naturally clears my brain and allows inspiration in. This obviously conflicts with my comfort-zone clutter tendencies, so it's no wonder I am experiencing a feeling of creative stagnation lately.

Time to shake things up! I'm committing myself to take action to make positive changes by ditching the clutter. It's all just stuff, so it's time to say "stuff it!" to all these bad habits.

Image by sindesign on Flickr (Creative Commons)

Oh, the weather outside is frightful...

Modern Lunacy — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 07:27:00 GMT

Really, it is. I've lived in many different climates in this fair country, and can say with certainty that I find Mother Nature to be very annoying when she's capricious, changing every few hours to suit her mood. (How dare she, that brazen hussy of folkloric legend?!) I sometimes get impatient waiting for the weather to make up its mind and stick to something resembling "seasons." Yup, don't say I've never taken a controversial stand, my friends.

I currently live in Santa Fe, New Mexico, which is at a high elevation. Higher than mile-high cities such as Denver and our nearby city of Albuquerque. The Santa Fe area is sometimes referred to as High Desert. That means we have some foliage (good) and a year-round allergy season (bad.) We have very low humidity during the days, usually well under 30%, but it can go quite high in the wee hours of the night when all the sane folk are nestled in their beds, and I'm wandering the house starting projects I won't finish. It is certainly Big Sky Country, and amazing vistas are not uncommon. The sun is close and intense. You can literally tell what type of weather is due by scanning the entire sky - that mass of gray over the mountains in the north clearly tell you something's on its way. Wind gusts can also precede a weather change, whipping wildly around with a ferocity that is both exhilarating and frightening. It's all very rugged and surprising. Especially to a gal from heavily treed, humidity-friendly Pennsylvania.

The winds have been whipping all day, a sure sign that something's coming in. A glance at the forecast just confirmed this, with snow on tap for tomorrow, and even the reliable sun's not expected to make an appearance. Winter's arrival perhaps? Could be, but we also had a blizzard in October that came and went in 48 hours, so I'm not going to make any bets just yet. Change is the best bet, and I'm rolling with it for now. And I'm not putting away my flip-flops this winter.

Photo: Encantado Resort, Santa Fe, via smartmeetings.com

Moving and the Clutter Chick - Part 2

Modern Lunacy — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 12:55:00 GMT

Oh, the joys of moving! I've moved so many times in my life; you'd think I'd have it down to a science by now. But in reality it's anything but a science, and I do tend to follow similar patterns when it comes to moving, and this move was no exception.

Stage 1:
Plan, plan, plan - I surveil the new place with the eye of a New York Times senior editor, take copious and precise measurements, worry about colors and generally fuss over every detail in anticipation of my new, perfect home where I will live in perfect bliss, a zen-like existence complete with songbirds and cool breezes flowing through.

Stage 2:
Pack, pack, pack - I gather the boxes and begin the packing process. I make sure to cushion everything with the care that one would use to pack the Queen's crystal. I label each box with specific information about the contents and where the contents are destined to be set up in the new place. I stack the boxes in strategic places, taking care not to block doorways or pathways.

Stage 3:
Panic, panic, panic - A total free-for-all. Clothing, soap, English Breakfast Tea, DVDs are gracelessly thrown in boxes, bags and laundry baskets. How on earth am I going to get all this stuff out of here in the next hour, not to mention cleaning the spilled syrup out of the fridge, spot-cleaning all the mysterious stains out of the carpet, trapping and transporting my surly cat, and spackling the myriad holes in the walls created by overzealous picture-hanging? I just got cleanser in my eye, and I'm having a dust-driven allergy attack that no amount of pharmaceuticals can beat. Go, go, go...!

We got the place emptied out, though, and very clean. I have to say that both my husband and I are dream tenants - we always leave the place better than it was upon our arrival. Installed shelves in the pantry, planted flowers and lined the cabinets with lovely paper. Mr. Landlord better love the place!

In the meantime, I sit here listening to the dishwasher (hooray! didn't have one of those at the old place) cleaning up the batch of dirty dishes created during the havoc of the move. Boxes, baskets and bags of untold treasures surround me. Time to start chipping away at it. Chip, chip, chip -- hey, what's on the telly?

Moving and the Clutter Chick

Modern Lunacy — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 15:02:00 GMT

The hubby and I are moving to a new home this month. I'm approaching this as an opportunity to purge a lot of the clutter that I've accumulated with the ultimate goal of moving into the new place with only those things that truly serve a purpose in the life I live now. This is not easy for a clutter chick like me, but I'm as determined as I've been in a long time. Stay tuned for updates!

Sniffle, Snort, Honk!

Modern Lunacy — Tue, 12 May 2009 13:33:00 GMT

Mulberry season is in full swing up here in Santa Fe, and my allergies are packing a whollop. In the spirit of allergen-avoiders everywhere, here are some cool Etsy picks for those of us who sniffle, wheeze, itch and cough our way through the seasons. Gesundheit already!

Clockwise, from upper left:

Nasal Irrigation Pot - haalexander - $30 USD

Soap for Allergy/Sensitivity Sufferers - wwizebody - $4 USD

Headache Pack - theferriswheels - $6.95 USD

Tissue Holder - catywhompus - $3.25 USD

KimberlyJonesDesigns Giveaway - May 4th - 10th

Modern Lunacy — Tue, 05 May 2009 20:53:00 GMT

Check out this designer profile and giveaway from the very talented designer behind KimberlyJonesDesigns. Her unique work is lovely and so striking.

Check out this link to the get the whole scoop, on one of my favorite blogs, Daily Finds & Giveaways.

ETSY THEME PARTY: BJORK

Modern Lunacy — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 23:30:00 GMT

I love the creative abandon with which Bjork dresses - people may laugh at some of her outfits, but they're just uncomfortable with her unusual, irreverent approach to adorning her body. I applaud her!

1. Cafe au Lait Butterfl y Kanzashi Mask - ccaspia - $15

2. The Mullit Soopa Chain, Limited Edition - Yokoo - $199

3. Vintage 50's Red Leather Gillies - TheDustyDog - $35

4. Schwarzwalder Skirt - madewithlovebyhannah - $58

New Piece: ACEO / Artist Card "Secret"

Modern Lunacy — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 21:46:00 GMT

This is my first Artist Card! I really enjoyed making it and am looking forward to making more ACEO pieces. You can peep it and other mixed-media creations here at my etsy site.

Etsy Theme Party: SHERYL CROW

Modern Lunacy — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 23:06:00 GMT

Today I'm selecting items that flow with Sheryl Crow's style -- gritty yet pretty, bohemian-meets-country, tomboy with great flowing tresses.

1. Vintage Turquoise Heart Pendant - unicorngem1994 - $85

2. Sunflower Mosaic Belt Buckle - harvestmoon13 - $75

3. Edie Earrings - SAEE - $19

4. Skullduggery Hand Embellished Jeans and Denim Shirt - 4getmeknot - $215

Newest Etsy Addition - The 3.10 - Artwork

Modern Lunacy — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 18:04:00 GMT

I always feel a small victory when I finally get a piece uploaded to etsy. Now to work on the others...

Please click on the thumbnail below to check it out. Cheers!

Creativity for a Cause

Modern Lunacy — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 19:15:00 GMT

Etsy Shop Benefits Aussie Fire Victims

Check out OzBushfireAppeal.etsy.com - a great etsy store benefits victims of the recent devastating Australian brushfires. A variety of great offerings are available for sale, including a section featuring houses created by etsy's Mixed Media artists group (Metsy) of which I am a proud new member.

International shipping is free. All proceeds go to the Australian Red Cross. Please consider the fine offerings at this shop. It will be closing March 31, and they hope to sell all the items by then. The proceeds from each purchase go to a very worthy cause. Cheers!

Mixed-Media Collage Work

Modern Lunacy — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 15:44:00 GMT

I've listed more of my small original collages on etsy! To check 'em out, click this way... ModernLunacy on etsy.

Japanese Wrapping & Recycling

Modern Lunacy — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 15:43:00 GMT

Just ... wow.

Furoshiki gift wrapping from RecycleNow on Vimeo

Now if I could just get my table to be that clutter free...

Coming Up Roses

Modern Lunacy — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 22:01:00 GMT

layout by mer mag; photos by linked blogs

Love the rosettes, always have.It's great to see them gracing the fashion pages once again, even though in my opinion they are timeless and always in style. Mer mag blog has a great feature, with links to tutorials, on creating these yourself. Link, to article from mer mag.

"Wardrobe Refashion" Update

Modern Lunacy — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 13:23:00 GMT

I have been working on several exciting things in the spirit of my Wardrobe Refashion pledge (see link in sidebar for more info.)

One of my proudest achievements is that I actually set up a sewing station (see photos). I know that this may not seem like much to those who are waaay ahead of me on the sewing ladder, but considering that my machine hadn't been removed from its box in the two years I've had it, this is a major achievement for me. I've sorted the massive piles of "I-will-do-something-with-this someday" clothes and scraps that previously occupied this spot. I have also been going through my closet and culling pieces that are ripe for refashioning. They are now all ready for me to dive in!

I have spent a great deal of time making jewelry after completing my beginning jewelry class last month. With the Mexican Day of the Dead coming up on November 1st, I've been creating some jewelry to celebrate that holiday. It's really gratifying to create (rather than purchase) jewelry I really love. I'll try to get some photos of my recent pieces posted up here ASAP.

I really enjoy this challenge. It's not easy - that much is for sure. But it really forces me to look at things from a new, less-consumerist angle, and it has broadened my creative mind as well as emboldened me to to say, "I can create this." And I can! That's really remarkably empowering. Cheers!

Madden End-Of-Season Bargains

Modern Lunacy — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 22:32:00 GMT

Steve Madden's website has some great markdowns on a variety of shoes, including some funky sandals, sporty kicks and chill flip-flops. There are some definite "ankle breakers" in the mix (so cute, but my feet start shrieking when I look at them so I have to move along.) But if you are a fan of high heels, you're in luck, since the current selection has some really fantastic ones. Check out the sale (click Clearance).

Many of these would carry nicely into the cooler months, especially with the addition of some tights. Or you could pick up some sandals and stash them away for next spring, when you'll be delighted to re-discover them.

Of course, in the spirit of reducing, reusing, and recycling, it's really great to take a few minutes go through your current summer shoe collection, weed out the (still-wearable) ones you feel should move along, and take them to the charity or consignment shop. Even a blatant shoe hoarder like me can do it. I can. I can. I can...

Double Take: Under Where?

Modern Lunacy — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 22:30:00 GMT

From fasionising.com -

"Underwear as outerwear: 2008 fashion trend

Sheer fabric is in; and along with comes a new take on underwear-as-outerwear.

In recent memory, any trends towards underwear-inspired garments have had their basis in corsetry. In 2008, bodices and boning have given way to free-flowing pieces that take their inspiration from delicately feminine lingerie styles. Camisoles, robes and slips are taking their place as everyday garments, drawing on the soft elegance of the 1930's."

Okay, I dig a wispy, lacy, elegant look as much as the next fashion blogger. But the photos that accompany the piece look a bit too much like the poor gals just wandered out of bed and are searching for some serious caffeine. Get that chick a double-shot latte, stat!

Time to re-interpret, so that a gal could actually make it down a city block without getting arrested or institutionalized...

The best part is that vintage versions are easy to find. The dresses above are both eBay treasures that are still up for bids at the time of this posting. Reuse, Recycle, Refashion!

Is Your Makeup Making You Sick?

Modern Lunacy — Sat, 03 May 2008 23:55:00 GMT

For me, makeup has always been an outlet for personal creativity and a nice confidence booster. But I was surprised to learn how un-regulated cosmetics really are - many can contain alarming levels of everything from allergy-triggering ingredients to toxic levels of lead. Yes, lead! Suddenly it doesn't sound so pretty nor fun.

I want to look *and* feel good, and I've found a great website that will give you lots more information including a safety-ratings look-up feature for various cosmetics in the marketplace. It also gives you lots of information and links that you can use to get involved in demanding that these companies make their products safe. Click the logo below to get informed and get involved; do it for yourself, your friends and women everywhere.

Covet: Sveta Pumps from Target

Modern Lunacy — Fri, 02 May 2008 14:25:00 GMT

When I like a style, I tend (much to hubby's chagrin) to order it in every color; heck, sometimes I end up getting a couple of the same color if I know that I'll be wearing it a lot.

These Sveta Pumps are available in four colors, and I know I'd personally like to own at least three of them (the silver is a bit much for me personally but could be really cute on someone who could rock them properly.) But I'm all about the brown, red and black colors.

Wouldn't you be happy to see these babies all lined up and ready to choose from in the morning? The very-important bonus is that the reviews online are really positive, and some even assert that these are comfortable. Holy Grail! (My size is an 8.5, just in case anyone was wondering...hehe)

I haven't given in ... yet.

P.S. - I believe that these, like many Target products, are also sold on amazon.com. Tra-la!

Restylin' with the brilliant Budget Diva

Modern Lunacy — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 22:57:00 GMT

Well, if you haven't yet read the Budget Diva's site (see link in blogroll at right), then you are missing out. I was lucky enough to win a re-styling contest she recently had, and since it's something I dig doing here on my site, it was fun too.

Original My Take

If you want to see the re-style in full-size, full-detail, full-everything style:
First go here for the original; then go here to see my version.

Once you visit her site, add it to your faves - it is chock-full-o'goodness!