Images of Elegance

So, I finally got around to doing another art book. I had one - "Exposed", still have I should say, and just didn't do anything with it. I hit whatever 'writers' block' is for artists. Artists' block, if you will. Then I got this book - "Images of Elegance", and started thinking about what elegance is, and what portrays elegance. Now, my mom raised me well - on old black and white movies where the women were true 'ladies' and the men were gentlemen and still knew how to dance. One of my all time favorite actresses is Audrey Hepburn -she exudes beauty and grace. When I think of the word 'elegance', her image pops into my head. And not just because of her appearance, but she was a very down-to-earth, sweet, authentic person. She loved deeply, and cared for the weary - her work in Africa paved the way for a lot of the work that is being done today. She was a truly amazing woman. And so, I decided to make an homage to her for this book. Here it is:
I'm really pleased with how it turned out. I used a technique where you take a Blender Pen and transfer an image that has been photocopied onto another surface. I wanted it to have the feel of an old black and white movie.

Here are the quotes that are on the page -

Top Center:
"Audrey sensed very early in her life and career that self-worth based on fame and beauty is very short-lived, and so she remained forever herself - realistic, aware, and caring." -Robert Wolders

Bottom Left:
"I never thought I'd land in pictures with a face like mine." - Audrey Hepburn

Bottom Right:
"She has authentic charm. Most people simply have nice manners." - Alfred Lunt (director)

My Life's Soundtrack

This is really cool. Please post this in your own journal and make sure you tell me when you've done this one, because I want to read them. Have fun

So, here's how it works:
1. Open your library (iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, iPod, etc.)
2. Put it on shuffle
3. Press play
4. For every question, type the song that's playing
5. When you go to a new question, press the next button
6. Don't lie about the songs (they can be funny if you just leave them)

Opening Credits: "No One Mourns The Wicked" - Wicked Soundtrack (no joke!)

Waking Up: "Stable Song" - Death Cab For Cutie

First Day of School: "On To Bethlehem" - Vigilantes of Love

Falling in Love: "State of the Union" - Rise Against (yes, such a romantic song)

Fight Scene: "Evenstar" - Lord of the Rings Soundtrack

Breaking Up: "Come to Me Reprise" - Waterdeep

Getting Back Together: "This Is How We Do It" - Montell Jordan (yikes! gettin' a little steamy in here!)

Prom: "A Million Ways" - OK Go

Secret Love: "Inaudible Melodies" - Jack Johnson

Life: "O Come Let Us Adore Him" - Matt Redman

Mental Breakdown: "Community Song" - Josh Garrels

Driving: "Take My Life" - Chris Tomlin

Flashback: "You Are A Child of Mine" - Mark Schultz

Partying: "Wicked Web" - Waterdeep

Happy Dance: "The Blower's Daughter" - Damien Rice (yes, this makes me want to get down and put my groove on)

Regretting: "Wholly Yours" - David Crowder Band

Long Night Alone: "Silent Night" - Over the Rhine (good pick - the way OTR sings this is quite mournful)

Wedding: "Everything'll Be Alright" - Joshua Radin (I know it will be)

Birth of Child: "Back To The Ground" - Jamie Cullum

Final Battle: "Are You Gonna Be My Girl" - Jet

Death Scene: "Jesus Wants To Save Christians" - Rob Bell (kind of a long death scene considering this is a sermon ;) )

Funeral Song: "Pump Up The Volume" - MARRS (yes! I always wanted my funeral to be a dance party!)

Ending Credits: Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) - The Beatles

this is an amazing cover of Outkast's "Hey Ya"

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

can you say "antichrist"?

Quite possibly one of the most disturbing news clips I've seen in a while...

the many faces of my future husband... enjoy!

a tiny glimpse of heaven

Excerpted from the book "Faith and the City" by Jennifer Ruisch.

After years of afterlife hypotheses, I finally consulted the Bible for its description of heaven. According to Revelation 21, heaven is not an ethereal idea; it is a literal city. It's a city that is 1,400 miles wide and 1,400 miles long. The city walls are 1,400 miles high and 200 feet thick, made from twelve precious stones including jasper, saphire, emerald, and amethyst. There are twelve gates into the city, three on each side of the four walls. Each gate is made of a single pearl. The main street of the city is made from pure gold that looks like transparent glass.

Revelation 22 talks about a flowing, crystal-clear river running through the main street of the city and the tree of life, yielding an abundance of fruit. It says that the city doesn't need the sun or moon to shine because the glory of God gives it light. Apparently, God had to hang the sun to give light to the earth because He could not be there Himself. But in heaven, the light of God radiates magnificently through the jeweled walls. There is no evil, sadness, or confusion within the city; there is only goodness, happiness, and peace.

Plato believed that whenever we see something beautiful, good, or right on earth and feel that deep inner sense of appreciation and awe, it is because we are "remembering the Forms." We might be recalling the Form of Beauty, Truth, Goodness, or Virtue. Forms are the true reality that exists somewhere beyond the shadow of reality we experience here on earth, and we will always feel a pang of emotion whenever we see the Forms captured in our world.

Maybe fairytale-like surroundings that evoke our awe-filled silences are limited to just that ... fairy tales. Perhaps there is no wonder beyond. Or maybe every sunset and rainbow is trying to remind us that there is something more. Perhaps when we "ooh and ahh" over someone's new diamond ring, we do so because we've literally just experienced a tiny glimpse of heaven.

OK Go

If you haven't heard of this fun, quirky Brittish band, you are missing out. Fun, upbeat music, and fantastically original and creative videos - here are two of the more goofy ones... watch, laugh, get inspired to wear white boots and polyester...