{creating myself}

oooohh I... don't want a lot for christmas...

Okay, maybe I do.
But that's my favorite Christmas song so I'm still going to be singing it nonstop from now until December 24th. Because that's usually when I get sick of Christmas music. weird huh?

Here is my list. Pobrecito Santa.




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iPhone. numero uno.
I waited & waited and I can't live without you anymore.
That's a lie. I just don't want to.

A gift certificate to Blurb so I can turn my blog into a book. How cool! I've been wanting to do this for quite a few years.. such an awesome form of documentation. Also... kind of a necessity.




Fuji Instax... supersized instax mini? Yes please.

Can't forget about my instax mini. Will _________ for film.

Favorite perfume ever.

and hand soap!

and microdelivery wash. :)





Apparently this book is really good, and there are lots & lots more on my Amazon wishlist to choose from. Here is the link :)

is it too personal to share my victoria's secret wish list on here?

and you can never go wrong with a gift card.
* forever 21
* express
* VS
* scrapbook.com
* amazon
* urban outfitters
* anthro
* DSW

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and if I haven't shared enough items, check out my Etsy favorites for stocking stuffer ideas. :)

another necessity... mine just broke! :(

Whew, that was fun! :)
Please don't think I'm insanely egotistical, selfish, and/or crazy. I obviously don't expect to get all of these things. It's just fun to wish. In fact, if you have a wish list, I would like to see it.. please link me :)

Cough, cough, Santa, I've been a good girl this year. ♥

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I Thought You Might Be Interested...

to see my Hambly DT entry in full! :)












a fashion journal for sketches, ideas, & magazine clippings...
















& a little place to house my favorite photos...















thanks for looking :)
xo, amy

According to my calculations, I should be in Tallahassee when this posts.

I'm taking this opportunity to answer some more Formspring questions from you all!


What was the happiest moment in your life?

Such a great question!  I'm so blessed to say that I have several happiest moments. Some that stand out...










A few months ago, I had my first private art show. I was so excited and nervous trying to get everything prepared before the show... I made sooo many paintings and had to have all of the paperwork/order forms/displays, etc. My mom surprised me the night before by flying down from NY and helping me. She sat with me all day at the show, showing love and support. Even if her plane tickets probably cost as much as I made throughout the show...obviously one of the happiest moments of my life. PS, Isn't she the cutest? Thanks Mom. :)











Another favorite memory... the day I met my college roommates, freshman year.  I'll never forget that moment. For a long time I mixed up Nikki and Andi's names. We became the best of friends, and they completely made my college experience.  We were soo lucky.


whoo is your favorite cousin?!












Ha! My cousin Kelsey sent this in, as a joke I suppose. I reallyreally love all my cousins more than anything. I didn't have any brothers or sisters growing up, so my cousins are like brothers and sisters to me.


What is your favorite vegetable and how do you like to cook it?

Cracking up. I love all vegetables (almost), but especially this one recipe of roasted veggies by Ina Garten. This dish is honestly AMAZing when cooked right, better than dessert. I think it was published in this book (I can't find it online.)

If u could turn back time, where would u go??

Italy.  I studied abroad my junior summer of college and it was a lifechanging experience. I wouldn't be who I am today if not for this trip. I learned independence, patience, love, simplicity,peace,  and pure happiness.  This is how the Italians live.

What is your most favorite painting you made and why?

Right now, it's this one. I put a lot of heart into it and just freehanded it, and wasn't sure how it would turn out. It was also one of my first real detailed mixed media paintings and girls that I ever painted. I'm working on several more right now, and I'm loving each one of them more than the last! I'll be sure to share them.


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I'll continuing answering questions here on the blog, so feel free to ask anything.

you asked for it: gallery wrapped canvases

Remember this post? The folks at Color Inc and myself have teamed up to bring you an amazing product, and I'm very excited about it! :) Here is what I had to say about the gallery wrapped canvas.

The quality is incredible, and it is so different than any product out there.  It is so professional and the clarity is amazing! I can't say enough good things about this company.  I had a PERFECT spot in my kitchen that was just waiting for a long painting, so I had the coffee cup printed on the gallery wrap:





You can choose any design or size that you like.

For a limited time only, the price will be at market value. The price chart is here. Click "gallery wrapped canvas" and scroll down to the chart.  For example, the canvas shown above is sixe 11x20, so it would cost $83. This deal is only good for the month of March. After March, the price will go up 50% and the same canvas will cost $124.50.

These canvases are timeless, and would make an amazing gift... I promise you will LOVE it! In addition to the coffee cup, I would also like to get the cupcake wrapped on a square canvas... I think that will look lovely.



If you have any further questions or would like to place an order, please email me or leave a comment.

ETA: i came up with more good ideas. i think i'm going to get some photos gallery wrapped too! like this one and this one:

you asked for it: Q+A, part deux

i have been answering some questions from my formspring page, little by little. if i haven't answered your question yet, please don't think i'm ignoring you... i promise i will get to it. i've already answered some here, if you're interested.


what is your guiliest pleasure? (thanks kara.)
i have a few guilty pleasure. if i had to choose one, i would say pumpkin spice lattes. they are so delicious and warm and comforting, especially in the winter months (which is the only time they are available, thank goodness.)




what do you miss most about college?
good question. i think about this often. what i miss most about college is the freedom. even though i had a part-time job, i remember college like a vacation. scrapbooking and creating every day, going out with friends, taking photos, shopping, out to eat, dancing, living life. loving life. there is no time like college... if you are there or on your way there, please cherish it.

what is one craft material you can't live without? (thanks lindsay.)
just one?!!? :)
scrapbooking is my first love. but i also really love to paint. since i use paint on both mediums, i'll have to go with that.






these are some of my favorite layouts using paint.


how do you learn to not care what others think (about your art, what you do, etc.)??
ha! is it that obvious? it's not that i don't care what others think. i just care more about what i think. everyone cares what others think (except teenagers, ha!) but it shouldn't change who you are. just be the best you that you can be... that's all i got for you.
oh, i'll address the art portion of the question: art is subjective. there is no "good" art and "bad" art. i make stuff, and i love making it, and to me, that. is. art.

what was your favorite childhood toy?

hands down.



this is fun!

love, amy

ETA: it's 24 hour tuesday! all pola packs are buy 3, get 1 free.

you asked for it: a little Q + A.

what are your favorite go to movies? (thanks vee)

this question always throws me for a loop (where does "throws me for a loop" come from, anyway?)
i have so many favorite movies. here are some that always make me laugh, cry, or hopeful.








i haven't actually seen this yet. but i know it will be my favorite when i do. i bought it, and i'm almost afraid to watch it for fear that i will either love it too much or it won't meet my expectations.

What is your favorite outfit at the moment?

another superhard question. i'm going to share some outfits that totally inspire me at the moment... and you can check me here each friday where i share outfit and fashion ideas.





i have thousands of photos on my computer similar to these, sorry the sources are lost on me.


who inspires you?

sooo many people. here are a few:


kara


ruby claire


vanessa


vee


janel (who by the way is having an amazing giveaway!)


what annoys you?

mean people, liars, people who deny their feelings, when i can't find parking spot at school, people who laugh at art or don't "get it", izzie stevens, hangnails, bad tippers, when class goes over time, fatigue, when time runs out (at the end of the day), weird unsexy accents, when you call customer service and talk to a recording for thirty minutes before you get disconnecte and have to call again, when you call maintenance to fix the smoke detector and they don't come until you threaten the manager four days later.

are you single?

not sure why, but this question made me giggle. yes, i'm single as a dollar bill. i'm currently accepting applicants. musts: honest, motivated, art lover. wants: tattoos, kind eyes, reads books.

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there are more questions, but this is taking longer than anticipated and i've decided to spread them out over the course of a couple weeks. feel free to ask me anything you like here.

you asked for it: my tattoos

thank you for your interest in my tattoos! as i mentioned last week, i have three: one on my wrist (live), one on my foot (joie de vivre), and one on my back (bella). here are some photos i found. they're not the greatest, but i did my best. self portraits, especially ones of your back, are not easy. :)


the night i got my first tattoo, october 2006


a shot i attempted today on photobooth (no, it's not really backwards. ha!)



this is probably my favorite one, it's done in white so no one ever sees it but me (april 2008-ish). i outlined it in black for a better view here:



a layout i made right before getting my third. i drew it on my foot and walked around with it for a while. i like to do this first. :) it's pretty much identical to the one i actually got (i think around january 2009), which is shown in the second photo.

gotta go catch my flight, again! :)

loves.

you asked for it: granny square help.

here is an email i wrote lindsay when she asked for some help/pointers to learn grannies.
i wanted to share it with you all, because after someone explained the correct method to me, i was *enlightened!*
this is a great opportunity to cross "learn to crochet a granny sq" off of your 2010 list, and your first one will probably take less than an hour.

again, to clarify: the SIZE for Operation GS does not matter. i will fit them together appropriately when i receive them.

anyway, here's the email:


here is a good written tutorial for grannies.

the thing about grannies is that they are really hard the first one or two times you try.
after that, they are easy as pie. you just have to be patient and practice. i am honestly convinced that if i can do this, anyone can. my first granny looked like a stop sign.

some more good links:
video one: solid granny
video two: two color granny
there are plenty of other videos as well , just search youtube for "granny square."

love, amy


more beauties:


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