Painting spree

Ah, sweet vacation... Honestly, I should be considering school work, but on the other hand, I couldn't care less! 

So I'll sit here on the couch typing one-handed because a cat I know is asleep in my lap with her head resting on my arm! I take any affection I can when it comes to her, she's usually so moody!

I have had a very unproductive day thus far, just finished the book I started last night. I don't read that often, but when I do I try to finish the book in one sitting almost. I love the nonsense of these chick lit novels, so scandalous! And I almost only read British authors because I love the language and slang! Lol!

My unproductivity is also due to the fact that I was so darn productive yesterday! 3 small paintings in one day, and despite my intention of leaving details to a minimum and focusing only on highlights and lowlights and colors, I ended up using the smallest brush for most of the time on each painting! I blasted my ipod and sang along loudly and enthusiastically, much to the neighbors pleasure, I imagine! Honestly, I have the most eclectic taste in music. Tori Amos was followed by Rebelution, by Maroon 5, by Otep, by Slightly Stoopid, by Tool, by Charles Aznavour... I love the diversity! 

It was even a sunny day so I was in such a good mood! :)

I loved finally setting up my "atelier" for the first time. It's been something I have been thinking about for a while, making the desk and corner of the bedroom a little studio space and creating storage for my craft supplies instead of having them here and there throughout the house. Slowly but surely, I have been arranging and organizing, and yesterday was the first time I used the space as I have been wanting to. It's not a complete atelier yet, I still need to do some more cleaning and arranging and I have a fantasy of crocheted bunting across the shelf, but I am on my way!

(While it's annoying, I love when I make mistakes in paintings because it means I probably won't make them again. I see a huge problem in this photo here, but hey, artists interpretations and whatnot...)

Actually, I have been playing with the idea of churning out more paintings and by the end of the year opening an etsy store. I would call it "Anneli's Atelier". I have also been toying with the idea of starting a new blog with the same name to make a cohesive "brand" of sorts. Also because I am rather regretting my choice of "a sorta fairytale" as a blog name. No matter how you google it, my blog is lost in the internet among other blogs of the same name, as well as all things pertaining to the song originating the name. I started this blog as just an outlet for what I do best: crochet, bake, paint, take flower pictures. I didn't think I cared if anyone ever read it, and honestly, I still haven't told many people about it because I like having it semi-private. However, I am beginning to have a change of heart, I think this blog was good practice but mainly just that perhaps. I'm thinking once I have finished my atelier, I might finish this blog and start the new one. Hopefully, it will be the blog of an art student! Lord knows I have been practicing drawing for the pre-tasks! 

 (My favorite of the day, the colors are a lot brighter in person. The last painting was finished as the sun was going down --> no pictures, maybe another time!)

Until then though, this is my outlet for my creative tendencies... and I am so very grateful! :)

 Thanks for reading, my next post will be about rainbows and sparkles, wait till you see! :)

Oh no, not again!

I'm at it again! My evil alter-ego Master Procrastinator has attacked! 

I should be studying, finishing a school project, working on my bachelor's thesis...

Instead I have cleaned AND organized the bedroom closets. Washed laundry... And admired the color spectrum of my neatly folded tank tops. 

I have admired this pretty flower that we got for our housewarming... Still blooming Nina! :)

I've spent a fair few minutes at a time staring out the window at the beautiful autumn scenery. Blue skies today!! Should I go for a long walk? Life is too short to sit inside a study right?

I have had fun looking at and putting away some of the goodies we bought at Ikea yesterday. These mushrooms are Christmas decorations but I think I want to display them year round! I love mushrooms! 

They had super cute bird napkins at Ikea too! I wish I had a valid reason to buy the bird tray I have loved since that came out a few years ago...

We finally made a decision and solved the living room lighting situation. We wanted to get a light to hang down from the ceiling but there was a tricky outlet situation as well as no hook to hang anything from...so we decided this was an easier and less painful way to see what we are eating at dinner... Now we just need to start hanging up the Japanese tapestries we bought in March AND all the pictures we had blown up from our trip!

I am sitting here sipping this, Lipton's citrus green tea. It's not too shabby. I bought a multipack of green teas to switch it up. I have a bad addiction to buying tea.

 I was pretty sure this is a quince so I bought it to try (inspired by the quince tree). Upon googling I found out this is a Chinese, Japanese, Taiwanese or sand pear. Shoot. 

I am going to cut it up and make a crisp with this unique pear and these plums. 

And as I sit here, the master procrastinator, Miss Kissa is keeping me company. She looks at me disapprovingly while laying on top of the notes I should be reviewing.

I wonder often and out loud WHY I have chosen this particular degree program? What on earth was I thinking? (If I remember correctly the thought process at the time, it seemed like a sensible and responsible career choice). 

Can't I be a painter/crocheter/photographer/homebody/anything else but a nurse for a living?

Oh boy.

I think I will work on that not-quince and plum crisp.

And continue listening to the new Puscifer album, Conditions of my Parole. 

I recommend. Especially if you have a serious love thing with Maynard James Keenan, too.

I also recommend the new Tori Amos album, Night of Hunters. Although, you might be annoyed her daughter sings as much as she does on it. 

Thanks for reading!

Moving on...

We finally moved on Thursday and it was a bittersweet affair, as I imagine it is for most sentimental folks. Although the old apartment had some definite cons (location in the building, size, rent) it had some great pros (built in 2002, clean and white and close to downtown). Our new apartment has great views, is almost twice the size of the last (for almost the same price!?) and amazing potential...it's just old (70s everything!) and the previous tenants didn't clean...making the whole moving experience terrible. Not much is worse than leaving a happy and immaculately cleaned home to having to stay in a place where you are scared of the toilet and have to tippy-toe because the grime is just EVERYWHERE! I had some major temper tantrums and melt downs but I plan on complaining someone's ear off to be compensated for the work we had to put into cleaning this place. Not that we wouldn't have cleaned before unpacking our stuff, but we shouldn't have had to clean feeling disgusted that we have to put our things in the closets etc. Argh, enough of my whining. It doesn't change anything anyway! I try to just look out the window when I get really frustrated and remember, this is going to be a beautiful and happy home. How could it not be with this view! :)

 (bedroom window)

 (kitchen window)

(living room window)

We do really love the area, the lake and forest are literally 5 minutes or less away and it's been great to walk the dogs out there... They love it too! It beats our old boring little park loop. There is so much more to look at now especially with the changing seasons! Fall is well on it's way, the amount of mushrooms is mind-boggling!

We've  been so inspired by the red mushrooms, the hubby is inspired to make a mushroom coffee table with the guidance of my dad! Let's hope it happens, I think it would be highly unusual and right up my silly ally. Lol!

I'll leave you with the angel from a mobile I found in a box, no idea how it got there, haven't seen it in years. In fact, I think it was my sister's at some point in time. Thanks E!! I love how the angel on the cloud is lit when there is blue sky behind it. It made me smile the first time I noticed it. I wonder if this is what the designer intended.

I am so grateful my life is heading back to normalcy after this tumultuous move. Happy I can blog again -- and check out what I've missed out on pinterest! Hahaha!

Computer geek.

Thanks for reading!! :)