Goal #24: Visit an art museum

As we're walking through Olvera St. completing one DZP goal, I walk across the center and spy this Pico House that just so happened to be hosting a Dia de los Muertos art collection. So of course I jumped to the chance to hit this DZP goal up and Visit an Art Museum. Well, after our 55oz Coronitas, my sister and her fiancé decided their goal was to stop me from completing this one. Why? No reason. Just for shits and giggles. 

Giggles is right. This is my sista and I, laughing our asses off in the middle of the street as she's attempting to stop me from walking through the door. Just looking at these photos can put me straight into hysterical laughter!! This is why I love these two. 

No photos allowed. But in the name of DZP, you do what you gotta do.

Goal #15: Take a cake decorating class

At my last birthday, in oh... February. Madalyn gave me a certificate for a cake decorating class. Perfect DZP gift from my BeeEff! Well, then our class got cancelled and I almost wasn't sure this goal was going to be completed, but then Duff's Cakemix happened and all was well in my DZP world.

It was... awesome! Not only was it reasonably priced, but the staff was friendly, everything was well organized and stocked with all the go-to tools for awesome cake decorating.

We had a blast. My fave creation was my L&C ode to the blog I love so much!

If you're ever thinking of trying something new or want an awesome gift for a friend, I highly suggest this place.

Hump Day Fave: Love Prints

{Young Hearts wall flag}

Blacklist Studio Prints has some adorable lovey dovey prints. Big thanks to Design*Sponge for sharing their stuff, I'm officially hooked. These are just a few of my faves, but they have a bunch of cute stuff here.

{Our Love wall flag}

{Number One print}

{You Anchor Me print}

Goal #65: Have a Color Me Mine sesh

DZP goals for my birthday = Awesome gifts!

This is Yvette. She is Danny's cousin, but most of all she is my friend, my family. This year she too offered to help me cross off one of my DZP goals from my lovely list! I rambled off a few choices and voila, Color Me Mine sesh for two!

How could I not choose something symbolic of my birthday? A peacock studded cupcake to hold my jewelry. I'm so excited to use it everyday.

And since Yvette is currently blissfully in love, it was no surprise when she made this adorable Valentines inspired piece.

Photos of the final pieces to come!

Thank you Yvette, for the fabulous birthday gift. I had such a good time hanging out, just us girls.

Recreating, Movie Must-See: Up

Just in case you didn't believe me, I've got back up:

A Day In: Kate Spade's Window

{via}

Love Kate Spade!

It's Time For...

...a change.

Sometimes you come to a crossroads in your life,
That reveals a whole new you.
Something you’ve somehow missed before,
But now is in your view.

It’s like you're peering through a looking-glass,
A reflection you couldn’t see.
It’s like seeing your life through another lens,
A person you couldn’t be.

But whose lens is it anyways?
Is it yours or mine? Is it even real?

Real it is, for I’m seeing it now,
It’s more than within my grasp.

It’s at my fingertips,
And beneath my feet,
And in sync with every beat.

If seeing means a desire to make changes…

Then I give thanks to the crossroads,
And what it’s given me.
Thank goodness for the view,
And what I couldn’t see.

I give thanks for the looking-glass,
The reflection that will be.
Thank goodness for my new lens,
And the person that I’ll be.

Watercolour

Watercolour is, in my opinion, one of the most delicate forms of artistic painting.  Now I know there are a lot of very delicate, time-intensive mediums out there, but with watercolour - there is such a freedom about it.  You are at the will of the pigments suspended in water, layer upon layer of free-formed color.  Yes you apply the color, the stroke, the amount of water - but ask someone who's tried to achieve a piece of work such as this and they will tell you - it's not that simple.

Silver Ridge Studio's Etsy shop has me in awe of the ethereal water paintings done by Cate Parr, an England native, now living in Los Angeles making amazing portraits for all to see.  I spotted one of her portraits in Lucky's February issue and fell into a state of inspiration.

You can view her work on her Etsy shop, here.  Be ready to fall in love with some amazingly feminine portraits.

DIY: Friendship Tote

My girl Shannybear pulled out this super cute tote yesterday and I about drooled over it.  Not only do I love the cute artistic touches, the lovely friendship message and the hand sewn buttons, but her bestie made it for her!  How fabulous is that?  The art is by their favorite artist, Kurt Halsey, whom after I got myself acquainted with his work.. I'm officially a fan.  I instantly snapped some photos of it in the middle of the office simply stating, this is going on the blog!  Here are some close ups that are officially being ruled as eye-candy:

NYC Garbage Art

Here's where package design proves it's worth in the world.  A fabulous package design can sell anything, even trash and Justin Gignac (jee-nak) proves just that.  Oh, and he thanks the NYC population for littering...

Gignac began selling garbage in 2001 after co-workers challenged the importance of packaging design. To prove them wrong, he set out to find something that no one in their right mind would ever buy, and demonstrate the value of packaging by making what he found desirable. Looking around the dirty streets of Times Square, garbage was the perfect answer. Nine years later, over 1,300 NYC Garbage cubes have been sold and now reside in 29 countries around the world.

What I find even more amazing, is that these little cubes that started off as a mission to prove the gold that lies in package design, they were selling at $10 a piece.  But now that they have become art pieces - carefully arranged plastic cubes full of the stuff, certified never to leak or smell, each one signed, numbered, and dated, brings them up to $50 - and they continue to sell like hotcakes.  His friends must be kicking themselves.

PLUS, as a true artist Justin expanded his creative path into creating special edition cubes.  A brilliant idea considering the events that are constantly held in The Big Apple.  Some past editions have included Opening Day at Yankee Stadium and Citi Field, New Year’s Eve in Times Square and Obama’s Inauguration - each one selling for $100.  Smart thinking Justin!

Want your own cube?  Buy it here.  Want to see more of Justin's work?  Check it out here.

Bach, whatd'ya say?

You could even start plotting out all of your visits... or is that too much?  Too much, you're right.

State Your Love

The Wheatfield is an Etsy shop run by Katie Lombardo, an illustrator wandering the country.  Her shop is full of her illustrations that were inspired by her travels.  Most pieces are done by watercolor and acrylic paints, others are prints done from her original illustrations.  I absolutely love her illustrations dedicated to the states she's visited, take a look:

What makes her illustrations even more interesting, is the fact that she's set a goal to paint all 50 states and then create a book of her illustrations! 

A Heart for Amy Bach

This is where your heart is - when it's not in Fully of course.

{via}

Besos. Besitos.

{via}

Personalized Love Hearts

British artist Veronika Pollard cuts out tiny hearts from colored paper or newspapers, then arranges them in artful ways.  She creates a 3D art piece that can be personalized with initials, or an anniversary / wedding date.  These are simple yet sweet pieces, while I'm not sure how she places some of the hearts, I still feel like this is a legit DIY project for anyone... find them at her Etsy shop.

Sweet Harvey has Sweet Prints

Sweet Harvey Etsy shop is full of unique illustrations that have been individually letter pressed on an antique letterpress.  All of these cards are also available as art prints.

Cupcake Cannon

{via}

Simple & Sweet

 *I can't find who this belongs to, but I wanted to share anyways, very sweet

Helvetica Cookie Cutters!

I will put it in Beverly Hsu words, when my love for design and my love for baking cross paths... Helvetica Cookie Cutters!  Now all I want more than her cookie cutters is the recipe for the almond sugar cookie dough.  How good does that sound??