Last weekend Dale and I took a weekend trip to Hermann, Missouri! We were lucky to have great weather while we were exploring. We ate lots of bratwurst and found some great treasures at some of the many antique stores. One of my favorite stops was Typestyles, a place to get inspired by vintage packaging and rummage through drawers of letters. And of course it wouldn't be a trip to Hermann without a wine tasting and a beer flight. I couldn't have asked for a better or more relaxing weekend get-away!
Burano, Italy
"The use of traveling is to regulate imagination with reality, and instead of thinking of how things may be,
see them as they are."
–Samuel Johnson
I took this photo when I studied abroad just after my sophomore year of college. I fell in love with Italy that summer (especially the food), but more than that I learned to appreciate time spent traveling. This quote by Samuel Johnson is a thought-provoking way to think about this appreciation, and makes me even more excited for the travels I have ahead of me this year!
Family Photos
A few days ago my mom showed me some recently-discovered photos of my great-grandparents and grandfather. My great-grandparents, Lillie and Lue, were part of an amateur movie-making club which traveled all over the world taking pictures and making films. My mom grew up seeing pictures from these trips, but she mostly remember pictures of the places. These often didn't include her grandparents, making these images all the more special. This is just a small glimpse into their life, and the many photos we will now be able to treasure!
Ceramics Exploration
During my internship at Hallmark I had a chance to explore my creative voice in the Ceramics Studio! You may remember I traveled to Spain last March, and I decided to create ceramics pieces inspired by the many beautiful doors I photographed.
These are just a few of the many beautiful doors I saw as we traveled from city to city. I loved the geometric shapes and the details. When it came time to start creating I decided I wanted to simplify the forms I was seeing to bring out my favorite pieces.
I grew up taking clay classes in the summer, but I am by no means experienced when it comes to ceramics. I documented the entire process to help me remember the steps I took and to see how the pieces evolved. There is a certain element of uncertainty in ceramics which is exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time. The plate I was sure would be my least-favorite ended up being the one I have displayed at home. I was thankful to have this time during my internship to make and explore a less familiar medium. To take a look at other work I created during my summer internship head on over to my portfolio.
2014 Reflection
I have to admit this post was harder to put together than I expected, 2014 was BUSY! I think the main reason this year is so hard to reflect upon is because I went through so many major changes within such a short period of time. I graduated from college, got engaged, adopted a kitten, and started my career. I was lucky enough to travel to Colorado, Spain, and San Francisco. These are all events which could merit a full paragraph so I will keep things simple. Looking back at 2014 helped me to realize just how lucky I am to be surrounded by such wonderful friends and family. These few pictures barely begin to summarize everything that happened in 2014, but they are some of my favorites.
I can't wait to see what 2015 will bring!
San Francisco Sights
Wow has it been a busy summer! While I haven't had as much time to devote to the blog as I would have liked to, I am happy to dive back in. A few weeks ago I had the chance to visit one of my best friends, Claire, in San Francisco. While she worked I spent my time wandering and sight seeing. A few of my favorite stops included visiting Muir Woods, shopping in the Mission District, purchasing a few books at Chronicle Books, and the many wonderful restaurants I had the chance to try. One of my favorites being breakfast at The Mill. Below are a few pictures I took during the trip, but there were many more wonderful ones as well!
On another note, during my trip I officially accepted a full-time position at Hallmark as a Lettering Artist! I could not be more excited that I will get to continue pursuing lettering surrounded by so many talented artists and designers. Between my internship, wedding planning, and traveling the entire summer seemed to fly by, but I am can't wait to see what this fall will bring!