Extraordinary Inspiration

Moonshine : Artists after dark from alexis wanneroy on Vimeo.

I hope to never stop getting inspired, I hope to never stop creating, I hope to never stop attaining happiness, I hope to never stop learning! :)

On books.

Photo from Pinterest! Please let me know if you know who took this photo! This is lovely.

There are three things I loved as a child that I still love very much so today: 1. drawing, 2. going to the beach, and 3. reading. I often talk about the first two, not so much about the latter because, well, I am often enchanted.  I'm often speechless when enchanted with another world, another era, a different story. Here are some of books that have left a mark on me.

1. The Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger
Don't ever tell anybody anything.  If you do, you start missing everybody. 

2. The Little Prince - Antoine de Saint Exupery
Anything essential is invisible to the eyes.
 
3. The Bell Jar - Sylvia PlathI took a deep breath and listened to the old bray of my heart:  I am, I am, I am.  
 
4. Blankets -Craig ThompsonHow satisfying is it to leave a mark on a blank surface. To make a map of my movement--no matter how temporary.

5. Norwegian Wood - Haruki Murakami 
Don't feel sorry for yourself. Only assholes do that.

6. The Shrinking of Treehorn - Florence Parry Heide
 He's still shrinking, sniff Treehorn's mother. Heaven knows I've tried to be a good mother. (Plus the book is illustrated by Edward Gorey, one of my favorite illustrators ever. A must-read for kids and adults alike.)

7. Eat Pray Love - Elizabeth Gilbert 
This is a good sign, having a broken heart. It means we have tried for something.  

8. She's Come Undone - Wally Lamb
 It was a matter of perspective, I began to see. The whole world was crazy; I'd flattered myself by assuming I was a semifinalist.
 
9. The Girls Guide to Hunting and Fishing - Melissa Bank
 The only relationships I haven't wrecked right away were the ones that wrecked me later.

10. Franny & Zooey - JD Salinger 
We're the tattooed lady, and we're never going to have a minute's peace, the rest of our lives, until everybody else is tattooed, too.

11. Diary - Chuck Palahniuk
 It's so hard to forget pain, but it's even harder to remember sweetness. We have no scar to show for happiness. We learn so little from peace.
 
12. Sputnik Sweetheart - Haruki Murakami  
We're both looking at the same moon, in the same world. We're connected to reality by the same line. All I have to do is quietly draw it towards me. 

13. Kitchen - Banana Yoshimoto 
It was at once a miracle and the most natural thing in the world.  

Sorry I wasn't able to post anything last week as it has been hectic, but, let's start this week with

• I wish I knew how to bake cakes (or maybe I could just buy a regular one) because, this is just awesome.
• Anne Siems' paintings blow my mind away, maybe it will do the same to you, too.
• Ohjoy's Joy Cho reminds herself and us, to let the good stuff stick. :)
• My favorite mantra for the inevitable rocky moments in life, led by one of my favorite yogis, Sadie Nardini: a fun mantra for stormy times.

I have so much to share with you, last week has been fun and hectic at the same time, and loving and worrisome, too! I hope you're enjoying all the adventures in your life as I am trying to do so! Talk to you soon, W

Monday Link Love: Another week gone too fast and starting again!

It's Monday and I know you need some lovin to jumpstart your week: Monday Link Love!

• Designlovefest discusses what she's learned about Pitching for your Dream Project!
•  On living an inspired life.
• Literary Drinks: 10 Famous Fiction Writers and Their Cocktails--although this might make you wish it were the weekend. Or maybe after-work hours.
• If you're interested at all in practicing calligraphy, here's something I found through Fozzy's facebook (!): A Handwriting Practice Writing Sheet you can download and print out so many times!

Have a fun Monday! W

Monday Link Love!

This year I promised myself I'd be a better, more responsible blogger. And I don't know about you, but I like starting off my week with inspiration. So here's a new series in the blog, which (hopefully) I'll post up every Monday. Here's to starting my week, and your week, with inspiration and creativity!

• Garance Dore's blogging philosophy/ business model is such an inspiration! Believe in the things you blog about! 
• Nubbly's Twiglet's advice on jumpstarting your career. I heart her.
• More YES in your life!
• And lastly, this is an oldie but a bestie (not only a goodie!): Ecstatic Flailing by Keri Smith. I just thought I'd share that one here just in case you haven't read it yet because you have to!

That's it for now, have a happy Monday and have an even more awesome week! Love, W.

Currently loving

In the Mood for Love. Always in the mood for this film.

Works by Sarah Thorne.

I'd like to think she and I have the same taste in colour.

Pearly Yon's wedding invitation...
and her wine packaging design.

This painting but I have no idea who made it. If you do, please let me know! :)

These paintings by Michael Carson.

Carl Kleiner's imagery.

 These girls' looks/outfits, all of which I found randomly on the interwebs.

From here.

From here

From Asos Mag.

It's a mash between vibrant and muted colors actually, now that I look at all of them together.  What's been inspiring you lately? 

W

Lessons for Creatives from David Hockney

This is something I read the other day and now I have to find the book and I thought it would be nice for you to read this, too.

I think I’m greedy, but I’m not greedy for money – I think that can be a burden – I’m greedy for an exciting life. I want it to be exciting all the time, and I get it, actually. On the other hand, I can find excitement, I admit, in raindrops falling on a puddle and a lot of people wouldn’t. I intend to have it exciting until the day I fall over.

The complete article is over at Nextness. :)

Elements from old studies that weren't approved and I'm recycling to send you a message. :)

love,
W