Organizing Jewelry

I recently found a great way to store some earrings I had a hard time organizing! I found a ring display at Michael's which was pretty cheap. It was definitely under $15...maybe $10? And I used their 40% off one regular priced item coupon that they always have available online so it was even cheaper :) I've started using it not only for my rings but for my stud earrings as well. I can't wear dangling earrings to work because a child might pull it so I've started to buy more of the stud ones. It's great because I can just pick it up and not have to "unstud" it from a net frame like some other organizers.

 While we're on the topic of organizing, my necklace collection started to outgrow my purple stand so I bought another one. Now I have one stand for silver and one for gold which makes things easier when coordinating an outfit. I determine if my outfit needs a cooler or warmer accessory and choose silver or gold respectively.

 For dangling earrings I've been using this decor that I bought at Target awhile back. I love it because I can hang tons of earrings. I especially like that I can use all three sides. I have separated them by color in a similar fashion to the necklaces. The far right is silver tone, middle is gold, and on the very left (not shown in picture) is black (Apparently I've accumulated enough black earrings over the years to dedicate one side to it).

I recently signed up for Pinterest and Etsy accounts (inspiring yet dangerous!) If you're looking for a way to organize your jewelry they have some great ideas.

Thanks for reading! :) Happy organizing!
-M

Nails

Sometimes when I need a creative outlet, I like to paint my nails. Here are some designs!

Metallic pink base, gold glitter, gems

This bottom one is the thumb. I put more gems since there's more surface area :)

 

I did the flower patterns using white nail polish. You make dots and then use a toothpick to make it look like a petal.

Gradient design that's popular in Japan. I felt like I put too many sequence on this one so...I made a line design on the right hand (see below). Which one do you like better?

This white flowers are stickers you can buy at a drugstore or Target. Nice and easy. Paint your nails and stick 'em on!

Thanks for reading! :)
-M

Chevron Dress

I had an event to go to tonight so with help from my friend we put together this outfit. It's a simple look. We accessorized a hi-low chevron pattern dress with a gold belt, diamond shaped earrings to go along with the zig-zag of the dress, gold shoes to give the look a little sparkle and a lighter feel than wearing black shoes, and a bracelet and ring.

 

Thank you for reading! Have a great weekend!
-M

Rock Painting

Looking for a simple art project? Rock painting is a good option!

I bought a bag of black smooth (for the most part at least) stones for $1! I researched  ideas on Google images for rock painting and started painting. These are ideas I took from online so nothing very original, but I recommend this activity. It's fun and therapeutic :)

 

-M

Trip to Japan- A lesson on photography

I had the opportunity to go to Japan for 12 days in November. :) I posted most of the better photos on Facebook already but since this is an art blog, I'm going to comment on some of my favorite photos in terms of design and things to be aware of when taking a photo.

One of the biggest things I try to keep in mind is that a photograph is two-dimensional, which changes the angle and position of the picture. 

Water- Water is so interesting! Part of the reason I took this photo was because I loved the reflection of the trees in the water. In a photograph, the reflective nature of water can affect the way a photograph turns out. So next time you take a photo or are looking for a photo opp, look out for reflections!

 

Orientation- Vertical or Horizontal? Keep in mind there are two ways you can take the pictures (well more if you count diagonals but we'll stick with the traditional :) ). Depending on which orientation you choose you can get a different feeling for both. When I'm not sure which one to use when I take the photo, I quickly snap both so I can choose later. I can get a better feel for a photograph on the screen of my computer. Which do you like better? The horizontal captures the large amount of foliage and the red leaves draw the eyes more because it is contrasted with the green leaves. The vertical one highlights the height of the tree. There is a certain delicacy because of the open space of the sky and details created by the lines of the dark branches at the top of the tree. There are many things that draw our attention and so the red leaves are not as dominant. What do you think? 

 

Lines- When I took these photos I had to change my perspective to a 2-D perspective. I looked at the wooden poles in the left photo, not as poles, but as lines. Lines always lead the eye so I thought it would be interesting to frame the scene so that our eyes are drawn up towards the center of the tree and also down towards the grass. It captures the role of these poles as supporters. In Japan, they prepare trees for winter so that branches don't break from the weight of snow. In the photo on the right, I was drawn to all the curves of the tree roots. I looked at this scene as lines as well. The tree trunk and the thick root forms a diagonal line creating energy (diagonal lines give a sense of energy while horizontal and vertical is more stable).

 

Angle- These are all the same trees taken from different angles. I won't really explain too much here but it's something to think about when taking photos of 3-D objects. Which angle should you take it from? I like the 3rd one the best. How about you? And why? Asking these questions about why you like certain images is a good way to figure out how you prefer to make art or in this case take pictures.

 

Backgrounds- Be aware of backgrounds at all times. Often times we zoom in and focus in on the object of interest but don't forget you also capture what's behind it. It will affect the way a photo turns out. Do you notice the difference in backgound in the photos of the flowers? The backgrounds are pretty blurred so it's not that drastic of a difference but it still creates a different feel. I also switched up the angle the flower faces so that it changes the feel of the photo as well. Which do you like better?

 These are some of my favorites from the trip so I'm throwing them in :) The last two are similar- one is day one is night.

Hope you learned something about photography and 2-D design :) Thanks for reading!

-M