Monday, February 28, 2011

February Photo Recap

Here is my photo recap for the month of February (check out last month's here). I didn't do that great of a job remembering to take more photos. My goal for March is to photograph different subjects (I am getting in the habit of only taking photos of food) and take more photos of people.

You may have noticed I've done a little reorganizing on my blog. I've added some more pages: My Daily Reads have moved to its own page as well as my Link Badges. I've also created some feature buttons that take you directly to my regular features. A complete redesign will be finished tomorrow. I'll also be updating my Etsy shop! I have some brand new card designs I can't wait to show you! See you tomorrow!

Friday, February 25, 2011

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Sheroes: Lucille Ball


With February well under way, it's time for another Sheroes feature! Sheroes is a monthly feature where I share a little history on a woman (alive or dead) who's life I find aw-inspiring. (Click here to read about my last Sheroes post).

My shero this month is Lucille Ball. My boyfriend, James and I have recently started rewatching episodes of I Love Lucy (both of us hadn't watched the show in many years) and we've fallen head over heals for Lucille Ball ever since. She was an amazing actress and comedienne. For more than thirty years, she was one of the most recognized and loved entertainers in the world. She was in show business for 60 of her 77 years. She appeared in 74 movies and literally hundreds of TV shows.

While we all remember her from television, she worked in movies for over 15 years before I Love Lucy aired in 1951. She started her career as a fashion model in New York in 1929. (I had so much fun discovering old photos from Lucy's modeling career. She was so beautiful! And a blonde when she first started out!) In the mid-1930's she moved to Hollywood and began work in movies. By the end of the decade she appeared in 43 films and was known as the Queen of "B" movies.


1930's Lucy - Colorized
1944 Max Factor Ad Featuring Lucy
Lucy at the Wheel

Though she had the talent and charisma as a performer during that time, it wasn't until she played a part in the radio program, "My Favorite Husband" that her true genius appeared. "My Favorite Husband" was a situation comedy about a housewife who was always getting into trouble. After two successful years, Lucille Ball moved her radio show act to the new medium of television, bringing along her husband, Cuban band leader, Desi Arnaz, as her costar. Together they created the most popular television show of the 1950's- I Love Lucy.

The first episode aired on October 15, 1951 and for the next 25 years Lucille Ball virtually ruled the airwaves in a series of situation comedies designed to exploit her elastic expressions, slapstick abilities and distinct verbal talents (source).

The genius herself once said, "I'm not funny. What I am is brave." I think above all, that describes Lucy best. No other actress has been able to be simultaneously drop dead gorgeous and insanely funny like Lucy was. I love looking through photo archives and finding beautiful photos (like those above) as well as her hilarious comedy characters (see below). She worked fearlessly throughout her career and became a star that was dearly loved by all.

"I would rather regret the things that I have done than the things that I have not." 
-Lucille Ball

"Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead."
-Lucille Ball
"The secret to staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your age."
-Lucille Ball
For all her impact upon the very nature of television, Ball is most vividly recalled as a series of black and white images. To remember Lucille Ball is to recall a profusion of universal images of magical mayhem--a losing battle with a candy conveyor belt, a flaming nose, a slippery vat of grapes--images which, contrary to most American situation comedy, transcend nationalities and generations, in an absolute paradigm of side-splitting laughter (source).

Sources: 

Also checkout my boyfriend, James' new blog:

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

♥ Art Love


I'm loving the work of Justin Richel. His "Big Wig" series is both humorous and beautifully detailed.






Check out his website: artistjustinrichel.com

Monday, February 21, 2011

Shim Sham!

My boyfriend, James and I have recently started taking a beginning swing dance class. (We both danced in high school, and decided to pick it up again). We've had so much fun learning to dance together and going out to swing events to practice our new moves! Last Friday, the studio where we take classes held a swing social. Before the dancing began we learned the Shim Sham, which is a swing line dance. After we got home that night, we were looking up swing videos on youtube and found this old Shim Sham clip! Watch it and see exactly what we learned. So cool!



We're having so much fun swing dancing, we just bought tickets to attend Camp Jitterbug in Seattle this spring! We'll be going to 3 whole days of dance workshops. We have a lot of practicing and vintage shopping to do to get ready and I am so excited!!!

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Pisces

Sorry to be one day late. I've just finished my newest astrology illustration: Pisces (February 19 - March 20) Click here to see Aquarius.
Pisces is a water symbol. Many astrologers say that Pisces is a link to the spirit world and that you who are born under this sign are old souls, for they believe Pisceans to have experienced other lives in the past. 

Famous Pisces:
Alexander Graham Bell
Albert Einstein
Galileo Galilei
Jack Kerouac
Glenn Miller
Liza Minelli
Anais Nin
Elizabeth Taylor
Bernadette Peters
Bruce Willis
Diane Arbus
Dr. Suess
Drew Barrymore
Curt Cobain
Lou Reed

And here's the widget for you Pisceans out there to display on your blog ♥








Friday, February 18, 2011

Free Spirit Friday

Sources clockwise: xoxowildchild , bobowoodlakefreeglitters

All this crazy weather has me dreaming of summer...
Have a great weekend!

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Smartypants Vintage: My latest vintage find.

I thought I'd share with you one of my latest vintage finds- this Spring issue of Lady's Circle Needlework from 1972. I have an ever-growing collection of vintage craft magazines. I love looking through them and finding such great inspiration ♥




Hope you all are having a great day!

Camp Smartypants meets Ohio!

If you happen to live in or visit Cincinnati, Ohio, be sure to check out HighStreet Cincinnati, an award-winning design studio and Urban Lifestyle Store. They've recently started carrying my line of cards and Scout Badges! I've never been to Ohio before, but HighStreet seems like an awesome place to find beautiful, unique objects. ♥

Monday, February 14, 2011

Happy Valentine's Day!

I thought I'd share with you these pretty heart garlands I made for Valentine's Day. You can read more about them over at the My Own Ideas blog. Do you have anything special planned for today? My boyfriend, James and I are heading to the beach tonight to spend a couple days at my Grandparent's cabin. I love it there because there is no phone, no cellphone service, and no internet! It's the perfect place to go to get away. We plan to cook a fancy dinner, drink champagne cocktails, and watch episodes of I Love Lucy

Because of our mini-vacation, I won't have a blog post for you tomorrow. But I wish you all a Happy Valentine's Day and I'll be back on Wednesday with my latest Pretty Discoveries

Friday, February 11, 2011

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Guest Fashion Guide: Smartypants Style

I'm excited to introduce my first ever guest blogger! Say hello to my dear friend Cari. She is a graphic designer living in Seattle, WA. Be sure to check out her blog, Le Sweet Tooth, where she posts the greatest inspirations in fashion, style, and graphic design. I find myself ooohing and aahhing over her blog all the time. I just love Cari's sense of style and good taste- so much that I asked her to be my first-ever guest blogger!


It all started last December, when I was head-over-heels for this post where she created a Frida Kahlo inspired fashion guide. So I asked her to do the same for Camp Smartypants! I hope you enjoy the first ever Camp Smartypants fashion and style guide.




1. Peace/love wool pillow- jonathanadler.com 
2. Porcelain campfire- uncommongoods.com 
3. Blue feather earrings- urbanoutfitters.com 
4. Wool needle point sunglasses case- jonathanadler.com
5. Tie-dye fringe sandal- revolveclothing.com
6. Iceberg tie-dye jersey tank- www.shopbop.com 
7. Color wheel watch- paper-source.com 
8. Mandarin tea lotion- paper-source.com

What do you think? My favorite is #5- the tie-dye fringe sandals. Those would be soo fun to wear at all my craft shows this summer.

Style guide created by Cari Cantrell for Camp Smartypants. 
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