Free Spirit Friday

Sources clockwise: forties-fifties-sixties-love, “Spongebabe Under The Sea” by brianmoss, Rolling Stones

Summer Doings:
• I'm currently reading: Just Kids by Patti Smith
• My favorite summer drink: Homemade Ginger Ale (using my SodaStream)
• Favorite meal: Fresh garden salad (from my backyard) with homemade pizza
• Favorite after work activity: Banging on my brother's drums

What are you up to so far this summer?

NEW! Hawaii Inspired Painting

I just finished a new painting inspired by my recent trip to Hawaii. I've been having fun experimenting with bright colors and using masking fluid (to create the white lines in the sky). I have prints available for purchase on Society6. I plan to hang the original in my bedroom- my favorite place to dream of paradise.

Artist Love: Kathy Klein

I am in love with Kathy Klein's Danmalas made from gathered flowers and natural materials. The colors and mandala designs she created are just breathtaking.

To see more of her work, visit her website.

Photos from Hawaii

Last week I shared my art journal from my trip to Hawaii. Today I thought I'd share some actual photos! I am not much of a photo-taker. I'd much rather experience things in the moment than from behind a camera. But here are the few photos I snapped using my digital camera and mostly my phone (using Instagram).

Here are photos from a day trip we took around Oahu. Our first stop was the Nu'uanu Pali Lookout for a fantastic view of the island.

Next we headed to the Dole Pineapple Plantation where we walked through a botanical garden and ate delicious pineapple ice cream.

We stayed on Waikiki and the weather of course was beautiful. This is a view from where I sat and worked in my little art journal on the beach.

 We walked to the Rainbow Drive-In for lunch and shopped at an amazing vintage store...

Here we are having drinks at the Royal Hawaiian Mai Tai bar.

But the best Mai Tai on Waikiki was at House Without A Key.

My favorite part of our trip was snorkeling at Hanuama Bay. We got to see TURTLES! It was amazing.

On our last day we rented a car again and visited the Byodo-In Temple.

We also hiked through the Koko Crater Botanical Garden and saw some amazing flora and fauna.

This is an African Palm. See James standing next to it? It was HUGE!

 There were also some crazy cacti in the Americana section.

And of course, gorgeous Hawaiian flowers.

Before we knew it our week of paradise was over. I could have stayed there for SO much longer.

Shop Update!

Just wanted to let you know that I've finally added my new God's Eye Necklaces to my Etsy shop! God's Eyes are one of my favorite summer crafts and I love wearing this tiny reminder of summer camp adventures when I'm out and about. 


Each necklace is handmade by me. The god's eye is handwoven using thrifted embroidery floss and small sticks and accented with a few vintage beads on antique bronze cable chain. 

I just have a few listed for now, so if you don't see one in your favorite colors, feel free to contact me and I can make one just for you :)

Finished Craft Project: My Scrappy Chandelier

I'm so happy to have finished this project! I was originally inspired to make this fun chandelier using a tutorial from Red Velvet's Summer Camp class I took two years ago. I have collected and kept all the supplies needed to create it since then, but only got around to actually starting on it about a month ago. Made from all recycled and thrifted materials, this Scrappy Chandelier now hangs in my living room. I hope to install an actual lamp into it soon.

Supplies I Used:
• Lamp shade frame (found in my Grandma's attic)
• Scrap fabrics (I used mostly shiny, silky and 'fancy' fabric scraps I bought at SCRAP in Portland)
• Large wooden beads (collected from Goodwill and the Knittn' Kitten)

I first wrapped the metal lamp frame in strips of fabric, then got to work tying miscellaneous scraps around it to create a shade. I strung the large wooden beads onto t-shirt strips and tied them onto the bottom of the frame to create the chandelier affect. Lastly, I made my own braided rope (using scrap fabric) so that the lamp could hang from the ceiling.

I'm pretty happy with how it turned out and that I was actually able to finish it (even though it took me two years!) Now, on to the next project on my endless list of crafty fun...

Free Spirit Friday

Source clockwise: eyesaglow, kayleebird, elhieroglyph

Happy Friday! Hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

Link Love ♥
• I've been loving the blog A Pair & A Spare this week.
• Check out Darling Magazine | The Art of Being A Woman.
• I am in LOVE with the astrology theme of Free People's June catalog.
• THIS is on my birthday wishlist!

Art Journaling in Hawaii

Aloha! I just got home from a wonderful week in Oahu. James and I had SO much fun. Before I share some photos I thought I'd first show you the little art journal I worked in while we were there. There's nothing like lying on the beach in Waikiki with watercolors and a new journal!

I chose to use this little book James bought for me during his last trip home to San Diego...

It was definitely interesting working with handmade paper, especially with watercolors. But it ended up being a lot of fun. I enjoyed working on brown paper (rather than white).

The Royal Hawaiian is one of the oldest hotels in Waikiki and definitely my favorite. We didn't stay there (as it's SUPER fancy), but I camped out on the beach in front of it and we could see it from our hotel window. My favorite thing about the Royal Hawaiian is that everything about it is PINK! Everything from their cocktail napkins to chopstick wrappers.

On June 5 we were able to see the Transit of Venus! A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to view venus as its passing between the sun and the earth. We had to look through a special card allowing us to look directly at the sun. This phenomena won't happen again for 105 years!

Actual photos from our trip are soon to come!

Free Spirit Friday

Sources clockwise: animalstalkinginallcaps, birdsnest., charmaineolivia

Happy Friday! I am beginning a long awaited vacation in Hawaii today! James and I planned this trip two years ago- I still can't believe we will be spending an entire week on Oahu! I'll be sure to take lots of photos to share when I get back. Hope you all have a lovely weekend  ♥

Peace, Rachel