filtered through leaves

This weekend was about getting crafty, and holing ourselves up in our apartment with art supplies and music equipment. Ryan and I needed a little time practicing our craft and steering clear of the temptations of city life. But after several hours of this kind of intense work we were itching to get out for just a little. We decided to take a little inspiration walk with Nellie and snap pictures of things that caught our eye along the way.  

For me, it seems, the afternoon sun filtered through leaves and onto them was the only thing worth capturing on our walk southward to Old City Philadelphia. Did you discover anything inspiring this weekend you'd like to share? big kiss, bekuh

a tiny peek at home

It's been a good long while since I've shared any peeks into our home life, mostly because I've fallen a bit out of love with our space, but in an effort to embrace the remaining 6 months we have here I thought I'd take pictures of my favorite bits to share. Here are two spaces (or vignettes) I'm happy to show off; above the beloved objects on my dresser and below Ryan's side of the bed. You can see my side here.

I love so many of the objects found in our home from the silly broken globe, to my great grandmother's dress hanging on the wall, to my one legged wooden model holding necklaces. It's not the objects we're tired of but the lack of walls and space to put them. I don't want to forget our first apartment in Philadelphia so I'm going to make an effort to snap more pictures in the future. What do you say, can you hold me to it? big kiss, bekuh

slow going

I've been taking it really slow since getting back from our Labor Day adventures in Ohio. Ryan and I made the executive decision not to bring our computers with us over the long weekend and I had no idea just how much I needed that break. With a job in social media, and a blog for a hobby, to say I'm connected all of the time would be an understatement. I did instagram over the break if you're curious about what we got into, this pic from Ryan's instagram is my favorite though. Visiting my family and giving them my undivided attention was amazing. I should do that more often. big kiss, bekuh

my "studio"

After sharing the studios that so inspire me with you yesterday, I thought I'd share a picture of what my current "studio" set-up looks like. It's just a rag tag collection of supplies I pull out as needed. I set them up on our wide coffee table and happily work alongside all the other trappings of home until its time to tuck them all away again. It's wonderful at times, and wretched at others. I love the little messes that form out of necessity, but I can't help but long for a space to call my own. We have five-six more months left on our lease- it hasn't stopped me from dreaming up what our new apartment could look like. Until then this is my studio and I refuse to be anything but happy with it.  big kiss, bekuh

seeing clearly

I read this quote somewhere online recently and had to share. I think these two simple sentences speak volumes. Dedicated to the invisible things in all our lives. big kiss, bekuh

a trio of eucalyptus

Growing up I remember my mom being really into dried flowers. We had garlands, and wreaths, and small arrangements in every room of the house, she even took a class on arranging them (it was so very 90s of her). One arrangement in particular sticks out in my mind: in our bathroom there was a small wicker basket just exploding with dried eucalyptus. No other flora or fauna needed, just dusty grey-green leaves complimenting the green and peach wallpapered decor. The strange fan shaped leaves seemed so exotic to me then.

I still have a soft spot for them now. On a recent Trader Joe's expedition Ryan and I picked up some eucalyptus for a flower arrangement, and though the other flowers have been long dead the eucalyptus stands tall. Dying gracefully and preserved for our use.

I decided to do a quick series of paintings on this reedy little green, to immortalize my lifelong fascination with the plant, and to play with using ink to sketch over paintings. I'm pretty happy with the results. big kiss, bekuh

the history of a traveller: part six

I can't believe I'm finishing up my history of a traveler series today, though the bright side to all of this means all new adventures await me and I'll be sharing them in real time instead. My last trip abroad before starting this blog involved my sister, snow on palm trees, and a trek through Spain in January. On a wild hair we decided to take a trip together right after the holidays my senior year of college. I'm not sure what possessed us, neither of us had the money, but it seemed like a good idea at the time. Looking back now, I know it was the best idea.

We started our journey a day late thanks to a Delta gaffe, and landed in Barcelona after the longest flight and a half of my life. We were tired, luggage-less and ready for a hot shower and something yummy to eat. Turns out we arrived on the wrong day because everything was shut down due to 

El Día de Reyes. The Day of the Kings is as big as Christmas Day for Spaniards and everything is shut down. We surrendered ourselves to the situation and enjoyed a day of wandering the abandoned streets, and eating in one of the only restaurants we could find still open. A lesson for those with wunderlust, check for local holidays/traditions before you book your flight. It could save you a headache or two.

Barcelona was pleasantly warm and inviting for January and we discovered the great art of Gaudi, and visited his almost finished Sagrada Familia, and delighted in his Park Guell. His life's work has since impacted me more than a can say and it all stems from this trip. I could devote an enter post to him and might in the future but I haven't shared the part about snow and palm trees yet. We departed Barcelona for Toledo and Madrid having long forgotten our rough beginning.

The entire trip my sister was completely smitten with palm trees, obsessively so. Any time she saw one she wanted to take a picture, or have her picture taken in front of one. It was really cute. While visiting Toledo it began snowing and the snow stuck to the sparse palm trees in little courtyards around the city and Sarah kept squealing as we passed them. We still joke about it to this day, even as she now lives in a state where palm trees aren't all that rare. It's my favorite memory of all, and to be honest I don't remember much else about our time in Toledo.

In Madrid we enjoyed amazing tapas, flamenco dancing, and more sangria than I care to admit but it was the squid sandwiches or "Bocadillo de Calamares" that stole the show. If you ever visit you have to go to the historic Plaza Mayor and eat one of these amazing sandwiches at Casa Rua, they're cheap and they're the best. Madrid was a winter wonderland while we visited and we met the nicest bartender from Australia who practically paid for our meal one night. He asked nothing in return, just our company at his stools for the night. It's moments like those that make traveling the most magnificent of all.

It's funny but I can't help but think of Ryan when I think back on this trip, we weren't even dating but our friendship had just rekindled (after two months of not speaking) right before departure. Something had changed but I wasn't sure just what yet. Taking this trip gave me the time I needed to think and dream as it turns out. The spanish siestas do wonders for the mind, and sisters know way more than they let on. More on that another time though. big kiss, bekuh