Who'd Have Known ♥ lily allen

Ever since I got new speakers for my computer last Christmas, I've been listening to lots of Pandora radio, and I love it because not only does music in my studio finally sound good, but I'm also finding tons of new songs that catch my attention, so I'm excited to start sharing more of them with you.

And since this week is the week of Love,
here's a simple sweet tune to start things off right.

{whod have known, by lily allen}


Enjoy!
♥ Janell

for the love of Oregon art. ♥

Every Thursday night I try to catch Oregon's ArtBeat on OPB... And, last night they featured a local artist that totally inspired me, even though her style is so different from anything I'd ever do. I love abstract art. It's beautiful. And even though some might see abstract art as simple or easy, or something that even a child could create... I bet it's actually harder to put your heart and soul into an abstract piece, than most might realize.

Carolyn Cole was the artist featured last night that really spoke to me, and I wanted to share the video clip with you because her way of thinking is so simple, yet I bet we could all somehow relate.

It's been quite a long time since I've added any collage art pieces to my shop, but I've had an itch to get my paints out again for quite some time now... though I've been waiting for just the right thing to inspire me, and I believe I have finally found her.

Aside from Carolyn's detailed abstracts that she creates on canvas, she also makes monotypes in her spare time, and that was what truly caught my eye. It was the way she simply put down a few colors, and rolled them out into this beautiful creation, that really got me going, because I've been trying to find a creative way of my own to start the base of some small canvases I have, that I'd finish with collage on top.

So, before I say more... Here's a link to her feature, I hope you find some inspiration from Carolyn's work, or her use of color, or simply from her gentle minded soul. Every week when I watch OPB's ArtBeat, I feel a little more inspired, a little more touched, a little more rewarded that I'm headed in the right direction. And I believe that we all need to be reminded of such things, because being an artist is more than just a lifestyle... it's a way to live.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

♥ Janell

Kings of Leon rock the Grammy's!!

Okay well I'm a day late and a dollar short on this one, but I wanted to give a shout out to the Kings of Leon for winning Record of the Year at the Grammy's!
Woot woot!

I first learned of the Kings of Leon a few years ago when I saw them on a British music television show, featuring new and up-and-coming bands. Oddly enough though, the Kings of Leon are three brothers and a cousin originally from Tennessee, and their original sound was of country blues, yet their first years of success were in the UK, not in the United States. It's inspiring to me because over the years they have found their own way, and are now at the top of the charts. Just goes to show that if you follow your heart, you really do come out on top in the end. So, I share with you, one of the first songs of theirs I ever heard,
and of course loved. The rest is history... ♥

{molly's chambers, by Kings of Leon}


plus there's a quick rip in here that reminds me of the Beatles.
how can you not love that?! :)

Enjoy, and happy belated Music Monday everyone!
♥
Janell