Inspiration "Shopping" and other things

Hello my blogging friends!

So I still am in a painting rut...I just can't make myself sit down and paint,

so I decided to try doing other things for the time being.

Remember how I was SO E-X-C-I-T-E-D

(a la Jessie from Saved by the Bell)

about Hanna's recent posts on how she makes her own book

through blurb.com? WELL, I am going to do one!

I floundered for a few days on what I should do.

My life is pretty boring, and I don't have much to doucment

other than Jack,

(this is him last night sleeping next to me while I worked)

I'm relationship phobic, an introvert, and only have one good friend in town.

But, as I thought about the photographs I do take,

I realized I like to walk around Charlottesville and

take lots of fun close-ups, details of life.

Lightbulb moment!

I bought two books to help me along this path:

Indesign for Dummies and

Design Elements: A Graphics Style Manual

 Indesign is relatively self-explanatory, 

as I want to make this book through it.

But I have slowly realized that I LOVE

design...I can stare at good design forever

and drool. So why not learn more?

Last night I made little proof sheets of what

I wanted to put in my book photographic-wise

and sent them off to Kinkos.

(My brand new, not cheap, Lexmark printer sucks...why does this always happen?)

Today, while at work, (UGGGHHH)

I plan on reading these glorious books 

and start figuring out my layouts for each page.

This is a daunting task. I'm just a LITTLE scared!

Yesterday though, I decided to go window shopping,

to try and get myself out of the rut, and be inspired.

I grabbed my camera and headed down to Anthropolgie

for the first.time.ever...and also happened to find

the CUTEST little store too!! Eep!

 I felt sort of like a criminal taking pictures...it was very nerve-wracking! 

I love the colors and the pattern here! 

I am realizing that teal is SO one of my favorite colors.

Too bad its everywhere.

Little pieces of hardware for cabintetry!

I can't wait to own my own place and REALLY drool over this stuff

Hand-dyed books...oh my, I love it

I found this wall painted where I was shopping,

and the wood was peeling and crackling.

So beautiful, huh?

Have a wonderful Sunday,

 and maybe I will paint again someday.