first day of school

When I got home from my first class today, Brandon asked what this semester is going to be like. I responded "more doing, less hesitation." This semester will be my hardest yet. Not because I'm taking 18 credits. Not because my classes are all seemingly "advanced". But because I'm going to work harder than ever before. Because I want to be somewhere I'm not. I want to be someone as an artist. And getting there is going to take a lot of work. The weirdest part about today: I wasn't mad to be back in school after only 2 weeks of summer. I was happy and grateful. I'm paying for this. I want this. If I didn't want this I could stop at any time. My degree is not my motivation. My development as a human being is what matters most to me, and school is helping shape me.

*photo taken in the HFAC in front of a student show: Reflectology by Amber Rogers. check it out.

package deal

today there was a wedding.

we shot digital, film, and video.

it. was. amazing. {all the above mentioned to come soon!}

i'd love it if this package deal could be a regular thing: me+him photographing together. it was so rewarding doing the thing I love most with the one I love most by my side.

instead of resting our tired heads tonight we will be putting the finishing bits together for out HUGE yard sale tomorrow. guys....I'm almost embarrassed about the amount of clothes we have for sale. Lets face it, I love clothes. Now won't you be so kind and adopt some, give them a good home, love them too?!?

see you bright and early!

SATURDAY 27th

8am-12pm

1865 N 690 E

Orem, 84097

xo

ANNOUNCING....

DEAR FRIENDS, FAMILY, AND BLOGGING BUDDIES:

I'm proud to announce my third annual

PRETTY CLASSY YARD SALE

SATURDAY, August 27TH

8:00 am- 12:00 pm

1865 N 690 E

Orem, Utah

84097

(sorry out-of-staters)

Both our families have donated (LOVE YOU GUYS) to this wonderful cause so there is a MASSIVE selection of clothing, particularly MY clothing. I might have to join a nudist colony after it's all done....

mens suits dress shirts jeans shirts shoes

women's dresses skirts tops blouses swim sports wear coats jackets SHOES (sizes 8.5-10) purses hats scarfs accessories jewelry

most of which are high-end/name brands

home goods/decor, bedding, furniture, art/craft supplies

all at cheepo yard sale prices!! wahoo!

THE WORKS!

+ the totally random typical yard sale finds :)

and of course there will be music playing and dancing around and such. So if nothing else...come for the PARTY and let me convince you to buy something you don't really need :) !

Like I said, It's going to be a pretty classy yard sale! Hope to see you all there!

xoxoxo

Kitty

I spent this last weekend in Vegas with my mother, visiting my wonderful aunt and family. It was exactly what the doctor ordered: sleeping in till embarrassing hours, promising myself I'd go running every day and breaking that promise without feeling guilty, eating amazing food and too many red vines, IBC rootbeer (my favorite) by the pool. having no sense of what time of the day it was, or the day of the week for that matter. no schedule.

a real vacation

my mom and I took our time there and back, stopping at all the small towns between provo and vegas, exploring antique store after antique store. My favorite find? A vintage picnic basket. I read Stephen King short stories aloud and my mother told me stories of her childhood. it's times like these I wish I were rich and could hire someone to document my life. and then again, I know that no photos, no words, no moving images could ever do justice to the memories I've made.

now I'm home. and I'm happy to be home, because that vacation was everything it could have been. it was rejuvenating. I feel ready to be a better me.

home :)

and I brought a tan with me!

more on my little get-away soon.

+ a back to school give-away

{check out last years back to school prize here and here}

bliss

a favorite: the moment right before I open up a newly thrifted suitcase to reveal it's insides. The case can be bland and worn but inside it's a party dressed in neons of pink, yellow, and blue. I love owning things that belonged to a previous life. I like to think what Bliss Elmer might have carried in her suitcase. Where did they go together? What experiences did they share?

I'm carrying swimsuits, some good reads, sketchbooks, and a lazy attitude.

be back soon

xox

claire

we have a winner!

congrats to Freckle Faced Lauren, winner of my latest litho print! She said:

Well, Claire, Summer is lovely.

Wanna know why?

Love.

That's all.

{chosen via true random number generator: random.org}

Lauren-

I couldn't agree more! of all things to love about summer, love takes the cake. email me your shipping info and I'll get that print off to you zippidy quick.

xoxoxo

Claire

hey friends!

happy happy monday :)

I'm guest blogging over here today!

xoxo

claire

p.s. want to win an original print by yours truly?? check it out here

p.p.s. didn't you hear? I love this man:

isn't he wonderful to behold?

huzzah!

last night I finished my last final for summer semester!

the feeling is better than a birthday. seriously! It's like I'm a new person today. I probably slept all night with a smile on my face and I haven't been able to wipe it off since. It's funny how one big thing can make the rest of your life seem so...out of control. Now that school isn't on my mind, I just feel plain happy.

I have two official weeks of summer before the school routine starts up again (18 credits....eeek!) and you better believe I'm cramming in all the good stuff: picnics, parties (finally decently celebrating the Misters big day), swimming, a mini girls trip to Vegas, family, friends, hiking, camping, a wedding, photoshoots, sewing projects....... I might even get a tan! And I'll likely be throwing some pretty swell GIVEAWAYS into the mix so stay tuned!

heck, I'm feeling spontaneous.

lets have a giveaway RIGHT NOW!

{CLOSED}

here my very most recent litho print!

"lady-alike"

it's a limited edition print and that makes it extra cool right? right.

this pretty little thing would look lovely hanging in any YOUR home.

you want it?

comment on your absolute favorite thing about summer

*must be a follower

and I'll randomly pick a winner next Tuesday, the 16th.

wow......this blog gets a whole lot more fun when I'm not in school :)

*lighting/coloring is slightly off. thats what you get with a spontaneous giveaway though....

homecoming

Welcome Home David!

not here

this weekend is my Thorley Family reunion. It's something I look forward to every summer. We go to the ranch, ride ATVs, play cards, hike, don't shower, sit around the fire and sing songs, and most importantly get in some good cousinly bonding. But I wont be there this weekend for a number of reasons, all of which bite. I'm trying not to be too bummed about it but I miss my family. I miss the mountains. I miss driving through the third gate and kissing my cell phone service goodbye. If I ever needed a vacation: IT WOULD BE NOW. But such is grown-up life right? we make decisions and they come with sacrifices.

I'm trying to keep busy so I don't get bummed thinking about the fun I'm certainly missing by treating myself to mini vacations all day. So far I had a nice morning walk, brunch to celebrate kara's belated birthday, and a trip down memory lane of past reunions via photographs. Tonight, B.I.L. David comes over (which promises to be a riot). Tomorrow, we go to the temple and hang out sissy (who is in the same boat: school instead of reunion) and end the night with Tanner and Brighton. Maybe I can squeeze a picnic in there somewhere too. And every moment in between the mini vacations? STUDY STUDY STUDY.

I feel like a jackson pollock

the one with the grays, blacks, whites and bits of cream.

(probably called "number 12" or something.)

I feel like I'm standing in front of the canvas, with my nose almost touching. The lines are harsh and the splatters are chaotic and it's all around me. It's all I can see. It's too much. Too much to process.

I know when I take a step back, far enough to see the edge of the canvas wrap around the frame, that it will be ok. Seeing all the chaos encompassed, seeing the patterns and trends and methodical splatters is all right, maybe even beautiful.

though I know there is a border, and I know the paint stops somewhere, it's hard to remember when my nose is wet with grays and blacks.

but I must.

I must remember there is a therapeutic result in process.

I must be patient.