Top 10 Fun Things That Happened in 2010

I know it's a bit cheesy to do a top 10 list and all the usual reflecting on the past year but this year really has been one of those life changing years. I decided to come out of my shell, quit being so damn shy and missing out on opportunities because of it, and to quit hiding my artsy/creative/wacky side for fear of people thinking I'm not normal. Who wants to be normal anyway??? Once I started letting people in I realized that my friends and family love that part of me and I completely embrace it. When I get asked to do something like be in a commercial or model in a show I say yes, even though it scares the shit out of me! But life is so very short and I am not going to miss out anymore. My goals are set high and I'm already achieving quite a few of them. If 2010 was a wild ride, just wait for 2011!





Enough babbling and on with the top 10. These are in no particular order at all.

1. First trip to NYC.

I absolutely loved New York, as I knew I would! I felt completely like "this is where I belong" in East Village. I took so many photographs that I still haven't edited them all.

2. Ann Arbor/Justy visit

My large "Swings" photograph was in the University of Michigan Alumni Show called "Interstices: The Spaces Between." It was an honor. And my best friend, Justy, flew out with her family from Colorado the same weekend. We went to the Ann Arbor Art Fair without children in tow (a first), got caught outside during a tornado (seriously), and almost missed the opening.

The next day we went to Detroit and the kids played in the fountains in front of the Ren Cen, had fun at Campus Martius, and we ate in Greektown. It was great!

3. Fox 2 Commercial
It hasn't aired yet (it's supposed to be on after the holidays so hopefully soon) but I got to be in a Fox 2 Weather Authority commercial spot. They came to shoot a house with me and shot me doing my virtual tour then asked me a bunch of questions. It was really fun.

4. Motorcycle Ride

I'd never been on a motorcycle before but always wanted to so when my brother sold his before I got a chance to ride it I was pretty bummed. Luckily our neighbor has a sweet as hell harley and he took me for a ride on it. I loved every minute!

5. Modeling

I got to model in not one but 2 super cool runway shows! The first one was for charity in Clawson and was put on by 808 resale. I got to wear the coolest vintage boots. The second show was for designer Matthew Richmond and it took place on the streets of Royal Oak. The dresses were all eco friendly and made from materials like magazines and plastic bags. After the runway show we did a professional shoot too.

(Oh yeah--I bought and kept those rad shoes.)

6. Skateboarding

I don't know what it is but I've always been fascinated by skateboarding. I wanted to learn but didn't really have anyone to teach me. So I picked up a few skateboards at a rummage sale, brought them to a parking lot and taught myself. Now whether or not I'll remember it all in the spring is another story. But I didn't fall once and actually got pretty good on it. My goal for 2011 is to learn to do some jumps and tricks.

7. Catching up with old friends, making new ones

This year was the year of social networking and I have to say I love it. I've made so many new connections on there, both personally and professionally but also was able to reconnect with a lot of friends from the past. Facebook rocks. And twitter has been pretty incredible as well. I now have over 5,000 followers and have built some pretty cool relationships with it.

8. Photography and Jewelry

With this new found freedom/metamorphosis my art has really gone in an exciting direction as well. I think my photographs have gotten edgy and more creative than ever before. And the metalwork I've been doing excites me to no end. I created my first bezel this past week and I can't wait to push it even farther.

Plus I found the antique typewriter of my dreams this past summer at a garage sale. The proceeds went to charity too--bonus.

9. DIY Ferndale

This was my first outdoor festival and I absolutely loved it. The people were great, I sold a lot, and it meant so much to me to have so many people see my work and tell me how much they appreciate it. All the shows I have been doing have been incredible in building my business. I have people recognize Lilacpop all the time and I get emails asking for custom work or where they can find my stuff in stores. I've even had customers come to shows wearing something they bought from me at a previous one. How rewarding is that?

10. Yellow Door
One of the best decisions I made this year was signing up with Yellow Door Art Market in Berkley. The opening day was packed and you could feel the excitement in the air. The people in Michigan and especially the Detroit area really have banded together to support buying locally and handmade. It's awesome. I run into other artists from Yellow Door all over town and it's almost like this little artist's community, which is great to be a part of. It's also nice, since my studio is in my home, to have a place that I can send people to pick up a custom necklace or photos. I am most certainly renewing my lease that is up soon and hopefully extending it for the next year!

I cannot wait to see what 2011 has in store!

Happy 2011

I wish you all a happy, healthy 2011 with a lot of nail polish and nail art :) Here are as promised my current Happy New Year nails, like I said I've used a dark blue nail polish again.

As a base I'm wearing Sally Hansen - 16 Blue it, I got this color as a present/souvenir from my mom and dad from Fuertaventura (Canary Islands) it just needed one coat. On top I did a coat of CND effects Crimson sparkle. It is really diffucult to get that effect showing in a picture. I stamped the fireworks with BM20 used Konad SN pastel violet, pastel blue, pastel pink, pastel yellow, pastel orange and PSN apple green. Like last year I stamped the text Happy from plate M43 using different pastel stamping polishes. Used the numbers from the sides of plate M20 and M11. For my thumb I used M46 and the numbers from the big demo plate.

I had a hard time taking a good picture.

Here a swatch of Sally Hansen - 16 Blue it.

One coat (don't mind my ringfinger I damaged it a bit)

Here a swatch with CND Crimson sparkle, it is a weird picture but I just couldn't get the effect showing in a picture.

Happy New Year everyone and be careful with fireworks!

As A New Year Unfolds

The story behind this unopened bottle is that it was given as a gift to my Parents many years ago... they didn't drink so they graciously received it and because it was so beautifully packaged they just displayed it.  It has been around a very long time and when they gave it to me I never had the Heart to open it and drink it, so I've continued to display this beautifully packaged bottle of Champagne... or Wine... I'm really not even sure what's inside (???) and one day I shall probably pass it along to one of our grown Children or grown Grandchildren... whether they choose to drink it or continue to display it unopened matters not... I Hope they will appreciate the beautiful packaging as much as past generations have.  And today I decided to include it in Cindy's Show And Tell Friday at "My Romantic Home"  it would be fun if you join us and share something to show and tell from your Home...

                                                       Image cribbed from Kriyayoga

As another New Year unfolds I tend to get contemplative just prior to the start of every New Year.  I think back upon this Year that is coming to a close and decide what I want to carry through to this New Year and what I want to leave behind. I have  also been reflecting upon my experiences since beginning the Blogland adventure in July... and I'm LOVING every minutes of it.  The exposure to this community of wonderful, generous people and the sharing of ideas, creative energy and lovelies has been so enriching and I'm glad I dived in and became a participant and not just a spectator on this grand Journey of Journaling online. I'm not big on New Year's resolutions because I'm a work in progress every day of the year, so I don't set aside one particular day to try to change everything I might seek improvement upon and Hope for change in.  But a New Year is a fresh start, a starting point if you will to wipe the slate clean, regroup and move forward with those Hopes, desires, attitudes, dreams, visions and improvements we are seeking in our lives, that perhaps did not manifest in the previous Year for whatever the reasons.  A New Year can be a new beginning of many things as well as the end of those things that we no longer wish to carry forward and through into yet another Year. And as the glittery Ball drops on Times Square I imagine that we have similar glittery visions and dreams in the palms of our own hands. Tiny little glimmerings of the seeds we will sow into the future, and if we cultivate and tend to them properly they will grow into the Harvest that we envisioned and reap the fruits of our labor.  And in the most abundant of Harvests we can share our bounty with others freely... and sow glittering seeds of Hope and future Blessings into the lives of others so that they may have a future bright with Promise and continue the cycle rich in beautiful reciprocity... Happy New Year... Dawn... The Bohemian


I'm also linking with Debra over at "Common Ground" for Vintage Inspiration Friday #18... please come over and join us there too!

And, because these Blog Parties are so much fun I am also joining Courtney over at "French Country Cottage" for Feathered Nest Friday for the very first time... these parties are a great way to discover new favorite Blogs and meet new Friends, so join me there as I hop from Party to Party as we ring in the New Year! *wink*

What Images Do You Find Most Inspiring?

Image purchased by me from Etsy of an Antique French Postcard

Image from Unknown Source

Image from E-Bay

Image from E-Bay

Image from Frilly Frocks

Image from Unknown Source

                                                          Image from Gypsy Moon

                                               Image and cuff creation from Gypsy Moon

Image and cuff creation from Gypsy Moon

Image of Jesus from Magnolia Pearl

Image from Unknown Source

Image from a Bohemian decorating site

Image from the interior of a Magnolia Pearl Bag

Image from Beautiful Life Photography

Image from A Fanciful Twist Blog

Art by Romany Soup

Image from Magnolia Pearl

Image from Bing Images of an Unknown location

I am an extremely visual person by nature... images that I adore and am drawn to often provide endless inspiration for living and for my Art.  What I love most about the Internet is that it has greatly expanded what images I'm exposed to... lets face it, in daily life there are limits as to what we actually see and have direct exposure to and can be inspired by.  I always loved Books and I still do, because they transported me to places on the canvas of my imagination that I may never actually get to or experience in this lifetime.  The Internet has provided a vast canvas of imagery that I can now paint on the canvas of my own imagination and provide so much more inspiration than I ever thought possible.  I want to thank each and every person who has shared their images online ever, you never really know how you will touch and transform the lives of others through your images.  I could never show you every image that has ever inspired me... but here are just a  few images of what typically inspires me on any given day: All of the images above have been cribbed from various shared online images on sites such as "Beautiful Life Photography", "The Art of Romany Soup", "Fanciful Twist", "Magnolia Pearl", "Frilly Frocks", "Gypsy Moon", "Bing", "E-Bay" and some I no longer remember... as well as the magnificent Peacock Image I purchased from Etsy.   When I want to have sensory overload or inspiration all I need do is Google a particular image that delights me or visit favorite Blogs and Shop sites.   In my World of adoring and sharing lush Vintage Fabrics, Bohemian Life, Flowers, Peacocks, Gypsy Vardos, Vintage and Antique Bohemian Bling, Art, decorating, old Architecture, Treasure Hunting, Salvage, Junquing, Persian Style Rugs, Flea Markets, Crystal Chandeliers, wearable Art, Mendhi, Faith, Family and God... I can now share a bit of my World and connect with a bit of yours.   Never before has it been so convenient to be inspired and exposed to whatever lays outside of our own little World and connect with others worldwide who may share our passions, our dreams, our lifestyle, our interests... or whose lives, passions, dreams, lifestyle and interests are vastly different from our own .  What images do you find most inspiring my Friends?  What do you enjoy sharing most of those bits of your life, world and lifestyle?  How has connecting to the vast community in cyberspace enlarged your vision, your exposure, your creations, your dreams?  I know that it has done a great deal to enlarge all of the above in me... and my Hope is that it has done the same for you... and that 2011 will be all that you Hope and envision it to be in your own little corner of the World... Happy New Year... Dawn... The Bohemian

*I apologize if I failed to acknowledge a credit to any of the amazing images in this Post that have provided inspiration and the joy of experiencing online. If the source is listed as Unknown by me, and you know who to credit, please let me know! - Dawn* 

Happy New Year nails from last year

This was my Happy New Year creation last year. I probably will use a dark blue base this year too, because I love dark blue with New Year. It reminds me of a true blue sky and then ofcourse the fireworks in that sky :)

As a base I'm wearing China Glaze Eyes like Sapphires (I love that color). I stamped with Konad SN silver little stripes from M72. The firework flowers with SN pastel blue and white M54. The text Happy with SN pastel blue and M43. For my thumb I used M46 for the text and M38 for the glasses. The numbers I made with the numbers on the side of imageplates M20 and M10 on the big demo plate.

Happy New Year everyone. (I'll post my new nails tomorrow)

Bohemian Elegance - Artie Coloring Outside The Lines

I'm in love again with a Space decorated in the ultimate of Bohemian Elegance, I could live outside indefinitely with a setup like this on my property, you would have to bribe me to get me back inside! *wink*  Normally I try to limit my OCD self to just one Post a day so that I don't bury you all in an avalanche of Blog Journal entries that spill out of my head and into my Blog. *LOL*  But I just couldn't wait to share this one and it speaks for itself why!!!!!!!! I realize the Bohemian themed Posts are the most popular ones and the ones nearest and dearest to my own Heart... so this one will probably put you in a Bohemian inspired Trance too!?  I just discovered a Blog by an AMAZING Designer named Artie called Color Outside The Lines and here is just a tiny sampling of his talents!!! *swoonfest of epic proportions*  *ALL IMAGES CRIBBED FROM ARTIE'S BLOG 'COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES'*  If this inspired you even half as much as it wowed and inspired me... and believe me, there is MORE, MUCH MORE... you simply have to pay his site a visit my Friends!!!  I wonder if I were in the presence of someone with this much vision for decorating... if perhaps some would rub off? *Smiles*  If I had a personal Genie it would be someone like Artie and dining Alfresco would reach a whole new level at this Ole House!  Simplicity and elegance at it's best, you can be certain I'll be replicating something as fabulous as this on my property and transporting myself to Bohemian Valhalla.  I'm thankful for the Designers who Blog and share their talents with the Blog World... it inspires me to enlarge my own vision for decorating and Art... to seek out those Treasures that will enhance a living space or a vignette in those ways that Wow me and I want to surround myself with on a daily basis... Thanks Artie for transporting me this day, at least on the canvas of my imagination, to a beautiful Bohemian Tent Dinner Party. It made an unusually dreary, cold, rainy day here in the Arizona Desert today bearable. The rich colors of your Spring Tent Party photos reminded me of our usual warmth and Sunshine. Which is just what I needed since I'm addicted to bright Sunny days and year round outdoor living after many decades of being spoiled by the typical Arizona warmth and Sunshine we become so accustomed to and can too easily take for granted throughout the year.   And being a Bohemian Spirit, the best of Outdoor Living and portable fabulous abodes that can be set up anywhere my wanderlust takes me, is what it's all about for me... Dawn... The Bohemian

And now for WHITE WEDNESDAY #80

                                                                  This was my entry...

                    Which then led to sharing more colorful Gifts I also received... *wink*

Be sure to join me as I also link up with Faded Charm's White Wednesday #80... in my colorful life it's very difficult for me to find a whole lotta White without color creeping in *wink* but naturally this gave me the PERFECT opportunity to once again share THE TOP that I received for Christmas, which is in shades of White and Cream *smiles*... and well, that led to the other more colorful sharing of other Christmas Gifts I'm delighted about... *LOL*