♥The Black Heart Revolution♥

Song of the Day

2012-04-01T14:36:00.001-04:00

Neil Young

After the Gold Rush

♥

How to Divert Your Direction

2012-03-31T00:22:00.000-04:00

I spent the past couple nights searching for a tool - or an app - or whatever you may call it, to combine web images or photos in a more preferable way then blogger allows for/ offers.

Gah.

This would be so much cooler

if finding what I needed

wasn't so much of a hassle.

But the hassle has it's added perks.
I do come across some really mind blowing things out there.
The balls and the guts, determination and gusto
all of it gives me the drive to make myself better.
my brand better. my work better.
The raw edge of talent.

For one, I fell into a really amazing electronic band called

Elephant & Castle

My musical taste varies waywardly

from one side to the other.

I began listening to them while

busy-bodying around in the art room

Curious as to who they were

I looked them up

with out finding much.

I was able to read an

Album Review over at the SF Critic

though, which gave the exact run down of what

I think about this band.

Basically, there weren't many songs really on you tube either.

But!

What I did find excited me.

It's a little combo power with the tUnE-YaRdS.

"En Memoria"

It's a pretty lovely song. It makes you feel... light & swimmy.

....or light & floaty.

which ever you prefer.

If you get the chance have a listen to the Transitions album, a new release for E&C.

I have become attached to #3 Derni/Paralysis.

So.

I never found what I was really looking for.

♥

Song of the Day + Mood Board

2012-03-30T11:15:00.001-04:00

Hands down <one of> my favorite Queens of the Stone Age song:

I've actually really considered getting " Live til you Die" tattooed upon my body somewhere. I don't actually have ANY tattoos. I've always been so indecisive when it comes to what I want. There are a LOT of really lame things people get < you and I have both seen probably more than enough of those to understand the timidness on actually getting one >. Plus one minute I like something, the next minute I could puke for hating it so much. ...I do not want this to happen. Ever.

Anywho....
Here are some things I want now on etsy.
Not sometime.
NOW.

Pendant Light With ... lucentlampwork... $118.00	Deathly Hallows Tee dresslikeaunic... $20.00	EAT Mid Century Lar... EdiesLab $375.00	Blue crown conure p... RosellaResin $30.00
Moutain Water (Q120... idea2lifestyle $69.00	Reader No.12 darrenthompson $100.00	Dandelion Flower photoIMAGINARI... $20.00	Sterling Silver Sea... RoamHawaii $24.00
No.12-Tree family/P... SadaArt $3.00	office / kitchen or... PrintParty $27.00	Women Half Apron Vi... EvergreenGarde... $34.00	napkin, hearts lineacarta $14.00
Dreamer - conceptua... GoldenSection $30.00	Carnival Style Wood... EdiesLab $20.00	Library by the Sea ... jeremymiranda $20.00	Un-break my Heart H... twostringjane $62.00

Treasury tool supported by website usability testing

♥

Fresh Batch

2012-03-27T15:44:00.001-04:00

Today I'd like to share from the Fresh Batch here at BHR. A super cute collection created just for BABIES!

Collection includes:
A dolly friend & an animal friend
14 baby burp cloths
2 baby hair bands <<or>> 2 baby bow clips
1 card
+ it all comes wrapped up in super sweet Black Heart Revolution packaging!

Also in the Fresh Batch:
Hair bows made for small kids and big kids alike!

For another Fresh Batch post pop over < < HERE > >!

♥

Song of the Day: Pink Floyd live in Pompeii

2012-03-24T01:09:00.001-04:00

How about a little bit of awesome?
Yes?

Yes.

More?

You're welcome.

♥

Type Hype

2012-03-22T08:38:00.000-04:00

So.
I am in love with typography. Like, I just don't 'like it a lot'.
I. LOVE. it.
I don't know why I'm such a type nerd (or any other kind of nerd) but I am.
Maybe I find the scrolling whimsy of each articulated letter to be soothing to the eye...
or the way a carefully curated design can be make it or break it as a selling point (myself being the buyer).
Face it, I'm a sucker for amazing packaging as well.
It all coincides; my lovely romance with media art.

Here are a few of my favorite sites I love to schmooze and peruse upon:
First up The Lost Type Co-op

A pay-what-you-want foundry,
the first of it's kind!

francis macleod

They offer some super lovelies:

atipus

dan gneiding

missy austin

morgan knutson

james t. edmondson

Ok.

Yes...I'm already getting carried away & that was only one website.

The Vernal Equinox is Here!

2012-03-20T14:24:00.000-04:00

Oh, Spring! How I love thee...
Mother Nature really hasn't been messing around.
First we had an unseasonably warm <& snow free> winter and when the calendar says first day of Spring, I'm absolutely positive she means it this year.

I have already been poking around and digging in my gardens for an entire week now.

Plants are popping up like crazy

& I can hardly wait to watch the fruits of their labor bloom into splendor!

So. Here are a few pretty Spring-y things I came across earlier I thought I'd share:

Charles Rennie Mackintosh

Botanical

1915

Design*Sponge

modcloth


photo taken from brides.com

garnethill


Pretty handmade envelopes from theknot

Happy Spring!

♥

You can sing a rainbow

2012-03-13T10:49:00.003-04:00

Red and Yellow
and Green and Blue
Orange and Purple and Gray.
You can sing a rainbow
Sing a rainbow
Sing a rainbow, too.
Listen to your heart
Listen to your heart
You can sing a rainbow
Sing a rainbow, too.

A song my mom used to sing to me when I was a 'yiddle babe' & so naturally sing to my little 'yiddles'. No one else ever has seemed to hear it.
So silly, yet it's the song of my childhood.

♥

What?

2012-03-09T10:29:00.000-05:00

I've been grossed out before.


Have you seen this?

McDonalds, or as the girls say "Old McDonalds" and other fast food places have been banned from our home.
Today just tops it for me.
Has anyone read about what we're feeding our children?
It's sickening!

Seven Million Pounds of Pink Slime
By Sarah B. Weir, Yahoo! blogger

I literally want to throw up.

& I'm also seriously on the verge

of going all out 'hippie-vegetarian\vegan'.

Which is sad, because I love to eat,

but I'm finding it harder to have an appetite for anything

knowing [and not knowing] wth is in my food.

Gross.

♥

Title Me

2012-03-08T16:44:00.001-05:00

In my mind, I'm an excellent blogger. In reality, not so much.
I have about 500 million half-written posts waiting to be published. I come up with all sorts of great things to talk about- usually right before bedtime...while I'm a little half-in-the-bag (usually) & then what?
I say F-it and save it for tomorrow.
Who am I kidding?
I never finish. Tomorrow never comes.

Save. Preview. Close. Haha. I'm doing it again!

Honestly, I don't know what my problem is.

Perhaps it's the fact that I have no audience.
Wait, that's not true...I do- but I have no idea who any of them are.
<Yeah. I'm talkin' to YOU>
- oooor -

maybe I should hone up my writing skills?
That is why I started blogging.
I've been writing since- I could write.
Just like I've been drawing since- you guessed it- I could draw.
My mom or aunts would create little 'books' of stapled paper so I could illustrate my made up stories.
But.
I also don't like being told what to do....in sorts.
The thought of someone correcting what I'm sure is out-of-bounds-grammatical-chaos
down right sends chills up my spine.
Lol.
Like I'm back-woods or something.
Some may argue with that, but I just like doing my own thing.

I guess this is what happens- I get way too distracted~!

I start listening to music.

I'm designing packaging for my products-

printing them on my godforsaken Epson printer- which btw is amazing when the thing ACTUALLY prints.

Holy mother.

I've been ready to pull my hair out all day with this thing!

Print!

Just! Print!!!

PICK UP THE PAPER. & PRINT!

Or don't. Just waste my time. Stupid jerkface.

♥

{p.s. Happy Birthday Motherdearest!!}

{p.p.s. Look! I published this!}

Time

2012-02-27T09:47:00.002-05:00

I have a problem with wasting my time.
It's called: folks.
This terribly wonderful abomination is the best and worst thing ever.
Pinterest fulfills my compulsion of leafing through zines and books, & reading blogs, ALL in ONE PLACE! No more saving zines cuz there was an article I enjoyed reading, or inspiring photos. (Which magazine was that in again...hmmm...?). Everything is all right there. All that captures my interest and eye, categorized in neat little boards.
If the internet were to crash and crumble around us tomorrow, what in the world would I do with my time?
How could I survive?
I'm seriously considering setting up a local support group for those who are dangerously affected.
I know who you are b/c I'm always 'repinning' your pins at or about the same time of the day.
Here I am in all my glory! Go ahead. Click it.
Warning! Pinterest is highly ADDICTIVE!
This being said, I have some business to attend to.
{hehehe}

Have a wonderful day!

♥

Catching Up

2012-02-27T09:16:00.000-05:00

*this little bit was just sitting around waiting to be published.*

Oh thank GOODNESS it's Friday!
It's been a long, tiresome, and weird week to sum it all up.
I ate waaay too much chocolate for one thing! When it comes to gifts, cocoa confections is where it's at; a weakness that surely one day will be my ultimate downfall. Ha! Death by chocolate. I knew it.
Dealt with a clinically deranged nutsopath.
< A story I'd like to share but have no avidity to squander my time in doing so.>
I've also been filling custom orders & taking care of sickies with a few really sleepless nights.

There were some good things about this week though:

I received some new jewelry from an amazing shop on Etsy called:

Salvage Savage

Wearable Curiosities - Unconventional Jewelry Design

I found Stephanie's sweet shop through Pinterest. I am in love with every. single. piece. in her shop.

And I'm not the only one! Stephanie has quite the adoration and following!

So, as it goes, I reserve this wild necklace as a present for myself.

Then, Jamie unknowingly chose the same SalvageSavage Shop to order me a Valentine's gift.

Hoorah!

They both look stunning together!

"Attila"

"Illuminate"

Something that poked my intrigue:

Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia; n
which is the fear of long words.

♥

Nostalgia

2012-02-16T11:30:00.001-05:00

It's a rainy day.
Good for digging through old treasures strewn within my collections.
I found, -well, re-found- a few photographic gems of my grandparents.
Margaret and Bob. Bob and Margaret.
Or, mine Granmy-ma & mine Granpy-pa as I like to call them.
Aren't they both adorable?

Writing on back reads:
Nov. 3rd 1957
Just before going to the field

Beautiful.
Just beautiful.
Looking at them makes me want to pay a visit to a few of my very dear relatives to rummage around for other goodies like these!
The outcome has sparked a wonderful idea & I plan on using both of these photographs in a special way for both of their birthdays this year.

♥

Mood Board : ode à l'amour

2012-02-14T09:55:00.000-05:00

♥

Vintage Allied Chem... DownEastAttic $14.00	Men's organic y... LilaOrganics $76.00	72 liter biodome MacNettlesDesi... $3100.00	Gatekeeper joncarling $25.00
OOAK Handpainted Wa... nightsparklies $44.00	Pyrite Necklace wit... cooljewelrydes... $49.00	Red Ribbon, large s... tastesorangey $35.00	Sale Bag-Mustard Ye... marbled $36.00
Hand-printed heart ... BesottedBrand $20.00	Featured on I Love ... catherinemelli... $60.00	fern frond photogra... MyanSoffia $17.00	Birds of an Old-Gro... jennarosehandm... $58.00
SALE - Wild Heart -... honeytree $21.00	Sexy Gypsy Girl Ger... sweetheartsinn... $9.99	Moonshine and Meteo... savagesalvage $32.00	lily pond beccastadtland... $25.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

Song of the Day: London Half Life//Metric

2012-02-13T21:32:00.000-05:00

♥

Mood Board

2012-02-05T19:58:00.003-05:00

1950s Silver Mesh M... CutandChicVint... $120.00	Black Velvet Victor... CatsPawPottery $10.00	OOAK Original Black... Manjuzaka $45.00	Mid Century Danish ... rhanvintage $1600.00
Winter Tube, 8 x 10... ShimmeringShac... $20.00	Copper Ring Amethys... MidwestAlchemy $68.50	Yellow Roses in Sli... amyschrom $385.00	SALE - Illuminate -... savagesalvage $36.00
Driftwood Cloud wit... GiftsandStars $107.00	Vintage brass neckl... noblegnome $32.00	Felted wool scarf w... aureliaLT $89.00	Original Art- She i... pinkytoast $499.00
Over boot venise l... CatherineColeS... $16.75	80s GOLD CAGED MiNi... shetigervintag... $50.00	Brushed Brass, Gold... lumafina $20.00	vintage 1930s jacke... adorevintage $148.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

♥

Mood Board: February Pick-Me-Ups

2012-02-02T15:19:00.003-05:00

I hate February.
Hate. It.
It's like the loser month of the year. Doesn't quite have enough days to be a real month {Thank goodness - I guess}. It's always ridiculously cold and boring & it holds onto this pretentious holiday all about love. Well I say, save it sister.

I'm ready for the bleak to leave town. I always need some added pick me ups during this time, if by my cheery disposition you cannot tell, so I thought to myself........I haven't made a treasury {or even looked at Etsy} for quite some time now. I do apologize for being such a grumpus. But I just can't help myself. Really.
And so here we are:

Pink Rotary Phone W... SummerHolidayV... $110.00	Free Shipping ))) o... apreeartstudio $130.00	kittenz brittanybass $35.00	Serving Set - Black... MelindaMilksha... $27.00
Giant Dwarf // Tiny... giantdwarf $24.00	3 Herbal Lip Balms ... PhoenixBotanic... $18.00	OBLONG POUCH bookhouathome $19.00	Box Top crop Top On... naftul $60.00
black ships pillow jennarosehandm... $58.00	jersey hoodie - gre... stadtkindpotsd... $65.00	Olive Green, Oval R... kateszabone $985.00	Vintage Samsonite T... TagSaleFinds $25.00
Light Green-Grey Kn... HappyLaika $13.00	Tree House Tea Towe... jennarosehandm... $15.00	Set of 4 hand paint... yevgenia $55.00	Black and white che... madebynanna $65.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

♥

Song of the Day: Up in the Clouds/ Sun/ Night Train

2012-01-24T12:58:00.001-05:00

Not much to say or write about today.
I unfortunately am still tying up lose ends in the renovation of my art studio {Ugh}.
A process I was only too overly-ecstatic about last week.
Now I just. want. it. DONE.
Good thing for fun tunes to keep me moving along!!

♥

Song of the Day: Move Over Jack White

2012-01-18T13:10:00.001-05:00

Image created by Hugh Jarse

There are certain bands that I love dearly and deeply. They take their turns in my rolling music-go-round. Sometimes they take a back seat, but that doesn't mean I don't love them any less. They always return, when the time is right.

Jack White {and a giant Elephant head} made a cameo on American Pickers {History Channel} last week and seeeerrrrriously sparked my acquainted fondness and devotion to Mr. White. ...

In this episode {start @the 35min mark} Jack trades his jukebox and a totally rad black and white photobooth ....{... I WANT that booth so badly. James asked me where I would even put it? I told him I'd sleep in it if I had to.}

Nevertheless:

James 1, Me 0

For one, I love watching Mike and Frank dig around in other peoples junk.
{I myself have a 'picker' heart...Thrift Stores. Yard Sales. Flea Markets.
Grandma & Grandpa's Attic....c'mon now.}
Who doesn't love digging around in somebody else's treasures?

{Said photo booth here in this vid}

My affection began years ago. Back when I was still in high school.

I think it was the Stripes first TV performance on a MTV/VH1 Music Awards SomethingOrOther.

Whichever it may have been, they sang "Fell in Love with a Girl"

...& I certainly fell in love with it.

We've spent some really awesome times together,

I totally dig him, his music, his artistic abilities, and his diabolical bad-ass nature <per se>.

In the midst of reconnecting with the White Stripes I've fallen in love with his counterpart of the Dead Weather, a certain Ms. Allison Mosshart & her partner in crime Mr. Jamie Hince of The Kills.

I ask myself,

How did they pass under my radar?

How I never paid this duo any attention before?

Move over Jack White.

Hello Jamie Hince.

Can't. Stop. Listening to:

So, for the time being, enjoy the noise.
I'm off reconstructing,
renovating,
& reforming my art studio.

{{Some Sites Concurring}}

{{The White Stripes, The Raconteurs, Jack White, The Dead Weather }}

PS....{{I still adore you Jack White}}

♥

Song of the Day: Princess Chelsea, The Submarines + Holiday Goodness

2011-12-21T11:34:00.001-05:00

I'm starting to freak out a bit.

Am I ready for this? Are you ready for this?

OK.

Just inhale deeply.

Relax.

You have all this holiday extravaganza under control.

Feel free to dance it out a little :)

I don't want to give all my holiday secrets away; but here's a tiny preview of all the cheery goodness that is to come!

PEACE

JOY

LOVE

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

♥

Mood Board + HGTV Challenge

2011-12-08T15:02:00.001-05:00

Who likes making Treasuries on Etsy? This girl.

So as you can imagine I was really excited when I came across this Treasury Challenge via HGTV.com

SLICE II - Original... Spreggo $70.00	Vintage Repurposed ... junkyardlighti... $89.00	Mid-century modern ... labdesigns $890.00	Large 20 inch Natur... 5LittlePiggies $60.00
Two Upsala Ekeby As... bitofbutter $60.00	30-pc vintage flatw... ModishVintage $110.00	Mid Century Restaur... WiseApple $20.00	napkin, geo lineacarta $14.00
Vintage Saarinen Tu... thevintagesupp... $350.00	Sarouk Rug / Vintag... OakParkAntique... $339.00	20% OFF SALE - Mid ... HousingAuthori... $2600.00	Woodland Chic BROOKLYNrehab $22.00
The "I am Only... TheFrameAndMir... $280.00	FIREPIT Plodes $1190.00	Triangles Removable... leahduncan $38.00	Abstract Landscape ... siiso $1600.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

I have boatloads to do today, maybe I'll post again later when I have some free time! I hope you check out HGTV.com and create something yourself!

Bloggy Buttons!

2011-12-05T09:15:00.001-05:00

Sometimes I simply amaze myself.

I hardly consider yours truly as 'computer savvy', yet I'm finding my way and realizing I might be a bit more than I can give myself credit.

Htmls. Java Script. < and >....whaaa?

But just look at me. Making my own bloggy buttons. AND! Scroll boxes, mind you.

I could NOT do this all on my own. I must give recognition where it is due. A certain Ms. Jenie Shell at Jenieshell.blogspot.com has the most wonderful and easy to fallow tutorials on creating buttons and scroll boxes for your own blog!

Blog Button Tutorial
Scroll Box Tutorial

Now...I know I said it was all very, very easy, But- while making a scroll box I ran into a complication. Where she gives the details & the how to's, the part that says "YOUR TEXT HERE" you need to take your photo HTML code you've created and tweak it slightly.

Otherwise, you end up with another picture/button. Check out the code decoders at JavaScriptKit.com {Wow. Just looking at the front page gives me a headache!}

click HERE and add in your html what-have-you to switch it up. Add that into place of your text and I believe you're good to go!
Woo-Hoo!
Thanks to Ms. Shell & the people at javascriptkit for being there to help poor, pathetic, technically unsavvy people such as myself!!!
{I would not have been able to do this with out them. Literally.}

Happy Button Making!!
♥

Fresh Batch

2011-11-29T15:45:00.001-05:00

If these aren't the cutest darn things I've ever made....

Here at Black Heart Revolution, there is a plethora of vintage fabric & textiles. I love collecting beautiful prints of yesteryear, giving them new life, then sending these pieces out into the world where they can be loved affectionately by someone else.

Trouble is, I sometimes get really attached to a particular print. I'll love it so, I'll make spectacular plans for transforming the fabric.{But} What if I never, ever ever ever find this again?? Or on a side point of that, I don't want to mess up and waste the fabric either. It's a funny contradiction, I know. Eventually I get over this phase and get on with my work, still, the first scissor snip is always pretty rough.

I made massive amounts of cocktail napkins the first time I spotted them on Design*Sponge. I was hooked on these cute little things & I made them for everyone I knew. Hostess gifts, house warmings, family events....from Hop-Ins to Pop-Ins uninvited. I was like a little cocktailnapkin-fairy-gnome spreading a cocktail napkin frenzy. Maybe a bit rampant, I admit, but geez.....how could people go on not having any??

Whatever the case, they are adorable, & I'm still quite obsessed.

There will be no end to whipping up a fresh batch as long as there are cocktail parties, afternoon tea's and everything in between!

♥

November: Through the Looking Glass {A Linky Party}

2011-11-17T08:35:00.001-05:00

I had a pleasant read this morning over at the Kanelstrand Blog.

After indulging in a bit of chunky knit scarves then hopping and bopping around her site I came across some great buttons to add to my site and a chance to join in on her linky party featuring the beauty of nature through out the seasons.

Sonya's beyond-gorgeous photos of Norway just blew me away. I fell in love with her image above. {& the one below. I'm a sucker for the sea}. As soon as I saw them all I could imagine was these turning into large scale oil paintings, in an impasto style, & hanging over a stone fireplace {which I unfortunately do not have}.

But a girl can dream, can't she?

For my own 'seascapes' & nature wonders, I found myself perusing through folder upon folder of photos. Ones I'd really like to start with were taken last November. Seems like a good place to start!

My husband, Jamie, and I took the girls down to the lake to rest assure our summer memories of beach combing and picnicking. One last look before the grips of ice and snow would befall the land.

The wind blew hard, sending streams of sand transpiring the the shoreline into a flat, smooth plane.

{{ Presque Isle on the shores of Lake Erie {Erie, Pennsylvania} may be one of my all time favorite images I've ever captured. }}

It was only for a moment, as we reached the car parked near the end of this pathway, that the sun penetrated through the unyielding sky of cold, voluptuous clouds. The sleepy grass illuminated. Golden and brilliant. A fervor of yellow brass.

Often, this particular photograph reminds me of the movie James and the Giant Peach. When James is celebrating his birthday with his parents on the beach. This was the only still I could find from that part of the movie, but if you enjoyed this movie as much as I have, you'll know exactly the parts I'm thinking dearly of.

A moment of blissful happiness verging on the cusp of a giant rhinoceros stampeding into their lives, unraveling everything as James knew it to be.

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

So, there they are folks! My mish-mash of nature. Bound into all their glorious beauty!

♥

Back in Biz

2011-11-16T14:54:00.001-05:00

A quadruplet of sisters fresh from the studio. For as cute as they turned out, I was having a helluva time creating their faces. I just couldn't decide what to make them look like. I always like to do "test faces" on a scrap of fabric I'm working with. Since they are made of flannel instead of the usual cotton, I had some challenges facing me {oh my, I just couldn't help it} beginning with the application of paint.

So I chose both faces!

These are so darling I can't even take it.You can find all these little Indie Rag Dolls in my Shop.

{{{I also take custom orders! Feel free to send me a message!!}}}

♥