5 FRIDAY FAVORITES

Some of these sites have been among my favorites for a loooong time and some I've just discovered:

1. As you can see, I looove making lists. So imagine my surprise when I stumbled upon this little gem. Such a simple and wonderful idea!!

2. Flickr is heaping with all sorts of talents but this has always been one of my favorite photo streams. Zalita makes all of those edible goodies in her shop "Cupcake D'lights" in Durban South Africa. Everything looks too good to eat!!

3. Kewlest worldwide art project idea: A Home For Alice. People from all over the world send a Polaroid picture of their house (along with a little text about why they feel at home there) to Alice who displays it on her blog. The entire collection has already been displayed in a few galleries across the globe AND... "At the end of the project, all the best pictures will be collected to become a book, that will relate the whole adventure." AWESOME.

4. Lately I've been obsessed with Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward. There is nothing more romantic than a TRUE Hollywood love story that lasts a lifetime. You can watch their story here.

5. Zooey Deschanel + Joseph Gordon Levitt = 500 Days of Summer. August 20th can't come soon enough!!

Where You Can Find Me:

A 12x12 styrene of my "Vixen" Retro Fine Art Print is currently for sale and on display in the L'Keg Gallery in Los Angeles.

Lipsticktracez is featuring some photos from my Summer Love collection in their online gallery. Check it out!!

Travelomo published a nice blurb about my Oktomat photos here.

I posted a slideshow of my Summer Love Collection on youtube complete with an awesome version of "Summer Breeze" covered by The Main Ingredients.

And as always, I added some *NEW* items in my etsy shop: http://jenaardell.etsy.com

Much more to come!! XOXO

M.I.A

Sorry I've been M.I.A!! March was a busy month. Justin, my friend from college, visited me for a week and we spent three days in San Francisco. We rented a car and took Route 1/the PCH up the coast to get there. It took 10 hours to get there (instead of 6 or 7 hours via Route 5), but it was worth it!! I wasn't too impressed with Pebble Beach but the drive along Big Sur was amazing. We hit up all of the typical San Fran locales... went to Alcatraz; drove down Lombard Street; found the REAL Full House House (1709 Broderick Street); Visited Alamo Square/Painted Ladies; walked 1/4 way across the Golden Gate Bridge; took photos from the Marin Headlands; went to Fisherman's Wharf; ate Thai food. All and all, a fun trip!! I also introduced Justin to Pinkberry and now he is an addict. We ate Pinkberry (sometimes for breakfast!!) at least 4 times that week.

Also in March, my favorite boss Dave Nagel landed a HUGE job for Best Buy. It was a four-day shoot with 11 models and an excellent crew!! We shot at 5th and Sunset studios whose in-house chef spoiled us with breakfast and lunch every day. Breakfast burritos; bacon and eggs; French toast and fresh fruit for breakfast. Pork tenderloin on Monday; grilled chicken on Tuesday; salmon on Wednesday and skirt steak on Thursday--always accompanied by salad, sides and dessert!! Did I mention there's a coffee bar?! Best studio to work in!! During the four days, my boss shot an impressive 11,759 photos!! I shot a lot of production stills and videos that will available after the ad campaign debuts this October. I have to admit, I am impressed with the quality of Canon's 5D Mark II video setting... but the fact that it's manual focus is a drag. I had the opportunity and pleasure to work with Kirk Weddle, my boss's longtime friend, who produced the shoot. (For those of you who may not know, Kirk shot Nirvana's infamous baby underwater album cover for their album "Nevermind." You can read the whole story here). Watching Kirk and Dave interact and hearing all of their crazy college stories was a blast!! Can't wait to work with both of them again... which luckily will be soon!!

I've been drawing a lot of cutesy comics lately which I am hoping to display on a personal website. I just created an awesome summery comic but it's still spring so you'll have to wait to see it!! I'd love for a website or magazine to want to buy my comics for their publication. I should really look into it but I have to find the right market for them first.

And that pretty much sums up March, other than consuming lots of delicious Ice Pan, babysitting, going on an ebay spending spree and having my Polaroid camera break... luckily two replacements are on their way!!

BLOGGED in Peach & Pearl

Adorable nod from Emily at Peach & Pearl The Blog this weekend: http://peach-pearl.blogspot.com/2009/02/happy-weekend.html

Seems like a lot of people love my R.S.V.P print.

What have you done for others lately???

Recently, I've been bitten by the volunteer bug. Last Friday, I donated five dollars to charitywater.org, an organization that allows people who live in developing countries to have access to clean drinking water. (Click here if you would also like to donate). This Wednesday, I will be making quilts with Quilting for Others - an organization that makes and donates quilts to underprivileged children. Next Saturday morning, my boyfriend and I volunteered to help serve breakfast to homeless people in Hollywood. How are you helping people in need???

Volunteering seems like a selfless act, but in volunteering you also receive something in return -- the gratification of knowing you made a difference in someone's life. Want to help, but don't know where to start??? Use google to find nonprofits that serve your community or, if you live near Los Angeles, visit Big Sunday to find ways to volunteer.

Even more ideas on helping others: become a Big Brother/Big Sister; walk dogs at a local animal shelter; visit seniors at a nursing home/care center; read to children at a local school or library; write letters/send care packages to our troops; donate canned foods to a food bank; give blood; volunteer at a local church; donate time or money to a cause you feel passionate about.

Spend one or two less hours in front of the television/computer and invest time in the lives of others. :)

BLOGGED in Paper N Stitch

Article about my work featured in Paper N Stitch: http://papernstitchblog.com/2009/02/09/americana Check it out!! :)

A great big THANK YOU to Brittni for the wonderful article/review!!

BLOGGED in Mixed Plate's Friday Favorites

Proud to be among one of online entrepreneur/designer Liana Miyamura's favorites: http://www.mixedplateblog.com/2009/02/friday-favorites-60.html

NEW!! Retro Fine Art Greeting Cards

Now available in my etsy shop!!






Sending smiles across the miles. :) Sets of five or single blank retro fine art greeting cards!! http://jenaardell.etsy.com