The best part about being an artist...

...is that I can pretty much figure out a way to re-create almost anything.

Like this:

This is the new BookBook cover.


If you look at the site you will see that it costs about $80. 
Now, the moment I looked at this I knew I had to have it. It's the perfect thing to combine me love for old things (especially books, they make my heart flutter) and technology.
But for $80?! No way.
So, I put my creative skills to work. I looked at tall the pictures, examining the look and figuring out how it was made (people who shop with me will often witness me doing this in store like Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters since I'm broke and can't afford to shop there).
Now I keep the images, and search. I  search around such places as a thrift store, vintage shop, or a second hand bookstore. I search until I find the perfect old book that will do me the job.
Then I (carefully) separate the binding from the book part (hopefully I'll find something really good I can use in another project). Maybe add some cardboard of sorts to ensure it's tough, then I attach the zipper all around (with super glue?), then attach a nice lining on the inside, and voila!

That's my plan. I really really love this cover. it helps that I've been wanting a cover for my computer. I've been thinking of knitting one, but this is definitely way better than any odd thing I could clumsily knit.
I'll be sure to keep an update on this project. It's not at the top of my list, just sort of a gather-as-you-go type of ordeal.
I'll be on the hunt for the perfect book. Wish me luck!
-Brenna Kathleen

Beautifulness

Everyone. Stop what you're doing and watch THIS.



NOW

-Brenna


P.S.
If you want to watch some of the best music videos ever made also watch
this
this
and
this

Be Prepared

Boredom..... So only read ahead if you really, truly love me.........or if you're a creeper

Ode to the Weather

I posted my first video of my musical talents HERE!

It's not great. But it was raining, I couldn't resist

Have a good week!
-Brenna Kathleen

How To Steal A Million

I just watched the movie How To Steal A Million with Audry Hepburn and Peter O'Toole made in 1966 on Netflix a few minutes ago, and I LOVED it!


First of all. The House!!!

It's a wonderful mansion in Paris, it's decorated so lavishly, it almost makes you sick (but in a good way!)
Part of the plot is that the father, played by Hugh Griffith, is a third generation master forger, or something like that. And that's how the Bonnet family is so rich. So he had this amazing hidden studio that you get to by.... wait for it.... WARDROBE!!! I know! It's amazing!
So, here is how the dresser looks normally....

Then you can open the door, and after you close the wardrobe door behind you, you slide over the rack on the inside of the door (see Hepburn's hand on it?) to close it from the inside! Then you slide the back panel to go up the tower by spiral staircase...

Once you get to the top, you have a wonderful studio space to forge... I mean, uhm, create your own artwork..

Then!.. you can also kick out one of the false bottom drawers, to reveal a small step for climbing back out again!

It really is the perfect idea for a hidden studio space. And as a person who loves going through wardrobes, secret passages, spiral staircases, and studio spaces... I think this idea might be a must-have in my future.

On to the cars!!!
Hepburn's character, Nicole, drove this adorable classic convertible mini!!

And O'Toole's persona, Simon Dermott, drove what I think might be a classic jaguar convertable, but I'm no car expert...


Now, costumes and makeup!!
It's made in '66, so of course it has all the wonderful Euro-Mod fashions of that time. Hepburn looks simply amazing in every scene!


My favorite had to be her black outfit. The scene opened up with a shot of her shoes...

Then it panned up her legs to her head, where she was wearing this great veil type thing, that covered her eyes, and I think either tied around her head or was pinned straight into her hair.

But it was so cool how you could still see her brilliant silver eyeshadow sparkle through it when it hit the light just-so

Her makeup was so classic Mod and so stream-lined that I think I spent most of the movie pausing like crazy on close-ups snapping pics of different angles, so I can have it on hand in case I want to re-create the look myself.



And now it is late, and I have church in the morning, so I bid you all sweet dreams, and leave you with yet another picture of maybe the best character in the movie...

Mustache Man


Goodnight!
-Brenna Kathleen

My Own Home

I always find inspiring images of places online, but I also find lots of inspiration in my very own home. My mom is one of my favorite interior designers. She and I have the same tastes for vintage things.
So I thought I'd share some pictures I took of my home. Keep in mind I'm not a photographer.


These images are from the general house area...






These are taken in my older brother's room...




And these are from my room...





The gnomes shown are Sunday, Michael, and Eiffel with Arthur in the background :]
I've written about my gnomes, right? I collect them....and name them...... I have 36 now! People always look at me differently when I tell them about my collection. They think I'm going to use them as an army and kill them in their sleep.

But I only do that if they've done something to upset me.

-Brenna Kathleen

Life List

Being a bit after the celebration of New Years, everyone seems to be on the subject of resolutions. I've made a few for the year and for life, including the style change I've been writing of recently. But I always seem to be thinking of life goals I would like to accomplish in my lifetime. I have an ongoing list and no doubt it will continue growing, but I thought I'd share a few with you today...


1. visit all of the Disneylands in the world.

2. own a house with a swing in the tree

3. have an extensive and ever-growing library

4. own a cat

5. get married and have kids

6. learn to drive (I know, 20 and I still don't know how)

7. visit the UK and the Czech Republic. (and try to find where my family once lived)

8. Ride in the Lilly Belle, the extremely exclusive caboose at the end of the Disneyland train.

9. Visiting the Shakespeare & Co. bookstore in Paris

That's really all I can think of off the top of my head. I think that all of those seem pretty realistic. It's not like I listed owning a pony and living in a castle in Scotland. Although I wouldn't mind either of those :] Maybe the most outrageous one is visiting all the Disneylands. I don't think I'll ever have enough money to do those. But it never hurts to dream!

Happy Monday everyone!
-Brenna Kathleen

The Librarian

First, A while ago I purchased a perfume sample online from CB- I Hate Perfume. I was shown this site this past fall by a friend who heard of the company's owner and namesake Christopher Brosius' fame for creating the scent of new-fallen snow. She had a sample, and although I've never experienced the real thing, it smelled close to what I would imagine snow would smell like. I explored the site a bit after I found it, and instantly one scent stood out to me.




In The Library
The site has a description of the scent:
"English Novel taken from a Signed First Edition of one of my very favorite novels, Russian & Moroccan leather bindings, worn cloth and a hint of wood polish."


Doesn't that sound divine? I've had my eye, or rather, nose on it since I read those few lines. And soon I thought, "why not? it's only $12 for a sample, I'm working. Live a little." So I placed an order.

It was only after I finished my order that I realized my foolishness. I didn't scroll down and read everything below the ordering page. It warned me that I should choose 3 day shipping because the cold climates the bottle has to travel through means that the bottle could freeze and break in the shipping process. I'm poor and not willing to spend an extra $20, so I chose the normal shipping. Now I wait and pray until Monday to see if my sample arrives intact.

Second, I've been thinking about good shoes and how it's hard to find the exact kind that I want in stores. So, I've been looking online. And can you guess where I've been looking?
That's right! Modcloth! And whilst perusing the heels section my eyes landed on the Opulent Oddment Oxfords

I saw that there was only one pair left, and that that pair was a size 8.5. Well, just to see I checked the fitting description. It said that the shoes ran small, and it was recommended to buy them one size larger. I usually wear a 7.5-8. I consulted my mom, asking if she though it was a good purchase, and upon finding out that returns are free, she told me to go for it. So. I bought them!!
I hope they fit well.
After a long day of paper cuts and raw knuckles from extensive filling at work, it's a good and hope-filled end.

I'm looking forward to new adventures. May they be in life or in books.
I hope you all find some new adventure coming to you as well.
-Brenna Kathleen

Cats, Decor, and Up-turned Noses

I LOVE the movie Penelope. It's just a movie I can watch over and over again. It's funny, quirky, and has lots of eye candy!



No! not that kind! (although, James McAvoy does happen to be one of my favorite actors to uhm.... watch on screen)
I mean real eye candy!
The Costumes!!!





And the sets!


I really, truly wish I had Penelope's room. Look at the amazing terrariums..

And her swing!

My goodness. It hits the extra cushy spot in my little heart and makes it pitter-patter more than watching Hugh Jackman in a period film.

I recently wrote on my changes in style, and I very much plan to have that carry into every part of my life, the main part being home decor.

Oh, yes. I love decorating a home. I love little bits and knick-knacks and amazing cushy couches with embroidered pillows.
You all now think of me as a grandma or a crazy cat lady, don't you?
Well, if I do grow to be a crazy cat lady, I hope to end up like this:

At least you couldn't deny that I have style.

But what I really mean is that I love the feeling of a comfortable and aesthetically pleasing living space. I love looking at the furnishings on sites such as Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters more than I like looking at the clothes (mostly because the high prices of things as simple as tee shirts makes my cry a little inside).

Right now I am in a dorm room living situation, and as much as I love my roommates sometimes I get sick of having them there simply because it means I have to compromise on decor. But all is well, soon I will have my very own apartment/home to decorate and being the woman, I think it's safe to assume that I will be the leader in that endeavor.

Although I look forward to the creativity my other will bring to the table. You see, if I'm married to him then it means he's my true love, and that means we're perfect for each other, and that means that we will probably have similar life styles, and therefore I'm sure we will agree on how we furnish our home.

Whew! That was a mouthful. If you're still hanging on. I'd like to quickly congratulate you and close this little ramble with a lovely picture that I found of a wonderful room that's full of vintage goodness and whimsical touches.
Enjoy!


-Brenna Kathleen

Check for false bookcases and loose light fixtures

When I brush my teeth at night, I take the time to either think about whatever happens to be on my mind, or I use the time to look around my bathroom(usually it's both at the same time).


Recently I noticed a few scout ants roaming my bath tub. There's nothing for them to eat in there, so I wasn't too upset about my find. I followed a few, waiting to see their place of origin. Finally I found it, it didn't even look like a crack in the tile, they squeezed behind a bit and slipped into the wall. As I sat to see what could come out, I saw out of the corner of my eye an ant emerge from a little hole not far from where the ant had gone in. You know, I think it's the same ant. Not long after that, I found another entrance, and then another! Those ants have 4 little spots where they slip in and out of my bathroom wall, all within 7 inches of my wall.

How clever of those ants! And how fun that must be, to have a little maze inside a wall. It made me very jealous of those ants! I've always wanted a home with secret passages and twisting mazes. How wonderful it must be to be an ant, you could find so many tiny places to make your home.

I haven't done anything about them yet. I'm sure that soon I'll take some cinnamon and sprinkle it into and around the little holes (I do have to take a shower in that bath you know), but for now, I think I'll let those little rascals live.

-Brenna Kathleen