northtrain

So here it is. I got it to work. I was trying to use wordpress.com when I should have been using wordpress.org. So with wordpress.org you can download to your computer your blog template and mess around with the settings to make it look how you want. Today I designed my header, made my table background invisible, changed the fonts using typekit, and changed the colors of my links. I also imported my blog from Blogger. So my next step is adding my Flickr plug in for making a gallery. This plug in will make a fancy gallery out of my flickr photos. My gallery section will be its own page. Once I get this up and looking good I will host it on my remote server so that this will become my official website, and I will be deleting my old website. This is a little sad, but honestly it was too time consuming to make the changes I wanted at a pace that was quick and easy. It’s better to have plugins to make a gallery and have better security. Its all around better to have a website based off of a WordPress theme. I finally figured out why!

So after hours of trying to navigate my way around starting a new WordPress blog, I have decided not to take advantage of the $30 upgrade to be able to customize it with CSS. I tried. I failed. I could not get CSS to work for me. In my other blog, I can have complete control over what my blog looks like knowing minimal coding. I thought I would like to switch over to WordPress because there are plug ins for making photo galleries that you can’t use in Blogger. I can also add pages in WordPress to make it like a real website. WordPress is supposed to be so much better, and yet it confuses the heck out of me. I am using a free template I have found, and it is working just fine. Now the question is do I give up my other blog?

I found some old pictures from a couple years ago of some clothing and art I did. Posting it now, because I sold this at a festival or outdoor market…forever forgotten about till I saw the picture!

I got my Flickr page set up! Now I just need to plan my next adventure so I can take some awesome photos!

Click Here to check out NorthTrains Flickr Page!!

This is my most recent work completed over the winter. It is a combination of digital prints, and silk-screened prints, with some added hand painting! Visit my shop http://www.northtrain.etsy.com or email me if you are interested in purchasing! The prices range from $20-$250 for the larger pieces.

I’ve been in Wisconsin for the last month and a half. I happen to be in my hometown. It is a strange visit,very familiar yet very different. I have had a strange twist in life many times, and this may be one of them. The smell of the water and the humid summer nights make me feel kind of safe, like you do when you are a little kid. It is a little wistful though, and I am leaving really soon back to the land of Portland, Oregon. The place I have called home for a long time now. Back to a different life sort of. Wrapping up summer school, and that will be the end of college for a while. I am super happy about it, I need a long vacation. I have been going for six years in a row full time, and have no idea how the heck I pulled that one off, considering all the traveling I did the whole time. All I have to say is, I did piss off a lot of teachers, and I always apologized! I’m not sure that I owe school for being smarter, although it did introduce me to some things. I think ultimatly life picks up where school leaves off.

Well enough of my school ramble.

I recently did a hand-drawn logo for this awesome wedding photographer in Portland. Check out his web-site: http://www.thephotographers.us/

I also have some prints for sale in this local shop that features some other really great Portland artists: http://tolivarportland.com

On my way to the Whole Earth Festival, got some new prints all made up… and hopefully I sell some! That would be awesome because I haven’t been making very much money since October!! The WEF is in Davis, California at the University, and is a sustainable hand crafters fair! It is really cool, and the weather is usually beautiful!

This is a silk-screen with some hand painting. It is apart of a series I am working on and plan to finish this summer, in order to line up a show… oh and apply to grad school!

So here it is the first day of being 31! It is cloudy, with little birsts of sun. I jumped the hurdles and crossed bridges that needed to be crossed this year. More so than any other year of my life. I have almost accomplished everything on my list of stuff to do in my twenties. I am getting my BA this summer finally, and then getting my MFA will finally be the end of my educational goals. I have seen this country all over, and am content with the amount of traveling I have done. I just need to see Europe. I am slowly building up my small business, and will have a clothing line together in a few weeks. I also have my artwork together for prints, and have been silk-screening some new designs on paper. What can I say? I am happy with the direction my life has taken, the darkest days of this past year are over. I am looking ahead, never behind.

Matters of the heart take their course, and it takes courage to follow your heart. Sometimes we listen to it, other times we try to quiet it. But no matter the situation of my heart, I always look forward to things working out for the best, and never give up that the future will bring amazing things. Sometimes hardships happen, and what we do in those moments will test our character and happiness. You can choose to let these moments be poetry in your mind and heart, everything is a choice.
I always try to turn sadness into inspiration, and seeds of happiness. I hope you can too.