Art therapy projects part ||

This set of submissions was the last one before our final major visual. I enjoyed working on these two visuals very much & for different reasons.

The first piece is the mandala. This kind of piece resonated with me before i even knew the proper term mandala. Like one of my past pieces in a previous post, the visual representation of wholeness for me was through a sphere like shape, a circle, completeness. This is what a mandala can come to represent: the complete circulation of energy, of ones spirit, the searching of wholeness of inner spirit or peace. The act of creating the mandala brings this kind of energy flow. For this mandala i used a variety of media: fabric, paint, paint chips, wood, & jewels.

For my second piece i painted a diptych of my grandfather. The left hand side was painted from a photograph that my father took of my grandpa in 1979, twelve years before i, the first grandchild, was born. The right hand side is of a photograph i took of my grandpa from a recent visit. The person on the left is a stranger to me as i had never known my grandpa at this age and time in his life. The right hand picture is the realization of time passing and how age takes physical tolls and not always mental.

These pieces were exciting to explore and create especially through the variants of media i used.

- xxS

time capsule

I was an eight year old third grader when the new millennium was coming. In our class we made time capsules that we would open ten years later, (i remember thinking that 2010 was NEVER going to happen.) I kept my pringles-can-turned-time-capsule in my closet for years, but somehow it got misplaced. I happened upon it when i was running in the basement the other day & knew i had to open it and find the many treasures of my eight year old self. Many things i wrote about are still true today and my mom said that she thinks i am the same as i always was. Numerous laughs are happening right now:

+  observe the completely 90's pringles can

 + god bless the cootie catcher. I had an entire book of these to make, (that im sure i forced my mom to buy for me)

 + pokemon was THE BEST. my brother and i bonded hardcore over this. I love that out of all the cards to choose from i put in an energy one. also, that i wrote my initials on the back of the card....as if someone was going to take it... k

 + Definitely remember these blocks that we always built forts with. I am posing it up with my floral tye dye and lace biker shorts (my staple for summer dresses now, so weird) Also the fact that i wrote me(sarah) on the back of the photo kills me.

+ This one's the killer. The artist ambitions are still true today, along with my love for pizza, milkshakes, drawing, reading, zenon girl of the 21st century and my hatred for math. And i quote " The worst problems facing the world today are: me learning math." I almost died when i read that, so so very funny.

+ I loved that i found this and opened it. I remember being in 8th grade and saying, okay only a few more years til i can open this...i was very patient. My mom said this couldn't have came at a better time, especially because I will be graduating in three weeks time, and the question of "now what" is laced into every thought. By looking back at my eight year old self, i've found some reassurance in who i am now and what else i am trying to become. It was very refreshing and funny to revisit what was so important to me as a third grader.

- xx S

weekly style capture 10.0

 

// Sunday -- >>

// red dress: fossil, 25$ // navy blouse: thrifted, 5$ //yellow belt: anthropologie, 10$ //necklace: uo, 5$ // boots: fossil, 30$ //

// Tuesday -- >>
// cream sweater dress: forever21, 25$ // shirt: old navy, 15$ // boots: nordstrom rack, minnetonka, 20$ // earrings: icing, 2$ //

 // Thursday -- >>
// pink shirt: fossil, 20$ // maxi skirt: thrifted, 5$ //

 // Friday -->>
// shirt: uo, 20$ // skirt: target, gifted // boots: bakers, 70$ // earrings: uo, 5$ //

 // Saturday -- >>
// Red maxi dress: kohls, 20$ // graphic tee: fossil, 10$ // lace shrug: fossil, 15$ // flats: aldo, 40$ // earrings: forever21, 4$ // necklaces: circle drop pendant: icing, 2$ / gold feather: forever21, 2$ / charm: fossil, 9$ // ring: target, 7$ //

// Wednesday -->> {jewelry details}
// Initial pendant: icing, 2$ // turquoise charm: fossil, 18$  // wishbone: marc jacobs, gifted // key: h&m, 7$ // charm: fossil, 9$ //

- xx S

inspiration

with the sun beginning to shine, trees and flowers beginning to bloom, and thoughts of my trip to Aruba in five weeks time with lovely friends is making me feel happy and excited that goodness is approaching soon -- especially in these next few stress filled weeks until graduation.
thinking of lightness, breath, sun and warmth to come.

images from the free people intimates lookbook

- xx S

Happy birthday to my mum!

It was my mother's 52nd birthday yesterday & she was nothing but smiles all day long. I enjoy making her birthday a much bigger deal than my own because after all, if she wasn't born I certainty would not have been. A lot of times people forget about parents' birthdays because its such a youth oriented celebration. I wanted my mum to feel special especially on her birthday :) After work& school we went out for authentic mexican and margaritas with two of her friends, took photos, she received cards & bouquets of flowers & she opened presents, all  the while thanking me for making her birthday so celebrated. Im so happy she had such a lovely day, she deserves more of those <3

- xx S

weekly style capture 9.0

 // Monday -- >>
// striped maxi dress: forever21, 15$ // yellow lace shirt: fossil, 15$ // denim shirt: thrifted, 3$ // necklace: DIY // headwrap: claires, 5$ //

 // Wednesday -- >>
// coral jeans: free people, 25$ // brown lace shirt: fossil, 10$ // brown suede jacket: vintage thrifted, gifted // flats: Born shoes / Nordstrom Rack, 10$ //

 // Thursday -- >>
// jeggings: pac sun, 20$ // floral sheer top: thrifted, 8$ //

// Saturday -- >>
// jeans: delias {from high school naturally}, 40$ // sleeveless chambray shirt: fossil, 68$ // necklaces: long antique gold pendant: icing, 2$ / turquoise: uo, 5$ / locket: vintage london, gifted // bracelets: hallmark, 12$ //

+++

So happy to finally see some sun this week. Thursday ended up being around 80 degrees, and i was NOT prepared. Had a long sleeved shirt underneath my sheer top along with boots, a scarf & a light jacket & forgot my sunglasses at home :( Needless to say that day was unexpected, (in a beautiful way)

Also excited to start to wear all of my bangles and layered necklaces again! In the colder weather I put my layered jewelry to rest & bust out the layered clothing. I find it hard to wear a bunch of layered necklaces and bracelets with long sleeves and scarves wrapped around all day, so I usually make these my staples in the warmer months.

cheers to sunshine 8-}


-- xx S

Daily

Today is sunny & youre alive

-xxS

Twice Cleansed II Soap with a Story

One of the girls I work with is traveling to Lebanon this summer and posted a note in our back room about this company Twice Cleansed -- Soap with a Story : Lebanon based producing olive oil soap. The goal behind this group is to provide jobs for young women so that they can be free from sex trafficking. More information about this company and its story can be found here. You can purchase soap and help in the funding for prevention of sex trafficking here . More than aiding in the funding, we are providing hope.

 

- xx S

weekly style capture 8.0

// Sunday -- >>   

// yellow dress: target, 17$ // belt: h&m, 12$ // sunglasses: anthropologie, 20$ //

 // Monday {on left} -- >>
// purple sweater: charlotte russe, 5$ // scarf: h&m, 12$ // earrings: icing, 2$ //

+

// Tuesday {on right} -- >>
// tribal shirt: thrifted, 3$ // cardigan: h&m, 17$ // pants: anthropologie, 10$ //

 // Wednesday -- >>
//beanie: uo, 7$ // pink lace shirt: uo, 20$ // grey tank: h&m, 12$ // purple tights: nyc, gifted // shorts: thrifted, 3$ // grey floral legwarmers: icing, 2$ // rainboots: aldo, 20$ // necklaces: locket: vintage london, gifted from my beautiful friends / initial pendant: diy  //

// Thursday {on left} -- >>

// sweater: thrifted, 5$ // jeggings: pac sun, 20$ // green legwarmers: forever21, 8$ // scarf: icing, 11$ //

+

// Friday {on right} -- >>

// colour block shirt: fossil, 38$ // floral skirt: fossil, 15$ // belt: thrifted, 1$ // boots: bakers, 70$ // necklace: icing, 5$ //

+++


It's been rainy & miserable weather most of this past week. Rain is nice...when im indoors, preferably laying in bed with a cup of tea for the entirety of the day and NOT when im walking to class twice a week >:(
butttttttt i bought these beautiful cream coloured rainboots last summer & havent really had a chance to wear them all that much.
I brought them to London with me and only wore them twice...ironically. The rain there was nice rain, just a cheeky drizzle more often than not. The rain here is bitter and cold, grrrrrrrr. Bring on the summer storms


- xx S

Art therapy projects

In a previous post i showed one of my first visual statement pieces for my Art Therapy class. This past week we had to submit three more pieces & i was very excited to submit mine, receive feedback, & catch a glimpse of the other projects submitted by my peers.

The first piece is an inspiration board of sorts: things i like, inspire me, make me feel alive. // mixed media: from scrapbook paper, acrylic paint, mod podge, polaroid film, stencils, fabric, faux flower, magazine photo, sharpie, newsprint, tissue paper

My second piece was done on sketchbook paper using tissue paper & lined paper to show my negative and depressed past & my reaching for a more whole and positive present. I took actual pages from my 2008 journal and cut them into the spiral shape.

The third piece is called 'The Center' and it is a depiction of my inner search for wholeness and finding a place within the world // acrylic paint

 

- xx S

weekly style capture 7.0

 

>> Sunday [on left] : 

// {Easter} : gray floral dress: wet seal, 10$ // tights: uo, 5$ // yellow sheer top: thrifted, 5$ // necklace: anthro, 40$ // floral crown: diy 

>> Monday [on right] :

//  pink lace dress: fossil, 45$ // orange jeggings: anthro, 10$ // shoes: aldo, 10$ // scarf: icing, 11$ //headwrap: aldo, 6$ //

 

>> Tuesday :

// sweater: london vintage market, thrifted, 15£ // necklace: uo, 5$ // scarf: anthro, 30$ // headwrap: icing, 4$ //

 >> Wednesday :

// pink top: thrifted, 5$ // shorts: thrifted & diy : 7$ // tights: uo, 5$ // shoes: marshalls, 20$ // necklace: nyc, 11$ //

 

>> Thursday :

// black shirt: thrifted, 3$ // denim vest: thrifted, 5 $ // jeggings: wet seal, 15$ // scarves: [two dip dyed tied together] - icing, 2$ each //

 >> Saturday :

// floral top: thrifted, 3$ // scarf: icing: 11$ // printed cords: free people, 25$ // boots: uo, 15$ // sweater: kohls, gifted // turquoise earrings & ring: nyc, 11$ //

- xx S

Sad Girls zine

I stumbled across the work of Leah Reena Goren the other day with her illustrations.  Upon looking I found her & other collaborator's zine Sad Girls issue 2. All of the different girls illustrations, words, and photographs looked so inspiring so I went ahead and ordered a copy of the second issue. It's nice to see collaborations of different kinds of creativity from all over the world--different girls telling different stories full of inspiration. I recommend checking out all of the work of these girls!

- xx S