Instagramaddict

1. cap'n crunch berries frapp
2. the best red suitcase
3. camera withdrawls
4. i need 2 get my star tattoos re-inked

5. Leahbear mid "AnyHoozleBEES"

6. i fight crime
7. coke crate
8. dirty hair
9. the teeny tiniest hands
10. heartcanes & a hedgehog pincushion
11. ceiling fan trance
12. a single bulb
i'm basically to sick to do ANYthing. All i can manage to do is occassionally shoot pictures on my iphone and Instagram em'.
i don't know why they call it morning sickness- it's 24/7 over here. apparently this is healthy??? apparently this is all worth it??? since this is my first go around i can't disagree with all these wiser & DEFINITELY STRONGER women than me.
all i can do is shake my leg and moan, while drinking sparkling lemonade, which ROCKS!
xox, rachel

I'm on Fire... COVERED

this image is so inviting
and this cover, of one of my favorite Bruce Springsteen's songs, by Bat For Lashes,
makes me weak in the knees

xox, rachel

FlickR Fantastical

sources
(1st)  (2nd)  (3rd)  (4th)  (5th)

the amount of talent on FlickR NEVER ceases to blow my mind.

i get so inspired when i get lost in there:)

and it makes me want to learn more about how to use my camera.

ALL GOOD THINGS!
xox, rachel

Remembering Rowan

when i was 24 i had one of The Greatest Jobs EVER!

i worked at a small yarn shop in Ann Arbor, Michigan

we had a starbucks next door
i got to organize bins of glorious yarn into cubbies by color

i was given a terrific discount on yarn
the owners let me choose the cds to play throughout the day:)

there were 2 GIANT tables in the front of the store where older, much wiser & seasoned knitters would sit and teach me everything i could ever wish to know about knitting, all while sipping on lattes!

did i mention i was getting paid?!?!

it was in that shop i fell in love with Rowan
with their patterns, their yarn, their photography
take a look..... that couch is to die for......hello beautiful set of stairs and a sweater i could eat it's so pretty!i made the raglan cardigan pictured above for my brother:)4 more photos of goodness!

this pattern book has been my absolute favorite from start to finish for 6 years now. it continually inspires me. something tells me things aren't going to change any time soon:)
thank you Rowan, for being so AWESOME!
xox, rachel

keep it Handmade

I AM HOME FROM TOUR!
i am EXHAUSTED
i am happy
i am sad
i am missing
i am relieved
i am foggy
i am proud
i will forever be remembering
I WILL NEVER FORGET:)
xox, rachel

IOWA Passerby

Iowa was pretty & we found a GREAT place to snap photos
that being said.....
the drive was sloooooow
there were no rest stops
or edible food stops
as annie put it this morning:
"Iowa was for the birds."
still sufferring from the head/chest cold but the Minnesota show was great & i will share more soon.
here is a song for all you awesome readers:)

[Song: Passerby Artist: Allie Moss]
xox, rachel

this dusty light 18/365

Day 18/365 days on Flickr
this dusty light
[it was reallllly difficult to pick just one photo from the shoot we did on this day. as i blogged: annie and i pulled off at a random exit in missouri that seemed pretty much dead to the world. there were no houses in sight, just an empty church. super small and old and wouldn't you know, they left the doors open for us! we didn't move a thing. the floor creaked, the pews were covered in olive green suede material. the sunset crept through the windows perfectly. quite possibly the VERY BEST photoshoots i have ever done. the end.]

maid closet 17/365

Day 17/365 days on Flickr
maid closet
[this is what i found when i went rooting around our hotel in the morning before checkout. in case you didn't know where your hotel towels are stowed, well, now you do. this was one disturbing closet. life on the road.]

testing the PA 13/365

Day 13/365 on Flickr
testing the PA
[we leave tomm. for tour! tonight annie tested out her new PA. it sounds SPECTACULAR! get ready for goodness coming to a city near you:) *since i am in LA, it's not yet midnight so i'm posting in time*]

don't forget 12/365

Day 12/365 on Flickr
don't forget
[tie a string around your finger so you won't ever forget. simple as that.]

p.s. i leave in 10 hours for L.A. and i HATE packing

Flickr Favorites MELT ME

1. My Turntable is Happy
2. Arsonphobia
3. The Final Dove
4. retro colour

this weeks Flickr Mosaic challenge from ARTMIND was played by theme:
"what touches your senses, gives you goosebumps, makes you all gooey inside..."

this was super hard for me because the 1st photo was one i DESPERATELY wanted to include but it didn't blend in with my other 3......i need things to FLOW!
i decided to go against all of what i believe in (yes, i am being overly dramatic....a little bit) and play by theme, therefore keeping the mosaic FULL of all things that i adore.
at this point of the post i am always tempted to explain why i like each photograph, but then i realize that i'd rather let the photos speak for themselves.

come join in! i say it every week and every week i mean it!

365 days on FLICKR....

i will first get you up to speed

then i will be adding my "photo of the day" to the daily blog

(is this the part where i lose followers?)

there are descriptions below if you want some background info. on the shots. i tried doing 365 days of self- portraits on Flickr and it was TORTURE! wayyyy too much of "me" for me to handle. i give major props to those of you who have completed this challenge, or even made it past the 30-day mark. i did NOT.
we'll start at the very beginning... 'cause it's a very good place to start;)looking up a locker 1/365
i cannot handle the amount of love i have for my red locker. it is covered head to toe and filled to the brim. i love the color of my walls of my office, the vinyl records hanging on them and the white globe lights all strung out at the ceiling. here's to 365 photos of WHATEVER i want! xox, rachel

not welcomed 2/365
taken at a house that has been abandoned and locked up for over 2 years. lately people have been trying to clean it up, i assume in an attempt to sell it. truth be told, i hope nobody bites. i liked it better when nature had it's way with it.

nail.fail 3/365
these poor nails are all kinds of chipped. this is real life. and though the subject has such pretty hands i love the rusty screw a top them. like a present:)

i can't believe we lived here 4/365
this is the house where i shot the cover of Annie Stela's "Little House EP". it used to have a roof, it used to be dark, the cabinets used to be firmly attached to the walls.

TheSecretHistory 5/365
today i am tired and excited and tired and worn out from being so excited but i WILL be doing a photo a day, even if i post 2 on the same day- no.4 was shot yesterday but i didn't edit it til today- see this nonsenseical ramble of a tired girl. so here is my shot! my globe lights, pretty colors and a magnified view. the end.

HELLO office 6/365
i realize this photo is simple in all ways. but when i passed by my office this morning and saw my HELLO vinyl decal, my pile of luggage, train cases peeking out from my bookshelf, the way that the light hit my cheap door..... well, it was pretty to me. it invited me in. so i shot it. and it makes me happy. take or leave it.

thanks for viewing.
happy sunday
and if ANYONE knows how i can make my own my OWN playlist from MY SONGS on ITUNES pretty please let me know. i will pay you for this!
xox, rachel

not welcomed 2/365

DAY 2/365 on Flickr

not welcomed
[taken at a house that has been abandoned and locked up for over 2 years. lately people have been trying to clean it up, i assume in an attempt to sell it. truth be told, i hope nobody bites. i liked it better when nature had it's way with it.]

Black White & Bathtubs.....

todays black and white finds were inspired by the photo above that i shot of caroline yesterday, in an empty bathtub, looking all kinds of emotions.1. Thanks - Set of 20 Blind Impression Letterpress Notecards $28
2. Womens classic adorned soft grey dress $46
3. SERVING TRAY from Upcycled Cabinet Door - Black and White $32
4. Letter (Im)pressed - Lined Journal $20

with that i wish you all a happy friday:)
xox, rachel

2nd PRINT FOR SALE!!!!

as i mentioned a few posts ago i super duper miss selling my photographs on etsy.
this one is called
"after the show.... on a hotel bed"
the story behind it: my best friend Annie Stela went on her first big tour with Joseph Arthur. i drove up to Atlanta, GA to see her play. it was incredible. she wore these wedges and the next morning as we were getting ready to checkout of the hotel her shoes were laying in the white starchy sheets with the sunlight pouring way too brightly in on us. i felt this really captured a taste of touring. check in, check out, drive on.
as usual e-mail me if you are interested in purchasing this print
GetReadySetGo1980@gmail.com
thanks for all of your support:)
xox, rachel

vintage sewing burnout PHOTO

VINTAGE SEWING BURNOUT
i must confess that i realllllly miss running my etsy photography shop. it didn't last long but there are some prints that i really wish i still had the opportunity to sell. the above photo was, and still is, one of my favorites. maybe i will sell them on my own? email me at GetReadySetGo1980@gmail.com if you are interested. i will be adding more of my prints to my flickr stream. this is an 8 x 10.
thanks for looking friends:)
xox, rachel

inspired Flickr Favorites mosaic

1. Jeremy Enigk,
2. streamlined dreams.,
3. boys (don't) cry,
4. Lonely heart...
it's saturday night. i'm tired and drained so i popped into one of my favorite places to get some happy inspiration energy from.... FLICKR!

1. i have seen Jeremy Enigk play live over 15 times and i can say that without a doubt he evokes the most unbelievable emotions ever. this photo captures his intensity. he looks as though he might just bite the mike right off. i don't know if it was hot on the day he played this outdoor festival but it wouldn't matter because he would still be sweating profusely. he sings with a passion that puts me in utter shock. sometimes at live shows your legs get sore for all that standing. when you are watching this guy perform you do not feel your legs. i believe i've made and perhaps OVER-made my point. but it is my blog right?

2. these underwater heart bubbles are MAGICAL. the colors & composition speak for themselves. this photo reminds me of a loud exasperated screaming sigh. the release of frustration.

3. i know this boy is crying and that is sad BUT crying is beautiful. it cleanses our body of toxins, it evokes and conveys emotion. it's REALITY. life is full of pleasure and pain.

4. i desperately miss passing people on the street. i miss living in a city full of people with stories. i long for a building this unique in this town that i live in that is oh so cookie-cutter, boring and sheltered.

***Join in on Flickr Favorites with Artmind.***
i'm super thankful for so many things, even when my emotions tell me otherwise. i need to make a consious decision to focus on the good. every day. EVERY minute. i've got a whole lot of life to be living and tasting and feeling.
xox, rachel

making me HAPPY

here are 3 things that i am happy about today:

#1. this photo of caroline in the rain that we shot yesterday after we were done shooting lots of NEW BAGS for the shop. i love her expression and just how much that kid likes to play in the water!

i am SOO digging on this next one....

#3. i LOVE Olive's shop on Etsy. her pillows hold the key to my heart. this one is not only RED but it is also a SUITCASE PILLOW. i literally squealed with delight when i stumbled upon this.
you can buy it here...

okay, tomorrow is my first GIVEAWAY on the new blog! make sure you come back because it's a really good one and i'm oh so happy to be sharing it with all of you:)
hugs out, rachel

the little prints

i am SMITTEN with this new-to-me shop! you can find little bits of everything inside. here are 4 things i would like to add to my cart:)

1. adjustable olive green headband $12
2. carnival ride 5x5 $6
3. fall pillow in corduroy and plaid $26
4. vintage wooden box purse $28

head on over to the little prints shop for more goodies!

i just had some lemon cake with homemade lemon frosting that my mother-in-law made for my birthday celebration yesterday. i don't like cake nor do i like frosting BUT i LOOOVED what she made. that woman has got some skills in the kitchen. i need to request that every year!
here comes tuesday, are you ready for it?oh, here is a little panda bear cuteness on this bag now listed in my shop!
love love friends, rachel

impromptu christmas tree?

impromptu christmas tree?
Originally uploaded by zebra.paperclip

happy monday:)
i have a photoshoot today, completely unrelated to the shop, and i'm looking forward to it. abandoned houses watch out... here we come! before i get on with everything i thought i would share with you one of my Flickr Favorites. it's Pretty Pure Magical Sweetness. christmas lights are my best friend.
hope everyone had a great weekend. i believe my blog's first GIVEAWAY is about to drop THIS THURSDAY..... stay tuned.
XO, rachel
p.s.- click the photo to see it up close and perfectfull