so this is it?

as many of you know this little girl has been the greatest blessing of my life the past two years. not only her, but her wonderful parents who i call my "bosses." two years later this family has become my family.

"for everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose." it is bitter sweet to say that this season is coming to a close. i knew 2011 would be another year of great change. graduate school is wrapping up, and it's time that i live out my passion. my career as a teacher is beginning. finally a classroom of my own. it's kind of a dream come true.

within a matter of days i will officially be "ms. hamrick"  to some of the brightest 7th graders on the planet. i am unsure what this will mean for where there is love, there is art. but stick around... i can only handle so much change in one week.

where there is love, there is art.

disordered and deadly.

everyone has skeletons in their closet. well here is one of mine. 

i've binged. 

i've purged. 

i've starved. 

i've over exercised. 

i've wrestled with loving myself and my body. 

it's pretty sobering to see it written in black and white. 

but it's time we talk about it. 

this week is national eating disorder awareness week. the annual theme is, "it's time to talk about it." i happen to agree. it's time to talk about what eating disorders are and what they look like. eating disorders are black, white, short, tall, men, women, rich, poor, fat, and thin. 

eating disorders destroy lives and families. eating disorders kill people. in fact, eating disorders are the deadliest mental illness that exists. a recent study found that 60 percent of American women eat in "disordered ways" (psychologytoday.com). another 10 percent have a diagnosable eating disorders. to live with an eating disorder is not to truly live. 


i live without a scale. 
i take my focus of off food and on healthy living. 
i love myself and my body. 


i'm proud to announce that my alma mater {samford university} is participating in a candlelight vigil for eating disorder awareness. tomorrow {wednesday} night from 7-8 p.m. in reid chapel. locally, in birmingham, there is a renown eating disorder clinic that has proven to save lives {magnolia creek} that will be hosting the event. you can "light" a candle online to honor lives touched by eating disorders by going here.

for more information on eating disorders go here. or you can gain personal insight on eating disorders by visiting the blog of one of my best friends and sisters, elizabethann, at mourning restoration. 

If you hear a voice within you say "you cannot paint," then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.

Vincent Van Gogh

where there is love {of yourself and your body},

 there is art. 

like a wild mountain rose.

paparazzi.

meet my friend alicia. 

she is one of the most interesting people i know. full of life and an adventurous spirit. i think i could just sit and talk to her for days, never getting bored or having an awkward silence. i think you would find this to be true as well. 

q: please explain what it is that you do {occupation}? 
a: well, i am a nurse. a registered one at that. i've worked mainly in trauma-surgical intensive care and i've loved it. really, it's fun! over the past year, i've turned into a "travel nurse." a gypsy nurse. a professional nomad. i'm contracted out and move every 3-4 months to hospitals that are short staffed and need a quick fix- and a already trained nurse they can use to fill the holes brought on by (for instance) an unexpected boom in patient census. i guess it's kind of like a frozen dinner... it'll get you by for the time being, it's quick and requires little effort in the preparation. 

Emerald Bay, Lake Tahoe, right across from where our camp was.

q: how did you make the decision to be a "travel nurse?"
a: last year i found myself at a crossroads in life. i had what my mom calls the "travel bug" (and i get that from her...) and this desire to move on. i had no idea where i wanted to "end up" in life... and I didn't feel ready to embark on the inevitable grad school journey. yet i wanted a little more out of the here and now. enter travel nursing. the parents were "less than amused" at me wanting to move so far from home. "why? when you have such a great life here?" it was true, i was unbelievably happy in alabama. i had a great job with great people and my family was close at hand. but there's a whole big country out there that needs exploring. why wait, when you have nothing but a little unknown holding you back? i knew i'd regret it if i never went. plus, this gig is essentially a sampler platter of cities. i could take and learn from each one, stay just long enough to get comfy then hit the road for something new. so i packed everything i could fit in my car, my dog pete as co-captain, and off we went. 

hollywood & highland.

q: what is the greatest lesson you've learned through this experience?
a: i can easily say this has been the best year of my life thus far. i turned 25. for my birthday i got some smile lines and a few life realizations. maturity milestones! i'd say the best thing i've learned this year is tolerance. i've been exposed to new personalities and cultures i would have never experience back "home." i've been in awesome situations and terrible situations. through all of this i've learned the importance of that unconditional love that makes the world go round. everyone and everything is unique, and there's something worth loving about each part of it all. 

my birthday lunch. i wanted LA's finest bacon wrapped hotdog.

q: what is it that you love?
a: things i love? oh the list goes on! my favorite loves: pete {her dog}, my hometown {huntsville}, a brass section, organ and a gospel choir {preferably all together}, moss, bulleit bourbon, mail, mixtapes, smartwools, procrastination {guilty pleasure}, cupcakes, the great unknown. 

me and my brother, alex, after "the game."

where there is love {and the travel bug}, 

there is art.

there's no way y'all don't already know about my katiegirl.
she's basically the cutest thing on two legs. is she not?
i'm real, real proud of her. so i show her off on here... because i can!
and i'm totally obsessed with this little behind the scenes video.
probably because 1.) i'm a huge fan of where the wild things are and 2.) katiegirl. 
but check this out:


birmingham sure does have some talented folks. like check out those folks at proper measures. holy moly!

where there is love, there is art.

the story of a sad girl.

i love to tell happy stories.
but today i tell you my pity party, sob story.
this weekend it was in the cards for me to go here... with my girl friends.

oh my, nola.

then, my parents are going here... to my happy place.

my beach house.

and my brother is going here... to a beautiful place.

puerto rico.

instead, i remain. in bed. getting better? i hate being sick. i hate it so much. i'm the worst sick person you know. i don't know how to be sick. totally counterintuitive to everything i am. dangit. if you have anything interesting i can read or watch or listen to. please, send it my way... ansleyhayden@gmail.com

where there is love, there is art.

i can't help it. i rock'it.

wonderful accents are all around me these days. this extends into {faux} accents. i couldn't resist posting this video. 1. because it's my dear friend, matthew 2. his impression is right on time. 3. if you know matthew's actual personality, in light of this video it's hilarious 4. liam gallagher 5. you should know that matthew is coming to your city/a city near you.

enjoy!

compare that to this
{warning: this is liam gallagher. the language is not that of a gentleman. this video is for a mature audience only}.

where there is love, there is art.

good news.

from moxie.

i started painting again!

it had been so long that it took over an hour for me to find my brushes. 

there was even dust on the canvas that i pulled out {literally}.

however, after a six month {give or take} hiatus i am back to painting. 

the break was not purposeful. 

the reason why is very personal. 

i will simply say, it's hard to paint when you are numb.

i appreciate your requests for commission all the while.

i am finally ready to "throw" paint on the canvas if you want me to.

cheers!

where there is love, there is art.

well, if it isn't st. valentine herself...

oh heyyyyyyyy...

it's the BIRTHDAY of one of my favorite gals in all the land. 

if you just "happen" to be in hawaii and you see this girl tell her... 

you are the best friend that anyone could ever have.

{and, thus, you are everyone's "best friend}.

you are the most joyful person i know.

you are the person that inspires me more than any other.

you are so beautiful that it's overwhelming. 

you are love. 

and... you are loved.

happy birthday, darling girl. 

{i miss you. duh}.

where there is love {i.e.- olivia}, 

there is art. 

to whom it may concern.

if you are having a hard time being happy {whatever that means or looks like for you} on this holiday--honestly, i am sorry. i know what that feels like. sincerely, i do. miserable. you see the florist's truck drive by and you want to gauge your eyes out. i get it. but take a moment to look past what you perceive to be true, and accept a reality.
you are loved.
it's a little overwhelming. feels a little cheesy and uncomfortable {especially if you are a cynic}. however, every single person is loved here on earth and beyond. regardless of how romantic your holiday is there is someone that loves you. so that's a reason to smile and wear red and eat a ton of chocolate or drink too much wine with your girl friends.
so, my darling, happy valentines day! let yourself be loved. it's all around.

i, for one, have a pretty special little valentine.

eat your heart out. okay, wait, don't... it's valentines day after all. 

where there is LOVE, there is art. 

it just gets better.

i {almost} forgot how much these folks make me laugh.

talkin' jobs and husbands and dreams and babies and dates and boyfriends and memories... it's just real good stuff. so very thankful for a tradition that brings us together. i hope we keep this up... step sing or not.

where there is love, there is art. 

my love is with you all the time.

last night i had the privilege of attending a "house show" {though it actually took place in the studio of the very talented guys of abryanphoto}. my friend, jon black, and micah dalton have started this new tour together. it's a really interesting concept, and i'm thankful i got to reap the benefits of it.

i really can't think of anything better. sitting on comfy cushions, drinking your favorite drink {whether it's coffee or a brew} and listening to sweet, sweet music. oh! and last night out of the very large windows directly behind where the guys played you could see the lights of the city and the vulcan. magical, really! where else can you have this experience?
so if you live in any of the following places you too can experience the magic:
2/12 - Nashville, TN
2/13 - Metropolis, IL
2/16 - St. Louis, MO
2/17 - Jackson, TN
2/18 - Dallas, TX
2/20 - Houston, TX
2/24 - Atlanta, GA
i also want to brag on jon for a moment... this past week on "private practice" you heard a tune from the wrecking ball EP. 
pretty neat, huh? so check him out and tell your friends!

{once again} where there is love, 

there is art.

i remember my first time...

doing step-sing. 
{fyi-- if you did not attend samford, nor live in the birmingham area, you probably have no idea what i am talking about. that's quite alright. step sing is the greatest tradition at samford university. the tradition of this singing and dancing performance dates back to 1951. today, nearly 900 students and 13 groups compete for the coveted prize- the sweepstakes. the wright center, where step sing is held, fits 2,600 people. performances happen for three nights, and the show is sold out every night. you do the math...  so, yes, to this little school step sing is a very big deal. and, yes, if you went to a state school this seems completely lame. just know that i, for one, will always love the weekend around valentine's day. not because of this sacred holiday... but because it's STEP SING WEEKEND!}

2006.

here i am today, 6 years later, and i am still just as excited! i look forward to seeing the shows. but more than that, i look forward to reuniting with most of my best friends from college. while most schools reunite for homecoming during football season, samford's step sing weekend is the time where most alumni "catch up."

2007.

2009.

saturday will be spent with these girls. we once could yell down the hall way of the chi omega house whenever we wanted to talk. unfortunately, those days are long gone as we now span across four states. you can only imagine how excited i am to see them! weekend come quickly...

where there is love {of old friends and traditions},

there is art.

happy? hump day.

this should be a good little pick-me-up, yes?

this is the story of a charming girl
she laughs out loud, sings off key and believes in taking chances
she is quick and curious and playful and strong
she lets her imagination run away with her
she has never been one to stick to convention
she is fond of daydreams that take her places
she can order a cocktail in six different languages
she feels that understated is overrated 


i thank my sweet friend, sarahsmith, for this little treasure. 

where there is love, there is art.

by chandler parker.

story 1:
i have this rad friend named chandler. 
{he would probably not like that i just called him "rad"}. 


story 2:
taste in music-
or really just having taste at all- 
goes a long way with me.
you don't have to have the same taste as i do. 
in fact, i would prefer that you not.
{that bores me}.
but you have to have taste. 


story 3:
chandler is amazingly talented.
his musical talent gives validity of his musical taste.
he knows his stuff. 
i asked him to share with us what he knows. 
despite how unnerving i knew this would be for him 
he obliged me. 
thanks, chandler.

when asked to name my "top 5" of anything, i get a little stressed out. i have no idea how to even begin to process what my favorite 5 bands, songs, albums, etc ever are. i try really hard to take in a lot of music. but contrary to what a lot of my friends believe, i don't like everything i hear. there is a lot of hipster music that i can't stand... likewise there is sometimes nothing like a well-constructed pop song. there are usually three categories that bands/albums fall into for me: 
1) i listen to it once or twice and decide that i don't love it, and that's about all the attention i give to it,  
2) something reels me in on the first listen, causing me to be really into it for a week or two, only to toss it into the huge pile populated by music from #1
3) it hits me the first time and keeps on hitting. a melody, a lyric, a bass line, a drum fill... something sucks me in. and there are albums that i discovered 3 years ago that are still kicking my ass... bringing me to tears or making me shake my head at either the complexity or simple beauty. 

the following bands/albums/songs are just a small sampling of the things that have moved me in one way or another over the last few years...

elbow

essential albums: leaders of the free world and the seldom seen kid. "mirrorball" is about as good as a love song gets. see them live if you ever have a chance.

ben shive

his album the ill-tempered klavier might by my favorite of all time. not kidding. also "out of tune" from that album might be my favorite song of all time. still not kidding.

a.a. bondy is an alabama boy. used to be the lead singer of the band verbena. his album when the devil's loose is really great.

ari hest has my favorite voice of any singer in the world. 

you may have written them off a long time ago, but the album that caedmon's call put out last year (raising up the dead) was amazing.

the damnwells are everything i would ever want to have in a band. 

gang of losers by canadian band, the dears, is an album that came out of nowhere for me a few years ago and i still love it so much. 

drew holcomb & the neighbors are making some of, if not THE best, pop folk music in nashville right now.

they may be broken up now, but jump, little children was an incredible band. period.

madi diaz. people, listen to her. AMAZING voice. 

chris thile (from nickel creek) is in a band called punch brothers now. 5 members. 5 virtuosos. talent wise, it doesn't get any better.

thad cockrell is amazing and should be an alt-country superstar. his song "rosalyn" is one of my favorites in a long time.

where there is love {of music},

 there is art. 

as real as it gets.

while in nashville this weekend 

a darling boy {who knows his stuff} introduced me 

to a voice that reaches 

deep, deep, deep.
good gosh, y'all, listen!

 real soulful stuff, eh? 

lori mckenna-- 

why am i just now hearing your voice?

where there is love {of a voice that sounds a lot like my girl, patty},

there is art.

the hangout. word.

you've seen this right?

ok. 

see you there. 

after the school bell rings.

where there is love, there is art.

february giveaway WINNER.

thanks to everyone who entered our february giveaway!

the winner, as generated by random.org of a KORORA sewing class is...

Ashley said...

I'd love to sew my own bags!

2/2/11 8:27 AM 

congrats to, ashley! 

please contact morgan@kororadesigns.com to receive your giveaway reward.

where there is love, there is art.

a BIG weekend.

one of my best friends had a birthday party...

another had an ENGAGEMENT party...

i could not be happier for sarah + ryan. congrats, you two! i can't wait until october 15th.

where there is love {for real, for real...}, there is art. 

today is a good day.

for this day is the day of my annie girl.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ANNE!

so many things to say, so many years of friendship, so many memories

that i don't even know where to start. 

just know that i love you very, very much 

and cherish your friendship and every memory.

enjoy today and this 24th year!

you're the best. 

thank you for being.

always.

where there is love, there is art.

you are a novel, in a sea of magazines.

i've talked about these sweet friends of mine before. however, just this week they just released this beautiful video. let me know if you don't have a smile on after watching it. because if you aren't smiling... something's up.

also, has everyone and their mom bought "barton hollow" yet? so inspired. buy it. or you're missing out.

that is all for today.

where there is love, there is art. 

how privileged we are to be a part.

it was love at first sight. no, really, it was. i loved this girl as soon as i met her. what's not to love? she's one of the most thoughtful and loving people i know. she has lived a lot of life in her {almost} twenty-one years, and continually makes decision that make me grow in respect for her. she loves without boundaries, and will love in spite of. i think this love is what makes her an incredible artist and creative mind. now introducing... kelsey boone:

q: how did you become an artist?

a: when i was in first grade I brought home a crayon picture of a goldfish. my parents claim that they knew that i had a knack. i also vividly remember getting the Highlights magazine in my childhood years, and always flipping straight to the page with all the art submissions. i wanted to see what other kids imagined. i still adore the art of a good children's book. creativity really took root beginning in high school, though. i was in the traditional program, so we all had majors. naturally- i declared art. not only did i take it all four years, but i had the privilege of taking two seminars at SCAD {savannah college of art and design} in the summer prior to my senior year. i studied poster and fashion design while at SCAD. i knew then that art was more than a hobby. i don't even think passion does it justice. it's a mindset that encompasses nearly every decision i make. i'm sure i sound a little extreme, but perhaps you understand. it's not like i can flip the switch- the light is always on.  in college i study english, rather than visual art. i get to read and write about language, about stories, about ideas everyday. i do love being an english major. BUT the dream lives on. i will study visual art again... one day. so i don't think it's fair to say that i've "become" an artist, but rather i am constantly becoming an artist. that is the beauty of creating. the mind of a creative soul never ceases in generating, recycling, and developing ideas. 

q: what inspires you most?

a: above all, the consistency of christ, and the love that he has enabled his creation to participate in. people's stories. cultures. all things old. my parents instilled in me a deep appreciation for the "worn-in"- postcards, dishes, hats, furniture, costume jewelry... everything. antiques have such beautifully rich and intricate history that is incomparable to anything new. e.e. cummings poetry. virginia wolf philosophy. the bluegrass state {home sweet, kentucky}. autumn in all it's glory. the sophisticated rawness of c.s. lewis. greeting cards. and this quote, "i have always been delighted in the prospect of a new day... with perhaps a bit of magic waiting somewhere behind the morning." -joseph priestly

q: i like to create ________.

a: mixed media pieces. favorite subject to date is hands. posters. idea books. t-shirt designs. handmade cards {especially doing this with my mom}. now i want to learn to letterpress... 

q: i love ___________.

a: so much. louisville. my incredible family. community. brainstorming. breakfast. orange juice {with pulp}. complimentary colors. literature. originality. dusk. journaling. snail mail. thrift stores. wit. my mimi's cooking. accessorizing. soup. concerts. anthologies. yard sales. sunflowers. almonds. clever titles. tea. old luggage. texture. eateries of all sorts. parks. preschoolers. every kind of cheese. UK basketball. film. soul music. the tiniest of details.

"i love knowing that humanity is an expression of divine creativity. how privileged we are to be a part." -kelsey boone

where there is {so much} love, there is art.

FEBRUARY giveaway.

welcome to february, everyone!

i have a special treat for you... 

thanks to my lovely friend, morgan, at korora designs

this month's giveaway is a free Intro to Sewing class. 

korora is a professional styling boutique that offers a variety of services, as well as products. 

their website is easy to navigate through so please give it a look! 

so how do you apply for the giveaway?

simply "follow" where there is love, there is art by clicking on the button on right-hand side. 

then, comment below telling us what you would love to sew if you knew how!

but hurry... the giveaway starts today and closes on sunday (the 6th). 

i think february is going to be lucky for you! can you feel it?

the item made in the intro to sewing class. how cute is this? 

where there is love, there is art.