(very late) playlists

An extremely late double playlist and poster combination for you today.

    september / part two + october / part one
    Okay My Love / The Sha La Das
    Festina Lente / Soaked Oats
    Break My Heart / Squeeze
    Family Values / BRONCHO
    Good While It Lasted / Old Man Canyon
    She's History / Mega Bog
    Without You / Molly Burch
    Just a Cool Breeze / Floam
    A Tree Not a Leaf Am I / King Khan
    Front to Back / Liam Benzvi
    Merry Go Round / The Equatics
    Cactus Country / Cool Sounds
    Arrow Through Me / Wings
    My Emotions Are Blinding / Tennis
    Who Can We Blame? / June West
    Gladly / The Babe Rainbow
    Smiling Faces / East of Underground

    october / part two
    To the Boys / Molly Burch
    Fire By The River / Harumi
    Baby Don't Believer / Tennis
    Undercover / BRONCHO
    Jean's Ballad / Part Time
    Dark Side / The Shadows of Knight
    Eureka / The Babe Rainbow
    Nylon / Cool Sounds
    Sisters Unarmed / 79.5
    Daily Gazette / PAINT
    Summer Breeze / The Sha La Das
    Burning Out / Strange Names
    Sandman / Jim Sullivan
    Run Away / Old Man Canyon
    These Falling Arms / The Sea and Cake
    L-Over / U.S. Girls
    Right / David Bowie

Hope you enjoy these with both your ears and eyes. I will be catching up one more time this month with my November/December lists before diving deep into my favorites from 2018. Get ready for some rock n roll. xx

playlist

Just dropping by to squeeze in my second October playlist and share another poster. This is basically a collection of songs––old and new––that I can never stop listening to. Especially the song "Velvet" by one of my favorite bands, Carroll.

   oct / two
   Velvet | Carroll
   John Wayne | Gillbanks
   Stoner | Drug Cabin
   Breathe (In the Air) | Pink Floyd
   No Exit | Tennis
   French Press | Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever
   Laying In The Sun | Tomorrows Tulips
   Take Me My Love | Sagamore
   Expect the Bayonet | Sheer Mag
   & Waiting | Faith Healer
   Everyday | Spendtime Palace
   She Won't Go Away | Faye Webster
   Diamond Anyway | Michael Nau
   I Remember | Sam Evian
   Song of the Highest Tower | Cut Worms
   Fall in Love | The Babe Rainbow
   Horses | Night Moves

Hope you enjoy this one and keep your eyes out for a new playlist soon. xx

playlist

I've had this playlist ready to go for over two weeks, but I never had time to actually put it together via Spotify, let alone post it here. I made another poster. This time, everything was done by hand and collaged digitally. It's sort of a hint at that project I am working on that I mentioned so long ago (not the playlist, but the poster).

   oct / one
   From the Sun | Unknown Mortal Orchestra
   Truly Julie's Blues | Cut Worms
   Dreams | Fleetwood Mac
   Turning | Sagamore
   Talk a Lot | SALES
   Blue Cigar | Midnight Sister
   The Grave | Tracy Bryant
   Telephone | The Zephyr Bones
   Try ;-) | Faith Healer
   The Reservoir | Small Forward
   Remember When | Faye Webster
   Dig A Pony | The Beatles
   Hands Up Head Down | Sure Sure
   Canary Island | Houndstooth
   Your City | Night Shop
   Switch | Cass McCombs
   Blue Coupe | Twin Peaks

Hope you enjoy this one! I'll be back with another one very soon because I'm behind on these, as usual. And as always, if you're wondering what I'm listening to throughout the month, check out my big monthly playlist. xx

shop anniversary

Hi friends! I have some very exciting news to share! My little Etsy shop, flowers are rad, has now been around for an entire year. Wow. I am still in disbelief at how quickly the time flew by. It feels like just yesterday I was eagerly writing a blog post announcing its opening. That being said, I'm quite proud of how far I've come in a year and I am incredibly thankful for all of your support. It makes me so very happy to know that this many people find joy in what I do. It's the absolute best feeling to see that I'm making somewhat of an impact in a way I had always wished I would.  I'm planning lots of exciting new things for this year, so make sure you keep an eye out for news.

Because I cannot contain my excitement, I have created five new illustrations and listed them on my shop as part of an anniversary series. They can all be found in these photos. On top of that, I'm having a little giveaway via Instagram. You can find all of the details you need there, but here's a little rundown: one winner receives two illustrations from my anniversary series (one 8 x 10 in and one 4 x 6 in) of their choice and two other winners receive one illustration from my anniversary series (4 x 6 in). I hope you enter, but if you'd prefer, you can also purchase them via those links below.

+ moth on hand (4 x 6)
+ girl in a fuzzy sweater (4 x 6)
+ floral heart (4 x 6)
+ baby lettuce is better (8 x 10)
+ little things (8 x 10)

Enjoy these behind-the-scenes photos and make sure to check all that art out! xx

playlist

   October: Week 1
   Should Have Known Better | Cottilon
   For You | Sales
   Evening | TOPS
   Wildcard | Golden Daze
   Possession | Saskatchewan
   Buddy | The Orwells
   Starlight | Pure X
   Hang Your Heart | Tokyo Police Club
   Ode to Dom | Babeheaven
   Flowers | Goth Babe
   I Can't Get You Out | Part Time
   Being Around | Our Girl 
   Let Me In | T0W3RS
   That's Chemistry | Young Rival


I'm (almost, kind of) on time this week (last week). It's more exciting this way, though. You never know when to expect a new playlist, right? Well sorry to disappoint you because maybe, one day, when there'll be 25 hours in the day, I'll have a sufficient amount of time and post regularly.

Anyway, four months, I believe, have passed since I'd written anything music-related (!!!) Which means I did not write about quite a handful of the amazing shows I enjoyed and I did not write about a large volume of fresh tunes that absolutely deserve attention. This makes me sad, so tonight I'm escaping my responsibilities to throw out some words about one of the shows I've been to during that time, along with a shout out to those new jams I can't stop listening to (on this list and past lists). Get ready for lots of near run-ons.

New music from: Triathalon, The Growlers, Travis Bretzer, Angel Olsen, Sports, Teen Brains, Allah-Las, Swimming Tapes, Acid Ghost (and so many more)
Because I want to move on to writing about that gig, I'll just list the new stuff--which you should totally trust me and check out because it's all incredibly beautiful.
Cold Shower (EP) - Triathalon
City Club (LP) - The Growlers
Bitter Suites (LP) - Travis Bretzer
MY WOMAN (LP) - Angel Olsen
Manicure (single) - Sports
Translucent (EP) - Teen Brains
Calico Review (LP) - Allah-Las
Tides (single) - Swimming Tapes
Warhol (LP) - Acid Ghost

In concert: Triathalon with Parent
Back in the young and spunky days of September, summer was just beginning to wither and fade and I had the chance to catch one of the coolest bands out there, Triathalon, in one of my favorite itty bitty spaces within a bar. Chicago's very own, Parent, started the night off with rich, vivid tunes belonging to some fictitious time period caught between the '60s and some unknown era we've never had the pleasure of visiting before. The band filled the room with a certain long-lost charm and layers of sounds recognizable, yet distant--well-defined by riffs kissed with influence from The Rolling Stones and other classic rock bands which somehow managed to simultaneously swerve into unknown territory. Above the abundance of instrumentation floated gorgeous, Lennon-esque vocals, fusing all of the pieces together into something truly sublime.

Triathalon brought with them the loveliest hints of the 70s onto the stage and the setting was perfect. The room was sprinkled with dots reflected from a lone disco ball and sparkly fringe hung on the wall next to the stage. What more could you hope for? It was a perfect atmosphere for a perfect, ear-pleasing journey. As soon as the boys began playing, I was flooded with the velvety smooth sounds that only they can so effortlessly deluge ears with. Not a single person resisted dancing. Still, I can't help but have a hard time putting into words Triathalon's sound, as there lies a profusion of nuances within each album, each song, even each sound. Everything is laced within a world of hazy, surf rock, yet drowned in an irresistible groovy quality (only unique to them). Sometimes spiraling into surges of noise before floating back to a surface-level calm--but a calm mixed with pleasing tension, eager to douse you at any moment--and unified by gentle, dynamic, at times almost falsetto, vocals. Though their latest endeavor, Cold Shower, is a bit of a shift from previous material, the smooth sounds featured throughout every one of the four songs somehow swimmingly merge together with the rest of their catalogue and might just be the catchiest (ahem, "I Want It" has been stuck in my head since it was released) gems I've ever heard.

I'm still surprised that I sat down to write this and I am even more surprised at how much I've missed writing for fun. Wow. Anyway, the moral of the story is: go listen to Triathalon and Parent. They are great bands that you should definitely know (and catch live if you are lucky enough). Next time, I'll write about a few more shows that I never had the chance to. But probably, I'll end up writing about my favorite band because I am the luckiest person and I get to see them very, very soon. xx

playlist

October: Week 5

Eyes of a Stranger | BESTIE (feat. Humans)

Supernatural Silence | Strange Names

You're Better | Glass Towers

The Lonely | The Ugly Club

Shift-Alternate Version | Grizzly Bear

Dissolve Me | alt-J

Wetsuit | The Vaccines

Magic | Panama

Clouds | BØRNS

I always dread the approach of late October because it signifies the true start of low temperatures, which I have a strong distaste for. To rant about my hatred of cold weather is not the purpose of this post, though; I'm here to bring you another playlist. This week, I am very excited about my selections. I love all of these songs and I could listen to them over and over again without becoming fatigued. Overall, it is neither too fast, nor too slow. It's just a mix of those that have been getting me through this week (and through putting up with the rental car that actually has an amazing radio). So, go out and enjoy your fall  activities and have a listen.

about the photo: I guess I'm not a huge fan of the trees changing colour and becoming bare, but the street looked quite lovely when it was wet and dotted with leaves so, naturally, I sat down on the cold/wet ground to snap a photo. You have to sacrifice a little bit of yourself for art, eh? xx

diy | leafy crown

In many of my artistic endeavors, I choose to use plants as a key component, so I find myself constantly stringing vine-y plants together to create crowns/wreaths/garlands/anything else imaginable. A lot of my ideas come to me while I am out and about and accompanied by a lack of supplies; I just make use of what is around me--usually the plant itself and my hands. I've found plenty of tutorials online for making floral crowns and all of them have one thing in common: you need quite a lengthy list of supplies. Not for this one. It is super simple (and fun).

what you'll need:

vines (strands about 8 in long are ideal)

a bowl of water

your hands

1. store your pieces in a bowl of water to keep them fresh | choose two pieces and hold them together (you can twist them if you'd like)

2. take a third strand and begin wrapping it around the other two; the end of the vine should be to the right for the first time around and then to the left for the remaining times | tip: leave about four or five inches of the vine uncoiled 

3. hold the three vines together (as you did with the two in the first step) and incorporate a fourth; make sure that the end of the vine is to the right for the first coil | it should be smooth sailing from here on because the start is really the hardest part

4. repeat the steps above until you reach the desired length | make your crown just slightly larger than necessary in order to complete the next step successfully

5. when you are satisfied with your crown's length, overlap the ends and hold them together with one hand

6. take a shorter vine from your supply and slip it under the two ends; leave about an inch uncoiled (later, you will need to tie the two ends together)

7. wrap the strand around until an inch is left over

8. tie the two loose ends together a few times; repeat steps 6, 7, and 8, if necessary 

Enjoy your crown! You can wear it or you can hang it on the wall or you can think up an entirely different use for it. Be creative. You can apply this same process to create floral crowns (just weave in some flowers along with vines), wreaths, or even garlands. xx

playlist

October: Week 4

Throw It in the River | Young Rival

Wild Life | We're No Heroes

Evie | Last Dinosaurs

And It Happened at Midnight | Fine Times

Plastic Soldiers | Portugal. The Man

Fall Into You | Night Terrors of 1927

Gonna Be Ready | Tokyo Police Club

Fool | BØRNS

London Thunder | Foals

I really struggled with compiling this week's list. I made it three different times and, even then, I did not feel content with the finished product. At the last minute, I swapped out a few songs and it's far from perfect, but I've come to love it. I included a few new songs that have pressed themselves firmly into my brain, along with some (sort of) old favourites, including Gonna Be Ready and Fall Into You. Fun fact: my favourite album by Tokyo Police Club is "Champ" and, even after a few years, I still (very much) enjoy listening to it. 

about the photo: This is another piece, belonging to my humans and plants series. I titled it "Engulfed". I saw an opening in a bush while I was walking through a park and I just jumped in. Sometimes inspiration comes that way; initially as a joke, but then as a concrete idea. xx

shop opening!

I am so thrilled to announce that my Etsy shop is finally open. It seems that only in my wildest dreams I'd be opening up a shop and selling things that I've made, but now it has become a reality. I constantly desire to share my artwork with others and I just cannot wait for you to have something that I created in your possession. It all seems so surreal to me. I hope to sell some of my prints, as well, so keep an eye out for new listings. I sincerely thank those who have supported me and inspired me to take this leap. Enjoy a free printable as my little gift to you. xx

click here to download

(just a little thing: I love you all, but please don't claim this as your own; if you'd like to utilize it for a purpose beyond personal use, please ask permission. Thanks!)

playlist

October: Week 3

Love Me | The 1975

July | HUNNY

Ocean | Flor

New Daze | Cheerleader

I Can't Control Myself | Strange Names

Mom Jeans | Heyrocco

What Was Golden | New Navy

Swoon | Beach Weather

The Darkest Side | The Middle East

It has become a habit for me to make my playlists at 2:00 am, so I guess we will never know what songs I would have chosen if it were day time. Anyway, here is the bunch that has embedded itself in my mind this week. I featured a few old go-tos (like The Darkest Side, which is really a breathtaking song) along with a few new releases from Friday, as well. Also, this weekend, I got to see COIN and Colony House preform, with Flor. Of course, COIN and Colony House were amazing, but so was Flor. Before that night, I had never heard of Flor, and now I am obsessed. Hope you all enjoy! 

about the photo: "Trapped" is another one belonging to my plants and humans series. This little photo session was going on near a busy street, outside of a forest preserve, so me lying on the ground with my head covered looked fairly suspicious (I guess). So suspicious, that a sheriff pulled over to make sure I was alright (oops). And, I didn't move a muscle until the photo was taken, so he wasn't convinced until I finally got off the ground. My only reaction was to burst into a fit of laughter. Sometimes, ahem most times, I can't be serious. xx

playlist

October: Week 1

80s | Ghastly Menace

Run | COIN

Little Grace | Hippo Campus

Slow Animals | The Strokes

Tablasaurus | Bear Hands

Dust | Twinsmith

Columbus | Snowmine

Bloodshake | Peace

Bad, Bad, Bad | LANY

Talk To Me, Dance With Me | Hot Hot Heat

This week, the playlist is slightly longer. I just felt like one more song was required to give it a feeling of completion; I always struggle with what to start and end the string of songs with. Also, my choices are slightly more upbeat than the ones belonging to the previous playlist. As many of you know, I hate cold weather and I took this opportunity to cheer myself up about the anticipated cool temperatures. (PS: I love The Strokes, so I just had to throw one of theirs in.)

about the photo: I originally took a similar photo for Instagram, since I came across an interesting brick wall. That day, I didn't want to post another average brick photo--although I love them--so I just turned it upside down for a little humour. Later, I went back and took one with my Canon. Gosh, isn't that an interesting story? xx