Asheville Series: A Snippet of West Asheville

A week or week and a half ago, I took to a small photo tour of just a half a mile stretch in West Asheville. The fact that all these small details, fun shops, cafes and little bits of beauty are in such a condensed area is such a wonderful thing! I plan on doing another mile or 1/2 mile span in West Asheville in another few days.


So here is a general Map of the 'city' of Asheville. I actually live just north of the boundaries of this picture, and there definitely will be posts that I do on areas south of this map, but for now, here is a snippet. To help you get a frame of reference, I have added numbers to the top, bottom, left and right. Now, the distance from '1' across to '2' is less than 7 miles. From '3' to '4' it is roughly 3.5 miles. So we aren't talking about a huge area here.


Now here is the same map, with a star in the general vicinity of the area I will be talking about today (West Asheville)...

...and then a more detailed map (with a green line showing the exact portion of west Asheville) of which I am talking about today. Less than a miles stretch. keep that in mind.

Now, you all might not need all this information, but as you learn, so am I. And Maybe Ill get better at this, and these can be a reference to someone else as well. *shrugs* or maybe I just like the little details. And now Ill shut it, and let you see pictures!

Fancy Favorites: #18

Oh hey there. Thought I ran out of favorites? NEVER. Here, Folks are things that have caught my eye recently....

I love the shape of these flats, and the basic classic feel to them. They could be a staple in your wardrobe for a while, I'd say. 

I am always a sucker for a new David Sedaris, and this has been officially added to my reading list. (Though I will say, 'Me Talk Pretty One Day' is still by and far my favorite, with 'Holidays on Ice' Coming up a close second.)

Can you imagine this being your 'office' you had to go into each day. What dreams are made of.

Abandoned Barn

Large Offset Lithography Print

Isn't this print great?

I'm not one to wear necklaces, though I secretly wish I was. 'Cause I would totally rock this piece. HARD.

DIY: Wall Art

So, the other day I found this amazing painting at the Local Salvation Army.  Even the frame was bomb. SO, being the awesome Girlfriend I am, I decided Nick needed some new art work in his cabin (plus he needs MORE artwork in his cabin, b/c those walls are BARE. and Echo-y) 

                   ***LOOK AT ALL THE DETAILS ON THIS BEAUTY!***

I decided upon an inside joke word that a friend has with Nick and I, and got to taping. Now, I forgot to take the image AFTER simply taping, but I simply cut/ripped Frog Painters tape to achieve the Block lettering you see below, and stick it directly to the canvas. 

Next I took some acrylic white paint, and a sponge brush and painted out the thinnest layer of white I could, so that you wouldn't totally lose the awesome picture int he background, but that so the AHOY in the middle would POP. 

If you find that you cant get the white thin enough to your liking, you can do as I did, and use a washcloth or rag and gently wipe over it before it is dry so that it spreads and thins out the paint even more.


After the paint has dried, simply gingerly remove the painters tape from your canvas and expose the original painting underneath!

In person, i decided that the AHOY didn't pop enough on its own, so I outlined the letters in a gray sharpie, which sadly does not look great in the picture, but very much looks great in person. Believe me, i tired to take photo after photo to show this result....but, NOPE.


So there you have it, a personalized CHEAP (the painting and frame cost me $2.00; every other supply I already had laying around my house)...so as i was saying, personalized and CHEAP piece of wall decor. Isn't Nick just the luckiest?

(Idea Sourced from A Beautiful Mess. Man, if Only it was an original thought....)

Frank Gaard: Poison & Candy

This past week I made a point to walk down to the Walker Art Center to see a new exhibit  on Minnesota artist Frank Gaard, called Poison & Candy. I am a huge art lover, but overall love just letting other people take it in and form their own opinions. 

I really enjoy this exhibit, the colors and themes were wonderful, but Ill let you just take a look and make your own opinions. Enjoy!

Detail of One of his portraits ( and also my favorite one... AHEM) and of one his other works in the exhibit)


His wall of portraits. I want this in my house.

This last panel is one of Frank Gaard's Art Police comics. There was another huge section dedicated to these, but I knew a photo would not be able to accurately capture the images. Make sure to check out Frank Gaard Blog for more!