KNOXVILLE IN THE SPRING...AND THE BIRTHDAY BOY!

Greetings dear reader!

*Info alert: The song you hear playing is a tribute to my friend Ngaire Bartlam. She and her beloved hubby have been married 17 years...together for 20! No small feat in today's world...CONGRATS, dear friend! Visit Ngaire's blog for more info about this incredible family!

I have spent the weekend at the Lake Sallateeska Scrapbooking Retreat. I'll post pictures of my creations soon. In the interim, I wanted to post a few pictures taken last weekend at our son's house. I told you how the house is very cozy and very "them"....behold the living room: Case de Clouse:

Against their lease and rental property owner's guide, they opted to paint one wall in the living room a beautiful burnt orange. It truly makes the space warm and "homey".

One of their favorite wedding gifts: The Salvador Dali clock (I LOVE IT!)

Yes, this is their sofa...look familiar? It was ours for several years...the thing hubby and I loved about it was that the seat cushions are very wide...we could lay side by side and watch movies...apparently, this was important to the newlyweds too. The begged for the couch, and so we were happy to let it "live out its final years" with the newlyweds.

This is a better shot of the painting over the sofa...it's impressionistic and earthy. I love it. This is also the fam "hammin" for the cam during Paul's birthday celebration. The boy finally got a decent, semi-professional video set up so he can begin his independent movie career...

We pitched in with the wife for the purchase of the video cam and gear...and, because he's MY kid, and because I'm HIS mother, I bought him a book he's coveted forever: "The DV Rebel's Guide: An All-Digital Approach to Making Killer Action Movies on the Cheap".

Other books he's really enjoyed (for any of you aspiring filmmakers out there) are:

Rebel without a Crew: Or How a 23-Year-Old Filmmaker With $7,000 Became a Hollywood Player

How to Shoot a Feature Film for Under $10,000 (And Not Go to Jail)

Make Your Own Damn Movie!: Secrets of a Renegade Director

Direct Your Own Damn Movie! (Your Own Damn Film School {Series})

He just sent his brother, dad and me a killer idea he has for a screenplay...we are all going to contribute our two cents and then see what happens. SO proud of the kid...for 25, he's quite astute at the filmmaking gig...now all he has to do is make it happen...

Contrary to what one might believe, Knoxville, Tennessee may be a great place to shoot a movie. As it turns out, since it's a college town (University of Tennessee, Johnson Bible College and others) the town is very "Indie" friendly. We always take a stroll through downtown K-town when we visit (I have to get my fix at local retailers: "Earth to Old City" and "Bliss") plus there are tons of great restaurants and pubs as well. Here are a
couple of pictures of the landscaping in Market Square:





And the graffiti in the alleyways is just amazing:


Only COMMITTED graffiti artists use stencils...



And paint fine art impressions...

And look at the incredible detail in this drawing entitled "Cathedral." It has become a bit of an urban legend in the K-town area!

Famished, we decided to have lunch at one of the area pubs in "Old City"...beautiful two story brick building with hardwood floors, stained glass windows, 20 foot ceilings, and one of the most impressive beer menus in the city!

All in all, a FANTASTIC trip!

More soon!

XOXOXOX



Paula Clare

BECOME A YES MAN...UH...PERSON!

Greetings dear reader!

Back from our Easter at our son's home in Knoxville. Paul and Leah have decorated and painted their home in an "oh-so-cozy" fashion. It's so very THEM. Their original artwork, writings, and photography are everywhere. I so loved it...sans the grandkitties. Apparently grand ma-ma is still highly allergic. Quite a miserable weekend from a sneezing, hacking, watery eyes point of view...but the kittens are SO cute you can't help but be smitten by the rotten little things. I digress...

The reason for this post is to let you know about a FAB movie we watched while there..."Yes Man" with Jim Carrey. For reasons I am not entirely sure of, this movie didn't get the typical "Jim Carrey, funny man" hype. However, it SHOULD have. Besides a great movie soundtrack (excerpts to follow), the message of the film was really quite daring: "Say YES." To life. To opportunity. To love. To adventure.

So many of us are calm, rational thinkers that we talk ourselves OUT OF saying yes. We can give you a jillion and one reasons why we DO NOT do something, but can often come up with few for why we DO what we do. "Why DID I buy that top?" "Why did I buy those Jelly Belly jellybeans?" "Why did I go out with HIM?" "Why did I take that ceramics class?"

Lots of great music in the movie too:

Opening song - Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) by Journey

Bigfoot Lodge - Old Enough by The Raconteurs

To Lick Your Boots by Eels

Bus Stop Boxer by Eels

Eyes Down by Eels

The Sound Of Fear by Eels

Your Lucky Day In Hell by Eels

The Spaces Between by Expatriate

Persian wife web site - El B’Nia by Maghrebika

Bar song - Swollen Summer by The Bravery

Dancing game - Flowers by Terra

Staring At The Rude Bois by Gallows

Emperor Waltz by Lawrence Welk

First song by Zoeey Deschanel - Journey To The Center Of The Earth by Von Iva and Zooey Deschanel

Bar song - Hyper Enough by Superchunk

Playing keyboard - Star Spangled Banner by Zooey Deschanel

Zooey Deschanel sings - Uh by Huh by Munchausen by Proxy (f/ Zooey Deschanel & Von Iva)

In A Jar by Dinosaur Jr

Last Zoeey Deschanel song - Sweet Ballad by Munchausen by Proxy (f/ Zooey Deschanel & Von Iva)

6 am running - Helicopter by Bloc Party

Talking at Griffith Observatory - Blinking Lights (For You) by Eels

Theme From Blinking Lights by Eels

First Harry Potter song - A Reunion Of Friends by John Williams

Second Harry Potter song - Leaving Hogwarts by John Williams

Wooden Nickels by Eels

Ana Ng by They Might Be Giants

Animal by Eels

Water Music by Aradia Ensemble

Hollywood Bowl - Can’t Buy Me Love by Jim Carrey and Zooey Deschanel (originally performed by The Beatles)

Talks the man off the ledge - Jumper by Jim Carrey (originally performed by Third Eye Blind)

Nebraska football game - Mr. Touchdown, U.S.A. by The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Cornhusker Marching Band

Yes To You by Alice Faye

Umbrellas To Mend by Frisco Jass Band

Lazer Gun by Dr. Dud

Song at the bar during wedding shower - Stomp! by The Brothers Johnson

The breakup - The Good Old Days by Eels

Let’s Get Small by Trouble Funk

Cool Jerk by The Go by Go’s

Bridal shower - Carry On by Jean Knight

Second bridal shower song - Olde Mill Inn by Blackmore’s Night

A Little Bit Of Basie by Red Garland

Flyswatter by Eels

Keystar by Munchausen by Proxy (f/ Zooey Deschanel & Von Iva)

Prologue by John Williams

Somebody Loves You by Eels

Riding on the Ducati - Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) by Journey

Yes Man by Munchausen by Proxy (f/ Zooey Deschanel & Von Iva)

Man Up by Eels

Original music for Yes Man by Lyle Workman and Mark Oliver Everett

Now, you may be thinking (especially after seeing the soundtrack list) that the movie is probably lacking in profound moments...it is NOT. Because he can only say YES, Jim Carrey, helps a homeless man which causes him to meet a woman, which causes him to look at relationships in a different way, which causes him to behave in a different way, which causes him to scale the fence at the Hollywood bowl, seek out a wife via Persian Companions online, throw a wedding shower for his best friend's fiance, etc. etc. ALL BECAUSE HE SAID YES.

I challenge you, dear reader, to say YES to something you'd normally say "no" to...nothing dangerous. Nothing stupid. Just... say...YES! Keep me posted!

More soon!

XOXOXOX



Paula Clare

HAPPY EASTER!

From ALL OF US at the Palace!




More soon!


XOXOXOX



Paula Clare

Easter Embellies, Pages, and More!

Greetings, dear reader!

I again have the privilege of attending the 2nd annual Lake Sallateeska Scrapbooking Retreat (see sidebar for info) and I have been put in charge of the "Make n Takes". While I personally prefer a hybrid and/or altAred art form of scrapbooking, the ladies that will be in attendance are traditional to their core...and so I must think INSIDE the box for ideas (NOT an easy task for me, mind you). Soooooo, rather than reinvent the wheel, and since the sponsor of said retreat is a Creative Memories Consultant, (Carla Monroe, find her page here) I decided to utilize some of CM's ideas and products. Behold the "Make n Takes":

How cute is THIS?



And any kind of journal is MY kind of journal!

I just LOVE this paper pack: Bohemian Chic!




And a couple of page layouts...one Mother's Day layout from Creative Memories:


And one from the incredible Fiskars Project Site:

Soooooooooo Adorable! The layout sketch follows:





If you're local, there's still time to register! Check the sidebar for details! See you there!

More soon!


XOXOXOX



Paula Clare

"Enthusiasm is the greatest asset in the world. It beats money and power and influence. It is no more or less than faith in action." - Henry Chester

WhatEVER you do today, do with great ENTHUSIASM! Enthusiasm and "faith in action" is what allowed me to go to college on scholarship. Enthusiasm has gotten me a job offer for EVERY interview I've ever been a part of. Enthusiasm keeps creativity flowing...and artistic endeavors flowing!

Enthusiasm...personified in the creator of the TV series, "LOST": Take a few minutes and listen to this. It will make your day! PROMISE!

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/j_j_abrams_mystery_box.html

Off to find inspiration via CKC in Collinsville!

More soon!

XOXOXOX



Paula Clare!