Saturday, February 28, 2009

Frosting in Androscoggin County

Earlier this week, we had an all-night snowfall made of heavy, wet flakes that stuck to everything it touched.

The next morning, my yard looked like this:
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It almost looked like some kind of dessert, like icing.

I had errands to run, appointments to keep, even though the roads were not properly cared for or fully cleared yet (except for maybe two or three roads in all of Lewiston/Auburn). From my doorway to my car, the snow was almost up to my knees, trying to sneak in the tops of my boots. I would have much preferred to stay in that day.

On the Longley Bridge connecting Lewiston to Auburn, I tried to take a picture of the river valley but all I got was the snowbank.
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That's because I drive a Camry and the snowbank was very tall.

Up Court Street from the Longley, it could have been a little postcard-y, had there not yet been mud and brakelights and if it wasn't already the end of February.
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One of my favorite things though, about these cloudy winter days that try to be bright, is the way the sun shines through what looks like milk, spilling muted colors onto the clouds.
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Back at home, the parking in the lot was all amiss and I couldn't park where I normally do. I had to pull in under this tree. Photobucket
Which worried me that when I left again to pick my husband up from work, my car would be reburied in the snowfall from the branches. Luck was with me though, as a great deal of the sticky snow was STILL perched in the trees, almost a week later. That is, until it rained last night.

It's almost March now.

Friday, February 27, 2009

all shiny

Today I had a custom mat made for an enlargement of New Hampshire. After I purchased a frame it was complete:

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It's an 11"x14" frame and the image is 6 1/4"x 9 1/2". You'll see this, and more, at the Captive Elements show next weekend.

Don't forget:
Captive Elements Art House anniversary show
Sunday, March 8
7:00pm - 11:00 pm
Fishbones American Grill
70 Lincoln Street, Lewiston

Thursday, February 26, 2009

I am 27, I swear.

Today I was asked to show ID when I bought a lottery ticket. That hasn't happened in four years!

Sunday, February 22, 2009

I was going to name this entry with our "prom song" but I don't remember what it was that year.

Right now I am wishing I still had my prom dress from senior year. It was a beautiful shade of blue, but the wrong size because somehow, at the age of 18, I still didn't know how to buy things to properly fit my body. I walked around in high school wearing clothes that were way too big for me. No wonder I didn't date until college! But if I still had the dress I could snip out a swatch and use it in my current project- a shadowbox. I need that exact shade of blue. I guess I will have to flip through magazines and catalogs until I find the color I need and just stick to paper materials.

*Edit: for my mum. I am being playful about my high school self. My clothes were bad, but so were most people's in the 90's. And my prom dress was literally about three or four sizes too big. I was holding it up all night! :) I love you too.

results

Thank you to all of you who have let me know which postcards are your favorites! It was really helpful, it's sweet of you to have taken the time, and I think you're all really neat.

I've had to amend my plans according to my gloomy finances. If I am still able to afford the enlarging/framing, I'll make an 8"x10" of New Hampshire, which is my favorite favorite and a lot of you seem to agree.

I saw a frame while I was out and about yesterday that holds three photos, and I hope to use one of those to showcase your next-favorites: Promise the Bite, Giving It All Away, and Locate the Pieces.

I was tickled when some of you chose designs that I didn't expect anyone to mention. Thank you ALL again, including those who chimed in on Facebook.

xoxo

Monday, February 16, 2009

CHOICES!

For the upcoming Captive Elements anniversary art show, I'm thinking of enlarging and framing two of my postcard designs. I am already kind of sure which ones I'll use but I wanted some feedback from people who aren't so close to the project like I am. I have favorites but I also know each. and every. flaw.

There are ten designs. Please choose your favorite two and tell me which they are in a comment on this post. Keep in mind, choose not just what you think looks good but what you might also seriously consider putting up on your wall.

*Ok, I just spent a really long time struggling with image sizes to fit this blog and I don't know. No luck. Because I can't post the images here, please just click this link (or the titles listed below) and look through the designs there. (Sorry!)

The choices are:
1. Giving It All Away
2. Grave's Disease
3. Last Song
4. Locate the Pieces
5. Measure 1
6. Measure 3
7. New Hampshire
8. Promise the Bite
9. The Butcher
10. The Moviegoer


If you've taken the time and given your opinion (THIS IS OPEN TO EVERYONE), thank you very much! :)
xoxo Courtney Quiet City

Sunday, February 15, 2009

the perfect tee

I picked up this shirt today at Forever 21 in South Portland, and I am thrilled with it.

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I am a sucker for t-shirts made for women- they are perfectly soft, they have narrow sleeves, a flattering neckline and are appropriately long because it's not 1999 anymore and the Dawson's Creek style is no longer IN style.

Sorry, Joey Potter.

Don't forget to enter yourself in the giveaway!

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Friday, February 13, 2009

You'll see, next summer there could be something so much better.

I haven't been posting much because not a lot has been going on. My son and I are just waiting out the winter, aching for the walks on our neighborhood streets that we've stopped taking because of the cold and the snow. My husband and I are just swelling with ideas for all of the fun things we can do and places to go when it's warmer- feeding ducks by the pond, the coast, the Maine Animal Sanctuary, Range Pond, Storyland and/or Funtown and definitely the New England Aquarium, Davis Mountain, Mollyockett Day in Bethel, the 4th of July by the river, picnics and playgrounds, Screw Auger Falls, the list goes on- all things that, since he'll be two this summer, our son will be more able to enjoy and participate in.

In the meantime we're doing a lot of window shopping, visits with aunts, uncles and grandparents, and Yo Gabba Gabba and Sesame Street. This is one of my son's favorite things:



And this is a close second:

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We also like drawing with crayons, and I'll post a picture soon. He is quite the artist/scribbler and he doesn't even try to eat the crayons. He just sticks the tips up his nose sometimes.

In these last weeks of winter, with the snow coming in spurts and the temperatures rising to the near-tropic 40s and 50s (!!!) on some days it's hard not to ache for spring even if you appreciate the coldest season. To pass these long days we want to check out the Children's Museum in Portland and the Discovery Museum in Augusta. We may also do one of the Free Fridays at the PMA- I'd love to see their rock & roll photography exhibit.

And did you know that stores stop carrying sleds around Christmastime? Seriously. That's when winter is just beginning! And we didn't make the cutoff this year so we don't have anything to play with outside. My son won't play in the snow otherwise because he's distracted by how many layers I dress him in and the snow getting stuck to his mittens.

Note to self: next time, buy a sled before Thanksgiving.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

win win win!

I have something special for you!

I've decided to give away a gift-filled box to one lucky Quiet City shopper. The box will be filled with Quiet City goodies as well as some non-Courtney items, with a total approximate value of $20-25.

All you have to do to be entered to win is make a purchase out of my shop's postcard section between now and midnight EST, February 28, 2009. On March 1 I'll draw a name at random from all of the buyers and ONE LUCKY WINNER will receive the special box from me by mid-March.

Break up the monotony of mid-winter! Get yourself a postcard or two and some springy sweetness could be coming your way.

xoxo Courtney Quiet City

Monday, February 9, 2009

upcoming art show

Some of my art will be featured in the next Captive Elements art show. It's their first anniversary and the show will take a look back on the local artists who made up their wonderful first year.

DETAILS:
Captive Elements Art House Anniversary Show
Sunday, March 8, 2009
7 pm - 11 pm
at Fishbones American Grill
70 Lincoln Street, Lewiston, Maine

Also, please become a fan of Quiet City on Facebook!