The Making of a Song

I'm breaking a major rule here, and may get in trouble for it. But I think technically P and I just agreed to not post anything on social networking sites about our music. Is a blog technically a social networking site? Oh well. Anyway, it's kind of interesting to see the evolution of how a song comes together. Here's a clip of the second chorus and breakdown of one I'm working on right now. There are no vocals, no guitar solo, and it's not mixed at all yet, so it's still rough. And it may end up being totally rough at the end still, but we're having fun working on it.

But this is my baby, so if it sucks, it's my fault. A clip of "Let Me Fall".

Cue the DJ Jazzy Jeff Song

It's the first official day of my summer. And there's already so much swimming around in my head- lists of things I want to do with my new-found free time! Being a teacher is one of the loves of my life, but this summer has been sorely needed and muchly anticipated! After all the stress of the potential impending budget cuts last school year- from Oh NO! They're laying off 50% of our faculty! To No, nevermind. Everybody's staying- which swung from one extreme to the next and back again for six whole months, the year was emotionally trying. People became more difficult to work with because the ax was hanging over all our heads. But as summer has approached, most of our jobs are still in tact and now we have a couple of months to rest and mentally recoup and prepare for the craziness that will begin again on August 15th.

This past year I've had some pretty amazing creative opportunities. My alma mater published one of my blog posts in an anthology by and about one of my college professors. I had the opportunity to begin writing book reviews for Penguin Books through BlogHer. And I was able to meet and hang out with one of my favorite musicians, who in turn encouraged me to up my game and my confidence a little in my singing and songwriting. (I believe chickenshit was the actual word he used. It worked.) So this summer, I'd like to keep doing more of the same, I guess. I feel like I'm on a creative roll and I'd like to ride it out and see where it takes me. And now I have the time to do it.

So I'm gonna go make some breakfast and see what the day holds. Send creative vibes my way and I'll send them back! :)

So music is in the air.

Over the past several months- well, the last year, really- the universe has seemed to keep telling me to stretch my creative muscles in the area of music.

I grew up in a fairly musical family. My dad's undergrad degree was in music, and my mother is a fantastic singer. I also took piano lessons and played in competitions for twelve years as a child. Of course, it helped that growing up as a preacher's daughter, I was accustomed to the stage and an audience in that regard, but after I graduated from high school, I let music drop off the map and defer to other interests.  Like writing.

But lately, it seems like it's been coming back to the forefront of my creative endeavors. I married a musician who loves spending time in the studio doing production work, so I guess I should've seen it coming. So we've been toying with the idea of it. Playing. Writing. Music. Lyrics. Singing.

I don't feel like it's my forte. I'm completely confident in my writing ability. I've honed that craft. I've failed miserably and I have also had some success. I feel established enough at this point to call myself a writer. However, I'm a far cry from being any kind of established musician. Yes, I can sight read. Yes, I know music theory. Yes, I can play the piano. Yes, I can write lyrics, but most of the time I'm not anywhere near happy with them. But I'm practicing. And I may fail miserably at this music thing. But maybe I'll also have some success, even just in being happy with something creative that I've produced. That would be enough!

But I'm stretching my creative muscles far, FAR outside my comfort zone. And it feels good.

Daisy Girl for Zoey Miller

Tell me that doesn't sound like a label. I told Caroline when she picked that name that it sounded like a great brand! My BFF's little girl is gonna do big things, I tell ya!

And as you can see, I'm clearly nesting for her.  We've been best friends since high school; now we're in our thirties and this is our first child together!  HA!  (I'm sure her husband appreciates that.)  I finished up the curtains for her nursery last week- although that may be an ongoing project.  Some of the colors don't quite mesh well with the last minute slip cover she's decided to use.  So I may be revisiting Fabric Row to come up with a couple more panels to match the hot pink and lime green sofa that has now made itself at home in the room.

In our shopping exploits to decorate the nursery, Caroline mentioned to me that she'd like to keep Zoey in gowns the first few months.  They're just so comfy and there are no tricky snaps to mess with when changing diapers.  But if you haven't shopped for infants lately, you don't know that gowns are sort of hard to come by-- and cute ones are even more scarce.  So whilst perusing the selection of custom-made gowns online, I got an idea.  Why don't I just make some?  It took me about an hour to figure out the logistics for the first one, but after that it was a breeze.  And by the end of the night I had four gowns for Zoey Grace.  I fully expect that she will hatch her first ideas and aspirations of being a well-known world leader and catalyst for world peace in one of these gowns. 

Two Newborn Gowns:

 

Two Three Month Gowns:

Onward and Upward!

Can someone please tell me where the first half of my summer went?  It goes too fast! 

I have five weeks left and they look to be just as busy as the first few were.  Then it's back to the 'ol grindstone.  But in the meantime, I surely have a few things to keep me busy!  P and I took a trip to the 405 last weekend and had an absolutely fabulous time with friends.  Caroline and I got a great day of shopping in for Baby Zoey and I came home with a bag full of fabric to make valences for her nursery.  Then later this week, I'll be trekking to my favorite spot in the DFW-- fabric row on Harry Hines-- to scope out some uber girly blues and purples to make her panels.  This baby girl is going to have the absolute happiest and most colorful nursery I've ever seen in my life.  Yay for starting your journey on this planet in a cheery, happy space!  And yay for my BFF braving the whole pregnancy and motherhood thing before I do!  It's been so fun watching the whole thing progress, and I can't wait for September to get here so I can meet this fabulous baby girl!

Meanwhile, the creativity continues to pump through the duct work at our house.  P has been on a mad streak writing, playing, and recording lately-- and we've even been working on some fun stuff together!  Thursday nights at Sons of Hermann is our new most favorite place to be.  The people there are some of the most seasoned and talented musicians, singers, and songwriters I've ever been around.  It's definitely an inspiration to be around kindred spirits who just enjoy the art aspect of music. It's just simple and honest, and I feel humbled to be in their presence.  I'm so grateful to have such creative people in  my life.  It's everywhere I look!  And it reminds me to get off my butt and do something! :)

Speaking of which.  Zoey's curtains are calling my name!  I'm sure we'll post pics later!

Hasta!

Sometimes you have to create your own inspiration!

á La Wow!

So I got to have dinner with a long lost friend from high school last night. I hadn't seen her in about twelve years, but she was in town for business, and we hooked up for dinner.

Have I mentioned how AWESOME it is that I have friends who are creative/business geniuses in their own right? Given the sometimes creatively stifling environment many of us grew up in and where our roles were pretty clearly defined for us (especially as girls), it astounds me that a few of us have found our way out of that mold and gone on to produce some really great things in this world. It strikes me how some of us have set out on our own, figured out what it is we're good at, and fully devoted ourselves to being the best we can at it. I'm not quite sure I include myself in this group just yet, but I'm hopeful I'll get there!

And you know what else amazes me? All of these women are mothers. Somewhere in all the hustle and bustle of the travel and the consulting and the creating and building and the re-structuring and manufacturing and the marketing and networking...they find time to be wives and moms too. It boggles the mind.

So here's your goody for the day. Check out á La Modish, my friend Andrea's children's clothing company. She repurposes vintage fabrics into super cute kiddos clothing. And due to a fabulous meeting she had at Market yesterday in Dallas, her line will be available in stores very soon! You can also check out á La Modish's facebook page here. Go be a fan!