Working Holiday

I LOVE my work, I'm addicted to it, and I just can't stop. Of course there are parts that aren't always so great, but the majority of the time, I am bouncing with glee over a wonderfully creative and challenging project.


Recently, I had the joy of styling a photo shoot for two blogs I contribute to, both with different focuses for each company. I was inspired by a few bolts of vintage lace found at Santa Fe Fabrics and these amazing Quicksilver Roses at Artichokes and Pomegranates.


I began with the idea to create a table setting that would inspire a dinner party or wedding, especially since I recently acquired a vintage set of petwer colored glass champagne coupes... total score! I got down with a fun DIY project creating lace covered votive holders and put together floral centerpieces with one of the most magnificently dreamy and romantic color palettes I've seen in a while.

Here's a little teaser video to entice you ... come check the final products, here and here:

Antique Holiday from Jessie Baca on Vimeo.

P.S. The kicker is, all of this was shot with an iPhone 4, video too. I love that dang thing....it is also probably one of the main reasons I'm addicted to work, but oh well.
-Jessie Santa Fe, NM

A few of my favorite things...

Spritzer cookies:
Easy and too cute. Oh, and they are gluten free...what's not to love.

Unique and exotic wreaths:
Pine Cones, pink Cymbidium Orchids, Magnolia Leaves, Red Chile Pods, Olive branches, Berzillia pods, Curly Willow loops and Reindeer Moss....no gaudy bows here.

Thick yarn and big ol' needles:
Nothing makes me feel more accomplished and productive than finishing a project in 30 minutes flat.

Sunsets on Snow:
Being a California girl, I never thought I'd come around to these, but sunsets on New Mexico snow-covered mountains are always so beautiful and fleeting. That indescribable color of light makes my heart ache sometimes.

-Jessie, Santa Fe, NM

Let the festivities begin!

Nothing gets the holidays started for me like some good ol' fashioned crafting. Check the sweet video below to see how you can get your holiday ON!

Gold Disk Garland from Jessie Baca on Vimeo.

Find the circle punch, here. Soundtrack and other great tunes found, here.
-Jessie, Santa Fe, NM

Don't buy it, DIY it!

I fell in love with this feather Tippet from J.Crew....however, the price tag made me think otherwise.
So, naturally I thought, "I'll just make my own."

A few ostrich feathers later....voila! I even like that it is a little more wild than the J.Crew version.
Finished off with a vintage clip-earring for just the right touch!
-Jessie, Santa Fe, NM

Food-tography

My heart just about skipped a beat when I stumbled upon this amazing blog, What Katie Ate. Hailing all the way from Syndey, Australia this blog features the most amazing food styling and photography....I may have been drooling on my keyboard.
With the cold weather sneaking upon us, recipes with meats and roasted veggies are calling out to me. I've been craving warm and comforting food. With such beautiful pictures to accompany her recipes, Miss Katie may be the source for some healing food, for both my tummy and soul!

All photos via What Katie Ate
-Jessie, Santa Fe, NM

the chorus

voice.

and the ps22 chorus (watch this video!).

this group of talented 5th graders in a public school in staten island, new york continues to change, evolve, and grow each year. beginning in 2000, the amazing "mr. b" has recorded and posted his choir's progress on youtube with the principal's permission. they've performed for stars like stevie nicks and beyonce, and continue to tackle both classic and cutting edge pop songs each week.

i simply can't get enough of this inspiring group of talent: the catalogue is at once refreshing and addicting. they even cover journey's "don't stop believin", itunes' most downloaded song in history, and gaga's "just dance." mr. b also posts audition tapes, and one of my favorite's is azaria's. one of the choir's most unique characterstics is their sincere, uncontrollable movement. not one student sits (or stands) still as they sing together.

as a public school student of chorus class through the years myself, this really brings me back to the hard work, excitement, and thrill of using voice as instrument.

Cameron: Santa Fe, NM.

Art, Underground: an addendum

The NY Times featured an article revealing an art exhibit called, "The Underbelly Project" within the catacombs of an abandoned subway track. 103 street artists are featured; but no one knows where the exhibit is.

"This is an art exhibition that goes to the extremes to avoid being part of the art world, and even the world in general."

-Jasper Rees, NY TIMES

The article is a must read and the video is worth the click. Be sure to check the photo gallery as well.
-Jessie, Santa Fe, NM

Homemade is Best, the new IKEA cookbook

Images from the new IKEA cookbook, Homemade is Best, shot by the ever talented Carl Kleiner.

The styling is spectacular and makes me want to bake all day and night. Did I mention that I love IKEA?
-Jessie, Santa Fe, NM

Graffiti Girl

Photo credit: Unknown, but thanks for letting me bootleg this anyway.

I've never been keen to painting on canvas. There's not quite as much of a thrill to it. I've always preferred random objects, furniture, blocks, old windows, etc. and I think that is why I've taken a liking to graffiti. I guess it goes in the category with my love of fireworks as things that are generally frowned upon by law-abiding citizens.

The word, "graffiti" has such a negative buzz to it, so I must clarify that I'm not applauding those who tag their names on store-fronts with "rude decoration," but I suppose I mean to say that I appreciate finding art in places that it doesn't normally belong. Street art. Wall art.

It can be beautiful, unexpected and a clever surprise.




I love the ephemeral quality to painting on walls, it's permanent and not so permanent nature. It may stay there forever, or, it may be painted over by someone else. That seems to be the risk an artist takes when creating their piece.


I found these pieces on a trip to Los Angeles, specifically on Melrose Blvd, in Santa Monica and in Venice. All proved to be wonderful places to discover murals/stencils in random places.

Boo!

One of my favorite graffiti artists is BLU and I love following his projects. Take a look at this amazing collaborative animation, it blows my mind.


-Jessie, Santa Fe, NM

Where ya been?

Besides wrapping up wedding season, (Alleluia, it's finally over!) I've been blogging over here. Come see the fun!
-Jessie, Santa Fe, NM

Lovely.

See the behind the scenes, here
-Jessie, Santa Fe, NM

God bless snazzy architects.

Educational Centre, Grenada, Spain
Can I live there?
-Jessie, Santa Fe, NM

Red Rover, Red Rover

Gouache and pastel work by Rachell Sumpter.

-Jessie, Santa Fe, NM

Pin a blue ribbon on my brain

The mister and I took a field trip to the New Mexico State Fair. It is quite the sight- lots of animals, cotton candy, kiddos, and everything and anything you can imagine, FRIED.
My favorite part was the rides. Of course, I was way too chicken to get on any of them, for fear of ending up on Yahoo news....but they sure were fun to photograph.

Standing underneath the clanking metal, spinning contraptions and whizzing tracks was quite the thrill!
The colors of the lights in the warm evening air just glowed and radiated so beautifully.
I even became enamored with some of the blurred photographs.

Since we made the trip, I couldn't leave without getting on a single ride, so I settled on the least daunting... the Ferris Wheel. Needless to say, I was still a scared-y cat way up on the top of that thing!

Ferris Wheel from Jessie Baca on Vimeo.

Music: Good Morning Midnight by FANFARLO
-Jessie, Santa Fe, NM

I found my heart in the trees

It's my favorite time of the year, when the air is crisp and cool and the leaves begin to change their colors. The Aspen trees in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains are turning from chartreuse to deep golds to bright orange and even to bittersweet red.
Every year the ski area runs their lifts so folks who only like to hike down the mountain (like me) can enjoy the beautiful scenery.


Being in the mountains is like being in a sea of gold!
-Jessie, Santa Fe, NM

I think I was born too late

How I wish I could have lived in a time when feminine beauty was celebrated and was as easy as pouting your lips and batting your eyelashes. Click to watch this beautiful video of Kodak's earliest motion pictures, dated to 1922.

Amazing.
-Jessie, Santa Fe, NM

Morning Pause

Whilst I should be getting ready for work, I am still in my jammies, listening to good tunes, enjoying a frothy chai latte and eating the most wonderful figs for breakfast.
It is finally the season and the stores are bursting with multiple varieties. I of course had to photograph them because they are so pretty, but I wish you could taste them. They are plump and ripe and remind me of long summer days spent in my grandmother's backyard. We would climb onto the branches and pick figs straight off the tree, and have no idea how special that was.
-Jessie, Santa Fe, NM

The Most Beautiful Store in Malibu

If you ever find yourself in Malibu, California, you MUST be sure to stop at Cosentino's !
There you will find the most beautiful succulents, orchids and seashells...not just on their own, but all mixed together. The creative arrangements are stunningly beautiful and each display is carefully crafted.

Exotic succulent and orchid species are tucked all around the shop and each corner provides another surprise to delight the senses. Everywhere you look, another detail is to be appreciated.

Shelves display antique sea glass, vintage linens and a variety of seashells. You can also find unique furniture, Chinese containers and other one-of-a kind treasures.

I was in heaven! If I could live there, I would. Cosentino's is truly the most beautiful store in all of Malibu.
-Jessie, via Malibu, CA