This weekend I went to see Megafaun, one of my favorite new bands from the past few years. Their harmonies and musicianship are stellar. An unlikely troupe of bearded Vikings, they make sweet harmonies, jangly guitar sounds a la The Byrds (my Dad would be proud) amidst spooky dissonant noise.

If you haven’t already, give them a listen and pick up one of their albums.

Photo by D.L. Anderson

Leni at this blog is making the “ultimate happy playlist”. After some thinking, below are my top songs that are upbeat with positivity as the message. What are yours?

There’s Hope – India.Arie
Energy – The Apples In Stereo
Lovely Day – Bill Withers
The Beatles – Here Comes the Sun
The Monkees – I’m a Believer (sigh, Davey Jones was the best tv boyfriend)
Put Your Records On – Corinne Bailey Rae
Pump it Up – Elvis Costello
Never Had Nobody Like You – M.Ward & Zooey Deschanel
My Baby Just Cares for Me – Nina Simone
I Am Your Tambourine – Tift Merritt
Bang a Gong – T. Rex
I Got You – James Brown
Joy to the World – Three Dog Night
Such Great Heights – The Postal Service
Deee-Lite – Groove is in the Heart
All I Wanna Do – Sheryl Crowe (yes, I love this song)
Miracle – Josh Rouse
Do You Realize – The Flaming Lips

I’ve had the pleasure of working with Ellie Snow over at the indieNC blog where her posts on art and design in North Carolina are well-written and inspiring. Her own blog, Mint Design, is a visual feast and a joy to read. And, if that weren’t enough praise, she is also a very talented graphic designer.

What music are you listening to these days?

I just got the new Andrew Bird CD “Noble Beast” and I’ve also been enjoying Calexico’s “Carried to Dust.” Feist gets a good amount of play, too.

Read any good books lately?

Yes! I recently finished Icy Sparks by Gwyn Rubio. It’s about a young girl with Tourette’s syndrome living in rural Kentucky in the 1950s. It’s hilarious, sad, and touching.

Have a yummy recipe to share?

My fiance is a very creative cook, and loves to make up new recipes for dinner each night. The other night he came up with this delicious Banana Horchata Milkshake, which makes four small glasses:

• 2 bananas

• 1 1/2 cup milk

• 1/2 cup water

• 2 cups ice cubes

• 3/4 cup horchata mix

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• 1/2 tsp cinnamon

• Blend it all together and enjoy!

What is inspiring you at the moment?

Soft colors, patterns, and delicate details. Ez over at Creature Comforts summed it up for me pretty well with this post.

What projects are you currently working on?

I’m getting married in three months, so lately I have wedding projects on the brain. I just bought a gocco, and am trying to hammer out the details of our invitation suite, programs, and other design and decor elements of our wedding.

Photo Credits:
1. Andrew Bird
2. milkshake by lorena arance
3. delicate details: danielle rante, emily ryan via creature comforts, anthropologie cardigan

In 2004 I started a little event called The Rock & Shop Market to bring attention to local designers like myself and highlight the talented musicians in the area. At the time there wasn’t anything like it in the Triangle. Now, the area is ripe for designers selling their wares, similar events have popped up to much success and The Rock & Shop is as flourishing as ever. I’m proud to be hosting the eighth! one this Saturday the 13th and I hope to see you there. It will be indoors at the Tir Na Nog (across from Moore Square) in downtown Raleigh from 1-5pm. Admission is $3.

The event promises to be a great one with live music by local bands The Whistlestop & The Tender Fruit plus a hand-picked selection of over 30 emerging North Carolina designers selling their goods. You can check out all the designers as well as hear preview mp3’s of the bands that are playing at the website.

I hope you’ll come out to grab a beer, shop local, and support fellow North Carolinians who are making a living by doing what they love.