“Dreamer” by Nick James Adams
drifter// 03.28.21
Comment![“[ my sight ]” by Valeria Magliozzi](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55b7c2f9e4b0d1df6f921d7a/1616166025707-V7ZJKP357LYTW71RNWDU/10.JPG)
“[ my sight ]” by Valeria Magliozzi
drifter// 03.27.21
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“Untitled” by Em Bernatzky
drifter// 03.26.21
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“babushka” by Isadora J.
drifter// 03.25.21
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“Fruit farm” by //sarah
drifter// 03.24.21
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“Untitled” by Benedetta Falugi
drifter// 03.23.21
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“Caminho a Machu Picchu” by Tuane Eggers
drifter// 03.22.21
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“Landmannalaugar” by Lucas Marcomini
drifter// 03.21.21
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“…” by Piero Donadeo
drifter// 3.20.21
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“We’re almost home” by Susan Blase
drifter// 03.19.21
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t r a n s m u t a t i o n: phasing out a process
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I feel like I have been in a holding state for some time. I subconsciously, albeit slightly intentionally, started this year off a bit slower. Being precision-invested, I always struggle to find the right words to encounter the hills I will die on. Living in the age of COVID-19 has left many of us with far too few words. There is a sense of displacement inherent within everything, this viable state of unrest, as the word is exponentially renovating itself.
2020 was….unsettling. There was this pervasive feeling of ennui that seemed to permeate everything. For many reasons, I had to step away from this project because for the first time in my life I really just couldn’t articulate things in a way that didn’t come across as disingenuous. My life completely threw some curveballs at me on a personal level, and with all the global events it just became too overwhelming at times. I was hurting and I felt very lost. And sometimes the best way to find yourself is to create a state of quietus for yourself, which is what I did.
During that time, I also thought quite a bit about various projects. This one, especially, seemed like it had lost its soul somewhere. Just what did I want to communicate to the world, anyway? Everyone had bigger problems to worry about than interior design or photography inspiration. But we’re old friends, you and I. I had more to share than just surface-level idleness or regurgitated concepts, as you know.
It was also increasingly difficult to separate my online presence from my personal life. As much as I like to be transparent, grief has a funny way of blurring the lines in ways I’m not particularly fond or proud of. I put up walls a mile high between me and the world outside, only to realize I was struggling to get out, I had to process the strange dichotomy between death and life that seemed inexorably waging silent battles in the periphery of my soul. I wasn’t just standing at a crossroads, but rather on the edge of a great chasm that threatened to swallow me whole. Stepping back, therefore, was the best thing I could have done, and I appreciate everyone who has been patient, reached out to check-in, etc.
But now I’m back.
And, my, how I’ve grown.
So I want to start with a clean slate. I struggled to find the balance, but now I’ve found it and I’m excited to share it with you.
Tamer Animals has undergone so many transitions over the years, as I have, and I’m ready to take it to the next level.
What can you expect from now on? Hint: It won’t be what you expect and yes, it’s newer, stronger, and better. We’re not shiny and new across the board of course, but we’re wiser— much wiser.
Welcome to the Future.
counterculture: success + the modern age
countercultureCommentHow do we define success?
I often have this question on my mind and there fails to be an answer for it that is cohesive. I think success can be relative to many things and is often dependent upon an ever-evolving view of how we perceive the world around us. What I viewed as successful or a level of happiness in my teens and in my twenties is variable compared to where I am at now. I imagine as I near my forties that evolution and expansion of world view and philosophy will continue. In a modern age where many view success on how popular we are (“How many likes did I get on IG? How many followers?”) it is important to consider what success means to us and whether it is a fleeting desire or something more concrete.
My advice: Be brave. Be unpopular. Aim to be different and pave your own way. Burn bridges if you have to. Be tied to your ideas and their progression— not to your “image.”
I think we know we are “successful” only by experiencing failure. It is really the failures that define us more than the successes because it is within the parameters of failures that we respond with our true character. How do we react to the collapse of a previous desire or mindset? How do we confront the untamed versions of ourselves that are not all shiny and perfect but filled with doubt and struggle? Success is a chemical reaction between intention, failure, and the unwavering optimism and perseverance to continue doing something without knowing what the outcome might be.
Do we define success by having a well-lived life, by being top of our class or profession, by maintaining healthy relationships, by owning a home, by keeping ourselves alive, etc? Success means many different things and sometimes a combination of those things. So what is a healthy level of success? When do we know we have arrived at a satisfactory level of success?
I would like to say there is some secret or magic word we could use to arrive at our destination. There’s not. There’s no formula, no rhyme or reason to the madness, and certainly no shortcuts. One way we can define success is to look at the failures of others that came before us. Another would be to define success by comparing our actions to their outcomes. Some say that it is routine that makes the successor. Others say it is something ingrained within us—that raw energy and intellect that can break the mold. Still others claim it is simply down to luck and believe success is based on being at the right place and right time.
For me personally— I think my secret is comprised of two very different actions. The first? Failure. The second? Recognizing that failure and turning it into a lesson as you dust your boots off and get back up again. There is an almost unhealthy amount of optimism you have to have— a willingness to see a bigger picture and the faith that even if you stumble, and even if you fall, you will never lose sight of the “possibility” of success. Because every time you make an error or a mistake means there is one outcome that is irrefutably aligned with failure— and one less outcome hindering you from success. When you keep your eye on the prize, despite setbacks, you have the ability to achieve the impossible. If you learn from everything— you can do anything. And in time you will know when something is worth working for and when it is time to chase a new dream. And THAT is what separates people from failing or succeeding. If you give up without even trying out every possible method and potential failure, do you truly know what a well-earned success is or is it just pure luck?
There are many “successful” people that failed an awful lot. And there are loads of quotes from these people on this very subject. But the common denominator is that all of these people had unflagging optimism and did not view failure as negative. They weren’t just satisfied with what was out there— they wanted to know more and to be more. And many of them were selfless in their pursuit of bringing their ideas to the world (this doesn’t mean they didn’t capitalize off this or weren’t egocentric, but that many of them had more worldly pursuits of altruism or philanthropy.) They believed in hard work and character-building. Many of them did not shy away from the bad things in life but embraced them as a mode of change or evolution. I admire these people for their courage and perseverance.
I wrote a blog post several years ago and these two things still stand out to me as relevant reflections on this:
*1) What did I do wrong? 2) What lesson should I have learned from this? and 3) How can I do better next time? Take responsibility for where you have fallen short and looking at failures as gifts and lessons. Not only can you place a positive spin on things by doing this but looking at them as experiences (whether good or bad) ultimately gives you the gumption to move forward.\\
*Evolution is important. We are constantly revolving and evolving. Don’t get stuck in old, bad habits and always keep in mind that your origin is not your destination. You and you alone are responsible for the direction your life can take. Don’t be afraid to experiment and don't be afraid to fail either. Become a newer, better version of yourself every chance you get and this will be reflected in your work as well.
If the goal is to be a better version of yourself, you may make mistakes along the way but you will learn from them and grow. I like to think that we are all scientists in some capacity and these are all just great (or awful) experiments. So perspective is tantamount to success. I make mistakes all the time but every mistake I make leads me to evaluate where I am at and make new plans. I like to think of life like a road map. Sometimes we take detours or turn the wrong direction, but we always see something different along the way. It is those differences that make us see the world as a more dynamic place. And if we don’t stay stuck somewhere along those detours, someday we will get on-track and eventually reach our destination. Only we will reach it with more knowledge of the world and its practices within us. This alone is a victory. And if the practice of “re-routing” means that we have setbacks, it only further gives us a wealth of experience and the opportunity to make better decisions in the future.
How do you define success?
daily drifter: encounter
daily drifterComment“She is free in her wildness, she is a wanderess, a drop of free water. She knows nothing of borders and cares nothing for rules or customs. ‘Time’ for her isn’t something to fight against. Her life flows clean, with passion, like fresh water.”
“Reconhecer-se nos olhos do mundo” by Tuane Eggers
“Dreamer” by Nick James Adams
“Moving clouds, Machu Picchu” by //sarah
“Analogue double exposure” by martine.es
“Indolente e muto. Presago di flutti” by nonplusultra22
“August blues (again) “ I'm from Caravaggio
“Red Dragon” by matthias bosch
“Untitled” by Guglielmo Cherchi
“Valley of Fire State Park, NV” by Ivan Echevarria
“Off to Mullaghmore” by Chiara Maretti
daily drifter: aventurine
daily drifterComment“You have to be transparent
so you no longer cast a shadow
but instead let the light pass through you. ”
“Twin Peaks” by Susan Blase
“Pequenos guardiões dos nossos caminhos” by Tuane Eggers
“Dreamer” by Nick James Adams
“Seven Road Signs” by J Bro
“Analogue double exposure.” by martine.es
“Lake Louise in color, 1” by //sarah
“Crystal Springs Reservoir, CA” by Ivan Echevarria
“Untitled” by Benedetta Falugi
“Untitled” by Nadav Gazit
“lelac” by matthias bosch
daily drifter: roam
daily drifterComment“The world is as large as I let it be. Each step I take into the unknown reveals a thousand more steps of possibility. Earth may not be growing but my world certainly does with each step I take.”
"Boiler Room x Viva Festival" by Giuliana Massaro
"Perito Moreno 4" by Gabriele Pagani
"Touristic Destination" by Naomi
"Troodos Mountains" Kathryn Young
"Untitled" by Martine Eshuis
"Que seja leve o sentir" by Tuane Eggers
"E se tu fossi qui, adesso, ti abbraccerei con tutte le mie forze" by nonplusultra22
"Untitled" by Benedetta Falugi
"Untouched" by Louis Dazy
"Winter" by Isadora J.
xoxo,
Ally
movers. - march edition
movers | makersComment
A new monthly feature celebrating designers + creatives that inspire us. Are you a mover/maker, too? Drop us a line at ta@tamer-animals.com to be highlighted in the future!
interior superior: lazy saturday edition
interior superiorCommenti n t e r i o r s u p e r i o r
We've been a bit quiet around these parts since the first of the year-- mainly due to the extraordinarily time-consuming process of relocating that seems to drag on quite literally forever. Thank you for sticking around with us, though, and we'll be posting new content daily again starting this month!
We have many new features on the way. Speaking of, are you an artist? If so, please contact us at ta@tamer-animals.com to be highlighted on a new feature we will have coming up soon!
Here are some fresh looks that are inspiring our home renovation right now. Happy Saturday, folks! :)
(.) Light, natural tones, and pops of color can really work wonders to enhance a space.
(.) Graphic tile can add dimension to a kitchen or bathroom.
(.) Less is more! This minimal kitchen uses color to add wonderful visual contrast.
(.) Wide open space can be useful for a variety of activities-- not just cooking!
(.) Furniture pieces with low, clean lines can create directionality and visual harmony.
(.) A clean and compact workspace can ease distractions while promoting productivity.
(.) Bringing the outdoors in can be calming and add some visual interest to your cleansing rituals.
(.) Cozy bedding and green plants can compliment a space well. Some plants can even help with replenishing oxygen in the home or with filtering out negative odors.
(.) Big mirrors can add dimension to a space and make it seem larger than life!
(.) We just love the gray flooring with the pops of color. The adaptive reuse of the fireplace is a nice touch, too!
REflections
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On a global level //
It was a year in flux.
Beyond all political rankings, one could say that the year was an uneasy year. There was a tension in the air from a social standpoint. 2017 was an abusive relationship marred by feelings of self-doubt and fear, looking over your shoulder, and anxiously waiting for the other shoe to drop.
But within times of dissension, a catalyst is often born. It starts as a small, wavering voice in the din. It coaxes out more timid souls-- those who have had enough of what they have been served. Suddenly there is an eruption of change and evolution occurs. In some ways, 2017 is the year many realities shattered with utterances of "me, too" and the realization of the disparate state of the world. It has been the year of the bottom dropping out-- but when you hit rock bottom, the only way you can go is up.
And up we went this year-- into the unknown to the farther reaches of space. We also reached deep within ourselves and debunked countless longheld scientific theories. We are coming to terms with a reality of being small and insignificant in the grand scheme of things. We also collectively have wrestled with our own frailties and the realization that things we thought were sure and true were simply band-aids placed on larger global issues. It had been a year of excess and poor planning. A year where that which grounded us simultaneously shook us to the core. But it has been a year of growing, of collectively seeing errors, and change can be seen on the horizon as the curtain of current events draws to a close.
On a personal level //
This year was formative for me in so many ways. I think up until the last few years I had been quite malleable— changing frequently to satisfy others and preoccupied with relationships and objects. I was dissatisfied, constantly in a state of proving my worth, and utterly exhausted. I was a workaholic, consumed with my career, and could not slow down for anything for fear of experiences escaping me. I was in ill-fated relationships with people that, although may have been okay on their own merit, were not good for me creatively or spiritually. There was an ongoing theme where my creativity was stifled, I was expected to fit inside a mold of their choosing, and everything I was became folly for criticism.
I felt suffocated, restricted, and complacent in so many aspects of my life. I was separated from my creative spirit and drowning in messes of my own making. I was troubled, in a perpetual balancing act of people and places, and somewhere within the chaos lost who I was and my purpose. A few years ago I was merely a shell of my best self, jaded, and vulnerable. I felt my creativity blocked, was confused, and also intensely lonely because I placed my worth in less stable hands. I always thought I needed someone else to ground me, to balance me-- I now know only I was capable of that.
A few years ago I went from making $40k a year to $15k almost overnight. I barely slept, I barely ate— I lived and breathed architecture, work, relationships, and socializing for almost six years. It felt like the death of my soul because everything was a fog and I was just going through the motions or what was expected of me at that point. When I found out I was pregnant, I saw everything I had worked so hard for come to a grinding halt. I was scared and for the first time in my life I lacked a trajectory or system. I no longer knew what my future would hold or what my place in the world was. I stopped trusting my own intuition and going with the flow. I stopped and the world became very still— until it wasn’t anymore.
As I began the process of rebuilding my art portfolio and getting back into fine arts, I realized there was this huge empty space in the truly creative aspects of my life that had occurred sometime in the past decade or so. I used to create and draw and do all the time-- it was my lifeblood and what defined me as a person. And I recognized that I was much like clay— yielding, limitless, and adaptive but still clay nonetheless. Indented, fragmented, able to be shaped and reshaped over and over again. And I was-- over and over again.
It was in 2017 that I entered the fire and came out a beautiful object— brazen, hard, impenetrable. Strong. Fearless. Brave. All those things I thought out of my reach. When everything else fell away, I was still here and more alive than ever before.
No longer limited by anxieties, fears, or opinions I have become the phoenix I always knew I could be.
I stopped caring what others thought of me or how I was perceived and began validating myself while continuing supporting others. I stopped letting other people’s opinions about myself transform my own. I was no longer preoccupied with the things that confined me. I was so limited by trying to be everything to everyone all of the time, buying into ill opinions and feeling the sting of being abandoned and ostracized by some. It took me a while but I now know none of it mattered and the smoke and mirrors of other people or the pictures painted do not define me as a person. I used to think it was selfish to validate myself but now I know better. I was too dependent on their criticism to realize that I was doing just fine as a human being. I thought I needed to be accepted to be loved or have value and I was so wrong. I did not love myself or respect myself enough then, putting my passions and needs to the wayside, and it should never have come to that in the first place. It wasn't my standards that were the problem (they were surprisingly minimal and realistic)-- it was the fact that the people I chose and the standards were not compatible.
I developed a thicker skin because I chose to do so— not because of what others thought I needed and threw my way. I developed an incredible amount of patience. I gained more compassion and more reserve. I saw clearly where I was wrong in so many situations and right in so many others. I became connected with the universe again in a way I could not see for so long. I began to appreciate how small I was in this vast world of ours and how much joy came from the simplest of things. I learned to focus on the meaningful and disregard most everything else. Living life with an amazing, brilliant, hilarious toddler has made me see the world through her eyes in a new and vibrant way. I am constantly amazed by the challenges and rewards of motherhood and found that, even if I failed at everything else, being her mom is the definition of happiness for me.
My life is almost unrecognizeable from my previous one but I am now a more satisfied, more polished, less frail version of myself. The past few years have been a wake-up call of priorities— for the first time in my adult life my career is no longer #1. Everything took a backseat to my family and finally my “self” which was all long overdue. I stopped taking on projects and obligations that I could not maintain. I stopped focusing on relationships and friendships for the most part— which although wonderful in their own ways were a huge source of stress and ultimately draining for me. I stopped being a social butterfly and began developing skills with the excess energy I had been devoting to that. I was always "good" at everything so I never really mastered anything. I want to master some things while I still can.
I journeyed back into creating for the purpose of creating. I found that though my time to do so is more limited the feeling of creating is transformative in itself. I learned to tune out the dissonance and change up the frequency in my life. I found my strength of purpose came from being a mom, bringing beauty into the world, and from being happy in the moment. I still don’t have all of the answers and I still have a LOT to do in this world and in this life. I have a lot of growing to do yet to be sure.
But the main takeaway from this year was that I could adapt to constant change with ease. I could become better, stronger, wiser. I gained confidence last year but this year I gained more strength of character than I ever thought possible. This year found me making choices that were painful, going against the grain, and paving my own way. This year meant letting go and finding joy in cracks of sidewalks and in the laughs of babes. My daughter brought back the “song” of my life and this year brought back the color and the wonder. I found my purpose, not only through motherhood but through getting back to basics. I dusted off the pages of my life and am ready to experience it again with passion and tranquility. I now have the awareness and fortitude to succeed because I have peace and a wealth of experience at my fingertips.
2018 is a big year for us, not only because we are moving (closer to Asheville! Woohoo!) but also because it is a chance to grow new roots, to establish new habits, and to be closer to nature. In essence to build a new life as a new person, which are both scary and exciting prospects. As we renovate the new house, I've been painting everything white and I think it is such a symbol for new beginnings. It is the feeling of getting a new sketchbook and opening it to the first page--a blank slate within the realm of possibilities-- and there is something very exciting and invigorating about that. Things like losing weight and eating better are also on the agenda, of course, but exploring life with my little one and spending more time with family are the top priorities this year.
Wishing all of you a joyous 2018 filled with great experiences, growing, and the fire of new beginnings. Much love to you and yours in the coming year. Thanks for sharing this journey with us.
Now if you’ll excuse me— I have more growing to do. :)
shop update: incoming!
shop updateComment
We have all sorts of amazing items hitting the shop this coming week! A new round of necklaces, some unique vintage pieces, and more!
Also, be sure to check out our BIGGEST SALE OF THE YEAR going on right now! xoxo
