Music Alert! The Year of Discipline

Hey guys, I haven't blogged in months, I'm the worst! I don't have much time, I'm scurrying off to the studio to work my fingers to the bone but I thought I'd leave you with a little music.

This is a song called "When We Say", originally by AJ Rafael, covered by my best friend, Colin Miner :) He's working on a year-long music project/challenge that he's calling "The Year of Discipline", in which, he does either a video of a cover song, or original song, every single week. 52 weeks, 52 songs. We're on week two here, and I'm having a lot of fun shooting with my Canon 5D Mark II and editing the videos :)

Anyway, enough blabbing, watch the video :)

Heartless. But not Kanye.

I posted this video over on my other blog for Sara-Tone-In Records, but I realize that not too many people have found their way over there yet so I just had to post it again on this blog. Why you ask? Because it must be seen/heard! A spine tingling cover of Kanye West's song, "Heartless", but completely reinvented! Another amazing contribution to the world of art/music, but Chelsea Wilde aka 1/2 of Minor Birds. Don't skip over this, you're only cheating yourself!

PS: Please follow my other blog, it shall be a music/art based blog :) Sara-Tone-In Records BLOG

Great Grandmother's Spatula! It's already 2011!

Whoa! Happy New Year All! I haven't blogged in ages, yikes! I'm a hot mess ya'll :) STill recovering from the most insane November/December of my life thus far! I know, I know, I've never been quite so M.I.A. as I have been as of late, but this Horse Feathers video is absolute magic and I needed to share with you all :)



Thanks to everyone for giving me the most successful holiday season I've seen with my little business yet! It's so exciting (and sometimes scary and overwhelming) to see this little Etsy thang grow like it has.

In a short time I will have some big news to share, well actually, a couple pieces of big news to share :) So please check back, as inconsistent as my blogging has become, it is my goal to get back on the vblog wagon...and I know...I've said that before...hang in there :)

Photo: A quick snapshot I took on the icy dock of my parents lovely summer home in Lake George, NY. They just moved to a new spot on the lake which is just a stones throw from the house I was brought home to as a newborn :) Anyway, took this picture with my Canon 5D Mark II and I'm really loving it!

Broken Bells. IN. MY. HEAD.

This song has been stuck in my head for days. I can't stop listening to it, even when I want to. It's kind of haunting. And I REALLY REALLY love the lyrics. Enjoy!


Lyrics | Broken Bells lyrics - The High Road lyrics

Horse Feathers covers "Drain You" by Nirvana! MUST WATCH!

Ok, I lied, I have more to say today, and yes, it's about music. I know I know, all I ever do is talk about music, but...oh well! That's just how it's gonna be around here :) Music is ever present in my life, so it might as well be in my blog too :)

Anyway, you MUST, and I do mean MUST watch/listen to this cover of Nirvana's "Drain You" performed by one of my best kept musical secrets, Horse Feathers! Horse Feathers is pretty low key and folkiebut, Justin Ringle's voice has something that is truly undeniably magnetic. Dare I say it's magical? It's like a mix of honey and razor blades. Does that resonate with anyone else or am I just sounding crazy here? Their reinterpretation of "Drain You" is absolutely brilliant, coming from a long time Nirvana fan, I give it my seal of approval! I can't even begin to tell you how happy a combination of Nirvana and Horse Feathers makes me. I'm giddy. Seriously. YOU. MUST. WATCH! Oh yes, and, enjoy friends :)

Horse Feathers / Drain You cover from Lesley Graves on Vimeo.

Elliott Smith : Waltz #2

I could listen to Waltz #2 endlessly, I really could, it's that good. Elliott Smith was a genius, it's always such a shame to see a life cut short that created art that was so impactful on YOUR life. It saddens me to think not that many people seem to know Elliott Smith's music, so this is my contribution to the world. Small yet poignant. This is a live acoustic performance of "Waltz #2" in a very intimate setting. While it's raw and imperfect, the emotion and vulnerability Elliott Smith gives off is hypnotizing and magnetic. Please take a listen, with your ears, and your heart. You will thank me later.

Muse vs. Jes Hudak : "Time Is Running Out", MUST WATCH

So, I hope your not sick of me posting about music because it's pretty much the biggest thing in my life besides my business...

Anyway, just a quick post to show off my friend Jes Hudak's disgusting talent once again. Here's her cover of "Time Is Running Out" by Muse. Love her take on it! And holy wow, can she sing the sh*t outta that song or what!!??

Great Job Jes! Woohoo! East Coast power!

P.S.: Jes just played the LA date of Lilith Fair...I forgot to tell you all! But anyway, yeah, high fives all around :)

Summer Concerts: First up, Kings of Leon

Back again. I'm the queen of inconsistent blogging :)

Anyway, last night I went to a Kings of Leon concert in Saratoga. Good times with friends and good tunes. I must admit though, I was pretty distracted by the fact that I have to pee about 2 mins into the show. Why did I drink so much beer before hand? Silly silly girl.

Unfortunately, my dudes in Kings of Leon didn't play either of the song's I was really looking forward to them playing, but I will forgive them for that. Maybe.

One of those songs I was looking to hear is called "Manhattan", and I've been listening to it a lot lately since I've been going through a bout of homesickness for my former home in NYC. Gahhhhh, why didn't you guys play it? What, you don't take singular requests from a crowd of 25,000 people? Well, thats just ridiculous!

On a more positive note, Caleb's (the lead singer) voice was on point and Nathan (the drummer) and the husband of the one and only Jessie Baylin, was a joy to watch. I wish I could play drums and blow superb bubble gum bubbles at once as Nathan has seemed to master. And, you know, these boy's aren't bad to look at. Riiighhhhttt? Good lookin' family...

So now, I'll leave you with a pretty picture and a song. This is "Manhattan" by Kings of Leon. Thanks for the show boys!

Video Alert: Watch Me Whistle While I Work!

Ever been curious about what goes into making a piece of jewelry? Well, curious-itize no more my friends! I thought I'd share with you all a fun little video I made of myself making one of my signature 'By Heart' Rings from start to finish. So I guess I don't really have much else to say in this post other than, I hope you enjoy my cinematic blog debut :)

Making of the 'By Heart' Ring from Ashley Nizolek on Vimeo.

P.S.- A suer huge thanks to Sarah Daly and Lizzie Mackie for providing the soundtrack to this video :)

Damian Marley? Yes please!

I have gone through "musical phases" for as long as I can remember. Some are longer than others, some are more deeply connected than others. It's not to say that any of the music pops out of nowhere, it's always something that I've listened to along the way, but it's like a true reawakening to certain sounds and words. It's a welcomed phenomenon in my life. Music is probably my single biggest creative inspiration. Does it always relate directly to my designs? No. But it is what gets my creative kinetic energy moving again when I feel like I'm dead in the water.

Right now, I'm in a full fledged Damian Marley phase. I've ALWAYS listen to him, always loved his music, but it's almost like I wasn't HEARING the music until more recently. And now it's like a rainbow bomb went off in my head. I'm so much more motivated, feeling creatively strong, I'm having a new appreciation for things I was maybe beginning to take for granted. Maybe it's not ALL because of the music, but the music certainly was the catalyst. It's a weird phenomenon, this musical phase thing. I'm always in awe of how struck I can be with music almost instantaneously. It's like a light switch goes on and the sun comes out. I think it's my one TRUE love. Music is always there for you. Or at least it's always been there for me :)

Anyway, I just thought I'd share my thoughts with you all. Thanks to Damian Marley's music I'm feeling renewed right now, and I can't say I hate it! Can't wait for the Distant Relatives album on May 18th! Woohoo! Ok ok, it's time for me to be productive but I'll leave you with the song I woke up with in my head this morning...

CHAMPIONS!!! : Celebration Video :)

Oh yeah, your looking at the champs right there! You must have all sent a whole lotta good vibes our way because my brother Cody and his team came up victorious in last nights Sectional Championship Game! Woohoo! Saratoga hasn't taken home the Sectional Championship in 10 years! The game was a total nail biter and the crowd was VERY energetic. There was some serious electricity flowing through that arena! I'm so happy I was able to be there to support the team, and scream until my vocal chords felt numb :)

In honor of this momentous occasion in my little brothers life, I made a little "Music Video" of the end of the game and the team celebration at the end, otherwise known as a "celly" in the hockey world. Watch Cody and his team celebrate, accept their trophy and generally love each other :)

Congratulations, Saratoga Varsity Hockey! Everyone is so proud of you! Good luck a the NYS Quarter Finals in Utica!!!

Video Reaction: Sweet Butterflation of The Heart...

Have you ever had the most excellent opportunity to see someone react to a package you sent them in the mail as they are opening it? I was lucky enough to experience this recently and found out it's an adrenaline rush of joy! I sent this little "By Heart" Ring off to Lexy out in Los Angeles and was absolutely elated to find out via this video just how much she loved it! The ring made a long trek from the Left Coast to the Right Coast in about 2 days and was greeted with such warmth when it arrived. It's always nice to see one of your babies go to a good home :)

Thank You Lexy! This video provides instant butterflation of the heart every time I watch it :)

That's What She Said...

To counteract yesterdays blog of frustration, I think a lovely compilation of "That's What She Said" is in order, to turn my blog frown upside down. In fact, I think you'll be seeing a lot more from "The Office" on this blog, because....well, because it's awesome. Clearly.

In a valiant effort to break up the monotony of a slow, frigid, gray January, I think I might take a trip to Marshall's Home Goods to frolic amongst the discounted, yet unique and almost always enjoyable home decor, kitchen gadgets and wall hangings. Yes, I just might do that. I just might...

Marshall's, here I come! (That's what she said!)

Big News for Jes Hudak and 'Another Day'

Remember when I told you about my bud Jes Hudak and her musical stylings? The amazing singer/songwriter who is from the same little town I am? Well, a couple days ago she got some HUGE news. News that could very well be that boost that launches her into uncharted territory with her career...

What is it you ask? Well, Jes is being featured on a little old thing called AOL! Hey video was chosen to be their "Video Of The Day" for January 17th! Amazing! You know what, she can explain it all a lot better than I can, so watch this!



Isn't that not the MOST amazing news an artist can get? She's so excited, it's just so endearing! I've had a number of friends try to break into the music industry and know just how difficult and frustrating it can be. But, THIS is the oppertunity of a lifetime for Jes! I'm really pulling for her and hoping that this exposure is what she needs to get the ball rolling in the direction she wants it to! So with that said I'd really love to show you ONE more video. Jes was asked to write a song to go along with an independent film...the song is called 'Another Day' and it is amazing as usual, but the video that goes with it is pretty intense. Be forewarned, I got a little teary, not gonna lie...



Love Jes, and her music? Help me help Jes, to spread the word and give her a little shout out on your blog :) Hey, if nothing else, it's good karma :)

GOOD LUCK JES!