in the past four hours...

this is what happened. From bare ground, to this. Granted, we're doing better than a couple weekends ago when we had 18 inches of snow, but still. 4 hours.


What a brave soul...

Merry Christmas

I wish you all a Merry Christmas from myself and my Christmas Cactus!

Moonlight

I saw this project called "My Personal Moon" somewhere in the blogsphere last week, but now I can't remember where. But nonetheless, it's stunning. Absolutely Stunning. How nice would it be to have a moon with you every night? Nice, I think.

Thought this post would be quite relevant now that the days will officially begin to get longer! Yay!


Image Credit : Link

I had christmas down in AAAAAAFRICA

Uh just found this and it's incredible!!!! Of course my favorite part starts at 1:57. I give you permission to skip ahead.


Especially because my boyfriend IS having Christmas down in Africa!!!

I also like how one of the comments posted was:
"i am even sending e-mails to people i don't like anymore telling them to watch this."

What we're all thinking with a feminine touch.

Pretty Bitter stationary that pushes the envelope.




Personally I love this. I love rude stationary.

Whoops, it's been a week. you know christmas, and trips to the airport. But I found this today. enjoy!



more videos from blu can be seen here.

I wonder if my college history professor posted this

I found this artist, Kate O'Connor via Design for Mankind a few minutes ago and fell in love with her embroidery! I've been doing a little embroidery myself lately and find it inspiring. For a series of her embroidery work, she took random ads of craigslist like this one, my personal favorite.




Funny because my college history professor had one of these shirts. Apparently he was wearing it back in '99 according to a commenter in the link above. Oh how I miss him and how he called me "Varesski". le sigh.

o.CAT

So as Lee and I went to watch Outbreak last night, he noticed that one of my speakers wasn't working. sad face. how long it wasn't working? Couldn't tell you, but I thought, what a great christmas present for a boy to get me! As I was researching options, I came across this unique piece of sound equipment, the Rosewill o.CAT I can't even believe this exists. It's like "hello kitty" for the post-graduate.


AND the wireless remote is shaped like a paw print!

This is normal conversation on Justin Rd

For weeks, I've been so excited for the Curly Girl holiday party. I've never had a work holiday party to go to that didn't involve a couple pizzas and a half an hour of our time. So I decked myself out. As the date approached, I began to think I was going to over do it. I mean seriously, a carrie bradshaw skirt, a lime green top, some crazy necklace that a really stylish great aunt would own, and some berry red heels. But I just had to do it. After I put the outfit on, 30 minutes before the party, I looked at myself in the mirror and said, "Whoops. Maybe I should dress down a little..."

So, I asked my roommate:

L: "Do you think I look ridiculous?"
N: " Actually, you look like Ugly Betty."
L: "Good thing I like what she wears and I know you do, too, or else I'd be really insulted."

So I shall wear it, drink pomegranate mojitos, eat cupcakes, and be merry! Happy Holidays!

This one's for the boys...

Remember back to a couple days ago when I showed you this. Now, there's a version for the boys! See it all here!

"Thanks, it's vintage"

Vintage has been all the rage for the past couple years. Vintage cameras, vintage photos, vintage clothes, vintage shoes, vintage jewelry, vintage fabric, and the mere knowledge that something is vintage, even if it's totally effing ugly.

Hey, well with this huge vintage trend, comes huge prices. Something that was 99¢ at goodwill 3 years ago, is now $99 in a Newbury Street "thrift" store.

But guess what? Now you can get your very own "vintage" pinhole camera for $24.95. Granted, it was probably manufactured yesterday and it's made out of cardboard. But it's still pretty cool and you can use 35mm film rather than 120mm film that most vintage cameras require (which is more expensive to buy and develop).



hey, or you could just bid on this.

image credit: x-tremegeek

Where can I get one?

I was poking around the blogsphere today and found a post from Holly of decor8 and haus maus about a fabulous artist in Germany, Volksfaden! She takes old photographs and applies modern fabrics. What's really great is that not only does she create these wonderful collages, but she uses the images to promote the designer fabrics she sells. I'm pretty much in love with these. And I just pining for a print!

Keep Buying and Discard the Credit Card Bill

So I totally bought the atherton lin calendar I wrote about a couple weeks ago, but Nicole of littlebrownpen just wrote in her blog about this doozy she just put in her etsy shop, a Keep Calm and Carry On Spoof calendar! I LOVE the "Look Dewey and Avoid Stinking"!

I've been obsessing about that WWII revival poster (like every other design blogger on the planet) for a few months now and even asked for one for Christmas. And now I think I'll need the calendar to go with it. I mean, I'll need a calendar for my office and my home right? And maybe...I'll need one for my studio too, and my handbag, and, and, and....

OH and even better? (if you can even imagine) it's only $5! That's right, I said it. It's less than the latte I had at Starbucks this morning. Nicole will send you a PDF of the image and you can print it out yourself! omg, I'm so stoked. This is so perfect because the other thing I asked for Christmas is a printer :)

Doodling

So at Curly Girl Design, I sometimes doodle while on the phone...


Now, I'm not sure who these people are. Do I think the people on the phone look like this? I hope not, because that lady's neck is scary long and that boy is a total creep. But it's fun. And I might just do it more often.

For all you pogonophiles out there...

Feeling a little too smooth?  That beard growing in patchy?  Found out that though your hair is brown, your beard is red?  Solve all your facial hair problems with the help of etsy seller i made you a beard.  A gal just trying to roughen up even the babiest of baby faces, one beard at a time.  See how she does it on her blog!

Christmas List Item #1

I think this stationary from Cracked Designs says it all. No more "p.s. write back soon" "p.s.s. I really mean it this time, thx."

Check out Cracked Designs other stuff here.

image credit: Cracked Designs

I won! I won!

AHHH! I definitely won a giveaway today! Creature Comforts, one of the best blogs ever, hosts giveaways every once and a while and today, I won! Smock is a letterpress company out of upstate New York and they make the cutest notecards, invitations, etc. And one of them will be mine soon!

Thanks to Ez, the creator of Creature Comforts! Go on, take a peek.

Now what?

I just spent the past month reading these books.
And I just finished the last one about 5 minutes ago....I guess I'll wait for the movie next week.
Strange, how reliant one becomes on an entertaining series. Though the post-twilight mood is not nearly as depressingly severe as Harry Potter had been....

I like this kind of freelance work.

I finished this save the date for a co-worker of mine last night. She loves it, so I love it. It was actually a lot of fun to make. So much less stressful than working with an art director. Of course, the bride in question is NOT a bridezilla by any means, so I think I got off easy on this one.

I think I really like designing simple things. So if anyone needs some wedding invites and such, give me a ring!

I can't believe I was asked to type this.

This was just hysterically obscene.

Oh my gosh, I need this

I'm pretty sure I need this calendar from Atherton Lin immediately.

View other work by the London-based collaborative here.

In case you feel like wasting a few minutes...or hours.

This is so much fun.


courtesy of Design Crushvia The Skinny

Hahahaha

hahahaha.

(image: link)

Lookit

So I started my new full-time job at Curly Girl Design about 3 weeks ago and I absolutely adore it. It's a really fun environment to work in with great people and great products. I'm the new production assistant @ Curly Girl and this is a brand new position for them as the business has been thriving (even during the multiple economy crashes).

I do a little bit of everything, but my first main assignment was to design a wholesale order form, which is being packed into every box and catalog we send out the door. It's soon going to be online for retailers etc. So lots of people are seeing it.

It's my first technical design project in InDesign and I think I did a pretty darn good job. Check it out below (smaller than actual size since you're not supposed to see wholesale prices :)!




Let me know what you all think!


Ps. I swear, I'll do some art soon. I have to design a Save-the-Date for an old coworker, so look out for that soon

Blatant Self Promotion

So if any of you were following my blog way back in June, you'd know that I had been working on an illustration for Body + Soul Magazine. Well, it's out on the newsstands! So I can now share this with you. If you look close enough, you can see my name in the bottom right hand corner.



Go out and get yourself a copy and flip directly to page 62. Stare for the recommended 10 minutes, twice a day.

More tables

Two more tables in the running for a computer desk.


The green table is PERFECT as far as size goes (and price)....

The yellow table is just perfect except for size (and price)....

I'm trying to get the seller of the yellow one down so I can just get both. Our new apartment is looking quite empty from the lack of furniture, so I'm sure I can find a place for it somewhere.

Pictures of the new apartment should be up soon. It's still in the state of slight embarrassment.

Also, I just signed up for this awesome project called Scavenger Project. They're going to send me a little package with 24 subjects. I send them images back responding to those 24 subjects, I get at least one image published in a book through Art House Co-op. Pretty cool.

And, Free People is having a fashion illustration contest. Direct link here. Totally into that, too.

And job applications and interviews all around. Wish me luck!

I wish it was a little bit taller, I wish it was a baller.

Found this on craigslist in my search for the perfect small desk.



But it's really short. 28" to the desk surface, which would be fine, but the space from floor to the bottom of those oh so perfect drawers that are just calling for some of these knobs is only 20". And I'm pretty sad about it. Actually devastated.

Overly Inspired and No Output

So, as I said before, I've packed up all of my art supplies for the upcoming move (6 days!!!!). In the meantime, I keep coming across images for inspiration and dragging them onto my desktop. The following has resulted.



I hope to do something with all of it soon. Even just organizing them by subject.....ah but the kitchen is calling me for packing and cleaning. Blast.

Away until further notice

Sooooo, I packed up all my art supplies the other day, hence, I won't be posting much until I get settled in my new apartment at the beginning of September.

But another show is coming in September at ellO gallery!

"Impression Process"
September 3 - September 29
ellO gallery
110 State St
Portsmouth, NH

Socially Acceptable Babies

While browsing on etsy I came across the white elephant vintage shop.

This is one of the vintage products she has and it made me laugh for about 5 minutes.



Not only does white elephant vintage have a huge array of the strangest vintage objects I've ever seen (for example, this booklet) but the product photos are just wonderful.

Newsnewsnews

So news story #1:

The Cram It! show at ellO gallery in Portsmouth opened on August 6th and three of my paintings sold on the first day! YAY!

#2
I've decided to start sewing blankets (kinda sorta quilts) and plush sculptures. Because I think they are pretty.

#3
Nikki has joined blog land in my favorite form of writing. See here.

#4
We move in 21 days. Which means I'll have space to do my work in 21 days.

Cheers all around.

If you haven't heard yet...

We started listening to this cd at work, "Kismet" by Jesca Hoop. It's absolutely beautiful. She's definitely one to keep you ears out for.

Things that make me smile

I got home from work and blasting from my neighbors apartment is "True Colors" by Phil Collins.

Whoever you are, dear neighbor, thanks for making me smile.

I want one.

look at this staircase/bookshelf.

woah...


image credit: apartment therapy

Busybusy

So I've been very busy the past couple of weeks painting and such. Mostly for the ellO gallery show next week.

boots. watercolor and collage. 5"x7"


green tree. acrylic on masonite. 8"x10"

One of my paintings was inspired by a smaller one i did for the show.

birches. acrylic on masonite. 8"x10"
My roommateliked it so much. So i decided to do a larger version for her yesterday

birches 2. acrylic on canvas. 24"x24"

Both of these birch tree paintings were inspired by a fabric I came across last week. "Birch, Riverside Adventures" by Lara Cameron


Should look nice in our new apartment. Sorry for the terrible photo!

All images (except for the large birches painting) can be purchased ($10-$20) at ellO gallery, 110 State Street, Portsmouth, NH

Mamma Mia, Now I really know...

My roommate, Nikki, and I went to see this movie last night. Our moms brought us to see the musical years ago, both being Abba fans themselves (more so my mom. This was quite a few years ago, but I do recall my mother standing up in the middle of the show, singing and dancing along with the cast...) Anyways, Nikki and I both loved the musical. So much fun and happiness and a great updated way to perform those disco classics my mom is always talking about.
The movie was just as darn good. The cast was great, the setting was great, the set design was great, the singing was great (well except for Pierce. I'm sorry, dear. You're beautiful and all, but ya just can't sing.)

The plans have now been set. At the age of 35, Nikki and I will open an inn, probably in a location where it is always warm and on the beach, possibly in a foreign country.

In the meantime, my goal is to decorate my room in the new apartment in a similar fashion as the rooms in the film.

Go see it. Then you'll really know.

just one look and i can hear a bell ring, one more look and i forget everything...ooohh-ooo-ooohhhh

Effin-thanks

So I'm basically obsessed with this.




image credit: 16sparrows.com

More Sesame Street

Seriously. If this is how the upcoming season of Sesame Street is looking, I'm probably going to have to change my morning routine. I mean, David Beckem, Kim Cattrel, LL COOL J, Jack Black, Neil Patrick Harris.

They've really stepped it up and I'm psyched about it. All that Disney Channel stuff is starting to kill me. Get the kids back to the basics. If that means bringing in celebrities and making fun of pop culture, all the better, really.

Also, I have a new crush, Neil Patrick Harris. I can't upload the video, but here's the web address.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=wDaszN9ByxM

In the meantime, enjoy this Old Spice Commercial he did.

I wish my studio wasn't my bedroom floor.

Just about one month until I move into a bigger place....until then......................

Spending the remainder of the night and all day tomorrow working on stuff for the ellO show.  Updates when I'm finished.

Sesame Street is still awesome.

I just love this.

workworkwork

Today was productive.  I worked on a small piece for the upcoming gallery show.  I'm trying to stay pretty simple and planning on doing 2 different series.  Hopefully the same person will buy the whole series.  Here's one from series #1, a continuation of my skirts and shoes series from a few months ago.  

This one is called "Cold Feet".

Also, I caught my new collection of apothecary jars in some good light this afternoon.  I'm so excited to move to my new apartment so I can display some of my treasures with some dignity.

grandma and me

Yet another find on my cleaning spree.  Grandma and me: June 1988.

ellO gallery show!

I found out yesterday that I've been accepted into a gallery show at ellO Gallery in Portsmouth, NH. It's the cute, hip gallery in downtown portsmouth.  A friend of mine, Annie Ridlon, has shown there a couple of times and tuned me in.  

The show is called "Cram It!"  Basically they are filling every space in the gallery with art, including the ceiling! All the art will be on sale for $10-$20.  Once purchased, the work may be taken home immediately.  The gallery's goal is to have a nearly empty show by the end.

Fun concept.  I'm submitting between 5 and 8 works.  Come see the show!

August 6th - September 8th

ellO Gallery

110 State St

Portsmouth, NH

03801

Lost and Found

I was cleaning my bedroom today and found this gem in my nightstand drawer.  The lovely (and recently engaged!) Marissa Luppi painted this envelope for me freshman year of college.  She went to college in New Hampshire for art education.  I'm not sure what she wrote in the letter, as it seems I only held onto the envelope!

Cute though, isn't it?

I got a new scanner and determined to use it.

See the header above.  Slight variation on a name plate I made in May.

I'm a real illustrator

So I got my very first post-graduation freelance job.

Body & Soul magazine!!!!!!  Watch for the October issue!

Martha Stewart is a hero of mine, even after that whole house arrest thing.  I think everyone's just forgotten about it.  She messed up, no big deal, she makes great muffins and crafts anyways.

I'm redoing my make-shift studio, aka, corner of my bedroom.  Posting pictures this week.