In search of Cinderella

Tilda Dolls by Donna Bloom on Flickr

The week before my kiddo's 4th birthday, she got hit hard with Cinderella Fever. We visited a bookstore and she poured over the Disney Cinderella books like she was studying for the SATs. She knows all of the names of the princesses somehow, as if by osmosis. I've never told her who Belle or Sleeping Beauty are. And so it begins...

For those of you with girls, I am sure you are aware that the Disney princesses are everywhere you go - on disposable diapers, cans of soup, band aids, and fruit snacks. And while I don't want to repress any princess longings she might have - I don't want to go down the Disney Princess road. It is so pre-packaged, so lacking room for imagination. And frankly, I don't want my 4 year old playing with an unrealistically big-bosomed, small waisted doll in a prom dress. Sorry. She's 4, and for the time being I want to keep her that way. 

And, I want her to think outside the box. 

This week I found the book Fanny by Hollie Hobbie. In it, Fanny begs her mom for the latest Connie doll - sort of a Barbie on steroids looking thing. When her mom tells her why she won't buy her one "I don't like the way they look. They're just ...too much". Fanny decides to make her own. That's when I got my idea. 

Together my kiddo and I will be making our own Cinderella doll. I found a great book by Tone Finnanger that features the Tilda Doll like the ones pictured above. As soon as it arrives in the mail we'll start shopping for supplies. I'll involve the kiddo in every step of the process - picking out the fabric and hair, helping me sew. I want her to feel proud about what we can make together. This is going to be good.

Labor of love

For anyone who has tried to reach me for the past week - this is where I've been. Hunkered over my sewing machine, trying to finish the Portabellopixie Analise Dress.

Made for my kiddo who just turned 4. As I worked on it I couldn't help but realize that the dress was a true metaphor for parenting. Multilayered, challenging, confusing at times, larger than life (the bottom ruffled measured 21 FEET long before I gathered it). But in the end, beautiful (just like the little girl who wore it) and worth every single minute put into it.

Art Heros: Rien Poortvliet

One of my favorite books growing up was Gnomes by Wil Huygen, illustrated by Rien Pootvliet. I loved the detail in his illustrations - almost scientific in their detail.

As a kid, I had no idea the book was originally published in Dutch. I was surprised and delighted to find a copy at my host family's home.I've been thinking a lot about this book lately. Who knows, it might even inspire a gnome print of my own.

Sketchbook: The Brain Dump

 

Part of my new early riser mantra is spending the first 30-40 minutes writing a 3 page stream of consciousness style entry in my journal followed by one page of stream of consciousness drawing. Neither produces my best writing or art, but my head feels so much clearer when I do this. Here's a sample from yesterday. I am really starting to love 5:00 am.

Art Heros: Ed Emberly

Growing up, I spent hours upon hours making drawings from the Ed Emberly drawing books. My four dog-earred copies are right here on the shelf next to me as I write this. As a kid I was always surprised that so few of my friends knew about these books and remember watching them shock themselves when they were able to draw a pirate, car, vampire or a cat after just a few minutes at my kitchen table. Learning how to draw this way (using his alphabet of 6 shapes like he talks about in the video above) definitely influenced my drawing style forever.

Finally this guy is getting the recognition he deserves. A recent show in Los Angeles, and even a limited edition letterpress print with Cloudy Collection (right alongside some today's illustration heavyweights - Tad Carpenter, S.Britt, and Meg Hunt).

Above all, I love Emberly's mission to empower everyone to draw, to help them feel like they can succeed at it. Check out Ed Emberly's website it includes a lot of free projects and drawing tutorials. And get drawing!

20 things I love about summer: a list

Honeysuckle from my aunt's garden, Portland Oregon.

1. The sun filtering through our neighbor's pin oak tree

2. Starbuck's iced coffee (however wrong that may be - I still love it).

3. Fragrant, sun warmed pine needles

4. Flowers by the front door

5. Eating outside

6. The tan lines I get from my sandals

7. Drying the laundry outside

8. Swimming outdoors in a pool or lake

9. Hummingbirds

10. Honeysuckle

11. Picnics at the beach

12. Finally putting away my sweaters

13. Shoulder freckles

14. The smell of sunscreen

15. Spontaneous barbeques with friends, just because the weather is gorgeous

16. Peaches and nectarines

17. Unstructured weeks with my kiddo

18. Summer dresses

19. Road trips

20. Leaving the windows open until after the sun goes down

What about you?

Pinch Me.

 

I just returned from a 9 day trip to what I consider my second home - Holland. It is easy to show in pictures some of the typical Dutch things I got to enjoy on my trip. Adorable buildings, beautiful flowers, delicious cheese, Nijntje (or Miffy as she is know in the USA), and pastries so sweet they make you toes curl in sugary delight.

What's harder to show is how full my heart feels after visiting there. Meeting my two perfect nieces, Rosalie and Carmen and establishing a bond with them was such an important part of this trip. Spending time with the family that has grown to be 'mine' over the last 20 years was like a dream come true. Meeting new 'significant others' of the people I love, and seeing them in love, was wonderful. Getting to hug my friend Miss M, drink coffee and eat our traditional Tompoes together, and meeting her adorable girls was nothing short of pure bliss.

I also realized that each time I visit, I leave a part of my heart there - at least that is how it feels. In return, I also bring a fuller heart back home and for that I am so very grateful.

Favorite Things Friday: Sketchbook Style (again)!

I can't believe it is Friday. My kiddo was on spring break this week and we packed it full of fun (shopping, drawing, hanging out) and not so fun (dentist, vaccines, work) stuff. It went fast. I spent a large chunk of time trying to draw attractive corn stalks for an upcoming project but finally let it go, ate a donut and had a much better idea. I love when that happens. In other news, I'll be traveling to Holland in May to see my loved ones. Am I excited? Hell yes.

Cherry Blossom Time

Living with a 3 year old girl, it goes without saying that there is a lot of pink in our lives - even though before she was born I swore my child would not be clothed in pink from head to toe. Right. The girl LOVES pink, and I've totally given in. This weekend we took her to see the Yoshino cherry trees on the University of Washington campus. Pink trees! Could there be anything more magical?

One of my favorite memories from art school was pulling spring time all nighters in the studio (those second story windows in the photo above) and watching the sun set and rise on the blooming cherry trees. It was so fun to see it through my kiddo's wide eyes, and to share the wonder with her.

The trees are beautiful this year, and people were out in droves - having picnics, playing instruments, taking wedding photos, lifting their babies up into the pink canopy. A totally magical afternoon.

Remembering Larry

Two years ago today my friend (and friend to so many others) Larry Sommers passed away suddenly. Larry was the Health and Safety Coordinator and the Printmaking Technician at the University of Washington where I got my BFA in Printmaking. He was always there in his office in the Printmaking department  - ready to answer any question, troubleshoot any problem, and most importantly have a good chat or a hearty laugh. He was extremely intelligent, politically passionate, and cared so much for the students he worked with. Did I mention he was funny? He was. I can still hear his laugh and picture that look he'd get on his face when you shocked him with some hilarious (or dirty) joke.

Larry had a way of bringing people together, through the information he shared with us as students or the warm atmosphere he created in the studio by just being there. The studio felt like a home away from home for so many of us, and a big part of that was due to Larry. We felt safe there - with him watching over us, and helping us make the art we loved without risking our heath to do it.  For many of us, it was a time that was shaping such an important part of our future - the decision to be artists or to make art a part of our lives forever.

After I graduated I took a position as a Printmaking and Painting Tech at a small, private art school in our town. When I walked into a huge heath and safety disaster on my first day (for one - the school had no way of disposing their mineral spirits, had been storing them in huge barrels over the years, and hinted that I might just dump them outside behind the school) I called Larry. I was in way over my head. With his guidance I was able to organize the school's first Heath and Safety Committee that still stands today. Without his help and encouragement that would have never happened.

The last time I saw Larry I had been asked to visit a UW printmaking class and show my current portfolio of work. Part of me felt a little ashamed, because what I was showing was graphic design and illustration, not Printmaking. Larry was always excited to share with students what exactly people did with their BFA's. He kept a running list on a yellow legal pad. Each year he'd catch up with former students, add to the list and read it to the graduating class. I remember feeling filled with hope the year he read it to us. But somehow, returning as one of the people on the list I felt like I was betraying my roots. When I opened my portfolio Larry said "Wow! You can really see that you have a Printmaking background." Knowing that he could see that in my work made me beam - it meant the world to me.

He is missed.

Here is a link to the Larry Sommers Memorial Art Fellowship (currently accepting calls for submissions) at Seattle Print Arts.

The Woo-Hoo-Ha

Just looking for inspiration in my sketchbooks of yore and found this. I have no idea what I was thinking about here, but it made me smile.

Billy Beer

 

I've been laid up with a bad back for two days. I hurt myself cleaning off the crusty play-doh table at my kiddo's preschool. Nothing heroic or exciting, just proof that I need more exercise and that I am getting old, my friends.

So I've had some time on my hands, laying here. Instead of watch hours of mindless and fun TV I decided to finish watching the American Experience documentary "Regan".  I followed that 3 hour joy-fest with the documentary on Jimmy Carter.

In the Carter documentary they talk about his hard-drinking brother, Billy and showed a huge close up of the beer he endorsed - called Billy of course. I had an instant flashback. Back in 2005 I went to a vacation house on the Oregon coast with some pals. Stuffed in the back of a forgotten cabinet was this unopened Billy beer can. I thought the design was pretty stellar (I'm a sucker for orange and blue together) and I loved the tagline. I went rushing (in a slow, painful way) to my shelves of sketchbooks and found it.

I drew this after reading and enjoying Everyday Matters by Danny Gregory. I lovely book if you have the chance. 

As for the beer, I'll stick with my snooty Northwest microbrews like the yummy Avatar Jasmine IPA I enjoyed last night with a side of ibuprofen.

Inspiring Me Now: Holt Howard Ceramics

Hold Howard Pixieware plate and canisters. For sale at RetroYum Collectables.

I'm not sure how I came across Holt Howard ceramics, but I saw them a while back on ebay and was pretty smitten. I love the head shapes of their Pixieware. And while I don't feel that I can justify $600 for a chili sauce canister at this time in my life, it is still super fun to look. These items are for sale at the superfun ebay shop Retro Yum Collectables. These cat designs are pretty adorable as well. I love the measuring tape dispenser.

Hold Howard cat memo holder, cream and sugar, and measuring tape dispenser. For sale at RetroYum Collectables.

Sketchbook: Meow Mix

 

The other day while sitting down for some drawing time with my littlest assistant, I drew these cats. It was fun. This is the loose wackiness I want to see come through more in my work. Maybe you'll see a print of these guys soon.

It feels weird to be blogging about something so light and fun in the wake of the horrible news and images coming from Japan. I'm hoping to take part in an art auction put together by illustrator extraordinaire Meg Hunt. You can check out her Art for Japan page if you would like to participate.

Etsy Wednesday #14: Tea 9 Ways

It is the perfect day for tea in my corner of the globe - windy, cold, and horribly rainy. I'm a sucker for tea cups, and have far too many. But I do choose my cup depending on my mood, and I'm a girl of many moods so I guess it all works out. Today, I'd definitely drink out of that awesome and goofy one at the top - I'm in need of a good laugh. I'd fill mine up with some good, strong Typhoo with cream and sugar of course! What's your favorite cuppa?

Thurman Coffee Mug: $23 by Nelson Studio

Vintage Melamine Cups: $6 from SharingBliss

Porcelain Olive Cup: $28 by Jim Gottuso

Olive Mid-Century Mugs: $20 from 2BoredBunnies

Russel Wright Chartreuse tea cups: $79 from Claire Quilter

Vintage glass tea cups with red holders: $19 from Rusty Vintage

Hand Painted Ceramic Cup: $25 by Miriam Brügmann

Modern Graphic Carved Mug: $25 by Shoshona Snow Ceramics

Yellow Chrysanthemum Cup: $20 from autena

Art Heros: Abner Graboff

from The Sun Looks Down by Miriam Schlein. Illustrated by Abner Graboff. 1954

A few weeks ago I stumbled across this Flickr Set dedicated to Abner Graboff and I instantly fell in love. I love the delicate balance of solid shapes and line in his work,and the colors he uses are outstanding. The uber-talented illustrator Ward Jenkins posted a wonderful three part interview with Graboff's son over at his blog that is fantastic (thank you Ward)!

from The Sun Looks Down by Miriam Schlein. Illustrated by Abner Graboff. 1954

Etsy Wednesday #13

Some favorite things found on Etsy recently. I love the variety of handmade and vintage goods piling up in my favorites. The colors, humor and drawing found in this group are especially inspiring to me this week. And, yeah - you'll be seeing me sporting that "Julia" necklace as soon as it arrives in my mailbox. Perfect. 

Sandwich Defender Side Plate: $31.50 by Jimbobart

Vintage Scandinavian House Blocks: $32 by MonkiVintage

Walnut Vixen Necklace: $38 by Joannarutter

Schizophrenic Original Illustration : $40 by fricdementol

Julia Necklace: $15 by minifanfan

Man With Blue Ears Flathead : $40 by murtondishes

Split Tree Log Vase : $75 by Pfleghaar

Tiny Hand Drawn Pencil Broach : $5.50 by amyawalters

KISS

Luddite Emoticons : from MonkiVintage on Etsy

I've been thinking a lot lately about the KISS principle. I first heard about it in design school - Keep it Simple, Stupid. I prefer Keep It Simple Sweetheart, or Silly, or Smartie. 

I've come to the realization that I need to keep things a bit more simple these days. That goes for my creative work, too. I recently had what seemed like a great idea for a new print (when it popped into my head). But, by the time I had enough time to sit down and get working, I'd lost all of my passion for the idea. I stuck with it, and worked on it beat it to death for a few weeks and it never got any better - it got worse, actually. I'd had too much time to think about it without actually doing anything about it.

Right after I put that idea away I got another really fun idea. Instead of waiting until I had the 'right' amount of time I acted on the idea as soon as I had a spare moment. I had to put it down again pretty quickly, but I am super excited to get back to it tomorrow. I'm hoping that if I keep working in this way I'll have more to share here.

I'm rethinking the process I use, and the amount of time I spend tweaking things with the computer. I'm looking forward to doing more work by hand and letting things get a bit messier and looser. 

Keeping it simple makes me feel simply

Luddite Emoticons : from MonkiVintage on Etsy

Goldilocks

Some weeks I have nothing much to report. So instead I give you this lovely animated version of one of the favorite books in my house these days James Marshall's version of Goldilocks.  I love the subversive nature of his characters, and his drawing style too.

More soon when I find my brain.

Tick- Tock

Welcome to 2011, blog readers! I'm so excited for this year, and hope yours will be filled with love, laughter and inspiration.

I've got a few new products lined up for the big reveal this month - I'm so excited to show them to you.

I'll be back Wednesday, but in the meantime check out these cool, affordable vintage clocks from Clockwork Universe. My favorite christmas gift this year (that turquoise beauty, above!) came all the way from their headquarters in Latvia. The tick-tock it makes is perfectly meditative, the color couldn't be more perfect, no batteries required, and I smile each time I look at it. I'm pretty sure my clock will be getting a friend sometime soon - I'm pretty smitten.