Favorite Things Friday: Sketchbook Style

Happy Friday! Here's a new twist on my Favorite Things Friday posts - a peek into my life and sketchbook this past week and some of the many things that made me happy. The most memorable moment this week? On Tuesday I witnessed 20 preschoolers devour 150 mini pancakes in about 60 minutes. It made an impression to say the least.

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.

Etsy Wednesday #15: Green With Envy

Emerald, 8X10 Art Print... thepairabirds $20.00	Mobile Idea Factory PearsonMaron $25.00	Got JUJU Print A3 UNFRA... promopocket $35.00
Ghost Stool TallyLocke $895.00	Incredible & Rare Gallu... ParisCoutureAn... $2625.00	Large Dark Wooden Amper... Hindsvik $125.00
Warm as Yellow debbo9 $300.00	Dutch Bicycle jamieshelman $30.00	Sun, Sand, Sea - 3 Piec... pomtastic $12.00
Moonlight Drive missanniemay $38.00	CITROEN CLASSIC - Memor... Grainyman $20.00	Green Apple Explosion R... KcSoapsNmore $4.50
African American woman ... heathermurraya... $42.99	Vintage 1940s Gong Bell... TheFancyLamb $56.00	Sz 6.5 Womens Laced Up... pascalvintage $39.00
Vintage yellow planter msmichiganroux $10.00

Treasury tool is sponsored by Lazzia.com A/B image testing.

I've been trying my hand at making Treasuries over on Etsy this week. Since it is Etsy Wednesday, I thought I'd try the work smarter not harder philosophy and found a great tool for placing an etsy treasury on my blog. This also resulted in a blog makeover which is a completely different and stressful story. So if things look different over here, you are right. I'm not done editing yet. Ugh.

New Print: Slow and Steady Wins the Race

Slow and Steady Wins the Race  $20  by Pixel & Post on etsy

I'm super happy to show you a new print! Part of my Friendly Little Reminders Series.

With this image I wanted to explore more hand - drawn textures and play around with hand lettering. I even borrowed a crayon from my kiddo's art table for the tortoise's hair and mouth (shhh- don't mention it). His shell went through about a million iterations before I hit on the one I truly loved. I'm super happy with this one and the direction it is taking things.

In case you were wondering, the salt and pepper shakers at the left are from the awesome Shoshonasnow on etsy. The mini camera on the right was my mom's - it used to have real film in it, one of my favorite possessions from childhood.

Here are some detail images:

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.