emmas in illustration

there are a lot of emmas in illustration that I am a huge fan of! Above is Emma Adbage, whose illustrations are always dainty and precious in the best way possible. Her blog is fantastic (the picture links to it).

Emmas of the world unite!

shopping

Yesterday: drove back to Minneapolis from STP, made a surprise stop at the Mall of St. Paul, a really great antique mall with the largest collection of great sellers I've ever seen. Stillwater was lots of fun, but all the antiques were like.. nice quality ($$$) and also a little old for my place. The Mall was packed full of cheap, colorful furniture, kitchenwares, clothing, etc. I wanted everything. I got a sweater with a giant fur collar and a plaid tunic.

What I actually wanted, though, was the really great leggy Danish modern couch...









After that we watched copious amounts of Six Feet Under, went to dinner with two lovely ladies from Ann Arbor, and then watched more Six Feet Under. And then I got sick and am now sniffly.

The Fall

See this movie now.

It was so good. maybe the trailer looks dinky, but it was actually awesome. A kind of lighter YET way more fantastical that Pan's Labyrinth. Like, at the end of Pan's Labyrinth I was like "Well that was good, but I thought there was gonna be more crazy stuff in it". And with The Fall I was like "That was perfect."

At least see it for the sweet Charles Darwin butterfly coat...

governors

Strangers from distant lands, friends of old you have been summoned here to answer the threat of St Paul. Minnesota stands upon the brink of destruction, none can escape it. You will unite or you will fall. Each race is bound to this fate, this one doom. Bring forth the ring, Frodo.

(Jesse Ventura's gubernatorial portrait, done by Steve "Strong" Cepello)

living situations

Last year we could go up a ladder (at my old apartment) and get onto the roof of our building. It was so pretty! I kind of miss having a deck or porch to sit on... and sometimes I peruse craigslist trying to imagine myself in these apartments. It's kind of an addiction that I cannot shake! I mean, seriously:

1.
2.
3.
4.

(I could do without that powder blue wall color in the bathroom of the last one, but those tiles are to DIE for.)

REAL estates

i just want to take pictures of houses in st paul all day and then come home and draw them.

postal service

My new postcards finally arrived - so far I've addressed and stamped 32, with more to come. I think they turned out rather well! The art on the front is a piece I just completed for myself recently about the effects of homelessness on the youths.

(silly thing: I managed to find the address and art directors for Cosmogirl and Seventeen. I have this campaign in my mind that they need to bring back more illustration into teen publications, and that I'll be the one to convince them. With my brain waves.)

flawless!

okay, yes, I love Gossip Girl. BUT I also love Marilyn Monroe. Bryan and I watched Some Like It Hot recently and it reminded me of all the hotness that is Ms. Monroe. Especially that sequiny dress in it. I WANT THAT TO BE ME. Also, I kinda want to do my hair like that. It's either Marilyn or Zooey (Deschanel)

a confession

I think it's time that I publicly announce my complete and utter downfall into the fabby fab world of Gossip Girl. That's right. I love it. I decided that it was okay to come out of the (Upper East Side) closet after falling upon Tara Mark's blog and happily discovering that she, too, would pretty much die under the smouldering gaze of Chuck Bass. I am happily going out with an amazing boyfriend, but DUDE. I do some serious swooning anytime Chuck comes out in another amazing outfit and does that Chuck look of firey goodness. (Sorry Bryan, you're still my favorite).



One of the main reasons that I obsess as I do over a television show whose morals are about as paper thin as its plot is Blair frickin' Waldorf. First of all, Blair is the pinnacle of clothing perfection. I may have bought a red headband with a bow on it with her in mind - yet I still want MORE. Also, I love love love all her "Breakfast at Tiffany's" episodes.



If that wasn't enough, I'm overjoyed to hear that the actresses who play Blair and her super boring gal-pal Serena are making an appearance on 30 Rock (ANOTHER show that I love) as Liz Lemon's high school classmates. JOY!

STRANGE LOOP

have you guys ever heard of a strange loop?! They fascinate me! Moebius strips fascinate me, too. Anything that has to do with something collapsing in on itself, or starting where it began, or connecting in ways that we can't even imagine. OR like the Ouroboros (pictured above)... the snake that eats itself.

Also, Renee Magritte does a lot of strange loop-esque paintings, and I loves me some Magritte. The only strange loop I do not like is the Surround Sound noise - I'm pretty sure (after doing some research) that it is what is known as a Shepard scale, which is a strange loop.

I want to do an illustration about strange loops, but if I did I would probably have to really work to not just copy M.C. Escher.......

PARADOX!

babies!

the boys got kittens - i am joyful!

big thoughts

This is kind of a self portrait, I think? Or at least, I identify with the feeling on thoughts flowing down into your head and then floating around your head. Or trying to grasp your thoughts. etc etc etc, in reality I was just trying to make art now that I'm done with school. It's difficult - I don't yet have a constant flow of freelance to keep me occupied, and without homework it's so HARD for me to get inspired. I have always responded well to assignments. I've been working hard to give them to myself.

Today Alli and I went to two vintage places around town in search for beautious clothings. And lo! I found not one but TWO pairs of shoes that actually fit me and were cute. I have kind of giant feet (size 9.5 to 10) and they are fairly wide, so it is really difficult for me to find vintage shoes that fit. Most people seem to have had very small/thin feet 40 or 50 years ago. BUT I found two GREAT pairs today!! It's incredibly exciting. Pictures will come.

coulda been a contender

Bryan has been working on a project for awhile that I'm doing illustrations for - so far I've only got the one above of Marlon Brando in his sweet jacket that he wears in On the Waterfront. I haven't been creating much outside of things I get paid for recently, so to see this turn out nicely was lovely. Bryan might use another version, but I'm keeping this one for myself. Maybe I'll put it on my website?

Also, I love the "Mata Hari" from Spyhouse. The weather is cooling down around here and it is the perfect mixture of coffee, cinnamon, and warmth for this season. I need to start switching my wardrobe into fall. And maybe adding some new pieces - if I were rich I'd get this sweater. But I am fairly set on getting a rather well fitted trench coat I saw at H&M. I've never owned a trench coat before, and now seems like a good time to get one.

sketchadoodle

I wish I actually slept on my back, but I actually sleep on my side in the least back-friendly position possible, even though I totally have scoliosis. I drew this in my sketchbook awhile ago but just hooked up this scanner that Katie brought home and wanted to test it out. It makes really scary sounds.

i scream

peaches n' cream ice cream from the grand ole creamery (enough cream for you?).

top six ice cream flavors in no particular order:

1. peppermint chunk
2. mint chocolate chip
3. chocolate (with any sort of chocolatey add-ins)
4. rainbow sorbet
5. cookies n' cream
6. superman (in small doses)