Judge by these Covers.

I know, I know, it's been all over all the blogs twice already, but these are up on design sponge for a second time today, and this being a particularly book-loving week (the opening for Lettering and Type last night was the greatest! So many funny, clever presentations on letters, and a really awesome book! get one HERE, or go to the NYC booklaunch & see the presentations!).... but I just couldn't resist putting these beautiful new covers for the Penguin Classics up today. It being halloween... think of them as a new fun costume collection. Designed by Coralie Bickford-Smith. It's no secret that I love silhouettes, and simple design, and wallpapery everything... so I won't go off on a rant.
Have a happy and silly halloween, and eat lots and lots of candy.

Calendar winner & How to be a good artist.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!
to commenter #17 ("jansketch")
Your comment number was chosen at random by randomizer.org as the winner of the Calendar Giveaway!

Thanks to everyone for commenting & reading the blog! Inspiring to know someone is listening to my rambles as always.
Please enjoy this list of tips on how to be a $uccessful artist that a friend found & sent me the other day.
Spot on, I'd say. Spot. On.

bright colors for dull day inspiration

Amy Stevens
Ben The Illustrator
I'm not usually a huge fan of digital illustration, but I'm into these patterny pieces from a new (to me) find, Ben The Illustrator. For some reason, the bright colors and happiness that squirts out of every corner of his website are really doing it for me today.
Also loving philly based Amy Stevens new website. She is always an inspiration, and makes me want to drop everything and decorate cake & then eat it. Actually, no one needs to push me to do that. I'm always inspired to do that. But she makes me want to make beautiful delicious things. er... art.

Handmade Arcade!

WOHOO!!!!
just found out we got into Handmade Arcade!
now, to go find that little hourglass trickery charm tool thingie from Harry Potter that allows time travel, so I can be in two places at once.
Why must all craft fairs this year conflict with each other????

LAST DAY TO ENTER TO WIN!!!!!

CLICK HERE TO ENTER A COMMENT FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN THIS CALENDAR!
Tomorrow is the last day of our contest, and you need only leave a short, positive comment on last Wednesday's post to be entered to win!

Lettering and Type

My friend Bruce Willen is one half of the design duo Post Typography, and also that same percentage of the band Double Dagger:
He & the other 50% of those things (Nolen Strals) have just put out a book about typography, and will be debuting it at MICA on Thursday, October 29 with quite the party. See below for details. I see NO reason good enough not to attend.

Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore
Falvey Hall in the Brown Center
Thursday, October 29
6:30–8:30 PM.

Reception, book signing, and collaborative alphabet from 6:30 to 7:30. Fan Letter from 7:30 to 8:30. This event is free and open to the public.

The highlight of the evening will be Fan Letter: 26 Artists and Designers Present Their Favorite Letter or Typographic Character, featuring designers, artists, and musicians (including many contributors to Lettering & Type) giving a two-minute ode to an alphabet letter or typographic character. These may range from multimedia presentations, performances, videos, stories, poems, animations, songs, stand-up comedy, rants, short plays, demonstrations, Gregorian chants, etc—however they choose to depict their letter.

Prior to Fan Letter, there will be a reception with authors Bruce Willen and Nolen Strals, as they help kick off a participatory Exquisite Corpse Alphabet and sign copies of Lettering & Type: Creating Letters and Designing Typefaces.

for more info: http://www.letteringandtype.com/site/

Sweater Pillow

Had a great weekend adventuring with friends, despite the rainy weather.
Possibly my favorite activity of the weekend was a stop by the Nearly New sale at GBMC (it's on next weekend too, don't worry, you didn't miss it) where among other things, I picked up this enormous & spectacular embroidered sweater and inspired by Friday nights knit & sewn show, I decided toturn it into a pillow.
More impressively though, I actually DID just that - and in a timely manner one day later! Love a good thrift store find, a good weekend project, and a good upcycle.

Knit Wit Opens TONIGHT at Nudashank

Knit Wit
Nudashank
Friday, October 23, 2009
7:00pm - 10:00pm
H&H Arts Bldg. 3rd Floor
405 W. Franklin St.
Baltimore, MD

Chiara Keeling (BMO)
Anthony Record (FL)
Sarah Applebaum (SF)
Todd Knopke (NY)
Nathan Vincent (NY)
Jen Strunge (BMO)

Win A 2010 Calendar!!!!

WIN THIS CALENDAR!
WIN THIS CALENDAR!
WIN THIS CALENDAR!
Look at this thing! gleaming in the sunshine! daring you to open it up & begin a new year.
Are you thinking of better times to come, not involving cold or rain? huh? yeah? are ya? me too. But it might be a while, so let's pass the time by having a contest! leave a positive comment for this post, and you'll be entered to win one of our new 2010 Calendars! I'm serious. Anything positive. Anything at all! If you can't think of something positive, just write something neutral, and depending on it's hilarity, I might feel bad for you and enter you anyway.
Think of all the birthdays and Mitzvas you could remember, if you had a place to write them down!!!!

Leave your comment by October 28 for your chance to win!!
(one lucky commenter will be chosen by randomizer as the winner!)
or, if you're not feeling lucky, or had to give up your gamblin' ways... just go buy one HERE or HERE.

Dear Baltimore,

Usually I love you. Today I don't love you.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/baltimore-city/bal-flamingo1020,0,6644743.story
SPECIAL PERMIT TAX?
are you kidding?
Cafe Hon is most of the reason why Hampden exists how it does today. I don't often go there, but I can appreciate what she's done for the city. Denise Whiting started the restaurant like 10 years ago with zero dollars, and an unsafe neighborhood surrounding her. This flamingo sculpture was SO iconic to the neighborhood and instrumental in making it what it was. NY Times used a photo of it to represent ALL of Baltimore in a cover story of the city they did just weeks ago! Think how much sales tax revenue comes from this neighborhood because of this icon starting it all. Think how many shops have opened up in just the last 5 years on the street! Are any of them angry? You're really going to charge the woman who made so much of that happen $800 a year? Are you CRAZY? Are you NUTS?
I just typed a whole lot of cusswords and erased them.
I don't really get angry about much. I forgive you an awful lot, Baltimore, but MAN am I angry about this.

Somethings Hiding In Here

I go to so many craft fairs, I get used to seeing the same things over and over, and almost lose interest (almost. mostly I just obsess over everyone and how awesome they are). But occasionally, people stand out as so totally mindblowingly awesome and original that I have to blab about them on here. Shauna & Stephen of Something's Hiding In Here are pretty much my craft idols. They have a beautiful design style, use all of my favorite colors, make wooden mustaches, silhouetted greeting cards, plaster models of the USA, sculptural jewelry... and they always have new and elaborate displays & changing work. I could gawk at their wares forever, and even creating this blogpost about them, using THEIR images, I feel clumsy and non-designy in comparison! I just found out they write a column for Poppytalk called "I made this for you" which appears to be a report of all of the nauseatingly adorable things they do for each other craftily. (Sew fabric kites & fly them, spraypaint hearts on billboards...) They also created this marquee for Fred Flare (housed at Urban Outfitters in Philly) that allows people to write their own message and blast it to the world. You can check out the Marqee blog here & read all the messages. After you're done guffawing at that, be sure to check out their etsy shop and buy me everything in it. Gracias.



images from Poppytalk blog & Somethings Hiding in Here

Weekend Snazzification

Too bad that it rained, but Wow. I sure cleaned like a maniac this weekend.
Finished painting our dining room (well... the painting part. now on to printing the walls. more soon on this!)
cleaned EVERY room. Vacuumed & mopped all the floors, and even soaped up the cat, who freakishly doesn't really mind baths, despite the "PFFFFTHHHHT" expression (tongue out snoozy eyes) shown here.
The first photo above is of our new church pew. Phil really wanted one, so I found one on craigslist for his birthday. This one is from a church in Southern PA, supposedly from late 1800's and if you look really carefully, you'll see an eagle on the back of the seat. We are still deciding on what color to paint this wall. The dining room is gray & yellow, the living room is light green...and this wall connects the two. Anyone have an opinion on this?
Also managed to make it to a potluck party across the street on Saturday night and met our wonderful new neighbors Kristen, Jesse & Trey. So great to keep meeting all the wonderful people on this street. Truly a wonderland in the middle of a sometimes chaotic city.

Knit & Sewn at Nudashank!!!!

Knit Wit
An Exhibition of Contemporary Knit and Sewn Work
October 23 - November 18

OPENING RECEPTION: October 23, 2009
7 - 10 PM

Sarah Applebaum (California)
Anthony Record (Florida)
Nathan Vincent (New York)
*Jennifer Strunge (Baltimore)
Chiara Keeling (Baltimore)
Todd Knopke (New York)

*(monster maker extraordinaire)

Nudashank
405 W. Franklin Street 3rd Floor
Baltimore, MD 21201

Gallery Hours:
Saturday and Sunday 11am - 5pm
and by appointment

Also: For news and information visit http://nudashank.com

Buy Me This: Scandinavia

Most of you know that I'm obsessed with everything folksy artsy (it's my blog. I can make up words.) and scandinavian, so you know I can't resist showing you this treasury that's on the Etsy Front Page right now. not because you need to buy me anything from it, in particular (one of each would be acceptable), but because you should buy me a ticket to VISIT Scandinavia. Sweden, Finland, Norway... The Faroe Islands. Any of these would be great.
No need for additional entertainment.
I will happily purchase a big Scandinavian sweater and sit happily gawking at everyone.

Luckily, Phil is on board with this plan, and it seems that this is high on our list of places to visit, when we grow up & do things like spend money on traveling. Or..... find ways of convincing others to ship us places in a crate, and not tell the people at customs...

Kanye Visits Red Prairie Press

(dear, Bruce Willen, thank you for making my day with this).
Needed the laugh this morning. The numerous cardboard boxes stacked in the basement are a little daunting.

Buy Olympia presents: LAND!

I've been selling with Buy Olympia (originally of Olympia, WA - Now of Portland, OR) for a number of years now, and have always really liked them as people AND as a company. They choose great artists (and accidentally, me) and promote the crap out of them. They're laid back, easygoing, and understanding, but they work ridiculously hard.
What has been, until now, an online store only, has just changed.
I'm so happy to promote that as of this week, Buy Olympia has opened a STOREFRONT!!!!
It's called Land, and is located at

3925 North Mississippi Ave
Portland, Oregon 97227
hours: Friday -Sunday 11-5pm
ph: 503-477-5704

So, if you're in Portland, and reading this blog (that pretty much narrows it down to one person, that I know of. Hi Alicia!!) go check it out! Swoon for me, from across the country, please.

(UPDATE: actually, THREE people in portland read this blog. Sarah & Michael - also a hello to YOU!)

Buy Me This: Supermaggie

How snazzy are these new leggings & sweatshirts from my friend SuperMaggie?
Inspiration for your own personal dance party.

Fun Theory

This makes my day. Even after finding out Volkswagon made it.
(Thanks Juliet for finding & brightening a sleepy Wednesday)

How To Be a Groomsman.

Lemme tell you, being a groomsman is kinda more awesome than being a bridesmaid. Guys don't really stress out about anything until about an hour before the wedding. Then, they tie ties for a couple hours, straighten their suits, drink mimosas and play dice until the bride is perfect and they're called into place. After being a part of this, I'm still not entirely sure how all the guys in a wedding manage to make it there in one piece time and time again. It's kind of a silly hectic mess.
Here is a sample of what wedding mornings look like when you're a dude, or pretending to be one.
I managed to not take a single photo of the wedding itself, but I'm sure some will show up. In the meantime, know that it was pretty, and wonderful, I cried at least 3 times in the 15 minute ceremony, but so did everyone else, and remembering back to my own wedding, I smile at seeing everyone so emotional. In the end, with a bit of teamwork, cheering, weeping and beautiful music, this was achieved (and the photo was stolen from facebook):

Congrats buddies. Enjoy Hawaii. We'll see you real soon.

Read, Love, Enjoy

Cutting out of town early tonight for a surprise trip to celebrate Phil's 28th birthday (today, Oct. 8), followed by a stay in Allamuchy, NJ for the wedding of two of the best people in the universe, who I love & consider family & can't wait to cheer & weep all over & about. (Recap inevitable. Gushing likely. Photos promised.)
I wanted to tell you first though:

Today an organization called Read For the Record (part of Jumpstart), which promotes early childhood reading & learning, is trying to set the world record for most people reading Eric Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Find the book (don't even TELL ME you don't own it. I have two copies personally.) Read it to someone, then go to the site, and make sure you're counted! FUN!!

Now, go love each other, read to each other, and have a great weekend.

New Spinto Band EP - My art as the cover!

My favorite bro-team of indie lollipop rock songsters is at it again. The Spinto Band came out with a new EP yesterday through Park the Van Records, and I had the pleasure of designing the cover. Phil is working on a music video for the song "JACKHAMMER" featured on this very EP, and let me tell you, it will blow your mind when it's complete. Scanned objects, faces, explosions... so fun to see it coming together.
While you're waiting for that, check out the latest in a series of felted reproductions of Spinto Band album covers by a girl in the UK named Lisa. To see the others, including one I now own that she did of the last album using my artwork, as well as ones recollecting art by Vanessa Lauria & Albert Birney, go to her Flickr page.

2010 is upon us...sorta...

But sooner or later, you'll need a Calendar.
I propose THIS ONE.
Especially since I changed Sunday to the beginning of the week this year, after people kept missing appointments because of me.
lesson learned.
conformity embraced.
Love all round.

Get one HERE.

Food.

In order: Angie mid-pickling in our new kitchen; Granola cooling before packing; Zucchini pasta just lookin' pretty.
I'm realizing I ramble about these things sometimes, and then never photo document them, and I wonder if you even believe me.
SURE you "canned" last weekend. I BET you had time to make Granola last night, while simultaneously working the wholesale catalogue and printing tshirts. No really. I promise it's true. I bake when I am overwhelmed. And it's been a full fall already!
The pickles are from Angie's canning book. The Zucch pasta was inspired by a recipe on Six Course Dinner (the best Baltimore cooking blog there is), and the Granola is inspired by a recipe in a book, given to me by the writer of that very blog. It's called Breakfast Lunch Tea - by Rose Bakery - (a bakery in France. So you KNOW it's legit!) and aside from cutting down the amount of sugar & honey & doubling the wheat germ they call for, I basically follow their recipe exactly. Is it legal to post someone else's recipe? I have no idea. Let me know if it's not, would you? Again, it's not my recipe, it's Rose Bakery's. And you should most certainly buy this book, or demand it of your loved ones for the next gift demanding holiday. I love it.

ROSE BAKERY'S HONEY GRANOLA-Slightly Altered.
5 1/3 c Rolled Oats
1 1/4 c Whole Almonds
2/3 c Sunflower seeds
3/4 c pumpkin seeds
1/3 c sesame seeds
3-4 T wheatgerm
1/2 c oil (I've used walnut, canola, safflower, and they recommend sunflower)
1 C honey
pinch of cinnamon
1/8 C brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
pinch of salt

mix together first 6 ingredients. boil together the second 6. mix dry & wet together, and bake on cookie sheets (not too much at a time) at 325 slowly turning until it gets golden. lay cooling for at least 15 minutes.

LAST DAY TO APPLY: HH09!

Applications for Holiday Heap Craft Fair 2009 CLOSE TONIGHT: October 5th: at midnight.
This is a juried fair, and late applications will not be considered, so get em in today!!!!!!
Make unique and wonderful things, take great photos, size them correctly, be clear and concise!
GOOD LUCK FRIENDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CLICK HERE TO APPLY
CLICK HERE TO APPLY
CLICK HERE TO APPLY
CLICK HERE TO APPLY
CLICK HERE TO APPLY!More info to come on Vendors, The fair, Our wonderful sponsors, and more!

THANK YOU DC

Holy Snap.
I did not even LOOK at my camera all day on Saturday. I didn't even leave the booth. I didn't eat, drink, or even see the OUTSIDE of the booth, for most of the day, in fact. Crafty Bastards was SO Crafty, SO Bastardly, that I wasn't able to stop moving, or smiling, or blabbering at people for long enough to crack my knuckles, let alone take a photo.
SO
please enjoy these photos of adorable chubby babies playing in leaves. It's fall. Crafty Bastards is but a happy memory on my aching face (still stuck in a smile), Phil's birthday is Thursday, and my BFF is getting married on Saturday.
If you look up the word "Giddy" on your favorite search engine, a photo of my face pops up.
It's like I just watched a 3 hour long Heavy Metal Rock Opera and drank two cans of "natural" soda and ate cheese puffs for dinner. (oh wait...)

B.R.O.S.

I nearly forgot to tell you that you should be going to Baltimore Rock Opera Society at the 2640 this weekend, (before OR after Crafty Bastards, that is) to see their production of Gründlehämmer
Buy tickets now - they will sell out Friday & Saturday!

CRAFTY BASTARDS!! THIS WEEKEND!!!

Now in it's 6th glorious year, Crafty Bastards is a marketplace of handmade alternative arts and crafts from independent artists countrywide. The show is presented by the Washington City Paper and is all-day, outdoors, free to attend, and will offer goods for sale, DIY craft projects & activities, food, music, prizes, and more! In past years, the breakdancing contests have been a huge hit. Crafty Bastards will take place Saturday, October 3, 2009 in Washington, DC.

Saturday, October 3. 10am-5pm.
Marie Reed Learning Center
Washington, DC.
Click here for a map.

**CLICK HERE TO VOTE FOR US AS CRAFTIEST BASTARD**