Thursday, March 31, 2011

Migy


Ran across the gorgeous work of Migy the other day who will henceforth be known as The Elusive Migy since I can't find any information about him or her except the awesomesauce illustrations on their website. After spending the last four months working on a map-related thesis, it's nice to oggle someone else's maps. I'm in love with the textures and hand-drawn type as well as the bright colours and fun characters.



Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Last Thesis Sneak Peek: Venezia


Here's a final sneak peek at my thesis illustrations before the show goes up in less than two weeks! I made sure to save Venice to work on last so I could indulge in drawing the beautiful buildings but if I'm going to be honest, I'll be a happy girl if I don't have to draw another palazzo for awhile. I was lucky enough to visit Venice in high school and it is still one of my favourite places I have ever traveled even though I only spent a day there.

I really want to thank you all for your support throughout the last few months! It has made working on my thesis immensely more enjoyable and I have really enjoyed sharing these sneak peeks with you. I will be sure to share the finished results after the show opens. If you are in the Milwaukee area be sure to stop by MIAD for Spring Gallery Night on Friday April 15. The seniors will be there to rock your socks on the opening night of our thesis exhibition.

Penguin Threads

I swear, everything Penguin touches turns to 100% pure design gold. Their latest endeavor that I am totally head over heels for? The new Penguin Threads collection. I read about this series on Poppytalk the other day. It is a collaboration with Jillian Tamaki (remember her awesomesauce monster quilt?) and features her gorgeous embroidery work adorning the covers of some classics.

I love the colour palette and all of the fantastic patterning. The embroidery just adds such an interesting dimension to these already gorgeous designs.

The series will be released this fall. You can read a bit more about it on Jillian's blog here along with some in-process photos and complete images of the wraparound design. I can't wait to get my hands on these!

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Big Girls Small Kitchen

I was looking over Abi's shoulder today while she perused this site and was immediately smitten. Big Girls Small Kitchen is a recipe collective for twenty-something cooks created by Phoebe Lapine and Cara Eisenpress. Friends since middle school, the girls bonded over a chocolate-chip oatmeal cookie rivalry and have been developing their culinary skills together ever since.

I've been looking for fast and easy (and still healthy and affordable) meals to prepare during this crunch time at school so that I don't have to resort to microwave chicken nuggets and tater tots and can't wait to sink my teeth into this blog and dig through the archives.

Do you have any go-to recipes when you are low on time? I'd love the hear them!

Here are a few recipes I'm looking forward to trying after a quick peruse:




Monday, March 28, 2011

K-kinda busy, k-kinda busy.


Hello, I hope everyone had a great weekend! Today I am loving Andrew Kolb's genius reinterpretation of the song Telephone. 50s inspired illustrations + Gaga? Good good. Check out the rest of the series here and be sure to take a gander at the rest of his illustrations and design work while you are there as well. Tons of fun characters.

Friday, March 25, 2011

Good Good Links for the Weekend


Loving the Eastery colours in this pretty photo. Milwaukee just can't seem to make up its mind about spring. My hopes are high for the weekend, though!

I want me a slice of some red velvet cheesecake cake.

Found this neat tumblr for book nerds via hello heute.

The Gardens of Marqueysacc look totally unreal and incredible.

How amazing is this six-story vertical garden in Spain?

Can't stop listening to this song (Can I be one of the dancers in the video please?). Also, equally in love with the acoustic version.

Have a wonderful weekend, see you Monday!

Friday {I'd Rather Dance With You} Dance Break

This video pretty much sums up how I dance. Such a cute song and routine.

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Under the sea

I was doing research for an illustration project today and ran across these neat scientific illustrations featuring collections of different aquatic plants and animals. I find these posters completely fascinating and beautiful. There are tons more if you follow the link.



Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Sweets from the South


I've never tried beignets before but I have been craving some all day after seeing this gorgeous photo this morning. The photo and recipe are from the delicious blog Seven Spoons. These tasty treats remind me of The Princess and the Frog and are described as "pillows you can eat" on Seven Spoons. Sounds good to me!

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Kaj Franck, where have you been all my life?


Looking at one of my Etsy Finds emails last week, this stunningly designed bowl immediately caught my attention. It was designed by Finnish designer Kaj Franck and upon researching more of his designs I totally fell in love. His designs are wonderfully fun and are welcome in my kitchen any day. Unfortunately for my wallet, these bowls are total collector pieces now.

Pictures from here, here, and here.

Monday, March 21, 2011

Here & There

The postcards and new business cards are all ordered! A new website design is also in the works. Things are moving along and I'm starting to think I might survive this whole thesis ordeal after all.

Mark your calendars if you live in the Milwaukee area! Friday April 15 the seniors of MIAD will be ready to wow you on Gallery Night.

Now I just have to, y'know, finish my thesis....

Friday, March 18, 2011

Good Good Links for the Weekend


This week's Friday links ended up being quite a colourful compilation. I think everyone is getting tired of drab winter. I hope you have a fun and colourful weekend!

Organization + cupcakes = win. (via That's Happy)

So much colour in one short post!

Knitted wonderland in Austin

A pile of brightly coloured hats.

A rainbow house.

A gorgeous green layered cake for St. Patrick's Day seen on Design Crush.

This room is magical.

Thesis Sneak Peak: Vancouver

It's been a busy week and I am slowly getting closer to completing my thesis! Yesterday was spent listening to copious episodes of The Unbelievable Truth (did you know that Sir Isaac Newton invented the cat flap?) and finishing up my Vancouver map. Here's a little peak of the Olympic Cauldron, Mario's Gelati, and the aquabus.

Friday {Carlton} Dance Break

I think this might be my favourite Friday Dance Break yet. Man this takes me back. Time to bust a move and be happy it's the weekend people!

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Bust a move


When you are working in front of your computer for 10+ hours on the same project, dance breaks are necessary for maintaining your sanity. My roommate played this awesome song she heard on 88.9 this morning and it has been stuck in my head all day. It's "Came out of a Lady" by Rubblebucket and it is super catchy.

It's not easy wishing it were green


This is the kind of green I'm dreaming about this St. Patrick's Day.

(Spotted here and here)

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Set sail

These gorgeous invitations designed by Liam Stevens have been floating around the blogs lately. Naturally, I went and checked out his other work. I really love his Set Sail for New Shores series and am obsessed with all of the linework and textures. It is both nostalgic and adventurous and completely beautiful.

This series also makes me think of how long it has been since I just picked up a pencil and made something other than a doodle or quick mock-up sketch for an illustration! Oh my.

Hope you are all having an adventurous Wednesday! To view the rest of the series as well as more of Liam's beautiful work, be sure to visit his website.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Dear Blank, Please Blank

Sorry for leaving you guys hanging yesterday! I decided to give myself a long weekend from blogging to work on thesis. I have spring break this week and am looking forward to getting some solid work done. 

This cracked me up yesterday. After seeing this, I proceeded to the Dear blank, please blank website and started reading the funny ones to my roommate in a Mitch Hedberg voice.

Friday, March 11, 2011

Good Good Links for the Weekend

 photo seen on cup of jo

What is your favourite Beatles song? Mine is Ob La Di Ob La Da. It never fails to make me happy and remind me that if things aren't going according to plan, life goes on. I'm going out for a girls dance night to Beatle Bash tonight! I hope everyone else has something fun planned for the weekend. Catch you on the flip side.

My sister linked this amazing "cake" recipe to me last week.

I'm not a fan of hard-boiled eggs, but I have a sudden urge to boil some eggs just so I can try this.

Beautiful Paris-inspired fabric seen on Cup of Jo.

Also love this Paris in Yellow series.

This seems like such a neat place to eat!

So excited for the new Handle With Care online shop (as if I needed something else to fuel my wanderlust).

Pretty hand drawn type seen on That's Happy.

A couple of Up! related finds seen on Playing Grown Up: How amazing is this birthday party (that cake!) and National Geographic being awesome once again.

Amazing Beatles cupcakes seen on Rosalind Revival

Have a wonderful weekend! See you Monday.

Friday {I Got Rhythm} Dance Break

You know, I think my plea for spring to arrive has been working! It actually looks quite lovely outside today. In continuing my spring theme, I thought of one movie for my Friday Dance Break. For some reason, An American in Paris always makes me think of spring. Spring in Paris? What could be better?

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Luci Everett

Melanie included a beautiful invitation by Luci Everett in her Spotted and Hearted line-up yesterday which led me to her website. Her beautiful mixed media work and hand-drawn type is totally up my alley. Check out more of her work on here website here.

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Paper bag pie

I realized that I mentioned The Elegant Farmer a couple of weeks ago but never posted the pictures to taunt you guys with! Abi had mentioned this place as having the best apple pie in America to me last year and since then it has been on my mental bucket list of places I want to visit before I leave Milwaukee. The Elegant Farmer is a farm and grocer in East Troy, WI. The store is actually in a renovated old barn.

The pies are sold right in the greasy paper bags
and come in full or personal size.

From what I understand, the paper bag helps to steams the pie while it is cooking. I bought a little personal-sized peach apple pie. And it was good good. The top crust is really crisp and sugar and you almost have to crack it like an egg. Then you just have to scoop the rest out of the paper bag.

If you are ever in East Troy, WI (as we all are at some point in our lives, right?) then I definitely recommend stopping by here for a bite to eat!

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

The Balcony Gardener



Still thinking spring today! I am in love with the branding of The Balcony Gardener—especially their seed packets. I saw these the other day on Print and Pattern. The bold graphic designs are so refreshing and would definitely catch my eye if I was shopping for seeds. I mean, who really needs to see a picture of carrots? Having worked in a garden center, most of the "giant picture, tiny writing" seed packages just blend together when placed side by side on a rack so I love this contemporary twist. More seed package designs here.


Monday, March 7, 2011

Monday Mix #78: All things go (a mix for springtime)


I may be jumping the gun a little bit with this one, but I am soooo over winter. It's time for tulips and crocus' and my feet not to be numb while I wait for the bus! So maybe if I put this mix out there, the universe will listen and make it spring. That's how it works, right?


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If all songs do not play, just refresh the page and try again!