Wild Things

Just got back from watching the special screening of "Where the Wild Things Are" at the Music Box. The film blew me away.

The screening advertised that Spike Jonze and Dave Eggers would be there, but a nice surprise was that Max Records (the young actor) and Catherine Keener also showed up as well. Double treat! For me, the movie was not about the book— it celebrates the book and certainly stands up on it's own two feet. In an interview with Molly Young, Spike says it best with "I don't think I was trying to make a children's film. I was trying to make a film about childhood."

Can't wait to watch it again…

Evenin’ Time

I think my computer is going to (knock on wood), die soon… or maybe she wants to go to sleep. Kind of like I do.
currently listening to: everything SUBPOP on my iPod… now rolling on to Red House Painters

Another day, another year older

Quiet, laid back, and relaxing— sometimes it's just nicer that way. Sunday apartment cleaning, worked on my book, enjoyed the treats of the day:


Enjoyed preparing one of my favorite meals for my friend Cristina and I: arugula salad, with tomato, fresh mozzarella, basil, prosciutto, parmesan, with truffle oil. Accompanied with almonds, olives, and apricots. Popped a bottle of Prosecco— I'd like to think you were all there in spirit.

For the cake, my all-time favorite dessert: french mousse cake with fruit on top. Yum... we split a pistachio and a chocolate cake; I made a wish, or two…

Treats from Cristina's trip to Italy: "Pinnochio" brand ink and pencil set, and Italian chocolates.


And I'm proud to say that I completed the only goal I was allowed to give myself this year, for my birthday. Yep, just barely made it, two days before due date. More on that later…

More surprises...

There is only one person in the world who's allowed to send me flowers at work. And that's my sister Nancy, who sends them on behalf of the family, especially from my nephews. I had fun on the slow, rainy ride home from work, with a huge 1-800-FLOWERS box mounted to my rear rack. A surreal moment came later at home, when I got my first "Aunt" card in the mail. I've been an aunt for almost 9 years now, but I still think of myself as a kid. I love those boys, they rock my world.

(I love how the sentiments in the card refers to me as "silly" and "way real when it counts". I hope they still think of me that way when they're in college...) Thanks for the bouquet of color Nancy, they're fun to come home to!

currently listening to: Sound Opinions on WBEZ Chicago Public Radio…!

Those Icelandics give me goosebumps

With your full attention, with headphones on. Ólafur Arnalds - Ljósið:

While waiting for a 2GB file to save down...

… all I had was this inky Pilot pen, very smudgy indeed. Great for writing checks, but not so good for drawing. I need to buy more Microns. Drawing is on the back of an Orla Kiely noteset:

currently listening to: Pixies

Smiley

Tonight's bike ride home from work was so great. Partly because the weather was nice, mainly because of a happy email I received— which had me smiling, whistling and laughing to myself, nearly the whole 7 miles. Every bike ride should be that way, and every ride home from work should leave me feeling smiley.

More smiley for me yet, was an early birthday package from my sister waiting for me at my door. I opened it to find this t-shirt inside, which had me laughing out loud— I could not think of a better timing for it.

Thanks Jenny, I'll be sure to wear it proudly on Sunday!

currently listening to: Thom Yorke

Weak-end

So this weekend's activities left me a little pooped... needless to say I never did start working on that "ocean" piece. Friday's midnight ride to the Museum of Science and Industry for the Harry Potter exhibition left me pretty lethargic on Saturday. (Friday's total bike mileage ended up being a mere 35 miles, but we had a bad head wind coming home at 1am). And Sunday's seem to end up being apartment cleaning and beer drinking day. Well, what can you do?

Too bad we couldn't take any photos inside the Harry Potter exhibition... otherwise I'd have a pretty hilarious photo of me sitting on a stool wearing the Sorting Hat. (I got placed into Gryffindor! Siouxsie was placed in Ravenclaw.) If you have an appreciation for the Harry Potter books, the exhibition is worth checking out. And if you like bike riding, do ride your bike down to MSI for it— riding through the Museum Campus in the middle of the night with good friends, is everything.

Mad props to Siouxsie for being 6 months pregnant and still riding 30 miles... You win.
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An early birthday present coupon from Anthropologie. It's the stitched packaging, with extra threads and buttons that I love more than the coupon itself. Details, details...
currently listening to: Grand Archives

Sonnenzimmer + Flingco

Local Chicago music label Flingco Sound System is hosting a release party to kick off their Black Box sound machine, at Sonnenzimmer's studio space. If you're in the area, you should check it out and buy some prints!

Saturday, Sept. 19
6pm - 9pm

3605 N. Damen Ave., Rear
(Damen and Addison, enter from the alley)

currently listening to: Love Spit Love

Rejected… SCORE!

The invitation design was rejected. When I asked about it, the response was: "Oh yeah, no. They don't get it. At all."

I'm so excited!!! I think I'll spend all day Saturday fleshing it out on paper with ink, graphite and thread. I've decided this will be a one-off, as a late wedding present to Gail. Which she's excited about receiving.

So this won't be the free give-away print after all. But here's a fun crop of where this piece will go. Hopefully I'll have the finished piece posted by Sunday night? To be continued...

currently listening to: Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Wedding Smedding

I've been having a hard time getting inspired to create wedding invitations for work. I think mainly because I don't want to have a wedding personally, I'd much rather elope and save the money to buy acreage and build a house. But deadlines call, and you have to find inspiration somewhere so...

Inspiration comes from:
1. Lamp designs from Pratt students featured in Dwell magazine
2. The topographical chart in the old version of "Battleship"
3. The memory of my friend's quick, laid back wedding on the beach in San Francisco (happy 1 year Gail + Nico)

…………
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I'm kind of hoping this design gets rejected so I can keep it for myself and turn it into a print... Silkscreened silver and white ink on some thick, cotton heavy, pukey-colored Arches Rives paper... maybe even stitch some of the topographical lines with Home Depot orange or cerulean blue thread… damn.

I just might do it anyway. Will that be the free giveaway print I've been promising for so long? Hmm...

still listening to: Choir of Young Believers

Somewhere out there…

someone had better be enjoying my lost Betsy Walton Poketo wallet and bought whiskey with the wad within...
currently listening to: Kings of Convenience

Drawering

Valentine’s Day card comps for work. Whatever:

currently listening to (my new favorite!!): Choir of Young Believers

Never Enough

What started out as a wedding invitation design, turned into an illustration in trying to avoid boredom here in this large office on a Saturday night and what am I still doing here?! Bike ride home— stat!

currently listening to: Tenement Halls

About a year ago

I was hanging out in PDX…

It's funny how time flies, and so much can happen in a year, let alone one week. Some things you just can't plan or force. Fast forward one year later to an amazing evening I got to share with my peers, and so many people I respect, have yet to meet, and look forward to shaking hands with. Thanks to everyone who presented and came to watch the Show n' Tell Show on Sunday night, it was an honor to be in the same room as you.

currently listening to: Nada Surf "Lucky"