On Bravery

Time to share the silly little pieces of art that I draw at my desk, even if they are really not a whole lot of good. After all, what is a blog for?

Good morning

It's Christmas at work today--little packages on my desk from coworkers, peppermint coffee from the cafe, Christmas music piped in over the intercom system (seriously....), and the annual Christmas "open house." I just finished up my shift as barista at the "DayBucks" coffee stand, and was feeling uncharacteristically holidayish when I saw this image pop up in my blog reader:



Posted by Wide Open Spaces: a scan from the book Biggest, Best Snowman.

Gol-ly. I love children's books with fantastic illustrations. Especially at Christmas time. Especially with loads of those giant colored lights, kinda falling off a big tumble-down house. Especially with delicate pencil linework and soft watercolors. Especially with warm light in windows and a fir grove in the back yard and a dusting of snow....

Wow. Vahalla Studios, in the Crossroads Art District of Kansas City. Gorgeous letterpress work, fantastic designs.

I've really been hibernating this winter. Sherpa hoodie, flannel sheets with red starflakes, cozy blankets, knitting. Who says Ugg boots are out of style? Bears have boots that look like Uggs. Bears hibernate. Beatrice looks like a bear. I wear Uggs, but only when I tromp around my apartment.

Good hibernation music: Fleet Foxes, eponymous album.

He Doesn't Know Why - Fleet Fo...

Also good music for working when you have fifty billion cards to finish before you leave for Christmas vacation.
(sorry for the lala link--my itunes isn't working at the moment to download the actual song)

beautiful.

I cooked a chicken last night. Yep, I did.

Just thought you should all know.

All of you whom I called last night, frantic with questions on cooking a chicken and WHAT ARE THOSE LITTLE THINGS INSIDE OF IT?!

A whole chicken, I should add. Yeah, the little sucker came with a NECK and some other internal organs. I wasn't exactly expecting that. Thank goodness they weren't attached. I dug them out with a spoon and quickly threw them into the garbage. Chicken necks have always freaked me out a bit--ever since I was a child and my parents decided that we would have a family (plus the Koops) chicken butchering party. I'm pretty sure that each of us kids were scarred in some way from that day....

But this chicken safely made it into the pan, rubbed with butter, salt, and pepper, and baked into something that even I, a self-professed chicken-hater, could enjoy!

Yummm.

chicken-cooking credits: Lindsey and Rach. i owe you each at least a drumstick.

i'd close my eyes and wish... once a year... for puppies or monies or supergirl powers. now i'd hunt down dandelions and first stars and stray lashes. no more black cats or sidewalk cracks. salt flies over my shoulder, and i close my eyes and wish at 12:34... twice each day...

loveliness from the sweeterie

Merry Christmas, Christopher!

Just a little gift suggestion for my favorite B-i-L who got hit by a taxi last weekend. Maybe these will keep you safe in the future. :)

ps i'm glad that you're okay!

Kate Spade, I cannot afford you.

maybe I can knit these? just watch me try.
check out their interactive holiday site. so fun!

I love everything going on in this photo by the Sartorialist, with the subject placed prominantly in the forefront and that touch of cobalt blue. Beautiful. Can I move to NYC now please?

Also, working on embedding music.... so far this works the easiest. I think Frida Hyvonen might become my new winter music....

N.Y. - Frida Hyvonen

For Rachie

Some pretty typographic work by Illustrator Jessica Hische to help you get through the bitter Boston winter.

Wanting: red, dutch blue, and Burberry.


Oh, I love these (and other) images by the Sartorialist for Burberry's Art of the Trench site. How sweet is that little girl--she's so full of confidence (I think she's just loving the flower in her hair).... and those red boots set against the blue fence?! Love it.

Please, Santa?

Or someone with a big, big heart (and a correspondingly big wallet).... Isn't it beautiful? I am coveting it in a HUGE way. It's real, and it's vintagey, and it's black leather, and it's smallish but not too small, and it's PERFECT.

Hmm, and let's just say that if I do buy it, I know who's got my back.

Can't get enough.

Black. Champagne. Shiny. Matte. Contrast. Soft muddled transitions. Fall to winter.
[images from Andy Warhol's still-life polaroids and from Jen's home]

things that make a nice monday

drizzles
americanos
jcrew deliveries
karma police
jeans and cozy sweater
four-day week
yoga
21 cards to concept
oh, wait....

another facebook post

Nothing better to do on a Friday afternoon than a little housecleaning in the old facebook account. Sorry to any of you who thought you were my friend and suddenly aren't. Show me you'll care, and I'll think about re-friending you.

image from Trust Your Style blog

Have you seen the new Lonny Magazine? All available online, with links for nearly every item featured. Fantastic! Online magazines have been popping up everywhere. Could they replace glossies eventually? I'm not so sure.

[loving these dark walls.... and thinking that maybe they could work in my bedroom....]

This makes me laugh

As does East Side Bride's commentary. Of course Hipsters are on facebook - what else are they going to do with their iphones? Not that I'm poking fun. I'd happily check facebook from my iphone if I had one.

Illustration by the talented Samantha Hahn.

A few (late) favorites from NY

Perfect casual work/weekend wear: Alexander Wang.


More casual weekend garb: Rachel Comey


Derek Lam: nicer work wear and dinner out.

Every Single Day

I like the bat-like black leaves floating off the trees and the slightly Halloweenish feel of this card front, despite its Christian message.

Unfortunately, it won't fly. Every day I must design happy cards, and this is no exception. It must be happy-fall for a Thanksgiving proposal. Boo. I like spooooky cards!

Dace: Pretty Fall Equestrian Themes

Love the dark neutrals - the smokey grey, black, the deep navy, and the rich brown hues. Love the solid color and the use of texture, folds, and shapes to bring interest. Love the horses - that little bit of horse-lover in a girl just never dies, does it? :)

Images from Dace Fall '09

8.22.09

Rach and Chris got married last weekend on the farm. The weather was perfect and the wedding beautiful. You can see more pictures here, on Gina's blog.

TOAST

New fall items. Time to start knitting again (almost).
Boots, scarves, fingerless gloves, tights, short dresses, sweaters. Comfy, relaxed, natural. What TOAST does best. Plenty of menswear-inspiration. Maybe a little fisherwoman?

as a side note, I'm thinking of cutting my hair short--like the very first image. opinions? i like the blunt cut with just enough layering to give it shape.... maybe for next summer?

more fall

Loving APC's fall look:
menswear, trenchcoats, fisherman plaids, boots and ankle socks, yes please

Now if only fall would get here. :)

image from Wiksten's photostream

It's a quiet, rainy morning, made for strong coffee and deep thinking. Reading beautiful poetry and wishing for fall and the ocean.

Chickadee

I made this little chick in Illustrator and Photoshop last week for a kid's Easter cards. Isn't he a happy little thing? He will be covered in yellow fuzz when he gets produced. And he might even chirp!

Feeling Overwhelmed

Whenever I feel overwhelmed, I make a list.

Right now, it kinda looks like this:

-write quick blog entry
-chose color palette for "sister" song card
-pick font
-arrange flowers
-arrange type
-you'd better finish this before you leave today
-go pick blueberries

The day always goes by a little faster with a list. And with T.A.L.:


(thanks to kirk for the suggestion)

Some things I like today (with photos)

Beautiful cottage, by Ngoc Minh Ngo, and a Spectacularly relaxing vacation, via another Peony.



Fantastic Mary Poppins reference. via Mollie.

And the Kooks, Foreign Born, and Grizzly Bear. Today would be stretching on to eternity with out them.

The man I will marry

Wasn't he a cute kiddo? I love this picture...as well as the other 87 we scanned on Sunday.

Wednesday Inspired

Watch this: the new Chanel 5 film, starring none other than our favorite Audrey Tautou.

Watch her style, the film's style. Timeless and beautiful. Doesn't it make you want to dress just a little bit prettier?

What I have been doing

Lest you think this blog is all about Melly, here is a post from me. It's a post long-overdue, but work and social events and wedding planning have been consuming my time.

Speaking of wedding planning, I decided a couple months ago that I wanted to keep one family tradition and not buy a dress. I'm making my dress - myself. My fiance thinks I'm a little crazy, and the people who have found out think I'm either amazingly talented or possibly have a screw loose. Anyway, I've been working on finalizing the pattern on paper and making a muslin to perfect the fit. More to come in a couple weeks...

Pattern making on the dining room table

Trying on the muslin
Horsehair trim paperclipped onto the hem, and the extra swirled on the floor (it makes the hem stand out just a little and makes the skirt lay beautifully)

Wearing the muslin - with ruching at the waist

Purchased.

I have a problem remembering to reuse bags when I go to the grocery store. Somehow if I look forward to pulling out my reusable bags, I think I will remember to use them. Gone are the days of plastic shopping bags for me! Hello, Flip and Tumble!

I got bored over the lunch hour

and drew what I am wearing today in Photoshop. :)



{vintage dress, modified by me, belt from Anthroplogie Spring '07}