See the grid paper?

Another quick drawing I did. I have these pens that I bought and never really liked, but I realized if I use them on thin paper they are pretty good. Nothing beats the Micron as far as I’m concerned. I have a grid notebook that I like to draw in all the time, but funny thing, most of the time, I never even really use the gridlines, but they sort-of keep me company while I’m drawing hahaha.

I just did my taxes, well all of my accounting for the year, in one marathon 5-hour session. It’s always like that, but each year I get more and more efficient so I guess I am allowing myself to procrastinate like this, because it does always get done. Anyway, for me, who spent most of the year freelancing, I account for all of my purchases and it is so eye-opening to see what we spend our money on. I have enough pens to last me quite a while, it’s definitely one of my favorite things to buy.

I made this cake from scratch for Easter. While it looks nice, it wasn’t really that great. Sometimes it’s risky to try new recipes when you really want something to turn out! Better stick to the old-standby!

I have this nice golden yellow mug at work, that really brightens up my beverage-drinking experience. I love the color of it! I was just sitting waiting for my tea to brew when I thought of how a receptacle, is there to be filled. Anything that can be filled, might just be filled with something new! Your mind, your cup, your heart, etc… I am enjoying the low-stress and low-commitment of these 5-minute drawings/messages! Not to much planning, just getting it out there.

Lots of pink. I love it. Hot pink especially. I am dreaming and drawing up some ideas for new tee shirt designs, and also a fun project, because I want to enter this!!!! Woohoo!

I’m going to have to stop reading blogs from Portland, because I feel cherry blossom envy seeing all those beautiful pink trees I know are blooming. Still wearing lots of wool, boots, scarves and the dreaded huge winter parka that makes me feel like a caterpillar in a sleeping bag! Well, anyway, I drew my own happy pink tree!

I worked on some more shadow boxes, using my illustrations and some other random things I have been collecting.

And just because, Beppo in a nautical tee shirt. Hahahahahha.

You might need to watch this too.

It’s been awhile since I have made much effort in being girly. We went and saw Sizzla on Friday night with some friends from work, a perfect excuse to layer on the jewelry, make-up, curl the hair and wear some heels. Just because I hardly ever do, but definitely have fun when I do. Funny night! Not so funny hangover.

It just kinda became clear to me the other day, while reading a lot of crafty, arty, lifestyle blogs out there, that there is a real appetite for simple, yet clever things. The days of fussy decadence are not today’s most popular aesthetic, at least among people I relate to or find interesting. This is not to say that luxury is out, or that things do not need to be made with skill and refinement, but overall, I think we are all appreciating a simple, almost naive-style in art, craft and design, maybe because the world, and daily life can be so exhausting. So planned. So corporate, so many logistical stresses, like commuting, the economy, loud commercials on tv, trends coming in and out of style, I don’t know, you don’t have to buy into it but you’d have to be living deep in the forest to not notice how urban living can grind you down. I just looked in my trash can at work the other day and I just completely froze… there was so much packaging in there, dunkin donuts coffee cup, breakfast bar wrapper, just so much freaking plastic, grossed me out. It just told me, I’ve been rushing in the mornings, and this trash can should be full of banana & grapefruit peels, egg shells, and tea bags. Should represent less about convenience and more about quality. Time to be a little more thoughtful I suppose. In living life. But maybe a little less contrived, in fun!

I think part of what attracts so many of us to small simple things, is the energy or vibrations of the thing itself. There is something refreshing in things that are unique, one-of-a-kind, made with love, made by hand, made without an aggressive purpose (like I need 5000 to go to retail or something.) And I think those things, whether meals, or pieces of art, really buzz with the energy of who made it, and the conditions it was made in. Sometimes, I really struggle with this when I know that my job involves factory work in 3rd world countries. I guess I try to balance it with the things I make at home, on my own. So, with all of this prophetic rambling, I give you a few simple, 5 minute sketches that I did by hand and then colored digitally. Just keeping it simple for now.

Oh and I had a great time in NYC last weekend, like I always do. I ‘worked’ 2 full days but managed to see my friends and eat some tasty food, and i walked for hours and hours and hours in the cold, but it was wonderful. The city is amazing to walk in, you can go forever and ever and not even notice the blisters! Stop and have a delicious coffee, snack, or drink, and then keep on going. Here are just a few details of things I saw, nothing monumental, cuz, you know, I’m keeping it simple these days!

I am headed to NYC tomorrow until Monday, but wanted to share some little doodles I did today. Quick hand-drawn and colored digitally. I expect to be back next week fully inspired, tired, and a little broke. I can’t wait to see my friends, to be back in the midst of it all, and of course, do the work I’m going there to do. Wheee!

Instead of working on my taxes this weekend, I worked on some shadow boxes using my illustrations and a few other little things.