A new Design Research book came out last month & I was featured in it :) Many thanks to Ava Academia & Gavin Ambrose!

more info here»

today’s musical inspiration : Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes “That’s What’s Up”

The problem with having time to do anything you want is figuring out what you want to do. A nice problem to have no doubt, but one that’s been driving me crazy for weeks, if not months. I hate those days you look back at your work and think, “I have to get better, i have to keep working, I need to update BADLY!” Then again, it’s a nice feeling to think that you have better in you, waiting to be created.

Summertime trips and family and social obligations and heat exhaustion has really given me a beat down. I am excited for August, 1 more BANG of a trip next week & then it’s time to start drawing again for reals.

Time to let all my doodles these past few months turn into real work - hopefully, better work.

WATCH (LISTEN TO) THIS

12ozsteak:

Neil Gaiman Addresses the University of the Arts Class 2012

sitting. pondering. thinking. breathing. meditating. i havn’t been doing much of these things tonight as i’ve been sketching till my wrists can’t take anymore, but it’s something that’s been on my mind. i know a lot of people have been passing around the article from The New York Times, The ‘Busy’ Trap & it touches on things that have been on my mind for the past 6 months or more & i hope more people read it. i think that a lot of us are figuring out what it means to be happy and enjoy what you do while still trying to reach your goals and full potential. it’s as though there is a fine line between working yourself ragged and not giving it your all - the happy medium is some kind of crazy reality that seems hard sometimes when you’re on a path where working is what gives you the most self worth. not that we don’t find value and happiness in our family & friends, but i know as someone in the beginning of their career, it’s what you think about most. where you’re going, what you’re doing, what decision is right, how much to keep working. Luckily, most of what i do is too fun to feel like work & that’s how I want to keep it. I also take time to relax and go back home to visit family more than most people I know, so I like to think that I do an ok job on my balancing skills right now. Always getting better. Always learning.

check out the article here » The ‘Busy’ Trap

A.dubs

illuminated sketchin’ tonight

more doodling when I’m supposed to be doing other things, like lettering for friends wedding announcements & product shots for our shop. However, procrastination wasn’t all for nothing: this phrase is 1/2 of a line that Drew has been planning on getting permanently inked on his body. It isn’t anything new, he’s wanted it for at least 6 years, but the time has not come - yet. Although tattoos freak me out b/c I’m such an indecisive person I can’t imagine anyone wanting the same thing on their body for life - I do very much like this & 6 years later, I’ve warmed up to it you might say. The full line goes, ” Fight the Good FIght & Love Something True & Kick a Hole into Heaven so’s Some Angels Fall Through.” After my doodling, I think this could become a pretty nice shirt design - maybe as is w/ 1/2 the line, or maybe finished up completely. We’ll see.

Just so everyone knows I’m not lying when I say the Etsy is coming soon - here’s a screenshot of that hard work. All that’s left is tying up lose ends, tags & shipping prices. Then it’s time to launch!! & pray that the Post Office & I learn how to live in harmony :)

My apron has kind of become a running joke between Drew & I b/c I am so amazed by it. I needed an apron for this past weekend & at the last minute, when I had a handful of other things I should have been doing, I decided I would make my own apron too. I don’t know why making things out of other things gives me the biggest joy. It’s like, someone wins $100 and can’t shut up telling people about it - that’s how I sound when I talk about how I made my apron out of extra pillow fabric we printed. It’s kind of ridiculous - ly awesome :)

Anyways. this is my apron. I’m proud of it. Martha Stewart would be proud. Anthropologie eat your heart out <3

So this past weekend was Porter Flea & the 2nd time I’ve been able to test out some of my own art prints in public. The turn out was amazing & I am really happy to announce that so many people enjoyed my “Why I Love You” prints :) Working on my own illustrations after work was just a labor of love for the first few years. Figuring out what I wanted to create, what I thought others would enjoy, what I wouldn’t lose my soul creating. Over time, the work that kept sticking out to me were the little phrases I came up with that were at one point created for someone I cared about. “Why I Love You” is the first of these that I’ve been able to execute, print & sell and it just makes me really happy that others find it relatable and adorable as well. :) 

These will be up in our Etsy shop soon, I will definitely post the link.

& here’s a peak at what I accomplished. 32 down, 16 to finish up this week before our show on Saturday at Porter Flea here in Nashville.