Trial by Cupcakes

Valentine's gift guide

2012-02-03T12:39:00.004-05:00

Wary as I am of retailers' attempt to turn Valentine's Day into the new Christmas, it is fun to buy little gifts and trinkets to show someone that they are loved. It's even more fun to break out the glitter and make handmade cards, especially now that Louise Fili and Jessica Hische's new "Love" stamps are available at the Post Office:

Note to the US Postal Service: you'll never have to worry about bankruptcy if you keep coming out with beautiful designs like this one.

Jewelry, chocolates, and fun little luxuries are always a welcome surprise, whether it's from a romantic partner or a good friend. But, as usual, all I really want this year is what I ask for every year: a handwritten, honest-to-goodness love letter!

1. Orelia Wishbone stud earrings at ASOS

2. Mint vintage nightie from Etsy seller altmeansold (or scour thrift stores!)

3. Ted Baker crystal bow stud earrings at ASOS

4. Lollia Poetic License Candle in Butterflie

5. MCMC Fragrances LOVE/ Odette NY Arrow ring gift set

6. Martha Stewart glitter and good old fashioned construction paper

7. Theo Chocolate Casanova Kiss gift set (Fair Trade!)

I'm Down with Downton

2012-01-13T15:34:00.000-05:00

New Year. I am going to nurse this blog back to health, I swear. Starting with the ladylike fashions of "Downton Abbey"- like a lot of other fans, I've been longing for the Crawley sisters' wardrobe, home, and flawless skin.

Lady Edith, Lady Mary, and Lady Sybil Crawley

1. Beaded deco top from Topshop 2. Velvet bow kitten heels from LL Bean Signature 3. Shakuhachi silk maxi skirt from ASOS (for a daring flash of ankle!) 4. Etienne Aigner riding boots at Piperlime 5. Silk pintuck blouse from J. Crew
6. Cloche hat from Urban Outfitters 7. Vintage rhinestone earrings from Esty seller Lyonesse4gems

Also, is it just me, or is this supercute model from Steven Alan totally rocking Lady Mary's signature dewy-faced, side-part-chignon look?

DIY Solid Perfume

2011-07-22T09:45:00.000-04:00

Oh, blog, please forgive me for neglecting you. Work has been nonstop, which I suppose is a good thing.

All work and no play means there has been little time for fun projects, like Mandy Aftel's DIY solid perfume locket, as featured on DesignSponge. This is one of the best tutorials I've seen in a looooong time: a project that is novel but genuinely useful, takes few special tools or ingredients to make, and is customizable for each person's tastes. I have to try this one. Maybe with geranium or orange blossom essential oils?

(image via DesignSponge)

Sick Days

2011-03-07T23:15:00.000-05:00

The news for the past week:

The bad: I've been ill and had to go to the ER. One of the downsides of having your own business is that there are no sick days, so I've been trying my best to catch up from the time I lost!

The good news: it's ranunculus season!! Spring is almost here!

Matchbook Magazine is here!

2011-01-26T22:25:00.000-05:00

the premier issue cover, painted by me

The long-awaited Matchbook magazine (founded by Katie Armour and Jane Lily Warren) is finally here, and, boy, was it ever worth the wait! You know how you'll see a magazine on the rack at the store that boasts of "135 Perfect Outfits!", "The 5-Minute Trick to Amazing Skin!", and then it ends up being the same crap they recycle every four months? Well, Matchbook's premiere issue is packed with actual helpful tips and insider info, extremely well-curated spreads, and interviews with some serious heavy-hitters, like Rita Konig, Miles Redd, John Derian, Lela Rose (its cover girl)... I could go on.

Yes, it's full of rich girls and their rich-girl things, but it seems to be angled more toward giving the readers the inside scoop, rather than the "Nyah, nyah, you wish you could be me" attitude I find in the features in most other magazines.

Now, if only I can handle the wait until the next issue...

Bass Shoes

2011-01-24T15:26:00.005-05:00

Is it just me, or is Bass kind of killing it when it comes to spring footwear? These are all $80 and under!

Jeremy Miranda Greenhouses

2011-01-04T22:46:00.000-05:00

Amazing. From his Etsy shop.

Iotacons

2010-12-30T00:20:00.001-05:00

Andy Rash's collection of very low-resolution portraits is amazing, and makes me think about what it really takes to capture someone's likeness. I was surprised that I immediately recognized our beloved MD Senator Barbara Mikulski in his collection of Senate portraits (second row, next to last, next to an almost equally-recognizable Ben Cardin)!

Gift Guide 2010 Part 2: For the boys and the tomboys

2010-12-09T16:08:00.000-05:00

1. Makr key chain (via Brook Farm General Store)
2. NFL Toaster imprints the logo of your favorite team (and, if you're smart, your favorite team is the Ravens) (via SportsFanFare)
3. Bean boots from L.L. Bean
4. Bicycle bell from the Cooper-Hewitt Shop
5. Bodum Coffee Press (via Amazon)
6. Otterbox Waterproof case (via Amazon)

Gift Guide 2010 Part 1: For everyone

2010-12-04T00:14:00.002-05:00

Gaah- things have been really busy lately, and I've neglected both my blog, and my 100-posts-in-2010 New Years' Resolution! Time to step it up with the first of my holiday gift picks! This collection: things anyone would love to receive- perfect for good friends or close relatives, not-so-good friends and not-so-close relatives, and Secret-Santa wild cards alike!

1. Turn their 16-second video clip of their pet, kid, wedding day, etc. into a flip book via FlipClips!
2. Sunbeam Cupcake Maker from Target cooks 6 cupcakes in 10 minutes!
3. My own custom address stamp
4. Mason Jar solar lids from Etsy seller tresureagain
5. Citrus Tree from Four Winds Growers
6. Urbanears headphones

Nestrest

2010-11-13T11:00:00.000-05:00

Hanging out in these awesome wicker hanging nest loungers would probably be the coziest, most magical thing ever. (designed by Daniel Pouzet and Fred Frety, via Black Eiffel)

Spectacular Succulents

2010-11-01T09:06:00.002-04:00

I love, love, love succulents- I don't know if it's because they seem so exotic to me (living on the East Coast as I do), their beautiful geometry, their amazing shapes, or what, but I've always been drawn to them. Unfortunately, our semi-attached house gets little natural light during the day, and I'm concerned about my sun-loving friends, especially as the days grow shorter.

via Martha Stewart

Though my research tells me succulents may not be able to survive the tough Maryland winters, I spotted on a recent walk these little hens-and-chicks nesting in an old log. They are so pretty- like a little hidden surprise. I hope they make it through the cold.

Though there are so many varieties, my favorite succulent houseplants have always been simple, fat-leafed jades. The principles of Feng shui claim that a jade plant symbolizes wealth, and, eerily, the jade plant that was given to me as a gift last Christmas truly does seem to fluctuate corresponding to my financial situation. After a few bad months, it seems to be improving- just as I have gotten a new job!

I just added a new friend for my original Jade plant: this beautiful blushing variety, that I just had to paint- the colors of the leaves against the terracotta pot are just so pretty.

To keep my lovely little plants thriving, I'm going to try this house plant light from Fertile Earth. In case you're wondering, yes, it's very difficult to sift through your options for "plant grow light" for products and tips that aren't intended for the more, ahem, medicinal varieties of at-home horticulture. And yes, it's nearly impossible to find a grow light that isn't butt-ugly.

Le Petit Prince

2010-10-25T10:12:00.000-04:00

How cool is this "Little Prince"-inspired ensemble from Castelbajac (via Miss Pandora)?

I love "The Little Prince" so much- my husband and I even used a passage from the book as one of our wedding readings. And, since I love to own multiple copies of my favorite books, I have so many different versions in French and English! The English translations each have subtle differences in the language- it's fun to compare them.

Coveted Fall Look #1

2010-10-15T11:11:00.000-04:00

I want to steal this belted-oversized-sweater look, spotted on Stockholm Street Style, but I doubt my chilly, goosebump-y bare legs would look very fashionable....

Tim Walker

2010-09-29T10:17:00.000-04:00

I haven't seen "Inception" yet, so maybe I'm a little fuzzy on the concept, but I'm convinced that visionary British photographer Tim Walker has been sneaking into my subconscious, stealing my dreams, and turning them into the most otherworldly beautiful images.

HOLY MOLY.

All images from Tim Walker Photography.

Five Star Beauty

2010-09-28T09:44:00.000-04:00

I had an old coupon for Beauty.com, so I just ordered the new Stila Custom Color blush. I used to think that blush was a totally unnecessary cosmetic, but now I realize just how much more awake and healthy it can make one's skin look (especially those with Casper-pale skin, like me).

Though it looks like a shocking hot pink in the pan, it goes on as a pretty, just-in-from-the-cold rosy pink - at least on me it does. The color is specifically designed to work with one's own skin's pH to self-adjust the color. While I'm a bit skeptical of that claim, the effusive online reviews I've read do make it seem like this blush works on just about any skin tone.

And, for the piggy-bank beauty files, there's the Meadowfoam Treatment Conditioner from Fresh. I tried it while visting my friend (who has the most gorgeous, silky, perfectly wavy hair ever) last weekend. This must be her secret- it made my hair sooo soft- but I'm not sure if I can swing the $32 price tag just yet.

Paddington

2010-09-21T15:29:00.000-04:00

I think my fall fashion icon just might be this guy:

LL Bean toggle coat, stuffed Paddington bear, Hunter boots, Goorin Brothers floppy felt hat

I found out recently that Paddington bear is based on the Spectacled Bear, a super-cute species native to South America!

Painting Pink Shoes

2010-09-08T20:17:00.004-04:00

I occasionaly moonlight as an art teacher, and I always have my students draw and paint shoes. The shapes, textures, and structure can be really challenging- especially when drawing them from unusual perspectives. Today, I painted watercolors of two of my favorite pairs of shoes.

Though I've never really considered myself a "shoe person" (probably because the shoes I love are never in my budget), I did just get a new pair of dusty-coral-pink flats from J. Crew (on sale, of course), that I love!

The Kerrington flats in "Copper Dust"- such a beautiful and unique color.

These look so nice next to my J. Crew splurge from last year, "Carmen" heels in an antique-y peach. I never wear them- I just like looking at them!

Scouting: Southwest

2010-09-02T16:46:00.003-04:00

Lately, I've been really info southwestern, Native American, and Central American-inspired patterns.

1. Viva Vena dress from Need Supply, 2. Tote from Etsy seller Flower on the Wall, 3. Blanket from Pendleton, 4. Shoes from Osborn, 5. Bangles from House of Harlow 1960 at Singer 22, 3. Skirt from eBay seller Thrifted, 7. Vintage arrows from etsy seller Hello Victory

Watermelon Gazpacho

2010-09-01T12:28:00.000-04:00

Last year, I learned a lot of lessons from our garden, meaning that this year, I would go easy on over-stocking it, especially with too many tomato plants. Unfortunately, I think I went a little too far in the other direction, meaning this year's garden has been puny.

But a lack of tomatoes means it's time to get creative with my favorite summer soup: gazpacho. Last week, I tried a watermelon gazpacho from a Thai restaurant that was so good, I immediately went about trying to duplicate it.

Success! Delicious, sweet-and-savory watermelon gazpacho.

There seem to be a lot of recipes out there, so I chose one that seemed closest to the matching the soup I'd gotten at the Thai place, and tweaked it a bit. Here's what I came up with:

Ingredients:

8 cups finely diced seedless watermelon
1 medium cucumber, peeled, seeded and finely diced
1/2 green bell pepper, finely diced
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1/4 cup chopped fresh mint
3 diced celery stalks (about 1/2 cup)
1/2 small red onion, diced (about 1 cup)
3 tablespoons red-wine vinegar
1 seeded and minced jalapeno pepper (I left this out, as my stomach and I are not fans of spicy food)
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
3/4 teaspoon salt
pepper to taste

Directions

1. Chop everything that needs to be chopped (watermelon, pepper, cucumber, onion, celery, cilantro, mint), reserving about half of the watermelon to go in the blender.

2. Add the reserved half of the watermelon, olive oil, vinegar, and lime juice to a blender and puree until smooth. Transfer the puree to a large serving bowl or container.

3. Add all the remaining ingredients to the puree, and stir well to combine.

4. Refrigerate for one to four hours and serve!

Back to School

2010-08-26T10:00:00.001-04:00

While I am very, very grateful that I'll never have to go back to school (though I do have the occasional bad dream about it), I admit I miss the feeling of a fresh start and possibility that used to come with back-to-school shopping. So I get just a tiny bit envious of kids and adults alike who get to buy shiny new backpacks, pencils, and other gear. On my grown-up back-to-school list would be:

1. Moleskine notebook from Dick Blick, 2. White personalized pencils from Oriental Trading Co., 3. Fjallraven backpack from Creatures of Comfort, 4. Falke tights from Saks Fifth Avenue, 5. Grumbacher watercolor set from Dick Blick, 6. Oxfords from Etsy seller MetroVintage, 7. Boys' blazer from French Toast

Mrs. Meyer's Honeysuckle

2010-08-17T15:59:00.001-04:00

Look what I found at Whole Foods yesterday- Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day dish soap in the Honeysuckle scent! I am a big fan of all things honeysuckle-scented, and, though I'm very loyal to Mrs. Meyer's Basil scent, I wanted to give this one a try. I can't find it ANYWHERE online- only the hand soap. Maybe I should stock up?

Pictured with my favorite octopus scrub brush.

More Beautiful Brides

2010-08-11T15:33:00.000-04:00

Beautiful brides have been everywhere this summer! In two of my most-anticipated weddings of 2010, the brides did not disappoint with their dresses:

Alix, aka the Cherry Blossom Girl

I adore this photo of a radiant Chelsea Clinton walking down the aisle with her dad (and my personal hero), Bill. (de Manio Photography via every online celebrity site ever)

La Soupe

2010-08-09T11:12:00.000-04:00

I've been working on this print for months now, and it's finally ready!

Inspired by the classic vintage French "La Soupe" poster, this is a print of a compilation of lots of little watercolors, depicting all of the delicious ingredients for a lovely vegetable soup (including a flame Le Creuset dutch oven for cooking)! Next to each item is its name, hand-lettered en français.

I've been having lots of fun trying out the print in my studio room, kitchen, and living room, but I'm really hoping someone will purchase a print to display in their restaurant or café!

Berry Picking

2010-08-09T10:00:00.002-04:00

After several days of being ill, I was dying to get out and do something on Sunday, so my husband and I went raspberry picking at a pick-your-own farm! Unfortunately, everyone else had the same idea, resulting in some slim pickin's.

Our entire haul- I was hoping for about ten times as many berries!

We met some very cute farm animal friends, including a little goat:

Some lovely chickens:

Busy bees:

A shaggy alpaca:

And a very, very handsome llama:

Belted Wedding Dress

2010-08-06T22:10:00.001-04:00

Yesssss! Why didn't I think of this?! So fresh and pretty.

Photos by Kamp Photography, via A Cup of Jo.

Tone-on-tone envelope calligraphy

2010-07-29T18:00:00.001-04:00

Oh, boy, do I ever need to pick up the slack, blog-wise. I've noticed that all of my favorite blogs tend to trickle down to a slower pace in the summer- maybe everyone is out having adventures, or relaxing on the beach?

I've been busy with work, for which I'm very grateful. Lately, I've been experimenting with tone-on-tone colors on envelopes, for an effect that looks like the letters were bleached out of the base paper color.

Ice blue on peacock blue (Paper Source's new "Peacock" color!)

Pale pink on pink (Paper Source's "Strawberry"). The pink ink looks close to white, but you can really tell the difference when it's viewed next to true white ink.

I tried writing with real bleach gel at one point, but it was too difficult to get to a consistency that would flow through my pen nib, and it didn't turn out at all. The colored ink looks much better anyway, and, of course, it's much more eco-friendly!

I Am Love

2010-07-13T00:44:00.002-04:00

I had the best weekend ever- a great show, an amazing art opening, and the grand finale- tubing on the most beautiful, clear day in Harper's Ferry, on the West Virginia/Virginia/Maryland border.

Earlier in the week, I went with some friends to see the new Luca Guadagnino film, "I Am Love". I was underwhelmed by the story, but the gorgeous Italian scenery, carefully composed shots, and moody color palette made it a real pleasure to watch. More than anything, I was in love with the opening titles: in both an old-fashioned, flourishy font, as well as a modern, sans-serif font, both of which I have been struggling to identify ever since I left the theater.

Even the poster is lovely- I finally figured out that its featured font is either Adobe's "Shelley Allegro" or "English 111 Vivace". I really want to start practicing writing in this font, to add to my calligraphy repertoire.

Mama Stamp, Baby Stamp

2010-07-06T01:24:00.000-04:00

When stamp-making goes wrong:

Regular-sized custom calligraphy stamp from my etsy shop

The regular-sized stamp next to a stamp for which I accidentally used the wrong file size. Whoops! Naturally, this customer will get a free re-do (and a free little baby stamp for when she wants to personalize very tiny things!).

Flourishes to the edge

2010-06-28T16:52:00.000-04:00

I love the way a big stack of envelopes in my "Katie elongated" font looks when viewed from the side- all of those little flourishes reeeeeaching to the very edges and peeking through!

Scouting: Braids

2010-06-24T10:02:00.003-04:00

1. Rachel Comey braided platform heels from Frances May. 2. lovely red-haired model from the APC 2009 season (I'd love to know her name!). 3. vintage braided leather belt from Etsy seller 1stlove. 4. "Aldine" braided gold ring from Bario Neal. 5. Woven fair-trade South African basket from Bridge for Africa. 6. Nautical rope bracelet from J. Crew (on sale in the kids' section- shhhhhh!). 7. Straw hat from Etsy seller womyn.

United Thread

2010-06-23T01:19:00.005-04:00

I am proud to say that I haven't bought anything for myself in the past month or so, but I had to break my fast when I saw Michelle's watercolors at United Thread. The minute I saw them, I got that crazy-art-collector-gotta-have-it feeling. Deciding which one to buy was beyond difficult, but I actually gasped when I opened the package when it came in the mail.

Can you BELIEVE this painting? I don't even want to share it, I want to guard it like a jealous lover.

Please go buy these before I completely drain my meager savings doing so. I want a whole wall of Michelle's paintings. These make me want to paint again (for fun, not just for work), and that's a compliment I reserve only for my favorite artists.

***AND NOW, 50% of sales will go toward the National Wildlife Federation's oil spill cleanup efforts. Okay, this may have just put me over the edge as far as buying everything in her shop.

Calligraphy- Guest List Do's and Don'ts

2010-06-14T22:09:00.002-04:00

As Murphy's Law proves itself again, my computer couldn't have picked a worse week to die: I am busier than ever with calligraphy projects this week, and losing all of my info didn't help things one bit.

Some envelopes from this week's projects. There's a lot to keep track of: each of these is in a different font and ink color!

If you are sending your wedding envelopes off to a calligrapher, it's helpful to know how to format your guest list. I'm often asked for helpful hints about this, so I thought I'd compile them all together:

1. DO number your guest list.
And, if you can, put it in alphabetical order. It makes everything easier, but it is especially useful when you want to make changes to the guest list ("#56- John Doe" is much easier to find than attempting to hunt down one name on a non-numbered list with over a hundred entries). An alphabetical list makes it easier for a calligrapher to find the proper place in the stack for a wayward envelope, and it makes it easier for you to find a particular guest, or notice if anyone is missing, when the envelopes are returned.

2. DON'T forget to proofread and double-check spelling, numbers, and zip codes.
A calligrapher can't always catch mistakes- though I may e-mail you to ask about a "Micheal" on your list, I don't know that "123 Maplen Street" should actually be "123 Maple Street", or vice versa. Likewise, if a guest has an unusual spelling of his or her name, it might be helpful to include a little note to avoid confusion, such as "*yes, 'Lhauren' is the correct spelling".

3. DO a tiny bit of homework to be sure you spell your guests' names correctly.
One of the best things about calligraphy is how incredibly personal a hand-written envelope feels to the recipient. But this special feeling can be lost if the recipient's name is misspelled.

If you're unsure of the spelling of someone's name, it's totally appropriate to ask them ("Hi! I'm making my wedding guest list and I want to be sure I spell your/ your girlfriend's name correctly on your invitation," is always a welcome message). But, now, with social networking sites like Facebook, it's easier than ever to do a little spy work to get the correct spelling of "Uli Boszheberger", or the name of your college roommate's new boyfriend.

In general, it's important to remember that your calligrapher doesn't know your friends or family the way you do, so be sure to make your guest list read exactly as you would like your envelopes to read. That way, your guest will receive your beautiful invitations just as you intended them to be!

Disaster. Of the computer variety. :(

2010-06-03T23:54:00.000-04:00

This afternoon, I was working on image research for two clients' maps. I went upstairs to do some cleaning, and, when I came back, my computer was dead. Like, for real dead. My hard drive had crashed.

I'm usually good about backing stuff up, but I've been slacking lately, so I lost about two months' worth of work and images. One of the downsides of running your own business, I suppose, is the possibility of something like this happening. I hope I'll be able to catch up, remember what stage I was in with what projects, and generally get back on track.

It pains me to think about all the things that are gone forever! Goodbye, "Home Inspiration" folder. It's been real. Goodbye, beloved "things I wanna buy for myself and others" bookmarks, where I stored all of my gift ideas. I will REALLY miss you.

Luckily, I have this blog as a more permanent store of a few of my favorite images and ideas, but, still, I know I'll mourn my old stockpile more and more as, over time, I begin to realize what more is missing.

I have to remind myself to put things in perspective- hey, it's not a disaster on the scale of the BP Gulf Oil Spill (which makes me physically sick to think about), but it's still a sad day. :(

So nice, I bought it twice

2010-06-02T14:16:00.001-04:00

Sometimes I avoid wearing or using my favorite things to avoid messing them up- especially vintage items that I see as irreplaceable. That's why I tend to seek out "doubles" of my favorite items!

My beautiful vintage huarache heels, and my favorite rainbow-strap Lacoste sneakers

striped Marc Jacobs bikini, vintage fake engagement ring (left) and real engagement ring (right)

Cozy winter knit sweaters, vintage fox pendant and necklace

Indulgent or practical? I hope it's the latter. :)

Madewell Online!

2010-05-31T15:50:00.003-04:00

"And don't forget to check out our website- they're launching online shopping soon!", the girl at the Madewell store told me during my last visit. "Oh, they are always promising it's 'coming soon'", I laughed. "I'll believe it when I see it!"

Well, I've seen it, and now I believe it! My Madewell picks:

1. Vintage stripe tank
2. Denim Midi shorts
3. Pointillist dress
4. Slouch pocket tee (this doesn't look like much, but it has a really cute fit, and is so unbelievably soft that my husband has taken to petting the shirt when I wear it!)

Congratulations May Brides!

2010-05-28T11:59:00.001-04:00

As we say "Peace out" to May, I wanted to congratulate all of my May couples! Below are some of my May maps I've been waiting to share!

Congrats to everyone- I hope all of you are already enjoying wedded bliss! :)

Getting Growing

2010-05-25T21:56:00.000-04:00

The first sprouts and signs of life are starting to appear in my little garden!

The first anemone has bloomed!

First zucchini flower!

Sugar snap pea vines reach, reeeeaacching to wrap themselves around their trellis.

Pretty soon, the garden should be full of vegetables and goodness (but maybe not quite as full as last year's overstocked garden)!

Of Two Minds Dress

2010-05-21T17:23:00.001-04:00

I am of one mind to play scratch-off lottery tickets until I win enough to buy this dress by Of Two Minds, from Steven Alan:

It's already sold out in my size! :(

Wee little envelopes

2010-05-20T13:59:00.001-04:00

What is it about a small version of some more commonly larger-sized thing that makes it seem like a "baby" version? Like these teeny little 4bar sized envelopes I just finished for a lovely California bride's save-the-dates. I love the way the gray ink looks on the moss green envelope:

Here are the little envelopes with their big brother, A7 sized envelope:

Aww! Look at those little guys! So cute.

Scrub a Dub

2010-05-19T22:15:00.006-04:00

As I've gotten a bit older, I've been having some skin issues- breakouts here and there, uneven texture, little sun spots and bumps. I think they're mostly due to fluctuating hormones and stress. My beautiful friend has had some of the same issues, and she says exfoliation is the key to keeping all the bad stuff in check. She turned me onto Philosophy's Microdelivery Peel- a kind of two-step, at-home microdermabrasion kit with peptides and Vitamin C.

At first, I was afraid the combo of scrub and various acids would irritate my sensitive skin, but, so far, so good! I LOVE the results- but I'm not so in love with the $65 price tag. Then, I looked at the ingredients:

Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), lactic acid, salicylic acid- yep, your standard elementary-school volcano. I decided to mix my own concoction to supplement the Philosophy treatment and stretch my beauty dollars!

First, gather some baking soda, a lemon, and an oil or gel-based cleanser. I used Shu Uemura's Cleansing Oil - another pricey favorite (I'm also a big fan of DHC's Deep Cleansing Oil). Mix a few drops of the cleanser with the baking soda to form a paste. Using a circular motion, gently scrub the paste onto your face, being sure to avoid your eye area.

Now for the fun volcano part (the imitation step 2 of the Philosophy regimen): mix a bit of lemon juice and water together (pure lemon juice can be a little harsh), and apply that on top of the scrub on your face. Let it foam up, and continue to verrry gently scrub. If you have acne-prone skin, you can always add or substitute a salicylic acid gel during this step.

Next, rinse everything off, and- voila! Skin that makes a baby's butt seem like sandpaper by comparison.

Rings and Things

2010-05-17T21:42:00.002-04:00

I have this problem with collecting vintage things. Jewelry, clothing, drinking glasses, pottery, you name it- it's like I'm waiting for the perfect thing to come along, and then, once it comes along, the next perfect thing is right behind it! I am building my own little museum. Today, I painted all of my favorite rings.

How lame of me.

2010-05-17T17:28:00.001-04:00

I just removed a post which noted the similarities between my design and another designer's. A hardly revolutionary design, so I was careful to include language about the obvious coincidence, and to NOT include language that suggested the design was stolen (honestly, how could it be? This blog is more of a friends and clients only thing)- only that it was similar. But still, I forgot that people have Google Alerts and like to use assistant-manager-speak like "I don't appreciate...", so down it goes.

Jen Gotch Prints

2010-05-07T14:10:00.000-04:00

This has always been one of my all-time favorite photos, and now it's available to buy as a print from Jen Gotch Photography. I wish those red sequin/glittery bow shoes would jump off the page and onto my feet.

A Perfect Match

2010-05-06T11:12:00.001-04:00

Holy moly, check out these vintage Eastern European matchbox labels, found via Lovely Package, from Maraid's Matchbox Labels flickr set.

Birthday Balloons

2010-05-05T17:54:00.000-04:00

Balloons at a friend's birthday picnic in the park over the weekend.

International Envelopes

2010-04-28T20:43:00.001-04:00

Last week, I sent out some envelopes to a very lucky bride with friends and family all around the world!

Envelopes in my "Katie Elongated" font.

Mademoiselle, Oh La La!

2010-04-23T15:24:00.001-04:00

Found today on Oh Joy!: vintage Mademoiselle magazine covers featuring the illustration of Helen Jameson Hall. Who wouldn't rather see this than any celebrity-of-the-moment on the newsstand?

Pink Bow Shoes

2010-04-20T23:19:00.000-04:00

It's a good thing I don't have any money (let alone $530), because, if I did, these shoes from Opening Ceremony would be T.R.O.U.B.L.E.

Princess Grace

2010-04-19T11:01:00.004-04:00

Was there ever, and will there ever be, a more beautiful bride than Grace Kelly? Grace is an aptonym that describes the quality she exuded the most throughout her life.

On this day (April 19th) in 1956, Grace Kelly married Prince Ranier in their religious wedding ceremony (the Civil Ceremony was held on the 18th). Life Online is currently featuring a slideshow of images of the days leading up to the wedding, and the event itself.

photo: Lisa Larsen for Time/Life Pictures

photo: Unknown

photo: Thomas D. McAvoy for Time/Life Pictures

The dress! The veil! Her flawless, angelic face! Even Disney couldn't have imagined a more breathtakingly beautiful princess.

*Sidenote: this is my 101st post! Hooray! Still working toward my goal of 150 total posts for 2010- I have to step it up a bit.

Ship in a Bottle

2010-04-16T20:11:00.001-04:00

Someone needs to snap this up this from Hindsvik's etsy shop before I break down and buy it!

Stopping to Smell the Roses (and other florals)

2010-04-15T01:38:00.000-04:00

I am really feeling floral prints lately. According to FedEx, tomorrow I will be the proud owner of the Alternative Apparel v-neck below. Now, if I can resist the urge to buy everything else listed here, I'll be all good. Not sure if that's possible. :)

1. bra from Topshop
2. velvet jazzies shoes from Osborn
3. v-neck t-shirt from Alternative Apparel
4. printed tights from Anthropologie
5. vintage dress from etsy seller mapetiteamy

A Productive Weekend

2010-04-12T10:39:00.002-04:00

This weekend, we:

got some geraniums

and went to an antiques sale in an old barn, where we:

bought an old wall map of Africa.

I also finished up a calligraphy project for a bride who is using eco-friendly, recycled kraft paper envelopes for her invitations. I love the juxtaposition of the elegant Bickham font on the rough, fibrous paper:

More Mason Jars

2010-04-06T16:27:00.001-04:00

After my previous post about the joy of mason jars as storage, the grains and legumes section of my pantry is finally coming along.

One of the first things I did (just because I love pretty lettering) was create calligraphy labels for the jars. I used these old-fashioned notched-corner labels from Paper Source.

And, because I am always forgetting the water-to-grain ratio of quinoa, rice, couscous, and my other newly-jarred items, I sneakily taped the instructions the the backs of the jars as a reminder.

Since transferring the grains from their original packaging to the jars can be tricky, Martha has this great trick (and, really, when does she not have a great trick?) of using envelopes as makeshift funnels.

image from Martha Stewart

Uppercase Issue 5

2010-04-05T16:45:00.001-04:00

Look what came in the mail to brighten my kind of bummed-out day:

Uppercase Magazine issue 5! Featuring foxes (my favorite animal!), vintage pyrex dishes, embroidery and textiles, a short history of synthetic fabrics, and, as always, lots of artists and creative folks.

Global Decor

2010-04-02T13:51:00.002-04:00

I know, I know, everyone and their mom decorates with vintage globes and maps now, but I think this is one trend that will never get tired, because globes and maps will never stop being beautiful! I love seeing what I can learn just from casually studying the position of countries next to each other, seeing how nations have changed names and territories over time, and, of course, the vast blue (or black!) oceans.

From top to bottom: 1. My bookcase and "globe nook" in my home; 2. Johnny and Stacie's home via sfgirlbybay; 3. Carolyn and David's home on flickr, via Etsy Storque; 4. Avocado and Papaya via Apartment Therapy

Marriage Certificate

2010-03-30T12:13:00.002-04:00

Yesterday, I sent out a lovely marriage certificate, commissioned by one of my brides with very good taste! I love certificates like this- it's a way for wedding guests to show their solidarity with the couple's vows to each other.

The illustration was a simple watercolor painting of chocolate cosmos, grape hyacinths, pink ranunculus, poppies, and lily of the valley- all types of beautiful Spring flowers to be included in the bride's bouquet!

A Pretty Pantry

2010-03-25T23:38:00.000-04:00

I love peeking into other people's pantries: it's like a food version of the thrill of looking inside the medicine cabinet. There's something so pretty and soothing about this photo, from Emerson and Ryan's home, as featured on Design Sponge:

I think it's time to put my beloved vintage aqua mason jar collection to good use, by filling them with lots of grains and goodies for pantry storage.

my photo

photo from Apartment Therapy's "The Kitchen Cure"

I also really love this repurposed-chicken-coop-as-pantry photo, from one of my favorite sets ever on Design Sponge:

Maybe I could find some nice old vegetable bins somewhere?

Nesting

2010-03-23T19:07:00.001-04:00

While doing yardwork this weekend, I took care to save this beautifully-woven, abandoned birds' nest. This is one of those natural wonders that never ceases to amaze me- how DO birds do it? This nest was so sturdy that it lasted through a big Nor'easter storm last week, and I had to literally cut it out from the branches of a thorn bush. Good work, birds!

Genius!

2010-03-23T00:13:00.002-04:00

Sfgirlbybay featured this genius new visualization device from Valspar paints- a room scene printed on clear acetate. Place it in front of a paint chip, and it's easy to visualize the impact of your chosen color on the room!

generic bathroom scene

...plus paint job!

Inspired by Beautiful Work Spaces

2010-03-16T19:16:00.003-04:00

I've been doing lots and lots of calligraphy orders lately, which means that my work has spread out to conquer every available space with drying envelopes, guest lists, and supplies. When I get some free time, I'm hoping to re-organize everything. I love looking at the work spaces and desks of my favorite artists, but I'm convinced that they can't possibly be this pretty and tidy all the time!

Sharilyn Wright of Lovely Design, and her adorable daughter, Adelaide

Anna Bond of Rifle Design

Chelsea Petaja of Oh My Deer (via Design Sponge)

Something's Hiding in Here (via their flickr)

My own desk, fresh from a minor cleaning, and free from the mass of calligraphy supplies that have taken over my dining room!

Size Does Matter

2010-03-08T20:23:00.000-05:00

I just returned from a wonderful weekend in New York, where I caught the exhibit "Size Does Matter", curated by Shaq! This man does it all: he's one of the greatest basketball players ever, is able to hold his own against any athlete in pretty much any other sport, and moonlights as a cop!

Just as Shaq was on the USA Olympic "Dream Team", he has included my own "Dream Team" of artists for this exhibition, including Tim Hawkinson, Tom Friedman, Elizabeth Peyton, Willard Wigan, and Andreas Gursky!

Andreas Gursky's Madonna I

Elizabeth Peyton's Kurt

Willard Wigan's microscopic "The Obama Family"

The exhibit runs through May 27, 2010 at the Flag Art Foundation in NYC. I recommend it to anyone and everyone: it's the perfect primer for the modern art "beginner".

Silver on Grey

2010-03-04T22:03:00.000-05:00

I just sent my biggest calligraphy order yet out in the mail- at 220 envelopes, it tops my previous record of 200 even. Luckily, this bride was a pleasure to work with, and her envelopes had a beautiful color scheme- silver ink (in my "Katie elongated" font) on dove grey envelopes. So elegant!

Vintage Chairs

2010-03-01T23:05:00.002-05:00

I have a thing for pretty, simple vintage chairs that I can easily lift and cart home. :) Over the past year, I've collected many (maybe too many?) different types, including my latest finds: a Danish Rabami desk chair, and a shabby brown bentwood chair.

Tie the knot

2010-02-25T20:54:00.001-05:00

I really love Anthropologie's new nautical-knot headbands, like this sparkly gold one. But $58? For a headband? One that will probably get lost in that parallel dimension that holds all of my lost headbands, sunglasses, and other accessories? No way. I had to try to make this one on my own.

With some trimmings from the fabric store and the very helpful animated knot-tying lessons from animatedknots.com (repeated on the "slow" setting over and over and over again, of course), I was able to create this pretty nautical-rope-style headband!

You will need:

* about a yard and a half of satiny-rope style trimmings, found at a fabric or crafts store

* A few inches of 1/2 inch black elastic

* needle and thread

* hot glue and glue gun

First, measure around your head in the place where the headband will go. Use your measurements to determine how much rope you'll need. Don't worry about the inches of rope that will be eaten up by the knot- you want to have a bit of elastic at the bottom, and you want that elastic to have a little bit of stretch in order to be secure on your head.

Choose a knot you like. If you want a small knot, you can use only one strand of rope. If, like me, you want a more substantial knot, choose a type of knot that joins two ropes, and cut your rope into two, equally sized pieces.

Practice your knot, then tie it for good. Secure the ends of your rope and prevent them from fraying by applying a bit of hot glue.

On one side of your headband, glue the ends to a piece of black elastic, then, very carefully, sew the ropes fast to the elastic, using lots of multi-directional stitches to be sure you get as many rope fibers sewn down as you can. Then, do the same to the other side of your headband to complete it. Remember the rule about keeping a bit of stretch in there!

Hooray! Now you have a beautiful headband that only cost you a few dollars to make and that even Blair Waldorf herself would envy. Take that, Anthropologie!

Dreaming of Spring

2010-02-23T10:12:00.002-05:00

Ohhhhhh I am dreaming of Spring, Summer, and this striped one-piece swimsuit from J. Crew.

my illustration

Watercolor Invitations

2010-02-18T11:49:00.001-05:00

The two things I do almost every day are write in calligraphy and paint with watercolors. Last night, I was experimenting with watercolor washes over masking fluid calligraphy, and I really like the results! I think this style would be so beautiful on a wedding invitation, especially for a spring wedding:

I want to try many more variations on this style!

Blizzard Photos

2010-02-15T15:10:00.001-05:00

I forgot to post some of my photos from the blizzard! These are from blizzard #1, so the snow isn't quite as deep as it was after blizzard #1 and 2 combined. But it IS really pretty!

The snow gathered on my clothesline in a really cool way!

Even more snow is forecasted for tonight- we've never, ever had a winter like this before!

Handmade Valentines

2010-02-14T17:48:00.001-05:00

Yes, I know it's a made-up holiday, but it's a great excuse to show love and little tokens of kindness to all of the important people in your life. This year, I made little, grade-school-style valentines for all of my girlfriends, some complete with glitter!

Lonny Issue 3 is Out!

2010-02-12T11:44:00.000-05:00

After an entire week now of snowed-in boredom, I was running out of reading material. But no more! Issue 3 of Lonny Magazine has just been released. Yay!

I found that my favorite photos from this issue were the little vignettes on top of dressers or coffee tables- I love seeing the way people arrange their everyday items along with little treasures.

Still Tasty

2010-02-10T16:31:00.000-05:00

Oh, boy. We're currently in the middle of "Snowpocalypse" blizzard #2. I've never seen anything like it. Like everyone else, I'm trapped in my house. I'm lucky enough to have enough food here, but now is not the time to be picky- I've been eating just about anything and everything in the refrigerator and pantry, using the wonderful resources of StillTasty.com to let me know if it's still okay to eat what I find, or if my food has passed its goodness or safety threshold.

Snowbound Valentines

2010-02-08T01:19:00.000-05:00

The blizzard of 2010 is keeping me (and the rest of the city) cooped up inside for a while. I'm trying to resist the lure of online shopping! Instead, I've been working on calligraphy projects and adding new things to my etsy shop, including personalized valentine cards:

and some new personalized baby announcements/ baby shower invitations:

Dreaming of Spring: Turquoise and Citrus

2010-02-03T01:32:00.002-05:00

As another snow falls on Baltimore, I'm convinced this must be the coldest, snowiest winter we've had in a very long time. And, today (well, yesterday now) Punxsatawney Phil saw his shadow and declared six more weeks of winter.

But there are signs of Spring popping up here an there: Snippet and Ink's sunny citrus-inspired board today, and ranunculus bunches (my favorite!) finally for sale at my local Trader Joe's. My bright orange bunch looked so beautiful in my vintage aqua Ball mason jar, that I was inspired to work on some turquoise envelopes with sunny yellow-orange calligraphy.

From top left, clockwise: Tim Walker for Vogue UK, Jutta's flickr via sfgirlbybay, my clementine on my turquoise saucers, my "Katie elongated" font in a clementine-colored ink, my beautiful ranunculi, my lemons in my aqua measuring cup.

A larger view of the envelope

Lisa Congdon

2010-01-29T11:10:00.003-05:00

I think yearlong art "projects" can be hit or miss, but I'm very excited about artist Lisa Congdon's new blog, "A Collection A Day", in which she will document one of her collections (be it vintage postcards, clothespins, feathers, etc...) every day. I'm an incorrigible collector myself, but Lisa is putting me to shame.

My favorite is still the collection she posted on Day 1: Vintage erasers. The colors look soooooo beautiful all together.

Day 26: vintage guest checks

Plus, check out this post from her regular blog (which features her art). Posted on her birthday (Happy birthday, Lisa!), it reminds readers that, at 42 years old, she has only been painting for 9 years, and accomplished so much in that short time.

"Did you know I did not start painting until I was 33?" says Lisa. "Think about that next time you don't want to try something new for fear of failing." When I read that, I thought, "Damn, I will think of that!" What an inspiring thought.

A Busy Week for Calligraphy, Part 2

2010-01-28T10:40:00.003-05:00

Another project went out yesterday that I was very sad to see go. Lindsey, the bride, had the great idea to use a custom map as the invitation to her and her fiancé's intimate Spring wedding in California. We've been working on it since November, but Lindsey is such a sweet person that I wanted to make sure everything was perfect for her. I love, love, love the way they turned out- I think they really capture the feeling of her unique and serene wedding location.

We included a matching RSVP card that echoed the butterfly theme, as well as envelopes addressed in Bickham script.

the invitations

the envelopes

Wish I'd thought of this: Book Covers/ Bookmarks

2010-01-27T10:03:00.002-05:00

Every once in a while, I see a design or idea that's so genius, it makes me genuinely ashamed of myself that I didn't think of it on my own. Igor Udushlivy's book jacket and bookmark combos are one of those ideas:

Found via A Cup of Jo.

Coming to America

2010-01-26T13:03:00.006-05:00

Oddly enough, I first saw the movie "Coming to America" while away in Greece. It was subtitled in Greek, which was really odd. I don't know how I missed out on it during my childhood, because it's so good! I especially love the costumes. These sketches by costume designer Debrah Nadoolman (via imdb) are so lovely! I've always loved African clothing, and Nadoolman created the perfect African-royalty-meets-American-gentleman vibe. Can you imagine a bride today wearing Lisa's elaborate pink wedding dress?!

Nadoolman designed costumes for many huge films, as well as for Michael Jackson's "Thriller" video, which, like "Coming to America", was directed by her husband, John Landis! Ah, so much to learn from imdb. So cool.

Lights On

2010-01-25T11:43:00.006-05:00

I love pretty much everything about my 105-year old house, but there's one little thing that bothers me: with the exception of the bathroom, there are no overhead lights, or even light switches, on the second floor!

My husband and I have found some cheap solutions for our two little offices, but, for the bedroom, I wanted something nicer. Since installing and wiring overhead lighting is probably not an option right now, I figure a good floor lamp will do. We've lived without one for over a year now- once the sun sets, all that's keeping me from distinguishing black socks from blue has been just a teeny bedside lamp. If I need to put on makeup for a party, I tote it to the bathroom.

My requirements for the perfect floor lamp are as follows: well-designed, inexpensive, and simple. Lamps with these criteria have been surprisingly difficult to track down! Here are my top choices, along with my secret bargain find: a sleek, $80 lamp from Crate and Barrel/CB2's little sister store, The Land of Nod (see below)! Like shopping in the kid's section for cheap clothes, one-size-fits-all furniture "for kids" can be a great bargain.

Above: 1. Room and Board's "Todd" lamp. 2. Design House Stockholm's genius "Corner Lamp". 3. CB2's "Twine" Lamp. 4. Roost's Transit Lamp (these are way out of my price range, but so cool! I love the safari-style wooden tripod design). 5. The Land of Nod's "Light Years" lamp.

A Busy Week for Calligraphy!

2010-01-22T22:47:00.005-05:00

This has been a very, very busy couple of weeks for calligraphy! Lots and lots of jobs are being finished up this week, so I thought I'd share a few.

Kathleen and Scott are the very lucky bride and groom who are planning a destination wedding in the Bahamas. They designed their invitations themselves, with an "island chic" style, and a teal and fuchsia color scheme that fit perfectly. They chose a custom flourished font for their envelopes, with ink that I specially mixed to match the fuchsia of the invitations. I looooove the way they turned out!

I finally got to see the beautiful letterpressed result of the map I made for them, too!

Vintage Maps from Favorite Places

2010-01-19T19:01:00.000-05:00

Today was going very badly, until my mail carrier arrived with a package I'd been anticipating for weeks: vintage travel booklets from Etsy! Published in 1960, I ordered booklets from three of the countries that fascinate me the most: Finland, Turkey, and Iran. They are all so interesting so far, and they each feature a really cool, duo-toned map of each country's capital city.

Helsinki

Istanbul

Tehran

Sadly, it seems a lot has changed since 1960. I wish Americans were able to view modern-day Iran as a fascinating jewel of the Middle East, rather than as a country in turmoil. I hope that peace will return to Iran and its people very soon. It is a dream of mine to see this beautiful country (and its breathtaking buildings and art) in person one day!

Getting My Priorities Straight

2010-01-18T23:17:00.001-05:00

The other day, I wanted to buy shoes. But then I thought about the crisis in Haiti, and I felt ridiculous. So I went to the Doctors Without Borders website to donate instead. I think, from now on, if I make a purchase of vanity, like clothes, shoes, or makeup, I'll make myself back that purchase up with some kind of charitable donation, as well. Because if I can afford little luxuries for myself, surely I can help someone else afford the necessities.

Cold Weather, Warm Closets

2010-01-12T23:54:00.002-05:00

For those of us who are lucky enough to have warm clothes to wear this time of year, it's all about layering. On very, very cold days, utility and warmth take priority over fashion, but it can be fun to get inspiration from those who live in (brrrr!) even colder climates. So, these days, I find myself looking at Scandinavian street style blogs. Those Danes in particular know the score, as always. I really, really want to visit Copenhagen.

1. Stockholm Street Style
2. Copenhagen Street Style (this is beautiful Cecilie from a favorite blog, Bakerby.)
3. Copenhagen Street Style
4. Hel Looks (Helsinki)

As much as I love street style blogs, everyone is always a "student", "artist", or, god help us, "blogger". Give me a break! I hate when everyone just refers to themselves as an artist (or, worse, a model). Where are the grocery store clerks, waitresses, and teachers? I wonder where all of these "students" are getting the cash for these nice clothes?

Cold Weather, Warm Hearts

2010-01-12T23:54:00.000-05:00

my illustration

So much of the Northern Hemisphere has been experiencing severe cold weather lately. It makes me worry about animals and people who don't have proper shelter.

If you know of a specific person in need, this article from CNN suggests calling your local 211 or other help hotline to alert outreach workers. Donating to your local shelter, organizations like the United Way, or programs like One Warm Coat is always a good idea year-round, but I'm especially reminded of this need when temperatures take a dive.

Ladurée, Oh La La

2010-01-11T22:42:00.001-05:00

I'm obsessed with all things French, but I have never been to Paris. Near the top of my "things to do" list would be to visit one of (or, who knows, all of) the famous Ladurée tea rooms and stock up on their too-pretty-to-eat, too-delicious-not-to-eat macarons.

all images from Ladurée's website

I just read that a little Ladurée shop opened in the Charles deGaulle airport, so even those travellers just on a layover can bring home a very tasty and beautiful souvenir.

If, like me, you don't have the money for a plane ticket to Paris, but you do have a bit of time, and the willpower to hunt down almond flour, you can attempt your own macarons! To lessen the agony of waiting for them to refrigerate before you can eat them, you can pass the time by making your own gorgeous packaging. :)

Craft: Cardboard Shelf Divider!

2010-01-08T14:31:00.001-05:00

My piles of colored envelopes and cards had just slipped to the floor and behind my shelf for the hundredth time, when I knew I needed a new organizational system. If you have lots of colored paper or paper fabric that you want to keep within easy reach, this is the craft for you!

All you'll need is some pieces of corrugated cardboard and a craft knife or box cutter. Before you begin, measure the inner space of the shelf you'll be working with. Cut a piece of cardboard so that it just fits inside your shelf. This will be your backing piece. Considering what you want to store (and how many sections you want), measure your backing piece to determine how many cardboard dividers can comfortably and evenly fit on it.

Step 1: Decide how big you want your triangular dividers to be. The "short" side of your triangle should be about an inch or two longer than half the height of your backing piece (see step 2). Cut a series of evenly-sized, right triangles from your non-backing piece of cardboard, according to this measurement.

Step 2: Measure about half the height of your backing piece and mark it. Measure the width of your backing piece, and determine where your dividers need to sit in order to be even, or at the spacing you want. Using a pencil, mark where the cutout slots for your dividers will go- make the slots about 1/8 of an inch wide, or however wide your corrugated cardboard pieces are.

Step 3: Using an X-Acto knife, box cutter, or rotary knife, cut out the slots for your dividers.

Step 4: Insert your dividers into the slots so that they fit snugly, and so about an inch or two remains as a stabilizer on the "wrong" side of the backing piece.

Step 5: Place your shelf divider into your shelf, and arrange your stuff. Voila!

An Elephant Never Forgets How Awesome My Friend Is

2010-01-07T17:10:00.000-05:00

My friend Katie gave me one of the best Christmas presents I've ever received- a beautiful ceramic elephant sculpture (verrry similar to Jonathan Adler's Darjeeling teapot and elephant bank- but better, of course). She found it at a thrift store (who would give this away?!), but it is so incredible that I honestly don't know how she had the willpower to not just keep it for herself. What an amazing friend she is!

A gift like that deserves more than an ordinary thank-you card, so I painted the sculpture in gouache, and made my own card for her. I was just glad for the excuse to stare at it for an hour or two! :)

the real deal!

the card

Design Idol: David Stone Martin

2010-01-06T14:38:00.000-05:00

I have to admit, I've never really been a jazz fan, but I have always been a fan of Jazz album designs. My favorite designer is the genius David Stone Martin, whose work for the Norman Granz, Clef, Norgran, and Verve labels is just stunning. I love, love, love his mark-making and composition. What an amazing artist.

Here's hoping I come across a few of these beauties while digging through a thrift store record bin one day. (images via birka Jazz)

Calligraphy Idol: Bernard Maisner

2010-01-05T19:05:00.001-05:00

I just stumbled across this fascinating interview with one of my calligraphy idols, Bernard Maisner, on the AIGA website. A self-taught calligrapher like me, Maisner claims his first experiences with hand-lettering came from designing the drumheads for his many high-school rock bands! He later experimented with "real" calligraphy, and honed his craft at the prestigious Cooper Union college in New York.

Now, Mr. Maisner is a master calligrapher whose work is always instantly recognizable by his elaborate swashes and flourishes. This is something I need to practice more if I ever want to become a true master! Should I start advertising my services to any local teenage garage bands who need an outrageously elegant logo painted on their bass drum? :)

Fun facts I learned while researching Mr. Maisner:

* he did hand-lettering for albums by Whitney Houston and Barry Manilow
* he was the on-screen hands and handwriting of Lee Harvey Oswald in a film about the JFK assassination, and his lettering was used as Johnny Depp's in the film "Sleepy Hollow"
* he has extensively studied medieval manuscripts and illumination techniques

(images by Bernard Maisner, of course)

Prop Stylin'

2010-01-04T15:12:00.000-05:00

Like a lot of people, I keep a file of my best-loved magazines. Tear Sheets go in my "Inspiration Binder", which is my favorite thing ever. Going through my binder is like reading a new magazine that I've curated for myself, with every single page being helpful, beautiful, or inspirational in some way.

Is it any surprise that the two women who appear the most in my binder are Randi Brookman Harris and Rebecca Thuss? Seriously, it's alarming how these two dominate my binder, the way Jay-Z dominates my hip-hop party mix CDs. Rebecca and Randi are the most amazing prop stylists and creative directors ever, both working regularly with Martha Stewart publications, which is how I discovered them. On my list of "Dream Jobs", Prop Stylist and Creative Director are both right up there with "Color Namer" and "Candy Taster".

All images from Martha Stewart Weddings, all styled by Randi Brookman Harris. Hard copies of all three of these spreads appear in my Inspiration binder. I think the last one is my favorite- something about all of her work is indescribably serene and elegant. Randi also works with Kate Spade- no surprises there. I love the Kate Spade aesthetic, and I always love exploring their "Behind the Curtain" site.

The following three (also from MS Weddings) are from Rebecca Thuss. Under her direction, candy and confections look like jewelry, and everything from makeup to flowers to stationery looks practically edible. Plus, she loves beautiful lettering and calligraphy as much as I do!

I always find myself "prop styling" my life- from little still lives on shelves, to the way I store and organize things in my home. I would loooooove to get a peek into Randi's or Rebecca's homes- I'll bet every little shelf and corner are worthy of a magazine.

New Year's Resolutions and those who inspire them

2010-01-01T21:35:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year! It's that time of year when my favorite ice-breaker (and thing I genuinely want to know about others) is "What's your New Year's Resolution"? I have a lot of them, which is a good thing, because, technically, these can all be "new decade's resolutions" as well.

I think sending wishes and goals out to the universe can be really effective. Back in July, I expressed my goal of becoming a full-time calligrapher, map-maker, and illustrator by the end of 2009, and I am thrilled to say that I did meet that goal! This year, one of my biggest goals will be to grow Trial By Cupcakes- my calligraphy and illustration business, and hopefully this little blog, too! So, first resolution:

1. Grow Trial by Cupcakes. Get recognized for my work. Maybe even be a little less shy, so that I won't be so afraid to put myself out there more! One of my biggest goals is to have my work featured in the online and print publications I love the most. Snippet and Ink and Martha Stewart Weddings would be two biggies- I mean, I still read both the S&I blog and MS Weddings magazine on the regular- they are both about so much more than just weddings to me, they are about style in general. I'd love to have my lettering or illustrations featured in Lonny, too!

I began this blog in May 2009, and it looks like I had 59 posts from May to the end of December. Let's make my second resolution:

2. To make at least 150 blog posts during 2010.

The third resolution is a more personal one:

3. To be a "cooler" and less anxious person. To be more assertive, and less afraid. To do good work and be proud of it. To volunteer more.

Okay, I guess that's a ball of resolutions rolled into one.

Now, here's the big resolution and the talented person who inspired it:

4. To open my own stationery shop, either online or in brick-and-mortar form, like the girl who has quickly become a huge, huge inspiration to me: Anna Bond of Rifle Paper Co. Many people have commented to me about how much her work reminds them of my own, and vice versa. But Anna has something really special: she has enormous talent, and the will and resources to design and execute a plan. That's something I need to work on. I have this big backlog of illustrations and designs, and ideas for lots more, but I need to figure out which are worth making, in what medium, and how to get them to the world.

Through Anna's blog, I learned of the many, many hours of hard work she put into finally opening her shop. It reminds me of all of the late nights I spent working on calligraphy projects and maps after coming home from "real" work.

Rife Paper Co.'s beautiful notecards

I vow to work every single day on my resolutions!

Christmas Craft: Shrinky-Dink Ornaments!

2009-12-23T16:59:00.001-05:00

When I was a kid, Shrinky-dinks, the plastic sheets that shrank when baked in the oven, were the craft of choice for making keychains and really gaudy jewelry. This year, I ordered some sheets from The Magical World of Shrinky Dinks to make some Shrinky-dink ornaments for our tree. I love the way the first one turned out! Here are the simple steps:

Buy pre-"roughed up" plastic sheets, or lightly sand one side of your own sheet with fine-grit sandpaper to give a better surface for your pencils or paints to adhere to the plastic.

1. On the non-sanded side, draw or trace your design with a fine-point Sharpie. I went for a traditional ball-shaped ornament design. Be sure to leave space at the top for the hole where your jump ring, hook, or ribbon will go. Be sure to make everything (including the hole) large enough- remember that it will shrink to about 1/3 its original size.

2. On the roughed-up or sanded side, color in your design with colored pencils, permanent markers, or acrylic paints.

3. Using a hole punch, punch out your hole (I was careless, so mine got a bit ripped, as you can see- no biggie, though). Using small scissors or manicure scissors, carefully cut out your design. Following the instructions that come with the sheets, bake them in the oven until they completely shrink and lay flat. You'll get a cool stained-glass effect.

4. Using jewelry pliers, attach a jump ring or hook through the hole, or tie a ribbon through it. Hang it on the tree, and admire your lovely ornament!

Ring the Alarm

2009-12-20T23:28:00.000-05:00

Clocks, clockwise (ha!) from top right: etsy seller Chicagoish, etsy seller thesundaytimesmarket, etsy seller bichoboi, etsyJunkYardFinds, etsy seller kittybcreative, etsy seller pupule

I've always been attracted to vintage alarm clocks. I have one that's very similar to the clock pictured on the top right on my bedside table- I love the lacy pattern. It works beautifully, but I'm afraid to turn it on for fear of wearing it out. I also got a beautiful clock from a flea market in Spain, but it ticks so loudly that, sadly, I don't use that one either. According to Feng Shui, a broken clock, or one with a dead battery, is bad feng shui, representing stagnant time. Uh oh.

Radiator, Radiator

2009-12-19T16:43:00.003-05:00

I spent an hour or so yesterday repairing an old radiator cover in our bedroom that had given up and fallen apart. Some people think radiators are an eyesore, but I think they're so beautiful. I love seeing both exposed radiators and radiator covers in homes- they feel so cozy.

from top to bottom: sharilyn wright (of lovely design)'s home via apartment therapy , lotta anderson's home (via martha), liesel's home via designsponge, ines de la fressange's home via the selby.

Fixing the radiator made me think that maybe it wouldn't be so difficult after all to make my own radiator covers. All you really need is some medium-density fiberboard, a jigsaw, metal grille material, a staple gun, and some wood. This Old House has a great step-by-step guide to building your own radiator cover here.

Fashion and Beauty Inspiration: Zoe Saldana

2009-12-17T15:58:00.000-05:00

I'm not in the habit of taking horrible camera stills from my ancient CRT television, but I just happened to catch the beautiful actress Zoe Saldana on "Ellen" today, and, WOW- did she look smokin' hot. Her dress, her hair, everything was perfect. Her dress was my favorite combo: long sleeves with mini skirt length, and it had this gorgeous knitwear, sweater-y pattern on it- I need to find it!

Thrift Store Finds!

2009-12-15T16:17:00.000-05:00

After a long dry spell of bad luck with thrift stores, I hit the jackpot this week! Two very springtime items in the middle of December. Top: the coolest "Love" towel. Bottom: white bentwood chair.

Lonny's Winter Issue 2009 is out and about!

2009-12-14T18:39:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, I had a longing for Lonny- the new online magazine that everyone and their mom (if their mom happens to be very style-savvy) has been reading. The magazine that has filled up a good bit of the Domino-shaped hole in my heart. I checked online to see if the new issue had come out yet, and, lo and behold, it had! I'm only 3 days too late. Not bad.

This issue doesn't seem to have the same warmth and coziness that the premiere issue did, but, then again, that premiere issue did knock my socks clear off, so the bar was set perhaps a little too high. (Images from Lonny Magazine)

Oh boy do I want that beach print. It reminds me of a very soft and light Andreas Gursky photo.

Winter Fashion

2009-12-14T02:10:00.002-05:00

I'm no fan of cold weather, but I'm a huge fan of cute, layered winter outfits. I think this APC cape (sadly no longer for sale :( ), this skirt, these tights, vintage legwarmers, this cap, and vintage butterscotch brown boots would be perfect for braving the first really chilly days of winter.

With Rainbow Pearls, the World is Your Oyster

2009-12-10T14:38:00.000-05:00

I know I'm way late on this, but the Martha Stewart Crafts Dept. claims that one can dye pearls! With plain ol' RIT dye! How beautiful. I wonder if it would also work with my old Procion MX dye powders, or the new (and beautifully packaged) type of dye that's been popping up lately: iDye. Now I'm making mental preparations to make an ombre colored pearl necklace.

O Christmas Tree

2009-12-09T00:21:00.000-05:00

How beautiful are this year's Unicef Christmas Cards?! I got mine at IKEA. From the inside, I learned that the official languages of the United Nations are Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish. I love languages and linguistics, but, unfortunately, I've never been very good at learning them. I've been actively working on Learning French since age eleven (which is just after the age when researchers say children are best able to pick up new languages), and I am sadly still far from mastering it! I'd love to learn Arabic some day, though I imagine that would be even more difficult.

Winter Wonderland

2009-12-05T23:06:00.000-05:00

Pretty houses around my neighborhood covered in the season's first snowfall!