Practicing my calligraphy

I just think the practice pages look so nice! At this rate I'll never move on to full work. But I wanted to show you guys that I really am trying to learn. Really.

Rebound Goethe's Werke

So I found these old book covers at an antique shop and couldn't help but think how they'd make a great book. This has been a project I've been putting off for a while. It just felt so good to finally get it done. Coptic bound with rose and cream Ingres papers, this is a really nice journal. Hope everyone likes it!

Edit: Interested parties may purchase here.

Boyfriend Surprise Party Decorations

So I decided to throw a surprise belated birthday party for Matt. His real birthday coincides with Easter weekend, so no one could make it and it had to be the next weekend. For decorations I made a baner that looks like beer bottles (since he brews his own beer). 

I used the silhouette machine at my work to create each bottle, so all the sizing was correct. They are cut out of Paper Source Chocolate Cover weight 8 1/2 x 11". I then colored the bottles with white (for the glass glares) and gold (for the caps) pens to give them some cute, realistic details. The final touch was adding the labels, which are Paper Bag 2.5" circles. The original Tennyson Alice in Wonderland illustration of the late rabbit ties together the belated theme. Sorry my wall is kind of boring if not for the bottles.

Great Gift!

Now wouldn't you like to have a present like this? Wrapped for the ever so handsome Matt. Happy Birthday! Blurred out some words so he/I won't be embarrassed.

Monday Musings

Above: Art Tank.

Is Sotheby's selling illegally acquired Ancient Cambodian art? The NYC D.A. seems to be taking this seriously.

Next: NYTimes did a great article on gaming. A bit long but definitely worth the read.

One of my favorite blogs, The Hairpin, had an artist go to a Toy Fair. Great sketches in that one.

"Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn." What makes a quote memorable?

Thomas Kinkade is dead! What am I going to do? Jerry Saltz has a great eulogy.

Can you predict what will be a memorable quote?

I've seen a few articles tackling this recently, but this is a pretty good timeline of the life of the American/Japanese arcade.

Gertrude Stein's Politics. Great Read.

Ever wonder what New Aesthetic is, and what it means? This is an amazing essay.

New Album for the Friendship Circle.

I made this album for the Friendship Circle, a non-profit in Philadelphia. They work to help developmentally disabled children in the area, both the physically and mentally handicapped. It was made for a gala that they had celebrating two of their donors. The inside pages were also decorated by yours truly.

Monday Musings

• How did the MTV Logo come to be? Interesting read.
• Who loves books? I love books. And so does Holland.