Dress-Gasms

On March 13th Target is re-releasing 34 dresses from its Go International collection.  I've worked there all five years that the collection has been going on, so there are a lot of dresses I've seen come and go and a lot of cravings I had to (sort of) resist.  Here are some of the ones that I'm really stoked to see come back in--there is no way I'm letting that color blocked dress get past me this time!

(l to r:  Tara Jarmon colorblock dress, Erin Fetherston chiffon dress with a bunny print [I shelled out for the matching long underwear when it was originally in stores], and Zac Posen polka-dot dress)

However, I really wish this gorgeous Zac Posen floral brocade dress was coming back.  I put off even trying it on when it was in stores because I loved it too much and it was around eighty bucks, if I remember correctly.  When it was on about 75% clearance I finally let myself try it on and it was hot stuff, if I do say so myself.  Of course, at that point it was also impossible to find my size.  (Of course.)  Ah well.  A girl can dream.

See all 34 dresses here!

Ben Kweller & Pete Yorn

On Friday my Canadian Marisa and I bussed over to the Pabst theater to see two boys that I have wanted to see in concert ever since I was fourteen--Ben Kweller and Pete Yorn.  Poor Ben was incredibly sick, but he still came up on stage in his parka and played six songs or so, all which sounded great.  He was flanked by two barf buckets, and I kind of wish he'd used them.  It would have been enough to make me buy the recording afterward. 

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Seeing Pete was like a dream come true for me. I've been a fan of his music ever since his first album, musicforthemorningafter came out in 2001.  Along with the two albums that followed to make up his little musical "triology", I listened to Pete all while reading the kick ass Abarat series by Clive Barker, and during the concert the vivid images from those books kept flashing through my mind.  He played (almost) all of my old favorites.  It was an ah-mazing night.  Even the part where I fell in a snowbank while trying to brush the snow off my car.

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Scribble Hearts

Here's a batch of patterns I whipped up for Valentine's Day gift wrap the other week. I want to go back in and rework them a bit, but that will have to wait for later because the homework monster is rearing it's ugly head this weekend!

Sven and Sylvia Sketches

Here are a couple more sketches from my senior thesis. First up is Sylvia the snake (who also happens to sport a lovely beard). Drawing just her tattoos alone took me well over an hour, and there are some special things hidden in there if you look close enough. Below Syl is Sven the flamingo sword swallower, complete with a cocktail sword and shrimp.

I also helped with the Friday Favorites over on my friend Marisa's super-duper blog Good Good, so go and take a look!

Mallory and Ivan Sketches

My senior thesis is a series of pieces featuring animals as carnival sideshow acts. (I like animals, I like hand-lettering, and I like weird stuff.) I just finished tight sketches for all ten pieces, including detailing where every tattoo goes on Sylvia the tattooed (and bearded) snake, so I thought I'd share a couple. Also--my assigned space for the big show is right in the entrance hallway to our school... so now I have to be even more kick-butt than usual. ;)

(credit for Mal's catchphrase totally goes to Marister)

I'm A Weiner!

I just got my package from Amy from A is for Ampersand including the cutest wonky kitty (who I have named Vivi) and a matching little journal. I was lucky enough to win a giveaway from her last week and it was a great surprise to see the package waiting for me when I came home tonight. Yay!

Jared Schorr

Valentine's Day might be gone, but it's still February! I just ran into these great cut paper valentines by Jared Schorr that feature some amazing puns that really remind me of the stuff they'd stick on vintage valentines. I'm already inspired for next year!

More great stuff here.

Thanks, Kitty

I'd like to thank my pretty kitty for getting me into the Society of Illustrators student show in New York! The show is in May--a superb graduation gift.

Manly Valentine

Or well, that's what I like to think of this pattern as. Odd, since everything I touch usually turns into kittens and ruffles, this one got infused with the darker side of my humor. There are two other patterns that go with it (that I'm still working on) that involve an acid sort of green. Only a few more minutes to say Happy Valentine's Day!

Cozy Sketchies

I'm taking a very cool class about patterns & licensing and we've been given a semester-long project to manufacture an item (and its packaging) to sell in a pop-up Etsy site our class will be making together toward the end of the year. I'll be making cup cozies (I'm a barista, what else would I make?) and am presenting the idea to the class later today. Here are a few of the patterns I sketched out; there will be three total in the end. I want to keep them simple- they'll be two-color patterns, with only a slight difference in colors.

What do you kids think?

Sketchbook, Round 3

Since I've been spending most of the day working out price points and designs on an upcoming project (as well as trying to psyche myself out of the sore throat I can feel coming on...) I decided to share a few more pages from my 2011 Sketchbook Project.

My Newest Collection

I'm so glad I'm not the only one that collects these! I've recently (accidentally) started collecting Lucite napkin holders from the '60s and '70s. So far my collection is just in it's infancy--four total. But look at this beautiful collection! I'd really love to find a mushroom one like the one in the upper right (or left, it's kind of hiding) corners.

Source-sauce!

I also spotted this one on Etsy a couple days ago. All the different colors are like candy; I've never seen one like that before.

From seller Vinca Vintage.

Cook with Claudia Cat

I definitely did not think I'd be pulling an all nighter this early in the semester! Here's what I've been working on, but I like it. Claudia is a '50s housewife, so I was going for a little bit of a retro vibe on the packaging. This is the back.

Valentine Lovlies

Single or not, I still love Valentine's Day. Not for mushy reasons, but simply because of the merchandising. Hearts, bright pinks and purples, naked little chubby people, chocolate, and sex jokes? Of course I'm celebrating! Lately a lot of my art has been heart-themed, but more on that later. Here's some sweet-ass stuff from other people.

These great printed valentines by Clio Chlang.

I told you there would be sex jokes. By J. Shim. Check out the back!

I love skunks. :) By Handwork Chonricles.