Sunday, February 26, 2012

the pinning of things


I made a pinterest!
I hope I don't get addicted to it...
I hope you all had a beautiful weekend!

Saturday, February 25, 2012

saturday inspiration: a beautiful print & some sketchbook

from Mammoth and Company
I want this print SO much! I think I am just going to have to buy it. It is so 1960s biology class! The colors are so inspiring - all the onyx and chartreuse and warm reds and oranges. I actually found it on Katrina's blog, where she used it for inspiration to make one of her beautiful "Colour Lovers" palettes. 
and some sketchbook ladies.
Happy Saturday!
xo, Amanda

Friday, February 24, 2012

Vaclav & Lena

Over the week of February Vacation, I read Vaclav & Lena by Haley Tanner. It's a beautiful fictional story about a little girl and boy growing up as Russian immigrants in Brooklyn, NY, and how their lives intertwine, disconnect, and re-tangle themselves. It's a little dark but severely compelling and romantic.
The backstory is lovely - Vaclav wants only to be a famous magician one day, with Lena his assistant, and the main goal a show on Coney Island.
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"He sits there for a long time, feeling very sad for himself, although he is at the same time very happy to feel cozy inside of his jacket, and to drink the Dr Pepper from the can with a straw, and to look out the window at the people walking outside on the sidewalk, and even though this soda is almost one-half the cost of a possible trip to Coney Island to see the Sideshow, he thinks sometimes you know that it is a very long road to become a famous magician, and sometimes you have to spend your last dollar on buying a soda so that you have something to be grateful for that day, even if it lasts just one small piece of time." - one of my favorite pieces of Vaclav & Lena
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What have you been reading lately?

Thursday, February 23, 2012

the books on my dresser:

 Charley Harper: An Illustrated Life by Todd Oldham
 Book of my London/Madrid/Paris trip photos I created with Blurb - I highly recommend it!
(I chose the square hardcover with wraparound image)
 Bookplates, a present from Rachel!
Dog family.
I hope you all have a beautiful weekend ahead of you! I hope to do a few more book-related posts in the days to come.
xo, Amanda

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

and we made paper pizzas.

 A spontaneous project done with the kids: paper pizza!
I put all the "ingredients" in different bowls.
One of the second graders made this box all by herself without any instruction - amazing!
I hope you're all having a lovely week!
xo, Amanda

When I'm walking under trees, I'm free to covet all I please.

(photos found here)
I was really excited today when, at my parents' house, I picked up my mom's Country Living and found that Neko Case's home was featured inside. Neko is hands down my favorite musician. I have always loved her aesthetic, and (let me reveal my dorky fan-self here) her house was everything I would have dreamt it to be!
She describes it as "a combination of science classroom, hunting lodge, and Art Nouveau Battleship." 
Awesome!

Saturday, February 18, 2012

the winter months are the drawing months.

available as a print here
Lots of end-of-january/beginning-of-february sketchbook pages.
I've added two of the city apartment sketchbook drawings to my etsy shop as 8x10 prints. I'll be adding more in the weeks to come.
I hope you're all having a beautiful week!

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

the jungle book

It is Valentine's Day, and time for the annual posting of an elephant valentine made by e.e. cummings for his wife, Marion Morehouse. I love and adore these inscribed elephant paintings.
I hope you all have an incredible day!
xoxo, Amanda

Monday, February 13, 2012

pink wallpaper

"February 14th, Valentine's Day, is about Romance. But February 13th, 'Galentine's Day,' is about celebrating lady friends!" - Leslie Knope, Parks and Recreation :)
On Saturday, my group of illustration lady friends had tea at Upstairs on the Square. It's a building I have been inside a couple of times but I've never actually sat down and eaten there. It is the most gorgeous place!
photo by Julia
photo by Julia
Kate, Julia, Renee, myself, Caryn, and Ellen
I hope you all had a lovely weekend!
xo, Amanda