Oh Mother’s Day, no other holiday fills me with as much ambivalence as you. So here’s my two favorite mothers and their words of wisdom: “How long have you been a smoker?” “22 years.” “Well I think you should quit.” (yes, I know the second picture is from a different scene, but I love her…
Unicorns ~ work in progress
I’m working on my unicorns and quite pleased with them so far~ This is Magnolia.And this is Rose A few years ago I drew my disheveled unicorn, “Keeping the Dream Alive.” It was a bit of a joke on the perfection of unicorns. After all, it takes a lot of work to look that magical….
Pinterest~ Indian Summer
Late August, September, and October are Indian Summer here. It’s humid with no breeze, esp at night. As much as I hate the heat I do love the pale blue sky with the golden green leaves. There’s so much to look at. I just want to paint it all.
So ready for Fall Fashion!
Last week we had a brief moment of cooler weather which I took advantage of. I mentioned that I inherited some clothes from my husband’s great Aunt, and here are a couple of them. The soft brown tea length skirt has wooden button that go down the side. I had to take it in about…
Pinterest ~cool Autumn mindscape
All I can think about the last two days is cool weather. It’s finally shown up, at least for the moment. I’ve already had hot cocoa twice. Pinterest stopped working a while ago, maybe a year ago, when they changed their algorithm. But it was one of two platforms I actually like (the other being…
Sewing Dreams- Once Upon a Time- Mary Margaret
It’s summer and I have a baby, so that means that like it or not, there’s a lot of sitting involved. I decided to revisit the glorious train wreck that is Once Upon a Time. I got hooked on it a few years ago and it remains my favorite guilty tv pleasure. The acting is…
Meow’Dib -He Is the Hissatz Caterach!
I first read Dune as a teen and every few years I go back to it. It never ceases to put pieces of my life into perspective. For years I’ve wanted to name a cat “Muad’Dib”, which inevitably metamorphosed into “Meow’Dib” because I love puns and am obviously incredibly lame. I can’t recommend Frank Herbert’s…
7 Years? Happy Anniversary!
August 2nd was our anniversary. Seven years of marriage! We think. We actually can’t remember. Two days before, I was lying in bed trying to nap while our baby Tony was napping- yes, sleep when the baby sleeps is the best advice ever. Suddenly I remembered and texted my husband in the living room- “holy…
All The Better to See You With!
Well, these eyes have finally gone blurry. It’s pretty common for people in my family to need glasses in our early 40s, and sure enough I hit 42 and whammo! My eyes just gave up focusing up close. Reading and more importantly drawing and painting were giving me a headache. I’d heard about Warby Parker…
One Year Later- Living a Flesh and Blood Life
-from an “The Art of Dan Clowes: Modern Cartoonist” I read that a little over a year ago. Afterwards I immediately asked myself, “Does the internet make me happier?” The answer was, “no.” The next question I asked was, “But does it make me a better- and by that I mean a kinder, more considerate,…
The Force is Strong in My Family
I have a painting in the Jedi July show at Hive Gallery in Los Angeles. The show opens July 11th. The painting is titled, “The Force is Strong in My Family.” 9″x12″ Gouache and Acrylic in 185lb paper. I gave Leia a green lightsaber to reflect her original last name, “Organa” and connect her to the…
Murdock the Marvelous!
I created some art for the Murdock the Marvelous T-Shirt! Here’s the link if you’d like to pick one up~ https://www.booster.com/murdockthemarvelous A little about Murdock from his owner, Anna: “Murdock was brought to the Sonoma Humane Society as a stray when he was only a few weeks old. He had a chronic infection in both…
Los Angeles Sketchbook Project this weekend at LACMA
My sketchbook will be in Los Angeles, CA Friday 6/26: 4:30pm – 8:30pm Saturday 6/27: 3:30pm – 7:30pm Sunday 6/28: 12pm – 4pm Los Angeles County Museum of Art
Roxanne
One of the things I wanted to accomplish with my 2015 Sketchbook Project, “Princess Witch,” was to actually use it as a way to narrow down which ideas I wanted to paint. I started with “Roxanne,” which although simple, is one of my favorites from the series. I chose “Roxanne” as a name bc one…
Black Hill Press: The Cost of Paper: Vol. 2
I was lucky to be asked to contribute my illustration, “Power Animal” to Black Hill Press’s anthology, “The Cost of Paper: vol. 2.” !
Eye Shapes and 80s Makeup
After doing a rather tasteful “eye shape” chart I felt the need to bust out and do an alternate version with 80s makeup. The 80s were ALL about tightlining.
Built By Wendy and Burda Easy Geometric Dress
My son Karl just graduated from Preschool and I wanted something special to wear as well as something to wear with the Twin Peaks collar necklace I made last year. I found this lovely geometric fabric at Joanne’s in the quilting section. I washed it a couple of times and it got very soft, which…
Princess Witch will be in Atlanta, GA; Miami, FL; and Austin, TX in June
Atlanta, GA Friday 6/5: 4pm – 8pm Saturday 6/7: 12pm – 4pm Sunday 6/7: 12pm – 4pm Ponce City Market RSVP Miami, FL Saturday 6/13: 12:30 – 4:30 Perez Art Museum RSVP Austin, TX Friday 6/19 – Sunday 6/21: 12pm – 4pm Umlauf Sculpture Garden Museum RSVP https://sketchbookproject.com/library/16064
We are all Wonder Women! Happy Mother’s Day!
“Princess Diana” I got an early Mother’s Day gift from my husband, a book called,”Wonder Woman- Amazon-Hero-Icon- ” Which was fun because I’d just finished an illustration of Princess Diana on Paradise Island before she becomes Wonder Woman- sort of a “what if?” Anyone following my Instagram knows how long I’ve struggled with this picture….
Princess Witch and the Sketchbook Tour 2015
My sketchbook project, “Princess Witch” is online over at the Sketchbook Project: https://sketchbookproject.com/library/16064 I have trouble expressing how happy this project made me. It provided me with final drawings for future paintings- one in the works right now- and crystalized my vision of this little world that I’ve been working on for the last 5 years….
Simple Modern Sewing- Maternity Dress
I made this dress last year when I was pregnant with Tony. These photos were taken in late August or early September- when I was around 8 months pregnant. The pattern is from the book, Simple Modern Sewing by Shufu To Seikatsu Sha. It’s pattern 3, the “Boatneck Dress. I LOVE this pattern. It’s incredibly…
Words, Words, Words: On Toxicity and Abuse in Online Activism
Originally posted on Cross With You:
Digital Shodan by Chris R (http://twitter.com/offby1) To all new readers: I’ve written a follow up to this article. Not long ago my partner and I were seated in her car discussing the arbitrary nature of certain holidays and I opined, perhaps halfheartedly, that New Year’s was a worthwhile holiday…
Mr. Blue Sky
“Hey you with the pretty face! Welcome to the human race!” Mr. Anthony Thorbjorn is 4 months old! I went in for a scheduled c-section in October. Kaiser has upped its game- everything was really nice. After Karl’s disastrous birth (not at a Kaiser) which involved a neglectful midwife, hours of hard labor, & baby…
“We’ll join this cosmic saga”
Happy Valentine’s Day to my beautiful husband, Mikael. Today is one of those days where I don’t want to do anything other than cuddle up with my husband, eat some cookies, and maybe power watch something mindless like “Scrubs.” We’ve both been sick with a sore throat cough so the most romantic thing I can…
Happy Galentines Day!
Vanessa made these awesome Valentine’s Day cards!
Backstrom (imagine skeptical emoji here)
Watched Backstrom last night. I love Rainn Wilson, but I’m over the trope. I was WAY over it while watching House- but the fine supporting cast kept me hooked. “Brilliant Asshole” still has the ability to provide some fun, but it’s going to have to be fresher. I don’t need another “not really racist-sexist cause…
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice~ illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, published 1993. I was and am a big fan of the husband and wife illustrating team, Leo and Diane Dillon. I have a number of their books and would be hard pressed to pick a favorite. Nancy Willard crafts a sweet rhyming tale of the lovely apprentice Sylvia who apprentices with the…
Sherlock Holmes: Love is a 3 Pipe Problem
Sherlock Holmes: Love is a 3 Pipe Problem is available as a tee shirt for adults, children, and babies- http://www.redbubble.com/people/nouvellegamine/works/13570646-sherlock-holmes-love-is-a-3-pipe-problem It’s also available as a phone case, ipad case, pillows, mugs, and skins. http://www.redbubble.com/people/nouvellegamine/works/13570742-sherlock-holmes-love-is-a-3-pipe-problem http://www.redbubble.com/people/nouvellegamine/works/13570674-sherlock-holmes-love-is-a-3-pipe-problem?&ref=work_carousel_work_portfolio_1
National Coffee Day!
Some places you can get free and/or discounted coffee today on National Coffee Day~ Shhhhhhh! I don’t want to hear any grousing about made up holidays when they involve free coffee ;D And yes, I definitely got my Agent Cooper on and had a damn fine cup of coffee!
Snow White by Camille Rose Garcia
Unf- I love Camille Rose Garcia. Her art reminds me of lost Fleischer cartoons. I have her version of Alice in Wonderland (so incredibly acid pastel that it hurts my eyes) but the colors in Snow White are more to my taste. I love when books have details like this- the cloth bound cover is…
Wild Swans -lost masterpiece by Gordon Laite
“Gordon Laite’s breathtaking artwork for a Little Golden Book edition of the Andersen fairy tale was found recently in the Golden Books archive. Planned for a 1970 release but never published, this Little Golden Book is finally making its debut for today’s fairy tale fans! And it couldn’t be a lovelier retelling of the story…
Murder! Mystery! So much good tv!
For a not particularly violent person, I love murder mysteries. As I mentioned last time, I don’t find tv watching relaxing. The minutes crawl by, so I have to have something next to me to distract me, usually my phone where I’m reading an article (I don’t have social apps on my phone except Instagram)….
Inspiration- music
Along with my permanent musical inspirations- Bowie, Roxy Music, and all things late 60s/70s- there are a few more current musicians that I find inspiring. Of Monsters and Men- My Head is an Animal- an Icelandic group with whimsical, cheery music. They’re like listening to a weird and wonderful children’s book. Florence + the Machine-…
Hello Autumn!
Despite what the calendar says, September is the beginning of Autumn! The days are hot, but the afternoons already show the long shadows typical of my favorite season. Fall also means I’m feeling invigorated. My table is full of projects that I feel great about. The work of the past year is finally coming together….
Star Princess and Pluta
My husband brought me flowers and a gift the other day! A week or so ago, I came across this paperdoll on Pinterest which I had when I was a kid. “Star Princess and Pluta.” Seriously, were the 70s/early 80s the best or what? he tracked it down and surprised me with it! They are…
Barry Moser’s Alice in Wonderland
“All in the golden afternoon…” For me, Alice in Wonderland is the quintessential summer book. I have a number of editions. Rackham’s glorious version- so hard to believe it was ever controversial. A Norton Critical Edition with Tennial’s original drawings. And Camille Rose Garcia’s delightful psychedelia. But Moser’s is not often seen and that it…
6th Anniversary & the marriage of cookies and ice cream
My husband and I celebrated our 6th anniversary yesterday, sort of for the second time. The first time was a couple weeks ago, when Mikael’s parents visited. We don’t eat out very much, maybe twice in a month, so food I don’t make from scratch is pretty luxurious for me. They watched Karl while we…
The Bees Knees at the Alexi Era Gallery
If you’re in St. Louis, MO please check out The Bees Knees Show at the Alexi Era Gallery. “Public Opening Reception : July 19th 7-9PM Special Collectors Preview: July 19th 6-7PM (RSVP: $20, Call 618.407.5596 or email: info@alexieragallery.com) The Bees Knees is an awareness and fundraising exhibition for Honey Love, urban bee keepers and activists trying…
Making Doll Clothes -concept to toile
I was ready to start making doll clothes before I’d even finished my doll. I’ve been drawing their clothes for the last couple of years and going to fabric stores & picking out fabrics & trims. Basically endlessly geeking out. Concept art of Posy Rabbit’s clothing. She wears a Biba inspired outfit. As you know…
Favorite Doll Books
These were the 3 books I used quite a bit during my doll making journey: The Complete Book of Dollmaking by Pamela Peake. It’s a really simple introduction I picked up years ago at Half Price Books in Berkeley. It’s a great book for beginners who just want to make a cloth doll to get…
Doll inspiration and evolution
I have two notebooks dedicated to doll ideas. My doll ideas have gone through an evolution from when I first started. Years ago, I wanted to do something with the 25-27cm Volks Dollfie bodies. They came in a range of skin colors, height, and bust size (recently discontinued). But, I knew with my schedule that it…
Posy the rabbit doll
After an embarrassingly long development, my dolls are almost done. Posy the Rabbit is roughly 12″ tall, not counting her ears. I made her 12″ to fit into 1/6 scale furniture, in case I wanted to stick her in a Barbie sized apartment. For something so simple, these dolls took forever. It was a constant…
Ground control to Major Tom- new t-shirt
I’ve been working on, well a million projects really, but I’ve been wanting to make some cool t-shirts for my son, Karl. He likes David Bowie, so I dug up one of my old characters, Major Tom, the space cat co-pilot to my space girl, Martine. Available here is baby, children, and adult sizes- Obviously…
Happy Father’s Day with Kraang and a Ninja Turtle that’s not a turtle.
Happy Father’s Day to my beautiful husband! I bought a mug at Starbucks that came with a black and white porcelain pen. Karl and I drew on it, then popped it into the oven for 20 minutes. Once it was dry it’s ready to be hand washed and filled with lots of coffee! Karl is…
Sleeping Beauty Ballet
With the movie “Maleficent” due to be released May 30th, I got into a discussion about the different ways the “wicked” fairy has been portrayed in the fairy tale, Sleeping Beauty and it reminded me of this book floating around on my book shelf, “Behind the Scenes at the Ballet: Rehearsing and Performing The Sleeping Beauty.”….
Brooksie
I finished “Brooksie.” She’s gouache on 10″ x 10″ canvas. Unfortunately, this painting took me forever to complete despite its small size. I spent all of March with hives because I suddenly developed an allergy to rye bread. So, so weird. I’m not allergic to anything- or at least, I used to not be. Anyway,…
Happy Birthday Wes Anderson!
I received the Wes Anderson Collection by Matt Zoller Seitz for my birthday. The book is beautiful. However I found the interior art serviceable, it didn’t knock my socks off. But the book design more than makes up for it. Each movie chapter consists of an essay by the author and an interview with Wes…
My book was chosen to go on the national tour!
I’m very excited that my Sketchbook Project: “Here Be Dragons,” was chosen to go on the 2014 national tour. It was originally part of a small tour last year called, “The Mysterious Maps.” I’ve pasted the tour info below so if you’re interested in seeing my book in person, please check it out when it…
Happy Birthday to my husband!
Today is my husband’s birthday! We celebrated with cake, ice cream, cream cheese bean dip, and chips last night. I developed hives after an allergic reaction to medical tape, so we had to post pone a get together with friends 😦 I made a yellow cake from this recipe: and chocolate frosting by modifying my…
New sketchbook from the Wythe Hotel!
In January, I was chosen to be part of the pop up at the Wythe Hotel in Brooklyn, New York. Afterwards, the kind people at the Wythe sent the participants a gift, a new Sketchbook Project! As soon as the tours open up in March I’ll choose where it’ll be traveling to. My title this…
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