flutterby

on a recent visit to the walters art museum, i was fascinated by the butterflies on display in the chamber of wonders and had the idea to make my own, illustrated specimens. parnassius apollo (above) is the prototype. i hope to make a few small collections and hopefully find some attractive-looking riker mounts to display them in.

amelia's compendium of fashion illustration

i sadly missed the launch, but i finally have the book in my hands! amelia's compendium of fashion illustration features 30 fashion illustrators and 45 fashion designers to promote the best in ethical fashion and jewelry design. the book was printed in kent, united kingdom with vegetable-based inks, and is not just a joy to look through, but also very pleasant to hold, touch (and smell).

my illustrations are spread out over ten pages, but my favorites are the ones printed alongside an interview with isobel davies, founder of yorkshire-based knitwear company izzy lane, which i am very proud to represent. there is also a two-page interview with me, in which amelia gregory has lovingly changed my "colors" to "colours," and my "favorites" to "favourites."

i am honored (honoured) to be a part of this project and i look forward to more exciting opportunities in the future! (do purchase the book here, £20 / $32)

london not calling

a stubborn snow storm descended upon new york and after two days of rescheduling canceled flights, i could not even get out of baltimore, let alone make my flight to london. i am utterly crushed to miss out on such an important social and professional opportunity - that i have been anticipating for months - but i suppose there have to be some missteps and letdowns once in a while, lest i forget that i am generally one lucky duck.

i hope last night's launch for amelia's compendium of fashion illustration went brilliantly for all of the other illustrators involved. and here is a video of my october skype interview with amelia gregory!

ELLEgirl korea

look what arrived all the way from seoul! editor joo hee yoo interviewed me (and three other artists/illustrators) for a feature called "my own sketchbook" in the february issue of ELLEgirl korea. the magazine is so beautiful and designed with love (note my little drawing in the first "o" of the word "sketchbook"!)

nyc

this weekend i took a bus up to new york city to visit darling c, who just made the bold move from north carolina to brooklyn (i highly recommend her beautiful photoblog about it).

in exactly 24 hours, we: ate beautiful desserts in eataly market, browsed books at the strand, met with a dear old friend, slept like logs then greeted the new day from brooklyn bridge, ate pork buns in chinatown, found me a dress for the london launch party at anthropologie, ate trendy rice pudding in soho, saw pretty quilts at the american folk art museum, visited my elephants at urban outfitters, stopped for fika in true swedish style at a swedish café called fika, and even fit in a little people-watching at MoMA. for the casual visitor, new york feels like a giant playground, so i consider it such a luxury to now have close friends there.

ёшки-матрёшки

matrëshki (requested by sheila) thanks for all of your interesting suggestions; i would like to draw all of them! and for being so nice, you get a coupon to use in my etsy shop: use the promotional code THANKYOU at checkout for 20% off of your entire purchase! (now through saturday)

laura marling

the lovely english folk singer-songwriter laura marling for amelia's best albums of 2010. i was very tempted to draw her white hair and barely-there eyebrows, but since this is about her latest album and she is a brunette now, i thought it best to respect the change. (listening to "new romantic" )

north, three + london

...continuing with my sketchbook of northern wonders. as i await for the combined efforts of royal mail and the united states postal service to bring me my copy of amelia's compendium of fashion illustration, i have this exciting news: i shall be attending the book's launch party at 123 bethnal green road in london on the 28th of january! goody gumdrops indeed and what a pleasant way to kick off the shiny new year.

happy new year

2010 was an important year for me. milestones reached, opportunities seized, beautiful places explored, woe overcome, bonds strengthened, lessons learned. for 2011 i wish myself wisdom, magic, sound judgment, creative fulfillment, new muses, and the strength to move onward.

“and above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you, because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. those who don't believe in magic will never find it.” (roald dahl)