a cute crustacean

sleepwalking

Thanks to Max, I'm neither a morning-person, a night-person, or a middle-of-the-day-person. I'm a zombie.

history in the making

A few years back my grandmother gave me an Singer sewing machine that originally belonged to my grandfather's sister. Passing this heirloom along meant a lot to Mamaw...and to me.

The sewing machine and its case are in pristine condition, showing little wear for their 70 years. In fact, the only tell-tell sign of the sewing machine's use is the treasury of threads and pins and tapes that are packed inside. It is exciting for me to examine these bits and think back to what my great-aunt might have been making.

This week I finally had the opportunity to record this collection in my sketchbook. One day, perhaps it too will be passed along, making it an heirloom within an heirloom. That's a lot of history wrapped together.

 I plan on giving my grandmother a copy of the finished print. I've also listed in the shop in case you would like to share it with someone special in your life.

flowers for you...

the simple successes of suzy-wannabe-homemaker

One of my new year's resolutions was to change my attitude when it came to cooking. This is never something I've particularly enjoyed, favoring going-out-to-eat any night over eating-in. But with two babies on the way, I knew this was going to have to change...and we could either go the easy route...or the painful hard route.

So, I'm in the process of changing my ways...and earning the nickname 'Baby Crocker' from Edgar. Three things have really helped.

Number 1 : The Crockpot

I've always enjoyed the turn-a-shoe-into-a-filet-mignon-quality of this fine piece of kitchenware...but now that I work exclusively from home, I love to smell dinner all day long.

Number 2 : A Cute Apron

Do I really need it? Probably not. Does it make me feel like I know what I'm doing. It certainly does.

Number 3 : A Glorious Breadmaker

I've been baking bread like a machine....or rather my machine has been baking bread like a machine. Regardless, I love it, Edgar loves it, the two babies-to-be love it....and perhaps more than anyone, Pokey and Reilly love it. No treat would ever encourage them to come back in from a sniff outside the way a pinch of freshly baked bread crust can. I think they might be addicted.

Any other tools of the kitchen you'd recommend?!?

love, peace and goodwill

Thanks again to all who participated in last week's "may I ask one more favor? giveaway." Using the random number generator I've picked a winner! Congratulations Chey! Email me with your address and I'll send a goodie envelope your way!

I appreciate all your questions and comments and look forward to addressing them in future posts.

see larger here

In other news, here's how our deck is shaping up. Is it any surprise, each planter has a story? If the same holds true for your garden, you're sure to find inspiration in this film? It's a sweet one!

steven + stephen : how'd that happen?

In response to Marancat's suggestion yesterday to share more about the books I'm reading, here's a sketch of one I completed earlier in the summer. Published in 2005, I'm a little behind the pack on reading this book, but am glad I finally did.

Levitt and Dubner have a blog that continues the 'freaky' conversations, which can be found here.

On a side note, one of my favorite drawing challenges at the moment---one that builds hand-eye coordination---is copying type. This book was quite the feat.

nest sweet nest

One of the things I like best about our neighborhood is the diversity of houses in it. While all were built in the 1980s, the spectrum of styles and colors is quite broad. And, as I noticed this morning on my walk with Buddy Boy and Moppy-Mop [aka Pokey and Reilly] the same holds true for the multitude of birdhouses and feeders in each of the yards. After I dropped the dogs back off at home, I headed out a second time with my sketchbook to document the dwellings.

I tried my best not to look like Creepy McCreepyton as I peered into neighbors yards and sketched. Luckily, for my sake, most of the humans had gone to work, and the birds, well, they didn't seem to mind.

before

As I mentioned last week, I've been sketching quite a bit the past few days. Perhaps it is this extra exercising that explains why I committed to completing this marathon 5K of drawing yesterday. Typically I have no patience...which is why most of my sketches take no longer than 30 minutes. Yesterday I took two and a half hours on this one, which qualifies it as a biggie in my book.

[click here to see image larger]

So, to explain: a year ago this week Edgar and I moved into our dream house...not Barbie's dream house, mind you, but our dream house. And, sadly, for that entire year, while we've worked on every other space in the house, our guest bedroom has been a disaster...a DISASTER.

That all changed this weekend, when Edgar and I emptied the contents of the bedroom into my studio, which is now the DISASTER. However, I am hopeful that things will get back to being organized soon, at which point I'll post 'after' images, and let the OCD sufferer inside me sleep.

insert catchy title here

I've been racking up plenty of drawings this week [yeeessss!], just not the words to go with them. It must be Friday.

this post is brought to you by

Just a few more things left to pack, and I'll be finished clearing out my office at school. I recognize that I've drawn this process out for a while, but with good reason: I can only fit 2 boxes in my car at a time. And, all joking aside, up until my farewell party last week, I hadn't been in that big of a hurry to move on. Now, however, it's the good memories and amazing community of students, friends and, of course, blog readers! that I want to focus on, not a sad half-empty office. I'm ready to rip this band-aid off.

On another note, while things are a bit somber here today, they are very inspiring over at my significant other's place...if you can get past the goofy photo of me and the succulents [you'll know the one]. Let it serve as a reminder to NEVER cleverly insert yourself in an otherwise harmless photo shoot.

i think i'm in love

"If we record the contents of the world, we will know the world."
- Clair Linneaker Spivet


Another Eeeeeeeeeek! for the week. I haven't even read the book yet, but I already love it. I'm pretty sure you will too. Hear what I heard here and see what I saw here.

I'm off to Barnes and Noble!

EDM Challenge: Something in a Plastic Wrapper

I guess a ziploc counts as a plastic wrapper?

EDM Challenge: Something China or Ceramic

I'm a firm believer that sticks make the best houseplants. They give you height and edginess....and they're relatively indestructible! Remember my houseplant party from over a year ago? Well, in the time since almost all my plants (with the exceptions of Benji and Peanut) have passed away. I know, I know...it's a crime!. From now on, I'm sticking with sticks!

positive energy

It's a given that we all struggle with confidence issues from time to time...especially "creatives." If you aren't feeling creative, you simply aren't feeling confident. I know...because this is where I've been the last few weeks and countless times before that.

I am, however, determined to get out of this funk and for this reason think the timing couldn't have been better to visit Melissa Grossman's blog and find this.

While I can't say that this is a particularly comfortable challenge to take on, I do think it is a positive one! And, as Melissa suggests...these don't have to be mind-blowing things. Just look at my first entry for heaven's sake!

For even more details on how to participate in the 31 Days of Self-Congratulations Challenge, visit here.

P.S. Can you guess who drew those little chicks on Melissa's home page? I guess this is something else I can add to my list :)

EDM Challenge: A Lamp

I love this lamp and the warm atmosphere the light it casts creates in my bedroom. What I don't love is the nightstand (if you can even call it that): a leftover tray table...now that's classy!

EDM Challenge: Something Holiday Themed

Wow, has it ever been a long time since I've completed an Everyday Matters Challenge! This is something I'm going to commit to doing more of starting now. I find that I'm passing by the little things in life that give me happiness...these challenges help me stop and appreciate them more.
Somehow I ended up with lots of "Pokeys" on my Christmas tree. This is my favorite as it shares the most resemblance. "'Tis the season to be chubby, fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la!"

keep drawing.

How cool is this? My friend Dale asked Danny to sign a copy of Everyday Matters for me at the HOW Conference early this summer. This weekend the book finally made it into my hands. I'm more than a little starstruck.

EDM Challenge: My Sink

I've been skipping over this EDM challenge for a while. I can think of few drawings less exciting than the kitchen sink. However, night before last, when Edgar and I were sitting in the kitchen, talking and avoiding doing the dishes it seemed like the perfect time to turn my attention towards it...and it really wasn't that bad afterall.


By the way, the subject of our conversation was..."have you ever thought about the fact you will likely be washing dishes everyday for the rest of your life AND what would it be like to be a celebrity and NEVER have to do your own dishes?" Not exactly deep thoughts...but I'm ok with that.

EDM Challenge: Something "Mom"

I completely understand if you are questioning what this drawing has to do with the EDM topic of "draw something mom." It's a stretch, but let me explain... My mom is good at so many things I'm not. For instance, she has a beautiful soprano voice and can sing the French national anthem perfectly...despite the fact she doesn't know French. She is great at geography. And, she can fold a fitted sheet perfectly...who else can fold a fitted sheet? I certainly can't.

My mom also has perfectly organized closets. Not one thing is out of place. In fact, everything is color coordinated and pressed (nothing goes in wrinkled.) With this being said, I simply can't looked at my messy closet and not be reminded of the ways I am not like my mom.