Concentric Squiggles + Crazy Loops

#4: Enter a Design Competition

I think I found a design competition I'd like to enter:

READY SET is a limited edition collection of prints that will be designed by you and letterpress printed by Gilah Press + Design. Of all submissions received, only ten artworks will be selected for inclusion in the finished limited edition boxed set. Entries will be judged for concept, design, illustration and typography.

“Fly” is the first collection’s theme and is entirely open to your interpretation.

Once the jury has sorted through the initial submissions, each of the 10 chosen artists will be contacted for a final AI/EPS file of their artwork. We will letterpress the artwork, produce an edition of 110 and each of the winning artists will receive their own boxed set of prints.

After all is said and done, Gilah Press + Design will host a READY SET studio show where each of the letterpressed artworks will be put on display. The completed boxed sets will also be available for purchase at that time. And we certainly can’t forget about all of the delicious food and wine we’ll be consuming to celebrate. Soon afterwards, the sets will also be listed for sale on this website.

This will satisfy another one on the list:

04. Submit work to a Design Competition or Show.

Also, since I'll be designing it in the next week,
I think I may count it as my January design project.

GollyBard on Etsy

I love this little shop.

374: Somewhere Out There

Good episode of This American Life.

"Of all the 6 and a half billion people in the world, what are the odds that any two people are a real match? Stories from people who know they’ve beat the odds, and the lengths they’ve gone to do it—including an American professor who sings Chinese opera for anyone who'll listen, to get one step closer to his mate, and two kids who travel halfway around the country to find each other and become best friends."

#6: Houseplants 101

#6 on the list of 25 things to do before I turn 26 is complete!

Saturday I went to Terrain to take a gardening class: Houseplants 101. The store itself is rustic, calming and whimsical. The gorgeous products and displays are great inspiration, so I didn't mind spending a bit extra on a couple of items (which were a little overpriced). A nice treat!

The class was a wonderful deal. For $15, there was an hour long lecture, and then an hour of help selecting a plant, a pot and help with potting the plant (plant + pot cost extra). I got some really basic questions answered, such as, "Is this pot big enough?" "Am I packing the soil too tightly?" "How high should it sit in the pot?" and "Can you show me how to tease and massage the roots?" I had read about these things, but getting some hands-on instruction was great.

The photo above is my new rosemary plant, which will soon be placed in our cool, drafty, sunny south-facing window sill (after it rests in the shade for the week because of the shock of being repotted). It smells so delicious. We're going to make this tonight (recommended by the teacher).

In the next week or so, I'll post some of what I learned about light, watering, soil, topsoil, potting, fertilizer, herbs and pests.

Oh, and on a sidenote, I went to this class all by myself! I get anxious about driving to new places alone (especially places 30+ minutes away). And! I think the last time I entered a classroom without knowing anyone else was three years ago. It was a small challenge for me, and it made me feel really good to push myself. Everyone was so nice, and I had a really great time : )

Pointy Peaks + Rounded Clouds

Dance Recital

My aunt just sent me these.
I still have that sweet headpiece.

Bummed

Sad about Haiti.
Second earthquake this morning.
Trying to figure out how to help.
Sounds like donating money is the best way.

Sad about America.
And where it might be headed.
Or where it might not be headed.
And lack of respect for each other.

So much darkness in the world right now.
Help me focus on the positive.

For now, it's back to work.

Etsy Christmas

I received these two lovely items from Etsy for Christmas, and I couldn't have been happier with them. I've been coveting those earrings from Abigail Percy for a long time. And Scott remembered! I love 'em.


This adorable screenprinted pleated pouch was a nice surprise from Mama Z. She cleverly used it to hold another present — an idea I may have to steal. Check out more items from this artist's shop right here: modernradar. Great quality stuff. Cute colors and fun prints.

Mozzarella Making

Becca tweeted this guide to make your own mozzarella.

Now I want to try it. Have you ever made it?

Jacked Up Banana Bread

This recipe is awesome.
Especially if you add dark chocolate chips.

Made it yesterday and devoured it last night
(with a lot of help from others, thankfully).

Game night was a huge success : )

I wish you'd see yourself

as beautiful as I see you.

– Avett Brothers

Whiskers + Lashes

From my sketchbook.

Exquisite Book

Image from here.

Pretty excited to hear about this new book, which is chock-full of work by some really great illustrators. What a wonderful idea. Click here to see the official site for it.

Leather Laptop Bags

These are so pretty.

Yeasayer's Odd Blood

Great episode of NPR's All Songs Considered right here.
Thanks to Bill for the heads up!

Digging Yeasayer's "Ambling Alp" on new album Odd Blood.
Comes out 2/9. It starts at 15:25-ish on the podcast.

Or you can watch the weirdo video right here:



"Now, the world can be an unfair place at times
But your lows will have their complement of highs"

Trip Planning

We're thinking of planning a trip. Scott studied Spanish for about five years but hasn't been to a Spanish-speaking country, so that would be fun. Or maybe we could visit friends some place. We're also open to some kind of a volunteer trip.

We're thinking somewhere on this side of the world (for the sake of time + money).

Where should we go? Have you been some place that you highly recommend, or have a place we can crash?

Excited to explore the options!

Saturday

Trying out this Dill Bread recipe.

Today would be a nice day to spend with my mom.

Alas, I'm a thousand miles from home.

Hi mom : )

January Birthdays

Happy Birthday to you Kelly, Radley, Kiersten, Robyn, Rachel and Marielle!
Anyone else out there have a January birthday?

Camera Obscura

French Navy by Camera Obscura:



When this song came on I got the urge to dance around
in my socks on the hardwood floor.

#12: January Book

There are too many classics I haven't read, so #12 on my list of 25 things to do before I turn 26 is to read a book a month in 2010. For January, I've chosen To Kill a Mockingbird. Let me know if you decide to read it as well. I wish I had a book club!

On a sidenote, I love the cover on this edition, designed by Mary Schuck (senior art director at Harper Perennial). I'm interested to see how it relates to the book. I just spent a few minutes trying to find an official website for her, to no avail. Looks like she's designed many stunning book covers, though.

Wine Recommendation

I received a bottle of Los Vascos Cabernet Sauvignon as a gift this year, and I was told that if liked it, my gift-givers would confess the cost.

Well. It's awesome, and apparently, if you can find it, it'll only cost you about $6/bottle (if you buy a case).

My favorites are more dry pinot noirs, chiantis and cabernet sauvignons. If you have similar taste, maybe you'd like this one, too.

Thank you Scott's Uncle Ed!

Flowers from the Market

Scott got these pretties for me on our date last weekend. It's so nice to have a bright bouquet for my desk! Carnations are really growing on me — they were the best looking flowers at the market, they last for so long, and they look so happy all bunched together.

Thank you!!

#25: January Date

Don't we look happy? This month's secret date was a trip to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. We enjoyed it more than it looks like we did. Right, Scott? He loves when I take pictures of him at museums. ; )

After the museum we zipped over to Reading Terminal Market for flowers, gyros (for lunch) and produce.

I think I like this date planning thing.

(Top: Marcel Duchamp, Bottom: ???, Joan Miró)

Plastic Bag Fee

Washington, D.C. shoppers face nation's first fee for using plastic bags.

Happy New Year

Hope you had a fun time ringing in the new decade!

We had a great time celebrating with new friends (and Bill!) — looking forward to another year of pierogies, movie nights and parties! I feel so lucky to have met so many great people so quickly here. Cheers to old friends and new.