{From our current selection}

    Photo from Inspired Goodness.   Founded in 2008, Inspired Goodness is a custom invitation and paper goods studio located in Brooklyn, NY.   —————————————————————————-   Notable books:   A Year in the Merde by Stephen Clarke Parisian Chic: A Style Guide by Ines De La Fressange      

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Dispatches from Milano: Sketching and Card Making

 In the monastery adjacent this church, just a few minutes’ stroll from my house, one can find Leonardo Da Vinci’s ’Last Supper’. The apse (widely attributed to Donato Bramante, and dated around 1490) is significant as it signals a crucial transition from the Late Gothic style of the nave to a splendid Northern Italian Renaissance in the [...]

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Pens and (needful) Things

So you already know I heart Japanese Stationery stores. Here are more lovely pens and things from Jetpens. Some of these, like rubber stamps – or writing letters sealed with rubber stamps- don’t exactly fit my life right now, but isn’t it fun to imagine such settings? Thanks go to my (enabling)  friend Andy who [...]

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SoCal – E>< : Exploratory Design Workshop

Something eye-opening occurred at my school yesterday. I attended the exhibit for SoCal -Ex : Exploratory Design Workshop, completed by Professor Hector Perez and his students. Here are the specific of the Workshop: 6 Explorers Andrea Benavides/Alfredo Melly/Henry Palomino/Charles Santamaria/Nancy Tariga 25 Days July 12-August 5 10 Field Trips San Diego/La Jolla/Del Mar/San Juan Capistrano/Los Angeles/Santa [...]

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Ode to Pens

The Man with Many Pens by Jonathan Wells With one he wrote a number so beautiful it lasted forever in the legends of numbers. With another he described the martyrs’ feet as they marched past the weeping stones and cypresses, watched by their fathers. He used one as a silver wand to lift a trout [...]

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Book Love @ City Lights [For you, Professor]

   All the following images have been taken at City Lights Booktore in North Beach (Little Italy) , San Francisco, on June 29, 2010. I dedicate this post to my dear English and Literature Professor at NDSU, Steve Ward. Long live The Beats.

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Art and Poetry

Perhaps if we all had, every day, time for art and for poetry, just a daily dose, perhaps our lives would feel a little less hurried, a little less hectic, and time would slow down for that cup of tea in front of a vintage art book. Perhaps we could squeeze more out of our [...]

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Artuesday: Sketchbook Exchange II and the wonders of Tara Donovan

I started a new sketchbook exchange with Mike Riggin, a Teaching Assistant at my school. My initial contribution: illustrating two of my friend Sarah‘s poems, and an origami heart– due to my recent infatuation with Between the Folds). Also I must, must, must tell you about an art show that could have possibly changed my [...]

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{Blogging Artist Tutorial}: How to make a customized ‘Buy me a Coffee’ micro-donation button

For many artists/designers endeavoring to build an online a presence, a blog is an incredible way to show up to their work and share new projects. Still, designing a high-quality blog and content is not enough. You have to get the word out ( is a blog still a blog if nobody reads it?) So [...]

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The Day of Love

Happy San Valentino! Here are some card designs I have been playing with, let me know if you would like a hi-res version, and  which one I should put in my future etsy print shop. Finally, I have been listening to my Buddha Bar CD’s today, and in Buddha Bar II there is a Rumi [...]

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Typewriters! My first Sketchbook Exchange {Joy}

Do you remember this, my sketchbook exchange with Jennifer of Habit of Design? I actually completed my ‘project’ last week, but wanted to wait till Jennifer received my sketchbook by mail so not to spoil the surprise! The cover, before and after….. (yes I was not authorized to operate on the sketchbook cover…I did it [...]

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How to be an explorer of the world {Everything is Interesting}

  This book awoke all senses in me.  Keri smith possesses a truly remarkable voice; she embodies that Fellini quote:   Put yourself into life and never lose your openness,      your childish enthusiasm throughout the journey that is life, and things will come your way. Federico Fellini Take a peak of the book here and [...]

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Color Varietals and Applied Arts

  Influenced by my new find, Applied Arts – Canada’s Visual Communication Magazine I wanted to try my hand at product placing, color iterations and offsetting, a great Photoshop tool that I am sure all of you in Graphic and Interior Design know and love, but that is seldom used in Architecture applications (we specialize [...]

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Sketcher’s Essentials

I‘m back. I have been asked to write a post on my sketching tools, and it took a while to organize my ‘shooting session’. Also, less than ten days ago, the unthinkable happened: my artist pouch went missing.  This was followed by a period of ‘mourning’ and this drawing to put on a sign (yes, I am [...]

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Mail Goodies and New Projects

So , I have been busy doing some art here This the bounty I received by mail this week! 1.  A wonderful watercolor postcard from my blog/artsister Ghadah, especially made for me! 2.  A new sketchbook (and drawing project) from Jennifer at  habitofdesign.blogspot.com. Jennifer has started a wonderful project called ‘ A Study In…’ This is [...]

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Harmony

I am always happy if my internet connection goes down for a bit. It is the time I can then dedicate myself to catching up with my offline (old school) reading. Books, magazines, San Diego weeklies…. things I find in the most disparate places. I am an unapologetically omnivorous reader and that, combined with a [...]

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Paper Goods

I have returned from San Francisco with lots of paper goods (my favorite addiction), and found a gem of a store there: Ever since I was little, writing instruments and surfaces proved irresistible to me.  My mother, a lawyer, was in charge of an office and, of course, its office supply closet was my favorite [...]

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Of not only bread….

I found my next sketchbook. And it literally sings. How cool is that? What a great idea for recycling. It makes me feel so green The sketchbook is by Michael Roger Press, Made in California. I found it at Urban Outfitters in Berkeley. The great thing about these sketchbooks- and the winning part of the [...]

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