Sam Webber's podcasts: Your dream, my nightmare.

My new intern, Josie (who just happens to be from my home town of Teaneck NJ! go figure) mentioned a podcast she had been listening to. I always learn so much from my interns, including learning about what young artist think about and are looking at. Well, Josie and I had a good listen to the Jon Klassen interview, it was so inspiring but there are so many others to choose from as well. So for all you illustration and design fans, check out "Your dream, my nightmare". It's a cool podcast by teacher and talent Sam Webber. Here's a link to download each episode:
http://yourdreamsmynightmares.com/

Blank on Blank

I just discovered this fantastic little gem. Lost interviews and great little nuggets of insight. Wander around this little spot...
http://blankonblank.org/audio/

Janine Shepherd on TED

Wow. This story really reminds me that our spirit is always alive inside, nothing can ever take that away. You just have to let it see the sun, allow it to live. Janine Shepherd shares her amazing story with such eloquence a sensitivity. I love the quote she shares "When you let go of what you are you can become what you might be".-Lao Tzu.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bX32U_hfri4

Brene Brown on TED

I saw Brene Brown on OWN a few weeks ago. Man, she's a powerhouse of inspiration. I found two talks on TED recently so I'll post here. "Daring Greatly", her latest book was awesome. It was so insightful, it gave me so much to think about these past few weeks.
http://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_on_vulnerability.html

Elizabeth Gilbert on TED

Have you ever wondered about creativity and sanity? Check out this wonderful talk by Elizabeth Gilbert. I love how she describes her process. She is such a lovable speaker, you feel like your her BFF. Writing a poem, capturing something, grabbing a hold of it, it's all feel familiar to the creative process. Get it down at all costs.
http://www.ted.com/talks/elizabeth_gilbert_on_genius.html

Making a Barn Yard.

My "Barn Yard" quilt for Land of Nod came out last week! I love doing projects with Land of Nod, they do such creative products. I'm also glad that my designs are included among such fantastic designers who's work I really respect. Anyway, I thought it would be neat to show a bit of the process behind the of making a quilt. You can see the original sketches (I did three options), plus the digital color version. In the end the colors came out much brighter and the composition changed a bit, which is always to be expected so you have to be open to how things get interpreted. On this project I learned that I tend to make my palettes kind of pale/neutral. I'm working on getting bolder and brighter. My "take" on the barn yard idea was to incorporate the sounds of the barnyard. Originally, LON asked me to do something with the number of animals but as I got into it I realized it would be more fun to "hear" the sounds of the animals. What baby doesn't love to hear a moo moo here and moo moo there?
Here's the link: http://www.landofnod.com/with-a-moo-moo-here-crib-bedding/f11933

I want candy.

Last saturday, bright and early, my daughter Maja asked me if we could watch a movie together. I decided to avoid the excruciating pain of having to flip through Disney XD channel for the gazillionth time and opted instead to search the movies I recorded on my DVR. I had scheduled a bunch of Christmas movies, knowing that the day would come when I would need to call in the heavy hitters of  “Rudolph” and “Santa Clause is coming to Town". As I scanned the list I noticed one movie that was still unwatched, one I had completely forgotten I had recorded- Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (yes, the 1971 movie!). Score! Something I would actually enjoy watching with her. When I was a kid I thought Willy Wonka was the ultimate sugar rush of movies (even thought it has it’s moments of freakiness). I personally think it blows “Wreck it Ralph” away, but then again I’m not 8years old. Anyway, as I sat there on the couch watching August Gloop get sucked up the clear pipe in the chocolate river I began to wonder why is candy adored by people of all ages, everywhere.

Maybe it’s the countless possibilities. There is such a range of flavors, colors, and textures in pretty much every confectionary delight I see. Candy is a real treat for the eyes not just the taste buds. It’s a creative and expressive art form in my opinion. But there’s more to it than that, I think it’s the nostalgia that really gets me. Every Saturday afternoon I would walk to our neighborhood candy store and pick out the perfect piece of candy, the piece that would fit the mood I was in at the time. If I needed comfort I went for a Hershey bar, if I wanted a straight forward energy it was something like a watermelon jolly rancher stick. Then I’d walk home and slowly savor my purchase or if I was feeling a bit spiteful I’d save it until I got home and wave it in front of my two younger brother faces. That was probably the bonus, to see the look on their faces when I had candy and they didn’t. Psyche. But I digress, as I usually do. It does seem that candy makes the world go round, at least for kids, and for me, it's one of the things that I love to examine and collage. Whether it’s Willy Wonka’s factory or just a trip to the candy store, I guess I’ll always want candy.
(Opps...forgot to add my sweet shop cards here. If you like these pieces of candy check out the stationary for Teneues)