12 per diem

Letterer in Turkey

2012-01-21T06:00:00.000-06:00

I came across this the other day. Amazing.

Miniature Masterpieces for Cheap

2012-01-19T15:43:00.000-06:00

Stamp prices are about to go up, but that sure doesn't mean you'll pay gallery prices! Great little tiny masterpieces, for 45 cents... I've always loved stamps, and here are some of my favorites about to hit the post offices.

There's a veritable wealth to choose from over the past hundred years or so... a few of my favorites from the past, for whatever reasons, below.

If I was nice, I'd put the year on them...so glad they started to do that themselves in the last couple decades or so. Seriously, what a dream illustration job!

Last of my finds from Society6.

2012-01-16T06:00:00.000-06:00

Other finds from Society6.

2012-01-13T23:30:00.000-06:00

New year.

2012-01-09T15:57:00.001-06:00

Random niceties from Society6.

PMS means color, too.

2011-12-13T14:48:00.000-06:00

It's the end of the year, which means that Pantone has outed their new color of the new year; for 2012 that means Tangerine Tango... described by the color gurus there as: "a vivacious, enticing hue," "a provocative go-getter" that's "a bit exotic, but in a very friendly, non-threatening way" and "a spirited reddish orange ... [s]ophisticated but at the same time dramatic and seductive."

I love keeping up with color trends, even if I don't always like them...it's just fun to have something nominated as the in thing for the whole world, the whole year. Kind of like a Chinese Year of the Boar, but with a color instead of an animal.

Past years' colors were:
honeysuckle (2011)
turquoise (2010)
mimosa (2009)
blue iris (2008)
chili pepper (2007)
sand dollar (2006)
blue turquoise (2005)
tigerlily (2004)
aqua sky (2003)
true red (2002)
fuchsia rose (2001)
cerulean (2000)

I went on a quest to find tangerine tango in a lipstick. It may be that I have here.

Happy Holidays from Juicebox South...

2011-12-07T16:38:00.001-06:00

Finally cleaned up with a cleared off drawing table... now I just need some inspiration. Christmas cards would be good here...

Fulfillment

2011-12-03T09:25:00.000-06:00

ECCE • ANC • ILLA • I[ESU] • N[OSTRI] • D[OMINUS]
Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord
German, ca. 1290–1300, from The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones:

The incarnation is the supreme example of fulfilled prophecy, the supreme example of God’s faithfulness to his promises.

And this is surely most comforting, especially as we consider it in the setting of the world in which we find ourselves.

The great covenant promise concerning redemption was made in its most explicit manner to Abraham. You can find it prior to that, but the definition of it, as it were, the explicit statement of it, is made to Abraham when he is told that in him, in his seed, shall all the world be blessed (Gen. 12:3). That is what Mary is referring to when she says: “He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy to Abraham, and to his seed for ever” (Luke 1:54, KJV).

Mary at once sees the significance of what is happening—the significance of the Son that is to be born out of her womb. She remembers what the archangel Gabriel said about him; she did not understand it then, but now she does, and she begins to realize the meaning of “He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest” (Luke 1:32, KJV). She begins to understand what Elisabeth means when she says, “Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” (Luke 1:42–43, KJV).

Mary sees now God is going to fulfill all these promises that he has made—“mercy to Abraham, and his seed forever.” But how is it happening? “It happens,” she said, “like this: ‘He hath holpen his servant Israel,’” and that word means to succour, to help, or, perhaps better still, to lift up. The people of Israel had been cast down; they needed to be lifted up, they needed to be saved.

He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his offspring forever.
Luke 1:54–55

They had been thrown down by an enemy, but someone comes and rescues them; he takes hold of them and helps them to stand upon their feet. So she says in effect, “When I give birth to the Son, I am giving birth to the Savior, the one prophesied, predicted, promised. He is coming. All that was promised to Abraham, all this great mercy, here it is, literally coming into being and into action.”

She is referring primarily, of course, to salvation itself, and this is where her statement is so significant. God had made this promise to Abraham concerning salvation, forgiveness of sins, and reconciliation unto himself. We tend to forget that what God said to Abraham was that this salvation that was to come was to be brought about through this descendant of his that was yet to be born into this world. Now Abraham did not understand this fully; but he understood enough to rest his faith upon it. “He [Abraham] believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness” (Gen 15:6, KJV).

Paul takes this up and works it out as a great argument in the fourth chapter of his epistle to the Romans, and also in the third chapter of the epistle to the Galatians. Our Lord himself also said to the Jews on one occasion, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad” (John 8:56, KJV). That is a reference to salvation. That statement means that Abraham was given to see, in a flash—not very clearly, but he saw it—that God’s great salvation, the forgiveness of sins, and reconciliation was to be brought about ultimately by someone who would come into the world, who would be of his seed.

Mary is making a very basic statement here. “That,” she says, “is what is happening.” In other words, we have here a summary of the whole of the Old Testament, and nothing is more important than for us to realize that the whole of the Old Testament is looking forward to this event. The children of Israel were greatly blessed. They were God’s own people. They were unlike all the other peoples and nations of the world, and God showered his blessings upon them.

But let us never make the mistake of imagining that they had everything. All they ultimately had was the promise. But it was enough. Thank God it was enough. But they had nothing more than that. You will find that this is frequently elaborated in the New Testament. There is that tremendous statement of it in Galatians 3; but you find it again in a striking manner in the epistle to the Hebrews, at the end of that great eleventh chapter: “And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect (vv. 39–40, KJV). They did not receive the promise. What they received was the promise of the promise, the certainty that the promise would be fulfilled.
And here is the key, of course, to the understanding of the Old Testament. Look at those people as they went to their tabernacle and to their temple taking their burnt offerings and meal offerings and sacrifices—animals being killed, blood being shed and offered, placed before the alter, and so on. What is it all about? What was happening there? Well, the answer is, that was but a covering, as it were, of their sins for the time being. This argument is developed in the tenth chapter of Hebrews: “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins” (v. 4, KJV). They were simply covered over. Those sacrifices were by types pointing to the coming of the great anti-type; they did not really deal with sin.

But they were indications that God had a way of dealing with sin, and that, says Mary, is what is now happening. Here are the promised mercies. God had promised Abraham and his seed that there would be mercy and compassion. Their sins would be forgiven and blotted out; they would be made the children of God and heirs of glory. But all that they knew by way of offerings and sacrifices was not the fulfillment of that. It was merely another way of giving the promise and of indicating in a measure the way in which it was going to be fulfilled.
But here now, says Mary, is the great anti-type himself. Now God is going to fulfill all this mercy that he had promised “to Abraham, and to his seed forever.” And this means there is only one way of salvation; it means that all salvation and every aspect of it comes in this one way—in Jesus Christ, the Son of God and him crucified, made an offering for sin. “A body hast thou prepared me” (Heb. 10:5, KJV). What for? In order that he might be the Lamb of God. That he might be slain, that he might be offered. One sacrifice forever. “The Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29, KJV).

That is what Mary is saying. Here is the fulfillment of all mercies. There is no forgiveness apart from Jesus Christ and him crucified. There is no true knowledge of God apart from him. There is no blessing apart from him. As the apostle Paul puts it in 2 Corinthians 1:20 (KJV): “For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.” “He hath holpen his servant Israel.” Israel is the seed of Abraham. Yes, but under the law and condemned by the law. Not able to be free; held in bondage and in captivity; living on the promises, thank God, but nothing more.

But here is the great fulfillment; and so you will find all the Old Testament prophets, psalmists, and seers have seen this. They are looking forward; they know that this is what will fulfill all the promises and bring the mercy into the individual experience. It is all in and through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and what he did when he was in this world, and what he is now continuing and applying in the glory.

What God did when he sent his Son into the world is an absolute guarantee that he will do everything he has ever promised to do. Look at it in personal sense: “All things work together for good to them that love God”—that is a promise—“to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Rom. 8:28, KJV). “But how can I know that is true for me?” asks someone. The answer is the incarnation. God has given the final proof that all his promises are sure, that he is faithful to everything he has ever said. So that promise is sure for you. Whatever your state or condition may be, whatever may happen to you, he has said, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Heb. 13:5, KJV)—and he will not. He has said so, and we have absolute proof that he fulfills his promises. He does not always do it immediately in the way that we think. No, no! But he does it! And he will never fail to do it.

"The Great Fulfillment" by Martyn Lloyd-Jones. Excerpted from Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus: Experiencing the Peace and Promise of Christmas, edited by Nancy Guthrie. Copyright © 2008 by Nancy Guthrie.

holiday christmas cheer

2011-11-18T11:55:00.001-06:00

holiday illustration style, via the ever wonderful print and pattern.

top to bottom:
ashley le querre, lollipop, piu lee, dan stiles, woodland, dutch door, hello lucky, and darling clementine

Kinda like being 40.

2011-11-08T09:51:00.001-06:00

Mowing the grass and raking leaves at the same time is like having grey hair AND a pimple simultaneously.

I wish!

2011-11-04T14:29:00.002-05:00

Can I say this is me? Because, awesome.

for Allison

2011-10-29T10:26:00.003-05:00

“When you remember me, it means you have carried something of who I am with you, that I have left some mark of who I am on who you are. It means that you can summon me back to your mind even though countless years and miles may stand between us. It means that if we meet again, you will know me. It means that even after I die, you can still see my face and hear my voice and speak to me in your heart.”

“Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don't be afraid.”

—Frederick Buechner

2011-10-13T17:51:00.002-05:00

"C.S. Lewis points out that our roots are really elsewhere. True. But we do not get to that elsewhere except through our journey in this life on this planet. While we are here we must put down roots so that we will not be uprooted by a passing storm. The roots may reach down through earthly life to 'elsewhere,' but they have to go through the earth and our life on the earth before getting to 'elsewhere.' What else does the Incarnation affirm? Jesus came not to deny life, but to offer life, and life more abundant. We are not to retreat from life, pinning our hopes on 'elsewhere,' but to know that we will come to that final destination best by living here and now, be it through joy, or pain, or a mix of both."

—Madeleine L'Engle, The Rock That is Higher

tree image found here.

more Angie loveliness

2011-10-10T17:22:00.000-05:00

I adore this artist, as I may have mentioned one or two or fourteen times. Look at the lovely new book covers Angie Lewin has created for Faber & Faber. More fantastic views of these books and more over at that treasure trove of all things beautiful and {mostly} British, Print and Pattern.

Enjoy!

pink and green

2011-09-24T00:00:00.000-05:00

rather an obsession

2011-09-16T00:00:00.000-05:00

Now to just use them...and not hoard them, and all their kin!

Milky Way

2011-09-10T11:46:00.002-05:00

Loveliest thing I've seen in weeks.

Jon's eye view

2011-09-07T12:44:00.000-05:00

Nice camera photos from Jon Foreman on Twitter...

.

2011-08-22T17:36:00.000-05:00

sol que tú eres...

2011-08-17T15:22:00.002-05:00

Thanks, Dad.

2011-08-03T09:47:00.000-05:00

Illustrator Justin Gabbard

2011-08-01T06:00:00.003-05:00

Lovely work by Justin Gabbard. Found via Grain Edit.

Gallery showcases HP illustrators.

2011-07-26T15:57:00.000-05:00

Gallery Nucleus put on quite a show of talented illustrators' takes on that most magical of subjects, Harry Potter. All images from their site. via mymodernmet.

Illustrated packing tape.

2011-07-23T09:32:00.001-05:00

Not topping the list of Maslow's needs, but dang, what a fun idea. Lovely brilliance from those creative machines at St. Jude's of Britain.

Dreaming in purple.

2011-07-16T10:37:00.003-05:00

This phase will last until at least October...

Concert for your birthday? Sure!

2011-07-07T21:58:00.002-05:00

Sweaty good times in Vanderbilt Stadium... months of looking forward and now, over. But so worth it!

Tomorrow at Vanderbilt... finally!

2011-07-01T15:31:00.001-05:00

Modern Arks

2011-06-28T19:16:00.001-05:00

I absolutely love this little local shop, and not just because I heard about him through a dear friend (who I think is at least cousin-close). It's modern, rustic, green, vintage, everything I love combined! And they make prints... about type... and the Roman Empire... what is freakin' NOT to love. Check out Modern Arks on etsy and at their site. So great, I sure wish them lots of success...but if they happen to NOT sell that awesome Egyptian-motifed table, well, I will happily take it off their hands.

I could live here.

2011-06-23T09:27:00.002-05:00

2011-06-09T16:06:00.000-05:00

Hope came last night for our friend Emmett... be at peace, friend. We will all miss you.

...Now it is no longer

"Dust you are
and to dust you shall return"

but

"You are joined to Heaven, and into Heaven
shall you be taken up."

— Basil the Great, 4th century AD

Beautiful Provence.

2011-06-06T11:24:00.000-05:00

It's almost summer and again my thoughts turn towards la Belle France, or at least what I picture it being like in my mind. Love these images from photographer Karim Saari. I can smell that lavender from here...

Happy birthday to the lady.

2011-05-30T22:18:00.002-05:00

Apparently some new old photos of Marilyn turned up on cnn.com this week. She would have been 85 June 1st. I've always been fascinated by the insanity that has grown up around her. Once I read an story by a man who interviewed her once, and he was amazed watching her turn "it" on and off, and how "it" affected people; he couldn't quite explain what it was, but apparently she had lots of it.

French illustrator Blexbolex.

2011-05-19T19:11:00.000-05:00

Wonderful style, great colors, and lovely craftmanship by French illustrator Blexbolex. Found via Grain Edit. Absolutely in love now. Or maybe I just love saying blexbolexblexbolexblexbolex...

2011-05-18T11:50:00.002-05:00

Light of Heaven
Lord of mercy
Shine the goodness
Of your love upon this day
Till we see you
Till we know you
Till the sorrow
And the darkness fade away
Fade away

Great word for today.

2011-05-13T16:37:00.000-05:00

I'm so encouraged by reading here. What wonderful hope!

And just a few more from an old book study from years ago, which I did not give
the attention which it deserved at the time.

²⁷ Why do you complain, Jacob?
Why do you say, Israel,
“My way is hidden from the LORD;
my cause is disregarded by my God”?
—Isaiah 40:27

God has not abandoned us any more than He abandoned Job. He never abandons anyone on whom He has set His love; nor does Christ, the good shepherd, ever lose track of His sheep. It is as false as it is irreverent to accuse God of forgetting, or overlooking, or losing interest in, the state and needs of His own people. If you have been resigning yourself to the thought that God has left you high and dry, seek the grace to be ashamed of yourself. Such unbelieving pessimism deeply dishonors our great Lord and Savior.

Oh the forgiveness I need for even thinking such thoughts, much less asking Him
to not abandon us in our trials!

God's life does not change.
God's character does not change.
God's truth does not change.
God's ways do not change.
God's purposes do not change.
God's Son does not change.

What God does in time, He planned from eternity. And all that He planned in eternity He carries out in time. And all that He has in His Word committed Himself to do will infallibly be done. No part of His eternal plan changes.

The plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations.
—Psalm 33:11

Old Eastery images...

2011-05-04T12:50:00.000-05:00

from one of my favorite photo blogs (and from a fellow West Texan)... beautiful.

really? it must be so.

2011-05-02T15:15:00.002-05:00

I do not doubt that whatever misery God permits will be for our good unless, by rebellious will, we convert it to evil...

—C. S. Lewis

Easter Sunday, Easter Someday

2011-04-23T22:30:00.001-05:00

Thoughts on that day about 2000 years ago, how He did what He did for love, and the joy set before Him. And that Death, though he hasn't realized it yet, is defeated... and someday all the sad and evil things of this world will become untrue. Hasten that Day! Tomorrow is a tiny preview of eternity...

Addition, from Katie:

Thursday, April 21, 2011

“I don’t want to do this,” I half scream at her, half plead to God. “I don’t want to walk this path, I don’t want to be this person, I don’t want to raise this daughter who doesn’t know who she belongs to and sometimes hugs me tight but sometimes pushes me far. I don’t want to let this birth mom live with us, knowing she can leave whenever she pleases and rip these wounds wide open again. I don’t know if I can do this.”

“I don’t want to do this,” she sobs into my shoulder. “I don’t want to tell another parent that her child is dead. I don’t want to hold another baby while he struggles to hold on to life, ultimately failing. I don’t want to feel responsible when children in my care die. I can’t do it.”

We sit in the lantern light late into the night and the tears stream. We sit broken and I choke out the ugly words, words that have been there but I have been too appalled to voice, “I think sometimes, I am afraid to trust the will of God.” Ugly sin. All these shortcomings, all these iniquities, I let them flow. “I mean. I do trust Him. But sometimes I am still afraid of what He might bring next.”

We sit long and spill the ugly, inadequate tears and we let His light fill up the holes.

I murmur, thinking out loud. “God did not give me a spirit of fear… perfect love drives out fear… do not be afraid I am with you…” I know these words well; they are etched in my heart. Do I believe them? “Am I dumb enough to think that things would be better if I was in control? That things like this would not happen if I was in control?” It hits me. “If I was in control, I would not send my only child to die for this crazy world.”

I think of Him who would carry my burden. I think of a pool of blood drenching my brokenness and I can hardly stand as I think of Him bent low carrying my sin – that too heavy cross - and all of this.

He knelt in the garden and He prayed, “Abba Father, everything is possible. Take this cup from me.” (Mark 14:35)

“I don’t want to do this.” My Savior. Fully God, but fully human. He knows. He knows sorrow to the point of death, anguish and sweat like great drops of blood, this fear of what might come even at the hand of the Father. “Yet not my will but Yours,” He says. Can we follow His lead?

Yesterday we pressed the blood out of the lamb, the stench enough to make one gag. We kneaded bread free from yeast reminding us to be free from sin – only by the blood of this Savior. We are reminded to run hard from our distrust, “Not my will, Father, but yours.” We eat the bitter green and remember bitterness in life and the way our Savior has just soaked it all up. Remembering all the long way He carried those Isrealites, remembering all the long way He carried that cross, and remembering all the long way He has carried us. Oh, how He has carried us!

Now my tears flow not because I don’t want. I am crying because how can I not when I think of this life blood flowing from His side and Him in such anguish thinking of me, of all of us. I weep knowing that each time I hide my face, refuse to take this cup the Father has given me, I drive those nails deeper and He in great pain hangs there willing.

No. We wont’ hide. Today we approach this cross unworthy and we grab onto the Saviors feet and we cling tight and we let this blood cover and pool and we remember the ugly stench of our sin and we believe that when He rises Sunday we will rise with Him, He will take us by the hands and pull us with Him yet again allowing us to rise into His glory.

Daily I turn my gaze in distrust. Daily I remember the Jesus who already washed clean this mess and I fall to my knees, sorrowful and repentant. How can I not trust? And He reminds me that I must die with Him – not just that once but every single day – choosing to throw off the distrust and walk with Him in the newness of life. Daily. Hourly. Sometimes seemingly every five minutes.

Today I gaze at my Savior and I know: courage is not the absence of fear.

Courage is to say, “I am afraid,” but walk it anyway. Courage is to stand broken and limping and look into these faces around us, His faces, and say, “Not my will but yours Father.” Courage is to say, “I don’t want to do this,” but to grab tight to a slaughtered Son and let His blood pool in my sin-holes and allow Him to pull me with Him into glory.

Today we remember the moment that we were engraved into the palms of His hands and we believe that He holds us there still. Tonight, He dies and I learn to live. To live willing to spill out, spill out and let Him fill.

Praising Jesus for a sister to sit broken with.

Posted by auntie katie at 11:38 PM

Illustrator Gordon Laite

2011-04-18T09:41:00.001-05:00

I was on a quest recently to obtain a couple of Alice and Martin Provensen books, and, having scoured my local used bookstores in vain, I came across an illustrator I've somehow missed. The wonderfully detailed and fantastically talented Gordon Laite, having come across my radar, is now the focus of my obsessing, and I'm very pleased to show a number of his examples here. I imagine what suckered me in first is his beautiful linework and pencil illustrations featured in the children's story I nabbed at Rhino Books, The Thirty Gilt Pennies. Another happy surprise for me is the material that he was given: Middle Eastern and Biblical stories, fairy tales, nature subjects... all beautifully rendered by a masterful hand. If you see one of his gems lying around, pick it up and notice all the detail and care...and if you don't want it, I am happy to take it!

Some heavenly music.

2011-04-13T11:23:00.000-05:00

Way way late, to both The King's Speech, and to Beethoven in general. Enjoy this most familiar work (to most classical fans) but new to me.

A new set of Gospels. Illustrated by Makoto Fujimura.

2011-04-03T12:44:00.000-05:00

I cannot wait to see one of these in the flesh...the incarnation, it were. How could you resist something described by The Tim Keller as:

"...the Illuminator has illumined the illuminator of the Illuminated Bible..."

More links on the artist here.

Watch below:

Makoto Fujimura - The Art of "The Four Holy Gospels" from Crossway on Vimeo.

Poem.

2011-03-26T20:22:00.000-05:00

I have to share this. I can't say I understand it, but it is glorious.

The Old Astronomer to His Pupil
Tycho Brahe

Reach me down my Tycho Brahe, I would know him when we meet,
When I share my later science, sitting humbly at his feet;
He may know the law of all things, yet be ignorant of how
We are working to completion, working on from then to now.

Pray remember that I leave you all my theory complete,
Lacking only certain data for your adding, as is meet,
And remember men will scorn it, 'tis original and true,
And the obliquy of newness may fall bitterly on you.

But, my pupil, as my pupil you have learned the worth of scorn,
You have laughed with me at pity, we have joyed to be forlorn,
What for us are all distractions of men's fellowship and smiles;
What for us the Goddess Pleasure with her meretricious smiles.

You may tell that German College that their honor comes too late,
But they must not waste repentance on the grizzly savant's fate.
Though my soul may set in darkness, it will rise in perfect light;
I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night.

by Sarah Williams

sigh

2011-03-25T10:13:00.000-05:00

is there anything these people do that isn't perfect?

them.

him.

her.

those guys.

Brought to you by a cold, grey March day in which I can't seem to get anything accomplished.

Pauline Baynes, illustrator.

2011-03-16T00:20:00.000-05:00

What an amazing illustrator and fascinating woman, friend of Tolkien, notable illustrator of the first printing of the Narnia Chronicles, and even a speaker of Hindi. I cannot add anything to this lovely obituary here, from the Telegraph, after her death in 2008, or this one from the Independent. I would love to get my hands on her versions of the Nicene Creed, a bestiary, and even an illustrated costume compendium! What treasures.

A problem.

2011-03-11T11:42:00.001-06:00

They're the carbohydrate version of a margarita, and I just can't help myself!

Song on a cloudy day.

2011-03-08T14:39:00.000-06:00

From 1968 and Stevie, with love! What a darling song. Come on, sunny days...

Author Roald Dahl

2011-02-28T06:00:00.002-06:00

I absolutely adored this author as a kid, but realized after reading a little Telegraph article that I've really only read two of his books. James and the Giant Peach was my all time favorite with the appalling Aunts and creepy giant bugs; I can't even remember one thing about the movie version made back in the 90s. (I did enjoy the latest Charlie, however, and still watch it on occasional Valentine's Days...)

His writing style has been described as particularly unsentimental, which made it particularly appealing! I remember reading this particular version of James, probably upwards of twenty times. Lovely illustrations by Nancy Ekholm Burkert that inspired fascination as well as horror... although the version below by Quentin Blake would be a delight to read as well.

A fascinating character in his own right, Dahl flew biplane bombers in World War II, invented specialty medical equipment, was married to actress Patricia Neal, and yes, loved chocolate.

Illustrator/Handletterer Deluxe Sarah Coleman

2011-02-22T10:00:00.000-06:00

I'd been wondering for a few months who had done the lovely "SALE" lettering in the Crabtree & Evelyn emails that popped up in my inbox, never knowing it was the same fantastic handlettering artist who created one of my favorite book covers that I've ever seen (above)... so when twig and thistle's valentine post popped up last month, I bolted to Sarah Coleman's site inkymole. Beautiful, prolific, detailed, varied, amazing. I could spend hours here.

Illustrator Meg Hunt

2011-02-16T16:00:00.002-06:00

I've posted before on my friend Matt (who is awesome), and recently his representation of the state of Tennessee (yay Matt!) in the 50 & 50 States Motto Project has turned me on to some amazingly diverse and frighteningly talented illustrators also involved.

First off I must rave about Meg Hunt, who created this fantastic piece for the 50 from 50 project... but after seeking out her blog, that is just the tip of the iceberg for this creative illustrator. Check out her style below... some of it seems ultra-modern to me, while others heark back to the late 50s and 60s gold-mine of mid-century modern styles that never grow old.

I love the layout for these black and whites...creative usage of space so that the story can be interesting too.

Gorgeous color and detail. It's easy to spend hours here... you can tell she has fun with her work.
Can't wait to see more from Meg. She is golden!

Images below from Meg's website.

Lovely. And a heart.

2011-02-10T10:18:00.000-06:00

Normally I don't get into VD/Valentine's Day, hearty things, or February for that matter... but this is too lovely not to share! I really like this blog I found... A Creative Mint.

It never gets old, Part 2

2011-02-09T13:13:00.000-06:00

I guess I don't have to explain what I've been doing all morning...

It never gets old.

2011-02-03T18:16:00.002-06:00

Star Wars stuff. It never gets old, unlike its fans.

Update: Check out the wonderful Star Wars posters from Mondo. Favorites below... and here for the most insanely devoted collection of all of them!

Volkswagen, Threadless, Buzzfeed, Minimalist Approach, Williams-Sonoma, Olly Moss in Yay Everyday, Unique Scoop, Greg Peltz in Hautstyle

Seen at the Tate Museum.

2011-01-26T20:00:00.000-06:00

Above, beautiful work from British printmaker Mark Hearld, seen both on the wonderful St Jude's of Britain and in the shop at the Tate Museum. The prolific artist has also textiles and ceramic designs to call his own, all organic, simple, lovely. More of his work featured here, here and here.

All photos from the Tate site and St Jude's.

For Kerri and Chuck

2011-01-15T12:21:00.000-06:00

Enjoy them all here.

The Worst.

2011-01-14T07:00:00.000-06:00

The worst thing that happens to you may be the best thing for you if you don't let it get the best of you.
Will Rogers

The worst tempered people I have ever met were those who knew that they were wrong.
David Letterman

The first and worst of all frauds is to cheat one's self. All sin is easy after that.
Pearl Bailey

The worst thing about being a tourist is having other tourists recognize you as a tourist.
Russell Baker

Better to write for yourself and have no public, than to write for the public and have no self.
Cyril Connolly

The worst thing about new books is that they keep us from reading the old ones.
John Wooden

Death is not the worst that can happen to men.
Plato

The worst thing that being an artist could do to you would be that it would make you slightly unhappy constantly.
J. D. Salinger

The worst thing I can be is the same as everybody else. I hate that.
Arnold Schwarzenegger

New artist from St Jude's of Britain

2011-01-11T12:55:00.002-06:00

Beautiful kitchen-themed monoprints from a favorite internet haunt of mine, St Jude's of Norfolk, Britain. The artist's name is Chloe Cheese, and here's a bit of her bio from the St Jude's site.

Chloe Cheese RCA MA was born in 1952 in London. Her childhood was spent in the Essex village of Great Bardfield, observing the printmaking of her parents Bernard Cheese and Sheila Robinson – and their friends Edward Bawden and Michael Rothenstein.
Chloe studied at Cambridge Art School and then the Royal College of Art.
She has exhibited at galleries worldwide and has work in public collections including the Victoria & Albert Museum, London and the Arts Council of Great Britain.
Chloe has also worked as a freelance illustrator with clients including The Sunday Times, Terence Conran at Habitat and Commes Des Garcons Japan.

I would so love to see this gallery in person one day. So many great artists are featured there!!

Happy New Year...

2011-01-02T10:17:00.001-06:00

Happy New Year from me, featuring lovely images from just a few of my favorite places on the net.
I hope 2011 is a blessed one for all my readers, you six know who you are. This year is a zero-ending birthday for me and my one resolution is, I will not NOT do something just because I am afraid of it. Hold me to it, all half-dozen of you. (:

Top to bottom:
Geninne Zlatkis, artist
Angie Lewin, printmaker
Darling Clementine
Cori Dantini
Roddy & Ginger
Ink & Wit
Saidos da Concha

Glorious Impossible, or, my post on Wendy Wills.

2010-12-16T09:52:00.000-06:00

Happy third week of Advent. As I learn a little more about it, I find that Sunday was the day to celebrate joy... a personal goal I'll have for the rest of my life!

One of the interesting things about living in Nashville is that everyone is a musician, aspiring musician, or (like me) horribly untalented but loves music. I have a songwriter friend who wrote, a few years ago, a beautiful song that I always love singing this time of year. Unfortunately I don't have a link to her recording it, but it's on the internets by other artists out there. The lyrics are incredible.

See the Virgin is delivered
In a cold and crowded stall;
Mirror of the Father's glory
Lies beside her in the straw.

He is Mercy's incarnation
Marvel at this miracle!
For the Virgin gently holds the
Glorious Impossible.

Love has come to walk on water,
Turn the water into wine,
Touch the leper, bless the children
Love both human and divine.

Praise the wisdom of the Father
Who has spoken through His Son.
Speaking still He calls us to the
Glorious Impossible.

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Glorious Impossible

He was bruised for our transgressions
And He bears eternal scars.
He was raised for our salvation
And his righteousness is ours.

Praise, oh, praise Him, praise the glory
Of this lavish grace so full.
Lift your souls now and receive the
Glorious Impossible!

I also love that this is the title of a beautiful Christmas book by Madeleine L'Engle, illustrated by Giotto. Yes, the one from Art History, who could draw a perfect circle. (Not an easy feat, just try doing it. Without a compass. Or Illustrator.)

Last week I enjoyed a good Jewish breakfast at a local deli with Wendy, while the snow poured out of the sky. We also were able to do a bit of illustration/design work for her and give her a new identity (the graphic design kind, not the witness protection kind). I've always been amazed by musicians and writers, but songwriters are especially in the "I don't even begin to understand how they do that" category. But what I especially love about Wendy is her kind heart and infectious laugh, which is surprisingly easy to get going. So, thank you, Wendy, for the opportunity to do work for you, for a chilly breakfast date, and for one of the most lovely songs I've ever heard. And, happy birthday tomorrow.

Her site is in progress, and if you google her you'll find a realtor and a country music artist. When it's up I will post links and a sample of the graphic identity we worked on with her. Fun working with a friend.

Waiting music.

2010-12-05T04:00:00.005-06:00

I love Sting's music from the Police til now, and last year's If On a Winter's Night is no exception.
This year I ran across a lady's blog that made me think a bit, and appreciate the message that, no matter how many times I hear it, gives me a bit of a chill... unrelated to the weather! Read her words below:

Sting writes about the background of each song with a clear respect for the history and mystery of each one. It is not a collection of Christmas music… it is ‘winter’ music. But he does allude to The Christmas Story, saying…
Since the first millennium the festival of Christmas has become the central and defining event of the winter season; the story of Christ’s birth contains many magical elements, prefigured by ancient prophecy… I appreciate the beauty of these stories and how they have inspired musicians and poets for many centuries. It was my desire to treat these themes with reverence and respect, and despite my personal agnosticism, the sacred symbolism of the Church’s art still exerts a powerful influence over me.
After describing the songs which come from the Christmas story, he wrote the paragraph at the top of this post. You might want to read it again.
Do you see it? A man who respects the story of Christ but does not hold the belief still sees how God’s story of redemption is echoed in the cyclical nature of the world around us, and in the art we have created across the centuries.
Do you feel it? A simple sense of awe.
Oh that we who know this story and do believe may keep this same sense of awe.

Hoping that this second week of Advent brings the awe, hope, longing and gratitude for that which we are waiting.

Longing for fairy land.

2010-11-30T10:42:00.000-06:00

Yesterday was C.S. Lewis' birthday. We watched the movie version of The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe, mainly for Mr Tumnus... well, for me, anyway. And he is one of the high points.
Anyhow, I have a wonderful biography by Walter Hooper which is my go-to for anything Lewis-ish, and, knowing his obsession with "fairy stories" and "fairy land", which I'm sure we in modern America would re-name immediately, I turned to the chapters dealing with his inspiration and beginnings of Narnia.

I absolutely love that imagery of the enchanted woods, and the longing for "he knows not what". It's the Now vs. the Not Yet.

A few days ago was the anniversary of Mr Lewis' death. Apparently he was overlooked in the news, as he died the same day as President Kennedy.

Very blogworthy in her own right is the original illustrator for the Narnia books, Pauline Baynes. No matter how old her drawings get they are forever millions of people's memories of these books. I think she is wonderful, and have included just a few of her illustrations here.

Family Tree

2010-11-17T12:08:00.001-06:00

A few months ago I was asked about creating a family tree for some friends, and since I've always wanted to do one, I leapt at the chance. I chose to combine some of my favorite ways to work, collage and paint, and created the tree above. The background is a soft blue Canson, with tobacco and dark green inked branches and leaves. The name leaves were cut from a soft olive Canson paper and mounted on top of the background.

My friends were able to give this to their parents for a special anniversary gift, which I was happy to hear was very well received.

If interested in obtaining one of these for your family or someone you know, please email me for prices and options.

A retweet.

2010-10-25T16:06:00.000-05:00

RT @icreature RT @tymattson just when I thought this trip couldn't get any cooler...I run into Stefan Sagmeister on the street! http://yfrog.com/5zruxrj

There's some level of glittering atmosphere where all the design luminaries live, work, and see each other, way above us lowlies buried in the Earth's mantle!

Holding a grudge.

2010-10-23T17:36:00.003-05:00

via ffffound.

Happy Birthday, Dizzie Gillespie.

2010-10-21T12:37:00.001-05:00

Love, Google.

Invisible Creature

2010-10-11T12:51:00.001-05:00

Y'all check out the fun new stuff by Invisible Creature. They are one of my favorite sites/Tweets around. Always something interesting and beautifully done...

UPDATE: Great little mini-interview about the brotherly duo here, at Eight Hour Day. Awesome!

Reader Question!

2010-10-07T14:45:00.000-05:00

Hello my few but faithful readers.
Here's something I'm interested in hearing about: In what do you delight? I'm working on my own list, which I plan on keeping handy to both yank my perspective back into place when necessary, and to attempt to practice gratitude on a way-more-often basis.

So holler at me, people. Let's hear it!

Ward Jenkins, illustrator

2010-10-04T07:00:00.000-05:00

A few years ago, I found this wonderfully talented and funny illustrator through his wife's photo blog. He never ceases to amaze me with his variety of styles, gorgeous color treatments, and beautiful, graffiti-inspired sketching. Seems like a super nice guy who loves his family. In fact they both seem too good to be true (robots? maybe??)

Great stuff to be seen with him, I'll wager. Find him here. All images from his site.

My friend Wayne, the collagist!

2010-09-28T10:00:00.003-05:00

I'm lucky to know some talented friends, one of whom I've long admired for his mad skills
as a successful artist and designer. Meet Wayne Brezinka, collagist extraordinaire.
(He's also funny, generous, open-hearted and super kind, but don't spread it around.)

We had a chance to work together for awhile and I enjoyed getting to know him and his beautiful family, as well as watching the guy work. It almost seemed a cloud of paper bits, old postcards, glue, and assorted random ephemera would follow him from computer to drawing table to copy machine and back again. He also introduced us to some very eclectic music, and was a good sport even if we slammed it to his face! We also would rib him about only using 3 fonts the entire time we worked together, and, again, he would take it all in stride. Ah, good times.

Above and below are some of my favorite examples of Wayne's brilliant work. I adore his portraits, which to me seem to shimmer with some kind of life of their own, and also love his repertoire of album covers.

And another item or two of Willie, which I just adore!

Love the 3D quality shown here:

Check out a nicely done interview with him here at Aqua-Velvet. And for more of his stellar creations, check out his blog, brezinkaillustration. So keep rockin', Wayne, and being the good-hearted and genuine soul that you are, because we are all watching and loving what you do. Just keep up that coffee intake and there's no telling what will happen. (Remember that top pic? Bet you never thought I kept it! heehee)

All images from his site.

Love to Java from Sol.

2010-09-24T09:00:00.000-05:00

I had a particularly good cup of coffee this week from the fine folks at Roast, Inc. Check them out.

Autumn arrives.

2010-09-21T08:46:00.001-05:00

Happy Autumnal Equinox, everyone. For the Northern Hemispherites, anyhow. Much love to the Southern-ites as their Spring begins!

Fall begins. The autumnal equinox is defined as the point at which the Sun appears to cross the celestial equator from north to south. The celestial equator is the circle in the celestial sphere halfway between the celestial poles. It can be thought of as the plane of Earth's equator projected out onto the sphere. Another definition of fall is nights of below-freezing temperatures combined with days of temperatures below 70 degrees Fahrenheit. The word equinox means "equal night"; night and day are the same length of time. The spring equinox is in late March. In addition to the equal hours of daylight and darkness, the equinoxes are times when the Sun's apparent motion undergoes the most rapid change. Around the time of the equinoxes, variations in the position on the horizon where the Sun rises and sets can be noticed from one day to the next by alert observers.

Photo credit.

Just beautiful

2010-09-14T20:41:00.000-05:00

Found in flickr, here and here. All Iceland.

Tiny handmade leather books

2010-09-10T06:00:00.007-05:00

I happened across an amazing Etsy artist recently and thought I'd share. The amount of work that goes into her finely-made reclaimed leather journals is astounding, and the results are gorgeous. Who wouldn't love a hand-sized journal like this to fill with traveling ephemera and sketches, or even better, a teeny little version of it worn around the neck? The books on the necklace chains are barely 1 inch tall!

So unique and lovely.

Check out her etsy site and blog, where she shows a little step-by-step of one of her creations. All handmade on Waiheke Island, New Zealand, le sigh.

I most certainly need one of these.

2010-09-04T07:00:00.001-05:00

From Thursday Press.

My friend Matt

2010-08-29T09:00:00.000-05:00

Ever know someone whom you'd normally just loathe due to their being so great at what they do,
but who are just too fun to dislike?

I've worked with a number of outstanding and talented folks, and I'm sure they'd all agree with me
that Matt would be at the top of the list for the best of blends between talent and integrity. He's also screamingly funny with a tasty side-order of dry. Check out the work on his newly minted site mattlehmanstudio.com and watch an interview done a few months back by Art vs. Inspiration ,
found here.

Above, some Nordstrom loveliness, and sweet stuff that he did while at CMT.
Below, his grand illo style and line quality do their mojo depicting a few bearded fellows,
chosen just because they are, like Matt, bearded fellows.

Above, an illustration I remember him working on back in the day. Still think the client should've gone with his take on the beautiful songstress. I'm glad it's still featured there on his site. I can recall a number of hellacious projects (not the one above) that, because of the team involved, either turned out really great or at least provided some interesting/entertaining/incriminating stories. Matt usually provided a lot of the laughs!

Above, various killer logo samples.

We have different illustration styles (read: I suuccckkk), and rarely do I find the kind of jobs on my desk that he has on his, but I do find myself wondering at times just what would Matt do here, or imagining what his sketchbook might look like if he were noodling on the same project. Back when we were just a few cubbies apart, I could go ask him myself and be inspired by his warp-speed brain's never-ending flow of goodness.

He'll be famous one day — I have an uncanny intuition. I'm so thankful to have gotten to work with him for a few years and to see that any possible success and accolades, fame and notoriety won't change the guy; he'll always be mellow, gracious and congenial.

Party on, Matt! You're fantastic!

All images from his site. Except the one below, which is from the far past.

I could use a lil Happy.

2010-08-28T14:42:00.001-05:00

Hey, I made it on the Lil Happy SASE site! But then, I think everyone who sends in does...?
So what, I'm just happy to be in there somewhere....

Invisible Creature is way cool. Crazy fun posters and printed goods in their shop. I'm sad it took me so long to hear about them, but then, better late than never. Really lovely work.

I can't wait to see what they send me back in my SASE. Deadline's tomorrow if you want in on it this year!

Update: look at the submissions! How fun...

Paper Lust

2010-08-27T10:15:00.000-05:00

Today's Paper Lust is brought to you by my obsessively checking thesearethings for new maps.
Lovely and clean. Bright and delicious.

Albrecht Dürer

2010-08-24T17:09:00.001-05:00

Oh the love and admiration I have for Albrecht Dürer. Drawings, engravings, and woodcuts all created with a truly masterful hand. The owl and the bunny you've surely seen, and the ubiquitous praying hands, but the rhino? The delightfully macabre apocalypses and skulls? Sensitive and introspective portraits? So lovely.
Wish I had a boxed set of everything everything of his ever found. So I could hoard it away, no doubt, and forget where I stashed it.

Catching my eye today.

2010-08-19T16:04:00.000-05:00

beets

killa illustrator s watts

collage on flickr

mperry studio

Abe and Catullus.

2010-08-11T20:00:00.005-05:00

Dear wonderfully talented Abe,

I love to hate you, except you're such a great guy with a wonderful kind exceptional family...that I cannot. This is truly wonderful, and I would expect nothing less from a fellow who I SAW teach himself Latin over a year or two of lunch hours. I'm sure you translated it yourself. I'd show the Internets the final, but you haven't even posted it yet.

I am truly privileged to count you and your sweet family as friends. Now if I could just stop the ENVY. Well, that's my problem.

Check out Officina Abrahae for all your design and illustration and Latin translation needs. If you don't call us that is.

Sigh. Good friend. Latin poetry. [Is this the Italiate version of 'Come live with me and be my love'??] Gorgeous pencil sketch. Lovely.

Update:

Here's the gorgeousness completed. I have it displayed where I can see it everyday! Thanks, Abe.

Second time at the Ryman

2010-08-03T09:56:00.002-05:00

Wonderful, adorable, witty, charming Crowded House. So much fun, again.

Au revoir, France, and buon giorno Italia.

2010-07-28T08:44:00.000-05:00

Okay. I want this now. Oh. My. Goodness.

via ApartmentTherapy.

Refreshments.

2010-07-25T19:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Moon Day.

2010-07-20T09:56:00.000-05:00

It's the 41st anniversary of the Apollo 11 landing on our very own little satellite. Happy Moon Day! Video here.

Summery smells.

2010-07-19T09:00:00.000-05:00

Why is it in summertime I want to go to France? It's just as hot there as it is here, isn't it? Maybe it's for food, but I think it's for smells...

Like lavender. The ocean. Bread/cheese/wine/tarte tatin. Maybe even the dirt. I don't know because I've never been, but the whole place looks like it smells divine.

Jon Contino, hand-letterer extraordinaire.

2010-07-14T09:04:00.001-05:00

So much more to see on Jon Contino's site, but I chose a few of my favorites here. Wonderful style and craftsmanship! Via Matt, the source of at least 50% of my better links...can't blame anyone but myself for the crappy posts!

Where I'd be...

2010-07-10T06:00:00.004-05:00

07-07

2010-07-07T07:00:00.004-05:00

Here's to 39 years of love! And fighting. But mostly love... and lots of email and cell-to-cell minutes.

Super Cool planetary posters.

2010-07-06T10:30:00.001-05:00

Checkout these drool-worthy planet posters by Ross Behrens that I would just love to paper my office walls with... anyone interested can get me the whole set at $40/each! That would probably be about par with some of today's spendy wallpaper...but way cooler. I loved trolling through the site for these at www.cargocollective.com

Collage workshop

2010-06-28T10:37:00.003-05:00

Had the enjoyable experience of a collage workshop this weekend with Randal Plowman of A Collage A Day fame (I know I've blogged about my prints of his before), up at Northern Kentucky University. Here's a little sample of some of what we learned. Very fun trip to see someone I've long admired!
I had wanted to attend last year and various things prevented me; we made it happen this time, and all three of us who went are so glad to have had the opportunity. I highly recommend Randal's prints available via his blog; they are affordable gorgeous little gems! Funnily enough, he reminded us in personality and manner of another collage artist who happens to be a friend: Wayne Brezinka. They have totally different styles, but it was interesting that they reminded us of each other. Love Wayne's work, he does a fantastic job. He needs to teach a workshop here in Music City... if it ever happens, I will let you know!

A few of my attempts are below.

Concert for Emmett.

2010-06-26T11:11:00.003-05:00

Come on out to Rolling Hills Community Church on August 31st for a concert supporting a friend and percussionist, Emmett Stallings, who was recently diagnosed with cancer. If you don't know his story, check out his blog at www.teamemmett.com/.

Color

2010-06-22T13:05:00.000-05:00

Storm, by Leslie.

2010-06-21T09:55:00.000-05:00

Beautiful shot of a solstice storm. By my pal Leslie.

Anybody been here?

2010-06-14T09:17:00.000-05:00

http://www.fakeisthenewreal.org/

Lovely opening sequence.

2010-06-04T19:00:00.005-05:00

Watched this again via the lovely The Art of the Title Sequence, and it made me wonder... which came first, 2006's Casino Royale's credits or Mad Men? I suppose I could find out, but I kind of like wondering.

Chocolate Chip Cookies vs. Radishes

2010-06-02T16:21:00.001-05:00

My friend Brian tweeted this today and I was struck with how applicable it is to every person's life. When things are going well and one's determination is stout and firm, then it's a bit easier to face temptation and exercise self-control, look your demon in the eye and tell it to back the heck off. But when you're exhausted, beat down (a phrase from Jay here), mentally fried and your spirit's flagging, then it's a whole lot harder (is it impossible?) to say NO to that... well, insert temptation HERE: half a margarita pizza in the fridge, leftover chocolate cake, list of 250 unchecked blogs, that bottle of red wine in the cabinet, stack of Lost DVDs you never watched, all the Twilight novels (kidding. Really!), lovely sunny nap spot when you have work to do, etc... But as Brian also twittered, "That's where Jesus comes in."... true words, Brian. We weren't meant to do this alone; in fact, I kind of am starting to believe that we were set up with a fail-switch, to make us need help. So know that you have limits, that you're finite, falliable, flawed, and (in my case) freakin-LOVE chocolate cake. And margarita pizza. And that I need help saying no to some stuff, and yes to others when I don't feel like it. Because I'm not 13 anymore, am supposed to be an adult, and I can control myself. That's supposed to be what sets us apart from the apes: we don't have to do what our instincts scream out for. And sometimes I just need a radish and some exercise, even when the chocolate chip cookies sound soooo good.

Matt Cipov

2010-05-31T08:18:00.000-05:00

Awesome illustrator Matt Cipov on ThreePotatoFour. I absolutely love his gorgeous pen and ink nature studies. He rules. Is it something about guys named Matt being amazing artists? More on that later.

He branches off the nature thing a bit with the crazy stuff below. Truly inspired! Love watching for his stuff out there in InternetLand.

His etsy shop. Various interviews with the man.

Local cuteness

2010-05-29T21:55:00.002-05:00

If this doesn't make you want to sew (or shop, or live here, or pet a dog) then I don't know what will.

I'm so not cool enough to even go in. Not to mention so not flush with the millions I'd spend in there if I had them.

Angie Lewin, printmaker

2010-05-26T14:39:00.001-05:00

I've had a serious obsession over this artist for awhile, maybe three or four years now. I'm completely enthralled with the process, the subject matter, and the end result of the woodcut and linocut techniques she employs. For anyone who doesn't know what that means, please read on.

Woodcut and linocut are both printmaking techniques that involve carving into a block, wood or linoleum in this case, the various shapes needed to create images printed from the inked block, usually on paper. The artist carves away the parts of their design to be left blank, and the raised parts will hold the ink and then be "stamped" on the paper.

Angie Lewin's work is a very complex and beautiful example of this style of printmaking, employing many different blocks for each color in her various designs, shown here on this design inspiration blog. The amount of time that goes into each piece, from sketch to detailed drawing to carving each individual block must be staggering. I say "must" since I know little about the printmaking process, as my perception of the time and talent involved has intimidated me to the point of never taking a class! Never having gone beyond carving a rubber stamp myself, I'm content to buy books that Angie has illustrated and save up for an original print. This is a particularly pretty and interesting book that I wheedled out of a family member for Christmas.

Another reason I'm so enamoured of her work is that she uses inspiration that surrounds her everyday, the verdant countryside of her part of England, North Norfolk, as well as Scotland. Her work is featured at St Jude's gallery, and great photos of her process here on flickr.

Here's a couple spreads from my copy of Garden Wisdom. It's a pleasure to read and see.

Thank you, Verona.

2010-05-25T12:17:00.002-05:00

Had dinner with some pals last week, long overdue. You know you're "in" with the kids when this was written on the table paper in multicolored crayon:

Frends

Cristy
Jay
Jade
Mommy
Daddy

Wow. I'm not used to even being noticed by kids, and this one singled me out as a "frend". I think I love her! :)

Sweet oldies.

2010-05-19T17:24:00.001-05:00

Just a few sweet old photos from my father's side of the family. Grandparents, second cousins, faraway Texas relations. Makes me wish I knew them more when I see these, but alas, I didn't get the chance to make more than just some fuzzy memories. There's nothing more poignant than a heap of old black and white photos. I get so lost in them even when I don't know who is in them, but these seem to stir up the most faraway random memories. Love them, thanks for sharing, Dad.