Monday, March 11, 2013 at 12:47PM 
These are such intricate maps & so well done from the Etsy shop, CollectedEdition--I've always wondered the process of laser cutting. I would love to give it a try one of these days, & hope my artwork would turn out half as perfect as these!
Thursday, March 7, 2013 at 12:09PM 
There are so many inspiring independent magazines out there that have sprouted within the last couple of years; Anthology, Kinfolk, Gather Journal; but I've never picked up Pure Green Magazine, & I should have! I think I picked up a great issue to start: Wanderlust. It's themed around travel & all of the treasures found within the idea. I love reading about others' experiences on their travels, & if your'e the same, this issue is perfect.
Hope you pick up a copy, sit down with a cup of coffee or tea, with a quietness surrounding you so you can dream of faraway places!
Wednesday, March 6, 2013 at 12:04PM 
So much map love is in the air! I wanted to post some of the custom maps I've illustrated in the past since wedding season is approaching, & I've noticed about 85% of the maps I've created around this time of year have revolved around honeymoons, love stories, or special directions cards to accompany invitations. These take about 4-6 weeks to illustrate, so just message me here or on my blog if you happen to be interested & find the examples here fit your style for your special day! The directions cards have different pricing, so just let me know which you may like to do!
Tuesday, March 5, 2013 at 12:21PM 
A while back, I helped a dear friend with creating a print she wanted to hang up in her new little daughter's baby room. She saw this quote & wanted something cute & special, with certain colors in mind. Polka dots cure all requests, do they not? If I could create little girl's room artwork all day long, I'd be a happy lady!
Monday, March 4, 2013 at 12:00PM
Away We Go: Edinburgh from Anthropologie on Vimeo.
If you all check out "The Magazine" from Anthropologie's site, you may have seen this video from their September catalog launch of their shoot in Edinburgh, Scotland. It caught my eye because the beginning shot is of an old map of Edinburgh, & since I've been especially diving into map making even more than usual due to the Map Making class I'm taking through Skillshare with Anne Ditmeyer, I thought it worthwhile to check out. Plus, it would be a nice mix-up to get a feel for what is seen within the map, & how we all live within them--to see the illustrations, drawings, & lines in action.
Enjoy, & happy Map Monday!
Thursday, February 28, 2013 at 12:59PM 
I have a few wonderful baby & wedding showers I'm attending that are coming up, so I've been looking up cute, creative, & unique ways to wrap presents. I've always loved how big handwriting looks on a wrapped gift, but I never thought of actually painting the wrapping paper myself--look how artistic & painterly the yellow ombre effect looks! I'm going to have to bookmark that idea for a special gift. Oh, & anything related to coffee is a winner.
Here are the links in order:
1. 2. 3. 4.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013 at 01:37PM 
I love pairing these two things together--whenever I'm doodling or scribing, I tend to always have a cup of coffee or hot chocolate with me, so in their differences, they interestingly make sense together. I was reminiscing on this calligraphy sketch I scribed a few months ago, & felt that it was good timing to relive those words, as I'm still in my excitement + nervous + inspired mode from my new chapter of becoming a full-time freelancer. & you can't enjoy calligraphy without a nice cupe of joe, right? I tried this place in Salt Lake City, called, Raw Bean Coffee House, & it was a comfortable, hidden gem in the snowy landscape of the city. On the outside, it looks like a big red box! When I walked closer to it, I noticed the huge words, "COFFEE" written on the side, so I knew I found a place to chill & enjoy the warmth of a cup.
I hope you're all staying warm on this not-quite-yet Spring day!
Monday, February 25, 2013 at 12:07PM 
I was going to share with you the progress I'm making on my map from the Making a Map class on Skillshare with Anne Ditmeyer, but, I'm not finished with it, yet! So, I leave you with this marvelous chalkboard globe. I would love to have this setting out on my shelf or desk--I'd doodle all day on this! It's $340, but I would think you could go to a flea market, get a $15 globe, & paint it with chalkboard paint yourself. You could then collect around 20 globes for that price, & therefore have a chalkboard map-making globe party. Makes sense, right?
Happy Map Monday!
Friday, February 22, 2013 at 12:00PM 
Happy Weekend, finally! I have something exciting to share, & I've waited all week to burst! I've done something I Never, ever thought I'd do, due to fear of the unknown & the comfort of stable income & routine, & just not sure if it was for me. But, here it goes....I quit my day job to be a full-time freelancer. Oh My Gosh, I just can't process those 3 words, still. It all happened so fast, I am slowly catching up to its happening. Can you believe it? I can't believe it!
Basically, a freelance design project presented itself I couldn't pass up (will keep you posted soon!!), but had to make one of those thrilling, "game-time decisions" with how to work it around my day job. Turns out after learning the details, I couldn't keep my day job & work on this project at the same time. So, I had to make a choice, & had been contemplating this "full-time freelance" business subconsciously for a while, especially after leaving Alt Summit. 5 hours, & a few phone calls later, I put my 2 weeks notice in the same day I found out about the project. Insane. Who am I? What just happened?
I just quit my job, & all I keep thinking about is this fortune that stares at me everyday, "Be brave enough to live creatively."
Okay, if you say so, fortune. I think that's the point of full-time freelancing, isn't it? I love this message.
I'll keep you updated on the project over the next couple of weeks! For those of you who are full-time freelancers, whether new or experienced, please please share any insights, words of wisdom, good & bad experiences you've overcome, and anything else you feel you wish you knew when you first started this creative venture. Not just for my scared, naive, & excited little self, but for anyone else reading who may be contemplating similar changes! If there's one thing I've learned from being a part of a creative community, it's that everyone is so graciously willing to lend a helping hand, hoping we all can strive to be & give our personal bests. I can't wait to be even more a part of this community in this way, & hopefully, in time, offer some sort of insight to others!
Have a happy & inspiring weekend, everyone, & I can't wait for this exciting new chapter to begin!
Thursday, February 21, 2013 at 12:32PM 
All photos credited to the facebook page & its contributors/submittors, here.
I have recently started following a wicked awesome Facebook page called, "Dirty, Old Boston," & I'm super fascinated by it. Everyday the contributors add numerous photos submitted by Boston natives, locals, the Boston Globe, & anyone who has a piece of Boston's interesting history worth sharing. It provides a window into what Boston's days truly looked like in the 1940s, '50s, '60s, & '70s (for the most part) from the locals & their experiences from "way back when."
Some fascinating finds/submissions include: many photos of the Blizzard of '78 (among other infamous snow storms); Boston's skyline before the John Hancock Building & Prudential Center were built (look how bare it once was!); some old neighborhoods or squares that once were; quirky contests that used to grace Boston's streets with their presence; & even some famous mobsters!
Even if you're not familiar with the Boston area, it's still worth checking out to see a piece of what each era was like. I just love seeing how crinkled some of the photos listed are--truly shows the nostalgia & feel for this once time of day. How'd you like to pull up to a drive-in in a 1950's classic Chevy wearing a poodle skirt, or have vintage poster ads & signage be among your surroundings, or ride steam engine trains from 1908? Ahh, the vintage, Boston life. So thankful we can experience & appreciate it through this facebook page! Every city should have a page like this!
