I Have A New Baby Niece

Laila Maryetta Labrum, born October 13, 2012

I did this baby announcement for her. Laila's mother is Native American and wanted a cradleboard featured in the image.

DIY: Little Thoughts Book

This was an easy little project.

 First I made the covers with some thick card stock like paper:

Then I tore some thinner paper down so that it was as long as the open book lengthwise and as tall as the book, minus a quarter info to fit nicely in the book.  I folded each in half and inserted between the covers.

I punched holes in all of the pages and the covers using a standard hole punch and threaded it with some standard hemp. Make sure all of the holes line up, don't be afraid to use a pencil. I started at the top hole and went in and out all the way down, then pack up the opposite way through the holes to create the criss-cross look:

I tied it up at the top for an effortless raw look. There you have it, your own little thoughts book.

Case of Idiokey

So yesterday in the afternoon I was busy taking care of business around the apartment, you know, dishes, laundry, baking banana bread, just showered with wet hair, when I discovered it was time to take the kitchen garbage out.

For those who are unaware, many high-rise buildings have garbage chutes on each floor that you can shove your garbage in and it falls all the way down to some unknown garbage heap. Since this is remarkably convenient, I have taken to cracking the door (which locks automatically when shut all the way) and darting out there in whatever condition I am in.
The condition I was in is as follows:
-leggings
-frilly/comfortable dress
-wet pony tail
-barefoot
-bread in the oven
-nothing in hand but big bag of garbage

So, after leaving my fate to a millimeter of space between my door's lock and it's home in the door frame, I gently rested the door on the lock and watched in utter horror as it slid right on closed. I stood there staring at it, jaw-dropped, barefoot, garbage in hand.

"OH NO!!!!"

John is at school with the other key. I have no way of contacting him, it could be hours before he comes home.

I don't have shoes on.














Then I remembered a glimmer of hope.
The night before this fateful day, I had babysat for a family in the building. I rushed to the elevator and prayed and prayed the 15 floors down that the mother would be home.

Knocked on the door.

Waited.

She answered!


She was soooo awesome. She let me borrow some flip-flops and informed me that the condo office would allow one free unlock per year.










So I went to the office and asked if this were possible. They said "if no one that has occupied your apartment this year has used it then yes."

Luckily no one had and I got back into the apartment. Close call. They charge $50 for next unlock and $100 for next after that. I guess I am just glad I wasn't forced to sit awkwardly in the hallway waiting for John for several hours.  And that my banana bread didn't get burned.

Thank you Kourtne and thank you free unlock service.

Juicebox Paper on ETSY is open!!!!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/JuiceboxPaper

Hyde Park Charm

While visiting University of Chicago campus today, I took a stroll around the campus's perimeter. There were quite a few adorable houses with delightful little details. I couldn't get enough. That is, until the scrutiny of passers-by finally wore me down.

 Then there's this tasty little nugget. I think this is a pretty cool sculpture set in front of the Harper Center. Almost too cool for school if you catch my drift. I love the mix of natural and unnatural. And I love the way the business students walk around it. Like they are so bored with it.

I love the interior of the Harper Center. This is a view from the below Winter Garden there, which, I can say from experience, is actually pretty pleasant in the Winter, even with snow falling. Especially with snow falling. Beautiful architecture. Thank you rich business alumni and talented Rafael Vinoly 

 architects.

Covering Up

Here is a collage I did a few days ago. I was influenced by covered up compositions I have seen lately. The idea of deliberately and carefully constructing a piece, then covering it all up is fascinating to me. Does it make the original layer obsolete? Or pique your interest in what it originally looked like, as the visual clues force you to connect the dots yourself?

Misato Suzuki

Misato Suzuki's Website

Seonna Hong

Here is an example of Seonna Hong's work. She is Los Angeles based and practices what some call "Lowbrow" or Pop Surrealism in her art. I am a huge fan of her Tectonic Plate series, which you can view on her website: seonnahong.com

I like the disconnectedness in this work. The geography relates to many landscapes all over the world, but the way it was painted makes it very specific and harder to identify.  The bears are small and simplistic, almost cartoonish. They seem comfortable in their habitat and not at all alarmed by the viewer's presence.  Plus the colors in the painting are rad.

Boats Deux

Living next to the water...

Coalesce

I have always loved making stuff.

It also helps when I make money when I make stuff.

Therefore I am beginning this blog in an effort to advertise, express and coalesce my every-which-way brain.