the bob blog wallpapers...

so you know the iPad was released this week. a graphic designer i've been following has already created matching iPad, iPhone wallpapers for you to download...
check out The Bob Blog, he makes all kinds of fun downloads.

tessar lo: year-in-review...

tessar lo posted a beautiful year in retrospect on his site...

thank you paperfashion & coach!

i won the Coach Holiday Blog-a-Day contest on Paperfashion.
i can't wait to frame Paperfashion's Coach holiday print, and see the Coach Claire Chain bag!

click on the image to go to her etsy shop and buy prints. a print of any illustration on her blog is for sale too. have i mentioned that Katie is an amazing illustrator yet?

Thank you Katie! Thank you Coach!

see other Paperfashion posts here.

seen on daily du jour...

can you find eileen and me in the pearl thief picture from daily du jour?
daily du jour caught connie and me at Sam Flores' Ego, Addiction and other Bedtime Stories back in May too...

paper fashion sale...

a little while ago i bought a print of brushes from paper fashion. this week she's having a sale!
click here or on the images to go to the paper fashion etsy store.

simmichiko design...

i got a shout out on simmichiko's blog this week for designing elements of her blog identity.
first i designed a logo for her. i drew out each one of the letters and picked colors to enhance its visibility in the collage header she wanted...
i edited all the photos and drew out all the graphics included in the header.
and for copyright purposes, i made a little watermark emblem she could use on her blog photos. my favorite feedback on this project was that i designed it "wicked cute." i'm happy, because that is exactly what i was going for! love you susan.
check out her blog for make-up tips and indulgent shopping suggestions! click on the images to go simmichiko's blog.

i love your blog: 10 random things...

alright, so i was tagged with an {I ♥ your blog} award by my adorable friend simmichiko. check out her blog on all things indulgent here. so, being tagged means i have to list ten random facts about myself. since this blog is about my inspirations, these are things that make me smile and help me function...

1. sketchbooks/stacks of paper...
i am obsessed with stacks of paper: photos, magazines, notebooks, postcards, and especially sketchbooks. i tend to have 2 or 3 sketchbooks started at a time, but i never fill them to the last page.
2. postal sketches...
so sketchbooks, brings me to my art project, Postal Sketches. this project is my baby and i'm so excited about the artists helping me with it. this project pushes me to grow as an artist. originally the idea a way to keep in touch with some CSULB art classmates, and so i'd get a package in the mail once in a while, haha.3. snail mail...
everyone loves getting mail, right? real mail. Postal Sketches was a strategic way to get myself some mail, in addition to that i do exchange snail mail with my best friend. my new year's resolution tends to be to mail more cards.
4. art supplies...
i tend to buy too many art supplies. also, i am very particular about their care. its actually hurts to see someone mistreat my pens, brushes, and marker tips.
5. hazelnut latte...
like so many people out there, i run on caffeine. hazelnut lattes and almond milk teas are my weakness. what morning with a warm cup of coffee and a full blog roll to read isn't great? (yes, i love coffee so much, i look for it in china.)
6. blogs...
obviously, i love blogging, and i attribute it to my fabulous photographer friend, adrienne gunde. her excitement for blogging and sharing all the little things that make life wonderful is infectious.
7. art show openings...
at galleries, we find the artist, their new art, and people with similar fascinations. i find out about all these art show openings through blogs and my best friend. its always good to have people around you to fuel the creativity.
8. peoples...
i love making art and sitting in front of the computer or canvas for hours, but i need go out. i need to see people and be inspired by my family, friends and boyfriend.
9. baking...
i show my love to all those wonderful people by feeding them with my baking. i am not the best baker, but i try, and if that fails, i buy the pre-made dough.10. clients...
yes, really. when i'm hired as a freelance graphic designer, i need to know the client's vision. they don't always know they have a vision but they do, and when i get it out of them, it's pretty motivating.

i now, in turn award {I ♥ your blog} tagging to:

connie chung of ...like a fat kid loves cake... , prose n conns
tammy hsia of my take on it
adrienne gunde of adrienne gunde photography
chris kawagiwa of sketchboy01
jen herr of les cahiers
mai s kemble of silver spoon

i'm not even sure all these people read my blog, but i do love your blog!

curiosities by travis louie

i'm totally taking this information off Edwin Ushiro's blog, but this is event info that should be shared. strange and amazing painter Travis Louie is signing books tonight...
“Curiosities” Book Signing by Artist, Travis Louie
Tue, July 28th 6-9PM
Gallery 1988 Los Angeles
7020 Melrose Ave in Los Angeles / 323.937.7088

we can order the book on amazon.

bubbles...

i hope you had a fun and festive forth of july weekend. i'm continuing the celebration with a few bubbles...
these are by Richard Heeks. seeing them on Cup of Jo made me smile.

101st post!

i don't usually like blogs, talking about, well blogging, but i'm making an exception for my 101st post because this milestone makes me happy. in contrast, this amuses me...

purchase here

swine flew...

way to keep up with the times! tshirts available on skyscraper blog. seriously though, wash your hands. swine flew is funny, but swine flu isn't.

my first dictionary...

someone needs to teach children the real meaning of certain words. enter My First Dictionary blog...

it's a depressing dictionary. i'm amused.

shepard fairey is great...

hope you all had a nice easter, if not amuse yourself with some peeps shows here and here. and if you're not into peeps, here's a blog of all things bunny! alright, enough easter links.

shepard fairey is great...

this was his installation at SXSW. originally found the video on mike shinoda's blog.

parasol magazine...

i follow way too many blogs, but one of my favorites is a print a day. the author, yasmine surovec, has just launched her new downloadable magazine. parasol magazine features "established and emerging designers and artists as well as segments on creative lifestyles and small business owners."
its fun and detailed with plenty of eye candy in the design and the features. it's free so go download the first issue.
a print a day blog
a print a day facebook group
parasol magazine