Back to School Project: Crayonspiration

(Photo by saruhh01)

As a child, I used to obsess over my school supplies. Every time I got a new box of crayons or markers, I would dump them out and put the pieces back in the box—in rainbow order. The pinnacle of achievement was when Crayola started making boxes with 96 crayons. (My brother, for some reason, found it the pinnacle of annoyance to watch me organize.)

Love, B+P

Today is my grandmother's birthday. When I was a little girl, Mamaw used to sing to us from Guys and Dolls:
I love you, a bushel and a peck!

A bushel and a peck, and a hug around the neck!
A hug around the neck, and a barrel and a heap
A barrel and a heap, and I'm talkin' in my sleep.
About you 

About you!
About you!

Every letter she writes, every phone call she makes—all end with "Love, B+P." As a child, I believed it was one of our secret codes. Actually, I still think so...

I saw the above design by Jason Wong of enormouschampion and loved it. He created it as part of a wedding suite for two of his friends, but I think the image also stands alone.

Happy Birthday, Mamaw!

Love, B+P

On the Wall: The United Plates

Okay, I promise this is the last round of state-themed prints I will post for awhile. But John Holcomb's set is hilarious, delicious and disgusting all at once. The logic of some of his food choices is funny, like the reasons for picking General Tso's chicken in Missouri: Despite the border war that will forever exist between a Jayhawk fan like myself and our arch-nemesis across the state line, I gave a nod to Missouri by making it one of my absolute favorite foods.
And any Texan would agree that BBQ ribs and cornbread is a solid choice. Enjoy!

Feminine Fonts

I have a major love for fonts, and I am a big fan of Anna Quindlen's writing. (For a font-fix, check out Friends of Type.) So this poster just seemed perfect for me today, as well as for some of my friends. (You know who you are. :) It's by illustrator Erik Marinovich and was featured in this month's Woman's Day.

The second features a quote by Italian fashion designer Elsa Schiaparelli. I confess I'd never heard of her before today, but I just made the connection that's why my wedding dress was called the "Schiaparelli." No idea why I didn't google that long before now...

Someday, I would love to be described that way in the kitchen! Until then, I shall keep experimenting...

On the Wall: The Final State Print

I finally found Missouri and Oklahoma!

Get yours at 1canoe2's Etsy shop—she's a fellow Missourian. :)

On the Wall: State Prints Part 2

Not to be repetitive, but here is another round of state prints I've fancied for a while. The Fifty and Fifty project is curated by Brooklyn-based designer Dan Cassaro, with one designer from each state finding a way to illustrate their motto. The prints have a completely different feel to the birds/flowers—much more graphic. I think the crisp color palette would look great in an office or study. Coral and navy, who'd have thunk? Which do you prefer?

On the Wall: State Prints

Our walls are anything but bare, but I would like to put more artwork up, especially some groupings or large-scale pieces. Today, I found these amazing state prints from Dutch Door Press. (Check out their Etsy shop, too!) I have an admitted love for owls, but I can be an equal-opportunity bird lover. The combination of state bird and state flower with the texture and dimension of letterpress printing makes me pretty happy. And the price is fantastic. I would love to make a set of these, with one from every state Justin or I have lived in. My only disappointment was that they haven't created Oklahoma or Missouri yet...

Italianspiration: Postcards from Verona

Today is one of those days, so in my mind, I am in Italy. I'm exploring the streets of Verona, learning all about the arena and the various squares, churches, bridges, etc. The Library of Congress has archived thousands of images on Flickr, and I found this collection of postcards from Verona, between 1890-1900.

Piazza delle Erbe (the Square of Herbs) where the market is held and the chariots used to race

My Favorite Season

I love fall. Crisp air. Yellow leaves. Trench coats. Apple picking. My birthday. Everything even smells differently.

The gang at Friends of Type have some amazing designs, but the above one by Erik Marinovich makes me smile. 

I know it's a couple weeks late, but Happy Autumn!