Exhausted and a cute frog pictures

Hello my lovelies!

I am literally exhausted today.  Not just tired, but the kind of tired where your bones ache, your eyes burn, and it takes too much energy to brush your teeth.  I shouldn't be this exhausted because it is Monday and I did rest ALL day yesterday. 

By rest I mean laid in bed with Meridyth and watched about 10 episodes of Mob Wives first season.  I am all about watching crappy reality television when I don't want to get out of bed!

Uhhggg....I am hoping to have a better post tomorrow, I have some new websites and pics I want to share with you, but in the mean time check out this  adorable photo! 

If you know the origin/photographer e-mail me because it is awesome and I want to give credit where credit is due.

 Until tomorrow.

love,

Jess

Cute Illustrations, New Valentine's Day card, and Stumble Upon

It's Sunday, It's Sunday!  "That's my fun day!"
I thought I would break out a little 80's Manic Monday for you!

Well, it has been a great weekend so far!  Meridyth and I saw my parent's yesterday.  They live in Florida now a good part of the winter, but when they are home in Maryland they only live about a half hour from us.  So, we went out to dinner at a mexican restaurant and had a lovely time!  One of the specials was guacamole with crab and corn.  YUM!

I also slept wonderfully!  The kind of sleep where you wake up with your face smushed in the pillow, you are drooling, and must have also been snoring since your cat is about an inch away from you and looking at you when you open an eye!

Since I slept so well I have been browsing the world wide web this morning and found some awesome illustrations that I wanted to share!

This illustration is by Malaysian artist Chow Hon Lam.  The minute I saw it, it make me laugh.  I love the expression of the cow!  Check out more of his awesome work on his etsy shop!

Another illustration that caught my attention was Alex Noriega.

Her artwork is really whimsical and endearing but also deals with real life problems and thoughts.  Check out more on her blog here.

On a different topic, have you guys ever used Stumble Upon?  I had never heard of it, so either I am staying at home and watching way too much t.v. or it hasn't been around for a long time.  Regardless, it is my new obsession!  You sign up for the service, it's free, and drag their tool bar to the top of your internet browser.  It allows you to pick topics your are interested in and then all you do is click Stumble and it will bring up new websites you might like based on your interests!  So cool....and addicting!  Check it out here.

I also added a new Valentine's Day card to LoveUPaperly, and I was featured in a treasury yesterday featuring LOVE!

I like the contrast of the red and the yellow and the retro look of the linoleum stamp that I made.  What do you guys think?

Also, lots of links to click on, so check them out!

Until tomorrow, have a great end of the weekend!

love,

Jess

More Valentine's Day cards and Friday artist showcase

Hello, hello!

How is everyone doing today?  It is about 60 degrees here in Maryland which is a nice change from the very cold weather, but weird for January.

I wanted to share a set of new cards I put up on LoveUPaperly.

Four cards with envelopes to match are $8!  Each card is letter-pressed and stamped with a hand-cut linoleum stamp.  I think they are super cute!

Sort of on the same note, since I have been busy making art lately, I was thinking today about all the wonderful and very talented artists I have had the opportunity to live and work with and I wanted to talk about a two of them today.

I went to graduate school in Venice, Italy at the Scuola Internazionale Di Grafica.  This means that not only did I have the opportunity to live in Venice for a year, but I was exposed to AMAZING artists!

Greg Murr:  Not only is Greg an interesting guy and a great cook but his attention to detail and the nuances of his art are really beautiful.  In Italy he would spend hours mixing different shades of the same color, he also loves coffee, a lot!

Claire Rau:  Claire was my graduate thesis adviser, but also an amazing artist, strong woman, and confidant.  Without her, school would not have been nearly as focused or challenging.  On top of it all she is an amazing artist making strong social statements while working with a variety of material in sculpture and prints.

I recommend clicking on their links and looking at their websites which have their artist statements, portfolios, and contact.

So, I am thinking that Sunday I have been trying to do a lovely photograph (I forgot this last Sunday! Oops!), and Friday will be Artist Showcase Friday highlighting a new artist or two every week.  What do you guys think?  I would love suggestions or e-mail or comment about a new artist to highlight!

I hope everyone has a splendid weekend!  I am going to make some new cards tomorrow that are perculating in my head.  Can't wait to show you!

love,

Jess

Forgotten Hostages

I am so proud to announce that my father has not only written a book, but also self-published and it is now available on Amazon!

It is a true recollection of the first major terrorist attack in D.C. where he was held hostage at the Bn'ai Brith building in Washington.

He has worked for two years making this dream come true and it is a great read and an amazing story!

I recommend anyone and everyone going to Amazon and searching for Forgotten Hostages by Paul Green or just clicking on the link!

a longer post tomorrow,

love,

Jess

Valentine's Day Card and Good News

I just posted my first Valentine's Day card in my shop!  Is it alright that I am kind of in love with this new card?  I might give one to my own honey for Valentine's Day!

It is a gay friendly card, this one specifically for two women, but I am going to make one for men and men/women couples as well.

The imprint of the letterpress is deep and I am digging the sillouettes!

On different news, Meridyth and I went to the surgeon today.  It was a looong drive to the hospital where he works in D.C., a looong wait, and a looong drive home.  However, there is good news!  I am healing well and he said I was actually right where I was supposed to be in terms of swelling and pain.

The doctor also said, that he never told me that I should be back to working full time by eight weeks.  My mom and I both told him, but he said it's normal to be out of work for awhile, which made me feel less mopey and better!

I hope everyone is having a good Tuesday!

until tomorrow,

love,

Jess

New Item in Etsy Shop and some fun finds around the web

Hello lovelies!

Hope everyone is doing well today. 

It is very nice to have a day off today and get paid for it!  I love federal holidays!!!

As you know, I have been working very hard on some concepts for LoveUPaperly and I wanted to introduce a new item.

It is hopefully the start of a collection of cards that I want to make of people both real and in movies/books, etc...that I think are enspiring.

This first one is my rendition of an incredibly talented singer/artist that is not only gorgeous but makes her own rules as she goes.  Drum roll please!!!  It's Adele.

I believe Adele dreamed big even though she didn't fit the mold of the Britney Spears or the Katy Perry and boy did she break records this year!

Her voice is also absolutely delicious and I would probably give about anything to see her in concert.

So here is the card I made.  Letter-pressed in lovely pink is Dream Big and stamped onto the card in black is an original hand-cut interpretation of Adele.

I do hope you like it, I think it came out nicely!  Go here to look at more of my products!

So, this is going to be a post just full of pictures!  Here are some things that I am loving around the web these past few days.

Watermelon tent!  I don't like to camp but I might just go to use this.  Designed and sold by FieldCandy

I am getting married in May and for a small wedding I think these favors would be doable!  Found on the always amazing Martha Stewart Weddings

Wall Pockets by ampersand.  Can I please have these on one whole wall in my house to put stuff in?  They are cardboard and come shipped flat, but the website say's easily assembled.  Love!!

Aren't these bowls gorgeous?  Natural Selection Studio makes them.

Bodum Iced coffee maker.  It say's you put in the coffee, add cold water, put in fridge overnight, then press down, and there you go!  This might save Meridyth and I a lot of money from Dunkin Donuts!

I could keep going forever, I am feeling inspired today, but I am off to finish making my Matzah Ball soup for poor Meridyth who doesn't feel well today.

Until tomorrow,

love,

Jess

Oh, wish me luck, I go to see my neurosurgeon tomorrow to find out why I still have all this neuropathy down my arm!

Happy New Year and Jean Francois De Witte Photographs

HAPPY NEW YEAR LOVELIES!

I hope everyone had a safe and happy night last night.  I am a little ashamed to report that I fell asleep around 9:15 pm last night!  However Meridyth and I had a lovely time at her mother's with my soon to be sister and brother in-law.

We ate dinner and had chocolate fondue for dessert which was absolutely fantastic!  It makes me want to find the fondue pot my sister gave me four years ago that we have never used!

So, I was searching around the web today and I came across some great photographs by a photographer I had never heard of before. 

I like these pictures because not only does he use everyday objects, but there is nothing deep or serious to them.  They are light and playful, whimsical, and fun.

I love that I can always find new and different images that match my mood.

All of these photographs are by Jean Francois De Witte, click on link to see original article.

This one is my favorite of the bunch!

Happy New Year again everyone!  Until tomorrow.

love,

Jess