Sunday Style Section: Rainbow Balls

Some things look better together.

1 & 2

Parks & Rec

This week on Ten Paces & Draw has been my favorite ever - Parks & Recreation themed! It's one of my favorite shows on TV - so many great characters and one-liners, and so little time to do them all. I went to final on this sketch by Marloes de Vries, and she did an awesome finish on my sketch here. There's so much seriously amazing Parks & Rec artwork up this week you'll have to check it out for yourself.

I had so much fun doing this I might have to do a few more Parks & Rec illustrations.

Also, sorry for the quiet week here on the blog. I started a new day job (which is awesome), so I'm adjusting to a new schedule. Regular posting will resume next week!

The Best Picture Ever

I aspire to this level of power one day.

On that note, happy Friday!

Someone Like You

I was itching to get back into paint and brushes, and Adele looked so beautiful at the Grammys that I had to knock this out last week.

Sunday Style Section: T. Love

I really love this shirt from Sincerely Jules. Kinda should be our mantra for life, no? Gorgeous type, distressing, perfect charcoal grey.

Thanks to Amy for bringing it to my attention when she got it, lucky gal.

Ten Paces & Draw: Unlikely Couples Week!

Check out the swap I did this week for Ten Paces & Draw! The theme was Unlikely Couples, and I went to final on this fun sketch by Alex Vetter. It was really fun to illustrate something totally out of my comfort zone (manly men + 80s monsters), so thanks for the challenge Alex! I also love what she did on my sketch of an ice cream cone and a french fry (which she took to be a kit kat, and that's the fun unpredictability of swaps). Look at that adorable mustache!

& on that note, happy weekend!

Respect the Artist

So in this professional creative journey so far, I've met a quite a few people. Most are lovely. But I really can't stand when I meet the ones who don't understand the value of design, and are looking to work with creative professionals. You don't say to a doctor, "what you learned in six years of med school I can teach you in a week" do you? While many people are creative, the actual creative profession is a highly trained skill.

Understanding that is a major step in taking your business to the next level. And fellow creatives, you should really try to only work with people who value and understand that. Otherwise, it's a waste of everyone's time. You probably already knew that though.

print by Anneke Short

Postcards!

A couple days ago I picked up my February promo postcards. I send these out to art directors and as thank you cards for my shop.

As a little Valentine from me to you, if you'd like one email me your address - annlashen(at)gmail.com - and I'll put one in the mail for you!

Valentine

Happy Valentine's Day, dear friends. Whether you love to love, love to hate, have someone to love, or love yourself, make it a day to do everything with love. Or in the immortal words of Tom Haverford, treat yo' self.

Here are five ways to treat yo' self:
1) Buy yourself flowers.
2) Spend a guilt-free hour pinning.
3) Make yourself breakfast at home. On a weekday. Indulgent, I say.
4) Dance party.
5) Craft yourself a present. Like a glitter felt star hair pin. Or just buy one from here.

Five ways to spread the love:
1) Tip your barista extra today.
2) Hold the door open.
3) Let someone pass you in the lane.
4) Write an unexpected thank you.
5) Email an old friend.

Sending you lots of love today. The good kind. The Sunday kind.

From My Library: Letters & Lettering

Today's featured book is from 1943 - New Letters and Lettering by Paul Carlyle and Guy Oring. It was introduced to me by one of my teachers, the great Paul Rogers.






This book can be a little tricky to find as it's out of print, but check out Abe Books - a great site for buying used and out-of-print books.

Sunday Style Section: Real Romantic

Pretty in pink and nude layers and fishtail braids from Dilek Hanif SP12; just the right fashion feel for February and warming up out of winter.

source

Rose of My Heart

Illustrated a sweet song lyric since I'm in the mood for Valentine's day and all the romantic imagery that goes around it.

Also, Johnny Cash's cover of this makes me cry every time. Every time.

Paillettes

The photography of Silja Magg is really magical. The styling is perfect too - where can I wear this Valentino dress? Ok, first where can I get the clams to get this Valentino dress?

via

Eating & Seeing in Palm Springs

So to start off our weekend in Palm Springs, we stopped at Guacamole's for great Mexican food. It has our San Diego-weaned tastebuds' approval.


For dinner, we ate at the Purple Palm restaurant in the Colony Palms Hotel as suggested by 36 Hours. It's gorgeous and romantic poolside, and the food is really good.


Sunday morning we had a bite to eat at the hotel's complimentary breakfast bar, and so we zipped over to Tahquitz Canyon and took the hour and a half hike (round trip) to see the 60 foot waterfall. It's a pretty mellow hike - I did it in Toms and jeans - and it did wonders for my head just to get out in nature. Also, Ryan likes nature-y things so sometimes I indulge him.


And then it was time for my favorite part! Norma's at the Parker, which so many of my friends have told me about. You guys were right. It was the best.


If I could just have this every day of my life, I'd be happy. (This meaning a virgin bloody mary - it was spicy).


And this is just gratuitous food porn shots of our brunch - I had the Upstream Benedict. I'm just a savory breakfast kinda gal.


Ryan had the blueberry pancakes.

Life was so good. I know there are many spots still to hit up in Palm Springs, so let me know! Can't wait for our next trip!

The Saguaro, Palm Springs

This past weekend Ryan & I went to Palm Springs to celebrate our six year anniversary. I've been dying to stay overnight in Palm Springs for awhile, since it seems to be the land of fancy design-y boutique hotels & delicious food - two of my favorite things.

We stayed at The Saguaro, which just opened a few days before we got there. And it showed. The restaurant and bar weren't open yet. Checking in was bumpy, with us having to wait for about twenty minutes for a room to be available even though we arrived at the beginning of check-in.


The pomegranate and citrus agua frescas poolside were very nice though, while we waited. After checking in, our host didn't really cover much about the hotel (I picked stuff up by eavesdropping on the next host over, who was much more thorough - yeah, I do that).


Each hotel room is designed in the color block that you're in - we got lime green. There were a few remodeling kinks to still work out (the vanity bathroom light didn't work, and the wallpaper was peeling) - but it was fixed while we were there. After a few more months, I think the Saguaro will be a great, fun hotel. The colors & vibe of the place are seriously joyful - it's visual Prozac. I'd definitely stay there again - I just learned not to break in a hotel.

Stay tuned tomorrow for Part 2 - what we ate & did in Palm Springs.

Sea of Love

Last week I illustrated this valentine for a nautical-themed non-profit organization and a Valentine fundraising event they're holding.

Sunday Style Section: Color Lovers

Spending this weekend at the Saguaro Palm Springs, soaking in some color and sun therapy.

source

Outtakes

So last week when I was trying to figure out a clever way to announce our engagement to the internet at large, I pulled out one of my few last boxes of squirreled away Polaroid 600 film.

Turns out weird things happen after film expires (exp date 06/2009), maybe cuz I didn't put it in the fridge? Anyway, this roll keeps getting stuck, which gives me these awesome double exposures. Not good for getting the point across, but great for getting a beautiful surprise. And that's what life's about, right?