J'adore Pretty Things...

It has been awhile since I have done a J'adore post

so I thought I would show you a few things  I am loving today!

1. This article from Garden and Gun. It's a must read ladies and gents.

2. I am a crazy music lover. I feel like I can't breath without it! My new love for making playlists and discovering new music is Spotify. You have to be "invited" so go here and put your email address in to try it out if you haven't already. In about 3-5 days you will have an email from Spotify to activate your account. It's almost too good to be true!

3. I came across this House Tour in Apartment Therapy today. I am fascinated by how they created such a welcoming and exciting living space with only 1,250 square feet. It is making my head reel with design inspiration!

4. My Mom and Dad went on a vacation last week to several wineries in Texas. {how adorable is that!} My Mom knows how much I adore illustrations. When she came across the children's book titled Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon, she couldn't pass it up! (You should totally click to look inside.)

5. How adorable is Gwyneth Paltrow? I will show you how adorable she is- go to her GOOP site that is written by her. There are recipes, travel and restaurant suggestions, a few personal antidotes. She is so inspiring.

6. I am also loving the fact that I have been blogging since July 2010. Can you believe it! Here are some past J'adore posts: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5

Hope everyone is having a wonderful week!

-xo-

how bazaar

Over the weekend I went to the Centenary College Gold Dome for their annual Book Bazaar. I was overwhelmed with over 70,000 books organized into sections for my choosing. Most of the books ranged from 25 cents to a dollar and a quarter! Incredible! I was particularly interested in the children's books section due to the impending due date of my little sister's baby. {well... and because I love illustrations!}

I came across these lovely finds:

{this whole bundle cost $6.00!}

The illustrations are to-die-for...

So, what are you waiting for?

Mark your calendars for next year.

I'll definitely be there!

dollars & sense

“Be the change you want to see in the world.”

- Mahatma Gandhi

{pics without text}

J'adore Pretty Things

1. J'adore the first autumn breeze, which actually whipped across my face this morning as I stepped out for work. It literally painted a smile on my face. I am thrilled over the change of seasons. Bring it on fall! I am ready for ya.

2. With school buses and school zones back in place, I am reminiscent of my younger years. I find myself daydreaming of freshly pressed uniforms, new shoes, and school supplies. Oh, how I loved shopping for school supplies! In fact, when I was at Office Max last week looking for business card paper (not something I used to purchase) I left with 3 notebooks and a folder. I have no idea what I am going to do with them yet, but they were too cute to pass up. See?!

"Don't you love New York in the fall? It makes me wanna buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address. On the other hand, this not knowing has its charms." - Meg Ryan in You’ve Got Mail.

{picture via tulips and flight suits}

3. My favorite movie was, is, and will remain You’ve Got Mail. It is perfect for viewing right now because it starts in the fall in New York. When Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks are in a film together it is the “perfect storm”. Although the AOL instant messaging is a bit archaic now, years later, it continues to be overwhelmingly adorable. The soundtrack is pretty grand as well.

4. The music by Zee Avi has been particularly inspiring this week. Check out her music here:

5. A few excellent illustration finds:

6. I started reading History of Love by Nicole Krauss. I keep it in my bag that I carry to work, and I read it while I wait for the shuttle in the evenings. I have found the perfect bench, shaded and breezy, to pick up where I left off the previous day. J'adore this book and it certainly is a pleasant way to pass the time.

7. Temple St. Clair jewelry has designed a collection for Target. The pieces are very unique and delicate looking. I am excited to see them in the store!

8. I have had a “small” obsession with everything 1950s lately. On Sunday I watched The Glenn Miller Story with my parents and I've been on cloud nine ever since. I love everything from the fashion to the furniture. And let’s be honest- Jimmy Stewart can do no wrong. It’s a must see.

9. The anticipation am I feeling for my IPhone 4 delivery sort of resembles Christmas morning. Anyone have suggestions for iPhone apps?

10. Lastly, j’adore that Elin Nordegren and Tiger Woods divorce is final.

lazy procrastination

Hello there! So, on Thursday night I started a DIY project. On Friday night I did some more work on it- and by Saturday I spent more than a couple of hours working and the thing wasn't done. So, I quit. My main motivation for completion of the project was having the finished product to show you guys and gals today, but alas... my wanting to be lazy kicked in on Sunday and I didn't complete it.

I hope to have it done soon though :)

{hehe- don't you love the suspense!}

Here's a peek at something else I have been working on though.

Have a looksy:

I painted this on a 12x16 canvas and then "digitized" & edited it in photoshop.

It is for an upcoming symposium we are planning at work. Do you like?

Anyway, happy Monday peeps. I hope you have a wonderful day/evening.

My inspiration for the day has come from Dirty Dancing.

{how cheesy is this guy narrating?!}

What is keeping you going on this monday of a monday?

Keep Calm

& remember to

I am really excited about a DIY project a friend and I will be working on over the weekend. Don't get your panties in a wad- i will tell and show you all about it on Monday ;)

illustrator envy

Maybe it's because I want to write and illustrate a children's book someday or maybe i am just turning shades of green from all the talented artists out there, but I can't get enough from researching and discovering designers and illustrators. Add it to the bucket list I suppose.

Some of my recent discoveries include:

Chris Silas Neal

{visit his site here}

C.S. Neal is an illustrator and designer. His work has been featured in Rolling Stone, The New Yorker, The New York Times, Time Magazine, Newsweek, Dwell, Travel and Leisure, Flaunt, Gabriele Wilson, Readymade, Metropolis, Harvard Paper, Village Voice, LA Times, Boston Globe, Rodrigo Corral, TBWA/Chiat/Day, The Stranger, HHMI, National Geographic Adventure, Bloomberg, and Business Week, to name a few!

His illustratons are featured in NPRs Summer Book Series, which offers a great list of reads if you are like me and get overwhelmed in B&N. {visit NPR summer reading list here}

Xiao Xin

{visit his site here}

These illustrations make me smile. Each one holds so much personality!

{what do you imagine he is thinking?}

{looks like me in the morning}

{can't you just hear him giggling!?}

Nate Williams

{Visit his site here}

Nate Williams has been a favorite of mine for some time now. I first saw one of his illustrations in the Wall Street Journal. He has been published all around the world. You might recognize his work from Coca Cola, Urban Outfitters, Converse Shoes, Cartoon Network, United Airlines, and Microsoft, to name a few.

As always, thanks for visiting the site.

If there are any illustrators/designers you would like to share,

please leave your thoughts below!

creativity

{Clare Owen Illustrations}

back with more later :)

StoryPeople

I love the StoryPeople. 

Firstly, I love the way they describe things through words and drawings. Secondly, because it reminds me of my friend Jordan who now lives in Chicago.

I miss our coffee break convos on the fire escape and I can't wait to visit you in November. xo