notions & potions

craft yourself

2012-01-19T09:14:00.002-06:00

It's been awhile since I've taken up a needle and a thread, but in the dead of winter, I'm re-discovering inspiration in the humorous and the homely.

Chapter openers for Amy's Simple Times, hand-crafted by Megan Whitmarsh.

the searching eye

2012-01-15T18:33:00.004-06:00

Film frames from The Searching Eye, Saul Bass, 1964

Work informs play, play informs work, and throughout both there are moments of triumph, and of despair. The new year marches on, and I continue to plow through with my head held high, my eyes wide open, and my hands busy.

"You know, we hear a lot about the joy of creating. What we don't acknowledge is the anguish and anxiety that come with the territory...Of course the pleasure when it does come can be very intense. Also, the play between pleasure and anxiety is part of the dynamic that makes the creative experience so compelling."

–Saul Bass

food values

2011-11-25T21:40:00.002-06:00

Bought this lovely trio of cookbooks from the ever-gracious Bonnie a few weeks back. And now, as the days grow darker and the holiday season starts off with a gobble, it seems the perfect time to bring them back out. Because the winter winds, as bitter as they can be, also have a way of bringing us together. And so, for that matter, does food...

With the end of a successful Thanksgiving feast, and the start of a busy yuletide season, I am ever more reminded at the healing capacities of cooking real food. It nourishes us, it teaches us, it comforts us. It provides context, and history, and calm. My only hope is that we can instill this appreciation in our future generations, because while pizza is delicious, it is most certainly not a vegetable.

[On a side note, excuse the recent lack of posts. Notions & Potions had been busy, and also perhaps bit existentially uncertain about her relevancy and relationship to the internet and the greater blogging community.]

reading, writing, and

2011-09-29T18:55:00.000-05:00

There's a crispness to the air today that reminds me of plaid uniform skirts and pumpkin muffins for breakfast, of pencil cases and new backpacks, of spelling tests, library books, and arithmetic. I never was attracted to math, yet I can't help but want to pull out a hand-crank pencil sharpener and spend an early evening filling in these whimsical pages.

The desire to keep learning is strong, and the mind questions whether my current path is the right one. In this Autumn air, I long for academia.

telling stories

2011-09-08T20:14:00.001-05:00

I am pleased to present some sneak peeks of the first two picture books I had the pleasure of designing for Chronicle Books this past year: Stephen Shaskan's ever-so-cheeky A Dog is a Dog, and Bob Barner's Animal Baths.

Despite some recent naysaying, the picture book still remains as the pivotal format of classic children's literature. Deceptively simple in design and format, picture book design relies heavily on the outstanding talents of the illustrator, whose personal vision and rendering style carry the spirit and drive the narrative of the book. In this case, the role of the designer becomes that of a composer–the invisible presence who shapes the composition through quiet direction while letting the voice of the illustrator shine. I had the privilege or working with some amazing (and patient!) illustrators, and through many rounds of sketches and typographic exploration, these books are complete. They are ready to sit on a nightstand somewhere, waiting for those quiet moments before bedtime, when their pages will be turned, and their stories told.

The Target Children's Book Festival is this Saturday, and Minneapolis' own Stephen Shaskan will be there! Will you?

good things to eat

2011-08-16T20:03:00.003-05:00

Been spending a lot of long-overdue time in the kitchen lately,whipping up some good things to eat–my gluten-free versions of some of the classics. Thank you, Babycakes and Elana for the inspiration. When life gives you lemons, you bake!

Anyone want a bite? I'd love to whip you up a batch of something sweet.

creative playthings

2011-07-22T21:21:00.001-05:00

I've been positively gaga over this über retro catalog of children's toys from the 70s, plucked from a thrift store and sent to me all the way from the mean streets of Philadelphia (thank you, Jenny)!

Lately it's been reminding me of all that I believe in–a ray of sunshine through the clouds. Because we'd all like to believe that the world is still joyful and good.

red, white, blue

2011-07-10T14:36:00.000-05:00

In the madness of last week, I had no chance to celebrate one of my all-time favorite color schemes. So here's three cheers for the red, white, and blue! Polka, bingo, and round playing cards?! These patriotic bits look like the start of a fantastic evening...

invaluable curiosity

2011-07-05T11:21:00.000-05:00

Letterpress illustration by Sara Gillingham.

And now I am back in the land of lakes, one of a few places I consider home. It was hard to end one chapter and start another, but with every turn of the page comes more depth and growth and discovery. I am grateful to all the characters who have graced the pages of my book, and am looking forward to the work that lies ahead!

"And now, my friend, you must give me your complete attention. It is simply this: do not tire, never lose interest, never grow indifferent–lose your invaluable curiosity and you let yourself die. It's as simple as that."

–Tove Jansson, Fair Play

書籍

2011-06-21T17:37:00.000-05:00

I've been totally smitten with Japanese children's book design these days. They are a culture that seems to truly embrace visual play, conjuring an endearing sweetness without being overly saccharine. I want to learn to set type in Japanese!

On that note, I am honored to be starting to work on some new products for Chronicle Books featuring the must-beloved illustrations of Taro Gomi. The summer promises to be playful and new; please stay-tuned.

pictures and words

2011-06-03T16:54:00.013-05:00

The Little Fireman, text by Margaret Wise Brown, pictures by Esphyr Slobodkina, 1938

Been diving into this rather archaic compendium as of late; an expansive look at the picturebook throughout American history. I love the restraint and simplicity of the spreads above, and am reminded of the power of a well-designed book. Designers, after all, are also storytellers; creators of wonderment and curiosity; soothsayers of the unseen and the intangible...

"A picturebook is text, illustrations, total design; an item of manufacture and a commercial product; a social, cultural, historical document; and, foremost, an experience for a child.

As an art form it hinges on the interdependence of pictures and words, on the simultaneous display of two facing pages, and on the drama of the turning of the page.

On it's own terms its possibilities are limitless."

–American Picturebooks from Noah's Ark to The Beast Within, by Barbara Bader

animals!

2011-05-23T18:22:00.001-05:00

I've had the great pleasure to work on a few projects with the oh-so-gracious and spirited author/illustrator Bob Barner over this past year, and here is a sneak peek at our forthcoming release! An ANIMALS! Matching Game, to be released by Chronicle Books in Fall 2011.

happy hues

2011-05-20T16:39:00.003-05:00

For those days at work when my brain feels like a Sloppy Joe, when I feel jaded and overwhelmed by the influx of information on a screen, when few things seem inspirational or motivational, I often partake in a computer break, go sit in a quiet place, and pull out the Pantone swatch books. Call me crazy, but there are few things more soothing than the simple act of playing and pairing together those dainty little chips.

Last Fall, with that in mind, I came up with a concept for Pantone Swatch blocks, a set of square blocks featuring an array of happy hues that could be stacked and sorted in an endless amount of ways by both children and adults alike; a simultaneous exercise in the theories behind and healing powers of color.

After pitching it to Chronicle Books during my design fellowship here, my idea was sadly not immediately picked up, though the general idea was well-received. At the very least I have planted a seed, and perhaps it is simply waiting to sprout...And with that, I will leave you with this: A colorful classic by Mr. Glass.

harvesting

2011-05-19T12:35:00.007-05:00

Aimee With Corn, by Corbert Gauthier. May 2010.

A new season approaches, as well as a journey back to a place at once familiar and brand new. And with this impending journey comes a harvest, as I gather together the collected components of my reality, and consider all that lies ahead.

I only desire to find true purpose; to plant my feet in a place of meaning for awhile; to come to terms with the never-ending balance of work vs. life, of connection vs. disconnection, of the stagnant smell of an office air-conditioner vs. the freedom of green grass beneath my feet. Where does the sidewalk end?

grow together

2011-05-09T22:40:00.002-05:00

I had the great privilege this past Saturday to spend a sunny Berkeley afternoon in Alice Waters' infamous Edible Schoolyard, surrounded by a community of warm, passionate, and energetic people who believe in the nurturing and educational power of teaching our children to grow, cook, and eat together. It made me long for a dirt patch to call my own, and a community of hands to get dirty with, working together in some small way to lift up and cradle our world...

"Most of all, we used this place to express a core belief: Beauty is not a luxury; it is a means of lifting the human spirit and of giving richness to everyday life."

-Alice Waters, The Edible Schoolyard: A Universal Idea

For more information about Alice Waters, The Edible Schoolyard, and the Chez Panisse Foundation, look here.

easy handy attractive

2011-05-01T16:59:00.001-05:00

My elderly shopkeeping neighbor had a yard sale recently, filled with odd assortments from her long and full life. This Webway Ticket System (made in St. Cloud, Minnesota, no less!) was an absolute steal, and I'm eager to find a use for such a quirky bunch of adhesive number forms. They seem ripe for some pattern-making and play!

spring things

2011-04-28T12:00:00.004-05:00

(My gluten-free carrot cake extravaganza, a charming set of petite wooden eggs, and a pair of little egg friends– made with these)

A recent trip back to a place I call home again reacquainted me with what really matters. The sun finally did come out, and we were all reminded of the importance of looking outwards, and upwards. Because after so much darkness, there is always new light, and with hope and new growth, the future looks bright! Let's remember to stop and enjoy the sweet.

"When I was ten, I read fairy tales in secret and would have been ashamed if I had been found doing so. Now that I am fifty I read them openly. When I became a man I put away childish things, including my fear of childishness and the desire to be very grown up."

–C.S. Lewis

our hills

2011-04-16T16:35:00.001-05:00

"Any hill is home, as long as it has a view. And to everybody in every section of the city, there is "Our hill," no matter how slight its eminence, no matter whether it has a name or not. In San Francisco, a hill need be no more than a state of mind, affording a slight rise to the spirits, a fresh outlook on the life that parades in the streets below..."

-Herb Caen

The hills I climb here are as sublime as they are steep, and when I reach the top, I take solace in my proximity to the sky, and in the breeze in my hair; the feeling of being both here, and everywhere. Yet is this home? Not quite. Impermanence takes its toll these days, and I cannot help but think about all that I left behind.

What do we talk about when we talk about a home?

sweet sentiments

2011-04-03T18:59:00.000-05:00

I recently acquired this precious trio of miniature letterpress quotation books, brought to the world by OrangeArt. I love their intimacy and simplicity–perfect pocket-sized antidotes to soothe a bout of homesickness, heartache, or negatvitiy.

"Love the moment and the energy of that moment will spread beyond all boundaries."

–Sister Corita Kent

sunday scones

2011-03-20T19:09:00.003-05:00

This Sunday afternoon was spent making a mess in my rather non-existent excuse of a kitchen, baking up a batch of gluten-free scones for tomorrow's bake sale. After a series of unfortunate health events over this past year, I recently had to make the switch to eating gluten-free. Yet this new challenge, coupled with two square feet of counter space and my humble countertop convection toaster oven, were no match for one girl's determination to whip up something delectable! And after sampling my culinary success, I simply couldn't resist transforming these treats into pretty little packages–easy on the eyes, and the stomach. I hope others will agree.

Want the recipe? It was an adaption of this.

2011-03-16T15:24:00.002-05:00

I cannot help but imagine my mother eagerly fingering through the pages of the cookbook below. Today is her birthday.
Happy Birthday Mum! You make my life taste sweet.

learning to cook

2011-03-16T15:16:00.001-05:00

I recently discovered this absolute classic while browsing the bookshelves at work: Betty Crocker's NEW Boys and Girls Cookbook, copyright 1965 by General Mills, Inc., in Minneapolis, MN! I can never get enough of the technicolor food styling of the 60s and 70s, and who doesn't love food with a face?

"Dear Boys and Girls, Learning to cook can be an adventure–like exploring a new country, with a recipe as your map. And if you follow directions exactly, you are sure to arrive at your destination–proud and pleased to be able to cook many good things for your family and friends..."

-Betty Crocker

possibilities

2011-03-04T18:58:00.001-06:00

Two months in to this new(ish) year, and I continue to find hope in hard work, and a barreling forward into the unknown. Thank you, Katie & Nate, for this impeccable letterpress gift! Come back to San Francisco soon! We like you here.

meadows & mockingbirds

2011-02-24T19:16:00.001-06:00

I've received some lovely bits of brightness in the mail as of late, from a talented pen friend, and a gracious up 'n comer. Arranged in an abstracted order, I think they take on a tale of their own.

Thank you, John and Anna!

"Maycomb was an old town, but it was a tired town when I first knew it. In rainy weather the streets turned to red slop; grass grew on the sidewalks, the courthouse sagged in the square. Somehow, it was hotter then: a black dog suffered on a summer's day; bony mules hitched to Hoover carts flicked flies in the sweltering shade of the live oaks on the square. Men's stiff collars wilted by nine in the morning. Ladies bathed before noon, after their three-o'clock naps, and by nightfall were like soft teacakes with frostings of sweat and sweet talcum."

–Harper Lee

happy hearts

2011-02-14T09:40:00.004-06:00

My heart is happy today; made stronger my the transparency of vulnerability, by a willingness to let the light shine through the cracks collected along the way.

Happy Hearts Day, everyone! Reach out and love somebody.

(And get crafty! Directions here.)

bitty bentos

2011-02-12T11:04:00.000-06:00

Living in close proximity to Japantown, I am continuously charmed by the wealth of visual and edible inspiration that the culture has to offer. And when I purchased the precious little book (above) at Kinokuniya Bookstore last Fall, I paged through it obsessively, trying to decipher in pictures what I could not in words.

Since then, I've had bento on the brain, and after recently purchasing this book (in English), and a few fun supplies from here and here, I embarked on a bento adventure of my own, resulting in a snack of seaweed salad, sweet potato turkey nuggets, and tamari-glazed squash and shiitake skewers, all topped off by a happy bear egg!

Truth be told, beautiful bitty bentos are a lot harder to pull off than they look, but at least my first attempt was delightful and delicious. And it certainly is a great way to convince children (and adults) to eat their vegetables! Or, as the Japanese saying goes, "Eat with your eyes," not just your mouth.

Get more information here, and here.

books & things

2011-01-28T18:03:00.003-06:00

It's always a bit strange to see an object you've worked to produce when it comes back from the printer; weeks of work manifested in real form. Looking at things objectively is often difficult when you've been so engrossed in the behind-the-scenes!

BUT, I'm very pleased to offer a small glimpse into some of the pieces I've been working on over the past several months here. And of course, my work would not be what it is without the amazing talents of the brilliant and delightful illustrators I've had the great pleasure to work with on these–Thank you all. And, enjoy!

from the design desk

2011-01-25T15:28:00.007-06:00

I've been busy busy back here on the West Coast, making and doing and working and playing as a children's designer at Chronicle Books. But I'm never too busy for some whimsy! Please check out my recent contribution to the Chronicle Books blog here.

we are not cold

2011-01-01T18:22:00.004-06:00

Silly Snow Monster! by Ella and Owen. Minneapolis, MN. December 2010

In this land where the snow falls, when the blankets of white turn into shards of grey, it is too easy to succumb to the cold; to see the world through narrowed eyes and allow the turning inwards to overtake us–a novocaine for the soul.

Yet it is now the New Year, I've spent a week back in my beloved wintry land, and through it all I'm left with a steadfast hope that human beings are not cold. We were not born to be anesthetized automatons, seeking solace in our economical pragmatism. Rather, we were born to hope, to mess up, to laugh, to cry, and to find joy and strength in the warmth of others.

So here's to a fresh start, to a continued hope in the existence of romance and wonderment in a world far too driven by austerity. Happy New Year to loved ones near and far!

swedish notes

2010-12-17T16:37:00.007-06:00

This impeccable set of vintage notecards landed merrily in my mailbox recently–a surprise gift from a faraway friend! I cannot get enough of the design motifs of old-world Sweden; the sweetness and sentimentality remind me so much of the place I call home.

I'll be holiday homeward bound one week from now–at least for a short while. Bring on the gravlax, and mom's Swedish meatballs with jam!

And, thank you Tamara.

misfits

2010-12-13T17:28:00.009-06:00

Found these forgotten friends at the bottom of the bin during a recent visit to the glorious Alameda Antiques Faire, scattered pieces from a child's crafting game. I love the garish absurdity of the techni-color palate; candid and cute, if not a bit grotesque...

They would fit in quite well on the Island of Misfit Toys, don't you think?

heights

2010-11-28T10:26:00.002-06:00

We drove through winding wooded roads, past white waves and grassland elks, until we reached our final height; a lighthouse, perched at the end, and the beginning, of the world.

And, upon returning, we left our breaths by the sea, with strength gained in the necessary discomfort and discovery of the unknown.

colors & numbers

2010-11-24T14:47:00.008-06:00

I'm pleased to present a sneak peek of this precious little pair of board books–one of my first printed pieces for Chronicle Books! Previously published in France as "Coleurs" and "Chiffres," these books were re-formatted in English and re-designed by me, with illustrations by Monsieur Thierry Laval. Look for them on your local bookstore shelves this spring.

Can you count to 10? Grover and John John can!

the life of mr. mustache

2010-11-21T09:15:00.002-06:00

Received the loveliest piece of post in my mailbox this past week, all the way from across the sea! Introducing The Life of Mr. Mustache, a charming little book by Studio Violet, plus a surprise notecard set from the ever-admirable Fine Little Day! Much Thanks, Elisabeth! This has made my week.

"He thought to himself, why am I sad? I have a good life, it's not all that bad. I should be smiling and not feeling blue. But worry worry worry is all I seem to do..."

–The Life of Mr. Mustache

make your mark!

2010-11-13T20:00:00.004-06:00

I had the super cool awesome rad! privilege today of spending the afternoon with a fantastic group of fellow Chronicle Books designers, and a lively group of tweens. The day was filled with sunshine, crafting, popcorn, and prizes, and the event was a smashing success! We learned a lot from these silly 8-12 year olds, all while promoting a love of reading and creativity at this critical "in-between" age.

(I also happened to have the even bigger privilege of designing all promotional materials for the event. Please take a look at some of the applications, above!)

2010-10-31T16:42:00.000-05:00

The houses in my neighborhood have been haunting for weeks, in preparation for tonight's tricks or treats...and in his annual Halloween greeting, my grandpa reminds me that all fear should be fleeting. Happy Halloween, everyone!

bits of bubbly

2010-10-27T15:19:00.004-05:00

Happened upon an envelope of vintage beverage labels during a recent afternoon of bookstore browsing here. Such lovely bits of bubbly, and the perfect anecdote for a rainy afternoon. Now I want to start a collection...

Omnivore Books was cozy and well-stocked, but still, nothing rivals the great Bonnie Slotnick.

to market

2010-10-16T15:59:00.004-05:00

Yesterday I awoke before the sun and boarded a bus towards the San Francisco Bay, to explore the city's infamous bay-front Ferry Building and Saturday morning Ferry Plaza Farmer's Market. After an impeccable coffee, cupcake, and macaroon breakfast from Miette, I headed outside in the crisp sunshine and began my journey through tangled rows of local artisans selling their edible wares. I cannot describe what a joy it was to be immersed in a community of growers, bakers, and makers eager to offer samples with a smile, and discuss their love of food culture in a city famous for its roots in the Slow Food movement. I left with a regained sense of comfort and invigoration, along with a full stomach and a bag brimming with delicious eats. This sometimes solitary and still-new city suddenly felt a little bit more like home.

"In even simpler terms, community is built upon conversations. People like to eat, and they like to talk about it. Ask a stranger anywhere in the world what or where he likes to eat, and chances are he’ll open up..."

Want to continue the conversation? Check out Civil Eats, The Vegetable Express, and my new favorite cooking blog.

alice détective

2010-10-04T08:30:00.003-05:00

Last weekend, while at a nearby yard sale, I happened upon a box full of French children's literature. Upon sorting through the titles I soon discovered to my surprise (quelle surprise!) my much beloved Nancy Drew (aka Alice Détective) amongst the well-worn spines. Turns out the entire Nancy Drew series, by the mysterious Carolyn Keene (Caroline Quine, en France) was published in French in the mid-1900s, shortly after the 1st editions of the series were published in the U.S. Given my love of this female super sleuth, I was positively tickled! Comment magnifique!

I also picked up several other French children's titles, part of collections published by Hachette Books beginning in the early 1900s–Bibliotheque Rose and Bibliotheque Verte. These collections, or systems of classification, were designed to promote reading in children and adolescents throughout France, with Bibliotheque Rose meant for school-age children, and Bibliotheque Verte for pre-teens. I am quite enamored by the simple graphics of this system–check out those beautiful rose-colored spines! Très beau!

P.S. Listen here for more about the beloved books of our youth, and the mysteries of childhood...

seasons

2010-09-27T08:45:00.000-05:00

I've been simply smitten with this recent edition to my book collection: Seasons, by the magical French illustrator Blexbolex, published in English by Enchanted Lion Books. I'd love to get my hands on more of his illustration work, especially this, and this!

"Blexbolex got lost for awhile in the pages of his books. He needs two summers, an autumn, a winter, a spring, several storms and a lot of sunshine to rediscover the seasons for himself."

-Seasons, Blexbolex

the objects

2010-09-20T20:28:00.002-05:00

Selected objects from my desks at work & home, collected glass bottles at the OMCA, the beauty of brunch, and Alex Maldonado's Cathedral Crown.

Last weekend I had the pleasure of spending an afternoon with Mark Dion & Lawrence Weschler at the awe-inspiring Oakland Museum, as a part of Mr. Dion's new exhibition The Marvelous Museum*. The two dove deep into discussion on the role of the museum in today's digitally-driven society, and the (mis)conception of a museum as a very static, passive entity, stemming partially from an audience's inability to truly connect and be active with the objects in the collection. I was particularly struck by Mr Dion's explanation of his "artist as curator" role within the exhibition; his desire to get people to re-connect with the soulfulness of these objects, to rediscover the joy of drawing their own conclusions based on a newfound sense of discovery. Afterwards, I walked through the bustling galleries, and was absolutely captivated. This was a community that still marveled at the museum...

Yesterday I paused underneath a giant knobby tree, forgetting for a moment my errand as the end result. I reached out my hands, and allowed myself to be completely entranced by the object before me. I couldn't remember the last time I had actually experienced a tree. With today's proliferation of digital imagery and information, I sometimes struggle with the ability to truly engage in the present & concrete. We live in a world of constant movement, and distraction. Are we losing the ability to experience actuality, to appreciate the simplicity of the sensory? I find hope in the beauty of the bits that surround me, loyal characters in my own curated life.

"The objects are characters that live with us in time and place and scale."

-Mark Dion

*read more about The Marvelous Museum, (and the accompanying Chronicle Book!) here.

red

2010-09-13T21:12:00.002-05:00

KA's enchanting ceiling, Mr. McGee at the Oakland Museum, an ever-growing collection of freshly-fallen mystery fruits (anyone?), Ms. Rojas at the MOCFA, and fantastic foggy morning vines.

"For this is what is means to get back what she once had, the deep-seeing use of her eyes and the instant revelations of her tongue..."

-Runaway, Alice Munro

girls and their hair

2010-09-08T15:30:00.003-05:00

Special thanks to miss SK for the recent lifting-up: a hand-crafted leaflet sent through the post is a sure way to remind a girl to hold her head high.

"A girl with long hair is never alone/she always has something to play with."

figgy fun

2010-08-29T19:01:00.004-05:00

Locally grown fresh figs are in abundance this time of year out here in (sorta) sunny San Francisco, and I can't get enough of these sweet little treats. Simply delightful served over thick yogurt with honey, they also serve as the perfect impetus to an afternoon of crafty play!

Eat more produce–locally! The Mobile Food Collective has it right. See more about this idea in (brilliant) action here and here.

worlds beyond

2010-08-21T18:26:00.002-05:00

"If we have no connection whatosever with the worlds beyond the ones we take for granted, than we too run the risk of drying up inside..."

Lately, more than usual, I've been buried in books, in many more ways than one. Elif Shafek reminds me of the power of storytelling, of imagining the vast potentials of our hearts, and the beyond. Please enjoy if you have the moment!

taking hold

2010-08-03T23:59:00.005-05:00

Miles of man-made hills surround me in this city, yet I tread the same few most of my days. The concrete below my feet often vanishes in a rhythm of routine, but then I remember to look! And when I do, I find: a wrinkled masterpiece blowing amongst discarded plastic bags, and a leaf with a brilliant identity crisis.

In an ongoing quest for hope and love and authenticity, I hold these things dear, pressed between the pages of a bedside book, rare treasures mined from the mundane...

"A collection is usually an attempt to somehow take hold of the world around us, to control at least a few of its parts..."

-Paul Elliman, The World As Printing Surface

upon re-visiting

2010-07-16T21:46:00.005-05:00

There is a forest, mere blocks from my new doorstep, with a rich canopy of trees watching over winding grounds of lives gone by. The roots of these trees run deep in the soil here, in this place they call The Presidio––1,491 acres of hilly pathways and forests that served as a military base for 218 years before being determined a National Historic Landmark in 1994. It was here, way back in 1948, that my grandmother Marjorie Ruth Samson first met my grandfather Hal Schroeder. She, a young 2nd Lt. in the Army Nurse Corps, met he, a dashing Army officer, while reviving him from illness at the Letterman Army Hospital. The pair later eloped to Switzerland.

Upon re-visiting this forest, the breeze breathes gently amongst the trees, and I am embraced by the romance of this transformative landscape––gaining strength in my solitude, and the faint ancestral whispers of my past.

i have arrived

2010-07-11T21:31:00.005-05:00

Car-window landscapes raced by in a blur of transcendent splendor, the days passed delirious, spellbound by constant motion.

And tonight, as the fog spins in like blue raspberry cotton candy, I look out my window and realize I have arrived; at home in a new city, in a world still full of wonder.

2010-07-02T18:54:00.002-05:00

I long for all and everything to have depth and veracity and grace, after a week filled with packings, see you laters, and goodbyes. Please stay tuned...I'll be seeing you soon.

on 26th street

2010-06-09T13:08:00.007-05:00

To the vagrants and the voyagers that tread on 26th street: I know of life's terror, bleak solitude, and uncertainty. And so, I humbly offer you a fragment of a fantasy. Because there are so many bits of brightness amongst the day-to-day banality.

Make. Do. Enjoy!

in the backyard

2010-05-28T22:35:00.006-05:00

(McCall's Garden Book, circa 1967)

Inspirations have been gathered, ideas have been planted, and the arrival of a warm Minnesota June brings seedlings of hope and anticipation in the fruitfulness of communities new and old. A certain dapper gentlemen/jack-of-all-trades has asked me to contribute to this, as he seeks to strengthen our community through a series of happenings in the months to come. Exciting things are about to happen in the backyard! Please do check it out.

In other news, my backyard has just expanded! Soon, I'll be embarking on a grand adventure West, to begin work/play at this magical place. There are many new neighbors I've yet to meet. Stay tuned...

adventuring

2010-05-19T11:52:00.013-05:00

(Hikers pause at Glacier Point. Ektacolor photograph by Ansel Adams, c. 1959)

"As a young person I had no clear perception of my future–I only knew that my professional career depended on my energy, self-criticism, discipline, and a permanent desire to learn."

–Josef Müller-Brockmann

Summer has arrived. Let the adventuring and learning begin! There is much discovery on the horizon.

pocketbook press presents

2010-05-15T16:59:00.002-05:00

Pocketbook Press politely presents....The Bear Came Over the Mountain, by wordsmith extraordinaire Alice Munro.

This is the first release by Pocketbook Press, a humble publishing project that seeks to promote the simple joys of print and the written word through limited edition booklets carefully curated by its founder, Aimee Gauthier (that's me!)

If any creative soul out there would be interested in collaborating on future editions, it would be an honor. Please let me know!

an awesome book!

2010-05-12T12:11:00.002-05:00

An awesome book for an awesome cause by an awesome dude! Brilliant.

let the object talk

2010-04-23T08:30:00.000-05:00

(object of curiosity. found 04.12.10)

Yesterday eve I had the privilege of attending a lecture by Edith Ackermann at the Walker Art Center. It was an evening of inspiration and enchantment––and filled me with an unexplainable sense of hope.

The world will be bright if we continue to be curious––finding joy in the mundane, and embracing the levity of our imaginations. The world will be bright if we take cues from our children, and remember to play!

Read Edith's interview with the Walker here.

an audacity to imagine

2010-04-07T19:59:00.000-05:00

I've come to realize that there's nothing wrong with acting a wee bit childish.

the conversation stops

2010-04-02T18:26:00.016-05:00

"Because socializing doesn't scale. Once a group reaches a certain size, each participant starts to feel anonymous again, and the person they're following––who once seemed proximal, like a friend––now seems larger than life and remote.'They feel they can't possibly be the person who's going to make the useful contribution,' Evans says. So the conversation stops..." (read more here!)

Sorry I've been away, secretly relishing in my obscurity, finding strength and inspiration in the disconnect. There is magic that happens in a more-real life, in the play of words exchanged face-to-face, in the quiet of a breezy afternoon with a book, in the joy of collaboration and craft.

Let's start this conversation, anew...

into white

2009-12-29T21:08:00.006-06:00

The triumphant crunch of crystals beneath my feet, the exhuberance of a steadfast pup some steps ahead, the liberation that comes with those few first inhalations of fresh air...these form the minutiae of starting anew.

Lately I've felt as fragile as spun sugar, like the lucid geometries of ice collecting into snow. The syrup boils over. Slows, sputters, and stops. Yet in these fantastic moments of recovery, lost in a fitful hibernation of plum-fairy dreams, I've rediscovered the magic of a sky so big and so blue...Look up! It is there.

I do not have a notion now, of the nature of the blogosphere. I wonder, what else is there worth telling. I question, who is listening? Much work will be done, with room for friends and fun, and in the interim, perhaps this space should be silent.

Here's to a New Year of looking outwards and upwards! There is much work to do.

(listen to woods)

easy as pie

2009-11-26T10:24:00.000-06:00

Vermont Apple Pie, from a 1956 newspaper clipping I discovered tucked inside the pages of a cookbook purchased years ago. I made two pies late last night; only one made it successfully out of the oven. But messes in the kitchen should always be laughed off, one pie will be enough, and I am so thankful to share a bounty of yum with a cherished assortment of family & friends.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

at the seaside

2009-11-20T20:44:00.004-06:00

A recent afternoon was spent in the rare book room at Powell's City of Books in Portland, OR. There were many treasures to be found, including this children's classic from 1932––Katy Kruse at the Seaside, by Eleanor Farjean. I am quite enamored by these peculiar little illustrations. Are they hand-colored photographs of dolls? I couldn't find much information after some internet sleuthing––perhaps further proof of this title's rarity.

the city of roses

2009-11-18T12:41:00.008-06:00

The weekend was spent away, breathing in the fresh air and musty books of the fine city of Portland. Now I am back, invigorated by polka dot tiles, ginkgo trees, and dusky brick-lane walks with one of the best.

clangour

2009-11-03T20:50:00.000-06:00

Last Thursday I had the privilege of seeing Sin Fang Bous and Múm perform at the Walker Art Center. The McGuire Theater, packed with spellbound spectators, was transformed into an enchanted forest within moments of these Icelandic spirits taking the stage. I was captivated, moved, possessed.

Perhaps my admiration is partly due to the geographical context in which these artists are situated––the pristine land of Scandinavia; a land at once rooted in stark, atmospheric melancholy, while paradoxically enamored with a childish whimsy and the fairy tale traditions of old. I cannot help but be continuously inspired by this aesthetic, this Nordic cultural voice. It is these images and sounds and bits of beauty that resonate so deeply within me––a clangour of inspirations and emotions.

Images (in order of appearance): Sin Fang Bous album art (signed by Sindri!), Pattern design by Sanna Annuka for Marimekko, illustrations by Hanna Werning.

And when I'm swimming in through a tunnel, I shut my eyes...

boo!

2009-10-31T13:34:00.002-05:00

My grandpa and I's annual exchange of Halloween jest. He'll always write to check up on my dating status, and I'll always respond with a note and a package of cookies, because who doesn't love a little grandpa humor?

Happy haunting!

make your own

2009-10-11T13:42:00.006-05:00

The perfect snack for a chilly Sunday afternoon? A buttery slice of egg-in-a-hole, otherwise known as Sunny Yolk! Sunny Yolk is a recipe from the Fitwits program, "a multidisciplinary collaboration among doctors, teachers, social workers, and design students at Carnegie Mellon University" working to educate children on the benefits of healthy eating and physical fitness. Learn more about the program here and here...

"Every child should be taught to cook in school, not just talk about nutrition all day. Good food can be made in 15 minutes. This could be the first generation where the kids teach the parents."

--Jamie Oliver, The Minister of Food

what is a book?

2009-10-06T21:41:00.002-05:00

A book is many many things...These scans don't do justice to this treasure I've plucked from the MCAD Library. Neon pink, orange, yellow, and white, it reminds me of the work of this ever-inspiring wordsmith.

I'm trying to re-affirm my love affair with books and words, as these internet sub-realities drag my attention away. Have you read any good books lately? Is there a book that has changed your life?

(images taken from Books! by Murray McCain. Design and Illustrations by John Alcorn)

meaning is a shaky edifice

2009-09-24T20:26:00.003-05:00

"But human beings do not perceive things whole; we are not gods but wounded creatures, cracked lenses, capable only of fractured perceptions. Partial beings, in all the senses of that phrase. Meaning is a shaky edifice we build out of scraps, dogmas, childhood injuries, newspaper articles, chance remarks, old films, small victories, people hated, people loved; perhaps it is because our sense of what is the case is constructed from such inadequate materials that we defend it so fiercely, even to the death."

--Salman Rushdie, Imaginary Homelands

Found notes from a recent Saturday morning yard sale––I cannot help but get wrapped up in the romance of an old soul's lost ephemera. Forever, I will be a collector...watch Jessica Helfand discuss the hatred and histories and beauty of the scrapbook here.

rhythms & weaves

2009-09-20T13:59:00.003-05:00

The days disentangle in kaleidoscopic rays of light and dark. Brilliance collides with blackness as I attempt to weave together the circadian cycles of my newly illuminated habitats. I've long been absent from this space, but sometimes we need silence before sound––a chance to gain clarity, arranging the pieces just so in the hopes to achieve a higher harmony...

Images (in order of appearance): A sampling of endpapers from my new/old set of The Golden Home and High School Encyclopedia, circa 1960; Vertical Change by Bjorn Copeland; Golden encyclopedia exteriors; and, Red and Blue Layers by the legendary Anni Albers.

we travel

2009-09-07T21:12:00.011-05:00

Mysterese folds a small satchel into my out- stretched palm, and says, "These reminded me of you," and as I grip the tiny tokens in my hands, they begin to cast a sort of serendipitous spell. I realize that, while it is difficult to say goodbye, much joy and hope is felt knowing that the paths we all travel will once again cross, and that new adventures are sure to bring happiness, content- ment, and unimaginable growth...

I, too, am so lucky and excited for a new adventure. Please check here in the coming months to see some glimpses of my recent work/play, along with the work of my talented colleagues/partners-in-crime.

(Maps courtesy of Hammond's Illustrated Atlas for Young America, via the MCAD library. Buttons courtesy of T.)

ask the stars

2009-08-19T23:12:00.006-05:00

"Women born under Pisces like to travel and many are successful as artists and authors. Many are also excellent as designers and illustrators. Persons born under Pisces are highly imaginative and are inclined to be idealistic. They first absorb and later reflect conditions which surround them. Pisces is said to represent the link between 'earthliness' and 'metaphysics.' These people are keenly interested in all phases of life and are always ready to help a fellow who is down and out...They are extremely generous and derive much pleasure through helping others who are less fortunate than themselves."

Tonight the stars are aligning, and the future looks quite bright...

mastering the art

2009-08-13T15:37:00.004-05:00

My mother's well-worn copy of Julia Child's now infamous Mastering the Art of French Cooking, plus a few other beautiful gems from her cookbook library––Julia's The French Chef, and General Foods' All About Home Baking, circa 1933.

“When you flip anything, you just have to have the courage of your convictions,”

--Julia Child, on life and

the art of the potato pancake

...Because in cooking, as in life, often all you can do is jump right in, try your best, and hope that the pancake comes out precisely the way it was meant to taste.

to live here

2009-08-07T09:25:00.003-05:00

"As urbanization continues apace, the ability of innovative design not only to mimic nature, but to manifest it, is no small accomplishment."

Read and see more here.

a matchless matchbook game

2009-08-05T13:33:00.005-05:00

Pick-Up-Stix, a complete matchless matchbook game! Such lovely packaging for such a simple game...

"Design is Everything. Everything!" --Paul Rand

simple scraps

2009-08-02T21:27:00.003-05:00

Sifting through the swatches of so many patterned past lives, my fingertips yearn to grasp onto any tangible proof of a future fulfilled; a simple scrap to wipe away the mere illusions of interwoven intimacies, and remind the crescent lines within my palms that the tomorrow will indeed be bright.

Tonight, we need some forest fairies, otherwise known as a First Aid Kit.

positively primary

2009-07-24T20:02:00.002-05:00

I'd never seen the launderer's bins in such an order, and they've never been in such an order since. These moments of beauty and clarity are fleeting, so I'll bottle them away for the rainier days...Remember color theory? It's still fun!

vacancies

2009-07-21T20:57:00.003-05:00

Wisconsin Dells is a frightening place, but filled with such wondrous wee places to stay. One day I'll take a tour cross-country, wrapping myself in the mysteries of well-worn roadside motels.

tiny atmospheres

2009-07-16T10:29:00.005-05:00

I had the pleasure, recently, of collaborating with Jacey Braband and Alex Roche on a series of posters to be hung around MCAD this summer. In the vast caverns of the grey photo studio, I spent a day amongst piles of cut paper, fashioning tiny atmospheres of floating summer fun. Check out more work & fun things from me and my fellow busy bees at the brand new MCAD DesignWorks blog.

greetings from

2009-07-10T16:53:00.005-05:00

"Had supper here Thursday. Very good with large portions."

Coudersport, Devil's Lake, Prospect Point, Appleton, Chicago, Miami, St. Augustine, Rome, Detroit, Alpes-Maritimes, Edinburgh, Niagara Falls, Salt Lake City, Valdosa, & Banff...Today I'll squelch my wanderlust with a fat stack of vintage postcards, forever romanticizing the simple pleasures of handwritten letters––the honesty and physicality of a loved-one's scrawled sentiments.

2009-06-30T19:02:00.002-05:00

Dear Jens, Get Well Soon. Love, Notions & Potions.

packaged in poppy

2009-06-27T17:11:00.006-05:00

Petite packages made for those I have yet to meet, in shades of pristine poppy. See more about poppy potency: Poppy crop circles and poppies in Oz...

que sera

2009-06-24T19:31:00.004-05:00

Recent correspondence from my grandfather expressed concern over the messy nature of my hair in photographs he had previously been sent. My reply came in the form of peanut butter cookies and a portrait of myself with my hair done up like Doris Day. His reply came in the form of some of the best grandpa advice I've heard in awhile. Such comforting words to receive in the midst of so much uncertainty.

colors & cupcakes

2009-06-19T15:02:00.004-05:00

Miss Ella drew me a "picsha," as a thank-you exchange for my honey-banana cupcakes. Her colors remind me that print does matter, and of Printed Matter, a book that will forever inspire.

white and black

2009-06-12T13:53:00.012-05:00

Splurged last eve and bought the new Fever Ray album, haunting and beautiful and best listened to with eyes wide open, in the dark of the night. Plus, check out this most pristine publication, a beauty I've been eyeing recently...wish I could get my hands on a copy.

when i grow up \ i want to be a forester \ run through the moss on high heels \ that's what i'll do

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wild strawberries

2009-06-11T12:58:00.003-05:00

The sun came out today, and so this finally seems seasonally appropriate. Mmmmm produce. Farmers market season is finally here!

graduation celebration

2009-06-05T21:00:00.005-05:00

My little brother graduated yesterday eve. Congrats, philly cheeseball! How does it feel?

play all day

2009-06-01T18:57:00.002-05:00

Though it came belated, this book was a rather suitable graduation gift for myself: Play All Day, brought to you by the ever-impeccable gestalten.
Featuring a fetching little game by Miller Goodman...
Lovely programmes and posters by JUNO GmbH & Co (website?)...
...And the amazing Fuji Kindergarten design by Kashiwa Sato. Learn more here (thanks, JZK).

Today I grapple with the guilt of material production, situated in a society of consumers. I question my own place within this sphere of printed matter. That is to say, do books matter?

let's play

2009-05-27T23:17:00.005-05:00

Dear Grown-up, Way back in the mid-19th century, a man named Friedrich Froebel invented Kindergarten when he founded the Play Activity Institute in 1837. He was a pioneer in early childhood education, and a strong advocate for the importance of free play in children. His Kindergarten classes were structured around a series of "gifts," designed to be given to a child in order to inspire innovation and self-directed activity. These concepts spread around the world, and as a result, the young students attending the first Kindergartens grew up to be some of the most innovative and creative thinkers of the 20th century. From the founders of the Bauhaus and modernist art movements, to American architect Frank Lloyd Wright, many young minds blossomed and thrived simply because they were given the gift of play.

Let's Play––the Make-it, Build-it, Paste-it, Do-it Super Fantastic Fun Kit!––was inspired by the ideals that Friedrich Froebel put forth so many years ago, along with recent scientific research working to promote the importance of play in the lives of both children and adults. In our fast-paced, high-tech modern society, we are losing sight of how beneficial unstructured, free, creative play can be to our physical, emotional, and cognitive well-being.

Let's Play was designed to bring the gift of play to those who need it most. Working with Olmsted County Social Services, I created this kit to be used as a tool to engage young children in at-risk home environments, and help parents and caregivers learn to bond with the child while realizing the benefits of free, creative play in their own lives.

It is my hope that the simple materials inside of these kits can bring the gift of play into a child's life––inspiring a lifelong love of curiosity and ingenuity, and serving as a creative outlet wherein dreams are born, inventions are made, and imaginations are allowed to run wild...

Happy Playing! Aimee Gauthier, May 2009

____________________________________________________________________

(what precedes is a glimpse into my senior thesis project, a semester-long labour of love that is still in its final stages of production. click on an image for a closer view...)

delicious dishes

2009-05-26T12:11:00.001-05:00

My recent travels north brought me to a lovely roadside flea market, wherein the dishes looked good enough to eat. I bought this souvenir tray––

an ode to the dandelions.

north

2009-05-25T12:31:00.007-05:00

Nurturing fantasies of escape, I headed north this weekend to a magical place they call Git-che-O-ni-ga-ming, or Grand Portage, meaning "a great carrying place," in Ojibwe and French. It is the home of the breathtaking High Falls, Minnesota's tallest waterfall! Sunsets over Superior were followed by a night-walk filled with cherished moments of quiet, as we inhaled the breezes void of complication, counted the ripples off skipping stones, and I marveled at the capacity of shiny shoreline pebbles––a beauty majestically void of manufacture.

when we are lost

2009-05-21T22:48:00.005-05:00

When we are lost what image tells?\Nothing resembles nothing. Yet nothing\Is not blank. It is configured Hell:\Of noticed clocks on winter afternoons, malignant stars,\Demanding furniture. All unrelated\And with air between.\The terror. Is it of Space, of Time?\Or the joined trickery of both conceptions?\To the lost, transfixed among the self-inflicted ruins,\All that is non-air (if this indeed is not deception)\Is agony immobilized. While Time,\The endless idiot, runs screaming round the world.

-Carson McCullers

I graduated last weekend, to some degree. And this evening I stumbled around in space, collecting the fallen branches of the cottonwood trees in my empty pockets.

serendipitous scraps

2009-05-09T23:50:00.003-05:00

These got me through this most hectic of weeks: A lovely petite book, and some lovelier scraps I happened upon in the studios one morn, turned into a 30-second collage impromptu. And, lovelier still, is...collage club! plus the rest of Jordi Ferreiro's Flickr site. Check out more of his work here.

perpetually patterned

2009-05-06T23:08:00.007-05:00

These days have passed. I've pounded streets, in the same manner as the rest. Eyes down. Left dragging right. Left with right. Repeat. This is a life of perpetual patterns, of the unwavering absence of an atrium beat, of the pretending underneath a nest of sheets, of the fleeting visions of a technicolor reality, wherein your eyes are always illuminated.

These days have passed. Your kaleidoscopic face, it presses. Printed seductive in four-color process. Dyed permanent into the bedtime blanket that I toss aside in the morning, and crawl back underneath by the night that is certain to fall.

"The mind is like a richly woven tapestry in which the colors are distilled from the experiences of the senses, and the design drawn from the convolutions of the intellect." --Carson McCullers

portfolio daze

2009-05-05T23:04:00.003-05:00

A drizzly quick trip to NYC and now I'm back home in a flash. Here's the view from my table at the ADC portfolio review day. Everyone especially appreciated and dare I say swooned over my attempt to save the newspaper or something called The Citizen Cheyenne. JK DCL.

play for breakfast

2009-05-02T17:21:00.005-05:00

Woke up bright and early this morning and snuck into school to assemble and hang my senior project show, which now sits quietly in its little nook at MCAD, greeting passers-by. Thanks, mum, for your measuring, leveling, and sewing skills. (More details on the project later).

Tomorrow I'll wake even earlier to embark on a grand adventure with this lovely lady and this sly chap to the streets of New York City for the Art Director's Club portfolio review day, as well as other grand adventures involving big brudder, and some of other crazy folks. Excitement, exhaustion, and exhilaration exudes...

a through zzz

2009-04-24T23:52:00.004-05:00

How the days have been spent recently–awake until a bit of sleep, with a mess of hazy thought clouds in between...

Marcel Marceau alphabet book, courtesy of the MCAD library, plus another spread from Keri Smith's How to Be an Explorer of the World: Einstein used thought experiments (questions that can only be solved using the imagination) on a regular basis. Learn more here.

In other fun news, I have a spasm in my piriformis muscle. Thanks, Senior Project!

CMYKday

2009-04-22T19:27:00.004-05:00

Had some more fun with the scanner today, playing around with CMYK.

My back hurts incomprehensibly, and gets x-rayed in the morn. I'll pretend I'm on the bed of a human-sized scanner, my insides over-analyzed by an ambulant ray of light...

they don't fear much

2009-04-20T19:25:00.004-05:00

I have been following the struggle for womens' rights throughout Pakistan and Afghanistan especially close as of late, and the bravery of these young women as they fight for their right to an education has been continuously inspiring. An interesting article in the New York Times today voices the opinions of two Afghani women in response to Obama's recent Afghanistan-Pakistan policy speech, and poses an interesting perspective on America's role as an ally, and global leader in democracy.

"Last November, extremists on motorbikes opposed to education for women sprayed acid on a group of students from the Mirwais School for Girls in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Several young women were severely burned. Yet it did not take more than a few weeks for even the most cruelly disfigured girls to return to school. Like the crowds of women in Kabul this week who protested a new law that restricts their rights, the Mirwais students demonstrate unbending courage and resolve for progress. They don’t fear much — except that the world might abandon them..."

I do not know where the answer lies, but I know that in these hectic times––as the final weeks of my college education loom on the horizon––I must not forget all that I take for granted. Also, take the time to watch this short video about an 11-year-old Pakistani girl's brave defiance against the Taliban. She rules.

mucking around...

2009-04-17T11:47:00.005-05:00

Today, in this moment, I wish I was here, perhaps on a picnic wid this fellow.

Or else I wish I could be mucking around in the phantasmagoria, once again...

"The individual most likely to prevail is the one who believes in possibilities––an optimist, a creative thinker, a person who has a sense of power and control. Imaginative play, even when it involves mucking around in the phantasmagoria, creates such a person." -Brian Sutton-Smith

squares, scraps, and stripes

2009-04-14T17:19:00.004-05:00

The scanner and I had a little fun today with some squares, scraps, and stripes. Simply sublime.

of a feminine forum

2009-04-10T18:33:00.002-05:00

Today a beloved colleague of mine expressed baffled sentiments over a lighthearted f orum of femininity created by a dear comrade that seems oft-discussed amongst the ladies these days. I feel a white flag must now be waved in order to defend the existence of this quiet place floating out and about in the blogosphere, and suppress the possibilities of gender bias or war.

Contrary to popular belief, Waiting for Boys to Call is not an outlet for bitter feminine aggression or male bashing, nor should it exist as a catty exchange of gossip and dirty laundry. Rather, it is cherished by many of us girls as a united, confident sisterhood in which we are free to exchange carefree tokens of advice and absurdities, and a place where we can all, on some level, attempt to understand our roles as women in a patriarchal world. We are a united front of intelligent, multi-talented women who are strong enough to stand on our own, but also not afraid to sit around and giggle over the potential for a simple phone call from a charming gentleman. Life is no fairy tale, but we still like to be treated like as ladies, every once in awhile...

cautiously optimistic

2009-04-03T18:28:00.004-05:00

The day was filled with turquoise and red, a sure sign of the rebirth of the dead...We do not breathe in neat little rows. Rather, we gasp in the fresh air at every chance opportunity. And so I remain cautiously optimistic––at least in the interim.

"For some minutes, before she fell into a deep, dreamless sleep, she just lay quiet, smiling at the ceiling. "