two things...

original version (they flipped her in the magazine, so glad she still held up! ; )

There's finally a nip in the air and the leaves are just starting to show their colors. On that note, I thought it would be a good time to show these. The first is the latest little fashionista for Family Circle, I believe it's out on the racks now (a fun fashion tip for all you ladies and cross-dressers out there). The second grouping arrived in the mail earlier in the week from Berlin. It's part of a funny named calendar produced in Germany featuring illustrators from around the World. I believe they found me on here through Tumblr. It's truly becoming a smaller world, so happy to have been included in the collection! You can see more illustrators and buy copies at Gestalten.com.

the latest from Washington...

Somehow it's all ready Fall again. Although it's my favorite time of the year, I have dreaded posting anything new. How do you move on? ...from that last post and in general? My dear Mom is one tough act to follow but as some of you have kindly expressed to me, Mom's creative spirit lives on in my own work. (and Sarah's too!) I really like that concept.

While I was in Florida I had plenty of time to think back on the world I was just getting to know in Virginia/ D.C. I began working on these at that time and so I thought I'd share them today. You probably know by now how fascinated I am with George Washington and his story, but what you may not know, is how fascinated the first President was with architecture and interior design. George was the sole designer behind Mt. Vernon, overseeing extensive renovations and making furniture purchases from the front lines of the Revolutionary War. The White House design was a sort of pet project, he took up on the side while serving as President. In selecting architect James Hoban's design, Washington set the aesthetic standard for all government buildings in the new Federal City. In contrast to the palaces of Europe, The White House's humble yet stately size was also attributed to Washington, as was it's color, white stone instead of the fashionable red brick of colonial Virgina. I know I'm crazy but for some reason I've always gotten into this stuff and Mom was always right there cheering me on.

my moment with Mom

To honor my Mom, I thought I'd share this video I made two years ago to the day. I cannot remember why she started showing me how to draw the Anhinga bird but I'll cherish this moment forever. It's classic Mom, or Miss Christoph, as she would have been known to her beloved students. If only I had fully known how little time we had left... Words cannot express the love I feel for this creative and beautiful woman, how less joyful and colorful, our world will be without her.

I also thought I'd share a few wonderful pieces of children's art created by my Mom's students at Alturas Elementary School. More beautiful examples of her student's artwork can be viewed at Artsonia. Take a moment to explore the various galleries, it'll melt your heart.

Peter & Wendy

My friend Brian Marshall and I worked on this for Caryl Crane Children's Theater back in Cleveland. It was a sort of update on a design they used previously. I just thought it was cute to give Peter Pan green hightops. Break a leg guys!

where shopping is a pleasure

I've been back in Florida for a bit and found these out on the gift card rack at Publix. I worked on this a while back, but never saw the final product. To all those, who haven't had the benefit of shopping at the quintessentially Floridan grocery store chain, they rock! ..and I hope to get to work with them again. : )

NY Times: Theater

So they ran it after all- I'm so happy! Check out the article here for my ridiculous quote, gosh do I really talk like that!? Ha! Big thanks Brian, for connecting me with Erik and for the heads up on the article being out there. It's funny seeing all of our pieces together, similar little trendy hats and lettering, all tapping into that vintage aesthetic - thanks for that Urban Outfitters!

Summertime Magazine Spots

A few spots out there now in Family Circle, Threads, and the Boston Globe. Check them out! Apparently cats prefer women and columnist, Kevin Alexander writes about a new concept, 'blog envy', in a funny story about his father's successful book review blog. Fortunately, my dad only rants on facebook. ; )