Befriending a Crow
& other updates from May! Plus behind the scenes of some projects, recommendations, fun links, + more.
As I’ve shared previously, the year always seems to start off feeling slow, manageable, and hopeful—kind of like when you’ve decided to try an ambitious new recipe that requires two pots going at the same time and wow you’re actually doing OK at it! “I can handle this! Easy Peasy!” you say as you chop up some onions with smug domestic bliss.
Then, suddenly, it’s May and your pots are bubbling over, the oven is beeping, hungry for two trays of veggies you still have to chop and every where you look is just a big ol’ mess. I’m sure that’s a fine scenario for those who thrive in chaos, and those who love being in commercial kitchens (a venn diagram that is probably more one circle than three), but I’m a planner who craves/ needs/ thirsts for spaciousness.
Basically, this was my roundabout, perhaps slightly more interesting way of saying- May was a whirlwind, as was April, and how is it almost June already?!
Something I’ve been up to: Thinking of ways to whimsify my home. I hate that whimsy is a trend right now (only because I think it should be an ongoing lifestyle choice!) but the perk is that there is now plenty of visual inspo floating around on the internet for someone who is finally ready to let the whimsy wolf break through.
(The idea is that inside of me there are two wolves: One who loves playing it safe with minimal clean lines, warm wood, and Japandi-esque decor— the dominant one currently; and the other who wants colourful hand painted tiles, colour-drenched window trims, quilted blankets, etc.)
Something I’ve enjoyed: Sharing two things here:
1.) Going to the Vancouver Art Book Fair and picking up some cute zines. The hot dog one opens up to unveil the life cycle of a hot dog— all printed on an extra long hot dog-shaped paper!
2.) Okinawan taco rice! Which is… basically a burrito bowl I guess? Rob and I didn’t have time to visit Okinawa during our Japan trip but now I’m even more motivated to go.
Something I’m thinking about: The misogynistic health care system and its inherent ageism/ pro-natalism. I’m only at the starting line of the fertility/ conception journey but there has already been so many moments where I’ve observed how much women are asked to sacrifice before even becoming a mom! Rigid “take it or leave it” diagnostic testing schedules that interfere with the work day, hundreds if not thousands of dollars being poured in, a requirement to be in picture perfect health before even trying, and one that feels particularly ludicrous to me right now— decisions for medication that despite negative side effects to the woman, are “safer” for a yet-to-exist fetus.
I am feeling like one lucky duck this year because (so far) I’ve been fortunate to spend a good amount of time plugging away at Picture Book work. The first book which is nearing completion in the next month was all about flowers (will share more when I’m allowed), and this second one is all about my other favourite topic… Birds! 🥹
Below are some early character sketches to test colour and design:
I’ve also been working away in my “free time” (lol) at my goal to develop six picture book ideas this year into pitch-ready concepts and just recently finished my first one: The Barfy Kid Manual (which I’ll share more about in a future newsletter):
Lastly, someone requested business cards from me last week for an event when I donated artwork to their auction and with no time to print new fun cards, I pulled up my old ones from five years ago. This was back when I thought my brand would be more minimal (see aforementioned comment about two wolves). I decided to put some pencil crayons to work and let the whimsy wolf take over… and, well, voila:
Oh! And I got to work on a fun commission for a friend. I don’t usually advertise commission work outside of my Tiny Originals and Yearbook Club but if anyone reading this is interested, I’m always down to make exceptions!
I think these two books were on some BookTok list a while back but as someone who is not on TikTok, I’m only getting to them now. They are absolutely unhinged which seems to be my favourite genre:
As a palette cleanser, I also really appreciated the cozy dreamy quality of this book:
2016 nostalgia is going strong over here as I went to the Oh Wonder concert earlier this month. Their soundtrack was the backbone of so many yoga classes I taught and while I’ve seen them live a few times now, this performance truly topped all prior ones. It was just so thoughtful and beautiful; it had me listening to their debut album all over again. Luckily, they re-recorded it recently with updated vocals/ sounds:
I’m afraid nothing great to report over here. 🙈 I watched a few true crime netflix docs (basically trash TV) while I was doing some artwork edits on my ipad but I haven’t seen a show or movie worth recommending. I’ll try again next month!
If anything, May was a HUGE gardening month. I forgot to take photos of actual install but all 280 seedling babies went into the ground, as did over 30 dahlia tubers. Now it’s just more finger crossing as we wait to see what thrives.
Other garden moments pictured:
“Making” new flowers with my nieces by taking the centres of azaleas out (so they were little cups) and stacking them with another flower in the middle.
Trying to befriend the crow that hangs out in my garden by presenting him with hard boiled eggs. I don’t love that he probably scares away the song birds and that he left me a half-eaten dead squirrel in the bird bath but I DO appreciate how he’s been telling his crow friends not to pull out my seedlings (like they have in previous years) which means I haven’t had to put up a bird net. So.. I’ll count that as a relationship worth nurturing.
Little copper necklaces for all my seedlings to prevent slugs from eating them.
This corner of the garden that is my current fav. Incredible smelling roses (like lychee!) against a backdrop of eucalyptus leaves and dappled willow.
Some fun links from around the internet:
A just-for-fun rock stacking website where there’s a daily theme and you can see what others have created.
Actually, just anything this artist makes is really cool. I love a creative website that utilizes early internet aesthetic!
Was introduced to a new-to-me substack called The Auntie Bulletin which perfectly captured the kind of auntie I aspire to be.
