Rustic Botany Book

On account of having recently run a marathon, acquired a full-time job, and just being generally bad at managing my day-to-day distractions, I have not posted anything in aaaages. Nor have I done much along the lines of crafting.

For that, I am truly sorry.

But here, a peace offering! Enjoy this delightful image of a delightful hand-bound sketchbook I made a few weeks ago. If all goes well over the next few weeks, I'll have even more delightful things to showcase at this years Streeterville Artisan Market. Fingers crossed for productivity.

Do-Division Street Fest!!!

I've been rather bad about posting lately. In part, it might have something to do with the excessive crafting that MUST GET DONE BEFORE NEXT WEEKEND! I (fuzzy grapefruit) will be selling my handmade goods at...

Do Division Street Fest

June 5th & 6th, 12 noon - 10pm

Division Street (from Ashland to Leavitt)

Come out and say 'hello', or better yet say 'hello' AND purchase something cute and whimsical from me (need I mention that Father's Day is fast-approaching? I will, indeed, have no fewer than two highly masculine notecard designs to choose from)

And for the ladies, I have new bookboard designs! Here's a sneak peek at a few of the new drawings that will be available for purchase in the form of earrings and pendants:

It'll be lots of fun, hope to see you there!

Thank God for Summer Salads

Now that the weather has turned brutally hot (well... brutal for Chicago), I've been craving a lot of cold (low-maintenance!) dishes that contain fruits and vegetables. I'm also a big believer in ingredient experimentation (add a little of this, a little of that) and voila! It's pretty safe with salads (no scientific food-chemistry), so feel free to add whatever vegetables you have in your fridge. Anyway, here's what I had for lunch today inspired by this Bon App etit recipe:

Ingredients
Salad:

1/2 cup cooked pasta (I used leftover elbows and rotini)

handful salad greens (I used spinach and romaine)

1/2 cup (maybe 6 or 7) cherry tomatoes, quartered

1/2 red bell pepper, chopped

a few sprigs parsley, chopped

1 green onion, chopped

handful crumbled feta cheese

Dressing:

extra virgin olive oil

fresh lemon juice (one lemon)

rice wine vinegar

dijon mustard

minced garlic (one small clove)

salt

black pepper

Combine all the salad ingredients in a bowl. Mix the dressing ingredients in a small bowl (taste as you go to get the desired proportions, I'd say the dominant ingredients should be the olive oil, lemon juice, and mustard), then pour over the salad and toss well. You could really add whatever vegetables you have on hand. I also think this is best if all the ingredients (except for the greens) are mixed, chilled to let the flavors blend, and then combined. But do what you like, don't be scared, go for it!

Makes 1-2 servings.

Bookboard Earrings & Pendants

So, I've been working on this new idea for fuzzy grapefruit, and I'm soooo excited to show them at the Two Craft Minimum Show this Saturday. Presenting... Bookboard Earrings & Pendants! Each one is lovingly hand-drawn with archival ink onto recycled bookboard (the material used to make hard cover books), and sealed to a high gloss. No two are exactly the same (it's like wearing a one-of-a-kind illustration on your ears or around your neck)! This set is all packaged and ready to go to a loving home. Come to the show this Saturday to check them out :)

Random Review: The Vicious Kind

I had every intention of watching this movie while I distractedly carved stamps and made notecards. One of the major reasons I chose it was because Netflix categorized it as a "comedy" and I figured it would be much easier to multi-task with something not-too-serious being played in the background. Let me state right here and now: this film is most certainly NOT a comedy! As with most indie flicks, there are inevitably moments of real-life awkwardness that might cause you to smile nervously, but make no mistake about it – The Vicious Kind leans much much closer to the drama end of the genre spectrum.

The Vicious Kind begins with Caleb Sinclaire (played by Adam Scott), quietly distraught in the booth of a diner, while he waits for his younger brother Peter (Alex Frost) to return to the table. From the get-go, it's obvious that our main character (or who we assume to be our main character) is a guy with some issues. At first, I find it difficult to care about someone who is... well, kind of an asshole. But the story unfolds, and we find that Caleb is more complicated and vulnerable than previously thought. Caleb has grudgingly agreed to drive Peter and Peter's new girlfriend, Emma (Brittany Snow), to Caleb and Peter's home for Thanksgiving. Despite the fact that Caleb feels the need to protect his brother from so-called "whores" (a term he applies to all women) and dissuade him from dating Emma, he finds himself becoming increasingly infatuated with her.

The Vicious Kind has no easy answers. The characters are all complex and deeply flawed, and I found myself questioning whether feeling sympathy for them was the "right" thing to do. Adam Scott does an amazing job of being misanthropic while still being totally defenseless, and Brittany Snow (though I only knew her as Gossip Girl's very blonde Lily Rhodes) turns out to be no slouch either – that girl can cry like a pro! The acting alone is reason enough to watch The Vicious Kind. Bonus points for featuring J.K. Simmons as the slightly dysfunctional yet likable dad.

*Warning: Don't watch this film with your parents – The sex-scenes will just make you feel weird. (Don't say I didn't warn you).

Two-Craft Minimum: Awesome Artists

Chicago Style Crafters' very first show, "Two Craft Minimum" is just around the corner (May 1st)! We in the CSC have been working hard to promote and talk up the event, and I've been busy making notecards and sketchbooks, but I wanted to take a couple of minutes to promote some of the beautiful work of my fellow crafters and artisans. Here's a sneak peek at some of the fantastic goods you'll find at the Two-Craft Minimum show:

Melissa & Zoe's one-of-a-kind notebook keychains are totally romantic

I'm in love with this beautiful print by Madame Platypus

This 2-sided starfish pendant necklace by Something Beautiful is awesome (and reversible!!)

Nothing says "badass" like Spinal Fusion's rifle shell earrings

Milton and Margie's soy candles are perfect for adding a little warmth to your home

Swallow Kisses tattoo-inspired jewelry is both adorable and edgy, love them!

Cranky Pickle's bottlecap magnets and buttons are super-cute and earth-friendly

To see all of these awesome artists (and more) come check out the show:

Chicago Style Crafters Present: Two-Craft Minimum!

Saturday May 1st, 4:30 pm - 9 pm

Cole's Bar, 2338 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago

*bring a valid ID (we're in a bar)!

What the Peep - Easter Notecard Design

As I'm sure you're aware, I'm a sucker for the following things:

- animals (especially the cute fuzzy kind)

- sweet treats

- dorky and/or cutesy humor

...so it seemed only natural that my newest notecard design for Easter

would include one or all of these elements. Enjoy!

(notecards can be purchased through Supermarket or Etsy)