SUPER BOWL AD WRAP UP 2015, PLUS PATRIOTS WIN!!!!!!

Did you guys watch the Super Bowl yesterday? I have to admit, it was pretty hard for me. My hubby and I are die hard Patriots fans and so we spent most of the game so nervous we could barely contain ourselves. But sports are fun, right? Ha! Needless to say, we were elated with the outcome and I now feel better about posting my annual Super Bowl round up (for a trip back in time, see the wrap ups for  2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, and 2014).

Also, what did you think of Katy Perry's halftime show? I was surprised with how much I enjoyed it; especially the Missy Elliot guest appearance and the dancing sharks!


Without further ado, click through the link below to see the best commercials from the big game.

BEHIND THE SCENES: THE (NOT SO) SECRET LIFE OF THE OBSESSIVE IMAGIST

I had a little panic attack this morning when I opened my computer and saw the date. December 12th! What?!! How are we halfway through December already? I feel like 2015 is stalking us like a lion in the Serengeti. Wasn't it only yesterday that we were preparing for Halloween?

All of this panic sent me into the typical tizzy of an a classic overachiever, leaving me thinking, what have I done with myself over all this time? Well, it turns out that when time flies is usually not because you are having fun, but because you are busy as all get out. This fall, while not making as much progress on my dissertation as I would like, I still managed to submit several (labor intensive) fellowship applications, write essays for a professor's amazing new book, interview two very cool artists for my dissertation research (this guy and this lady!), help curate this show and put together its catalog and probably some other things I can't remember. So, you know what, dear readers, let's all take a moment every once in a while to give ourselves a break! We work hard. We get things done. And though you may never check off all the items on your 'to do list' in one day/week/month, you are still making a difference. You are still moving forward (just keep swimming!). And that's what matters.

Don't you feel better now about 2014 winding down?

But, I do realize that this blog is supposed to be about art and design and eye candy and not so much about me blathering on about work. So here are a couple of instagram shots I took this fall of fun things I did to take my mind off of the stress of school/work/life. Hope you like them!

above | Over Thanksgiving I checked out the newly renovated Harvard Art Museums. The building is beautiful. The collection is amazing. The conservation studio is to die for. I highly recommend you head over there yourself.

 

Plus they have a crazy awesome organization system for pigments and restoration materials. It took all my strength not to break into this private room and drool all over those gorgeous cabinets and rainbow colors . . . 

above | I like to relieve stress by baking. For Thanksgiving I made apple pie and cheddar sage biscuits. They were tasty. That is all.

above | Last week I had the privilege of doing a little side project under the guise of my calligraphy business: The Wright Hand. I promised not to spill the beans about the client's identity (Sorry!) but let's just say that I addressed 400 beautiful holiday cards for a luxury beauty company.*

not pictured but still cool! | In other random crafty news, I am also hosting a holiday crafting event tomorrow at the wonderful Jo Malone store on Bleecker Street! We will be making holiday baubles from 12pm - 6pm. Stop on by and see me!

above | My fabulous family friend, Andrew*, set me up with some sweet tech recently (hooray for new computers!) and as I thank you I used the opportunity to send over a little holiday care package (tips for making your own here). I somehow managed to resist eating all the goodies—including chocolate peanut butter fudge and chocolate chip cookies with sea salt—before sending them off. Heroic restraint, I know.

And that's pretty much it! I am looking forward to some serious Christmas celebrations in the coming weeks and kicking 2015 off right. In the meantime, no more debbie downer stuff.

As always, you can follow all my exploits on Instagram here. I would love to follow you too, so drop me a line with your info and I will get on it! Until then, Happy Friday and Happy Holidays!

*I have removed parts of the addresses on these mailings for the privacy of the recipients.

JAUNTFUL: CUSTOM TRAVEL MAPS

I like to travel. And as an obsessive planner, I like to head out of town with a plan about the best sights, eats and cultural spots to explore. For years I have tried to keep track of these elaborate lists through google maps, random notebooks, and convoluted email chains . . . . you name it, I've tried it.

Enter Jauntful, a new site that allows you to create, share and print personalized maps for any place in the world. It's still in preview mode so they are working out some kinks but I have been testing it out for a few weeks and I love it! I particularly like that you can search other users maps for fun insider tips to any place you can dream up. I have already used it for a brunch and bookshop recommendation and can't wait to look for more.

In between browsing sessions I have started my own maps for restaurants to remember in New York, things I want to do in North Carolina (headed there for a wedding next weekend!) and guides to my hometown of New Haven, CT and my beloved Boston (below).

Best of Boston for Design Lovers

The Best of the Elm City


Interested in seeing more? Sign up to join the preview here and check out my page here. And happy (imaginary) travels!


(images from the Jauntful Facebook page)

BOSTON MARATHON UPDATE

As the events surrounding the Boston Marathon bombings continue to unfold in terrifying fashion this morning, I thought you might need a little bit of positive energy. This wonderful clip from The Colbert Report on Tuesday strikes the perfect note, a combination of disgust for the perpetrators, admiration for the city of Boston and it's strong citizens and hope for a better humanity going forward.

Let us all hope that this manhunt for the remaining suspect is resolved quickly and safely. In the meantime, for all my friends, family and fellow readers in Boston please stay inside and be careful. Our thoughts are with you.

BOSTON MARATHON TRAGEDY

As a former Boston resident and a devoted marathon spectator, yesterday's events at the Boston Marathon have shaken me. I have never before seen a terrorist attack in a city I knew, let alone a place that I have walked 100 times. It was equally frightening and sad.

I come from a family of marathoners. Between my parents and my in-laws they have run over ten of them. I have long been an attendee of these epic races, often finding myself with tears in my eyes at the incredible outpouring of support for the runners among the thousands of spectators. Perfect strangers cheering each other on. Helping each other. Marathons—particularly the Boston Marathon, which falls on a state-wide holiday so that the whole city seems to turn out to watch the race—are uplifting, spirit-building events. Yesterday that was shattered along with the explosions.

As President Obama said, Boston is a strong city and will certainly come together in support and healing. To do that we must follow the wise words of Mr. Rogers: when you are scared, when something bad happens, just look for the helpers. I am proud to say that my father-in-law, a surgeon at a Boston-area hospital, was among those helpers yesterday, as were countless other brave people who raced towards the blast sites to tend to the injured and ailing. As we learn more about these inhumane events, we can at least rest easy knowing that many showed the greatest humanity and selflessness in the face of the horrible acts of a few.

I hope you take time to hug the ones you love—marathoners or not—today. Normal posts will resume tomorrow. Until then, please join me in praying for all those affected.

NICHOLAS NIXON

I apologize for not posting yesterday--I spent a long weekend in Boston hanging out with friends, eating good food, exploring, and seeing lots of and lots of art. I spent several hours wandering the beautiful halls of the Museum of Fine Arts and thought I would I tell you about an incredible exhibition there at the moment: Nicholas Nixon 'Family'.

Some information about the show from the MFA website:

"Among the most compelling of Nicholas Nixon’s series of photographs are the portraits that he has made of his close-knit family. These photographs, taken over time, explore the nature of long-committed relationships. The exhibition features the entire sequence of the celebrated portraits of the artist’s wife, Bebe, and her three sisters. Taken annually, the Brown Sisters pictures reveal gradual changes in their physiques and shifts in their relationships [ . . . ] Nicholas Nixon, who teaches at Massachusetts College of Art, is one of the most celebrated American photographers of our generation."

Needless to say, I am in love with the 'Brown Sisters' series, which quietly and poetically recalls the passage of time and the continuing importance of family connections. Looking at these 30 photographs you can see the strength of these women, standing together year after year.

Wouldn't it be lovely to do a similar project with your own family?

Learn more about the exhibition here.

NSS: RECAP, PART FOUR

I am super behind on my National Stationery Show recaps. I'm sorry! Somehow being on summer vacation is a big time commitment!

(This is the second to last recap and then we will fully return to our regularly scheduled programming . . . )

I had a great time talking with Tara at the lovely Ink + Wit booth. I loved her bright combos of light blue and red, interspersed with adorable animals and alphabet prints. Even so, the feeling behind Ink + Wit is sophisticated, fresh and modern. I would love to receive a present wrapped in one of their lovely papers and would absolutely die to own a set of the 'Paris'-themed rubber stamps. See more eye candy and inspiration here.

Another super source of eye candy was the booth featuring Boston-area Albertine Press and Carta Inc. The booth was beautifully decorated with light blue walls and bright white frames, all around paper products festooned with vintage stamps. They even encouraged visitors to page through their stamp collection and take a few samples with them! I left the booth with a tiny glassine envelope filled with stamps: a fabulous marketing tool and super-cool giveaway!

Accordingly, both studios are very inspired by vintage ephemera and stamps. Albertine had a huge display of card sets with brightly colored letterpress illustrations that reminded me of 1950s-era encyclopedias. I love the way they look in a row on a book shelf--so pretty! Angela Liguori's side (Carta Inc.) featured spools of beautiful Italian cotton ribbon and hand-lettered cards with vintage stamps. All in all, everything from both studios looked bright and fresh and visually stunning. I would highly recommend a visit to the Albertine website here and the Carta Inc site here.

Another huge locus of inspiration and visitor buzz was the susyjack* booth. I had an amazing chat with owner and designer Susan Connor (who writes one of my favorite blogs, heysusy*, here), who kindly spent a long time sharing some of her trade secrets with me. And boy is she on point! Every single product in the susyjack* line fits into a unique style: bold, graphic shapes and clean, bright colors. I was almost giddy to see some of her new goods; I love the shopping bag note pads (perfect for grocery lists!), the paper pennants/garlands, and the growing line of magnets. Lovely, lovely, lovely. Check out more here.

The final NSS post will be on Thursday. Thanks for bearing with me!

UPDATE ON FAIREY ARREST

In case you are still interested in the Sherpard Fairey-Boston arrest boondoggle, check out a very detailed story of his police encounter, the subsequent ICA event, and a general conspiracy about the arrest's underlying reasoning here, at Wooster Collective.

HOW FAIR IS BOSTON BEING TO FAIREY?

It seems that the famous graffiti artist Shepard Fairey (his claims to fame of late: designing the infamous Obama Hope poster, being featured on the tv network USA as a "Character to Watch" and being the feature artist of a large ICA show in Boston) is rubbing the Boston bourgeois the wrong way.  Remembering tags created nearly ten years ago, it seems that so many Boston residents complained about the welcome this "criminal" (since graffiti is still a crime) was receiving in accordance with the opening of his ICA show.  It apparently was so overwhelming that the Boston police arrested Fairey for an outstanding warrant from 2000 for a graffiti crime that carried a fine of all of $100.

So what do you think?  Should he been held accountable for his tags or should the boston police be spending more time solving violent crimes, stopping drunk drivers and avoiding the Boston snobbery in Back Bay and Brookline?  Drop me a comment or read more about the issue at the boston.com article here.

P.S.

In case you are in the Boston area this weekend, make sure you go check out the Boston Handmade Marketplace in Union Square, Somerville on Saturday from 3-7pm.  There will be music, goodies to buy and kindly people (say hi to my friend Jessica!).  Here are some of my favorites from the Boston Handmade family (top to bottom) which you can, in a pinch, find on Etsy:

• ReclaimedToYou
• twigsandheather
• Mimi Kirchner

PUTTING ON A FRONT

This morning, as a special treat for myself and as part of the search for a belated Father's Day present, I went to the new Bob's Your Uncle store Front in Fort Point.  Not only was the store as beautiful as everyone described (see decor8 here) but I had the added bonus of meeting one of the creative geniuses behind the Bob's Your Uncle line: Michele Yeeles (seen in the first photo)!  Bob's Your Uncle was started/is run by a husband & wife team (Michele and Martin) both of whom started in design (she in shoe design and he in graphic design) making the perfect basis for their colorful, sassy, brilliant products.  Turns out that their office is just on the other side of Front's door so either Michele or Martin are in the store at all times.  I had a wonderful conversation with Michele (she is so nice!) during which she offered a ton of great advice (for budding designers like myself) and generally cemented my love for Bob's Your Uncle products and the Front store!  Go check it out yourself at 25 Channel Center Street, Boston.

p.s. Did I mention that I want to buy everything in the store?  I managed some restraint & only bought two things . . . 

IMAGES FOR A SUNNY DAY

This morning I went for a little jaunt around Boston - over to the new Bob's Your Uncle store Front (more photos later) and down to Copley Square for the Friday Farmer's Market.  I came across this building (shining with clouds) and a lovely bunch of radishes.  I love the contrast of radishes: crunchy/leafy, blood red/bright green, small bulbs/overflowing leaves . . . too bad I don't really like the taste (I bought tomatoes and basil instead).

Both of these photos just make me happy, symbolizing the glory of late spring/early summer.  The top photo is of the water next to the Block Island Ferry as it docks, the bottom is of the trees surrounding my family's house at the shore (Branford, CT).

Hope you, wonderful reader, are out enjoying a bit of this pretty day!