d.Sharp Journal

Crazy Busy. or just plain crazy and busy.

Sorry for the radio silence. Will see you on Tuesday some time. Have a great weekend!

{photo from here}

Flock of Personality

Can't get over how cute these bird illustrations by Kate Wilson are. Love the quirkiness and character each bird is imbued with.

purdy paper

 
Really digging this work by Shaz Madani for Arctic Paper. Love the dimensionality, fine example of paper as a medium used to great effect.

Serious hattage.

These hats worn at Royal Ascot make me smile. Although, to me, the woman wearing a giant wheel of Stilton cheese on her head was clown scary. {blue cheese phobia of mine} See more at The Times.

This is for you.

Really, go and buy this book. Better yet, buy it for someone you love. {thank you} I know you have seen Rob Ryan's work all over the place, but reading this sweet little gem is something else.

Kinda seems like yesterday.

Twenty years ago today, I went out on a first date and fell in love. Hard.

from This Is For You

Come and get it.

M and I made this bird feeder yesterday. The idea is from a vintage toy/craft book of mine.  All that it requires is two jar tops, strong string {I used cotton kitchen twine},  wire to hang it, and a cake donut. Oh, and paper for the sign - that was M's idea!

"Here, Birdies! Come and get it! Stale Donut!"

Fine and Dandy

I know I mentioned previously that I have a soft spot for animals in formal clothing, and can't resist books with illustrations such as these dapper gentlemen of the canine persuasion. I mean, honestly, so much more refined than playing poker in a green visor - don't you think?

So, how could I not be completely smitten by Berkley Illustration? 'Sophisticated Menagerie', a solo show of Ryan's work opening in July here in Portland, couldn't be a more apt description of these charming prints. Check out their blog, Let'sShare,  for fun stuff and updates, as well as a chance to vote on which animal should join the gang next.
These are some of my favorites, available here.

Have always loved squirrels and crows, but I have to say,  I really love the guy in the eye patch.

A few more:

Like the cover of this vintage Hindi dictionary.

From a c.1920's French dictionary, my very favorite of my small collection. The title page for each letter of the alphabet has a great illustration of items beginning with that letter. The book also has a bunch of full page illustrations like the one below {including boxers, another favorite} as well as a few color illustrations {such as botanicals, mushrooms}. It is hard to get the full page in a scan because the book is pretty thick, sorry.

The cheapest vintage Italian anything around, a dictionary from the thrift store. { like most of these, actually}

A 1940's shorthand dictionary. Shorthand boggles - how could you possibly commit to memory sguiggles that are meant to represent thousands of words? Words that most people may very,very rarely use, like harangue. And to decipher it? I have enough trouble with my handwriting.

A word of warning.

In three short years,  your sweet, precious child can become capable of doing this while you are in the shower.

 
Pretty impressive, I know