How do you say ‘bitch’ in Hebrew?

This was for a little zine the crew at Bitch magazine made together called Bitchlet. I love the word for ‘bitch’ in Russian—Suka—so I thought it would be fun to find out what it is in other languages. Please note the disclaimer at the bottom.

 

Oldie but goodie: ‘The Consumed issue’

Came across this while doing some organizing. We had a lot of fun on the shoot for the Bitch magazine ‘Consumed’ issue.

The photo is by Jeff Walls. Styling as well as the book and pills were made by me, the adorable cupcake was made by Andi Zeisler and the chair was on loan from Matt Pierce (Whoops! I gotta get that back to him!).

Prism in a glass

My vintner friends, Gillian and Gareth are selling their very first wine—Prism! The wine will sell on tap—at a brewpub in their home country of New Zealand. I’m excited to have designed the tap label, which was very much a collaboration with the couple.

Below, are some of the variations and other concepts for Prism. I don’t often get to work with rainbows, and as you can see, I relished the opportunity.

Here’s a toast to their new endeavor! I eagerly anticipate the development of their wine business and hope to join them along the way. Cheers!

I am Lord of the “Lord of the Rings” (books)!

Look at what my good friend, Andi, brought back from New York for me! What a beautiful set.

These editions include tell-tale 60s type with a varied baseline, fold-out maps illustrated by Tolkien, and an a lovely little slip case.

It’s a jolly ‘oliday with Mary

I caught one of my very favorite movies from my childhood—Mary Poppins. This classic is definitely one of the roots of my lifelong anglophilia. It’s all magic and wonder, couched within the sensibility of British culture. She really is tip of the top, cream of the crop!

Naturally, Mary would have a tape measure with lovely type.

2012 Interactions Calendar is Available Now!

Check my Etsy shop for details.

Discovered Virtues now up through November

We had a really nice opening for my show at Reading Frenzy last night. The work is up through November and is very affordably priced, so get out there and get some holiday shopping done early!

Here’s a what the show’s all about:

What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered. —Ralph Waldo Emerson

A kernel of corn is a food source for a field mouse, which is a food source for a snake, which is a food source for a fox, which is a food source for a wolf. All organisms seem to have a place, however small, in this connected system. But sometimes, as evolution happens, and accidental migrations occur, that meaning or connection can be lost.

Sometimes, these itinerant traveling species can wreak havoc on their new home by throwing off the balance of a delicate ecosystem. In the Western US, inedible Medusahead, originally from the Mediterranean region, is spreading at a rate of about 12% per year, overtaking native grasslands. This means less food for wild animals and livestock. The Australian Government claims “weeds cost Australian farmers around $1.5 billion a year in weed control activities and a further $2.5 billion a year in lost agricultural production.” And some plants that were once of great use, like Ground-elder brought to Britain by Romans for use as a pot-herb to relieve gout — were passed over by medical developments, rendering the plant useless and making it “the most…detested weed in the nation’s flowerbeds.”

But what about those species that exist in their new home peacefully without causing harm? Or what about those who are actually pleasant — helpful even? For many, these ‘plant[s] in the wrong place’ have healing properties. They aid in everything from digestion to pain relief and can be healthy additions to diet for their ample nutrients. For others, like Shakespeare and Northern Renaissance artist, Albrecht Durer, they have served as objects of inspiration or metaphor for use in their works. Weeds have also been known to function as litmus tests for the existence of metals in soil. And they can serve as habitat for many of the beneficial insects in the ecosystem and repellent for unwanted insects. Now that’s a lot of utility!

The work in this show explores the unwanted flora of the Portland backyard and their unique beauty and resilience. Taken out of context, away from their more popular and classically beautiful relatives in the garden, we get a chance to appreciate their form and heartiness. Perhaps the next time we see one sprouting up through a crack or hiding under the cover of an intentionally planted and tended bush, perhaps we’ll rethink our impression and relationship with these common weeds.

Fresh off the press!

I had one of those days were everything just gelled: A great meeting at Museum of Contemporary Craft with curator, Namita Wiggers and book design buddy/collaborator, Clifton Burt. A laugh-filled faculty meeting with my PSU colleagues. And a productive and lively critique with my students. The cherry on top was the boxes of calendars waiting for me when I got home. Well, I guess the cherry on the cherry on top was catching Tyson and Teeg immediately ‘occupying’ the last box as I was moving them upstairs.

I’m now a cat lady in addition to being a tiny dog lady. What have I become?

You know you have a good friend, when they feed your obsessions willingly.

Thanks, Brion, for the ‘housewarming’ gift.

Prism wine type treatment

I’m working on a wine label for a friend who’s a vintner in New Zealand. I’m not sure what she’ll go with in the end, but I really enjoyed making this type treatment: