December 2010 to March 2011 Sketch Deposit

Shortly after the holidays, I picked up a spankin' new sketch pad from Borders. The brand is Piccadilly which (I think) is meant to look like the Moleskine brand of all things paper, but at a lower price point. The 7"x9" pad was on sale for something like six dollars, so I snapped it right up (and honestly, I should go back for more)! It features a durable "leather" outside, a ribbon page marker, a sturdy elastic to hold the cover down, and a back pocket to store other small papers in. If I had a larger bag it would definitely fit comfortably in there.

I've used ink, marker, gouache, pencil, Prismacolor colored pencils inside. To be safe I've only been drawing on one side of the page to see what each does to the paper. Marker does go through to the other side and the ink did too, although to a lesser degree. Gouache wrinkles the pages, even without much water. The paper lends itself to smudging, so if you are trying to keep a pencil sketch clean make sure to elevate your hand. Other than that I've been very pleased with the pad!

Here are a of my faves:

Boston Terriers! I still want one.

After a photograph from Nylon Magazine.

I want to see Sucker Punch. Also, testing out stamps from San Jose!

After a photograph from Glamour Magazine.

Enjoy!

Go West Young Woman!

Cali here I come by pandabot featuring juicy couture jewelry

My dream travel outfit, both comfortable and cute. Soon L and I will be reunited!

Orange and Cardamom Shortbread

Last Saturday consisted of:
-a ridiculous(ly awesome) outfit (see below)
-baking in said outfit
-Lovecraft-ian board gaming with friends while enjoying aforementioned baked goods

Cardamom is a spice common in both Swedish and Indian food. As a Swede, nothing can bring to mind Christmas like the smell of cardamom, so to give the shortbread a flavor that felt closer to spring I looked for a recipe that included citrus. I whipped up some orange flavored icing to sandwich between the cookies, but this may have been a little overwhelming. Next time I will try dipping the short bread in quality dark chocolate. Mmmmm.

Dala horse + Unicorn = Dalacorn!

Eat your heart out.

Sweet "leather" jacket only $7!!

Also, if Micheal Jackson and Lucille Ball decided to share their wardrobes, they might have crafted an outfit like mine.

Cheers!

Art in the Dark

The other night N and I hit the city for an after hours art museum party.
We sipped wine and champagne, respectively, and between visits to the cheese table, admired Pop, Pre-Raphaelite, and Impressionist art (among others).

I love after hours museum gatherings, but more for the solitary moments than the socializing; I always feel as if I am breaking the rules (you shouldn't be here this late!) as we enter hushed, abandoned rooms full of old master works. There is something deliciously illicit about it, but reverent as well. A friend once commented, while visiting NYC's MOMA during a semester of Art History, that seeing the art in real life was like meeting a rock star in person. There is a feeling of awe at seeing a work you've only read about and studied photographs of. It lends the piece a new dimension when you consider that the artist once stood where you stand in relation to the canvas (sculpture, textile etc.) during the work's inception. It gives the art geek in me goosebumps.

Trapeze!

Schmoozing.

Love these colors!

One of the models from the Spring Fashion Show.

They did not approve.

Singing Edith Piaf.

Art!

Libation.

Coy lady in a fab hat.

Who is that sweet girl in the pink dress?

Cheers!

Dear Crystal Renn,

I had to stop in the middle of reading your biography to tell you how much you ROCK. Thank you for standing up for yourself, and for standing up for women of all sizes and definitions of beauty. I truly believe you are paving the way for a beauty revolution. Examples of popular culture embracing a more inclusive vision of aesthetics are becoming more and more frequent (from the girls of Glee, to H&M plus size selections*); truly these are exciting times for those of us in need of radical self love**. Thank you for being a voice for change and keep rocking your curves, hot stuff!

Sincerely,

Miss Amanda

* disappointingly only available in Europe!

**totally cribbing Gala Darling's phraseology here

Twain on the Brain

Twainiac by pandabot on Polyvore.com

D recently bought his bio. The book is a BEAST. Someday I will tackle it, but today is not that day. Today is the day I assemble collages in homage and dream of Halloween. Candy floss hair and bow ties? Yes, please!

Raspberry Mousse Almond Crumb Cake

It's like a map of some strange and wonderful raspberry planet.

Since I couldn't sleep this morning, I thought my time would be better spent baking.

I cracked open my personalized recipe book from Lou (more on this later) and decided to tackle the above mentioned cake. Having no almonds didn't daunt me (my brother is not a huge nut fan) nor did our lack of raspberry preserves (that weird strawberry jelly handing out in the fridge had to get used somehow). Like a knight errant on her holy baking quest, I set forth. While I may not have found the grail (it probably should have cooled the full three hours and next time I won't use a glass pie pan), the end results were satisfying to all who sampled them.

Untouched.

Impatience runs in the family...mom and brother (and I) could not wait for cake to cool, so we dug in.

Sleeping in its glass castle. From Ikea.

Hey what are you doing in here, Raspberry Pie? I didn't make you, but you sure are pretty!