Extremely Detailed Drawings of Cities- Ben Sack

Benjamin Sack is an artist based in Virginia.  He creates massive drawings with insane detail, mixing details of past, present and future cities around the world.  I want to find where he exhibits because one could spend hours examining each section with a magnifying glass.  He probably can't upload ultra high res imagery without fear of people stealing the work, but it would be amazing to pull them up on a big screen and explore, much like a Google map.

You can follow him on tumblr: bensack.tumblr.com
or take a look at his site for drawings: bensackart.com

-Brian

Artwork of the Week: The Velveteen Rabbit

Endpapers from The Velveteen Rabbit illustrated by William Nicholson, 1922

We have three rabbits that like to hang around our yard. They're rather brazen too. Graham has gotten within a few feet of one of them, and they only slowly hop off when they decide they don't want to be bothered anymore. Though since they started work on our new screened-in porch, the bunnies have been pretty scarce. I will probably rue saying this once we've planted a garden, but I miss seeing those little guys on the daily. It makes me feel like we live in a Disney movie. 

- Cathleen 

Charles James

If I'd heard the about Charles James before last month, I'm not sure, but I've read about him so much recently that I feel like I must have always known about him. Recently, he has been featured in The New Yorker, Vogue, and The Wall Street Journal and, I'm sure, plenty of other publications that I don't read on the regular. 

Charles James photographed by Cecil Beaton for Vogue

After reading about him, I started looking for images of his work and I'm in LOVE. His dresses are so gorgeous and sculptural and amazing. Apparently, they were a pain to wear (heavy, uncomfortable) but I'm pretty sure I'd still manage to be thrilled running around in one of them. 

Tree Gown

Tree Gown

Butterfly Dress

Charles James: Beyond Fashion 

I'd look that happy if I was wearing Charles James, too.

Have a beautiful, drapey, floaty, pleated weekend, Friends!

-Alissa

I Hate Pants!

I hate pants... I mean I really, really, hate pants. I rarely wear them to work and I can remember being as young as Kindergarten and opting to wear a smocked party dress to field day over a pair of pants. That being said I have found a pair of pants that I don't just like, I actually love them.

The Andie Chino from J.Crew. These pants are awesome! A co-teacher at work had them and then I went out like a loser and bought the exact same pair in the same color and then wore them in right away. I have them in two colors, the fatigue and navy. They are comfy, soft, and fit great! I'm really short, 5'2", so I got the petits in a waist size one up from my usual size and the fit is perfect! So if you need a good work pant, get these!

Another item I've had so covetous thoughts about is this clutch from Vineyard Vines. 

I have absolutely no need for a clutch as I cram so much crap in my purse and I never go out. Buuuut, if you do need a clutch get this one! The preppy vibe paired with the gorgeous graphic puts me in the best mood. 

No to top you off, if you need something to do this weekend, check out the exhibit Farm to Table: American Silver happening in Asheville, North Carolina at the Asheville Art Museum. 

Worst Picture EVER.... sorry readers.

A grad school friend worked on the exhibit and it looks like it's going to be a great show. 

Happy Thursday!

-Grace

Liking Lately

Vintage Green Tin Picnic Basket 

$45 from shopkeeparlington on Etsy

A brief collection of things on Etsy that I've been liking lately with just as brief an explanation. Enjoy!  

Sawtooth Cuff

$62 from foxtailboutique on Etsy

Sweatertoy Narwhal

$46 from caitlinowicker on Etsy

Belief in Inquiry, 42 x 52" framed oil painting 

$5,600 from KatherineFraser on Etsy

African Print Midi Skirt

$145 from ALUMAhandmade on Etsy

- Cathleen 

Artwork of the Week: Lawnmower Man

Since yesterday was Father's Day, I thought I'd share one of my favorite photographs that I've snapped of these two in a while. Micky taking care of business while Graham looks out at his dad, totally amazed. I really love watching these two together. Graham so obviously thinks his dad is the funnest funniest guy in the world. Hearing him say DA DEE is one of my favorite sounds. And Micky so obviously loves being this little guy's dad. It seems like he's made it his personal mission to make his son laugh every single minute they are together. Seriously, I have warned him more than once: "Watch out! Graham just ate! You don't want him to spew all over you!"

Happy Father's Day to all the fun dads out there!

- Cathleen 

Carrots, Stars, and Other Incentives

A couple days ago, my little darlings and I sat down to a special breakfast and thrashed out what we wanted our summer to look like. After getting past the various food requests, which were many, they came up with a list of fun projects that they've been wanting to do, like making their own rag dolls and planting a garden for the fall. Cute, right?

I'd love to say that I'm one of those mothers that just inspire creativity and watch it blossom, unchecked, around them. But I can't. 

I need order and planning. A lot of it. I realized that to make these summer dreams actually come true- we needed a summer plan. So we came up with a (only slightly) more relaxed version of our regular morning schedule to get us going every day because if I wake up late or lounge for hours, my day is basically shot. I start to panic at 1p that the daylight is fading and there's no way that I can accomplish anything at this point and I might as well give up. It's like living in my own Roz Chast cartoon.

I ran out of electrical tape- hence the missing horizontal lines.

So, to stave off panic and motivate these little people, I made the star chart that I've been thinking about for months. Each baby has their own star color and they get to put it in the right box once they've completed one of their daily tasks. This is not a "chore chart"- just a "get through every day with minimal house destruction chart". But at the end of each day, we'll look at the chart and if everyone has all their stars the day gets a silver star. And a week full of silver stars means that I spend the weekend getting prepped for a summer project the next week.

Someone got a little preemptive with the silver stars

Of course, my eldest sweetheart Ev has never been more motivated in her life and she's been seeking out dishes to put away and toys to pick up. She's even been combing Mae Delphine's hair and making up the crib so she can put Mae's star (blue) on the chart. However, my little sprite Jo couldn't be less concerned with the things of this world- she only gets stars on her chart when Ev puts them there. And then I have a puppy (Dash) that gets really excited about the stars for two minutes until he gets distracted by a ball and forgets about everything else. 

So, like most of my brilliant ideas (i.e. shiz that I copied from other people) it's going to be an evolving organism. It won't solve all my sticking points with my children but I think it will help to make life run a little more smoothly for a while and help me stay motivated on following through with my promises of togetherness projects. Plus, it was really, REALLY satisfying to cut up the magnets that I've been saving for years into perfect little squares that would fit foil stars on them. PS I know I have a problem, you don't have to tell me.

Happy Weekend, Friends!

-Alissa