Category Archives: Illustration Projects

My Next Book :: 20 Ways to Draw a Tulip

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

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As I’ve mentioned recently, I’ve been working on three different books in the last several months. I am so happy to announce one of them: 20 Ways to Draw a Tulip and 44 Other Fabulous Flowers: A Sketchbook for Artists, Designers and Doodlers. Published by Quarry, this book will be released in 2014, and includes 45 flowers, each drawn 20 different ways — yes, that’s 900 flower drawings! It was a huge undertaking, but really pretty fun for me. I just finished all of the drawings and the 45 layouts for the book yesterday, so I am feeling really excited.

Happy Tuesday!

Also posted in Drawings |

New Tea Towels from Poketo!

Monday, May 6, 2013

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THIS is a product launch I have been excited about for a long time. I am so happy to announce the release of a new line of tea towels I designed for Poketo! There are two patterns: the Herringbone and the Pyramids.

First, the Herringbone:

And the Pyramids:

These 100% pure linen tea towels are naturally more absorbent and stronger than cotton, and will get softer with use over time. Ever so versatile, you can use it for a multitude of everyday tasks – as a placemat, kitchen décor, gift wrap, or to dry dishes and leafy greens. Because they’re so versatile, you can use them anywhere from your kitchen to your workspace and even your bathroom!

{All photographs by Lehua Noelle Faulkner}

You can get the tea towels here and here. And the best news yet? I coupon code JUST FOR YOU!

You can get 15% off on your tea towels from

5/6 – midnight of 5/8

The code is: LCxPoketo

Thank you, Poketo!

Also posted in For Sale, Repeat Patterns |

San Francisco, I Love You :: Original Painting

Thursday, May 2, 2013

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You may remember that last summer I did some limited edition San Francisco, I love You note cards for The Bold Italic (which you can get here).

What you might not also know is that the original painting of the iconic San Francisco Victorians that dons the notecards is also for sale (Update: sold!). You can purchase this framed original painting (pictured above) from the Bold Italic here. Here’s a “close in” on the artwork in the piece:

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Can’t afford the original? Prints are also for sale.

Hope you are having a lovely Thursday, friends. I’ll be back tomorrow with my next installation in My Nordic Adventure.

Also posted in Paintings |

My Wallpaper in Gorgeous Spaces

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

{The kitchen of Daniel Kanter of Manhattan Nest}

You may recall that last fall wallpaper company Hygge and West launched my new line of wallpaper. It includes the Triangle pattern (above), Ferns and Bohemian. Designing wallpaper might be one of the most exciting jobs I’ve ever had. Just last week Hygge and West launched removable wallpaper tiles, which are easy to remove without leaving any residue – ideal for temporary installations. They are also perfect for renters and high traffic areas and projects that would be difficult with traditional wallpaper. Daniel of Manhattan Nest, who rents an apartment in New York, recently used the yellow and black Triangle tiles to wallpaper his kitchen, and wrote about the experience here on his blog, including “in process” photos!

{More from Daniel’s kitchen on Manhattan Nest}

The removable tiles come in the black and yellow pattern, grey and pink, and black and white. Thank you Daniel!! It looks amazing.

In other news, Makeshift Society, my favorite co-working space in San Francisco, used rolls of my charcoal and gold Triangle pattern on one of their walls (pictured below). I can’t wait to head over there and take a look at it in person!

{photo by via Hygge and West}

If you love either the removable tiles OR the rolls of my wallpaper, you can purchase all of it here. Rumor has it Daniel is hosting a giveaway for the removable tiles on his blog very soon! Not sure about color or scale? Ask Hygge and West to send you samples (just use the drop down menu).

Have a great Tuesday, friends.

Also posted in Press, Repeat Patterns |

Tender Buttons Release & Originals for Sale!

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

You may remember this post in which I introduced Tender Buttons: Objects, the book of poetry by Gertrude Stein that I illustrated last year. That book is released today and available for sale on Amazon, Chronicle’s website and other bookstores around the country! The book has over 40 illustrations of Stein’s fascinating wordplay. Here are some of my favorite spreads:

In celebration of the release of the book, I am offering nine of the original artworks from the book for sale. You view and can purchase them here. If you have a specific drawing from Tender Buttons you are interested in purchasing but don’t see it listed in my shop, feel free to email me (see contact link in my header above).

Last but not least, if you are intrigued by the book you might like this review and even more images from the book, posted by Maria at Brain Pickings! Thank you, Maria! And thank you to my publisher Chronicle Books (and specifically my designer Kristen Hewitt and my editor Bridget Watson Payne) for this once in a lifetime opportunity.

Happy Tuesday.

Also posted in For Sale |

Tender Buttons Review

Friday, March 22, 2013

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While most writers and illustrators dream of having their work reviewed in a well known public forum (magazine or blog), it’s also potentially an embarrassing nightmare if it all doesn’t go well. So that’s what makes it particularly exciting when a review comes out that is thoughtful and positive at the same time.

One such review came out recently in Print Magazine’s blog Imprint. The review, written by Buzz Poole and entitled “Long Live Illustrated Books” reviews Charles Dickens’ Pictures from Italy published by Tara Books and also Tender Buttons, which I illustrated. Poole argues, in response to the New Yorker article “Bring Back the Illustrated Book,” that illustrated books were never dead are currently a vital part of the publishing industry.

He goes on to laud a number of illustrated books, and more deeply reviews Tender Buttons and the significance of my illustrations in a book. Tender Buttons is a very bizarre piece of writing that can be difficult to read, much less even begin to comprehend (not that Gertrude Stein intended for us to understand it.) Poole argues that my illustrations serve “as a welcoming counterbalance to the warped geometry of Stein’s prose.”

{Two different Tender Buttons cover designs with my illustrations.}

He goes on to say, “It is hard to imagine ever growing tired of this book. The more time you spend with both Stein’s text and Congdon’s illustrations the deeper you want to dig, the more you want to think about the relationship between the words and imagery, or lack thereof. The experience of reading this book enriches your perspective as turns of phrase and glimpses of a fire releasing lettered smoke haunt your memory and project themselves on the everyday objects that surround us.”

Tender Buttons is released Tuesday. I will be offering some of the original artwork from the book for sale next week as part of the release, so stay tuned! You can learn more about Tender Buttons and see more of my illustrations in this post I wrote introducing the book back in January.

Happy Friday, friends. Have a great weekend.

Also posted in Press |

Wallpaper Class!

Thursday, February 7, 2013

So remember last October when my line of wallpaper from Hygge and West was released? Well, now you can learn a little bit about both the process of designing wallpaper AND how to hang the stuff.

That’s right: Makeshift Society is hosting a Saturday wallpaper workshop on March 16 from 10-1! This class will start with a introduction in which Christiana Coop (Hygge & West’s co-founder) and I talk about our wallpaper collaboration. We’ll discuss our insights into the world of pattern making, wallpaper and design.

The second and third hours will allow for a hands on opportunity to hang wallpaper. Christiana will walk you through the step by step process, teach you tricks and tips, and talk about how to fix and hide mistakes! Bonus: Each participant also will receive 30% off any purchase of wallpaper at Hygge & West.

Will you join us? Sign up here. In the meantime you can check out all my wallpaper designs here.

Also posted in Speaking Engagements & Classes |

New Photography Themed Journal

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

{Cover for my new Compendium Journal}

Last year I designed a new journal for Compendium, Inc, and I’m so happy to announce that it is now available for purchase! The journal is photography themed, and includes paintings of vintage cameras and hand lettered quotes by famous photographers.

{Journal Cover & End Pages }

{Interior Illustrations from the Journal}

This line of journals features plenty of lined pages to capture your thoughts. They are softcover and printed on FSC®-certified paper.

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{More Interior Illustrations}

You can purchase this journal here on the Compendium site or look for it at your favorite store.

Happy Wednesday!

Also posted in Hand Lettering, Paintings |

Organize with My Labels!

Friday, February 1, 2013

Friends, I’ve got some free downloadable labels to help you organize your files, jars and boxes over on Design*Sponge today! There are some other fantastic labels by other artists over there too (a low res image of mine, above). Head over to download yours today! (Thanks for the invite, Grace!)

Happy, happy Friday! I’ll be back Monday with the next Reconstructionist!

Also posted in Drawings |

Bedding for Land of Nod

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

You have no idea how excited I was when Land of Nod asked me to design some crib bedding, and I was even more thrilled when they told me they wanted me to design something in my retro-style buildings motif. So happy to announce that 1001 Good Nights Crib Bedding is now available!

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The Crib Skirt has the word “Goodnight” embroidered onto it in different languages. The entire set, all 100% cotton, includes several different pieces to choose from, all sold separately, which you can view here.

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Thank you, Land of Nod! You can purchase the bedding here.

Posted in Illustration Projects |

A Verb for Keeping Warm

Friday, January 18, 2013

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I was delighted when my friends Adrienne and Kristine of A Verb for Keeping Warm asked me to illustrate a new image for their amazing yarn and fabric shop in Oakland. I decided the design had to include their dachshund, Cleo, and their Angora bunny, Marcel. And, of course, I decided the pair had to be wearing sweaters and drinking tea.

This might be one of my favorite things I’ve ever drawn. Animals in sweaters, yes.

On that note, happy Friday. I’ll be back Monday with the next Reconstructionist! And thank you to everyone who sent me a birthday wish via Twitter, Facebook and email yesterday. I was overwhelmed by your kind words. Thank you!

Also posted in Drawings |

New Cards with Hello Lucky!

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

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I am so thrilled to announce my collaboration with Hello Lucky on a new set of letterpressed greeting cards! I was so excited when they contacted me, because I’ve been a big fan of this San Francisco based company for years.

Bonus: if you’d like to learn more about the cards and my process for designing them, there is a little interview with me on the Hello Lucky Blog this week. You can purchase the cards here. And if you are retailer, wholesale information is located here.

Thank you Hello Lucky!

Product Photos by Edyta Szyszlo Photography.

Also posted in Hand Lettering |

Gertrude Stein’s Tender Buttons

Friday, January 4, 2013

{the cover for Gertrude Stein’s Tender Buttons, Objects, which will be released in March}

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Most illustrators or designers will tell you that every now and again a job comes along that makes your heart skip a beat. Late in 2011, I got one such call from Chronicle Books. They asked me to illustrate a collection of Gertrude Stein poetry called Tender Buttons, Objects. When I got the call, I was currently going through my second period of obsession with Stein, her life and work, after seeing the phenomenal exhibit Seeing Gertrude Stein: Five Stories at the Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco. My first period of obsession occurred in the early 90′s when I was in my early 20′s. At that time, I read everything I could get my hands on about Stein and her partner Alice B. Toklas, and their life in Paris.

So when I got the call, I was more than excited. I was ecstatic! This was for me a dream job.

If you know anything about Stein’s poetry, you know she played with words, and many of her poems don’t really make much sense. Here’s an example of a poem from Tender Buttons, Objects:

“Enthusiastically hurting a clouded yellow bud and saucer, enthusiastically so is the bite in the ribbon”

And so I also knew this would be a challenging assignment, illustrating abstract poems. But I reveled in the idea of putting pictures to Stein’s words, as difficult as it might be. Chronicle graciously allowed me to concept all of the illustrations myself. This was the most creative freedom I’d ever had in a job, and I loved it.

Of course, I did get stuck a few times, and my editor and designer were there to help me concept ideas. In the end, we came up with about 40 illustrations for the book. Here is a sneak peek at a few of my favorites (without accompanying poetry; you’ll have to buy the book to see that!):

All the illustrations are gouache and graphite on paper.

Tender Buttons, Objects will be released this Spring, around March, so stay tuned. You can pre-order the book here on Chronicle’s website or on Amazon.

Happy Friday, friends.

Also posted in Drawings |

Design Milk :: My Designer Desktop!

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

I was super excited when Jaime Derringer of Design Milk (who happens to be one of the funniest, warmest, smartest, coolest women I know), asked me to contribute to her Designer Desktop series. My new desktop wallpaper (pictured above) is available on Design Milk and you can get it in one of several sizes to fit your monitor. Enjoy. And Thank you, Jaime, for including me!

Also posted in Hand Lettering |