New on Etsy: Flourish Notebooks & Notepads!

Hello folks, I've got some great news for you today! Two new items have been added to the Cosmos Creative Etsy Shop! Be sure to check out the Pocket Notebooks, and the Matchbook Notepads! Both items showcase the original pattern, Flourish, from The Cosmos Creative Collection. Printed here in green ink on "Jellybean Green" Pop-Tone French Paper, Flourish is easily one of my favorite patterns from the collection! It's sophisticated yet, funky and in the green on green combo, it's especially fun!

Each notebook and notepad is 100% handmade and is perfect for the most random of thoughts, notes, inspirational tidbits, or even sketches. Not to mention, both items would make super cute gifts for friends and family! So, be sure to visit the Cosmos Creative Shop and take a peak at these beauties. Buy one for your friend, or hoard one for yourself...either way, there will be more lovely goods to come soon, so stay tuned and stay inspired!

From the Sketch Book: #031111 and #030511



Hello and happy St. Patrick's Day folks, I hope this finds you in a prticularly fun mood. I’ve got two new sketches from the sketch book for you today! Despite the fact that I haven't been to the studio in weeks, I have managed to find some time to draw in the comfort of my own living room. Life has gotten the best of me lately and before these two sketches, it had been a while since I last picked up a pen and hit paper. As a result, I don’t think these are as strong as they could’ve been.

Out of the two though, I think I prefer #031111 (top) the most, only because it has an interesting dichotomy happening between the organic and the linear elements. And although there are things that I like about each drawing, the scratchy and loose lines in #030511 (bottom) are driving me a bit crazy; every time I look at the sketch, I want to fix their wobbly stature!

In addition to these two, I did create a couple of other drawings, but I was pretty much repulsed by both of them, so I won't be posting them...and, unless someone digs them out of a box one day (after I’ve left this world) they will never see the light of day. I’m not even sure I signed them. So, there you have it folks, the two sketches that I do like! Feel free to leave me a post and let me your thoughts. There will be more doodles and such to come soon, so stay tuned and stay inspired!

A Micro-Granting Initiative: Providence Provision

(Image via Providence Provision)

Hello peeps! I want to take a quick moment, to tell you about an excellent new non-profit organization that has popped up here in Providence. Just about this time last month, give or take a couple of weeks, I visited one of my favorite blogs in Providence, the biggest little, and stumbled across a post titled, YES. The post showcased nothing but a wonderfully illustrated word…Provision and a link advertising a deadline for proposals…hmm, how very mysterious.

After exploring further (a.k.a, visiting the website), I learned that Providence Provision is a non-profit organization that on the third Sunday of every month hosts, “an underground culinary/economic experience." Basically meaning; a dinner composed of soup, bread, dessert and an opportunity for guests to vote on six proposed projects that have been submitted by artists and other creative thinkers alike. At the end of the meal, the project that receives the most number of votes is rewarded with the net proceeds from the dinner. Each guest is asked to contribute $10 for their dinner. Awards, based on attendance, are expected to be between $300 and $500 dollars.

Overall, it’s a really interesting concept and I was very happy to part take in the nights’ shinanigans. I thoroughly enjoyed my meal, the company of other artists and of course, reading all about the projects and finally casting my vote. If you would like to attend the next Provision, or learn more about the event, be sure to check out pictures here, download the past menu/proposals here, and visit the Providence Provision website here. Happy viewing folks, I hope to see you there!

Spin Art Inspired Cotton Basics!

Great News Folks! Cosmos Creative just added The Spin Collection to our Envelop shop! Now you can buy cotton basics adorned with artwork inspired by spin art. So, be sure to check out the full shop and pick yourself up a bold new pillow cover, or even a stylish new tote bag for the warm months ahead! Happy Shopping!

Maps of the Heart

A Pictorial map of Loveland designed and published by Ernest Dudley Chase

Geographical Guide to a Man's Heart with Obstacles and Entrances by Jo Lowrey for McCall's 1960

Geographical Guide to a Woman's Heart Emphasizing Points of Interest to the Romantic Traveler, by Jo Lowrey for McCall's 1960

Hello and Happy Valentine’s Day folks! In honor of the holiday, I thought I would share these awesome illustrated maps with you. They're from one of my all time favorite books titled, You Are Here: Personal Geographies and Other Maps of the Imagination by Katherine Harmon. As the title suggests, the book is an extensive and fascinating collection of maps. Most of which are illustrated, but vary widely in their content and execution. These three are just a sampling of my favorites on the subject of love and relationships. So, if you find yourself in a bookstore anytime soon, be sure to flip through this lovely read, you won’t be disappointed….Lots of love and hugs to you, enjoy!

Visual Diary: New American Paintings No.90

 

Erin Cone 

So, it looks as though I’m down to a post a month, imagine that. I remember way back in September 2009 when posting once a week wasn’t enough. Those were the good’ole days. Ha! Now it’s February 2011 and the frigin’ cold and snow have me thinking it’s still December.

But none too different, it is February with Valentine’s Day fast approaching. And here I am, eagerly anticipating, not the arrival of a love seeped Valentine, but instead, the latest editions of New American Paintings and Art New England. Woohoo! These publications are two long lost loves, whose company I have not had the pleasure of, in well over a year. But thanks to my brother’s generous Christmas gift, said magazines and myself, will once again be reunited! Thus, I’d like to share with you, my “favorites” from my recently acquired, New American Paintings, Issue #90; Erin Cone, Rebecca Layton, Matt Root and Melissa Wilkinson…Enjoy!

 Rebecca Layton

 Matt Root

Melissa Wilkinson

New Year, New Post!

(Image via Amazon.com)

WOW, I cannot believe that it has been nearly five months since my last post…what a SLACKER I’ve been! Jeez, at first it was the summer…that was my excuse, and then it was the holidays. Now the holidays are over, and here I am finally posting with no excuse other than, I just got distracted. But alas! It’s a new year and a new post!

With that said, I hope you all enjoyed your Holidays thoroughly. I spent the majority of mine relaxing and reading a very entertaining book, Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris. I have never read any of Sedaris’ books prior to this one, but I heard many good things about every book that he has ever written. So sometime in November, I decided that I needed a new book and that my new book would be written by David Sedaris. In the end, I chose Holidays on Ice for one very obvious reason…the holidays were fast approaching. The other less obvious reason, was because it is a collection of stories, rather than a novel. Usually, if I’m not familiar with an author, I will first read a collection of short stories before settling on a novel. It’s a great way to get a sampling of the author’s style, voice and content, before committing to three-hundred, or more pages. Besides, short stories are much more suited to my attention span.

Overall, Holidays on Ice turned out to be the perfect choice! Not only was it a great holiday read, but it made me run out and buy Naked, David Sedaris’ first novel! I would highly recommend Holidays on Ice to anyone. However, I would not recommend it if you’re looking for a happy, feel-good, jolly-holiday read. It is nothing of the sort. It is filled with dark, sarcastic and politically incorrect content that is sure to leave you either laughing-out-loud, or totally perturbed. Either way, I hope that you have a wonderful new year, filled with good fortune and health! Stay happy and stay inspired…more posts to come soon, I promise!