Who can work in this heat?

I'm just sitting here with all the blinds drawn, trying to get my work done. Damn it's hot in San Francisco today.  It is hanging around 95 degrees and we don't have air conditioning.  I really want that cool breeze of autumn to kick in. I guess there is not to be expected for the next few days. So I must... go...on (Ok maybe I'm being a bit dramatic?) but I have too much work to to be feeling gross and sticky. This week I plan to finish those sketches for my mini book so I can start working on the final pieces and get the book laid out and finished.

I also am starting a new project for Glob Natural Paints.  I'm creating coloring pages which will downloadable on their site and then gathered all together and turned into a coloring book to sell online.  It is gonna be a fun project to work on. It will be something that I will try to keep pretty simple and humorous. It will be an an interesting research project on how to create books that are inexpensive to make and green. I've never made a coloring book before so it should be good opportunity to learn something new. I better get back to it.

Here is my homage to a second summer:

It is so hot out there...The photo has melted...via bibliothequede toulouse

I'm not sure how cool she is but I like her style...via george eastman house

Gimme a sunhat and I'm right there with you... via nationaal archief

Hope you are all out there enjoying the first week of autumn.

Back to School?

We'll, maybe not for me this year (I wish) but the kiddo's in San Francisco went back on Monday.  Going back to school was always awesome in my book.  It reminds me of the excitement I would feel the first day of class. I loved seeing all my friends and all the changes they went through that summer.  Do you remember showing off all your new school clothes and hoping you got it right this year? Do you remember the dusty smell of old books versus new notepads and pencils?  Oh yes, and do you remember the secret happiness of so many learning possibilities (yes, I am a geek and I'm not afraid to admit it)?

I came across these wonderful pictures of the innocence and stark reality at the Library of Congress site on Flickr, and I thought I'd share them.  Step into the time machine...

It is pretty cool/scary to see what changes have happened to this map since 1940.

Many kids squished into a tiny classroom.

Could you imagine if they still did this in schools? Get your shots kid, no crying.

"Buy War Bonds" and no books on the shelf...Damned Depression.

I'm thinking this must me a one room school house...could you imagine?

All of these pictures were taken by John Vachon in a small town in St. Augustine County, Texas in 1940. Pretty amazing,..Don't you agree?

Time Traveling with Eugene Atget

As you all know, I am a huge fan of vintage photography. I fell upon these lovelies in the George Eastman galleries on Flickr. Imagine yourself walking down these streets. They are so beautiful. The photographer, Eugene Atget  captures Paris brilliantly. I want to visit each and every shop and buy everything there and walk around to all the restaurants smell all the food cooking around me. The sights and grittiness of these pictures have me yearning for this world. It love the pealing paint and all the amazing detail on even the smallest of things.

I also love the silence in the photographs. There is no movement or people, just quiet. It makes me want to take a bunch of Sepia photos like this around my fair city. Maybe that will be my task for next week. Have a happy weekend in your city, everyone.

 Avenue de l'Observatoie (1926)

 

Boulevard de Strasbourg (1912)

 

Cour de Rouen - passage du Commerce (1908)

Bon Marche (1926-1927)

Au Griffon - 39 quai de l’Horloge (1902-1903)

 

Boulevard de Strasbourg (1926)

(Are those chastity belts on the top row?)

 

Boutique Jouets (1919-1911)

 

Au Port Salut - Cabaret Rue des Fosses St. Jacques (1903)

 

Marchand de vin rue Boyer (1910-1911)

Pretty incredible, don't you agree?

Feeling the holiday cheer?

Ah... the holidays. I always feel so rushed and crazy. I always design things in my head for people the go looking for them and can never quite find what I envision. I'm going to make my first Christmas cards.   Hopefully they will be done in time. I'm wishing for miracles and awesome time management skills this year.
Wish me luck and hope that the Christmas spirit engulfs me. Here's to a night of tree decorating!

Thanks Library of Congress for this pic .