Is it too late to shout SUMMER BREAK? This Birdy is getting ready to fly the coop for a few days. Just a short trip, but one I've been looking forward to. An annual trek to the hot deserts of Nevada to meet up with family for a reunion, plus seeing an old friend.
The Birdy may have lost her mind, but she's in good company - blame it on the heat, but I had an odd moment of sketchbook inspiration recently, after watching the season finale of NBC's Hannibal and a super-marathon of HBO's Girls. I came to the realization that Hannibal's feverish, Asperger syndrome FBI profiler Will Graham and Girls' self-obsessed, OCD-mania heroine Hannah Horvath were like kindred spirits in their ability to pretty much feel EVERYTHING on the freakin' planet. Both series are all about exploring these characters' suffering, and essentially doing nothing about it, otherwise there just wouldn't be a show. So here's to you, Will and Hannah.
Ever wonder what the character Juno would be like in the world of A.A. Milne's Winnie the Pooh? Of course not, who thinks like that? I mean, besides me, while driving in the car one random day. I didn't draw this in the car, I'm pretty sure that would be as illegal as trying to text while driving, but the movie/children's book mashup stayed in my head long enough for me to see it through in the ol' sketchbook one afternoon. And so here it is!
You know what this Sunday is....The drama! The anguish! The human experience boiled down to crucial moments, displayed on the television. Yeah, that's right, Downton Abbey! I know there's that other big Super Sunday event, the one with dudes running around a big field, chasing after a oblong-shaped ball that's called a pigskin, yet oddly covered in cowhide (no one questions this...?). Given last week's OMG-DID-YOU-SEE-WHAT-HAPPENED Downton episode, this Sunday, along with the whole upcoming season is fraught with anticipatory, yet overly-civilized drama. And we eat it up with a bouillabaisse spoon.
Yes, Downton Abbey just a big costume soap opera, but it's oddly addictive -- even Mr. Magpie is hooked and he's the one who suggested we watch it. Oh, Snap!This doodle was brought to you by my bored mind, on the back of some work note scratchpaper. I was clearly distracted with a mashup of Downtown and Superbowl Sunday, plus this hilarious video, which I think is an appropriate thing to share:
So get ready to get Down-ton this Super Sunday. Remember which spoon goes with which course, get them elbows off the table as you're eating your spicy hot wings in the most civilized way possible, and let us all pray like Tebow for the upstairs/downstairs souls that lurk within the halls of Downton Abbey! 37-23-42 - HIKE!
This Bird has talked about this before, but sometimes you have to have a Lazy Sunday now and then. I was a fully-realized couch potato not long ago, armed with a long afternoon of Discovery Channel nature programs and a friend's request to draw a squirrel with gloves. I know, it's a random thing, and the explanation demystifies the idea of seeing a squirrel wearing gloves, so let's just leave things vague, shall we? But that didn't explain what compelled me to draw a fox with thick-rimmed glasses or a fussy ladybug with too many legs, somehow holding a parasol. These are all mysteries not meant to be challenged on a Lazy Sunday. So let's just dwell in mystery for a week on the Jaunty Magpie, shall we?
Tis the Season for Fall Trends in Bloom! Although the Birdy admits she's still in a summery mood. I'm pleased to see it's not a hairpin-turn for dramatically different autumn styles. There's quite a few things that with a few modifications, could go from summer to fall. These three in particular were ones I liked: bold but simple cat-eye eyeliner paired with a bright lip color, strappy metallic heels (closed toe for fall), and rocking the maxi dress with a fitted jacket.
I saw these while flipping through the pleasantly plump fall issues of fashion magazines gracing, er, weighing down the magazine stands. While there's no drastic upturn in the economy, I'm glad to see the thickness of magazines has returned. Emaciated periodicals, begone! And these are the easy-breezy, style-simple ideas swimming in my head for the upcoming months of holiday get-togethers and a winter wedding for a friend. Because who wants to fuss when there's a party to be had?
What about you -- what seasonal trends are you looking forward to wearing this fall and winter?
The Birdie refuses silly hats and goofy group seranades that end in "...and many moooore... on Channel Foouuur." Yes, the Bird is celebrating another year of older, but oddly, never any wiser. The biggest gift I gave myself was a little retail therapy after collecting all the "it's your birthday!" discount coupons that stores tempt you with when you sign up for everything under the sun. A nice thing about a springtime birthday is you catch a lot of midseason sales. It had been a while since I really looked for clothes. My latest wardrobe additions have been through clothing swaps, which I have to say are FANTASTIC. I fully embrace the "New to Me" phrase for previously owned goods, because "vintage" just gets overused to the max.
But this was a special shopping trip. I found some truly brand new things to add to the Jaunty Wardrobe. So new, I haven't had a chance to photograph and figure out ways to fully use them to their Inspiredpotential, but I couldn't wait and am letting the Jaunty Sketchbook give a scribbly sneak peek.
I did have two things on my list of spring must-have's -- colorful, bright denim, and a blousy, loose button down shirt. Colorful denim is everywhere and I like this trend because it's the same idea behind really wild and colorful pedicures. Bright colors are fun to wear and having unusual colors on the lower half, away from the face, is just more flattering, as it won't add or take away a healthy color on your face. I found these great minty bright green pants from Anne Taylor Loft, which are very wearable with just about anything. And I nabbed a simple, oversized button-down cream blouse, which I've been wanting forever. It's such a simple basic, but it's when you realize you have a closet full of crazy, you're reminded basics are a must. Everything was on clearance, even a cute boatneck sailor-striped sweater, and I'm not ashamed to say I got away with everything around $54 total, with the help of the 15% birthday discount. You have to use a store credit card to get the discount, but since it's their card, you can pay the balance off right there, which I did, so no unbirthday balance waiting for you later in the month.
My shopping indulgence was at one of my favorite stores, Anthropologie (of course). They send adorable birthday cards, you should sign up to get their catalogs and offers just to see what they send out every year. This year's card was precious, with a little clock on an orange string with "me" on the face, to imply the idea that it's "me" time. Amen to that.They offer an overall 15% discount off your entire purchase, so it's a good idea if you're getting several things. I considered getting a bunch of small items, but got drawn into a gorgeous orange and mint Twinkle by Wenlan wrap dress with kimono-style sleeves. It's stunning, I totally fell in love with it, and to top it all off, it was on sale. I'm over the moon about this dress, even moreso by the fact I will totally wear it in the fall and winter months with boots and tights, even a thin turtleneck layered underneath -- the print is strong enough to where it won't seem too floaty for autumn. The sketch doesn't even do it justice, but believe me, I felt like Indiana Jones finding the Lost Ark when I discovered this gem. And not a poison-tipped dart or pesky death boulder in sight. Happy Birthday to me.
So yes, despite getting old(er), I've got a smile on my face and some new things to brighten up the closet. Jaunty Fine Print: Illustrations by Denise Sakaki
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