A Good Read

During these trying times, it’s a constant reminder to pay attention to the little things. For example, reading a good ol’ fashion book. I’m a big fan of the public library (the Harold Washington in Chicago a wonderful place to purse the shelves). I love everything abut books – the smell, turning the pages (instead of scrolling down!) , and even the way the top of the spine gets handled and weathered from people pulling it out of the shelves with their index finger.

I am currently reading A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith. It’s a good read and since I am always on the go and take mostly buses and trains from point A to B, I can do a lot of reading in one day. The book is highly descriptive, which sometimes can drag a little for me, but not in this case. I feel like I know each character allows me to catch a glimpse a girl’s coming to age story pre-WWI. I feel like there’s always a little bit of the author in his or her’s main character. This little piece makes the book a little more wonderful. The main character, Francie is determined to move up in the world despite the cards dealt to her. Her resourcefulness is inspiring, especially with this recession. We’re all hanging in there, even if by a thread and even I don’t know the future of my main paycheck, but I know I will be ok. I was once told (right after college) by a friend that I was one of the most resourceful people she knew. I feel like I’ve lost that in the past year or two and need to refocus back on the simple things that make me happy.
I’ll be doing a lot of designing (more wedding invites!) and book binding this weekend. Hope everyone has a good one!

Alchemy of Cooperation opening

Us ladies at { Fill in the Blank } gallery are proud to present the talented Tim Campbell and the lovely Alice DuBois.

I N F O :
Friday, March 6th 8-11pm
show runs from March 6th – April 26th
Painters Alice K. DuBois and Timothy L. Campbell are obsessed with alchemy. And each other. One of DuBois’ favorite books, and an influence on her art, is The Hermetic Museum: Alchemy & Mysticism. At her recommendation, Campbell read this book and quickly found its contents to be a deep source of inspiring material. THE ALCHEMY OF COOPERATION is an exhibition of their individual alchemical explorations, as well as collaborative works.

Love Birds on Woodgrain

Two-color letterpress 4bar card. This little card is up in the Etsy Shop.

It’s late and I should be getting off to bed soon! Just wanted to share the little love birds.

Wedding Bells + palm trees

For some reason, I’ve always wanted to avoid printing wedding cards, but I really had fun working on these. They are a two color print on a Vandercook Universal I on 140lb (so yummy) Mr. French Paper.

I loved the colors Jennie picked and that she wanted to have a fun, colorful invitation.

I have another wedding gig lined up after this, so it looks like Paper Parasol is in the wedding business.

Love my Filed Fabels!

Over the weekend I escaped out to an art show curated by Amy from Art School Girl at Willow and picked these two file cards. I was torn between the two, and decided to get both. These lovely pieces are a collaboration between Art School Girl and Denise Ann Simon . I absolutely love the hand drawn illustrations with the vintage book collages. The file labels have a nice smooth surface perfect for a pen and ink drawing. I think these will look great in a floating frame!

And on an unrelated note – goodness, the human body is truly an amazing thing! I got food poisoning on Sunday and it’ just amazing how the body works to remove foreign, harmful elements. I am feeling much better now, thank goodness!

Happy Friday the 13th!

Congtrats to the winner of the art giveawayy – Drew Lee picked Jude Buffum’s name!
Jude, please kindly email me at: ctomczyk@gmail.com with your address so I can send the print your way!

I always love when people I don’t know win – it’s a good way to connect with strangers far away. Like pen pals, right? Which by the way, in Junior High I had like 12 pen pals. I somehow figured if I was ever going to be a world traveler, it would be wise to know people everywhere. I am still working on the world-traveling gig… it may be a while still.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Platen Press Museum

This past Friday I went to visit the Platen Press Museum in Zion, Illinois with my friend Jen. If you have a great appreciation for the letterpress process visiting this relic is a must! Paul Aken is so wonderful and knowledgeable. Just make sure you call ahead to plan your visit. He has a plethora of industrial objects from days past: staplers, toy presses, perforating machines, C + P presses, a Vandercook, hot foil stampers, a Heidelberg windmill press hailing from Germany, and many other ancient gadgets.

some photos from our adventure

lovely + large C + P presses
It was so nice getting out of the city via Metra train. I headed up the North Shore line and not only was it a free day from the constraints of a cubicle, but the weather was on our side. It was the first time I ever took the train north. I miss the days where I had a few good weekdays to explore, learn, and take in. The world is rushed. Vacations are rushed and everything your grew up with appreciating is limited. Maybe as we get older there is less time to take in, to breath, less room for adventure… It makes me feel helpless and automatonic. I hate the numbness of it all and hope that this isn’t it. The hard work has to pay off eventually, right? So, don’t forget to appreciate the little time we have and the fresh air.

Oh, the sex issues!

These illustrations are in the San Francisco Bay Guardian this week, just in time to get ya’ll ready for Valentine’s day! The rest of the 3rd illustration is a little scandalous, just the way we like it! Editorial assignments are a little different than my usual work and it’s good to mix it up!

The Lovely Laura

This Friday from 5-8pm at the Paper Boy on Belmont, my dear friend and art comrade, Laura Berger is having an art opening. I am bummed I won’t be able to make it, but you should try to get out there! What I love best about her work is that it has a heart and often her wonderful characters are reminding you that, “You are (indeed) doing everything right.” For overly self-critical minds, like myself, it’s a nice reminder. She is also incredibly nice and generous, so tip a hat to her and say, “‘ello!”

Please visit Laura’s blog for more wonderful art and her etsy if you would like to purchase art.

{ A R T O P E N I N G }
Laura Berger
Paper Boy
1351 W. Belmont
5-8pm.
wine + cheese + art + cards

February Art Giveaway!

For the Birds

2 color letterpress print on Crane’s Lettra. Print size is 8 X 10. I printed this lady on a Vandercook Universal I. I will draw a name on lucky Friday the 13th of February! Please leave a comment below to be thrown into the mix!

{ the frame is not included, but for display only }