A little while back I was attending a conference where I participated in a 'discussion workshop' (which apparently means you just sit around and talk) about autobiographical comics. It turned out to be a total fad, mostly because the guy leading the workshop openly proclaimed to hate the entire genre (and refused to call it that) and pretty much told everyone he felt keeping an illustrated journal was childish and narcissistic. Needless to say I was totally into the ensuing conversation and felt very comfortable to share my own self-obsessed work.

However, I think he's wrong. And possibly just old and mean and wrong (yes, I'm very grown up where it comes to handling disagreements). Mostly because one of the reasons I keep an illustrated journal is because so thoroughly enjoy reading about other people's ordinary (and extraordinary) lives. An example: I recently discovered Kathy MacLeod's work and it's just awesome. I love her spot-on observations and the apparent easy by which she draws about her days. Also, she has a cat. And I have a cat, too. Really, we're like twins. Almost.

Links: Blog | Facebook | Twitter

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My friend Debbie pointed out this brilliant LEGO campaign by Jung von Matt. I love it.
via The Inspiration (includes more examples). Can you guess them all?




Links: Full post on The Inspiration | Jung von Matt

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There comes a point in each girl's live where she has to decide whether she wants to be cool or whether she wants to be nice. Now, of course, it's clear that I don't do ultimatums, so I chose both (I think it's pretty cool to be nice), but over at Flipboard, they mostly think I'm pretty cool as they've made me a 'Cool Curator'!

Flipboard is a cool and nice app for your iPad that turns all of your social media and rss feeds into a very pretty-looking 'magazine'. I use it all the time and am also a big fan of their featured streams, as it helps me find new artists and blogs.

So head on over to Flipboard.com or the iTunes app store and download Flipboard. Once you've decided that this app is indeed pretty nice, check out the tab 'Cool Curators' and voilà! You can read this blog in a cool magazine-like fashion!

Enjoy and a big thank you to Mia from Flipboard for choosing me! I am so so very honored!

Links: Flipboard.com | Flipboard iTunes App Store
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Nelleke verhoeff is an illustrator, animator and photographer from Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Although she mostly does illustration now, she has a background in theatre - which, I think, clearly shows. Her new blog 'a face a day' is an expression of Nelleke's love of faces, characters, masks and expressions and it's lovely.

Every day Nelleke presents us a new, fresh face as part of her collection and what I love the most about this is that sometimes you're not sure if this person she's depicted is someone she knows, someone she observed, or simply a face that sprung from her own imagination. Her blog then becomes a blog full of random encounters with people you may or may not ever meet.

Links: Website | Blog | Flickr


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Florent Chavouet is a French illustrator, whose work is mostly comprised of journal-like drawings of his travels in Japan. I'm a huge fan of his work and I'm at a loss to even describe how inspirational his drawings are to me. They make me feel completely energized and hopeless at the same time. Energized because his style is one of the coolest things I've come across in the past few years, and hopeless because I know I will never be able to emulate his brilliance.

So anyways, he just put a hilarious series of drawings on his blog, roughly describing the recipe for okonomiyaki. It's worth checking out (as are his books!). Links: Website | Blog | Books


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I absolutely ADORE paint samples and often sneak in and out of hardware stores to get some to use in my art journal and mood boards. So, today, some simple ideas on what else you can do with those sweet, multifunctional, color cards!


I came across this idea on Pinterest and after some detective work, I found it on Brooke's Grace and Light blog. I love this idea because it's so very simple and original. Kind of like paperclips, but prettier. Link: Paper Punch Garland Tutorial


This one is a little more complicated (eek! rulers!), but I think if you're a designer or artist, this awesome card holder made out of paint sample chips will really leave an impression with your fellow minglers. Bravo for DesignVerb! Link: Paint Chip Card Holders Tutorial


And finally... yeah. I know. This one looks exhausting to me too, but it's so so so pretty I might just consider quitting my job, buying a house (still need to work out the order/financial plan behind these two steps), and recreating this look in my bedroom. I am sure my boyfriend will be thrilled. Found on Design*Sponge (where else?). Link: DIY Idea: Paint Strip Wall Decoration


Alrighty! Enjoy your Monday! Hope it'll be a colorful day for you!


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Hey there!

Just a quick message to all you Dutchies out there: I wrote another guest post for Etsy's Dutch Handmade blog! This time it's about Swishing! Enjoy!
Link: With love from Belgium: Swishing


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