Yes. Friday. Hard to tell when you are unemployed. BUT I have yet to veg out and watch any random tv shows like Matlock or Saved by the Bell, or, a worse fate, an entire Columbo movie. I have actually been quite busy!

Here is the week in review:

• Tricia became obsessed with many things
• I become unemployed, then blogged about it
• We found 10 accessories for book lovers
• We have established that Ray Fenwick, though not my boyfriend, makes super-cool things that you can purchase
  

By the way, that picture of Barack Obama and me? NOT photoshopped! Okay, but I did buy a life-sized cardboard cutout of Obama (BEFORE I was unemployed). Yes, I took him on a picnic in the woods. And now he is in my living room. Although, sometimes I find him in the kitchen or the bathroom. Either my roommates are moving him or he’s alive.

BONUS LINK TO COOL BLOG POST ON ANOTHER BLOG

Okay, Ray Fenwick is not my boyfriend. I really just meant that as a general expression of love and affection for his art. Sorry. For the confusion. Sorry Ray. Sorry Ray’s possible significant other. Sorry everyone else. Sorry co-editor Tricia for soiling Stickers & Donut’s image as a reputable source.

Anyway, so I’ve been scouring Ray’s bright and beautiful web-site ever since my friend bought me some fantastically funny bookplates he made for Tiny Showcase. (He is a master of hand-lettering.) Then I realized I had admired some of his work on Threadless, and elsewhere on Tiny Showcase. Then I realized I was in love, which was also about the time I wrote the title of the post.

I love Ray Fenwick’s web-site, but there are several issues I have with it: (1) I want everything, (2) I cannot have everything, (3) I need help locating the things I could, potentially, have.

SO, to increase the problems presented by 1 & 2, and hopefully solve 3, I’ve collected some places where you employed people can purchase Ray Fenwick’s work so you don’t have to merely look at it lovingly on your computer screen, sighing occasionally.

1. Etsy (Pantry Press). This is where you can purchase some fabulously letterpressed Ray Fenwick designs, including 8 Letterpress Cards for $36 (shown in image above).
2. Threadless. He has several T-shirt designs, one of which (“Magical Powers” $35) was chosen to be a Threadless Print design (as you may know, I love the prints because you can’t wear T-shirts all the time, but you can always keep a print on your wall!).
3. Flickr. THERE IS SO MUCH HERE. You can buy prints, or flip through books before you purchase. Highlights include:
   • Images from his beautiful book, Hall of Best Knowledge (availible for $20 on Fantagraphics books)
   • Coffee Money Zine. Funniest. Idea. Ever. Basically, you buy a mini-book of some daily sketches and drawings, and he uses that money to buy coffee. ($73.85, for a breakdown of how that money is used on coffee visit the link!) You can also look through several of these zines.
   • Drama Club. (They were once daily comics, but actually they are not for sale as far as I can tell.
4. Blue Q RF Merchandise. My favorite is the Being Rich is Awesome Coin Purse, but there are others including: Don’t Freak Out Shopper Tote Bag and Feed the Coinbeast Coin Purse.
5. Tiny Showcase. Yes, you can get a really huge Life of Mystery poster ($12, I own one and have talked about it at least 2 other times on here…), Book Plates, and more.

By the way, the Ray Fenwick logo at the top of the image is from his webpage which you should visit. Because it has more stuff than I can possibly post here.

1. Smart Women Read Between the Lines: A Readers’ Journal ($15, amazon.com) (CONFESSION: I think this is, like so many reader journals, unfortunately wide-ruled.)
2. How to Read Literature Like a Professor: A Lively & Entertaining Guide to Reading Between the Lines by Thomas C. Foster ($12, amazon.com) (CONFESSION: Have not read this, but have heard many good things about it, and as a proud former part English major I come pre-packaged with enthusiasm.)
3. Conceal: Invisible Bookshelf ($11, organize.com) (CONFESSION: I have posted about this before because it’s so cool! If you stack enough books, it looks like they are just floating on the wall.)
4. Bookplates from Tiny Showcase by Ray Fenwick ($5, set of 10) (CONFESSION: My friend gave me these for my Bday. PERFECT GIFT!)
5. Recycled Card Catalog Mini-Notebooks by Blue Valentine Press (set of 3, $7, Etsy)
6. Shakespeare Hates Your Emo Poetry ($15, Threadless / TypeTees)
7. Steven Colbert Natural Canvas Tote Bag ($12, Barnes & Noble) (CONFESSION: I think Tricia has this bag. It’s too funny because Colbert’s head looks just like all of the “writer head totes” they have. Also, as I noted in my Stereotyping Poets post, bookworms need tote bags.)
8. Record Bookend by ICK Design ($15, Etsy)
9. Personal Library Kit ($25, FredFlare) (CONFESSION: This makes me want to play library.)
10. Book Lists: Oprah’s Book Club List, My Penguin’s Set Post (CONFESSION: These are not shown in the image above. Ten makes a much better list than nine.)

I will accept the following at maria@stickersanddonuts.com: job tips, presents, money, condolences.

1. Good Magazine. This graphically designed wonder is focused on issues important to moving our world forward. And, you can get it for as little as ONE DOLLAR. No matter how much you spend, all proceeds go to charity. You don’t even need to prove you’re unemployed!
2. French Press ($13, Ikea). If you can no longer drink office coffee or afford the Starbucks-splurge, then a French Press might be the cheapest and easiest way to get your drug-fix — especially because you can use it to make milk FOAM (latte, perhaps?). (REALLY, just pour the milk in and pump it up and down. If you’re using skim milk, it should be cold or it doesn’t foam as well.)
3. The Office (or any TV series). A good television series or two can keep you occupied for weeks! The Office is a good choice because you don’t HAVE to go to an office everyday. Ways you can watch The Office for cheap? New episodes are free online, Netflix them, buy ‘em cheap at half.com, or check the library.
4. Get some good, inexpensive wine, and drink yourself into oblivion. I mean. Don’t do that! You’re not UNEMPLOYED; you’re FREE. Drink yourself silly with happiness?
5. Get Crafty. Use ReadyMade’s free Project Archive to get organized or make things. Since you have lots of time, but hardly any money, you can make your family some fun holiday gifts, like weirdly shaped soaps. You don’t have a job. They’ll forgive you.
6. Go to the library. As noted in #3, you can find good stuff at the library. You can catch up on the one million books you’ve been meaning to read. To get closer to your own laid-off / fired / unemployed pain, try Then We Came to the End, about an advertising agency going through a business downturn. Really funny!

I love mail.  Especially, you know, those days when YOUR-OFFICE-COFFEE-MUG-THAT-YOU-HAD-TO-USE-SINCE-YOU-FORGOT-TO-WASH-YOUR-TIGHT-MUG-TIPS-OVER-IN-YOUR-BAG-AND-RUINS-YOUR-RECENTLY (5 MINUTES PRIOR)-OBTAINED-NEW-YORKER-RESULTING-IN-A-PUCKERED-MESS.  Those days.

Then, you receive a wondrous package full of marvelous treasures.  Which leads to a (non) ostentatious yelp: “SCORE! I’M LOVED!”  As a result, everything seems right in the world again.  At least for the next five minutes, before the euphoria wears off.

1.  Sneakers!  I’m grateful to be in a situation where I am both debt free, and have no major expenses (babies, mortgage).  This is how I rationalize owning four (now five) pairs of sneakers.  I have always wanted metallic shoes; The origins of this desire are dubious.  I do, however, like shiny things.  I wanted metallic shoes so badly, that I even considered purchasing my first pair of Converse.  Only the metallic silver.  Ultimately I vetoed that idea, because I refuse to spend $70 on Converse.

I first found out about TOMS a couple of years ago, and since then, I toyed with the idea of getting a pair.  After all, for every pair of TOMS purchased, a needy child gets a pair of TOMS.  This is documented on YouTube HERE.   FURTHERMORE, I wear Vans because I am lazy, and TOMS are also shoelace-less.  THEN, I found out that TOMS come in GLITTER.  After consulting with a few people, I ended up choosing the gold.  And I got them on sale.  Obviously, it was destiny to get gold glitter TOMS.  When I received them, I was surprised because they have a PLUSH, LEATHER SOLES.  On an “arch-support” scale, TOMS falls in between PUMAs (extra support) and Vans (no support).  Perfect!   I am very obsessed with my luminous feet, and whenever I wear them, I find myself compulsively looking down.  I guess I’m afraid that one day I’ll look down, all the glitter will have fallen off, and I will be overcome with clouds and lightning bolts. So far, my feet are still as lustrous as San Diego.  (PS- If you decide to get TOMS, don’t believe reviewers on Zappos and Amazon, etc.  Like the TOMS website notes, the sneakers fit true to size.  Misled, I thought they would run small (one of the reasons why I chose the gold over the silver).  On the contrary, they are quite roomy and stretch-out.  Yes, the pictures above are of my actual TOMS (and my feet).

2. Recently, I’ve been listening to the Smiths.  A lot.  Morrissey’s voice is as soothing as those baby stuff animals that play waterfall sound bites.  Simile with Morrissey? I just made one.

3. I made diet coke cupcakes for the first time (in a LONG time).  Almost a year?  I’m not sure.  For those of you who don’t know what I’m talking about, you mix a can of diet coke with a box of cake mix.  Pour the batter into cupcake sleeves, and bake according to instructions.  Voila!  Potentially less calories.  Except, I put a lot of icing on my cupcakes.  And sprinkles.  When I used to bake these, I would share them with everyone.  Now I have no one to share them with, so I’ll probably end up eating 20+ cupcakes.  Womp womp.

(CLOSE-UP!)

4.  OH MY GOODNESS.  A couple weeks ago, JetPens sent me a yellow orange body, blue ink Zebra Airfit Jell Gel Ink Pen.  Since then, I’ve been testing it- doodles and such.  As illustrated above, I even *chronicled* every time I used this pen from 10/28-11/6.

It is the best 0.5mm pen that I have ever used, and it is the third best pen that I’ve ever owned.

I usually find 0.5mm to be too thick, but this pen is exceptional.  The tip is incredibly precise- no chunky gel blobs at all.  Crisp lines all the time.  I even subjected the pen to a smiley test (pass), squiggle test (pass), and water-boarding test (SURPRISINGLY, PASS.  The ink did not even bleed, despite all the water droplets that I flung at the paper.  I included a scan of my water-droplet test results below.  The paper was kind of wrinkly, but the ink didn’t even quiver a little.  ALSO OF NOTE:  I accidentally spilled coffee on my test sheet today, and the ink still held up.  What a trooper.)

In additional to performing well, the Zebra Airfit is impeccably designed.  Did the name sound suspicious to you? Well, the pen grip contains AIR POCKETS, so your fingers never get sweaty.  I even drew a cross-sectional view of the grip!  This is the pen’s official description on JetPens:

The Zebra Airfit can be found all over Asia, but it is strangely hard to find in the US. It is one of the more popular pens because of its comfortable rubber grip, binder style clip that allows it to be attached to thicker objects, and ergonomic body shape. This new fine tip 0.5 mm gel Airfit pen gives you smooth writing satisfaction. Like the pilot AirBlanc, the grip also has a layer of air between the rubber grip and the body of the pen to allow heat conduction from your fingers. Perhaps it’s because of the hot weather in Asia, but cool hands seem to be an important factor in Japanese pen design! Yes, we guess this can make a great companion during first time job interviews.

I may not be interviewing for any jobs right now, but sometimes crosswords can be stressful.  “___Thurman, ___Thurman, Crap!  How come I can’t remember her first name?!”  This whole scenario is highly ficitious (GATTACA *is* one of my favorite movies, and I’d never forget Uma), but at the moment I can’t think of any other crossword clue examples.  My only complaint in regards to the grip, is that like other rubber grips, it easily attracts dust.  Finally, the clip mentioned in the description?  It is honestly HUGE.  Basically a clothes pin tacked on to a pen.  Delightful!  JetPens (Available in blue/white/light blue/pink/yellow barrels with blue/black/blue-black/red ink refills, $4.50)

5. Approximately two months ago, S&D interviewed The Bubble Process- A tight poster printing duo that is composed of two males of outstanding moral fiber.  Just last week, The Bubble Process released a dazzling new Girl Talk poster.  One of the best shows I ever attended was a Girl Talk show the week of Halloween 2xx6, in a shitty/shifty Ithaca bar.  If you have never seen him before, I highly recommend that you find tickets (They’re hard to find these days!  He is in high demand!).  To fully enjoy Girl Talk, you must let yourself get swallowed by the undulating body slamming, and embrace the lovely diaphoresis.  It makes the post-Girl Talk extra large pop more satiating.  I am infatuated with this poster, because it embodies Girl Talk.  I love the juxtaposed gumball machine and crystal ball, and the turban’d man overprinted on the wild purple-people.  So visually engaging! I’m enraptured! The Bubble Process, $20

–

TWO S&D CONTESTS:

• Still giving away 10 ipod accessory sets until 12pm 12am tonight (11/14)!
• Giving away Mrs. Grossman’s Sticker Prize Pack until 12pm 12am Sunday (11/16)

CATCH UP ON THIS WEEK’S S&D READING

• How about an interview with the Creative Director of Mrs. Grossman’s?
• Dream about Penguin’s book and posters sets, including George Orwell posters by Shepard Fairey!
• Check out the Pushing Daisies Fashion Guide. Full of bright, cheery outfits. Also, fun stuff going on in the comments section.

BONUS: Click here or on the image above for an entertaining widget full of widgets. (Via Design You Trust)

SUSAN ESLICK IS CURRENTLY OBSESSED WITH THE FOLLOWING THINGS (a few of which I have commented on):

1. OBAMA (Have you been to www.change.gov yet? You can even apply for a job on the site! Question. How many people do you think have applied to be the family’s puppy walker?)
2. CNN (I have tepid feelings towards Wolf Blitzer, but I love Anderson Cooper.)
3. Vintage labels
4. Stickers (I LOVE MRS. GROSSMAN’S CHUBBY LINE.)
5. Mad Men (Do you remember Maria’s fabulous Dyna Moe interview?)
6. Comfortable shoes
7. Typography from the 50s
8. Bahn mi (These Vietnamese sandwiches are so great! The best one that I ever had was from Ba-Le in Oahu).
9. Saving money
10. Italian ceramics
11. Cava
12. Small chairs
13. Manchego cheese
14. Eye glasses (The above glasses are from Eyebuydirect, where Maria purchased her last pair of glasses).
15. Fabulous packaging
16. Blown glass
17. Small kids in Halloween costumes
18. My cat.

ONE MORE THING LEFT IN S&D’S GREAT MRS. GROSSMAN’S SERIES!

A contest!

My dear bunnies, you are in for a treat! Mrs. Grossman’s has put together an exclusive prize pack for one lucky S&D reader. This prize pack includes Susan Eslick’s favorite stickers! To enter, email me with the correct answer to the following question:

What was the very first Mrs. Grossman’s sticker?

You have until Sunday, 11/16. The correct responses will be numbered, and the winner will be chosen randomly using this random number generator. And please title your email entry with something…you know…cute. Like “BALLER MRS. GROSSMAN’S CONTEST.” (Not that your chances of winning will increase if you have a cooler title. I am just fishing for a giggle. Selfish, I know.)

Tricia’s Notes & Picture Credits:
The font is Adam Gorry Lights by Senitel Type, which is available here. Image of Manchego Cheese from here. Bahn mi image taken by stu_spivack.

Oh, you know what I am talking about. Like the most magnificent quadruple-quadruple-quadruple-quadruple rolls of ultra-soft toilet paper, except they are MADE OUT OF GLOSSY PAPER. WITH LOTS OF STICKERS. AND PERFORATED SECTIONS. If I want EXACTLY 45.5 inches of Chubby Dinosaurs, I can make it happen.

And who grants me the opportunity to make my chubby dinosaur dream a reality? The pioneer of the sticker roll: Mrs. Grossman’s!

Based in Petaluma, California, Mrs. Grossman’s has been manufacturing stickers for nearly thirty years! Founded by Andrea Grossman (yes, “Mrs. Grossman” is an actual person), Andrea created the sticker roll rather cosmically. The website states:

In 1979, a local paper store asked for a red heart sticker to decorate shopping bags for Valentine’s Day. Andrea couldn’t find anybody who made such a thing, so she carefully cut a heart out of black artist’s paper and sent it to a label printer, and forgot about it.

Three weeks later, a big carton arrived from the printer. When Andrea opened the box, she gasped! Instead of being printed on flat sheets like she expected, the hearts had been mistakenly printed on rolls, like ribbon. The visual impact of these beautiful rolls was extraordinary, and suddenly Andrea realized that these hearts had the potential to be way more than a Valentine’s Day novelty - they could be a product!

The sticker empire annually prints 15,000 miles of stickers (which, for me, is equivalent to 18.75 trips to see my NYC friends). Propelled by sticker artists (an actual job!!!) and talented designers, Mrs. Grossman’s has transformed EVERYTHING into a sticker! This is no exaggeration- Mrs. Grossman’s deserves that capital “everything.” Unconventional highlights of Mrs. Grossman’s current sticker collection include: chimpanzees, dog biscuits, chubby sea life, turkeys, woodland animals, ropes & knots, construction equipment, motorcycles, and celebration pets. An unprecedented opportunity to interview Susan Eslick, CREATIVE DIRECTOR OF MRS. GROSSMAN’S, conjured simultaneous squeals (Maria in Queens, me in Chicago). Which triggered heart palpitations and rapid gasping, a response that only mirrors my reaction to Georgina’s parents sending her to Penance, the boot camp for troubled girls. Conclusion! Maria and I simply adore Mrs. Grossman’s!!!! ONWARD TO THE INTERVIEW!

1. So let’s say I’m Sofia Coppola, and I want to film a biopic on YOU. Discuss what it would contain (filming locations, and a condensed plot summary which chronicles your rise to sticker stardom). Please be as accurate as possible. No castles or dragons. Unless, however, they are legitimately present in your life history.

Locations
Act 1: Buffalo, New York
Act 2: Providence, RI
Act 3: San Francisco, CA

Soundtrack
Todd Rundgren
Talking Heads
Rufus Wainwright

Plot Summary
Young designer spends her childhood drawing on any flat surface that presents itself and confounding her parents with requests for Eames chairs, instead of a canopy bed for her room. Spends four years studying printmaking at the Rhode Island School of Design [Production Note: Can we get Dale Chihuly to do a cameo?] Our heroine follows her dreams, talents and stomach to San Francisco, where she builds a successful career as a home furnishings designer and plays endless games of restaurant roulette. As she creeps toward the big 5-0, her inner child screams to get out, so she chucks the world of shelter mags and showrooms and buys a one-way ticket to stickerland. Hilarity ensues.

Sometimes I have to do a little dance or wear a funny disguise to get them relaxed and their creative juices going.

2. Please describe the sticker design process at Mrs. Grossman’s. How do you, the designers, and the sticker artists, manage to continually release creative and innovative stickers?

As the creative director and art director it’s my job to inspire and encourage the design team to come up with exciting and fun designs. Sometimes I have to do a little dance or wear a funny disguise to get them relaxed and their creative juices going. What’s challenging, and I mean that in a good way, is that we have so many markets to design for: boys, girls, kids, scrapbookers, cardmakers, women, even men - there’s literally no end to the styles of stickers we can do. Deciding what NOT to do is sometimes harder.

3. In your bio on the Mrs. Grossman’s site, you mention that you are inspired by designers, and popular culture. Who are some of your favorite designers?

Oh, I love so many different designers working in a variety of mediums. I love the work of Maira Kalman, Proenza Schuler, Lorena Siminovich, Denise Schmidt, Picasso, Renzo Piano, and so many more.

4. How has your respect for these designers and your interest in popular culture influenced sticker design at Mrs. Grossman’s?

I love to see how trends pop up all over the place-in advertising in both print and TV, in fashion, fabrics, and home furnishings and in packaging. I especially love to track color trends. Right now I love orange, hot pink, turquoise and always black and white. I like to update stickers that have been in the line for a while with new color pallets to give them a fresh look.

I like to take the dirt pile from the construction sticker, turn it upside down and make it look like a gloomy dark cloud hanging over the Chubby Pig or whatever animal I’m into. I like a little irony with my stickers.

5. What is your favorite sticker or sticker pack?

Oh that’s such a hard question to answer since it depends on my mood or what I’m working on. I of course always love our very first sticker, the Red Heart. It’s modern and classic-the epitome of good design. I seem to be gravitating toward the Chubby Pigs these days. I like to take the dirt pile from the construction stickers, turn it upside down and make it look like a gloomy dark cloud hanging over the Chubby Pig or whatever animal I’m into. I like a little irony with my stickers.

What I love about stickers is that they’re “instant happy.” You put a sticker on an envelope, coffee mug, name tag, your face - anything, and you’ve given it a personality, and individuality, and someone else is going to smile when they see it.

6. What do you do with YOUR stickers? Do you believe that stickers should be collected or used?

When I go out to dinner, I like to give stickers when I pay for the check. The server always loves that little surprise. I think people should do whatever they like with their stickers. I understand the desire to save them, but I want people to use stickers everyday. It’s so easy to make someone’s day if you carry around stickers and give them away. The kids in my neighborhood know me as the “sticker lady” because I always carry them and give them away. Even when I go to meetings where there are no creative types in the room, I always give away stickers and the people light up with delight and they always remember me.

What I love about stickers is that they’re “instant happy.” You put a sticker on an envelope, coffee mug, name tag, your face - anything, and you’ve given it a personality, and individuality, and someone else is going to smile when they see it.

7. What is the most creative way someone has used Mrs. Grossman’s stickers?

I’ve heard that a few people have worn our Red Heart Sticker while in the tanning booth so they would have a cute little heart shape left when they removed the sticker. And I’ve seen a car in driving near the office which is covered in an intricate pattern of stickers.

I went camping once (really it was just once since I’m in no way a camper) But we needed olive oil and I traded my stickers for some olive oil from another family. They of course felt they got the better end of the deal.

8. Please rank the following sticker types on the scale of 1 (amazing) to 7 (great, but relatively poopy).

• Scratch n’ sniff stickers: 7 - Reminds me of a John Waters film-very poopy
• Holographic stickers: 1 - love them
• Glitter stickers: 1
• Fuzzy stickers: 7
• Puffy stickers: 7 - I do love Epoxy stickers, however
• Embossed stickers: 7
• Shiny paper stickers (aka classic stickers!): 1 -Hey you got love the classics

9. Name a favorite in the following categories:

• Font: Helvetica Neue
• Piece of Art: Cy Twombly - Untitled VII from Bacchus Series 2005
• Musician: Rufus Wainwright
• Television show: Mad Men, Meet the Press
• Book: Random Family
• Thing to do in the Bay Area: Eat!
• Dessert: Anything chocolate
• Color: Orange

TOMORROW: CURRENTLY OBSESSED WITH SUSAN! A little birdie also told me that there might be a contest tomorrow, as well. A contest that involves winning things. Perhaps Mrs. Grossman’s treats. Perhaps. STAY TUNED.

Tricia’s Notes & Picture Credits:
The font is Adam Gorry Lights by Senitel Type, which is available here. Image of Proenza Schuler’s Spring 2009 line is by Marcio Madeira. Renzo Piano image from Archinect.

1. Roald Dahl Collection, 16 books, $115
2. Philip Marlowe Mysteries by Ramond Chandler, 8 books + 1 poster, $80
3. Classic Boys’ Adventure, 12 books + 1 poster, $110
4. James Bond Modern Classics by Ian Fleming, 14 books, $140
5. The Nick Hornby Collection, 6 books, $65
6. The Complete Cases of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle, 8 books + 1 poster, $65
7. Arabian Nights (ancient stories from Persia, India, & Arabia), 3 books, $200
8. HG Wells Science Fiction Classics, 9 books, $100
9. Gothic Classics: Tales of the Supernatural, 10 books + 1 poster, $90
10. George Orwell & Shepard Fairey, 2 books + 2 posters, $160
11. The Bill Amberg Collection (leather-bound, classic novels), 6 books, $380
12. Charles Dickens Collection, 16 books, $165
13. Jane Austen Red Classics, 6 books, $40

I was reading The Penguin Blog, which is UK-based, and found out about these awesome Penguin Sets. There are 13 sets of books which contain a bunch of novels of a similar theme or by the same author, and each set has covers designed by a single artist.

What’s more, FIVE of the sets also have an accompanying poster (or two). The BEST of which is the George Orwell set because it includes TWO posters (1984 and Animal Farm) designed by Shepard Fairey (of Obama Poster fame).

Each Penguin set includes 2 to 16 books (and 0 to 2 posters) and run from $40 to $380 (the priciest collections aren’t necessarily the ones with the most books).

Click to see the rest of the posters and details of the most expensive “luxury” books. (Also, more of my rambling.) Or, check out the UK Penguin Sets page (I can’t find a US Sets page, but you can order to the US)!

Posters for Classic Boys’ Adventure, Philip Marlowe Mysteries

Posters for The Complete Cases of Sherlock Holmes, Gothic Classics: Tales of the Supernatural

Close-ups of the luxury sets! Arabian Nights, The Bill Amberg Collection

So, I just want to add that I LOVE these and think they would make fabulous gifts. The children’s sets would make great gifts for kids, and the poster sets would make great gifts for graphic designers. And, of course, all of them would be great for book lovers! (You would think I have stock in Penguin.)

1. 50s Silk Blue Swing Dress, indigolace on ebay
2. Adrienne Vittadini Silk Scarf, sarmar04 on ebay
3. Lacina Top, Anthropologie, $39.95
4. Sunglasses, Forever 21, $2.99
5. Chirp and Tweet Dessert Plate, Anthropologie, $14
6. Red Wool Princess Coat, shop blue bird on ebay
7. Cupcake Apron, Boojiboo on etsy, $28.75
8. Painted Rose Hairclips, Forever 21, $2.80

I have to dedicate this post to my co-worker, Patrick, who recently lent me season one of Pushing Daisies. The exchange went somewhat like this.

Patrick: Would you like to borrow my season one Pushing Daisies DVDs? [Read: I would like to have someone to discuss Pushing Daisies with on Thursday mornings. Please watch quickly, and get caught up.]
Tricia: Umm…okay.

He gave me the DVDs, and I watched. In one day, I watched six episodes. Consecutively. Yes, I understand that this fact is a little embarrassing. Which is why, after the sixth episode, I left the apartment to get a cupcake. Then I returned, and resumed watching.

Produced by ABC, Pushing Daisies is the most whimsical, wildly imaginative TV series that I have ever watched. Visually, Pushing Daisies resembles a love child between Jean-Pierre Jeunet and Tim Burton (Ignore the biological impossibility! Imagination!). Since Amelie is my favorite movie, by far, it makes sense that I am utterly smitten with Pushing Daisies. There are even a few parallels between Pushing Daisies and Amelie!: the Pie Hole (Montmartre café), Chuck (English-speaking Amelie!), costume design, and the first episode of Pushing Daisies even features a song from the Amelie soundtrack!

The plot revolves around Ned, a pie-maker with the ability to bring dead things back to life with the touch of his finger. After reawakening the dead, Ned has a minute to retouch the person. If he doesn’t, the dead thing stays alive and someone else dies in exchange. Finally, if he touches anything that he had once revived, the thing stays dead forever. Make sense? I hope so. Ned and Emerson, a Private Investigator, use Ned’s extraordinary gift to solve murder crimes (and cash in on the reward money). Originally, this plan worked well worked, until Ned had to reawaken his childhood sweetheart, Chuck (!@#!@$%!$!@#!$%!!!!)

Ned can’t bring himself to un-reviving Chuck from the dead. Which is great, because I ADORE CHUCK! She is brilliant! Witty! Quirky! Charming! Adventurous! Oh, Chuck! How I wish I could be you! Chuck is a hybrid of Zooey Deschanel, Rory Gilmore, and AMELIE. Some of my favorite fictional/real people! So many exclamation points! Furthermore, Chuck always wears the most sparkling clothes! She pairs wonderful dresses with perfect little cardigans! Chuck joins Ned and Emerson, and the show chronicles the team’s sleuthing adventures.

So after six straight episodes of Pushing Daisies, what do I think about? How can I be like Chuck?! I subsequently went to this Pushing Daisies fan site (where all the pictures in this post are from!) to oogle at the Pushing Daisies cast (mostly Chuck). Chuck wears a lot of 1950s swing dresses, and ebay is the perfect place to find them. The dress up, up above has a Chuckish silhouette, and is well-tailored too! On trips to the morgue, Chuck frequently wears bold-colored wool coats, sunglasses and scarves so Mr. Coroner doesn’t recognize her. (Her disguises are kind of fruitless, but I enjoy seeing her disguises nonetheless!) I wear nearly as many cardigans as Mr. Rogers, and Chuck seems to be the same way too! I’ve always fawned over Anthropologie’s dainty cardigans. They’re always so cozy and detailed! Chuck also enjoys lovely hair things: Audrey Hepburn-sized hats and flower hair clips! When she isn’t at the morgue, Chuck helps Ned bake pies (and even suggests that the Pie Hole should serve CUP PIES…CUPCAKE-SIZED PIES…panda-precious!), and wraps herself in cute aprons. Lastly, a perfect plate for the Pie Hole’s famous Three Plum pie. Yummy!