I will readily admit that my love of books is an obsession that has extended beyond the normal. I spend more time drawing them than I do either reading them or writing them, though I’m probably better equipped for the later.

I took a deep breath and listened to the old bray of my heart:  I am, I am, I am.

No matter! I am busy making a series of classic book desktop wallpapers! Remember, way back when, when I provided you with your very own Catcher in the Rye wallpaper!? Wasn’t that fun??? Yes? Good! Now for The Bell Jar! My edition of The Bell Jar is perhaps the ugliest in existence. I think it’s some movie edition (was there a movie???). But when I re-drew it in my ugly, wobbly hand, I found it weirdly more pleasing, math has never been my strong suit, but it is as if ugly squared = pretty!

If neurotic is wanting two mutually exclusive things at one and the same time, then I’m neurotic as hell.  I’ll be flying back and forth between one mutually exclusive thing and another for the rest of my days.

The silence depressed me.  It wasn’t the silence of silence.  It was my own silence.

So, I’ve got many sizes, shapes, and styles for you! I know everyone’s computer set-up and style is different. (My personally customized setup with my dual-screens is thus:)

But enough about me. Here’s some free backgrounds for you!!!

iphone / ipod touch

1280 x 800 (Version 1)

1280 x 800 (Version 2)

1440 x 900

1680 x 1050

1920 x 1080 (Version 1)

1920 x 1080 (Version 2)

1920 x 1200

Do these bright and cheery quotes make you want to read The Bell Jar? Have a go! With a better cover! Unless you like ugly covers for their kitsch value, then get this one. Or, check out Sylvia Plath’s fantastic sense of style in this old post, Sylvia Plath, Fashion Icon.

First of all, YES I made a Catcher in the Rye wallpaper / desktop background! YES I am still painting books. What are you going to do?! I read, write, and paint books. I can’t help it!!! (If you don’t like books, you can check out some various other Unemployment Projects here.)

Second of all, you can click on the above picture and you’ll get a much larger version, that YES would be *especially* perfect as a desktop background if you happen to have a 15″ Mac Book Pro, though I am sure it can be usable in other formats, especially if you just use the all-over design below.

Or, if you are unemployed, you can just go off and make your very own wallpaper, like me. The best part is you can tailor your paper to your exact needs and likes! For example, I started with the overall print (below) and then realized I HATE OVERALL PRINTS because all of my icons, which I keep on the right half of the screen, get visually lost. So, I made a new version (above) which has a clear side for my personal convenience.

Here is a larger version of the above wallpaper in case you need larger (just clicky):

Anyway, here’s a How To if you want to make your own book wallpaper like mine. As usual, I will stress that you can have very little drawing / painting ability to get something cool. For example, I have this brush which mightaswell be a collection of twenty bristly dog hairs. It’s horrible. And stumpy. No one should ever paint with it. Yet I do. Because I do not have another little brush. I actually cut it all up with scissors to make it smaller. It’s awful. Moral: Professionals need not apply.

You will need:

• Photoshop or other some-such program
• Scanner or possibly a camera
• Paint or artsy supplies
• Book you are obsessed with (must have simple background if you want it to be easy, dirty and creased is acceptable!)
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1. Paint a picture of your book. Ugly and miss-sized is okay. It will most likely look cute later. Let dry, then scan.
2. Scan the real book.
3. Use Photoshop to combine covers. For example, this is how I combined my covers. I used the Magic Wand Tool to cutout the background from the painted book, and then I used the Clone Stamp Tool to get rid of the words and designs of the real book. Then I put the painted book on top of the real book. (I did this in pieces, so I could re-size each piece.)
4. Fashion your layout. Make a page the same pixel size as your desktop. Group your combined book together (but save copies of it ungrouped!) and lay it out as you will, using different elements to spice it up as you like. For example, I used my rainbow in the upper corner of my first wallpaper and I also used the Eyedrop Tool to take the slightly-yellowed book-background for my wallpaper background. As I was doing this, I thought about all the awesome book screens in the Royal Tenenbaums movie:
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Okay, you caught me. I’m addicted to AMC’s original series Mad Men (hint: if you need to catch up on episodes slash the entire series slash you tried to netflix it but so did everyone else, this might help.)

Most of the show takes place at an early 1960s ad agency.

Do you wish you were part of the show? Or is that just me? I know I wish, at the very least, that I could drink that much alcohol at work. Also, it would be nice to be alive when Marilyn Monroe was considered the epitome of hotness (great for those of us who want to continue eating).

Here’s a list of the Mad Men-related products shown at the top of the page:

1. They didn’t really have computers back then, if you can believe it. Olivetti Manual Typewriter $140 at Urban Outfitters
2. In Mad Men they drink at work, out of work, and at home. That’s why I love this article from PaperMag analyzing what each character drinks and what that says about their personality. Apparently, Peggy drinks a befitting Brandy Alexander (Cognac, dark crème de cacao, and heavy cream).
3. Women in the early 1960s were curvy, wearing clothes that accented, rather than hid, their most voluptuous features. I love this Norma Jean Winter Dress from Mod Cloth ($150). It looks more like a Peggy outfit with a Joan curve.
4. These really popular illustrations of scenes from Mad Men have made their way across the blogs. You can buy prints or use them as free desktop wallpaper. My favorite part is that the illustrator provides show-commentary with every new flickr post. (Ex. commentary from the picture above: “Commemorating the scene and outfit that ended Paul’s status as my favorite character.”) NOTE: Stickers & Donuts later did an interview with Dyna Moe, who creates these illustrations!
5. Gosh, those rotary phones must have broken some fingers back in the day! Luckily Linens & Things knew that Generation Whatever-I-Am is a little more used to “push button technology” (er, do they really need the word “technology”?). Crosley Kettle Desk Phone, $60
6. If you are going to be pretty like 1960s Joan you need thick black eyes and red lips. Imagine 1960s makeup technology? Was mascara even waterproof back then?! Could it lift and separate?! Wait, is that a slogan for bras? I’ve confused myself.
7. Since the Mad Men (and women) work at an ad agency (get it, mAD men), I thought I’d include this ad from maidenform (on the show it’s a Sterling Cooper account!). In fact, AdClassix.com, though it does have a questionable-looking web-site, includes tons and tons of ads (many of which you can purchase) from the 1920s-1970s.

Want to see more? I’ve got a picture of all the characters (I wrote on it with my notes). Also, a general trailer if you haven’t seen the show. (more…)

Happy Friday! Posts are going to be light and/or non-existent through Tuesday (LSATs / GREs!!!!)! This post is long. Save half of it for Monday? xo

I blame Tricia & Bobby Solomon for the messiness of this post.

First of all, Tricia’s study-supply-heavy currently obsessed post prompted me to write my own study-supply heavy currently obsessed post. (Hopefully, between the two of us, your next study session will be super-productive (and you will gain five pounds).)

Bobby Solomon doesn’t know who I am, but I read his blog & am really obsessed with his desktop wallpaper project. He has twitter (so does Stickers & Donuts!) and commented on Ben Fold’s new album with a song featuring Regina Spektor, which I also love, and in usual internet-fashion I now feel really connected and really creepy.

ANYWAY, right after laying out the images for this post, I discovered this week’s desktop wallpaper featuring Billy Murray on Bobby’s blog, and (instant obsession!) had to squeeze it into my post. Due to a layer error and time constraints, I had only so many choices in reorganization. Alas. Messy.

Anyway, after the jump, long descriptions (procrastination) of the things in the picture. Also, links.

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I am so in love with the new Kitsune Noir desktop backgrounds by Kristina Collantes that even though I already posted about the KN Wallpaper Project this morning, I just had to post again. (PS I have a thing for cute skulls. Also, this is a coordinating pair of backgrounds, which is great if you work with dual screens!) (more…)

Notice that new link near the “About” page? That’s a link for Stickers & Donuts Downloads including desktop background wallpaper, a Mac Dashboard Widget (it can also be widgetized for other uses), & a printable sticker sheet! Also, checkout the Subscribe page, which lets you know all the ways you can stay updated with S&D (News Feed, widget, or email)!