Newport Folk Festival

I've wanted to go to Newport Folk Festival for years based on its history alone, and I was finally able to make it this summer!

The setting itself was so gorgeous - the festival takes place at Fort Adams State Park right on the ocean, so in between sets, we were able to relax on the dock and enjoy the oceanside. 

 The first day featured a lot more modern music - we caught Gogol Bordello, Tegan & Sara, and the Decemberists. 

 When we got to the festival the second day, we happened to be passing by the kids' tent and I noticed that Pete Seeger was performing children's songs, so I immediately dropped what I was doing and watched the rest of his set.  Pete Seeger is such a legend (and one of the original guys behind the festival!), so I was beyond thrilled to be able to say thank you to him for everything he's done. Plus, watching him act out nursery rhymes was definitely the cutest thing I've seen in a long time. 

After lunch, we watched Wanda Jackson's set.  I've been lucky enough to see her before, and she is just as cute (and talented!) as ever.  Besides, there's no such thing as hearing someone's first-hand account of going steady with Elvis too many times.  

 

Speaking of Elvis, Mr. Costello was next up!  It was my first time seeing him live after being a fan for over a decade, so it was a big deal to me.  He also had, by far, my favorite outfit of the festival.  You can always count on this guy to be impeccably clad!  Maybe I'll give him a "Dressing Like" feature later this week?

Towards the end of his set, he brought out Emmylou Harris for a duet and I died a little.  

Emmylou's solo performance was also incredible as well,  naturally.  Her voice is definitely in my top five!  

Pete Seeger closed the festival by leading everyone in sing-alongs of "Turn, Turn, Turn" and "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?" featuring most of the acts from Sunday, including some whose sets I had to miss like M. Ward and Ramblin' Jack Elliott.  I definitely got emotional, and how could I not? So much peace and love!

random bits and pieces

Just a lazy Sunday post of a few of my recent favorite things. Things will probably be a bit slow around here the next few weeks while we pack our belongings and move to Texas, but we have big plans and lots of projects planned in the next few months! If you're interested in taking part of any of our upcoming zines, please don't be shy! ventricularprojects @ gmail.com

After coveting it for a while now, I finally bit the bullet and bought this Vain and Vapid dress. I can't wait to pair it with some black tights and ankle boots for fall. 

Dalí's Portrait imaginaire de Lautréamont à 19 ans obtenu d’après la méthode paranoiaque-critique, 1937 via i12bent

Sneak peak to a guest post with one of our favorite bloggers, Vivian, that I'll post the full contents on once she posts it. Some of my recent purchases: No. 6 dress, Rachel Comey tank and a thrifted sweater

The "I'm officially ready for fall" Polyvores

just a quick note

Just in case anyone tries to access our main site, we're in the middle of changing hosts with an anticipated relaunch in August. We apologize for the inconvenience. You can contact us at ventricularprojects@gmail.com if you have any questions about collaborating or sending us a submission for our projects. We'll be updating our Facebook page with more specifics about our projects until our new site is up.

Thanks!

just the same, but brand new

I snapped this shot almost a month ago when I was packing for a 4th of July weekend camping trip. It just goes to show you that I am a creature of habit, because I could have taken the exact same picture today as I get ready to leave town for a few days. I like what I like and I like it a lot, okay?

Here's a picture of my trusty companion for this long weekend, Pam, that is very similar to one I previously posted here, but nicer, I think! I bought a Holga on a whim a few years ago and only got around to using it this month. I've decided that it's nice to have around to throw in a beach bag or take camping, but getting my roll of film back definitely had me itching for a real medium format camera. I can't spend the money right now, but a girl can dream, right?

See you in a few days, internet!

from the desk of...

Artist and jewelry designer Fanny Bostrom is one of my biggest girl crushes so I was super excited to see little tidbits of her Brooklyn studio on "from the desk of..." It's pretty much my "dream" studio area as its bursting with almost every essential item for crafting and making just about anything. Tricia and I will have a little space to set up our own little studio area in our new house in Austin which I'm extremely happy about. In the past, my "studio" has been a corner of my bedroom that somehow overtakes the rest of the room (paints and sketchbooks in my bed, the floor covered in paintings that are drying, etc). We already have some projects planned that we can't wait to work on and share with everyone! :)

all images via from the desk off...

Naomi Elliott

Every once in a while, I'll stumble across a drawing or illustrator on the internet and then am suddenly baffled about how I was completely unfamiliar with them until 10 seconds before. I tend to take an immediate liking to certain types of illustration, usually more minimal designs done with graphite and block shapes. Sometimes even a bit macabre and creepy. So it's almost a bit upsetting when I realize I've gone so long without being able to enjoy someone's work who fits that description. Naomi Elliott's work is the latest example of this. Looking through all of her work on her blog and portfolio, I can't find a single piece that I don't absolutely love. I knew immediately that I had to interview her for our blog and  Naomi was sweet enough to answer a few questions about her inspirations and upcoming projects. 

You can find more of Naomi's work on her website and you can follow her on Tumblr for updates about her work. She has an online shop in the works and we'll let everyone know when it's up!

Your drawings mimic both the every day and fantastical elements. Can you tell us a little bit about how your process and sources of inspiration differ from capturing still life objects (like in the Déjeuner du Matin / morning breakfast series) to creating make believe worlds (Come to the Circus)?

I tend to get a lot of inspiration from my dreams and nightmares. For the past year I've been having incredibly vivid dreams so I keep a little diary beside my bed and try and write down as much of the details as soon as I wake up. I guess this is why a lot of my work does flit between the real and the imaginary.

Can you give us the inside scoop to the book (True Sailor Boy) that you've been working on? What sort of other upcoming projects do you have planned?

I've always been very enchanted by old sea shanties and wanted to make a book out of one that I really loved. There's something so magical about that world that exists at sea and the songs that were sang where no-one else could hear them. It's very much a work in progress at the minute but I'm just giving myself time to get through it and focus on making it the best that it can be. I've also started making a little book about a haunted house I used to live in and I'm also in the process of setting up an online shop which should exist very soon. I'll be sure to let you know when it's ready!

What are your dream collaborations or projects, however ridiculous or unlikely they may be?

My dream project would be to illustrate a cookbook! If I wasn't an illustrator I think I'd like to be a chef. 

It would also be a total dream come true to collaborate with Woody Allen on..anything really. He seems like such an interesting person so I reckon we could come up with something a bit crazy.

Any advice to anyone just getting into illustration and drawing on how to develop their own personal style?

Keep creating! I think it's important not to get too caught up in comparing yourself to other people or trying to copy other illustrators styles. The more you draw and practice the more you'll see what you're comfortable with and you'll see your own style emerge. At times, I really struggle with the internet in the respect that you are constantly bombarded with really awesome work and it can leave you feeling really inadequate but you just have to work through it and find your own voice.

 Thanks, Naomi! 

my etsy picks

I had a bit of down time in what is otherwise a crazy couple of weeks (more on that later), so I figured I'd share some of my Etsy favorites since I enjoyed seeing Caroline's so much. 

 First up, Ms. Caroline herself has some lovely prints (and custom kitty portraits!) available on her Etsy.  I've seen these in real life (to ship them off to our lucky giveaway winner), and they are super nice!  

 Colleen Jordan has an adorable line of wearable planters, which you can get in necklace form (above), earrings, or pins.  I don't know that this is quite everyday jewelery, but I can see myself rocking a bit of flora for special occasions.  Why not?

I've been on a major tea kick lately, and I can definitely see these porcelain shell mugs from Villarreal Ceramics perfecting the experience! Maybe one day, I'll get sick of soft, cotton candy colors, but I don't see it happening any time soon.

 An Illustrated Guide to Cocktails features two of my absolute favorite things. Need I say more?

Rachel Rose creates gorgeous, hand painted silk tops, like this one of a kind beauty, which just happens to be in the only colors I care about lately...pink and blue.

Hopefully, my shopping ban will be successful, but if not, I'd put money on one of these items being the culprit!