Fall with Stumptown Coffee

I hadn't meant for this sketch to look just like the last one. Just trying to get back into it.
The only reasons for this one:

• I love drawing and using white colored pencil on kraft paper.
• I love Stumptown Coffee, especially when I buy it from Dubsea Coffee.
• I love taking a break from the giant bag of cheaper Costco coffee.
• It reminded me of drawing on a Stumptown bag in the car on the way to Bellingham. I bought some for my parents for a thank you gift on the way out of town. I didn't have a card, so I doodled all over the bag instead. I didn't document that one (and there was no color), but this gives the general idea.
• Nice way to repurpose this used bag.
• I would love to do more illustrations and design for food packaging.
• I love orange.

Green tea from Christine

The packaging for this green tea inspired this sketch — the colors, simple tea illustration on the box, typography. I love my neighbor, Christine. She is always surprising us with little treats. Last week it was super mini alphabet noodles for the kids and this tea for me.

Sharpies + watercolor + my birthday

A quick test of my new Sharpies with watercolor on my new giant watercolor paper. What is more fun than using your kids' markers? Your OWN set of bright colored Sharpies! Blick on Capitol Hill is amazing. First time there...after a lovely birthday lunch with my sister at Oddfellows. Fun. Thanks for all the birthday wishes, friends!

Strawberry shortcake

I needed something to distract me from Ezra's bedtime cries last night. Michael has taken it upon himself to help Ezra cry it out. We need some sleep in the middle of the night. If he can learn to put himself to sleep, we will all be happier! 

Everything for the strawberry shortcake was ready (which I kept statusing about on Facebook, hoping to get a spontaneous dessert guest...turns out it was just us). Waiting for Michael. I took Hannah Mae out to the studio to get my paints. She loves painting with me, especially before bed since I put off putting her to bed as I get too into painting. The longer it takes me, the later she gets to stay up.

I got out my usual black pen and started to sketch the bowl containing the strawberries. Not into it. I didn't want to use black. I really wanted to get that feel of everything toppling over  onto the plate. The melding of everything together. The seeping of the strawberry juice into the biscuit. Soft edges, not hard. Lots of bright red splashes, not thin black lines.

I painted the first layer with watercolors, thinking simple splotches of red would do the trick. I asked Hannah Mae if they looked like strawberries and she said no. It wasn't quite right. Neither were the biscuits. I was going to draw strawberry slices on top of the watercolor with black pen. Instead, I made myself ditch the pen for this one. Colored pencil added the right touch. I could get some detail and blending (love blending with white colored pencil) without getting too fussy with it. Hannah Mae had said that I didn't need to paint the whipped cream (or "whooped cream" as she says) since the paper was white. I had to do something though. After we finished eating and Hannah Mae was in bed, I completed the painting with thick splats of white gouache. Looks good enough to eat!

Banana pancakes + milk

Sometimes the only reason to make pancakes is to have milk with them. My favorite combo. Must have a glass of milk with: pancakes, waffles, french toast, any cookies, sandwiches (Michael is repulsed by that!). I love milk. Need a recipe for banana pancakes? Check out the Leftoverist's here.

Nanami Togarashi + popcorn

Still need to get groceries. Had Zippy's (best burgers in Seattle!) for dinner, but that was at 4:30pm! Hungry at 10pm with nothing to snack on. As long as there's popcorn around it's ok. Popcorn with Nanami Togarashi — Japanese assorted chili peppers.

I have fond memories of popcorn from my childhood (sans chili peppers). Making popcorn with my sister in that beat-up, heavy pan with the bent lid that never fit quite right — spurting out bits of hot oil. Shaking it vigorously in our after-school hunger. Popcorn made in the morning by my Mama. Bagged up in our school lunches. I always think of that when I am out of a store-bought snack for Hannah Mae's lunch, and turn to my canister of kernels. 

Thought about adding a splash of bright red, but decided to keep it simple. Pen only.

Blueberries + grapefruit

I love blueberry muffins lately. So quick and easy. Moist with those bits of juiciness that literally squirt out when bitten into. Here's some bits from our Father's Day breakfast I drew on Sunday. Finished up coloring them today. Thought it would be too boring to draw a grapefruit. Just a simple sphere? So much more detail upon looking closer — the numerous tiny indents, the curves of the edges forming a not-so-perfect sphere. Couldn't resist getting down all those sunshiny shades of orange and yellow on paper. Forgot how much I love blending with colored pencils.

Lychee

Delicious, juicy lychee from my sister.

More green beans, please!

What mother wouldn't want to hear her daughter say, "Can I have more green beans, please?"?! 

Hannah Mae and her usual pre-bed hunger. She didn't want to eat the rest of her Throw ‘er in there Asian Noodle Salad from dinner. She wanted cereal. Out of cinnamon toast crunch. I gave her the alternative of fresh green beans from Toppenish — dropped off on our deck by my parents last night. A big bag of fresh produce from Papa's hometown, and home of my dear grandmother. She was thrilled with that option! Have as many as you want! I will always affirm your fresh green bean intake.

Oh...and an idea what to do with green beans. Check it out here.

I now have a little stack of food-related drawings piling up, so expect more. Instead of trying to think of something different every day, I'm just going to go with it and keep on the food thing for a few days. Or all week. We'll see. Thinking about those ears of corn in the fridge. That asparagus too. And I am sure I can find something in the Leftoverist's collection of recipes to go with those too! 

I really should post Hannah Mae's drawings of green beans too! And her "pink green beans." So cute. We should draw together every night before bed.

Happy birthday to the Leftoverist!

Sarah, this one goes out to you! Congrats to you on the wild success of your amazing blog. Like I said, it combines all your incredible gifts into one outlet — bursting with life, affirmation, hilarity and honesty. Your love for food. Skill in the kitchen. Giving your advice. Advice for cooking. Experimenting. Mothering. Connecting. 

Thanks to you, I now put red chili flakes on almost everything. Am often whisking up tangy dressings. Squeezing lemons and limes daily. Sprinkling black sesame seeds on slaws. Always looking forward to your next post.

I am so thankful for you, my sister. The best birthday to you, full of well-wishing comments spilling into your world of leftovers! I love you!

{ Visit www.inpraiseofleftovers.com : Banner design by Spill Studio }

I love spinach

Fresh spinach, tofu and Israeli couscous are my favorites lately {not necessarily all together}.

{ pen + watercolor }

HM's lunch box

I got home from lap swim around 10:30pm and was looking around for something to quickly sketch. 2 hours later and here it is. HM's lunch box (when she is not using her Hello Kitty one — in her words, she likes to "alternate"). I took full advantage of everyone sleeping — the pleasure of 2 uninterrupted hours to myself. Took much longer than I thought, but I had to take my time to get those feline details down. Turkey + pepperjack sandwich, Cameo apple, Club crackers and string cheese. Usually about 1/4-1/3 left over at the end of the day to eat on her way home or as soon as we walk in the door.

Pen + watercolor + colored pencil {with some digitally-added white highlights on apple}

Ginger molasses @ SODO Macrina

I had to make this quick. E was sleeping in his carrier next to me at SODO Macrina. I am picky about baked goods, but I love everything at Macrina! This ginger molasses cookie hit the spot! A tiny bit crunchy with a crackle of sugar on the outside and the perfect softness inside. Pen with added watercolor back at my studio.

I can't believe it's snowing! Got to go get HM…

Dark chocolate + coconut filled

My fourth trial-sized Mounds while watching the Grammys.

{pen + digital}

West Seattle Junction

A bit of time before a meeting at Cupcake Royale and a bit of time after with lunch at Easy Street Records Cafe. I didn't finish the sign sketch because I got the perspective a little off and had to go into a meeting. I was going to do the brick building, windows, etc. too, but at least here's something. Sketching the items at the table while waiting for my Philadelphia Freedom sandwich reminded me of of all the sketching I used to do at restaurants and bars back when I was single — sketching my drinks and cigarettes. Thank God those days are over. Anyway, not too much to say about these.

An hour at Columbia City Bakery

I have to confess — I have not been carrying my sketchbook around with me everywhere. One of those times again where I had no inspiration, felt too busy. My little sketchbook is all filled up. That is part of the problem. I am much less likely to toss my big one in my bag. Need to get a new one.

Today, I finally gave it a try again. Perhaps the sun had something to do with it. A fresh start. A month should not have gone by with no new posts!

Normally I have HM on Fridays, but she's with her little friends today. I had an hour after dropping her off before I had to get to my swim class. Columbia City Bakery was right on the way. A double, short, extra hot latté and an apple morning bun. Yum. The bun was just what I had in mind — like the cinnamon rolls I used to get at The Little Cheerful Café in Bellingham. Flaky, not doughy. If only it had been bigger! I had to keep myself from devouring it while I sketched it. I only had a black pen and a wrinkled, used piece of paper floating around in my bag. I also used the backs of some flyers I found on their shelf. Three quick ones. Added watercolor when I got home. Gouache too since I couldn't get the watercolor intense enough. The paper was the worst for these paints. Super thin, no texture. Better than nothing though!

I will try to keep up my sketching without feeling guilty about the lulls in inspiration. Especially for those of you that check back for new stuff.

Pizza obsession

It worked! Thanks to my sister for her recipe & tips. Preheat oven to 500 degrees (not 450 like I had been doing) for 1/2 hour before baking. Bake on bottom rack of oven. I baked it for 8 minutes on the sheet then slid it directly onto the rack for the last minute. Was crispy on the bottom finally, not all floppy like before. Both the pepperoni/olive/garlic and the veggie were delicious — just ate the leftovers for lunch. I have to admit that I was obsessed with getting it right this time! Much to my family's relief, it turned out — or they would have had to listen to me complain about it all night. I almost lost my temper with the dough — guess it just takes practice. I lack patience!

Sketched the toppings while the oven was heating up. After dinner, drew the slice directly on top and colored with pencil and watercolor pencil. Nothing digital this time.

Pizza for dinner tonight

I've tried the pre-made TJ's pizza dough twice now. The first time I worked with the dough I didn't leave it out at room temperature long enough. Too cold, couldn't get it to roll out thin enough. Almost gave up and threw it all away. Ended up with a veggie calzone and a pepperoni pizza with crust too thick and undercooked. Last Monday, the second time, I left it out too long. It was too thin. Still didn't cook right, not crisp enough on the bottom and just blah throughout. This time I called my sister for her recipe. Her and Y's pizza is always perfect! Hoping the homemade dough will be an improvement — even without using a pizza stone. { sketched the mozzarella, yeast package and pizza sauce jar on the striped receipt }

2 double, short, no room Americanos

Originally I was going to post a new sketch every day. I figured out soon that a more realistic goal would be to get one up weekly. Also, they were going to be quick. Spontaneous. Just whatever I saw laying around or happened upon. I was running out of things at home that I wanted to draw. Looking for things. Trying to outdo myself with composition, level of detail, new techniques. Two weeks since the guitar and had no desire to sketch. Today I was going to go to the I.D, Lincoln Park, Alki or sit in the car by all the containers piled up on West Marginal Way. Morning turned out differently — hanging out in the car at the Burien Starbucks with M while HM slept in the carseat. I went back to the original idea — quick sketches with black pen only. Doesn't have to be a masterpiece. I didn't have my sketchbook, thus the kraft bag and napkin. I can't help putting bits together digitally too.

Half-price Maruta

The minute I threw the bag of sushi on the car seat, I knew it was what I wanted to draw tonight after HM went to bed. Even though I really wanted to eat the deluxe California roll, I held off so I would have them left to draw. My brother-in-law let me in on the Maruta Market 50% off deal. Weekdays starting at 5pm, all the items of the bottom shelf of the deli case are half-price! You have to get there a few minutes before 5pm before all the sushi-lovers have emptied the case. I learned tonight there is a 5 item limit. It's perfect for Thursday nights since it's right on the way to pick up HM — between Highland Park and Beacon Hill, in Georgetown. Also, M always has meetings Thursday nights so it's just HM and me for dinner.

I thought the black & white drawing would take at least 2 hours. Only one tedious hour. I was scared I would ruin the detail with color, but really wanted to see the bright orange flying fish roe and clean greens and reds of the packages. I taped a piece of translucent paper on top and used colored pencils to complete it on a second layer. Put them together digitally.