Blog Suggestion

I have a stack of books that I need to review sitting by my computer. I pick them up and start a post and then get distracted (woo shiny things). But the books keep calling to me to discuss them and sometime this week I'll sit down and write those. But in the meantime I wanted to share a blog I found this past week.

I love getting a chance to peek into the studios of writers and artists. Apparently so does Jennifer Bertman. Her blog, From the Mixed-Up Files of Jennifer Bertman (I love the reference by the way) has interviews and images provided by authors and artists of their creative spaces. The images that the interviewee sends can be anything from views from their windows, images of their favorite coffeehouses, pictures of their desks and supplies, to family members and pets. Jennifer asks questions about some of the special objects in their studios, what their typical day is like, what media they prefer, and their best writing advice...among other great questions. I have not yet found an interview that didn't fascinate me. When Jennifer isn't interviewing writers, she's sharing book suggestions. I've picked up a couple of her suggestions and haven't been disappointed. This blog has quickly become a favorite. For anyone who likes seeing how writers and artists work, this blog is a treasure trove.

The creative space of the brilliant Aaron Zenz. Don't you just love it?

Terrible Yellow Eyes

There are some projects that appear in the blog world and fade away, hardly being noticed. And then there are some that are just so wonderful that they have to be noticed. I've been reading about this blog for a while now and just had to mention it.

I'm a big fan of Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are. Of course so is every other person on earth it seems like. But Cory Godbey is a bigger fan than most. He started Terrible Yellow Eyes by posting some of his own "Where the Wild Things Are" inspired art. His pieces are beautiful and unique and very fitting for the book. But Cory didn't just stop with his own art. He then began sending invitations to other artists to submit their Sendak themed art. They sent, he posted, and what we get is an amazing tribute blog to an amazing book. All of the pieces are incredible. It is amazing how 32 pages can inspired a huge variety of art. Some show alterative images from the story itself. Others show what happens after the book or are told from the Wild Things perspective. They are all unique and wonderful. For anyone who loves this book you must check the blog out.

For those unfamiliar with the book (go get a copy! What are you waiting for!....I'll wait) the blog's name references the lines "and rolled their terrible eyes" and "of staring into all their yellow eyes" in reference to how Max tamed the Wild Things.