[Obsessed] guest editor as The Link approaches its 4th birthday.

It’s about time I share the podcast.

First the brainchild of Joey and Aaron, So I’ve Been Thinking was not yet a podcast, nor a thing. Joey asked me to join them and make it a thing. So I strategized it, renamed it, learned some of the ins and outs of podcast hosting (on a technical end)—am still learning the ins and outs of podcast hosting (on the entertainment end)—and have since created this silly food-for-thought show that we record every week.

Now that it’s 8ish months in and we have 4000K+ downloads and about 100+ subscribers, you’d think it would feel like even more of a thing. But to me, it’s mostly a fun excuse to hang out with these goofy nerds.

Have a listen and look out for the show notes I write weekly. (NoraM’s cover artwork below.)

(Warning: thisisnonsense.com is still a major work in progress…)

I saw her work on exhibit at the Schwarzman NYPL and am since obsessed. Anna Atkins may be the world’s first female photographer, and devoted her days making pristine cyanotypes of flora and algae. To me, they’re perfect.

First with these eggs inspired by Adrianus Kundert and Thomas van der Sman's Bubblgraphy, I took this egg-dying opportunity to pay homage to Ms. Atkins.

Handpainted with kit and expert pointers from E @lilcaketoppers. 

Oat right angles with black floss. Themed for Miss Sephina Jade.

Finally, a set that’s fully interchangeable. Six (three pairs) seems the appropriate scale for now.  A kategrey set up next for a yet _undetermined_ recipient. 

“I’ll be... Blackhawk”

“Ooooh, yeah. And who am I?” 

”You’ll be... White Worm.” 

May told me I should make a series called, “Emotional Pastries.” I thought that was hilarious. On the road to vanilla jauntent. Thanks for a sweet trip, CDMX.

I am endlessly impressed by the cleverness, drive, and creativity of certain women in my life. Maddie, one among them, is a gubernatorial reporter, an athlete, and a gummy candy aficionado. As I discovered this weekend, she also likes to paint.

On Saturday, Maddie traversed the remarkably inaccessible streets of D.C. with a booted leg in search of painting supplies. She made out with acrylics in rainbow and two pads of sturdy stock. On Sunday, she broke them out in addition to a cup each of water and over a dozen brushes.

”Have you ever watched Bob Ross?” 

Before today, I’d never heard of Bob Ross.

“‘Bob Ross : Beauty is Everywhere?’ Or ‘Chill with Bob Ross’? He looks happier in ‘Beauty is Everywhere’, let’s do that.”

After today, I more than heard of Bob Ross. After today, I might even say there is little more emotionally confusing than watching Bob Ross paint. Why?

It starts with calm. Possessing a kind of ASMR tone of an avid birder, Bob Ross welcomes you to his show. He enunciates the way you might have imagined your gentle great grandfather to enunciate. A subtle rollicking emphASis on the H in any word beginning in Wh. “Titanium hWhite,” says Bob. A drop of the -mium off of Cadmium so harmless, you wouldn't have thought anything of it were it not for Maddie’s preferred closed captioning on screen. “Now, a touch of Cad- Yellow, old friend.” Alright, Bob. We are at that level, aren’t we.

Skepticism. His soft tonality could have fooled you, but it takes no time at all to realize he has already begun painting before the show begins. “A black gesso,” he explains, “not the same as black acrylic.” I want to believe you Bob, except what is its purpose? And I realize that I’ve been given no preview of what the end result of this painting is like, a contradiction of every YouTube Beauty Look ever done. What if Bob Ross is a terrible painter? What if Maddie has heinous taste in artistic television? What is artistic television?

Anxiety. Nerves momentarily quelled after witnessing that impossibly simple swishing of “Cad- Yellow” (the technique *did* produce believable, liquid gold waves), he starts onto a big wave. The focal point of the seascape. He begins to fill in a large white-crested outline with the sunset colors from above. I’m with you, Bob; those reflective waves from above needed a warm glow and it stands to reason this would follow suit. But then he moves onto the sea foam. I look to Maddie. He can’t be done. 

“Wait, it sorta seems like he’s finishing up!” 

It can’t be! He moves onto the red-hued rock cliffs and yes yes, they look great but the WAVE, BOB! You haven’t finished the wave! 

He starts swishing again, only this time with a light and pale blue. 

“I don’t know if I’m feeling it, Bob.” 

In different words, we are wracking our minds and hearts with the same questions. Is this it? Are these the finishing touches on an unfinished wave? But those dark violet cloud protrusions were exquisite! The dribbling water splashed off of the rocky foreground divine! What of your wave, Bob? We are too distracted to appreciate the sudden apparition of a shadowy clustering of boulders. Boulders my a$$: Bob has forgotten his wave.

 “Well, I think we’ll call it done” or something to that effect.

It was over. Done maybe, but unfinished.

We yelled out in frustration and denial. We acknowledged the sea foam. We finally came to understand the black gesso.

“Well, now you know who Bob Ross is.”

And then we painted.

So maaaaaany series, 👏🏼👏🏼

so little time.  👏🏼👏🏼

One of three. Muji socks, Blick floss.

Probably should've gone for the heel to optimally execute the idea (now a given left can only be mixed with rights), but I haven't decided if it's worth undoing or if I should just plan on it for the next set.

First of the series, inspired by those rainbow glass tube beads from Lorraine.

Lately, cards have been excuses for little pen doodles.

When "let's make a piñata!" becomes "let's make it an New Years anti-resolutions piñata!"

Really, we all just needed an excuse to wail on a piñata.

Blush "engraved" with 30A299.

You’ve got a slipping grip on fast forward

Toward an ending you wrote

Where good defeats evil

And you called yourself the villain

Working on some new songs. 

Tocar el piano es prestar más atención a la música. Thanks to Kimbra for making me think more about my music. Inspired by the Golden Echo and revved up for Primal Heart, playing around with the 18th. That resolved C though.

Much has changed since those early proofs! And suddenly, it's #100!!

I am one proud seester and so joined in the celebration. Hence, special edition art!

And t-shirts! IRL!

And internal branding exercises! And a cleaned-up site! And a survey! [Sorry, that one's for readers only :) ]

TL;DR  Namin is so cool! Moves are being made! Exclamatory sentences!

My first guest edition of The Link! I succeeded in including the actual wordmark I designed in the header, but failed at coding edge to edge color in the preheader. Can't believe Ben's almost at 100 weeks! These are my original design proofs from back in 2015 (nearly two years ago).

14R 6B

24Y 2R

3Y 12G 6B

Adhesive dots are not to be underestimated.

FIVE mittens for just one hand!