ROOKIE YEARBOOK ONE!!

I dont even know where to start on this project/what to say...cos it's TOO MUCH! (designed that cover. in fact just staring at my laptop that i stared at that cover for so long and then to see it IRL...it's super twilight zone surreal). I spent my summer working with Drawn And Quarterly in Montreal putting together the yearbook. It is the best of the best of the Rookie site's content in a publication form. We put it together and I added my 'vibes' as (TG would say)..you will know what I mean when you see it. I am being vague which is 'cray' b/c this is one of the best projects I have ever worked on. ever. and there is SO MUCH TO SAY. ask me anything. okay maybe not now. or...i dont know when i'll have time. But there is so much to say.

I'm cram-seshin packing/getting things done before i catch a RED EYE tomorrow night to NEW YORK FOR THE LAUNCH (very obsessed with this RED EYE on Cathay Pacific. I love that airline! and i love flying!!). It's already 'red eye' time. i live in 'red eye'. Okay i need to go finish an illustration for Rookie (the show must go on) and try and fix a dress i destroyed 8 years ago (antique thing i thought i'd 'hem' but hacked off too much now i am sewing it back together. nice work) and i have to pack and my suitcase is looking too small and i am loathe to pull down the other honking thing that AIR CANT replaced when they busted up my other suitcase (that i actually liked)...they gave me a hideous one. I CANT. it's like patent-leather-looking-but-tiny-black&silver -checkerboard' pattern/hound's tooth. It's so ugly i thought for a minute it was 'good' but after skidding thru a few baggage claims, it's all SKID. IDIOT DESIGN. the patent is now not so patent. it has scrap marks on it. i think the only thing that will save this future landfill is STICKERS as in: lots. And not just sticker stickers - BUMPERSTICKERS. i might have to visit a 'head shop' and pick up some 'rock stickers' or stickers you're meant to stick on your van. ('take me to your dealer' etc.)

oh yes. i need to go.
Anyways! Get your hands on a ROOKIE YEARBOOK and tell me what you think! so far i have only heard 'freak outs' as in: WE LOVE THIS!!! It's amazing amazing amazing. WOW. to be a part of something so grand and full of love  from so many contributors (writers, photographers, illustrators, artists, stylists, designers. u name it) and so, so much HARD WORK and love went into this. I know i put every single i had into it. We decided pretty early on: THIS IS NOT GOING TO PRESS UNTIL IT'S PERFECT.

and it is.

okay now must go.
xoxo
but wait. before i go. I think what is most SURREAL is that one year ago today I was sitting in Dawson City at the Macaulay House residency(you srsly need to click that link and have your mind blown) doing my residency..that was me sitting in a room working by myself watching the parade of dawsonites cruise by the windows (i was looking down on everything from the second floor bird's eye view)...three-legged dogs, dogs running with  leashes dragging behind all free and wild (no owner in sight), weird rigged up ATV-like things ripping past. Pretty yukon style...the light in that studio was really good and it was SEPTEMBER which always means NEW THINGS and all the leaves were turning gold! and well..yes. the yukon LIGHT which is like nowhere else on earth. I was working on Rookie illustrations all fresh and new and u know..kinda freaking out cos it was NEW and it was also the usual me: wtf am i doing? but just...DOING IT and figuring it out learning curve style..finding a good balance and what will work on line and brushing up on my 'tech skills' (that was a joke cos it you only knew. Tom at D+Q finally got me using a stylus 'pen' which is SO GREAT)...but to think back to that scene and to look at this scene now tuh-day...that all those 'illos' i did in the past year..i never ever would have DREAMED that one year later we'd be holding a book in our hands. It makes me want to cry. I dont think I have ever seen a project unfold with such gentle force and determination EVER. Never. and i've been doing this a long time. SNOWBALL. There are so many incredible people involved in this project. Incredible. It is a true labour of love and it couldnt have come at a better time for THE WORLD.

Run the World, Girls
(oh! speaking of GIRLS. Lena Dunham will be at the launch reading!) and sum other speshul guests.
WOOT. i'm such a fan of Lena.