Hour by hour
The weekly Looby-list of good things: including hourly comics; spicy soup; ambient sounds; Nick Offerman - Renaissance man; and farewelling a graphic design superstar.
Hi all,
February first was Hourly Comics Day, an online event where illustrators and comic book creators document their lives every hour in a comic strip. It’s quite the commitment. Did you do it? I did, but I broke one rule and didn’t publish them online throughout the day. They are hiding in my sketchbook for now. The above is a little sample. This year I found it particularly hard to make a very dull February day seem entertaining when highlights included checking work emails and making nachos. Perhaps I should have done it in illuminated manuscript style, like my medieval pilgrim story from Wednesday. Next year! Nevertheless, it’s always an excellent exercise, and I love seeing the other people I admire publish throughout the day. Check out the hilarious Lisa Hanawalt, the ridiculously talented Vera Bee, the luminous Carson Ellis, and the always-inspiring Isabel Greenberg.
Food for the soul
This week I made soup for weekend lunches. An unexpected snowfall last Monday night and chilly temperatures all week had us craving spicy goodness. This was excellent: Harira (Spiced Moroccan Vegetable Soup with Chickpeas, Cilantro, and Lemon). I used less lemon, as some reviewers suggested, and left out the cilantro (coriander). Upcoming: Spicy roasted parsnip soup and Potato Leek Soup
Atmosphere
Sometimes I like to play loud music while I work, sometimes I draw while listening to podcasts, but lately I have been working in silence as I write. That was until I discovered the ambient noise world on YouTube. My friend Christie linked to this particularly soothing sound of an old library which I have been playing a lot. It’s slightly disconcerting, as sometimes it feels a little like I’m sitting beside a ghost who turns pages and scribbles notes. There’s also a rainy-day coffee shop with some peaceful tunes and a summer kitchen so you can type your newsletter content while a little ghosty makes a cake nearby.
Icelandic tunes
Last year marked the 10th anniversary of Of Monsters and Men album My Head is an Animal. The Cabin Sessions were released in June to mark the occasion. I have been listening to it a lot this week. Another Icelandic celebration is the 20th anniversary season for Sigur Ros. They released a remastered version of the music video for Vaka from 2003.
Momfluence
I enjoyed the Binchtopia podcast episode “Performing the American Pastoral,” discussing momfluencers, feminism, and the pastoral ideal - particularly about the homespun, homesteading life (business) of Ballerina Farm. Too bad I then wasted so much time getting lost in that Instagram account. Unsurprisingly it left me feeling pretty crappy, as momfluencers are prone to do.
Making stuff
Sewing patterns for bags: TytkaStudio $7 sewing patterns for a wide range of handbags. There are at least three of these I want to make stat. If you’re not into making your own, the new range from Baggu is pretty fun.
Reading
I borrowed a copy of Nick Drnaso’s graphic novel Sabrina at our local library, which was a good find. Sabrina was the first graphic novel to be long-listed for the Man Booker Prize. According to Zadie Smith’s blurb on the back, it’s “the best book—in any medium—I have read about our current moment.” Drnaso’s new book Acting Class was released late last year. This little film is a glimpse of his life and process.
Nick O
After last week’s The Last of Us, everyone wants to be Nick Offerman. Here are all the things he can’t live without. Here’s his substack, which, hopefully, he’s still updating. Here’s his woodworking collective. Here he is reviewing crafting gadgets with Seth Rogen for WIRED magazine.
Women’s health
A little off-topic for this newsletter, but an important article that I know many of you will be interested in reading. This week, the New York Times magazine cover story is Women Have Been Misled About Menopause. Any time I read about the lack of funding, research and information about women’s health, especially older women’s health, I get so fricking mad. If you don’t have time to read that, here are “5 things” you can catch up on.
Legend
Graphic designer Carin Goldberg died last month. She created an outstanding body of work but is probably most well known for her work on Madonna’s 1983 album, Madonna. I love seeing her collage and her incredible embroidery work on Instagram. In PRINT Magazine, you can read Debbie Millman’s tribute (and loving notes from other friends and colleagues) to Carin.
That’s it for today. Thanks for reading, and welcome if this is your first time visiting! Feel free to share this with your friends. The more the merrier.
xo,
Claire
What’s coming up on Loobylu (aka The Subscriber Pitch):
The next paid-subscriber-only edition will look at amateur archaeology, mudlarking and the terrible (embarrassing!) essay I once submitted in a first year archaeology class.
What came before:
In recent paid-subscriber-only issues I wrote about a medieval-style pilgrimage to buy art supplies, beautiful creative interiors, and how my family embraced goblin mode.
Loobylu is a reader-supported publication and entirely free of affiliates, partners and sponsors. For access to past and future subscriber-only posts, support Loobylu with a paid subscription.