DON'T GIVE UP, JAPAN!

as the world now knows, Japan experienced one of the most devastating earthquake & tsunami combinations this past March, which left over 28,000 people injured, missing, or dead. at a time when so many lives have been disheveled and upset, it's imperative that hope lines hearts & that spirits remain steadily high. everyone needs a little magic, but right now, Japan needs the most.

since March, Illustration Rally has been hosting the Don't Give Up, Japan! rally, which encourages artists to create works that will send warmth & good wishes to everyone affected by the earthquake.

the illustration i created is on Illustration Rally here, and was also recently picked up by Urban Outfitters. It is sold as both a print and laptop sleeve at UrbanOutfitters.com. :]

i've also donated a few prints to an auction that Meg Hunt is organizing to raise money for victims of the earthquake. please follow details of the ongoing auction here- there are some beautiful pieces for sale by incredibly wonderful artists and every cent helps someone put their life back together.

love,

m

forest ways

a few photographs from when the air was full of fall and the trees full of leaves:

also, my haloed sheep is now available as an ipod/iphone cover, or macbook sleeve on society6:

i'm going to boston next week and visiting one of my favorite places -- walden pond -- so more photographs when i return. it is supposed to snow here, so if you are one of the unlucky ones: stay warm. and if you're one of the lucky ones: well, you know. ..share the warmth.

<3,

m

like a halo around your head

dear dears,

i've been working on quite a few different projects lately, and i am very excited to finally share one of them with you. LA-based apparel company Kill Brand released their Spring 2011 collection today, and one of my designs, a big-horned haloed sheep, is now up for sale:

the tee is available for purchase through the Kill Brand website.

like a halo around your head

i've also put up prints, in a slightly different colorway, in my etsy shop. all prints sold in my shop come with magical surprises, so surprise yourself or someone who deserves it!

i've lots more to share with you soon, including projects involving monsters (with gabrielle rose of drawgabbydraw), honey, bees, cinnamon, and, of course, tattoos. i like drawing and condiments, what can i say? follow me on twitter (@meeralee) if you'd like to see what i'm doing at 5:15 AM.

yours,
m

belated valentines

i really like collage- however, i rarely have the patience or innate intuition to rearrange images, shapes, and textures--that already possess their own individual identities--into new visions. anyway, here are two more valentines.

for t

for s

i will keep you warm.

one of my very close friends, alicia, is afflicted with Cooley's Anemia, a potentially fatal genetic blood disease. she receives blood transfusions every two weeks in order to correct her detective red blood cells and also does an at-home infusion every night to remove the excess iron in her body.

"i am leaving, i am leaving," but the fighter still remains. ..

my new print, "i will keep you warm," was inspired by the Polar Bear Plunge, an annual event that helps raise money for Thalassemia research. basically, we take off all our clothes and jump into the ocean every march. i have yet to delve into the water myself but i imagine my bones will freeze. my heart will stay warm.

i will keep you warm

*all proceeds* from this print will go directly to The Cooley's Anemia Foundation in hopes of finding a cure (or less intrusive treatment) for Thalassemia patients. if you can, please help find a home for these darling two bears and a cure for all souls afflicted with Thalassemia. 5"x"5 prints are now available in my etsy shop!

for more information on Cooley's Anemia, please visit www.cooleysanemia.org.

<3,
m