Recently, I went to the Renegade Craft Fair in San Francisco. There were over 200 amazing indie crafters and artists selling everything from posters to tea towels. One artist, in particular, that stood out amongst the crowd was Nora Aoyagi. I was really drawn to her silk screened prints. Her subject matter commonly references folk lore and fairy tales and borrows stylistically from Japanese Kiri-e and German Scherenschnitte. I picked up her “Hello Stranger” print while I was visiting her booth.

If you missed Nora Aoyagi at the Renegade Craft Fair, fear not, you can still visit her Etsy shop.

In a world where we are constantly connected to our iPod/iPad/iPhone, I’m choosing to unplug with my iSketch. Make that, my sketchbook from Sketchbook Project 2011.

Everyday,  I will be sketching according to my assigned Sketchbook Project theme, “Facing Forward”, until the book is full. When I’m finished, I’ll be able to share my book with the world via the permanent collection of The Brooklyn Art Library and their nationwide tour. Their tour will exhibit thousands of sketchbooks (just like mine) at galleries and museums across the country.

There is something about the promise of the blank page and a fresh Sharpie. To most it’s just a sketchbook, but to me it’s an invitation to explore ideas, record dreams and reconnect with myself.

Sign up for your own sketchbook. Click here to unplug.