Beci Orpin’s Blog

i’m back. well actually, i didnt go anywhere, i just haven’t felt compelled to blog. possibly something to do with melbourne winter taking hold. in the space of a week a huge cloud of cold has descended on us and now i can no longer ride my bike without gloves and a scarf and all i want to do is eat and read my book in bed (not at the same time. maybe sometimes). and some nights i have even been able to do just that, as the studio has been maintaining a comparatively leisurely pace of late. that was until i wrote a new “to do” list today and discovered i am soon to be back in the land of the manic deadline and late night working.  

despite the calm, there has still been plenty going on, in the studio and otherwise.

most importantly – tyke turned 7. it seems ridiculously old to me, and i still trying to work out how this all happened. but it does suits him. one of his presents was a kite. a proper kite, not one that falls apart after one session of flying. he has been loving it. 

i have also been on a book buying frenzy. everytime i step into metropolis books molly always shows me the absolute best things which i can not resist. i have been re-visiting some of my old favourite second hand book haunts too. plus there was the books at manic sale, where i picked up an enzo mari “il posto dei giochi” (the place of games) for a quarter of the normal price! i cant tell you how long i have lusted over one of these. and even better now i have kids who love it too – for them its like the awesome-ness of a cardboard box on a whole new level.

also included in my book booty (which is not at all shown justice by this exceptionally crappy photo) is latest book illustrated by marc boutavant (my current illustration hero), a book about contemporary japanese paper (heaven) and also one on the book covers by celestino piatti - a swiss illustrator heralded as the most productive book designer of all times. score!

the beatbox kitchen has also been going great guns lately. raph and the beatbox have been catering for the likes of wilco, plus many other bands and special events. the friday night jams have been going strong, and he has now added saturday morning breakfast in the same spot. the breakfast menu includes potato tacos with salsa verde and creme fraiche (everything made from scratch including the tacos), minute steak and egg roll, and pour over coffee made from very special coffee beans from seven seeds. if you are northside in melbourne (crn park and rathdowne st  nth carlton to be precise) on the weekend GO! for details check beatbox site

and as far as work, well of course there has been plenty of that going on too. we have just finished up a very cute job for gorman, some new decor for cookie and are midway through some new prints and embroidery designs for irony. i am also in the middle of an illustration job which came through jacky winter. its quite big, and will go across print and TV, but not in this country! will post about that when i can.

speaking of jacky winter, i recently recieved some pics of the new field guide which will be out in a few weeks. it looks amazing – hard cover, cloth bound, gold foil text, printed end papers and comes in its own printed cardboard box too. lucky me was asked by JW to illustrate the afore mentioned end papers. was one of my favourite jobs to date, made even better when i saw it had been printed in flouro pink!

and last but not least i also designed a little avatar for my sister emily’s etsy store, where she sells very very cute handmade owls (called jorpins) and other things too. i am also (not so) patiently waiting for her to start a blog – she is much better at writing than me and its sure to be a good one. 

thats about it for now. surely that makes up for my little venture into hibernation? hope you are staying warm x