a stroll through Chelsea...

Last week I clocked 15k steps walking around Chelsea in Manhattan. So many of my fave places have closed down. Bummer. I found a great typewriter store though. Hit some fun holiday markets in Chelsea Market and had delicious sushi tacos for lunch. Then a great walk with my friend down the Highline where it suddenly began to snow. Felt like a little Christmas miracle. (Stopped after three minutes.) Anyway, I always feel so inspired by the city. Need to go in more like I used to!

NYC, Chelsea, kristine lombardi, Chelsea market, toys, flowers, tacos

The GIGANTIC shoe!

My art was recently selected for a really fun public sculpture project at Bloomingdales. Over the next few weeks I will be painting, constructing and papier mache-ing an enormous 6 foot shoe which will ultimately sit on the sales floor of the Short Hills Bloomingdales shoe department! I am attaching a photo of my design process-including the sketches I submitted for the project. Guess which one they chose?

Reception details to come. :)

designprocess.jpg



a little DIY on a snowy day...

I'm no good with cabin fever. I head out to walk every day no matter what the weather. But just one mile into my walk, the snow turned to rain and soaked through all my clothes. I came home and hung every layer over the radiator (they DO serve other purposes!) and began to clean house. Then, as I was about to put my new red shoes in the closet, I began to ponder how plain they were. How painfully PLAIN. I've always loved the simplicity of Kate Spade's shoes but each pair has special little embellishments that take them from plan to fun. I've been saving broken bits of jewelry, beads and paillettes for the past few years-no quite knowing how I would eventually use them, but then it was clear!!!

So, I made this little graphic to show before and after. So fun. Went out Thursday and wore them with ripped jeans. Lots of eyes on them. Total budget: about 25 bucks!!!

DIYshoebling.jpg

New York Public Library visit and some Garment District inspiration!

Last week I met up with MG author Victoria J. Coe in Bryant Park. I illustrated her adorable debut book "Fenway and Hattie" a few years ago and we have kept in touch via Instagram and Twitter. It's always nice to meet fellow authors and after lunch, we headed over to the New York Public Library to check out the children's department and get a photo with her book. 

I went over to the picture book shelves and spotted a copy of The Grumpy Pets. So cool to see! I like seeing the book with all the markings of a book that has been handled by little hands. 

One of the librarians indulged us with taking pictures. And of course, I had to visit the Winnie the Pooh animals at the entrance. Love them!!!

Earlier that day, I walked along the busy streets of the garment district and dipped in and out of trimmings shops, fabric stores and other trade spots. So much fun. I could look at all those candy colored zippers and buttons all day! 

Did you see that teeny cop car? I could hug it! I left the district with one perfectly hued cafe au lait rmaribou boa, which I will snip up and add (judiciously) to a strappy sandal for warmer weather. Saved about 700 bucks on that move! (Champagne taste, beer budget as always)