Welcome to 'The Collection' – your curated end-of-month digest of all things I found noteworthy, related to literature, entertainment, advertising, and more.
This month has been booked and busy, in both a good and stressful way. I’ve been meeting with friends, being social, traveling, but also drowning in work. Surprisingly, even though at times I feel my back muscles compressing from all the stress, I am managing well with no burnout. I’ve set up systems and routines that are helping me with it (which I talked about a couple of weeks ago). June was a very productive month, ending with a packed week surrounded by my family, which I’m always grateful for.
What I Read
Conversations With Friends by Sally Rooney
I enjoyed this one more than Normal People, I think. Sally Rooney’s books are great at capturing everyday life in a relatable way. In this book, though, I found myself more consumed by the characters, especially Frances, rather than relating to them. Her story felt intense and a bit negative, almost intoxicating. Rooney's writing makes these complex characters feel very real, which I like.
It was also ironic that I read half of the book on the plane on my way to Dublin, where most of her novels are set. It was fun to have an idea of what Trinity College looked like and imagine the events the characters experienced there. You best believe I’ll be watching the series now.
Writers & Lovers by Lily King
I wanted to like this book way more than I did. I was interested enough to read it in its entirety, but at the same time, I wanted to finish quickly to get to the queue piling up in the corner of my room.
The one thing I felt while reading it was the desire to write and publish a book. That sounds like a terribly exciting idea, and the more I think about it, the more I’m into it. Other than that, I felt zero connection to the characters and the whole story. I think it lacked depth; at the beginning, you’re introduced to so many characters that you don’t get to know much about as the book unfolds.
In the last pages of the book, all of her problems were resolved in the literal span of a day, and before I knew it, the book was done.
What I Watched
Bridgerton, Season 3 - Part 2 by Chris Van Dusen
Nicola is mesmerizing. I think it was very well done, though, in my personal opinion, an enemies-to-lovers trope tops friends-to-lovers. (Plus, Queen Charlotte’s mini-series still runs in my mind rent-free.) I don’t have much to say, except that I’m excited for the upcoming seasons. I never read the books, so I have no clue what to expect.
House of The Dragon by Ryan J. Condal and George R.R. Martin
There’s only been two episodes so I don’t want to say much other than everyone is hot (at the press conferences, without the wigs). Here are some good memes I’ve seen so far without giving much context:
The Prestige by Christopher Nolan
I had no clue this movie existed, and I’m sorry I missed it until now. But it was mind-blowing. A movie immediately wins my heart when it is genuinely unpredictable, and this one nailed it. Amazing cast, characters, story, plot, and plot twist. I would watch it again. 10/10.
The last movie I found unpredictable from beginning to end was Parasite.
Arts/Design/Ads
BRAT Album by Charlie XCX
Jumping from Billie’s album to this one perfectly captures my current mental state—I’m all over the place. Watch my Spotify Wrapped be just these two. My favorites on this album are "Club Classics," "Von Dutch," and "Girl, so confusing."
A Banquet-piece by Willem Claesz Heda
During my trip to Dublin, I went to the National Gallery of Ireland and stumbled upon this amazing piece. It is oil on wood panel, and my jaw dropped. The richness of the colors and the reflection of light on the pewter are just mind-blowing. The detail and texture of the cloth, the pink hues in the ham—everything is just amazing.
According to Google, Heda was a Dutch Golden Age artist who focused his work on still life. No image on the internet does justice to the vibrancy of his painting. The image below I took with my phone, and it is not edited.
What I’m Working On
Branding for Luxury Travel Agency
This branding project has been completed! I feel like I have low-key mastered my creative process thanks to the amazing team that helped me with it. I have to wait a little bit before I can publish the final results, but feel free to follow Trece’s Instagram so you don’t miss it!
Branding for Luxury Artisan Crafts
And another one! I’m currently in the process of bringing the concept and branding to life. The more I work on these branding projects, the more I discover and refine my style, which is incredibly exciting. Rest assured, just like with the previous project, I’ll keep you all updated once it's completed.
Copywriting for ITO
I recently began my role as a Copywriter and Brand Designer at Inside Then Out. This opportunity unexpectedly came through this newsletter, and I'm thrilled to collaborate with a fantastic team of women who share my passion for wellness and journaling.
Random Stuff
Just enjoying the Summer
I've been traveling around, soaking up the sun, and spending quality time with friends and family. Life has been good—no complaints, just immense gratitude for feeling so aligned, happy, and balanced. However, I’ve been feeling a bit homesick lately. I wonder if it's just because of Juni or if there’s something more to it. Who knows? But, only one more month until I’m back and reunited with him <3
Con muchísimo amor,
Isabella