Geraldine's Counter - for dinner! / March 24, 2015 by Esther Loopstra

I live in Columbia City, a little community in south Seattle. It's a quaint little area with a main drag, little shops and a few great eateries. Geraldine's Counter is a staple here. Every weekend (and some week days too!) there is a pretty hefty line of people waiting for brunch at this trendy diner. I've gone there for brunch more times than I can count, and it is well worth the wait. It's always fresh and distinctive.

Brunch at Belle + Whete / March 12, 2015 by Esther Loopstra

After getting the February issue of Seattle Met featuring a serious list of where to go for lunch in Seattle, my friend and I decided on Belle + Whete in Belletown. I was dead set on getting their Crab Benedict but the waiter suggested the quiche, and the way he described it really got me curious. I'm so glad I tried the Wild Mushroom and Smoked Cheddar Quiche because it was probably the best I've ever had.

Brunch Illustrations / February 26, 2015 by Esther Loopstra

Any time I can, I like to try a new brunch place in Seattle. I recently went to brunch with some friends and my suggestion was Ba Bar in Capitol Hill, Seattle. I didn't know much about the restaurant but whenever I drive past the restaurant it's packed, so I thought it must be good. Turns out they serve Vietnamese street food and noodles... and delicious pastries. We ordered brunch which was terrific, flavorful and unique but the highlight was this pastry that we THOUGHT was a donut. All of us were going crazy over this thing so we had to order another one. It was flaky and chewy with just the right texture. It wasn't until I got home and did some research for this illustration that it is actually a "cronut". This term has been trademarked so I think they call them "Double Happiness" according to this article by The Seattle Times. I've been meaning to try this treat (a combination of a doughnut and a croissant) since I started hearing about them awhile back so I know I'm a little late in the game. But stumbling upon it at this terrific local restaurant was a moment that my mouth will not soon forget.

Valentines card for Papyrus out now! / January 15, 2015 by Esther Loopstra

I illustrated this Valentine's Day Card for Papyrus which is on their website and in stores right now. I've always wanted to work with Papyrus because I love their cards, so when they asked me to create this tween style Valentine's Card I was really excited. To top it off, they were so great to work with, which always is a terrific bonus.

Free pattern wallpaper download for tablet or phone / January 2, 2015 by Esther Loopstra

Happy New Year! I hope you had a beautiful holiday season and got some rest, relaxation and inspiration! In the spirit of giving, I wanted to share this pattern I made, I created this as a doodle in my sketchbook and just turned into into a pattern for anyone to use on your computer, tablet or phone. Just click on the link, download and upload to your device as a background. If you like it please share. Enjoy!