Jacked up on Coffee & A Day Off

Procrastination in my gig--there are a few preferred methods, but the old doodle bug makes the top 10 list of ways to NOT do the laundry.

I'm on a PTO today (a glorious day of paid time off) and after I've consumed an entire pot of coffee  and read through my blogroll, naturally, the only thing left to do was draw.

(Really? The 1/4" inch of milk in the frig was maybe a good indicator that the grocery store may be more of a priority today but hell, no one is starving in this house.)

I doodled my sister's family to give them for a housewarming gift: I don't cook well so art vs. a casserole is a NO-BRAINER.

 

 

And then, well, I was on a roll:

 

 

The library is my own personal nirvana. Books are the ticket to paradise--I can think of only a few things better than curling up on a cloudy Sunday with a good book. This doodle is destined for more, but the idea is still percolating.

 





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Random Thought #2

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This week at work we had a "Creating Your Legacy" workshop. I tried to keep an open mind, but it was slammed shut after:

 a.) listening to a panelists of "leaders" talk about their jobs. My job and what I leave this world, do not co-exist--other than financially and in a lesson to those after me to please listsen, "Do NOT do anything JUST for money."
and
 b.) then we were asked to volunteer to share our work.

And this girl is, Done.

I take this self-reflection crap seriously and frankly, an introspective exercise should not be made into a group project if you want to do it right.

But, I was reminded that these books I'm filling up with my thoughts/words, might just be considered something of a legacy.

Nice. I've left random thoughts & partial pages. Your "mom/grandma/great grandma" is not a fan of mass gatherings. Your "dad/grandpa/great grandpa" is a smartass.

Your "mom/grandma/ great grandma" hates her hair, nuetral clothing colors, and being cold.

 

& Your "mom/grandma/ great grandma" considers self-inflicted violence to deal with irritation.

Yep, nice. Really nice legacy.

"If I don't do something creative, my head might explode."

Tuesday. (Again. )
Although class is over, still sketching.
(And listening to the Miss Rebekah playlist, the one that shuts down any negativity--it IS Tired Tuesday, you know.)

This one was a happy accident: Papermate felt tip black marker + water--I love the streak-y-ness.

And sketching some more..



 

And then playing to make poster art...

 

 

 

 

 



Playing Fashion Illustrator-Part Duex





We already talked about the skillshare class I'm taking here. Well, forget the sketching peeps, this watercoloring is addicting. (Surprise. Surprise.)

 

I bought myself a big girl set of watercolors (pretty affordable big girl set) on Katie's recommendation and the difference from my cheapy set is night and day.

 

As promised, here's the colored versions:



Valentino 2013: This first one is really what the class was about. Quickly sketching, not worrying about the body, and letting the dress speak for itself.







Pinterest Fav: What I Wish I Wore Board

Cray, Cray Zoe: Her outfit is inspired here. This one is my favorite.

 Erdem Spring 2013- here.

 

The beautiful thing is I can practice the painting in the zee journal. 2 of my current favorite things to do--or should I say, 2 more ways to prevent laundry completion.

Playing Fashion Illustrator

Have you heard of "Skillshare"?  If you love to learn (another obsession over here), this site offers classes on every subject from just about anyone who wants to teach, for a mere $20.

I'm currently enrolled in this class taught by a favorite blog illustrator.

 

This is hers from her blog, PaperFashion

 

 







Guess what we're learning (or in my case, simply experimenting with)? I've learned thus far:

 

 1.)This style of drawing isn't really in my wheelhouse. I don't like to sketch lightly, and I like details. Fashion illustration is about the clothes--drawn quickly, with a light hand.

 

We haven't painted yet, but I've been sketching.

 

Here's my inspiration runway photo (and my pinterest inspiration board):

 

2013 Erdem Spring Collection

I love the colors, textures, & silhouettes of almost all of these dresses.

 

 

So, I sketched Katie's way..

 

 

And then I tried it my way:

 

 

And then I tried it again with this inspiration:

 

 

And I really did it my way--geekery and all..

and Yep, Zoe did go a little cray. cray.

 

 

Painting lesson is next week, so I'll share color when I'm done.

(And keep practicing, and practicing, and practicing..........)

 







Journal Junking

Happy New Year! Spent the Christmas holiday break trying wanting to cram in every last art project I've been dying to complete.

Only,I just couldn't find the mojo--so I cleaned my studio instead. And lo & behold, these patterns kept bugging me--pages of random patterns & neon paint; my apartment in Paris has this very wallpaper in the bedroom.

(That is if I had a Parisian apartment...but what the hell as long as we are using our imaginations...)

Instead of sewing a replica of SJP's ballgown (I swear some day I will recreate that damn minty thing, and WEAR it. ), I tried to journal every day. Some days it was one page, others 3 or 4. Regardless, I find (found) the "Woosa" everytime.

The word of 2013: "Woosa"

(I don't do resolutions 'cause surprise, surprise, I never finish them.That list thing sends me over the edge staring @ me to complete it. Blah.) 

Instead I'll choose a magic word-a reminder word, a conscious state of mind to revert back too.I vow to find the "woosa" in every day. 

(It's a verb, but I've deemed it a noun for this year.)

One of the things I've also learned (but have a hard time practicing) is summed up by this: "Your light cannot shine brighter unless you share it with other people." 

Just to start practicing the art of the share & the almighty woosa that was attained while doodling, You can click HERE.   to see more journal pages.

No judging and if you are, I simply don't want to hear about it. I swear and I scribble. Enough said.

Which leads me to the last of my 2013 awareness challenges; to be a dynamic woman who owns her shit, deals with it, and stops apologizing for it. 

Get your word of the year ready...we've got some growing to do.

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday..

I once loathed Sundays because Mondays soon followed. This Sunday, I am a changed woman. (I reserve the right to revert to my previous opinion.)

After working these past few Saturdays-I have found that Sunday is a little catch-up day that I now (or at least today) look fondly upon. There are no dishes lying in my sink, the behemoth pile of bills has been attacked, I actually used the rotting bananas that were laying on my counter, and I even enjoyed the sun today.

So I won't go into the shop recap because frankly, today, I'm taking a break. Today, I'm just me. Not shopkeeper me, not web designer me, not marketer me, not entreprenuer me..just mom and wife and woman me.

With that being said, I treated myself to my blogroll. My blogroll is serious eye candy, serious inspiration..reading and looking at how the world is perceived through the eyes of these many talented people makes me feel, well, that there are people that love the same things I do.

Thought I'd share a few of today's favorites:

-The typogenerator using these two quotes I came upon yesterday.

A.) "Beauty, to me, is about being comfortable in your own skin. That, or a kick-ass red lipstick.”-Gwenyth Paltrow

B.)" I'm tough, ambitious, and I know exactly what I want. If that makes me a bitch, okay."-Madonna

The rest are fashion related--I'm dying to buy some new clothes. I haven't found anything that I have loved lately but these people have.

-Michelle's Michael Kors---loving the corset belt. via Mrs. O Doesn't she look great here?

-How cute is this little ensemble via Vintage Bliss?

Tomorrow, I'll give you the shop updates. Today I'm searching Ebay tring to find the perfect vintage crinoline.

Have a great Monday!