Happy Place Design

Henry - The Baguette Beard

2009-10-27T22:47:00.003-05:00

I've been trying to figure out what I want to draw, for some time now. After a hilarious weekend with my mom and two furry costume hats, I thought of something.

And with a pen, a page of Bristol paper, and my old, dusty art supply box from college, out came "Henry - The Baguette Beard".

He's still a work in progress, but he just wanted to say, "Hello".

Where the Wild Things Are

2009-10-18T19:32:00.009-05:00

Ryan and I just finished watching Where the Wild Things Are. It was beautiful, crazy, funny, sad, sweet, and a million other different things that had us falling in love with little Max and all of the Wild Things.

Image Credit: Michael Muller / Entertainment Weekly

First off, his real name is Max Records, how cute? Secondly, he acted in a Death Cab for Cutie music video. And, as if you need more reasons to find him adorable, he's from Portland and he got the gig after having a nerf gun battle during casting. Oh, ya! And I read that at age 8 he protested at his school to have them include vegetarian options! And, he kinda reminds me of Ellen Page. Okay, now go see the movie already!

You definitely have to check out this blog if you are a fan of the movie/book: "We Love You So".

Safe to Dress

2009-10-17T12:00:00.000-05:00

Tulip Show Dress
$64.99 @ Modcloth

Very reminiscent of Rebecca Turbow's "Safe" 05/06 Collections.

Photo credit: "Safe Girls - deitch art parade 2006" by "snack attack" on Flickr

If only it came in mint.
And had sleeves for this chilly weather!

Lemon Blooms

2009-10-16T12:00:00.006-05:00

It may be laziness, or maybe just a little disinterest, but instead of visiting the local "Unique" thrift shop today, I searched Etsy for "vintage wallpaper", instead.
I just haven't found much at the local thrift stores lately and I ALWAYS find inspiration on Etsy, so it seemed like a sure thing, and it was!
I found "Lemon Blooms", an adorable shop offering vintage wallpaper, fabric, accessories, and footwear. I've collected vintage fabric for over ten years and have finally decided to limit my purchases until I make more use of what I already have. In the meantime, it doesn't hurt to window (monitor) shop!

Visit the Lemon Blooms Etsy Shop: here
She also has a handmade shop: here
and a blog: here

Alice in Wonderland

2009-10-15T12:00:00.003-05:00

I cannot wait for this movie to come out!

The Oklahoma City release date is set for March 2010.

Follow Me

2009-10-14T20:40:00.000-05:00

It's kind of like asking nicely without having to say anything at all...

'Follow Me' (Twitter) Tattoo Tights
by post on Etsy
$23

'Sexy Bats' Tattoo Tights
by post on Etsy
$23

I'm more into real tattoos, but I bet these would be cute on someone that doesn't already have tattoos on their legs!
Maybe for Halloween?

Images taken from the "post" Etsy shop.

Fantatstic Mr. Fox

2009-10-14T12:00:00.000-05:00

Speaking of animals dressed in people clothes! I love it already!

I found online that this should release November 13th, 2009 in Oklahoma City.

Katie Daisy - The Wheatfield

2009-10-13T12:00:00.002-05:00

Feminine florals, hand-drawn illustrations, bright colors, and encouraging words, oh my! Each refreshing design offers something completely different but clearly shows her personal style. I love it! Keep up the beautiful work, Katie!

Visit The Wheatfield shop on Etsy:here
and Katie's website: here

Susanne Engman

2009-10-12T12:00:00.003-05:00

I came across the works of Susanne Engman today while doing my daily web-hunt for inspiration.
I couldn't stop looking at her bright color combinations and funny characters.

Susanne works as an illustrator and designer in Stockholm, Sweden.
All images are from Susanne's website. Check it out, here.

Sula Champagne Sugar

2009-10-11T18:07:00.005-05:00

My new favorite scent: Sula Champagne Sugar.I bought the Sula Champagne Sugar Perfume oil roller, 10 ml, for $15 at Ulta this weekend.

I have really sensitive skin, so hosing myself down with a spray bottle of expensive perfume usually left my skin wanting to punch me. And who really likes to smell anyone from a mile away anyway? Eww!

Thanks to a tip from my friend, Nicole, about ten years ago (woah, I'm getting old!), I've learned that scented oils not only last longer, but they don't irritate my skin because they're only placed on pressure points. You don't lather them all over the place like scented lotions, either (also worthy of a good skin-punch). A simple roll of oil on my wrists, behind my ears, and on my collar bones, is all it takes to smell sugary sweet all day, in a grown up way, of course!

P.S. I swear I didn't get paid to post this. I don't think anyone would pay anyone to recommend their product and say anything like "skin-punch" in the post. Just a thought. :)

Love,
me.

Berkley Illustration

2009-10-11T12:00:00.002-05:00

I've always loved portraits of people with animal heads. Or maybe these are just animals dressed as people? It's hard to tell, but either way, I love seeing animals doing people things and especially animals dressing in people suits! Reading that over, it sounds like a Dr. Seuss rhyme or something...

Check out these prints by Berkley Illustration:

Blog: click here
Etsy Shop: click here

Fatal Sweets

2009-10-10T12:00:00.001-05:00

Pocket mirrors and pin-back buttons with doe-eyed portraits on them by Fatal Sweets.
Aren't they lovely? There's even one wearing a fascinator! Or a "hair pretty", as some might say. ;)

Website: click here
Etsy Shop: click here

Sunny Champagne

2009-10-09T12:00:00.002-05:00

I love the way Pascal Champagne (his etsy shop is called "Sunny Champagne") layers different colors and textures, but in a very subtle way. Sometimes design can be so obvious that it's abrasive. I love his style. It's so very mellow and comforting.

Visit his site, here.
And his etsy shop, here.
Oh! And his photography etsy shop, here.

Grace Hester Designs

2009-10-08T12:00:00.003-05:00

I think these designs for children by Grace Hester, would look wonderful on fabric!
Ooooooh some sheets with these animals all over them?
Too cute!

*Grace let me know that the icons are from stock photography.
Thanks for your honesty, Grace!

Shop Grace Hester Designs, here.

Farouche

2009-10-07T18:08:00.006-05:00

Simply sweet and adorable.
Handmade meets digital, in a way.

Follow the Farouche blog, here.
Shop Farouche, here.

Be Inspired.

2009-10-03T11:43:00.005-05:00

[Give and Take by AshleyG]

I've added a TON of links to the right of sites that truly inspire me.
Please check them out and find your own inspiration.
I just know you will!

Love,
me.

Valentino: The Last Emperor

2009-09-23T00:10:00.005-05:00

After watching an embarrassing chick flick from Redbox, this evening, I perused Netflix New Releases on Instant Watch. And, yes, I still rent from Redbox even though we have a Netflix subscription. Sometimes you just want what you want, when you want it. Ya know?

Anyway, to my surprise, I saw "Valentino: The Last Emperor" as the first listing in the New Releases! I'm pretty sure I said I'd watch this with my boyfriend, but he wasn't around and like a kid on Christmas Eve, I just couldn't wait!

I've laughed out loud. I've made "Oh, no he di'nt!" facial expressions. I've been jealous that I don't have assistants to brush my cat's teeth. I've felt apologetic towards Valentino's partner, Giancarlo Giammetti, in both love in business. And most of all, I've felt a little better about my personal design career, because of this film.

Valentino Clemente Ludovico Garavani, better known simply as "Valentino", never touches a sewing needle in the documentary. He drapes fabric over fit models and illustrates, yes. Is he a designer? Absolutely. But, I think sometimes, there is a misinterpretation of what a designer is and can be.

Some days, I'll have designs in my head, all day long. Some weekends, I'll go shopping and critique everything I try on, from sewing construction to fit and fabric choice. This doesn't mean that I want to design at a fashion house. I've never wanted to live in NYC or LA, but I definitely consider myself a designer. Some people think designers are only the people that get recognition or have their name intertwined with skulls and tattoo-style artwork suffocating men's shirts across America, but for me, it's just living the life and doing what I do.

If I was Kelli Valentino, and not Kelli Crockett, I might be able to design a thousand collections with pouf sleeves and ten different ways to show a purple twill pencil skirt with a mustard wool kick pleat, and actually afford to have them sampled AND produced. (I also might have to actually go out into the sun, too, and get one of those orangey tans, yuck!) But, I have a full-time job with credit cards to pay off. I have dishes to do. I have a gym membership that I've been neglecting. And I have a boyfriend that sometimes I just can't, and mostly just don't want to, pull myself away from.

Yes, my sewing machine and serger are collecting dust (just the plastic covers, though, I swear!). Both my Ginghers and pinking shears are resting comfortably in their metal cases. And my thread holder is more of a colorful display then functional at this point. But, I'm very proud to have the construction and fit knowledge and experience that I DO have. And if I really wanted to make a better version of the ill-fitting dress I tried on at Macy's, I actually could.

If you put Valentino in a tiny apartment studio with a sewing needle, a spool of thread, a case of pins, a roll of silk chiffon, and a dress form, could he create a masterpiece? The film made me think he couldn't. But if you gave him all of that and a team of talented fit specialists, pattern makers, fabric cutters, seamstresses, and tailors, the possibilities are endless.

In this case, Valentino not only stole the show, but he also paid for it. And although he finally gave Giancarlo Giammetti, the vocal recognition he deserved after all these years, I hope that viewers will also give their own personal respect to the team that put the whole sha-bang together.

I don't disagree that he built his career from scratch with his own two hands. I don't disagree that he's extremely talented and worthy of his recognition. I just wish I could've heard more from him about where he got his start. But maybe his status was meant to be perceived as unreachable? I mean, he is by all means, "The Last Emperor".

Now, I'll shut up and simply insist that you watch it.

Love,
me.

Another Flashback

2009-09-21T17:00:00.001-05:00

As I've talked about previously, I used to design ladies' accessories. Some days I miss it, then I remind myself that I can apply design to anything. A color palette for handbags, could still work for stationary. A geometric design used for apparel, could still be applied to home decor. It's pretty endless if you have an eye for what works and are flexible enough to try something else when it doesn't.

Oh, ya! And you don't have to get paid by someone else to do what you love. That just has to be the case if you want to make a living from it. If I feel like sewing, I have the tools for it at home. If I want to design handbags again, I have the resources and what I don't have, I can find. Sometimes it's hard to shake the mindset that you can only do what someone pays you to do. Maybe that's a drawback from working in a creative field, but as soon as I remind myself that in my free-time, the sky's the limit, it's on!

Here are some sketches from 3 or 4 years ago when I was designing wallets. And one illustration thrown in of a handbag I was working on.

Kind of neat to look back at them and remember what projects I was working on...

Remember that one time?

2009-09-20T22:26:00.006-05:00

...when I worked as a graphic designer at that licensing company in Texas, and I wanted to do a collection of hand-drawn artwork for handbags? I'm pretty sure they never made it more than a few feet from my cubicle (and that you have absolutely no idea what I'm talking about), but I found them in my good ol' photobucket and decided they deserved their own little face-time, too. Sorry, Chloe, you can't hog it all...

Disclaimer: I drew the logo by hand and placed the Jimi Hendrix silhouette (existing artwork) on top of it. I only 'designed' the drawings around his head and drew the logo as I saw it. Just so there's no confusion.

With this illustration, I drew the logo as I saw it and added the swirl design.

When it comes to licensing, you can't mess around. Therefore, please take special note of the disclaimers. (And please don't be offended by the obviousness.)

Chloe

2009-09-20T22:21:00.006-05:00

Just because she hasn't gotten ANY face-time and it's about time... I introduce you to Chloe. These were taken about three years ago, right before I moved back to Oklahoma. She's aged well, so there's no need for any update photos, sorry Chloe.

Oh, and I found my old photobucket, so prepare to see some other oldies that are somewhat goodies. :)

Movies I Love

2009-09-12T10:29:00.007-05:00

I don't think I could live without movies. I'm not much for television and commercials. I like to get in and get out, so to speak. Get involved with the characters, get to know and understand them, relate to them, feel their experiences as they do, feel good about how it all worked out, and move on to the next.

A television series is hard for me to follow. First off, I haven't had cable in years. So if I happen to remember that so-and-so is playing Wednesday at 7PM and I happen to catch it, I most likely will forget that by next Wednesday at 7PM. Secondly, I want to watch all the episodes back to back. I guess I'm a pretty impatient viewer. I want the characters to figure it all out, learn their lesson, and find their one true love in about ninety minutes give or take. And I'm okay with that albeit high expectation, because we have Netflix. And that lovely gem feeds my dramatic, comedic, romantic, mysterious, and independent film hunger on a very regular basis.

So, here is a list of movies that I love, in no particular order:
(Most can be found under "quirky independent dysfunctional-family movies" in a quick Netflix search.)

The Squid and the Whale
Wicker Park
Thumbsucker
Wristcutters
Pineapple Express
Little Miss Sunshine
500 Days of Summer
Winter Passing
A Very Long Engagement
Knocked Up
The Virgin Suicides
The Science of Sleep
Superbad
Yes Man
The Go-Getter
Failure to Launch
Becoming Jane
Penelope
Almost Famous
Lars and the Real Girl
Swingers
Lost in Translation
Julie and Julia
Amelie
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Broken Flowers
Best in Show
Bottle Rocket
The Royal Tenenbaums
Shop Girl

Is there a movie you absolutely love that I should check out? Are any of these your favorites?

Love,
me.

All Is Full Of Love

2009-09-11T21:26:00.005-05:00

The room is quiet except for the running window unit. Only one light is on in the house aside from the screen. It's a Friday night. And I'm here, at home, alone, not including Chloe the cat, in the silence.

And there is but one thing on my mind, Ryan.

He's out with a buddy of his, probably reminiscing about one of the billion memories they have together. Something hilarious, I'm sure of it. Ryan's probably lighting up the room with his smile and filling the quiet moments with his sense of humor.

I could be out. I could be spending money I don't have on something I don't need. But with the anxiousness that comes with the first week at a new job, all I am drawn to do is stay in. Mellow out. Relax and unwind. And reflect; on my new job, on my life, and on our future.

If I knew that he would be here waiting for me, I would've come back to Oklahoma sooner. Had I known that his hands would've sewn up my broken heart, years ago, I wouldn't have given it a second thought. And now that I'm here, and he is here, there isn't another place I'd rather be.

We met in a craft store. He helped me pick out mini wooden plaques to draw on. He was wearing an apron and sneakers for skateboarding. I could tell. He pulled down boxes from the top shelf to help me find only the plaques that had the darkest knots on them. They had the most character, we both agreed.

That's when we fell in love.

September 2007

A year later and I got a job at a craft company, too. Local competitors, our families would joke, still do. We made magnets out of mini plastic fruit together and planned our lives to include our passion for creating things. We went on wine-filled bike rides around the lake and held hands as the wind tried to blow me and my two wheels away. Living together and building our lives out of old-fashioned, sweep you off your feet, one look and your crying, romance. I don't just want to grow old with him. I never want to let go of him. If I could telecommute from our couch with my right hand working the keyboard and my left hand holding his, I'd be set.

September 2008

Two years later and we're even more in the clouds. I've always heard that after two years, you start running out of things to say. After a while, his jokes won't be funny. Whoever said that never met Ryan. Never met us.

I'm just overwhelmed with love. Loving my job, loving our home, loving our life together. With all of the complaining in the world, and the worries and frets, isn't it about time for a little love and happiness? Don't we all deserve it?

I hope you find your Ryan and your wine-filled bike ride.
I know I'm never letting go of mine.

Love,
me.

Macaron Phenomenon

2009-09-04T18:08:00.008-05:00

image found at Laduree

image found at the photobucket of dwsewbiz

Macaron by Pierre Hermé

Sucre - Macaroon from Sucre - Founder - Joel Dondis on Vimeo.

I could ramble on and on about these little pretty treats, but isn't it more fun to just look at the yummy pictures? Anyone know where to find these in Oklahoma City? I've read that macarons are the French version of macaroons. So if you ask around for these and you get a coconutty looking cookie, that's not my fault! Ask for a macaron and get tasty ganache sandwiched between two perfectly baked works of art. And then let me know where you found them! :) Yum!

Wake Me Up Before You Go Go

2009-09-01T18:21:00.004-05:00

Sheltered 12/25 by shirae

I hate when I'm all sleepy-faced when I'd rather be busy-bodied.
What do you do when your body doesn't feel the same as your brain?
When even caffeine is powerless?

I'm heading to the gym in hopes that my body will get with the program.
Hoping my sleep-walking will turn into sleep-exercising.

Books, Check 'Em Out!

2009-08-30T20:00:00.003-05:00

I've really been on a reading kick lately. I can't stop shopping for books. Well, more perusing than spending, but still. I officially went over the dork end a couple of months ago and don't regret it for a second... I joined a Book of the Month Club for $10 a month. I have a book queue like Netflix and each month they send me the book at the top of the list. The awesome part is that I get to keep it. I don't have to ever send it back! I even got a hard-back this month.

I've been finding a lot of books about women in their mid-twenties seeking inspiration... go figure? Here is what I've read so far:

Julie and Julia by Julie Porter

The Lace Makers of Glenmara by Heather Barbieri

I couldn't put either of the books down... Reading about Julie and her cooking and Kate and her sewing... awwww! It's just so inspiring! I really feel that both stories have inspired me in my personal life. I recently went after a dream of mine and it's all coming true! Setting aside a little bit of time each day for some peace and quiet and a good, inspiring book, has been the perfectly gentle push I've needed to find my own inspiration.

I can't wait for my next book to arrive:

Very Valentine by Adriana Trigiani

If you have any reccommendations of books I should read, please let me know. :)