Ooh La La Design Studio

Fun with Handlettering

2012-01-24T05:24:00.002-05:00

As some of you have noticed I have been posting a lot of late.
Only because I will be back on the work clock in a second or two.
I just wanted to spend a little time blogging with my friends.
I so appreciate ALL OF YOUR VISITS and COMMENTS. I really do.
Forgive me if I don't get back to you. I try. Mostly I always want
to leave you feeling good and inspired. The world takes so much
out of us. Leaving us empty and frustrated and sometimes depressed.
I encourage you to put back some joy by caring for you. Do something
you want to do. As said in the movie" The Help"," You is kind, You is
smart and you is important." You really are. Thanks for stopping by.
Have a great week.

Weekend Fun

2012-01-21T03:40:00.006-05:00

I find that I am my most creative at 2:00 am.
For the last couple of nights I haven't been
able to sleep. It could very well be that I needed to
get these characters and plushies out of my
head. Have a wonderfully creative and restful weekend
Y'all!

Have A Great Weekend

2012-01-14T14:08:00.001-05:00

Finding Ways to Make It Happen

2012-01-08T11:44:00.002-05:00

What would happen if we stopped waiting to be discovered
and discovered ourselves and did what made us happy??
Find a way to do you PLEASE! And Hurry up cause we're
waiting! Find a way to make your dreams happen.
Have a wonderfully creative week my friends.

A Little Birdie Told Me

2012-01-07T20:47:00.003-05:00

A little Birdie told me to tell you that,
your hard work is going to pay off in a big way.
I know it's 2012 and the things that you've been
waiting for seem so far off, but really you are
just were you need to be. All is well and all will be
well.

Oh You Fancy Now

2012-01-04T06:12:00.003-05:00

Sometimes it's just nice to dress up for
YOURSELF PEOPLE! Time to do you.
Have a great day!
Illustration from the
Fashion Post card Collection

Happy New Year to YOU!

2011-12-31T16:39:00.003-05:00

To Every single blogger friend new and old, Happy New Year
to YOU ALL!
Thank you so much for every wonderful visit and comment.
Your visits and comments mean so very much to me and
I am humbled that you would even bother to take time out
of you busy worlds and even drop by. I wish each of you much
joy , laughter, grace, prosperity, happiness and creative flow.
I hope that this year will blow last year completely out of
the box! Keep your head up and dream big! Anything can
happen! Anything at all. Sending you all the biggest hug
I can muster!
Best and Shalom

Happy Holiday's Friends

2011-12-18T12:11:00.002-05:00

I know that I have been missing around blogland.
So sorry about that. It's been a super busy year and that's a
good thing honestly. I just wanted to say to all my blogger
buddies, "THANK YOU GUYS!" You have made this year such
a joy and pleasure. Sending each and everyone of you best
wishes and prayers for a creative holiday season
and New Year! Keep making it do what it do!
Best to all.
Shalom

Drum Roll Please.......

2011-12-05T07:20:00.023-05:00

Morning Wonderful People!
Well today is the day I make my announcement of the winner
of Oohlaladesignstudio's first ever contest! So sorry everyone
couldn't win, but thanks to each and everyone of you who came
by to share your favorite comfort foods. I have gained 100 pounds
just reading each and every one of 'em! Okay drum roll please.......
the winner of a TDAC Cook Book and Chef print is.....
ROBERTA BAIRD!!!!! "Tell her what she's won Bob"
CONGRATULATION Roberta, You have won a beautifully illustrated cookbook,
provided by the folks over at They Draw and Cook! Salli and Nate!
There are also five additional winners who will receive a print of
the Little Chef Girl.
Congrats to
Ben Clanton
Trauma Newell
Christy
Gwendoulash
Nita Jo
Thanks to ALL of you for your comments and
visits. I so appreciate each and everyone of you.
Stay tune there will be one more contest coming up
before the year is out so keep your eyes peeled.
Best to you all of you for a wonderful holiday season.
Shalom

Happy Born Day Eli Allan Newton

2011-11-27T17:44:00.002-05:00

We have a new addition to our already huge family.
Eli Allan Newton. We are super happy that Eli is here
safe and sound with us. Congratulations Al and Rene!
This is a little illustration I did for Eli's room.
Best to you all of you.
Shalom

2011-11-26T13:33:00.002-05:00

Wishing all of us Seasons Greetings.
Thanks for entering the contest and
remember I will be announcing the
winner on Dec 5th 2011. Hope you win!
Have a great week everyone!

Ooh La La Design Studio's First Ever Contest With, TDAC

2011-11-11T08:18:00.012-05:00

Hey Beautiful People!
Are you hungry?? Well then you've stopped at
the right blog. Welcome to Ooh La La Design Studio's
first EVER, contest! It's painfully simply folks. I would
really love to know what are your favorite comfort foods?
Is it chicken pot pie, or mac and cheese? Maybe beef
stew or quiche? How about Shrimp and grits?
Or maybe Ho Ho's or a Funny Bone?
Whatever it is just share it in a comment left here.
You have the chance to win a lovely cook book from,
"They Draw and Cook" which I am featured in, as well
as a limited addition print of The Little Chef Girl".
I love "They Draw and Cook" it's a fabulous website that
has helped me embrace the foodie inside me. Over 100
illustrators share their love of art and food in this wonderful
book. So please join me and I will randomly select the
winner from a bowl and post it on Dec 5th,2011.
"They Draw and Cook" is also available at Amazon.com
Wishing you all cheesy goodness all month
long.

Happy Birthday Zoe

2011-11-09T08:48:00.002-05:00

Hey there Zoe,
Happy Birthday my baby girl!
Today you are 11 years old and I still can't believe it.
I wanted to let you know how special and beautiful
you. You are my Sunshine and joy. I am so to be your
Mommy. YOU my girl are the bestest part of life.
There is greatness in you so run to your destiny!
Love,
Mommy

2011-10-24T20:11:00.005-04:00

Remember when going to the toy store was fun?
I loved going to the toy with my parents. We'd
start going right about this time of year so they could
get some since of what my sister and I wanted for
Christmas. There is something so charming about the
mom and pop toy stores back in the day
that you don't find with the big chain stores.
I often find the toys that I played with as a child and
the most beautiful pictures books in places like these.
When I grow up I am going to have a huge toy store
for grown folks who still like to play Battleship, Operation,
Trouble, Jacks and Paddle ball. Big babies who still
love Radio flyers, Dawn dolls, Flatsies,and model airplanes.
And less we forget the eye damaging Klick Klacks!
No bells and whistles or electronics just your fabulous imagination
to make it all work he he he he! Have a wonderful week everyone!

Be Kind To Someone Week

2011-10-17T16:59:00.002-04:00

Hey there,
It's Be Kind to Someone Week.
Yes indeed it is. Oh, so you haven't heard
about it?? Well that would be because I just
made it up. So lets be kind! Yeah... go ahead
and speak to that nasty little old lady who
tells you" Hey get off my grass?" Be kind to
the postman by keeping your dog away from
him. Find another way to get your laughs. And
for Pete's sake keep your comments about
Aunt Ada's wig to yourself. Find something
nice to say about it. Man up people and be
kind to someone. Anyone! LOL!

Saturday Morning Doodles

2011-10-15T13:08:00.001-04:00

Doodles in my head now on paper.
Hope that you're having a wonderifical weekend!
Shalom

Berthas, Bettys and Belluahs

2011-10-12T07:09:00.005-04:00

Hello Friends,
I know it's been a long time. Between falling down,
working, death, and life, it's been really busy.
I live for my weekends and this is what I did
on Sunday morning. As many of you already know,
I am a Geechee Girl or Gullah Geechee.
I come from a long line of strong men and woman who
all could either cook, sing, dance, preach, or tell
a tale. In honor of my Great Grammy , Grammy and mom
I did this collage called Berthas, Bettys and Bellauhs named
after some of the woman in my family.
I adore the Russian nesting dolls, but I have never seen
any African american ones, SO, I made my own, but started
it out as this collage piece.
Can't wait to show you the nesting dolls. It's a weekend project
so it won't be for a while. Hope that all of you are
doing well and being creative. Sending you all
the positive energy I can muster up.
Have a great week!
Shalom

Filler Up Please

2011-10-01T06:56:00.002-04:00

If we fill them up now with love, knowledge, self esteem, manners ,
creativity and imagination then the world can't drain
the life out of them.
It's time for self care. When we are filled to overflow,
then we will have enough to share with others.
We can't keep giving out of our empty places.
I hope that you show yourself some love and care on
today. Take some much needed time for yourself.
I'm just saying......
Shalom

Stuff Laying Around

2011-09-13T22:15:00.009-04:00

Back to Fashion and design.

These chicks are on the hunt for kill and a steal.

A character study "The Girl Who Heard Color"

Hey Friends,
There is so much that has been going.
Weddings and funerals and then I fell down
and really got all banged up! I am all bandaged up
at this point and getting some rest.
Thanks so much for coming by and leaving
such kind comments and messages. Please know
that I appreciate you for doing so. Take care of
yourself and I promise I will return to visit each
and every single one of you beautiful souls.
Be blessed be creative.
Shalom

At My Desk

2011-09-06T09:06:00.002-04:00

Hello Blogger Friends and Family.
It's been a while I know. Please forgive
me for not responding to all of your comments.
I lost my Grammy and I have been working
on projects. It's been super busy, but I wanted
you all to know that I am thinking of you all
and I will be back to play as soon as I finish all
my homework and life chores. Sending you
much creative energy and positive thoughts.
Shalom

Ruby's New Home The Dungy's

2011-08-29T07:59:00.002-04:00

Coach Tony Dungy and his beautiful wife Lauren
have written this Ready to Read book called
"Ruby's New Home" What happens when Mom
and Dad bring home a brand new puppy? All
the children's want to help and take care
of Ruby. Tony and Lauren do a wonderful
job sharing this story and I got the chance to
do the illustrations. Check it out. Hope that everyone is
safe and dry wherever you are. Have a great week.

Fall Cometh

2011-08-26T07:48:00.003-04:00

Getting our kids out into creation and away from the
T.V., Wii and Xboxes is so important. My little one can be
on that Xbox for hours if I let her. Now that we are living
in a new state, I want to get her into a new state of mind
and that is being out in creation. I love the fall. It's the best
time of the year to me. I am looking forward to the Autumn
crisp air and the changing of leaves. Heck, I'm looking forward
to weaving a few scarves that I've knitted over the summer and
showing them off he he he he! Well time to go and batten down
the hatches for the storm cometh! Earthquakes, record heat,
Hurricanes... are we having fun yet people??
Have a great, but safe weekend everyone!

Remembering the Help

2011-08-15T19:22:00.003-04:00

Have you seen The Help yet??
Oh my goodness it's wonderful! I laughed
and I cried and left the theater lifted. I thought
of my mom who was a midwife at the age of 16
and became a certified baby nurse and phlebotomist.
She and my dad where very young and coming from
the south they had to find work and quick. My mom
got hired by a very wealthy family in Upstate New York.
She was the help for their family. Her main job was
to care for a little boy named Danny. I still have the
picture of my mom holding Danny. Faded now, they had a sweet
relationship she said. She was a live in nurse and stayed with
Danny during the week and went home to be with my Dad on
weekends. Danny got so attached that sometimes she
brought him home over the weekend when his parents
were traveling. She had a great relationship with Danny's folks
as well. My mom became pregnant with me and as her
belly got bigger it got harder to carry little Danny.
Sometimes Danny would forget and call my mom, Mommy.
This of course didn't set well with Danny's parents.
Soon it really became a problem and there was a really
nasty argument and finally my mom was fired. It was one
of the hardest things she said she ever had to do. Walking away
from Danny broke her heart. A couple of weeks went by
and Danny's parents starting calling. They called everyday
for almost 2 weeks or more. My mom was to hurt to
even answer the phone. One day my mom hears the
doorbell, struggling with big belly, waddles to the door
to find the Ice man standing there with a note in one hand
and a box in the other. I believe it was the Armel Ice Company
that came. The note read, " Shirley, it has not been the same
since we let you go. Danny cried for days and days afterwards.
We are so very sorry. Would you please consider coming
back? We need you. Please expect these gifts." Danny's
parents paid for two years of diaper service and also sent
the most beautiful plaid blue baby carriage ever! My mom
finally spoke to Danny's parents and while all was put right,
she said she just couldn't go back. She told me that she
loved Danny to much and he loved her. Said she
couldn't stand for his heart or hers to be broken again.
My mom shared her stories
about Danny and other children that she helped to care for.
I often wonder where these children are now? Are they doctors,
teachers, Lawyers? Did they get married and have children of
their own? Do they ever think of Miss Shirley? Before their
was a book called , The Help, there was my mom, Miss Shirley.
I miss you mommy and I'm sure there are a bunch of other
babies that miss you too.

From Funny Face

2011-08-11T21:06:00.002-04:00

Sometimes I just have to go back to my fashion roots.
Here is an illustration of the black dress worn by
Ms. Audrey Hepburn in "Funny Face" one of my favorite
movies. Have a wonderful week.

2011-08-05T16:05:00.003-04:00

I married my best friend Ray 17 years ago today.
This is for my bestest friend in the world.
Happy Anniversary Ray.
Have a great weekend everyone.