Magazine clip outs



This was another find I had buried in my Mom's garage... Old binders with Cool Magazine clip outs... It's funny to see the fashion from even just a few years back, how times change as well as trends... I'm not crazy obsessed with magazines now and days, but when I was at FIDM (fashion institute of design and merchandise) I did this for fun... clipping out any add or article of clothing i thought was fun, and at the same time it definitely also helped me practice my sketching. It's crazy to look at how "different" my abilities were... but hey, you got to start somewhere...ha!.

I still have a halter I sewed completely by hand and that took ages to finish.... I wonder where that went...



Bob Mackie... My not so glamorous Angel

Ever heard of the amazing Costume Designer Bob Mackie?...Well if you haven't then look up his amazing work and Illustrations... He's been in the business for years designing all of Cher's most famous costumes and of course Barbie!. So the other day I went to go visit my Mom, & she was doing quite a bit of cleaning  around the house (meaning if there were any things that belonged to me, i might want to pick up, because I would probably never see again! ha!)... behind a huge pile of books and DVDs, I found this!... **STELLA STAR**  a friend had gifted me years ago!!! (even as kids, she knew how much I loved Fashion/ Illustrations), I couldn't believe the condition it was in, and definitely had to take her home with me.

I am most definitely not a professional restorer, but I do know how to work my way around with some crazy glue (unless that is I'm accidentally gluing my fingers together!)... oh and many thanks to the bf  for a great tip!... (painting the broken pieces the same color as the outside before attaching, so chips don't show thru after being glued!)

These figurines go for well over a couple hundred dollars now, and are well worth every penny for the immense detail and artistry of the 1940's its so amazing!, it will definitely be well taken care of now that its safe with me! Yay!

Picking up a pencil to relax

I notice that when I'm in need of some major relaxation and a need to unwind, all I have to do is pick up a pencil and just have fun! (of course with some cool music in the background)... sometimes the outcome is great and sometimes I'll just remind myself it was only for fun, ha!... so the other day its just what I did. I work in front of a computer all day, so the last thing I want to do is come home and go on the Internet or watch TV...that's a big no no!, I did however find a cool picture I've kept and was like, hay!.. let me try this!. I don't use any special paper or pencils just a regular soft drafting pencil and it sounds funny... but my finger! you will see what I mean!... follow along...

 A fast outline with soft strokes.

Going back in and darkening the main lines, then using my finger to smudge and create some depth.

Sketching in facial features, kinda the hardest thing to do, this can make it look realistic or cartoon-ish!

 Hair details and shading.



Cute Eyelashes and some dress details...a signature, and Voila!..done!

I think she looks pretty cool for being just a fast sketch on the couch!

Something I can't live without!

Sex in the City meant more to me than just a TV series that touched on topics such as Sex, Relationships and Friendships, but an opportunity to watch an amazing Fashion show every single night!...

Although I highly doubt that many women can live like they portrayed in the show, with the endless shopping sprees and countless visits to Jimmy Choo and what not, it is definitely pretty cool to dream you can do so. There were definitely things that most girls can relate to, just like the infamous "Carrie" necklace, it was more than just an accessory to her, but something that she could not live without, it definitely defined who she was, no matter how worthless it was. Like Carrie I too have my "special" necklace, It might not spell out my name, or be real gold, and only cost like $6, but I sure do wear it a lot, and I mean a lot!...I personally think the rest of my jewelery are probably jealous because I never wear anything else. Most likely I will probably never get rid of it,no matter how ugly it gets.... somehow its pretty special to me, I'm sure many girls can relate....

Illustration- Evolution of Practice and Technique

When you find something you love to do, you work at it day in and day out and it never gets old, you want to always do your best and evolve at your skill, and with time things definitely change and your skills fastly grow. When I was fresh out of school I was really into watercolor, it was time consuming, yet rewarding and calming. As soon as I started working in the Industry I partnered with a Designer to illustrate all his ideas & it was definitely fast paced and things went from watercolor to tech pens and paper, for quick sketches and jotting down ideas. When I started working in Tech Design, I was thrown into a heavily computer based job where I worked in Illustrator and Photoshop, so that influenced me to start sketching with a Wacom tablet and pen tool (I hated it at first...ha!), but because it was unfamiliar I started off by tracing in black and white, adding gradients and as I got comfortable, then moved up to color and patterns once I felt more confident. It took years and years of practice and different techniques to see my skills progress, its still definitely a skill that continues to evolve every day, and I definitely still enjoy!

WATERCOLOR

TECH PENS

 ILLUSTRATOR- B&W

ILLUSTRATOR- COLOR

   

Barbie Style Shadow box!

**image from: http://lifestyle.msn.com/your-look/fashion-week/staticslideshow.aspx?cp-documentid=17839600&imageindex=27

Barbie has always been a great expression of fashion and style, and as a little girl you start to emulate what you see around you, and for me barbie was a major inspiration. Since I was a child I would receive a barbie doll from my mom just about every Christmas, and to her surprise as a kid I learned how to pinch the sides of the gifts to see which one was a pink box and had my name on it, which meant barbie!... I looked forward to it every year. As the years when by and I got older, that pretty much stopped, my mom said I was too old for Barbie's, and that I needed to grow up (sadness). To my surprise a few years later I received a couple of these Barbie shadow boxes as a gift from my mom and they were absolutely adorable, each one a different barbie outfit in its own shadow box!. And because I'm in the Industry it goes great in my place and decor. I still have them up and adore them!.

Above pictured is the famous Barbie Bathing suit from the 1950's, and in keeping with that theme and me wanting to do a lil re-decorating, I decided to take on the task of making my own!. Of course this worked out because I have a closet full of things that I have made and are very special to me...so to Michael's I went.

I found these super cool 16" x 20" shadow boxes that were the perfect size, color and matched my Barbie shadow boxes. And at Michael's you can always look out for a great sale, these I got at a steal for buy one, get one free, I love that!.

They are very simple to assemble, you just open the back frame and it comes out with a cardboard covered in foam and felt, easy to pin down fabric and pictures, when finished you just secure and they are ready to hang up!... so easy!.

These are the finished product, very simple and easy, and they look great.... hmm, now where will they go?...

Too Expensive?....Do it yourself! - Bedding

 

So it's been a while now and I've been really tired of looking at my blank bedroom, especially because I love to decorate and create my own space. I love love love feminine, and girly things... but I don't like to spend too much $$$... so when it came down to it, I knew what I wanted, but I realized if it was gonna happen, I would have to do it myself. I had seen this super ruffly and cute bedding at urban outfitters, but very much like the rest of their items, it was up there in price, I would have to shell out $250 for a duvet cover and pillow shams. Ummm..... no!. So I headed to my nearest bedding store and bought 1 comforter and 1 Flat sheet and got to work.....

After cutting several panels, I hemmed them on all sides and shirred the tops, pinned them, and got to sewing!...  (I felt like I was going to be consumed by all the fabric that was around me, ha!)

 

Because my wall was blank I decided I finally found a cool place to put this portrait I've had for some time...Its not like any other Marilyn portrait Ive ever seen, and the whole canvas is curved, very cool!

 ... And here is the end result!!!... I JUST LOVE IT... it's only the beginning but you get the idea. Now I still have the rest of the room to play with, and by only spending $50 I still have more Ideas I can make happen, I'm so proud that I have this bedspread that I put together myself! .....now onto more fun projects!...

I LOVE my sewing machine!