Currently Reading: Mini Shopaholic

Have any of you read the Shopaholic series? I personally loved them, and I know I'm a little behind, but this addition to the series is great. Another mindless Chic lit book that has me turning the pages at warp speed.

Sophie Kinsella writes in a way that makes you feel like you are spiraling out of control and into compulsive shopping mode with each and every insane decision Becky makes. And Minnie, is just as out of control as her mother. Everything she see and touches becomes "Miiiiine!" But when the Bank of London takes a turn for the worst, and the world goes into a financial crisis, what will mother and daughter do... They'll plan a party.... hmmm... this could get interesting...

To learn more, check out, Mini Shopaholic.

A Picture A Day

An update on the mural sketch ... I'm getting closer to finalizing it and I'll have another option that I will show you all tomorrow. We'll see as they progress which one we go with.

What do you think so far?

Artist Inspiration: Julie Fritsch

Today we are featuring Julie Fritsch, an advertising, 3D, and product design guru in New York. I’m so excited to talk with her today and share her thoughts on her professional and personal life with you ;-)

Can you tell the Sweet Musings readers a little about yourself?
My name is Julie Fritsch and I’m originally from Milwaukee, WI. I got my BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design. I’ve been living in New York now for about four years.

Tell us about your art/design work. When did you start it? What are you currently working on?
I’ve been on a deliberate hiatus for awhile from the art I’ve known. I lived it, I breathed it, and I needed some fresh air, a new perspective, a new way to integrate it into my life. I know I’ll find the passion again. It’s not lost. It’s similar to sitting in one position too long and readjusting yourself. I’ve been working on advertising for my job. I’ve also been dabbling at doing 3D work and integrating that with product design. It’s a new avenue, and it’s an interesting one.

What are your current obsessions/inspirations?
At the moment I’m interested in visual advertising. It’s a form of art you’re constantly surrounded by, but rarely take the time to pick apart or recognize as art. I’m trying to stop and really analyze why good advertising works and why bad stuff doesn’t. I think its interesting that I can craft something that changes the way people think about a product. I like the wide audience it hits. Powerful stuff.

What is your favorite super hero and why?
Mary Poppins. If you think about it, she flies with her umbrella. She saves kids who are miserable and stays with them until they’re better. She makes cleaning fun – medicine yummy – and she has a great voice. Super hero in my book.

What is it like living in New York?
Wonderful. Exhausting. The excitement never stops. Its just how often you hop on and off the bandwagon.

What are you working on/ what are your hobbies when you aren’t working?
I’ve been trying to get better at the skills I have – photoshop, illustrator, Maya. When I’m not I’m busy throwing myself into “new” New York activities. Currently its volleyball!

What is your favorite childhood memory in three words or less?
Opening Christmas Presents!!

A special thank you to Julie for allowing me to interview her and introduce her to all of you. I hope it was as inspriing for you as it was for me.

xo

A Picture A Day

Happy Tuesday Sweets!  This week I'm working on sketches for a mural for my Aunt and Uncle. They are expecting a new baby girl in December and wanted a butterfly garden themed mural for the nursery. Below is a preliminary sketch. It's not the entire mural, I'm still working out the design of that, but it is a tree that I've started based on a Japanese Willow Tree with beautiful hanging branches covered with leaves and purple flowers. More updates will come as the week progresses, but for now enjoy my first efforts.

Blog Love: Habibi

Hi Everyone! I would like to introduce you all to a new favorite blog of mine, Habibi. The blog is filled with great fashion, beautiful images, incredible interiors, and delicious looking desserts. The author, Nuha, is so sweet. You'll love reading about her life, interests, and talents!

As an added bonus, and something that really meant a lot to me... Nuha reached out to me last week about my illustrations and my etsy store, Sweet Musings Paperie, and this week, as a giveaway, one of her readers will recieve a create your own greeting card box featuring eight of my illustrations.

Go check out Habibi, follow Nuha, enjoy the reading, and enter for a chance to win some cards.

A special thank you to Nuha for her support of my work, and a I hope everyone enjoys her blog as much as I do!

xo

All images can be found on habibi

A Picture A Day

I've been working on a custom card design for a jewelry designer ... and in my sketches for her I came up with a few pretties that took her idea and then went off on a tangent to the point that I can't use them for her because they don't really fit her theme, or what she wanted, but I really like them... so, below, is a snotty girl in a lovely fur coat dripping in expensive jewelry and yet, I really like her anyway... What do you think?

A Picture A Day

With school for many already in session and for others it is just around the corner, her is a little fall inspiration. A little pop of red, a polka-dot dress, and a cable knit hat...

Currently Reading: Nice Girls Finish First

Nice Girl's Finish First by Alesia Holliday is a really fast light read. I'm absolutely loving the story. It is completely mindless and your typical chick lit story about a girl, who feels awkward in her own skin, in love with the gorgeous guy, get's herself in an awkward and embarrassing situation, and will most likely end up with the guy at the end because he loves her for all of her clumsy and weird personality traits. But again, I'm absolutely loving it. I literally laugh out loud while reading it. The main characters, and narrators, are so sarcastic and funny, you feel like it's your close girlfriend telling you a story and making fun of herself for all her disasters at the same time. If you like chick lit this is a must read.

Kirby, a Senior Vice President of Marketing for an erotica company is not considered "nice" she is considered a career woman who does not mix her personal life with her work life. She fires her entire staff (who were slackers anyway) in one day and her boss, Banning, is furious. They make a bet that if she can get someone, anyone, to call her nice in a the next 30 days she can keep her job. Throughout the month the two grow closer, but you don't mix business and pleasure, so what will they do, and will Kirby keep her job?

Brianna is an aspiring opera singer with an amazing opportunity to addition for the Seattle Opera Company, but she is engaged to a man who thinks it's still 1950 and expects her to give up her dreams to be a stay-at-home wife and have babies asap. Her and Kirby work together to find a balance in their lives of nice vs. strong willed, and the antics that follow are hilarious.

A Picture A Day

Copyright Michelle B. 2011

This was a birthday card design for my cousin's 5th birthday.

A Picture A Day

Copyright Michelle B. 2011

A little preview of the holiday collection I will be working on in the coming weeks.

Blog Love: Sunday Crossbow

I stumbled upon this blog today via a link from Creature Comforts and I definitely have another daily read to add to the list. Check out: Sunday Crossbow for great fashion ideas and cute text. She thrifts a lot of her clothing and the rest are purchased from discount stores or on super sale so everything is very affordable and she looks so chic!

What do you think?

A Picture A Day

Copyright Michelle B. 2011

For my cousin's upcoming bridal shower I designed a pretty card for her. What do you think?

A Picture A Day

I'm planning to have a Mad Men themed party this coming September and I've started sketching ideas for the invitation design. This is one of the sketches I've come up with so far.

A Picture A Day

I've been working on a lot of freelance and custom projects lately and I've found that hand drawing quick gestural sketches help me to get a better idea of what I want to do and makes the entire process of creating a final illustration move more smoothly. Here are some that I worked on last night and this morning for a potential new project.

All images are copyrighted Michelle B. 2011. Please do not copy or use without permission.

Sweet Muse

It's been a little crazy around here lately and I had two months worth of magazines just sitting around waiting to be read. Last night I finally had some quiet time and here are a few lovelies I collected while reading. Loving that 60's and 70's vibe.

J. Crew

Harpers Bazaar 

Chanel

A Picture A Day

copyright Michelle B. 2011

A Picture A Day

Another Halloween illustration featuring Pumpkin Louie as well as Coco, dressed up as a witch.

Sweet Muse

All photos from bananarepublic.com

I have a little obsession with the show Mad Men. Not only is it very entertaining and a hilarious look at life in the 1960's, but the show features so many amazing clothes. And I'm so excited because Banana Republic is debuting a Mad Men Collection! I know my wallet will be hurting if I even go near it, but I might not be able to help myself... especially that beautiful gray jacket with the little black gloves and leopard print clutch, I'm loving it!

A Picture A Day

A sketch for a possible Halloween card featuring MacTavish as a Bee, previously shown here, as well as Louie as a very round little pumpkin!

Copyright Michelle B 2011

Currently Reading: Vaclav and Lena

I'm currently reading Vaclav and Lena. This is a complex story about two Russian immigrants living in Brooklyn. Vaclav, when the story begins, is a child living with his family trying to fit in in American and in his classes and who dreams of being a Magician. Lena is quiet and shy and has been struggling to learn English. She lives with an Aunt who is never around and who does not take care of her and she enjoys spending the afternoons at Vaclav's house practicing magic. One day Lena does not show up in school, or at his house, and Vaclav's mom has to tell him that she has been taken by child services and they do not know if they will see her again.

I'm about half-way through this book and I'm not sure if they will find each other again, but this endearing story makes you hope that they do. They made each others lives complete, and Lena, who has had a very tough life was able to feel safe with him. This is a touching story with many ups and downs, but I'm just hoping for a happy ending for the two of them. 

A Picture A Day

Happy Monday everyone, and how was your weekend!? Mine was great, celebrating a 50th birthday for my Uncle and spending some quality time with the family, so nice.

I've been starting to think of more fall and winter illustrations lately, and this sad looking MacTavish will be perfect for a Halloween card. What do you think?

Image Copyright Michelle B. Please do not copy or use without permission.

A Picture A Day

I've been working on a series of dessert illustrations. Here is one of them that I think would be great on a birthday card featuring all types of delicious Laduree treats!

Copyright Michelle B 2011

I hope everyone has a lovely weekend! Happy Friday!
xo

Etsy Page: Sweet Musings Paperie

I will bring back a picture a day later on today, but I have been so excited, and not very patient, and wanted to share that I've opened an Etsy store! You can view my Shop here! As an added bonus, and because I am so excited, I will be giving free shipping to the first five orders, email me for the code!

So far I have a lot of my favorite illustrations for sale as greeting cards, prints, and bags. I plan to add cupcake toppers which I have been working on in collaboration with Klicious Cupcakes, drink tags, which originally were shown here, scarfs, calendars, an agenda book, a few more tote bags, beach bags, and reusable shopping bags.Obviously this will be a process, but for now enjoy the stationery!

Take a look and let me know what you think. I'm so excited to be starting this shop and I hope you like it as much as I do!! And, if there is anything / any product you would like that isn't on there, just let me know and I'll do my best to add it for you.

Happy Friday Sweets!
xo

Artist Inspiration: Deanna Agresti

I’m so excited to announce a brand new post for Sweet Musings: Artist Inspiration

Today we are featuring Deanna Agresti, a freelance designer and art teacher in Rhode Island. Her work is incredible and I’m so excited to talk with her today. 

Can you tell the Sweet Musings readers a little about yourself?
Hello! My name is Deanna Agresti. I went to RISD for graphic design
and art education. I am a freelance designer, but I also teach middle
school art and graphic design at the local community college.

Tell us about your art/design work. When did you start it? What are
you currently working on?

I started my own business called Hi Five Designs in 2009. I specialize
in custom event paper goods from announcements to invitations as well
as non-profit design for schools. I am currently working on 3
weddings. Some of the designs that I am working on are centered on
themes of winter, fairy tales and colors. Check out some of my work at
www.hifivedesigns.com

What are your current obsessions/inspirations?
Right now I am completely obsessed with hot air balloons and bows!!! I
just made a hall pass for my classroom that is a hot air balloon. My
students are really not going to like me! I am inspired by looking at
other people's creativity through their blogs and websites. I am also
very inspired by beautiful typefaces.

What is your favorite super hero and why?
My favorite super hero is the Powerpuff Girl Bubbles. She is just so cute!

What is it like living in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island is amazing because it is so tiny! I can get anywhere in
less than 15 minutes. I love it! The food is also delicious.

What are your hobbies when you aren’t working/being a designer?
I love to sew, bake cakes and shop! You can see some of my crafts on
my blog at www.hifivedesigns.blogspot.com

What is your favorite childhood memory in three words or less?
gave dad amnesia

Haha wish I asked for more than three words on the favorite childhood memory now!

It was great talking with Deanna today and if you found her as amazing as I do, check out her websites! And if you are in need of a designer of any kind and love her work, give her a call!

A special thanks to Deanna for being our very first artist inspiration!

xo

A Picture A Day

I've been working with my lovely mother-in-law on a reusable shopping bag design for her cafe in Weston, MA, Off Center Cafe. While the sketches are still in process I have been having a lot of fun creating a bag that fits the personality of the cafe with the playfulness of my illustrations.

Off Center Cafe is owned by my mother-in-law, Joanne Baron, and her friend, Lisa Roblin. They serve delicious food and I recommend to anyone who is in Weston, MA, to stop in and try any and every item on their menu! (If I were you though, I would start with the milkyway cookie!)

Below are some sketches of designs I have been working on.

 

All images are copyright Michelle B and should not be used or copied without written permission from Off Center Cafe and Michelle B. as well as linking back to Sweet Musings.

A Picture A Day

I've had a few people request tote bags from me with my illustrations on them. Below are two of the tote bags I have had printed. What do you think? These two would be great for children, especially the ballerina one, featuring on of my favorite characters from the "Twirl" illustration.

Currently Reading: Sugar and Spice

Back on July 27 I (shamefully) told you about L.A. Candy. Well I read the book in three days ( I can't believe I'm actually admitting this... on the internet!!) But I seriously enjoyed the book. Lauren Conrad wrote two additional books in the same series, The second was Sweet Little Lies, which also took me three days to read, and now I'm currently Reading the third, Sugar and Spice. And so, my super girlie reading streak continues...

Sugar and Spice, by Lauren Conrad, continues following Jane and Heidi and their drama in Los Angeles, and the biggest question that faces them, will they continue to stay in L.A. and on the show, or is their desire to have some type of a normal life and privacy again to strong and they will leave? Only a few more days reading will tell... Great light reads!