A Picture A Day

This will be my last post of 2011 (I can't believe it!) So wishing you a very Happy New Year, have a wonderful weekend, and I'll see you in 2012!!

Copyright Michelle B. All Rights Reserved.

A Picture A Day

Another Bride I've been working on.

Copyright Michelle B. All Rights Reserved.

When looking for bridal shower invitation or card design what would do you look for?

Pinterest Pics: Happy New Year

With the long weekend, the short week, the holidays, I don't even know what day it is right now and I missed Pinterest Pics Tuesday! So here they are. Happy New Year!

Sparkly hat, Confetti, Champagne, Horns, The Best is Yet to Come, Star, Celebrating, Vogue cover, Sparklers, Tabletop

A Picture A Day

Do you remember the original bride sketches I showed you? Well I've been working on more, and here is a little peak at one of them. She's a little on the edge but I really like her. What do you think?

Copyright Michelle B. All Rights Reserved.

A Picture A Day

Good morning, and how was your long weekend/Christmas?! Mine was wonderful but definitely went by to fast.

Today I have a project update for you. Do you remember when I first introduced Elodie? Sarah wanted to create an illustration similar to a book cover design that incorporated her daughter Elodie with all of her toys. Showing her imagination and what she sees when she plays verses what is actually there was the concept behind the illustration.

Here is the final. What do you think?

Copyright Michelle B. All Rights Reserved.

Fashion Friday

Clockwise from top: red evening gown, red lips, lots of red, forties inspired, so classic!

Wishing each of you a very Merry Christmas! May you weekend be filled with love and family, laughter and treats, and lots of joy.

xo

A Picture A Day

It's the eve of Christmas Eve and I'm counting down the hours until I get out of work and the festivities can begin! I have a few more gifts to wrap but other then that I'm ready for Christmas to start!

What are your plans for Christmas and the weekend?!

Below is one more hat drawing, and little festive, I'm hoping. Enjoy and have a lovely Christmas, a Happy Hanukkah, and a wonderful weekend with friends and loved ones.

xo

Copyright Michelle B. All Rights Reserved.

Sweet Muse

How pretty is this winter scene, so romantic! It's an add for Tiffany's but I just loved the photo.

Tiffany and Co. holiday ad found in InStyle Magazine

A Picture A Day

Another elaborate head peace. I want to add more detail and make them even more elaborate, but it's a start.

Copyright Michelle B. All Rights Reserved.

Sweet Muse

It's been awhile since I've written a Sweet Muse post and I think it's about time. I came across this beautiful Hanukkah display I couldn't help but share it. The color palette is perfect with navy and cream and gold. I just love it. 

From Real Simple

A Picture A Day

It's Wednesday and we are halfway through the week! Today I have an illustration I did for fun that I think is a little funny, a little cute, and I think I want to do more of them and explore how crazy I can make the hats and still have a great image. I'm thinking Royal Wedding inspired.  What do you think!?

Copyright Michelle B. All Rights Reserved.

Pinterest Pics: Happy Hanukkah

Hanukkah starts tonight at sundown and I wanted to wish my husband, Joanne, Melissa, all of the Baron's, Zimble's, and anyone celebrating a very Happy Hanukkah!

Clockwise from top: table decor, blue presents, star present topper, more presents, beautiful tablescape, menorah

A Picture A Day

Good morning Sweets and Happy Tuesday!

It's been a crazy few weeks with lots to do and so much prep for the holidays but I'm loving every minute of it. Christmakuh was celebrated on Saturday, Hanukkah starts tonight and Christmas is this weekend... it's going to be a great week!

This week I'm working on some very special holiday gifts, I'm finishing up a few projects, and I'm sending overnight Etsy packages so that everyone can receive their gifts prior to the holidays!

Below are a few pictures of my tree... does decorating your tree count as art? I think it should :-) And my sleepy pup who we must have worn out with all of our fun Christmakuh activities. 

How was your weekend!? Are you feeling festive and busy all at the same time too!?

Fashion Friday

Chanel Bag, sequin party outfit, gold accessories, Daisy by Marc Jacobs, Chignon, themed party attire, deco earrings

A Picture A Day

Happy Friday Sweets,

It's been an incredibly busy two weeks between my full-time job, freelance projects, last minute shopping, gift wrapping, cookie making, house decorating... I still need to send out my holiday cards (so if you get them after Hanukkah and Christmas my apologies)... And yet I am in a wonderful mood. There is something about this time of year. All I want to do is wear sparkles, bright red lipstick, carry a classic black Chanel bag, wear gold high heels, satin, fur, drink bubbly drinks, be glamorous, and enjoy every minute of this festive time of year.

And with that in mind, and since it is Fashion Friday after all, here are some oh so glamorous drawings I've been working on, and later, I'll have holiday attire that you will love.

xo

All Images Copyright Michelle B. All Rights Reserved

A Picture A Day

Unfortunately these are not my cookies. These were found on Pinterest

This post isn't exactly "A Picture" but it is a few photos I took of my cookie making skills (which I just need to warn you were lacking a little bit this year.)

I'm hosting a cookie swap tonight, it's the second annual one, but with how crazy the last two weeks have been I left making the cookies to the last minute. (Mistake number one) And because I can't just be boring and make my old favorites I thought it would be a terrific idea to try a new recipe. (Mistake number two)

So here is how last night went:

I wanted to make two kinds of cookies, one a Magic middle peanut butter and chocolate cookie and the other a chocolate cookie with salted caramel. So I start with the peanut butter and chocolate cookies and this is what the finished dough looked like.

I know what you are thinking, that just looks like a bunch of dry ingredients, well it wasn't there was egg and vanilla and peanut butter in there and still the dough would not come together. 

And this is what peanut butter filling looked like.

definitely not the right consistency to form into little balls either. And this is what went through my head "#$*&! What did I do wrong?!"

So with ruined ingredients and a cookie swap in less then 24 hours I had to start over.

Onto cookie option number two the chocolate and salted caramel cookies. This recipe went much smoother. The chocolate dough was the consistency of fudge. 

And I used caramel candies for the center and then formed the dough around them and then rolled the chocolate and caramel balls in sea salt. 

This time the cookies at least formed correctly, I baked them up, and they look pretty good! 

 I only have 30, I'm about 20 shy of the half dozen I was supposed to have for everyone, but at least I have something edible... O how I love this time of year!

Pinterest Pics: It's the Holiday Season

There is something so special about decorating over the holidays. It just makes your home feel so cozy and wonderful. But, in a house like mine where my husband and I celebrate two different religions and two different holidays I really had to think about how I could decorate without making my husband feel like Christmas took over.

Our solution, keep the colors fairly neutral and the house can still feel festive and decorated, but at least there isn't red and green everywhere and no sign of Hanukkah.

Below are my favorite pictures from Pinterest with festive and pretty decor, that is not your typical red and green. What do you think?

silver place setting, stairs, wreath and silver cones, reindeer, candle sticks, ornaments

A Picture A Day

Good morning Sweets,

It's Monday and after a really lovely weekend visiting my in-laws, eating way to much delicious food, and just relaxing I'm sad to be back in the craziness that is my full-time job. To make me feel a little better I have a bridal image for you, because how can a wedding not make you smile, I mean really... anyway, do you remember this image first show here?

Well the bride received the final image (below) on a tote and notecards this weekend so I can finally show you the final image.

Copyright Michelle B. All Rights Reserved.

Enjoy, have a wonderful Monday, and I'll show you the printed versions later this week.

xo

Fashion Friday: Etsy Love

Happy Friday everyone!

Are you as happy it's finally the weekend as I am!? Do you have any fun plans for the next few days off?

I have to finish up one final proposal and then I'm off to Boston to spend some relaxing time with my family and the end of the day is just not coming fast enough.

But at any rate, I have missed my topic completely! ETSY! I love etsy. I never really bought anything from there until I opened my stop. The idea of purchasing something that I couldn't see in person made me nervous. But I have to tell you, the sellers on Etsy are incredible and the items I have purchased from various shops have been above and beyond anything I could find in a store. From the photography to the craftsmanship to the packaging, it's a site full of insanely talented artists. In addition to stationery, original works of art, and all things handmade and vintage, there are a ton of sellers of clothing. I was even more hesitant at first to buy clothes on the site, but I did, I bought a shirt and dress from the Fleet Collection that is absolutely beautiful, and I will definitely be shopping there again.

Below are some of my favorite picks from Etsy's incredible fashion selection from an assortment of sellers.

What do you think?

backless dress, black dress, sequin sweater, red jacket, red dress, ballerina dress

Currently Reading: The Marriage Plot

www.barnesandnoble.com

I'm currently reading The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides author of books including The Virgin Suicides and Middlesex, neither of which I have read but based on The Marriage Plot I may have to pick these up next.

When the book starts out the detail in which Eugenides describes the setting in Providence and the Brown and RISD (Rhode Island School of Design) students on College Hill brought me back there in a second. He describes everything perfectly. I knew within the first few pages, probably because I still miss RISD more then I can say, I was hooked. In addition to transporting me back to Providence the characters are endearing even with all of their bad choices and turmoil.

The Marriage plot focuses mainly on Madeline and Mitchell two Brown University graduates in the 1980's. So far (I'm about halfway through) the story of Madeline and Mitchell is written in parallel with very little interaction between them. When they do interact, or their stories intertwine, it typically ends with them arguing. The story begins on graduation day in an economy that is in a recession and the lives of Madeline, Mitchell, and the people they interact with seems to be a mix of confusion and imbalance. Madeline is an English major who loves Austen and the great writers of the past but is living in a feminist world and is obsessed with the idea of the marriage plot in the novels she reads. She moves in with her boyfriend after graduation and heads to Cape Cod with him. Mitchell majored in religious studies and after graduation takes off on a trip to Europe with the main destination being India to further his studies and figure out what path to chose with his particular major.


Jeffrey Eugenides is a complex writer with a lot of great observation and honest view of things going on in the characters lives and the way people acted in that time period, in college, and being unsure of what comes next. He doesn't sugarcoat anything and parts of the story are a little uneasy but so far his writing style and the characters have me incredibly interested. I can't wait to find out what happens to Madeline and Mitchell and if the two stories merge in the end.

Have you read The Marriage Plot? What did you think?

A Picture A Day

Good Morning! My apologies for missing yesterday's post. It's been a very busy week with one proposal due each day (I just have to get through tomorrow at 3pm) and I just ran out of time. It's unfortunate but since weeks like this are so rare I'm hoping you will understand. With that in mind, and with the pace I have been moving at over the last few months, I realized I had never shown you the finished tote for Ginger, originally mentioned here, like I said I would. Take a look! I've gotten a few more totes since and I'll have some sketches, project updates, and more for you next week, but for now, enjoy Ginger and I hope you have a lovely Thursday!

xo

 

All Images Copyright Michelle B. All Rights Reserved

A Picture A Day

Good Morning Sweets! How is your week going so far?

Today I have a new project sneak peak for you. I am working with Sarah, a really fun new client, who came to me with the most unique idea for a custom illustration. She asked me to create an illustration featuring her daughter and Teddy as well as a few other favorite toys and the adventures they go one together. She also asked that the layout be similar to a book cover design and to think about Alice in Wonderland and the Adventures of Tintin and Snowy when working on the final. Below are three concept sketches, none of which look anything like the final, but they helped me to get a good idea on where I want to go with the illustration and how to show a really unique image. Working together with Sarah as we went over each theme, we came up with the concept to create a world like what a child sees in their mind and not necessarily what is actually there when they are playing with their toys.Over the next week or so I will be working on the final and I can't wait to show it to everyone.

Have a wonderful day!
xo

Pinterest Pics

Gold Cocktail Dress, Champagne with Cinnamon Stick Cocktail, Pink Sparkly Dress, Red Bubbly Cocktails, Black Dress with Fur Shawl, and festive Cupcakes desserts

I don't know about you but this time of year is filled with festive parties and indulgences for me. I love that every weekend starting in November right on through New Years there always seems to be some excuse to dress up and go out with friends and family. So with parties on the brain I searched "holiday cocktail party" on Pinterest. All kinds of things appeared from beautiful place settings and decor to sparkling outfits to decadent desserts and drinks. And so, what better pairing then glamorous outfits and bubbly cocktails with sugary treats!? Nothing I think...

Happy Tuesday Sweets!
xo

A Picture A Day

Good morning everyone, how was your weekend!?

I spent the weekend catching up on work, having a wonderful dinner with friends I don't see enough, and then spent all day Sunday decorating the house for the holidays. I even had visions of making chocolate biscotti but time ran out so that might have to wait until later this week.

For today's A Picture A Day I have an update to a project I first showed you here. The client was very fun to work with, she was unique and very friendly and it made creating this project a very cool assignment. What do you think?! Do you like the final?

Copyright Michelle B. All Rights Reserved.

A Picture A Day: Fashion Friday Edition

Winter weather and holiday inspired.

Happy Friday and have a wonderful weekend!

xo

Fashion Friday: Winter Weather Coats

Happy Friday Sweets! I don't know about you but since it's December (Already!) and the weather has quickly turned from mild to chilly my mind goes immediately to my winter weather wardrobe, and more importantly, my outerwear. Below are a few of my favorite picks for winter weather coats. I'm loving the capes, mod style, vintage fur, and glamorous accessories.

What kind of coat are you wearing this winter?

Clockwise from top left: Black Cape by Kate Spade, Fur trimmed floral coat by Fossil, vintage inspired fur by Fossil, classic black coat by Valentino, coral three quarter sleeved by Milly, navy Milly cape by Milly, Tan Toggle Coat by Miu Miu

A Picture A Day

It's finally Thursday! Has your week been dragging? Mine just won't get to the weekend and Tuesday felt like four days all by itself!

For today's A Picture A Day I have an update to the baby shower images I showed you yesterday.

What do you think? And for anyone who has had trouble finding baby shower cards, what would you like to see?

Copyright Michelle B. All Rights Reserved

Have a great day!
xo