Congratulations Lauren and Nate!

Do you remember this post? The one where I was getting ready to go to Las Vegas for a Bachelorette party... well the Bachelorette party came and went and this past weekend was the beautiful wedding for Lauren and Nate! I was so honored to be part of their special day and I can't say congratulations enough. They are perfect for each other and I wish them lots of love and happiness in their lives together!

In honor of the wonderful Lauren and Nate, here are a few highlights of the festivities leading up to the special day.

Lauren and Nate, love you guys and hope you have a wonderful honeymoon!

xo

Fashion Friday Style Crush: Felecity Jones

Clockwise from top left: 1,  2,  3 (April Marie Claire),  4,  5,  6

Currently I have a style crush on Felicity Jones. She has an overall classic style but adds enough edge to still be young and hip and fresh. From her hair and makeup to her wardrobe choices... I just love them all. I also have to add I absolutley LOVE the shoes she wore with the mint sheath in the bottom right image... need them!!

who are you current style crushes?

A Picture A Day

In honor of a major deadline I have today, and because I just adore this illustration here is one last sneak peak... I've shown other sneak peaks before from this project, including this one here, but this will be the last one! The next time I show this it will be to reveal the project :-)

It will take another month or so but I'm so excited to show it to you!!

Copyright Michelle B. All rights reserved.

What do you think?

Currently Reading: The Kitchen House

Barnes and Noble

In case you haven't figured it out I love history and historical novels. I love learning about different eras while following along to the fictional stories. My latest historical read is The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom. A pre-civil war story about slavery and indentured servitude in the south. It's probably one of the more dark stories I have read in awhile but it's told with a purpose. Events in each of the characters young lives seem to effect them into adulthood and shape their personalities in very specific ways. It also shows that sometimes, even when you are free, evil people can trap you, and enslave you. And that sometimes you can find family, and support, and comfort, even in the face of evil.

The Kitchen House is told by Lavina, an Irish immigrant who was brought over to America with her family as an indentured servant. Lavina is the only member of her family to be taken to the Plantation, Tall Oaks, and is raised by black slaves in the kitchen house.

The story is also told by Belle, a black slave, who is also the illegitimate daughter of the Captain, and plantation owner.

Throughout the story you see how they grow, how people and events shape their lives, and their struggle to be free but not loose the family they have grown to love.

Has anyone else read this book? What did you think?

A Picture A Day

Another update to the fashion sketches first shown here and here.

Pinterest Pics

Green sweater, Rainy field, Striped umbrella, Rainy Paris, Polka Dot umbrella, Rain drops on flowers, Rainy window

It's been an incredibly dry April for us here and then Sunday the sky opened up and April showers made their appearance. I love rainy days, the sound is so soothing, the air is crisp, and I just want to stay curled up in my softest blanket with thick knit socks and a hot cup of tea all day long...

The rain can be so very pretty, and glamorous even, and I think these April Showers Pinterest Pics prove it... what do you think?

A Picture A Day

This is an update to the sketches I showed you here last week. I wanted this illustration to be trendy for spring but still classic, and simple... It's  not quite 100% but I think it's close... What do you think?

Diary of a Freelancer: Part Four

It's been three full weeks. Three full weeks of being an illustrator as my full-time job. Three weeks of joy ... But it's also been three weeks that I'm still playing "catch-up" I still feel behind on all of my projects and with major deadlines looming I feel like I'm sprinting through a marathon... BUT I'm also determined to finish successfully. This is what I've been waiting for, craving, for the last five years!!  And I'm not going to waste a single second.

I've been working so hard the last three weeks... I just keep working, hoping I'll get a better balance once I'm caught up. And everyday I look around my studio and think... I'll finish setting it up tomorrow... and then tomorrow comes and I think, well not today... but soon...

This is what my studio looks like at the moment. I look like I've just moved in and not like it's been sitting her waiting for me... I will get it together and get it perfectly organized and well laid out and designed... soon... but for now, I'm just so happy to have a space to call mine... a space that I work in... and am so happy and feel so blessed to call my office...

Updated, well designed, pictures that I can proudly call my artist studio will come soon. You can hold me accountable to that :-)

A Picture A Day

It's finally Friday! How was your week? Any fun plans for the weekend?

This week I've been working on a lot of illustrations but unfortunately I'm not able to show you them, at least not quite yet... and so I still wanted to show something fun and "a work of art" so to speak ... or at least a trial at creating a work of art.  So here are my mini donuts that I made for Easter dessert.

What do you think? Are you a donut fan? What's your favorite sweet treat? I'd love to know!

A Picture A Day

Major deadlines are coming up and I'm so excited. I'm working hard on many illustrations and it has me creating everything from home interiors, fashion illustrations, and adorable puppies. Below is a little peak at sketches I've done for a note card design...

What do you think?

Happy Birthday!

A year ago today Sweet Musings was created. It's been a really great year and I hope to continue into a wonderful year two.

Diary of a Freelancer: Part Three

Hamilton, the best pup in the world

See that face? That's my little buddy... Patiently sitting there and watching me. I think he is still thinking Why are you here? What are you doing? And why do you sit in the same chair all day?

He sits there and watches me until he gets sleepy and then he goes back to bed.

Zach calls him my receptionist and the two of us make up the team of Michelle B. Enterprises... I'll take him as a co-worker any day :-)

Fashion Friday

I know I've said this, way to many times, before but I have an obsession with Kate Spade and the whole 60's mod vibe. I think it's because I just want to pretend that I'm really this glamorous starlet, or Holly Golightly, and not actually sitting in my p.j.'s in front of my computer (but I digress) ...

Kate Spade is having a "friends and family" sale and when I received the email this morning about three seconds later I was scanning their site for goodies. Here are some that I absolutely loved and would make my spring looks complete.

Tennis Anyone Blouse, Striped Nico Shorts, Topliner Trench, Seaport Grand Watch, Kissing Cockatoos Bangle, Travel Nail Polish Set,  

And here is what I actually purchased because I've been drooling over them for months and they were on sale, plus with friends and family, I just couldn't pass them up!

Octagonal Earrings, Eat Cake for Breakfast Terry (sold out), Similar here and here

What do you think? Do you love Kate Spade like I do? And if not what designers are you coveting right now?

A Picture A Day

I love weeks like this. The kind that fly by filled with all different types of projects. Currently I'm working on two books, a website, a brochure, and a bunch of custom illustrations... And I'm literally loving every second of it.

Below is a new custom illustration for the lovely Melissa. She contacted me to create a special illustration for her husband. She wanted to use a picture from there best anniversary and combine the landscape of Istanbul.

What do you think?

A Picutre A Day

The lovely Elizabeth, who I have worked with on multiple custom illustrations including this one shown here, contacted me to create a new one. This project was for an outdoorsy guy with one of the cutest pups I have ever seen (but aren't they all, I mean seriously!)

Below is the final project. Framed in a simple black frame and ready to be shipped out! I hope this special guy loves the gift :-)

Copyright Michelle B. All Rights Reserved.

Pinterest Pics

In the category of "better late..." here are my Tuesday Wedding Love Pinterest Pics. I think the "kissing tree" might be my favorite! Also the second down on the left is absolutely stunning, where can I find a canopy of trees like that!?

Dessert display, Kissing tree (How cute!?), Lanterns, Adorable signage, Tablescape, Delicious cake, Cute bride and groom, Reception decor

A Picture A Day

Right now, on my etsy site, my number one seller is most definitely the bridal shower card. So, today, I'm devoting my blog to all things wedding themed, because seriously, who doesn't love a wedding!?

And so that brings me to today's "A Picture A Day!" With wedding season rapidly approaching the lovely Amy asked me to customize the bridal shower card to fit the theme of her wedding. Below is the latest version.

What do you think?

Copyright Michelle B. All Rights Reserved.

And up later, Pinterest Pics, with wedding flair! 

The Freelancer Diary: Part Two

From Kelly's artist loft in Downtown L.A. Found on Apartment Therapy here.

Happy Monday Sweets! How was everyone's weekend/ Easter/start of Passover?!

It's been one full week that I have been self-employed and working from home and I can't believe how happy I am. Each morning I get up, and start working on these incredible projects and I think, I am doing this for real!! The anxiety from my other job is still there... and I probably feel more like the office is closed and so I just have a little time to work on my freelance work, but still, it is wonderful!

I'm not fully caught up from the one week of trying to wrap up my full-time job and my freelance work had to be put on-hold. Hopefully it will only take another week though. 

Also, the only down side I can come up with, so far, to working from home, is that I never really feel like I can walk away. My work is always upstairs, calling to me, and so boundaries will be something I'll need to work on. Figuring out how to turn work on and off while I am at home.

Fashion Friday

Still from Mad Men found on IMDB.com

Today I need to discuss hairstyles. I want to know how you pick out what you want your haircut to be, how you want to style it, and what look works for you.

When I'm having a good hair day I feel beautiful and hip and just myself all day and a bad hair day means a hat or a bun or just a blah kind of day...

I'm one of those people that whenever I need a "change" to mix up the norm, I cut my hair... And I love it for  a week and then the thoughts start to come "why did I do this!?", "I feel so ugly!", "I think I look so blah!", "Now I have to wait three years for it to grow back!"... and I know I do this EVERY time... BUT I'm thinking about it again! Chopping my hair... It's all because of an episode of Mad Men, I guess the one last Sunday but it might have been two Sundays ago... either way it doesn't matter, the point is Don Draper's wife has the most perfect mod bob and it's the perfect shade of brown so that I can picture it on my own head. And she looks so glamorous and perfectly put-together... I need that haircut... someone, please, talk some sense into me!

Another Cute Bob on KateSpade.com... also LOVE the green jacket!

Another perfect Mod Bob... also found on Pinterest

What do you think? Are you loving the mod vibe too? What hair styles are you craving this spring? Give me some other ideas so I don't cut mine:-)


and if you can't.... maybe Zoe will...

She's so pretty and cute.. also found on Pinterest (I'm addicted to the site, what can I say)

Happy Passover to my Jewish friends and family and Happy Easter to my Christian friends and Family, and A very happy weekend to everyone :-)

A Picture A Day

It's certainly been a crazy week for me. I've been desperately trying to catch up on all the projects I fell behind on last week due to the workload at the 9 to 5. So for a little sneak peak at one of my favorite images that I have worked on this week, here is an update to a project I have showed you a few times before, but it keeps getting closer to completion and the closer it gets the more I like it!

What do you think?

Copyright Michelle B. All Rights Reserved.

Currently Reading: The Great Gatsby

BarnesandNoble.com

I don't know about you but sometimes I have bad feelings for books I read in school. I wonder if I didn't like them more because I was forced to read them then I didn't like the plot or the way it was written.  And so every once in awhile I'll re-pickup a classic or a book I read in school and see if my perspective has changed since I'm older or am reading it for pleasure and not for school or a grade or a test.

I am currently reading The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, and I'm loving the plot, the era, and the book itself much more then I did in my high school English class.  The over abundance of the wealthy in Long Island, the lack of responsibility or ownership over one's mistakes or choices, and the ideals and desires that were popular during the jazz age is incredibly interesting, and has a hint of glamour even with all the disfunction. The over all plot focuses on the love story between Gatsby and Daisy. A long lost love that Gatsby fantasized so strongly to the point of perfection. A perfection that Daisy had no hope of living up to, and yet, even when Gatsby realizes this he still, literally, gives up everything for her. Gatsby is a grown-up living in a fantasy life like a child ever fantasizing about the past and never fully accepting of reality and ever alone even with all the people he has surrounded himself with.

What did you think of The Great Gatsby? Did you read it in High School? Do you have

The Freelancer Diary: Part 1

Michele Michael's studio from Design Sponge

I know, I know, where have I been!?

I'm sorry for the lack of posting this past week. It started with a trip to Las Vegas, four days celebrating the bachelorette party of a very good friend of mine (but more on that later.) Then I came home to three days to train the person replacing me and wrap up all of the "must be finished before I leave"projects.  Well they were three very stressful and long days and to be perfectly honest I wasn't successful in passing on my job responsibilities or finishing up my task list... BUT I'm free and I'm working for myself and it feels wonderful!

I promise not to go M.I.A again and I'm so happy to be back to a normal schedule and I have a lot of  updates for you this week!

How has everyone's week been? What have you been up to?