:: in which I get very excited ::

Thank you all for your sweet encouragement and sharing in the excitement at my “super-secret” graphic design comission! I was approached about a month ago by the ever lovely G. of Vintage Indie about doing a banner redesign for the blog. I was delighted to do this: it is just the sort of thing to use what I’ve learned in all the graphic design classes I’ve been taking for the past two years! She unveiled it on Saturday, so now I can share it with you all.

*dances about*

Besides working away on that, I’ve been sewing… again. I think its the time of year; for some reason I simply cannot get enough sewing! I found some pretty-ish cotton at JoAnn’s the other day, and started work on one of my vintage dress patterns. (Is it just me or does this stripy pattern remind one of Marjorie’s delightful patterns in her artwork?) Of course, I needed to spend time doing the requisite adjustments (drat!), but it is turning out rather fetching, I think! I fancy myself wearing it come May, with one of my lacy slips peeking out, and maybe a flower tucked in my hair? Still needs a hem, but almost there–though it is far too cold to be wearing a short-sleeved frock!

I’m off to do some knitting on that wee elephant I’ve been slowing working on. I need to finish it asap too… the little girl its for is coming home soon! Eeep! Have a lovely evening!

Cheers & Creativity,
♥ Casey [ email me ]

 

:: snip, sew, press. repeat. ::

What originally was supposed to just be cutting out the skirt turned into an evening spent sewing! Somehow, that happens more often than not… hehe! There was a minor hiccup at the outset though: I was about 1/2 yard short for the wrap skirt. So after some pondering (and going through my pattern boxes to see if there was anything else that suited the weight of this wool), I decided to just eliminate the back wrap. An easy adjustment, that preserved the elegantly-curved waistband that drew me to this pattern. It is deliciously warm and delightfully bright… just what I need to chase away the winter blues! (Still needs a hem, but I need to procure some hem tape.)

I’m rather put out right now because I can’t ink my little w.i.p. that I showed the other day. My favorite inking pen is all used up, and although I purchased another recently, I came home to find the tip bent and dried out!! What use is a dried-up pen?! lol. But because of the snow yesterday (and rather treacherous conditions on the road period), I haven’t been able to get out and procure another pen. Miss. A. is waiting rather impatiently to be inked. She keeps making little comments whenever I catch sight of her. I’m sure its rather vexing being in such a state of uncertainty!

I must away… I’ve got a long laundry list of things to finish before L. and I go on an ice skating date!! Hooray!! Have a lovely weekend!

♥ inspiration [ twenty-two ] ♥
♥ 9 ways to cultivate creativity
♥ classic children’s book illustrations [ via ]
♥ beautiful paper dolls!!
♥ I could look at these all day long…
♥ a cute idea for your Valentine sweets!! [ via ]

Cheers & Creativity,
♥ Casey [ email me ]

p.s. I just wanted to say thank you to G. for the lovely interview up at Vintage Indie today!!

 

:: jumping into a new week ::

The weeks are just flying by already… it seems hard to believe that I start back to classes tomorrow!! *sigh* My little “hiatus” from school was fun, but I knew it would come to and end sometime. hehe!

Look what the postman dropped in my mailbox today! This sweet little pink, mouse brooch from the always-whimsical Marjorie!! I’m so delighted with her–I can’t wait to wear this with my green and pink cardigan refashion. Though my Mr. Bunny pendant (also from Marjorie) will have to vacate his spot pinned beneath the eyelet cockade…

Sketching has been forefront lately… my mind is just swimming with ideas! My latest little fancy… though she is very much still in progress and needs to be transferred to some board and painted!

Look what I treated myself to the other day while I was at Borders: the February/March issue of Mary Engelbreit’s Home Companion! I love this magazine anyway, but this is always my favorite issue because its the yearly artists’ studio tour feature! I’m always inspired by the beauty artists surround themselves with, their philosophy on art and the artist, how they got started… I just want to cut this issue to pieces and stick the images in my notebook!! But I have a “no cutting” policy with ME Home Companion (I have stacks of back issues!), so I just keep paging through again and again. Such a wonderful way to refill and refresh my creativity!

Here is this week’s Vintage Monday Feature! I’m still stuck in the 1840’s (though that isn’t a bad thing!), and keep returning to the patterns, colors and lines of the decade:

Have a lovely Monday, my dears!! I’m off to knit and draw some more… ta-ta!

Cheers & Creativity,
♥ Casey [ email me ]

 

:: whelmed over ::

Wow… I am utterly speechless at your generous, sweet, and encouraging words after my last post!! I worried for so many months (I’ve been writing that post since late October) about how to put everything that has been percolating in my head. My biggest concern was addressing the eating disorder; I didn’t know the best way to simply say it. I am so humbled and thankful for your kindness… I had a tears in my eyes when I opened up my email to find my inbox flooded with your comments. (My sincerest apologies that I cannot respond to each one individually… but please know that I appreciate your reaching out from the bottom of my heart!) I wish I could give you all a big hug!!

And thank you too for the wonderful feedback on the sweater revamp! I had lots and lots of fun reworking it and adding the new trim–probably too much fun! lol! It just goes to remind me that even a little bit of something here or there can do wonders on an old standby (or in this case, a rather plain-Jane basic)! One just has to be willing to open your imagination to the endless ideas and possibilities. Allow them to flood in, fill your mind up, get excited! Never to dismiss something because it doesn’t fit “convention” or seems too hard or outlandish; no idea is ever totally useless!! Even years later I go back through my sketchbooks, and sometimes ideas that I didn’t use then strike a chord now! One never knows where the next bit of imagination will hit…

Speaking of inspiration, I have been busy at work on my latest art print!! I’ve been working on this piece for about a month now (off and on, of course!), and am happy to announce that I just got the beautiful prints back, and they are now listed in the Shoppe. Please hop on over to take a peek at the Wonderland Balloon print!

Finally, I’ll leave you with a list of Inspiration Friday links. The internet has been abuzz with some lovely ideas recently–my mind is just spinning with possibilities! Enjoy and have a lovely, restful, and creative weekend my friends!

♥ inspiration [ twenty-one ] ♥
♥ gala’s guide to setting amazing goals!
♥ beautiful photography collaboration at fresh pears
♥ knit a stylish, thick and cozy cowl
♥ inspiring interview with crafting hero jenny hart
♥ tips and tricks to a successful, unique wardrobe
♥ miss anna’s adorably winterish outfit!
♥ the nubby twiglet guide to making a press kit
♥ camilla engman’s guest blog @ d*s [ via ]

Cheers & Creativity,
♥ Casey [ email me ]