Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Book Review: Jim Henson's Doodle Dreams

Inspired by the picture from my youth in 80s Recollection, I decided to continue to reach back and reflect on other stuff from my childhood--meals, fashion, and TV shows. This process led me to a charming book, entitled Jim Henson’s Doodle Dreams: Inspiration for Living Life Outside of the Lines. The book features text by Jim Lewis and the art of Jim Henson, the creative genius behind numerous things colorful and furry, like the Muppets and Sesame Street. I recommend this little book for anyone, of any age, who is ready to be inspired and sparkle with glee into the New Year!


A few quotes from the book that I love:
Creativity. Taking something enormously strange and somehow making it strangely familiar.
Being afraid isn’t always a bad thing. Sometimes you need that trembling feeling to remind you how exciting it is to be doing something new.
If you worry too much about the way things are supposed to be, you’re a lot more likely to end up following the crowd.
A sense of wonder is the most incredible gift you can share.
Happy Holidays.

Saturday, December 20, 2008

80s Recollections

I can still remember this childhood moment. It was Easter and my mother was up all night making me this coat, hat, and a white eyelet dress. Before church we hurried off to have a photo shoot.

This is one of many treasured childhood memories because it says a lot about the woman I am now. I am still a huge fan of coats, tights, and [single-strapped] Mary Janes. And soon I’ll be able to sew a coat!



Check out the white maxi piping—my mom has skills!

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Present Pizzazz

ReadyMade magazine published a snazzy article with tips on how to rethink your gift wrap this holiday season. I've included a few of my favorites below.


(click me)


:: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: ::


Gifted: The Wrap-Up by Steven James

In 1917, the Kansas City-based Hall brothers (founders of Hallmark) reused French envelope linings to encase customer gifts. In that spirit, we offer a few suggestions for reinventing the wrap every time you’ve got something to give.

Map Wrap
Mailing presents back home? Prepare them for the cross-country journey with wrap made of recycled maps. Use pushpins and geographical postcard cutouts for the card.

Bubble Wrap
Paper’s plastic cousin makes its way outside the box. Cover the gift directly so a hint of it shows through and use double-sided tape for a clean seal.

Scrabble Board & Letter Tiles
Make a color photocopy of the game board and individual tiles onto sheets of 81/2” x 14” paper. Glue on your message using cut-out, copied letter tiles.

Can It
No scissors, no tape. Coffee and tea tins, cookie canisters, and unused paint cans offer no-fuss alternatives.

Tabloids
Nothing turns heads like a three-headed alien baby fathered by Elvis.


Click here to view the entire article


:: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: ::

...Making a List

The holiday countdown has begun! For me, it means I’ve started to buy and make gifts, schedule multi-city travel plans, and more. This morning while riding into Manhattan I began compiling a list of artful (and some practical) tasks that I hope to accomplish during my holiday vacation. If your life is anything like mine, completion typically relies on a plan. Below are some of the ideas that came to mind first.
  • Read a good book
  • Finish sewing shirt, skirt, and tote bag [+something new & fancy]
  • Decide on wedding details [date/location]
  • Shred, organize, file [make order for 2009]
  • Reconnect with old friends
  • Make a new collage
  • Relax
Wish me well!

What’s on your to-do or not-to-do list this holiday season?

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Super Supermarket

Support indie artist at The Supermarket at Design Within Reach. It's happening today, Wednesday, Dec. 10, from 7-9pm at the Tribeca Studio [for those of you in the NYC area]. To find out more, or to view the store online, click here.

Remember, there’s nothing wrong with taking a break and letting someone else do the creative.

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Birthday Wish

On Sundays I often go to a cute café near my internship for brunch. This past week, I found myself at the cafe being seated aside two women who looked like they just walked off the set of the Golden Girls. I made eye contact, gave them a shy smile, slid into the booth, and pulled out my notebook. As I was writing, I caught a glimpse of a sprinkled chocolate cupcake with a blue candle next to the older of the two ladies. I wondered if it was her birthday, so I asked her. She responded that it was coming up on December 3rd; it would be her 96th. I sat in awe for a moment and then the three of us began to giggle and chat like old buddies. When it was time for them to leave and for my food to arrive, the birthday girl gave me her secrets to longevity. She said that one must:
  • never hold grudges
  • laugh hard daily
  • love her/his profession/job
If I could have any birthday wish today it would be that every life would contain these three elements. I believe that her advice was a gift to be shared.

Now I am off to find a cupcake of my own!

Sunday, November 30, 2008

Just Jean

Over the weekend I watched Breathless a 1960s French new wave film directed by Jean-Luc Godard (thank you Netflix). I discovered more about the style that is synonymous with that decade. The chic daring look of Jean Seberg activated my inner 60s child and made me think two words the whole film—stunning haircut.

If you’ve seen it I’d love to know your thoughts. If you have not, two more words, rent it.


"I don't know if I'm unhappy because I'm not free, or if I'm not free because I'm unhappy" -As Patricia Franchini in Breathless

Friday, November 28, 2008

First hand, Second hand

Last week while in the Bay Area I was thrilled to learn that there were amazing botiques, thrift stores, and Goodwills to shop for vintage items. I even went to a rummage sale! With a coffee cup in hand and my sweetheart at my side, I was one happy girl.

Here are a few photos from, Berkley and The Mission District in San Francisco, my favorite places to shop:






kamau ware (c), 2008

Incase you've ever wondered the difference between antique, vintage, and retro, here’s the definition according to Wikipedia:
Clothing which was produced before the 1920s is referred to as antique clothing and clothing from the 1920s to 1980 is considered vintage. Retro, short for retrospective, usually refers to clothing that dates from the period 1965 to 1985. Clothing produced more recently is usually called modern or contemporary fashion.
More about happy times and California inspirations to come…

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Book Review “The One Hundred: A Guide to the Pieces Every Stylish Woman Must Own” ::: Nina Garcia

The One Hundred: A Guide to the Pieces Every Stylish Woman Must Own is the perfect blend of fashion tips, history, and illustrations. Organized from A to Z, the book includes descriptions of items and gives pointers on how to wear them best. Nina Garcia sets a tenet from start that made me appreciate her perspective on fashion more: style is a deeply personal expression of who your are, and every time you dress, you are asserting a part of yourself. Instead of being narrow, she gives her two cents and leaves room for the reader to add her/his own change. Everyone from the beginner to the experienced fashionista will be able to glean something from this book.

While reading, I could not help but file the information in three categories: the pieces that I own and love, the items that I desire, and my unmentioned personal favorites. As promised, with a little restraint (not to give too much away), here are a few must haves according to Nina and yours truly.

own and love ::: featured in the book
1. watch
2. zippered hoodie
3. vintage
4. quality luggage
5. Havaianas
6. Wellingtons

desires ::: featured in the book
1. little white dress
2. old concert t-shirt
3. monogrammed stationery
4. gentlemen’s hat
5. caftan
6. Minnetonka Moccasin 

lesley’s favs ::: not featured in the book
1. vest
2. above the knee socks
3. signature earring
4. hair assessory
5. multiple pairs of glasses (if you wear them)
6. rib u
-neck tank

As you make your closet cuts be sure you are editing away items that no longer express who you are. As in life, the spaces can be filled with whatever you like. You have complete creative control.

I’d be remiss if I did not show the simple but glamorous illustrations by Ruben Toledo—I love them so much that I’d take any one to hang on my wall now. It was a nice break from typical glossy fashion photos.






Thursday, November 20, 2008

Closet Cuts

Nina Garcia, of Elle magazine and Project Runway authored a new book entitled The One Hundred: A Guide to the Pieces Every Stylish Woman Must Own. I ordered a copy this evening after cleaning and transitioning my closet for the fall. I bid adieu to five bags of wears and all of my wire hangers. My snug Brooklyn closet was too tiny to hold on to things that were not in moderate rotation--my edits were essential. Hopefully, I did not go overboard, according to the fashion guru. When I finish reading, I’ll be sure to share some of Nina’s tips.

Take a moment to look in your closet remove things that you no longer wear--give to a friend, donate them, or think of ways to reinvent them.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Cookie 5: Scrap Sketches

I am working on a series called Scrap Sketches. Each of the 4 sketches will be composed of various textiles, paper, thread, metal, and/or plastic. Through this exercise I hope to discover more about shadows, silhouettes, and patterns and of course the relationship between textiles and graphic design.



Wednesday, November 5, 2008

A New Way to Look at Your Negatives

This is an image that I came across on HOW Magazine’s blog (listed to the right). When I look at it I see two pictures of the same bird. One taken in the early morning while the day is bright and another taken at night under a light.

The beauty of art is that it can be interpreted a zillion different ways. Feel free to share what you see in the negatives.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

be sm{art}

Just a friendly reminder to be sm{art} and vote for change! Find your polling place and hop to it.

Monday, October 27, 2008

Is it time?

While at an art gallery exhibit closing an acquaintance asked me, "what’s the hardest challenge that artist face today?”. I gave a C+ response and then moved on to the next topic. When I had a moment to discuss this question again, it dawned on me that the most difficult challenge facing me--is finding the time to create. This was a truth that I could testify to as I recapped the week that had just whirled by. It was chock full of goodness but left me no time to explore my new worlds of being a designer, an intern, or a blogger.

Your thoughts about this question will vary depending on several things i.e. if you are a working artist or an artist working a 9 to 5. None the less I am curious to know, what IS the hardest challenge that artist face today?

Tell me. Is it time?

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Notcot.org?

What do wallpaper, plants, eco-friendly calendars, and connect the dot tattoos all have in common? They were all featured today on, Notcot.org, the new addition to the Creative Cookie blog listing. Notcot.org has become my go-to-place for a spark of inspiration. The site is full of happy creatives, style trends, and innovative products from around the planet. It’s now set as my default browser page so I can get my daily dose of wonderment.

This is what caught my eye today:






What's speaking to you?

Friday, October 10, 2008

Cookie 4: Brooklyn 111

Here is a logo that I was able to collaborate on, as a graphic designer, for an exhibit called BKLYN: 111 presented by The Bag Fund. This is special exhibition and dialogue within and outside the borough of Brooklyn asking artists to consider the impact Brooklyn has had on their work and the impact they hope their work will have on Brooklyn.

I’ll be at the closing reception and you should too:

Saturday, October 25
The BAG Fund
168 Seventh Street Brooklyn
New York 11215

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Cookie 3: More than Scraps

At this point it should be pretty clear that I have a fascination with using rescued textiles and finding new ways to use old things. This is a scarf that I made as a birthday present from a bouquet of cottons, silks, wools, and spandex. Most of the fabrics come from Fiber Notion but some of them are from unwanted clothing that begged to be reused in a fresh way.

Here is the correct entry with image *smile*


Saturday, October 4, 2008

Creative Visioning

Here’s a collage that I made in March while attending a fabulous Hip Tranquil Chick three-day retreat:



It amazes me that much of it has started to manifest. There are several tiny changes that are inching me towards my goal of living a creative life. For example, the calendar says “yoga”; I found a yoga studio three blocks from my apartment that I enjoy after this collage was made. Another example is the blue computer keys with happy expressions on them. I knew I wanted to write more, I feel this represents the birth of the Creative Cookie blog and my new computer. These changes in my life excite me. I am making progress!

Here’s an exercise from The Artist’s Way* that will help you build your own collage—I strongly encourage it.

Collage:
  1. Collect a stack of at least ten magazines, which you will allow yourself to freely dismember. 
  2. Set a twenty-minute time limit for yourself, tear (literally) through the magazines, collecting any images that reflect your life or interests. Think of this collage as a form of pictorial autobiography. Include your past, present, future, and your dreams. It is okay to include images you simply like. Keep pulling until you have a good stack of images (at least twenty). 
  3. Now take a sheet of newspaper, a stapler, or some tape or glue, and arrange your images in a way that pleases you.
  4. Give your collage a place of honor. Even a secret place of honor is all right—in your closet, in a drawer, anywhere that is yours. You may want to do a new one every few months, or collage more thoroughly a dream you are trying to accomplish.
In closing, here are a few questions to ponder: why do creative visioning exercises, like collage making, work? What are some other modes of creative visioning?

I’d love to hear from experienced and aspiring collage makers and creative visionaries…please share you work. I'd like to post you collages, if you'll allow me to. 


*See the full list of Creative Reads that I recommend below. 


Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Inspiring Event

Join us on Wednesday, October 8 from 6-9p at C O Z B I for a wine tasting and a look at the one-of-a kind fall collection of women and children’s clothing, accessories, and quilts—all made in Brooklyn. You’ll also have an opportunity to learn about the wonderful work of The BAG Fund, a Brooklyn based nonprofit, dedicated to helping artists create work and share it with the world.

It’ll be great to see your smiling face. In other words: come out, be inspired, learn about a great cause.

C O Z B I
 is located at: 530 Court St
 in Brooklyn 
(between Huntington
and W 9th St). Take the F or G to Smith & 9th St.

Yellow Cotton

Horary!!! I got an e-mail notification that my business cards will arrive soon!

On the 22nd day of July, I was shopping at Mood Fabrics and bumped into Christian Siriano winner of Project Runway Season 4. If I would have had a Creative Cookie business card I could have handed it to one of my favorite designers and told him how fierce he was. Instead he got a coy smile as I quietly continued to shop. Next time I’ll have something to offer but for now I’ll take it as a lesson learned on preparedness.

Saturday, September 27, 2008

Cookie 2: Accessorize Surprise

Using scraps to make accessories has been something that I've been exploring. Here are two hair clips made with the leftover materials from the bags we made.

I think they are fantastic!

Friday, September 26, 2008

The Colorful Bug that Bit Me

“I’ve been bitten by the _______ bug” is what a person might exclaim when a new and exciting form of creative expression enters their life and they become smitten. Last Wednesday it became clear that the fabric bug had bitten me.

That morning I got to work and read my “daily good stuff” Daily Candy New York and DailyOM. Daily Candy’s feature was a group of sample sales and one of them caught my eye. It was for Lulu Dk on September 17-18. Lulu DK is a textile designer with playful graphics and color choices that I like. I stored the information in my head and thought, “Today and tomorrow are hectic. There is no way I’ll make it to the sale”. Lunch came and went and I kept working, still wondering, and telling myself that I was too busy. As the day progressed, I thought about the sale from time to time.

By 3:00p I could not contain myself any longer. I had to go. I checked HopStop.com and became aware that the bus was the most effective way for me to travel. I headed to Madison Avenue for the short ride uptown. I arrived at the location. A stylish woman greeted me and instructed me that the sale was in the back, and there it was, one box of fabric leaning next to a bookshelf. I thought, “You’ve got to be kidding me”. There were other products to purchase that Lulu DK produced, from the fabrics, but only a small amount of fabric to buy and it was $29 per yard. A few minutes later I returned to the street and headed back downtown on a very slow bus.

Somehow I retuned to work in a chipper mood about my decision to attend the sale. Shouldn’t I have been bitter? I purchased nothing and my little jaunt would cost me an extra hour in the office. I sat in front of my computer and pondered the question: Where do creative urges come from? Why and when do they happen? What is the best way to harness this energy into something special?

If you’ve been bitten, I’d love to hear about it…

Monday, September 22, 2008

Something New

Tonight I enrolled in Typography I at NYU. I am really excited about starting classes again because it is an opportunity for me to have fun and learn something new. I promise to share some of what I learn in a future blog.

Here’s a “Try This” exercise that is in Living The Creative Life by Rice Freeman-Zachery (see the full list of Creative Reads at the bottom of the page).
Sign up for a class or workshop in something you’ve always wanted to know more about: pottery, pen and ink drawing, quilting, collage. Go in with no expectations. The Best thing that can happen is that doing so will open the door to adventures you can’t even imagine. The worst-case scenario is that you may find this medium or technique isn’t for you, but even so, rest assured that your time won’t be wasted: Things you’ve learned in a workshop tend to find their way into seemingly unrelated work when you least expect it. For example, the color mixing you study in a painting class may be perfect when you begin to dye your own fabric.
Sharing can be fun, let me know if you try something new. I’d love to hear what happened!

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Cookie 1: A Little Spark is Born

If you’re like me you love a good street fair, the food, people watching, and cheap earrings are enough to keep a girl happy for a while. This past Sunday, my zany neighbor/creative partner, Jennifer, and I put ourselves on the other side of the table and decided to be a vendor at the Flatbush Frolic. The Flatbush Frolic is a street fair that’s been a part of Brooklyn’s history for 31 years.

As you know from my last entry, we made tote bags from fabrics that were going to be thrown away. The material that we used was a micro suede from Italy and we had about 20 different colors of it. There were no wrong combinations; we placed fuchsia on chocolate, camel with powder blue, slate grey coupled with crimson, olive against sienna—the colors all seemed to somehow resonate with one another. The bags were "green" without literally being green.

We ended up making 14 totes and we sold 4 (we picked two to keep for ourselves)! I think we could have sold more but we decided to price them at $25 because our friends said we’d be crazy to sell them for anything less, and we agreed. The reactions that we got from every visitor who came to our table were positive. One woman took our contact information because she’d like to consider placing them in a gift shop and another asked for our web address because she wanted to tell her friends about our products (web address? We just got an email account the night before). This made me very happy!

I learned so much from this experience and am amazed that we were able to take a pile of remnants and a vision to introduce something new. We had fun too—the work and the idea came together perfectly.






I’d like to give a really BIG thank you to Cozbi for taking the time to help us sew smart, Craig for giving Jennifer the fabrics, Leanne and Melinda for coming to the fair, and Kamau for sharing ideas and putting up with a messy “Studio W” during production.

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Flatbush Frolic

This Sunday my wonderful co-designing partner, Jennifer, and I will be at the Flatbush Frolic selling tote bags made from rescued upholstery fabrics. Come & check us out.

Please wish us a dazzling debut!!!

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Fashion Inspired Design

“CREATIVE” is a sticker that I have proudly worn throughout my life; it’s been a recurring theme. But somehow my creative sensibilities never spun off into a medium that set me at a canvas, potter’s wheel, or under the limelight. This made it hard for me to picture myself as a creative type living a creative life. The artists I knew all had something tangible that they could produce and share with the world, or at the very least, with those who they loved. I was an art dabbler picking up what I felt, were ittsy bittsy wobbly fragments. These were the fibers that my “CREATIVE sticker” was made from.

When I moved to NYC something awoke in me, I had to get serious about nurturing my inner artist so that she could emerge. Design has always had an emotional impact on me. I decided that graphic design would become my art. I immediately enrolled in a few courses at NYU in digital and graphic design and discovered that I had found something that if I worked hard enough, I could be good at.

I love fashion too. You can find me frequenting high-end boutiques, thrift stores, select retail chains, and friend’s closets across America. I enjoy experimenting with mixing different patterns, styles, colors, and decades. Now that I am learning to sew, I’ve been able to bring a few of my own ideas into existence.

If I had to define my aesthetic I would call it “smarty art chic”. I plan to weave elements of fashion and textiles into my work as a graphic designer to make fashion inspired design.


Here’s what is inspiring me now:

A sampling of fabrics from a Fiber Notion charm pack. Fiber Notion is a store filled with eye-popping goodies for people who like to get their craft on. I plan to feature Fiber Notion in a future posting. Click the image to enlarge.

Thursday, September 4, 2008

Mixing the Old with the New

If I would have known that living a creative life simply meant changing only the way that I look at the world, I would have done things differently a long time ago. I wonder if being a late bloomer to this simple wisdom is for better or for worse? Being the optimist that I am, I have to say for the better. My logic is this: since I went longer than most artists, knowing this truth, and saw things as I thought they were I likely missed some wonderment and inspiration along the way. I think this gives me a broader range of being able to appreciate objects, both, for what they are and what they can be. I am now better at seeing new uses for old things.

If you are looking for inspiration, sit and think of new ways to see some of the older things that surround you. You’ll be surprised at what you come up with.

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Infamous Question

Are you an artist?” is a question that I’ve been asked by some, but responded “no” to until recently. A group of us were preparing to walk to a concert in a nearby park, and a friend of a friend turned to me and asked that infamous question and I said, “yes I am”. For years I’ve responded with an array of hesitant statements that ranged from “I like to play in clay” to “I am an artist supporter and I like design” to just plain “no”. That August afternoon, I was able to respond in an affirmative way because I've started being intentional about developing my talent to live a life that's more creative.

I’d like to use the Creative Cookie blog to explore deeper questions, such as “what does creativity feel like”, to make a space for other unsure artists to emerge. This blog also will serve as a diary of my creative journey. So, you’ll get a glimpse of my artistic process and the adventures that I encounter along the way.

From one Creative Cookie to another, WELCOME!

About Creative Cookie

My photo
Brooklyn, NY, United States
learn more at: thecreativecookie.net.