Monday, February 28, 2011

Hand-Illustrated Idea and Goal Journals

'Goals and Wishes' Illustrated Pocket Journal, available here
This weekend, I re-read my recent post about organization for creative people, and felt inspired to illustrate some notebooks that could be used for to do lists, idea journals, or organization books.  
L: 'To Gather Ideas' Illustrated Pocket Journal, available here
R: 'Thinking Dog' Illustrated Pocket Journal, available here
Each of these is a one-of-a-kind drawing on a Moleskine (the very best!) pocket journal, and features 64 pages and an inside pocket on the back cover.

L: 'Big Ideas' Illustrated Pocket Journal, available here
R: 'Endless Ideas' Illustrated Pocket Journal, available here

I love these little notebooks because the last 16 pages are detachable, so I use those pages for sketching and then pull them out.  The paper is lovely and acid-free, so if you're like me and tend to sketch at random, you can use a pen with archival ink and have some mini pieces of art to keep!

I hope you all have a lovely Monday.






Sunday, February 27, 2011

My Top Fashion Picks for the 2011 Oscars

Michelle Williams was stunning in this simply cut but elegantly detailed Chanel dress.  And oh, that hair!  I  adore her sense of style. (image source)

It's no secret that I'm a fan of Rodarte, and Natalie Portman was glowing and gorgeous in this draped purple gown.
(image source)

I officially want Mila Kunis's lacey lavender Elie Saab gown, as soon as I win the lottery.  LOVE the detailing at the bust. (image source)

I'm beyond impressed with Livia Firth's absolutely beautiful (and eco-conscious!) Gary Harvey gown, made from 11 (yes, 11) reclaimed dresses.  She also wore the world's first fair trade certified gold jewelry by Anna Loucah.  These images from Vogue UK of her getting ready are just gorgeous.  You are amazing Livia!


Maybe it's time for me to start designing eco-couture.  Do you think Livia Firth would wear my recycled candy wrapper dress to her next event?

xo,
melissa


Saturday, February 26, 2011

Saturday Morning Daydreams (+ My Ring!)


The pretty things that are inspiring me this lovely Saturday morning are...

1. this brilliant photograph  2. the Kodak Instamatic 104 I picked up at an estate sale yesterday (source)  3. this amazing 'Animals A-Z' poster  4. everything about Chris Benz's spring 2011 collection  5. three weeks 'til spring = bicycles & flowers (source) 6. my engagement ring!*

*I promised in my last wedding post that I'd share some shots of my ring, and here it is!  I'd been telling the fiance for years how much I loved my grandmother Maggo's engagement ring from the 1930s.  Maggo is 96 years old, has a degree in chemistry, worked as a fashion designer (runs in the family!), has traveled and lived all over the world, and is an all-around incredible woman who has always been a huge inspiration in my life.  I also adore vintage jewelry from the '20s and '30.  Her ring is especially beautiful to me because it has the details of the art deco style popular during that period, but isn't over the top. 

When Robbie proposed, he gave me her ring.  And yes, I cried.  And jumped on the bed.  The ring was still stunning, but was very delicate from age and travel. The following week, he took me to the jeweler and had a fully restored mold made of it, then an exact replica with the diamonds (which date to 1900) and recycled platinum.  It's truly my dream ring, and means so much to me that it came from my grandmother.

May these photos bring inspiration to your weekend as well!

xoxo,
melissa

(Pssst... Check out past editions of Saturday Morning Daydreams right here).

Friday, February 25, 2011

Creativity Takes Courage

Henri Matisse wasn't kidding when he said it. Creativity does indeed take courage. If you work in a creative field or consider yourself to be a creative spirit in general, you know what I'm talking about.  May this serve as a reminder that what you do is both important and fearless!
Fashion design is my day job, but when it comes to other forms of visual art, I consider myself much more of an illustrator than a graphic artist.  Lately though, I've been really into creating typographic art.  I'm a big fan of chevron patterns, and wanted to design something where I could incorporate that patten into an empowering message for other artists/designers/creativity junkies.  You can see more views here.

love,
melissa

Thursday, February 24, 2011

whole lotta love


Now that the fiance has a week-long break amidst the band's two month winter tour, weddings have once again entered my daily thought train.  We're both so busy with work that I think we actually forget that we're getting married (this year!) until someone reminds us.  We still haven't set a firm date, but we're slowly progressing in terms of jotting down ideas and collecting random bits of inspiration, like the pretty photos above. 

Those of you who are planning weddings or already married, please continue to share your photos, inspirations, most beloved wedding websites, etc!  (Feel free to contact me directly or post links in the comment section).

love,
melissa

P.S. We finally got my engagement ring back from the jeweler and it's perfect.  We took my grandmother's gorgeous art deco 1930's engagement ring and had a fully restored mold made of it, then had a new ring made from the mold with recycled platinum.  It's an exact replica, so it's incredibly meaningful and has such a lovely story.  And the diamonds are from 1900!  Anyone want to see a picture?

Image sources from top: here, here, here, here, and here.



Wednesday, February 23, 2011

style inspiration


My style inspiration. (And in the case of Zooey Deschanel, girl crush).  Don't worry though Audrey darling; you'll always be my #1.


1. Audrey Hepburn (source) 2. Zooey Deschanel (source)
3. Edie Sedgwick (source) 4. Pattie Boyd (source) 5. Sienna Miller (source)

xo,
melissa

P.S. Have you "liked" Bubby and Bean on Facebook yet?
If not, we'd be thrilled if you did!  And if you're a regular reader of Bubby & Bean, we'd be equally as thrilled if you followed/subscribed to our blog using Google Friend Connect, Bloglovin', or a reader.  If you were here in person, we'd jump up and down and hug you real tight.  xo

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

follow your bliss

do it!


"Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors where there were only wall." - Joseph Campbell

Oh how I adore that quote! This is my latest piece of typography art. I designed it mainly as a reminder to myself that certain things in life are more important than others.

(Pssst! If you like it, prints are available here.)

xoxo,
m

Project 365: Week 5

Our Project 365 Photos, Week 5
We're currently on week 8 (yes, 8) of Project 365, and although we've somehow managed to keep up with snapping a new photo every single day, we haven't fared quite so well in the act of actually uploading these photos.  I'm determined to get caught up though, so stayed tuned for another update later this week.  (See Project 365: Week 1 for some background on the project and our personal goals for the year).

The collection above, from week 5, showcases everything from the insanity know as the Great Chicago Blizzard of 2011 (modeled by the one and only Bubby), shots that Robbie has emailed me from road (on winter tour with his band), and some random images I've snapped in my house, studio, and out and about.

For those of you doing Project 365 or similar photo-journaling projects, please continue to post your links!  It's been so much fun getting to take a peek at other people's photographs.

love,
melissa

P.S. Have you "liked" Bubby and Bean on Facebook yet?
If not, we'd be thrilled if you did!  And if you're a regular reader of Bubby & Bean, we'd be equally as thrilled if you followed/subscribed to our blog using Google Friend Connect, Bloglovin', or a reader.  If you were here in person, we'd jump up and down and hug you real tight.  xo

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Saturday Morning Daydreams


1. loving everything about this photograph  2. tranquil white window  3. pretty buttons  4. vintage-inspired Louis Vuitton  5. always on my play list, Edward Sharpe  

Wishing you all a lovely weekend filled with creative inspiration and pretty things!

love,
melissa

(Pssst... Check out past editions of Saturday Morning Daydreams right here).

Friday, February 18, 2011

Creative Kickstart: 5 Ways to Creatively Organize Your Time, Mind, and Workspace

It's been a few weeks since the last post in the Creative Kickstart series, but it's back in action, and here to help inspire you and motivate your creative process with the best installment yet!
Through conversations with creative friends and associates, I've noticed a common "issue" we all seem to share: disorganization. As artistic people, we have constant ideas firing off in our brains, and when we're in the mood to create, we will passionately throw ourselves into a project.

For me, this often results in my studio looking like it was hit by a tornado. And the last thing I feel like doing after hours of immersing myself in a creative job is devoting energy to organizing my workspace.  Eventually, I'm left with a massive pile of madness, and the urge to put things in order falls even lower on the priority list.

'Ground Clutter' original painting by Michelle Daisley Moffitt
Creative people also tend to function better doing what feels the most interesting at the time, rather than working on things that may be necessary but aren't naturally appealing.  Focusing on the interesting tasks is important to the creative process, but not always practical.  Just like the mess in my workspace, I've found that putting off the less appealing (but mandatory) tasks causes them to snowball into bigger, more time-consuming jobs that leave me feeling rushed and overwhelmed.  Disorganization of time and environment can cause us to feel buried and our mind to feels scattered and exhausted, which can greatly hinder the ability to feel inspired.
But what if we simply don't feel like it???  How can we, as creative types, bring some of what we love about being creative into being organized?  How can we make organization fun, or at least utilize it to make our lives a little easier?

lovely + organized art space (source)
1. CREATE A PRETTY SPACE.  Creative people tend to prefer things to be in plain view, with easy access.  While left-brain people may do better with file cabinets and drawers, these things just don't work as well for us.  Try organizing your materials in clear containers or on shelves instead.  Use objects that you find visually appealing to organize your supplies and paperwork, like baskets or colorful bowls. Think of it as a design project rather than a means of putting things in order.

to do list notepad, boygirlparty
2. REWORK YOUR 'TO DO' LIST.  For years, my 'to do' list was a  file on my laptop that provoked instant stress when I opened it each day.  There was very little order to it, and if I had a big project, I'd list it everyday.  (Note: Even if you're aware that you have two months to complete it, seeing "Design Entire Fall Collection" on your list of things to accomplish on a particular day is going produce some subconscious anxiety!).  Try breaking down big projects into specific tasks that can be spread out over time, list things in order of importance, and be realistic about how much time you can devote to each thing.  If you don't finish something, move it to the top of your list for the next day.  Stick to concise daily lists with fair goals for yourself.

mini goal chalkboard, Mary Kate McDevitt
3. BEAUTIFY THAT 'TO DO' LIST.  Creative people are naturally drawn to beautiful things.  If you're like me and you discover one day that your 'to do' list looks just as visually unappealing as your disheveled workspace, try something different.  Make a pretty notebook or chalkboard, and use something colorful to cross off each task when it's done.  If you prefer to keep your list on your computer, use your favorite colors and fonts for the text, or design a graphic for the top that you'll enjoy seeing each morning. 

'Lullaby,' sandygrafik
4. FIND YOUR FLOW.  This is important.  Traditional techniques for organizing spaces and managing time just don't work well for the creative person, and forcing yourself to try to make them work for you will only create more challenges.  Creative people think outside the box, and this "different" way of thinking is one of the main things that makes you artistic, imaginative, and bright!  Instead of fighting against your natural tendencies when organizing, make use of the same unique methods that you use to contribute to your creative flow. Incorporate your personal style by utilizing colors and themes that appeal to you.  If there is certain music that inspires you when creating, listen to it while organizing.  If you like to drink a cup of tea while you create, drink one while organizing.  If you find that things feel a little too structured for you once you've decluttered your space or created a to do list, break up the monotony.  Decorating your to do list with doodles or place pretty objects in between containers in your studio. Make the process of organizing work with you rather than against you.

5. GIVE YOURSELF A BREAK.  Last week, I posted a graphic that I'd made (above), and titled the post "A Simple Reminder."  One of my biggest challenges is learning how to overcome my habit of feeling guilty about what I haven't accomplished instead of being proud of what I have accomplished.  We are our own harshest critics, and putting too much pressure on ourselves can end up stifling our creativity and cause a loss of focus, leading to disorganization.  Make time for yourself, breathe, and let it all go at the end of the day.  In the morning, you'll wake up more refreshed and inspired. A clear mind makes staying organized and productive much easier than a scattered one.
Do you have any tips for creative organization and time management?  I'd love to hear them!

P.S. That amazing shelving unit I used in the header graphic is Ikea's REK.

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