All in the Details

After checking out Flatstock, the screen printed poster showcase at SXSW, I left with a handful of business cards from graphic designers and illustrators. As well as a screen printed poster of a Death Star Disco Ball (of course). It got me brainstorming about ideas for my own business cards. While I love simple and well-designed logos on cards, I knew I wanted my cards to simply communicate what I love to do. Which is draw and paint fashionable things.  Above are a few paintings I did from details of RTW runway shots. So far I have Burberry, Alexander McQueen, Valentino, and Badgley Mischka. I'm aiming to have a painting on one side of my card and my contact information on the other. I'd like 3 sets of cards, 1 of each painting. Right now I'm only satisfied with the Burberry and McQueen, so I guess I'll keep painting until I come up with a third one I love enough to use...

FIT Portfolio

Hey guys, its been quite a while hasn't it? Almost a year I'm afraid to admit. Where has the time gone? I graduated college almost a year ago and since then I've had a lot of time to think about what the next step is for me. Post-college is probably the awkwardest stage of life, right up there with your pre-teens. You're not in school anymore, and even though you have a job and bills, you still don't feel like an adult. My solution? Going back to school. The last year off has been good for me, but I've decided to apply to the Fashion Institute of Technology and see what comes my way. Above are a few designs from the portfolio I submitted. As you can see, I've grown a penchant for polka-dots, yellow accents, and leather  panels. 

Check out the rest of my portfolio on my pin board on Pinterest: [HERE]

I'd have to say the hardest part of the application was the garment sewing test. Having only sewn mostly plushies before, its quite different trying to make something that has an actual purpose and can be worn. I decided to make a pair of high-waisted shorts with a scalloped hem. Its also got pockets and an invisible side zipper. Not bad for my first pair of pants! 

Rach :]

Weeko Mika Designs

[leather jacket: Hollister. black tank, black leggings: Target. parka: Kohls. white tshirt: Forever21. boots: Charlotte Russe. all jewelry: Weeko Mika Designs]

A week or so ago, a friend in studio launched her own handmade jewelry line as her final project. She needed someone asap to pose for a few pictures wearing some of the jewelry for her catalog. While clearly I'm not the most professional model, it was still a fun shoot. We conquered the undeveloped patch of woods across from a park in town. It was a little treacherous at first, but we braved forward!  
For her project, Alyssa not only handmade each necklace, but created the logo for the etsy site, designed the print catalog, built a window display, printed business cards, and put together the cute packaging for the necklaces. The inspiration for her line was inspired by southwestern native american motifs. Each piece is made of birch-wood or plexiglass that has been laser cut and features details like glitter, skull beads, or natural stones.  
I like that each piece is unique. I think my favorite necklaces are the gold glitter plexiglass triangle or the birch-wood triangle with the white skull. And how could you not fall love with the little cute faces of the raccoon and fox? Take a look at the designs below and come check out her etsy shop: Weeko Mika Designs 
Thanks for reading! Rach:]

***NOTE: If you can't find one of the necklaces you want above on the etsy shop, message her because it probably hasn't been uploaded yet. Or it might be sold out, so ask her if she can make an order for you!***

Christmas List [2011]

[1] Macbook Photoshop hotkeys laptop keyboard cover @Photojojo

[2] Soot (from Spirited Away) plushie cell phone holder @FocalPrice

[3] Yellow gemstone cocktail ring @Ebay

[4] Wonder Woman travel coffee cup @Amazon

[5] Cat Eye vintage eyeglasses @Etsy

[6] Fashion history book @Amazon

[7] Typography Workbook @Amazon

[8] Star Wars long-sleeve tee (s) @Forever21

[9] Grey/Yellow reversible comforter (full/queen) @Target 

[10] Striped sweater (s) @Target 

[11] Suede ankle boots (6) @Charlotte Russe

Its that time of year! I've just ransacked the holiday aisle at Target leaving with 3 sparkly gift bags and an R2D2 Christmas bobble head. I'm excited about the DIY gifts I have planned to make for friends and family. And currently I'm drowning in end of the semester schoolwork, drinking hot chocolate, and listening to christmas carols on pandora. Yep. Its December.

Are you ever too old to make a christmas wishlist? I think not.

This year, only simple fun things make the list!

Hope you're having a great start of December and if you're in college, good luck on finals and have a safe trip home for the holidays!

Rach:]

Blogger Sketch Sunday [eat.sleep.wear]

Hey blogger! Its the Fifty-second edition of Blogger Sketch Sunday! Thats right, I've been doing this for a full 52 weeks totaling 1 full year! This week's post features Kimberly of eat.sleep.wear. whose blog hails from Philadelphia.
3 Reasons I love this blog:
-Kimberly is a graphic designer, whose eye for aesthetics translates clearly into her blog. I always enjoy coming across blogs that are created by very visually inclined people. This blogger has this clean, sleek, bold feel to her website. From the theme of continuous lines running through the titles and bordering her links to the sharpness of her photos in the ordered posts column, there is a simple beauty to all of it.
-I would definitely say that this simplicity also transcends into her style. While her look isn'tminimalistic, it has this juxtaposition of polish and rustic. Kimberly has a uniform of skinny jeans, wedges, layers of tops, and dramatic glasses or hats. She rocks the silhouette that works every time for her, but keeps it interesting by picking basic pieces that have appealing patterns or tactile textures. Her style maintains the clean line her aesthetic keeps to.
-Fall colors are huge in trends right now and I think Kimberly works these colors into her wardrobe effortlessly. Desaturated brown or olive pants, silky sienna tops, mustard cable knit cardigans, maroon wool floppy hats and beige desert boots. All finished off with leopard print accents, tortoise frames, fur vests, and sherpa collars. Completed with a perfect warmly lit city backdrop behind her.
If you haven't come across her blog, I'd recommend going to check it out! I've posted the link to it where I first named her blog above.
I have mixed feelings about reaching the completion of my 52 week goal. On one hand I feel proud to have gone out and achieved something on my own that wasn't a part of school or work. On the other hand I still have a few bloggers I'd like to feature, so you might see a few more editions of Blogger Sketch Sunday coming up! I would like to keep my weekly tradition for a little longer.
When I finish, I plan to post a huge edition with 52 of my favorite sketches from Blogger Sketch Sunday, so look out for it soon!
Rach:]____________________
I also need to announce that I am no longer accepting commissions as of right now. I still have a few I am wrapping up on, but I have decided that I need these next few weeks to focus on finishing up school for my December graduation. If I return to taking freelance work, I will put up a notice here on my blog. Thank you!

Recent Commissions [Oct 2011]

Its been a busy month commission wise for me! So you'll have to excuse my lack of posting. Hopefully these illustrations I was hired to create will make up for my absence. I've started using a tablet for all of my work and its opened up a whole new world of possibilities. I'm currently borrowing my generous roommate's tablet, but I feel really inspired to buy my own and really get adept to using one. 
 Thanks goes out to these 3 bloggers, Amanda of Emerald Heels, Candyce of *Right-click Save*, and Inna of SkippySays for commissioning me to make their blog headers! It was so fun working with each of them to create their own vision. If you'd like to commission me, shoot me and email at vizbasix@gmail.com and we'll talk about rates and bounce back and forth a few ideas! 
 Thanks for reading! Rach:]

Blogger Sketch Sunday [The Blonde Salad]

Holy moly! Its the Fifty-first edition of Blogger Sketch Sunday! This week's post features Chiara, of The Blonde Salad whose blog is located in Italy.
3 Reasons I love this blog:-You can't help but be a little star-struck looking through this blog, Chiara has racked up quite a list of modeling gigs, style awards, and numerous collaborations with big name labels. Her blog highlights how successful and fashion blog can become and it kind of blows my mind.-There is a reason she was named the biggest breakout street style star of the year by the New York Times. Her style is effortlessly chic. No outfit she puts together would look like any hum-drum 'trendy' display at the mall. Style like this is impeccable and seems impossible to immulate. She is just one of those girls who always looks so put together without looking like she's trying at all.-What would a street style star be without a super skilled photographer behind the lens? All of her photos are amazing. They are such high quality pictures with beautiful outdoor lighting, great use of DOF, and such candid energy. 
If you haven't come across this blogger, which I highly doubt, you need to go check out what all the fuss is about. I've placed the link where I first named her blog above. 
ALRIGHT. So I've been completely MIA since like August. Pretty much since school began. It being my last semester of college and taking 17 hours, you'll have to be a little patient with me for being such an inconsistent blogger for a bit. Good news though, I only have one week of Blogger Sketch Sunday left! I am somewhat relieved my challenge almost complete, but a little sad as well. I appreciate all of the comments and messages I've received over the last year supporting my little endeavor. And I've had so much fun, I think I might continue for a few weeks more. We will see.
Thanks for reading!Rach:]