Casetify Black Friday Sale!

Available on Casetify!

Casetify is having a Black Friday sale all this week! From Monday until Friday you can get 16% off orders over $30 or 20% off orders over $70. Use code BLACK2016 

I've added some new styles, shown above, and you can get those and many more here. I know I said it before but these cases are great quality and look so chic on your phone and with the discount it's a great excuse to treat yourself of someone else to these fun cases. Don't forget to use code BLACK2016. 

xoxo

Illustration in Progress - Working on the 2017 Calendar

Sharing a sneak peek at a sketch for my 2017 Calendar! I'm calling her "Ice Princess" for now. I've been working on my ipad pro with adobe draw and my apple pen and I'm loving sketching that way. I'll bring them into Illustrator, on my mac, for final tweaks and finishes but I'd love to keep some of the gestural and loose elements of the sketches in the finals. What do you think? Do you like this slightly different style?

I'll continue working on the 12 new illustrations for the calendar and can't wait to share the final with you. I'm hoping the listing will be live on etsy just after Thanksgiving. I will keep you updated and continue to share more sneak peeks at progress.

Hope you enjoy!

xoxo

Illustrated Phone Cases

Available on Casetify!

Get any of these cases and more at Casetify!

I have a new product that I am so excited to share with you! Phone cases with my illustrations (for any phone type) are now available at Casetify! 

This company is so cool! The cases are beautiful, super durable, and great quality. The back of the case is clear with the design printed on on them, allowing you to see through to the back of your phone with the exception of where the design is. I think they are sleek and modern and I absolutely love mine. 

I have the flamingo case above... she's my trendy flamingo! You can get that one, the others above, and many more at Casetify. 

I hope you love these! Check out my full collection on Casetify here! If there is any illustration you'd like that you don't see in the shop just let me know and I'll add it for you! 

xoxo

2016 Calendar - November Fashion Illustration

How is everyone doing?

It's been a long busy month and I can't believe it's November already! But since it is, I couldn't wait to share my latest calendar fashion illustration! You can also get her as a phone case here and a print in my etsy shop here.

Hope you enjoy!

xo

2016 Calendar - October Fashion Illustration

Here I go again... better late than never... but here is my October Calendar Girl! Hope you like her! I'm also working on the new 2017 Calendar and I can't wait to share peeks of the progress.

For now if you like this lovely lady you can get her print here or her phone case here.

xo

Fashion Friday! What's in my shopping cart - ready for fall edition

Shop the post and more below!

By the time August rolls around I tend to be ready for fall... I try to wait patiently but I end up just adding lots of fall clothes to my online shopping carts. I wait until there is a good sale or it seems like an acceptable time/close enough to fall and then purchase them. Since it's finally September I thought it would be a good time to share some items from my fall shopping list. 

What will you be wearing this fall? What are your go to stores?

Also, the illustration at the top... what do you think? I created it completely on my iPad Pro with my apple pen. I've been working on the new iPad on and off throughout much of the summer and I'm loving it but it's like learning a new medium. I have to figure out/relearn how to draw on it and how to get the illustration to look the way I want. It's been fun and interesting and this is the first one that I thought was worth sharing. I hope you enjoy!

xoxo

2016 Calendar - September Fashion Illustration

One of these months I'll post the calendar fashion illustration on the first... one of them. I also have no idea how August changed so quickly and sneakily into September.

Lots of updates and new things to share over the next few months and I can't wait to show you.

xo

2016 Calendar - August Fashion Illustration

It's reveal time for my August 2016 calendar fashion illustration! So here's to the last few weeks of summer!! I hope you have lots of great adventures planned, time in the sun, and maybe even a vacation before September rolls around. 

Can't wait to show you the next one!

And if you like this lovely lady you can get a print here.  

XO

Illustration Reveal - Illustrations for Vogue Japan

There are days, the "pinch me" days, when I can't believe I get to do this for a living. The day Vogue Japan emailed me to do illustrations for their September issue was one of those days. I literally read the email three times to make sure I was reading it properly. And then when I realized I was in fact reading it properly, that they really did want me to do illustrations for them, I lost my mind. Picture jumping up and down screaming lost my mind.

They were looking to have illustrations created to serve as a backdrop to animal themed fall 2016 fashion. They asked for three spreads, A Cat's House, A Jungle, and A Lake. The clothes and accessories by a variety of designers would be incorporated into these settings. Literally a dream job.

So above are my illustrations. I hope you enjoy these!

And to Vogue Japan, thank you so much for selecting me to create these illustrations for you. It was a dream.

xoxo

Illustration Reveal - Sketch for custom illustration of New York City

Above is a sketch for a new custom illustration I'm working on with a new client. He and his wife have been living in NYC and are being relocated. He wanted to have something created to remember their time in the city based around all of the places they liked to go, where they lived, and just had happy memories.

This has been one of those cool jobs that has evolved from the first sketches and looks nothing like the one above. We, ultimately, took all of the places he requested and combined them to make their own special place and not a realistic map at all. By the final design we even removed the streets. And while I love the final and the direction we went in (can't wait to show you) this sketch above just makes me very happy.

I'll be sharing more on the process, since it was so organic and different from how I usually work, as well as the final product over the next month or so. For now though hope you enjoy this little black and white sneak peek. I'm looking forward to hearing what you think.

xo
Michelle

2016 Calendar - July Fashion Illustration

gah... I somehow let three weeks slip by without posting my calendar fashion illustration for July. And while this should have been up by July 4th at the latest, I guess the 21st will have to be good enough!

This year! Every time I blink it's another month gone by ... or two ... or 6... I feel like I just can't catch up and I apologize for that. I promise I will figure out the timing of everything... but for now, for good or bad, I'm still a work in progress.

I hope you enjoy this latest girl and I can't wait to share the next one in a few more days! hehe

xo
Michelle

TBT

Bicycle Built for Two

It's throwback Thursday and I thought it would be fun to go back to the beginning and share the illustration that I started my etsy shop with back in 2011. It's still one of my most popular and has a special place in my heart.

2016 Calendar - June Fashion Illustration

I'm a few days behind... well almost a week... but it's June and I'm so happy to share my June calendar fashion illustration. You can also get an 8 by 10 print of her here.

Hope you enjoy!

xo

Illustration Reveal New Petite Chic Zoo Print

Today I have a new illustration reveal, part of my Petite Chic Shop Zoo illustrations. It's a long overdue addition to my shop. Lately there just hasn't been much time to work on illustrations "just for fun" but yesterday Riley took a longer nap than normal and I decided to finish this illustration up that I started a few months ago.

To see other Zoo prints see my Shop here: Petite Chic Shop

Hope you enjoy!

xo

Illustration Reveal The Creative Snob Blog Header

Detail View of The Creative Snob blog header.

Last week I showed you the sketches for The Creative Snob blog and as promised here is the reveal of the final. It ended up being a combination of the two sketches as well as an addition of some personal items and details and I think it turned out great. For more check out her blog and follow along here.

And to get your own header check out my etsy listing here.

Hope you enjoy.

xo

Illustration Reveal Custom Blog Header Work in Progress

It's been awhile since I've shared a peek at a work in progress. I tend to show you more of the finished illustrations. Sometimes that's because I'm in a rush, sometimes it's because it's hard to follow the progress from stage one to final with such a small peek, and sometimes I just love the finished piece so much it seems silly. But today I thought I'd share some sketches for the blog The Creative Snob. When we started she knew she wanted a studio type setting that would showcase her main focuses of her blog, as well as her personality, and not be to limiting on topics she could then blog about. I took that idea and came up with these two sketches to help get a conversation going on exactly what she wanted. What she liked. What she didn't like. What worked or didn't work. Etc.

This was a particularly fun job and the progression from sketch to final while subtle looking was very cool. We added so many details after this point that will be lost to most people but were so special to her that it made it a very personal project.

I can't wait to show you the final illustration but for now I hope you enjoy your peek at my process.

Are you a blogger looking for your own Custom Header? Follow this link for more info.

xo

Illustration Reveal Custom Notecards

I've worked with the lovely Heidi before on numerous custom stationery designs. We always create a flat notecard design that can be used as a mailable card or just as something to take notes/write things down on. Each one she has done for friends as family has been so fun. She is great to work with and I have enjoyed creating all of these special illustrations for her. This card above is no exception.

Looking for a unique gift, get your own custom stationery set here.

2016 Calendar - May Fashion Illustration

May 2016 Calendar Fashion Illustration

It's May... How is it May!? So much has happened over the last month... well months really and I've been so far behind from sharing. So my goal for May is to catch back up. But for now while I frantically draft blog posts I had to share my May calendar fashion illustration! You can also get an 8 by 10 print of her here.

Hope you enjoy!

xo

2016 Calendar - April Fashion Illustration

How is it April Already!? I mean seriously where did March go. Well while I'm sorry I have had no posts in between I am very excited to share my April 2016 calendar fashion illustration. Definitely one of my favorites this year... and I have to say she is very appropriate on this miserable rainy day here.

Hope you have a happy Friday and an even better April 1!

xo

2016 Calendar - March Fashion Illustration

It's reveal time for my March 2016 calendar fashion illustration! I don't know about you but by the time March comes around I'm so ready for spring and I had to make this fashion lady reflect that! What do you think? Are you ready for spring as much as me!? 

Can't wait to show you the next one in April! 

XO

Live Drawing at the Chaps and PEOPLE #HelloChaps Launch Party

One Brass Fox

Anything Blackk

The Miss Prints

Domestikated Life

The Boston Fashionista

Okay I need to just start by saying that sometimes I can't believe the things I get to do as my job. Last night was one of those times. I spent the night live drawing at the launch party for Chaps Ralph Lauren with PEOPLE Magazine at the Ritz-Carlton Presidential Suite in Boston. I met some of the most amazing people. The Boston Blogger community is incredible! Everyone was so much fun, literally the nicest people and incredibly supportive of each other. Basically I wanted them all as my new best friends.

Above are a few of the illustrations I created at the event.

And a special thank you to Chaps and PEOPLE for having me at their party.

xo

Illustration Reveal: Custom Illustration

Hi there, I wanted to share a new custom illustration I was able to work on with a special client. She's a lovely person who I've done various illustrations for in the past. This particular illustration is for her birthday invitation. I always have so much fun working with her and creating playful illustrations of her and her pups, and this one is no exception.

So to Arlette, thank you for your continued interest and support, and I hope you have a very wonderful birthday!

xoxo

My Sketchbook

A new favorite of mine! From an article in Vogue Magazine's February Issue! Hope you enjoy and hope you had a happy Valentines Day!

xo

My Sketchbook

Hi there, How's your week going!?

I wanted to share a few more illustrations from my sketchbook. I've continued to work on my ten minute sketch plan and it's definitely getting easier. There have certainly been disaster days, days that I literally can't show you what I drew, the illustrations turned out that bad. But I can laugh at those while I show you these. These three are days 9-11 and I really like the way they turned out. They were all taken from ads or articles in various fashion magazines. And, I think they took a little less than 15 minutes and not ten but it's a start. Hope you enjoy!

xo

2016 Calendar - February Fashion Illustration

Hi Everyone! I'm a day behind, BUT, It's February already! I can't believe it but I'm so excited to share the February calendar girl.

If you like this one, and the featured calendar girl from January, I know you'll love the full desktop calendar, available in my etsy shop!!

xo

Illustration Reveal: Zebra Illustration for etsy shop

Good Morning! How was your weekend? Did you get snowed in all weekend like me!? If so how did you spend your snowy weekend?

I had a few goals this weekend. I wanted to practice watercolor, paint my nails, and work on Riley's baby book. I got two of the three done... but I did spend a lot of the day Saturday working on watercolor and have a new illustration to show you! It's a Zebra print, now available in my Petite Chic Shop on etsy!

So here's to a great, and hopefully warmer and snow free, week!

xo

My Sketchbook

Here is another ten minute drawing. I struggled early in the week and last weekend to get anything I liked even a little in ten minutes but by today I'm starting to like them more. My goal is over the next month or so to gradually be able to add more and more detail in those ten minutes.

I hope you all had a great week. And if you are in the north east stay warm and safe during the snow!

xo

My Sketchbook

Back when I first started my blog, which was originally called Sweet Musings, I had a series called A Picture A Day. The point to this series was to get me to draw, illustrate, design, etc. each and every day. It was meant to keep my skills progressing and keep me inspired while I still worked a full-time job at a company in Philadelphia. Gradually, over the next few years, going off on my own, and some very large jobs, I stopped doing this. But I have missed it. I miss the inspiration I found as well as the sketchbook quality of it that gave me freedom to try new techniques and keep learning without being judged or worrying if the final piece was perfect.

Fast forward to 2016, with all of the amazing changes in my personal life and my work life, I think I've been challenged more than ever before to find time to balance it all... Which brings me to my solution  -  I'm going to/try to bring back the series A Picture A Day, but I'm renaming it to My Sketchbook. I'm changing the name because that's what I want this to feel like, a no pressure outlet to display my work. I'm also calling it My Sketchbook so that I'm not required to post one every single day. This way I won't set myself up for failure and I won't disappoint you by not following through! Win win I hope! And lastly the illustrations are going to look like sketches. I'm giving myself five to ten minutes each day to draw one thing, anything, and get it as complete as I can, but as a result the illustrations will be more rough and not as refined as some of the finished illustrations you've seen. The reason for the five to ten minutes is that it is a timeframe I can handle right now and won't make me feel overwhelmed with one more thing added to my plate. Doing an illustration at this speed will also force me to go with my instincts and try new ways to work that I maybe wouldn't have tried when I need the outcome to be perfect.

Well I hope you like this idea and will enjoy following along with my sketches! And for now, here is my first sketch for the My Sketchbook series. It was an outfit I found in a magazine and was drawn in about 7 minutes. Looking forward to showing you more soon!

xo

2016 Calendar - January Fashion Illustration

Hi Everyone, I hope you had a wonderful holiday and enjoyed time with family and friends as much as I did!

I'm so looking forward to 2016, and I thought that best way to start blogging this year would be to share the January Calendar girl. If you like this one and you'd like your own 7 by 7 desktop calendar you can get yours here! I'm planning to post the fashion illustration featured in the calendar the beginning of each month the rest of the year. Hope you enjoy!

xo