Monica Lee Studios

No Problem...let me get my wand.

So this is my latest installment into Monica Land. I came up with this illustration one day when I was being juggling a lot of jobs at once  running a business, being a mom, being a wife...taking care of  animals (no, actual animals..not my family)...I remember thinking if I just had a WAND and poof! all deadlines are met, dinner was made, everyone is happy! There is no complaining!

I have printed my new fairy assistant out and she is hanging in my office. Now I plan to point to her when someone asks me for something! This might even make a good button. What do you think, would she be a good addition to my imaginary Etsy Shop?  It will be a Real Etsy Shop soon...I just have to get my wand fixed.

Pretty things out of Vermont!

OH mi! I had an entire post written and lost it all. Don't know who yell at typepad or my iMac! Here is what I wanted to show you really quickly...a pretty little thing to start your day. It is from a gal in Vermont who is creating bright happy things in the cold of winter.  Her site is Nest Pretty Things. She has 2 etsy shops and one is for children! how fun! I LOVED this color wheel bracelet, perfect for an artist-don't you think? She does this in a kid version or grown up version. I KNOW it is after Christmas but....don't you think it would help me  get through a coooold January? I can't stop clicking around her blog and shops! ACK! Help!

New Shop Opening: Pins and Needles NYC!

Argh! So I need to wait just a tad longer to tell you all the fun news from my studio! Torture for me. Licensing is a bit like that...you really have to have a dose of patience when you jump into this arena. In the MEANTIME, let me show you my girlfriends OH SO CUTE! new fabric, needle-crafts shop on the upper east side in Manhattan. Here is a her website, it is a little tricky because it is Pins and needles NYC (gotta add the city part)...and if you venture to her store tell her I sent you. She has THE cutest kits made up for purchase and it is so homey. You might even get to meet her puppy, Molly, who greets everyone with a friendly hello and sniff! She is offering sewing lessons  in the shop and carries embroidery and needlepoint supplies too. If you are heading to NYC, you need to plot a path to the upper east side-maybe I can get Rachel to put a list on her favorite haunts and restaurants on her blog somewhere. I passed by a couple of  book stores  to stop in, one was Archivia Books. I recognized it from a book signing that Cabbages and Roses, Christina Strutt did there last May. Oh! I just popped over to their blog and they are doing a lovely giveaway of a beautiful red cardigan and toile bag here at a blog called Fashionable Interiors. I love anything from the Cabbages! 

Escaping, thinking warm thoughts of yarn.

So I am under a BIG deadline, trying not to freak out. I literally have not budged from my desk all day (except to let my office assistants out to pee and poop). I needed a quick mental break and this what I found on the Purl Soho blog....omigosh! These little snuggly blankets are to die for! And easy to knit...So here are the links, you can buy ta kit for the baby blanket....AND the  baby blanket kits come in all these color choices! I, of course, do not have a baby but get very cold at my desk and was thinking this is the perfect little size to keep my lap and legs warm. I KNOW! I don't have time to knit, I hear you, but this might be meditative and I could seriously use some meditating right now. The other blanket with the sleeping kitty, the pixie dust blanket is a beauty too, nubby and soft, again easy to knit, it is all about the yarn on this one! Aren't these perfect temptations for a cold day? Don't they look soft and yummy?  If you have someone you love and you have not bought their Christmas gift yet (and they are a knitter...) you should consider buying these kits and yarn. I think they would genuinely like it. I know I would!  All images are from their blog, click over a get warmed up! 

Cute Beanies

 

So shopping for gifts for teenagers is interesting. I think it is an interesting way  for me to follow  current trends. My son is into  biking, skateboarding, snowboarding, the X-Games, Dew Tour. Actually the part that he is into is the licensed products from these companies. Since I create licensed products myself...these companies are interesting to me. Both my son and step son are currently into Neff, a snowboard, skate and surf  head wear company? It was actually started by Nat Bozung a pro snowboarder. It began  with headwear, beanies but of course now they sell  t-shirts, jackets, some backpacks etc. I was shopping online for a hat for my son...he was VERY particular about which one he wanted...geez! I found these cupcake and ice cream cone hats and just thought they were the bomb! Oh! To be 13 years old again!!  I checked out their lookbook and they have a 20 something girl in the hat and she does look really cute.

It makes you stop and think what companies are currently cool and which companies are not anymore. I can guess a few that have fallen out of fashion but if you met the CEO's of these  companies they probably would not know it. And what makes companies  geared toward this market hot or not? I am guessing endorsements...of course good product..but endorsements are huge in this market. Luke was telling me I should get the Snoop dog hat for his step brother..."What? Snoopdog, the guy with the rap sheet?"  The same guy who once claimed to actual BE a pimp? See, this is where I run into trouble...pro skate borders, snowboarders...that's great! Let's buy their products...gangsters, not so much. My boys don't know Snoop for the news he made in early 2000...they were toddlers! And Snoop os a weird guy with a gangster past...gang member, rapper... did you know he has appeared in soap operas? Jail, weapons arrest..soaps? Anyway...I am digressing and I have to get to work. So here is the question, how much do celebrity endorsements  help or hurt your product? Could these companies do without them? Remember the whole Jon Goslin, Ed Hardy thing? I say...choose VERY carefully or at least make sure they have no priors. 
This website has a good selection..6pm.com 

Welcome to the World Party

I hosted a baby shower for my neighbor last week. It is baby number 3 for her and she claimed she did not need a shower BUT I think every baby needs to be welcomed into the world in a festive manner (not mention that she had given all her a baby gear away, oops!) It is often said that the third baby may not get the same attention that the first ones get, no baby books, not as many pictures so I was trying to think of a way to create a keepsake for this baby as a gift.  I came up with the idea of a small advice book, something handmade with love. The thought was that the guests would write down advice to a child, in this case a girl, and that she would be able to read it as she got older and maybe even take it off to college. When it was my turn to sign it, I glanced at the words of wisdom written by the other women and I was so touched (and it is not even my baby!) Everyone was so thoughtful! There were a few pages left so grandma and maybe a godparent could add words, maybe mom will offer up some  written words of advice and the sweet  little girl grows into a young woman.

 

 

Need other great craft ideas, take a peek at Today's Creative Party Linky Party

A Little Holiday Shopping, Red in Fredericksburg, TX

In keeping with the Thanksgiving theme, I wanted to feature this store in Fredericksburg. Now I have been shopping in F'burg (as my family calls it) for 35 years. This town has really changed and all for the better. I was so excited to see this shop move into the old Buick dealership building. The store is called Red and I ADORE it! They were great about letting me take all sorts of photos and I was delighted to see that I can shop some of their merchandise online now that I am home. The have a great eclectic mix of goodies. The old visual merchandiser in me... (oh, did you know I used to have that job too?) loved the way everything was displayed. They also offer interior design services for people near and far, wouldn't that be fun!? Here are some pics that Luke and I took....I do have to say after seeing these photos, my handbag is way too big! Every time I look through it I can't seem to figure out exactly what I would take out to lighten my load! ha! I noticed they even sell handbags....hmmmmm. I am decorating this weekend and I will disperse all my shiney brights throughout the house...wouldn't it be cool to get a twig tree like theirs?  No watering!

So you want to be a "Sweater Girl?"

Good Monday Morning! Need something cute to wear on Thanksgiving? I do! I have a $100 gift certificate to spend (woo-hoo!)and I trolled the internet for cardigans over the weekend. I have to say that I am soooo glad cardigans have made a big comeback. A couple of years ago I simply could not find cute ones and now they are everywhere. I have been known to be perpetually chilly and  a little cardi can make any outfit oh so cute! I also recommend the long boyfriend cardigans especially with skinny jeans (if you don't feel skinny) they cover problem areas! Of course, I have drawn a complete line of Cardigan Girls, drawn with cute dresses and skirts and cardi's, big soft spot for me.  

So here are some places to shop when you get restless at your desk this week, if they can't arrive be Turkey Day, they can certainly make it  by Christmas! 
Check out Anthropologie, their cardi's will always get compliments, year after year.  
I have to give a shout out to the Gap after their poor logo mishap, I spotted this jacket/cardi in an magazine ad, looks very cozy. And if you go to Piperlime, you see a lot of cardigan's with a nice soft drape to them. If you want a girly retro feel you have to check out Modcloth, adorable! AND for you crafty gals who want to play with the cardigan sweater than you have hangin' out in the back of your closet...you can be uber creative and try to embellish your own cardigan. This month over at Grosgrain Fabulous, it is embellish your knits month.  Scroll through all of Kathleen's projects, she is very clever!

Wonky Embroidery

Instead of packing and getting organized last night, I ended up at with some friends at a neighbors  house talking about sewing and needlework.  One of them piped up and said "We should go the Embroidery Guild meeting tonight!" It was already dark, it was windy and raining but for some reason we were all on board and we hopped in the car  went. We showed up and there were all these darling little ladies with some pretty impressive needlework. It turns out it was not all about "embroidery" but any type of needle work. One woman was one her second level of studying traditional Japanese embroidery taught by teachers who have studied at the Japanese Embroidery Center. There are 10 levels in all and part of the study is a spiritual journey. She spun her own silk as she worked on silk. Incredible! I think it would have to be a spiritual journey to be that meticulous.  I  have decided the type of work I do  is called "Wonky Embroidery." No spinning, not  a real pattern, probably not  using the right needle. I didn't feel too intimidated by the group, which I know can happen  sometimes when you pair up with people of experience at anything. Of course that is easy for me to say the following morning, I did not bring any work with me! I am not finished with this little piece.  When I am done it will say, "I am so glad I found you." Hopefully. But you never can tell with Wonky Embroidery.

Friday Wrap up!

So this is what has been rolling around in my brain the past week. Actually it is a frightening look inside the mind of an artist who lives a life in sensory overload.

Here is a photo that I have been meaning to show you of my little tree lined street, so New England. So if you didn't get your fall foliage fix stare at these pics, just for a  few minutes  though, because that is about how long they last on the trees like this. It is raining today and my husband is grumbling because all these lovely leaves are now in the yard and must be raked.

I have been meaning to tell you about these darling girls, LuLuBelles, I met in MN at The Creative Connection Event...not sure if I did or not  but they really create some pretty jewelery. Created with a mix of old vintage pieces and new findings, this team of cousins really lead a girly and pretty life. I think the work is very affordable so grab it now!  Christmas is coming! Gretchen just began a blog and it is right up a girly girls alley  also.

As long as I am talking about pretty things, how about this collaboration  between H&M and Lanvin? The Blonde Salad blog has a good post previewing the clothes. Divas and Dreams blog has a video of the photo shoot for the campaign. I am absolutely loving this photography blog because it is soooo pretty, the colors, the subject, it is so  for me! I want to draw her images and models...is that weird?

As for the art bouncing around in my brain this week...I decided to sign up for Cindy Ann's handmade ornament exchange over at BluPenny. At first I was afraid to commit (that is so Monica and for another post altogether) but I decided it would get me to sew...so no illustrated ornaments (yes, I have done that before) and only stitched ornaments for me! I mean, how cute is this ornament from last year made by Brenda Syre Crowe?

Well, I am off to buy embroidery floss! AND I am hitting Anthropologie with with MaryBeth on Saturday woo-hoo!