the sketch book

I've moved!

2010-09-10T17:00:00.005-04:00

I've packed up my paints and moved to a new blog! Please visit often! My new address is:

Happy September

2010-09-01T11:17:00.002-04:00

can't believe its September already... I'm so excited for the change in seasons. I may be jumping the gun but I swear I saw some red leaves this morning.

Self Portrait

2010-08-31T11:59:00.003-04:00

Ok I admit, this is a slight glamorization, I am actually wearing head to toe Lululemon.

Camilla

2010-08-30T16:43:00.001-04:00

This was inspired by Camilla Belle. Not only is she gorgeous, her name is perfect too.

Emily (Blog) Post

2010-08-26T11:56:00.007-04:00

As far as I know Emily Post hasn't yet addressed the issue of intellectual property in the blogosphere, but I'm pretty sure she would advise against borrowing artwork without first asking for the permission of the artist. So if you are interested in using my art, please email inslee@inslee.net and I'll be happy to help!

And now, some royal jewels.

And some more retro-ness. I seem to be getting more and more projects that require this vintage/lady-like feel to them...

Cut out

2010-08-24T12:13:00.005-04:00

Today feels scrumptiously chilly so I thought I'd share this illustration with you all.

Strutting in Yellow

2010-08-23T16:39:00.002-04:00

Loosen up

2010-08-19T11:09:00.004-04:00

So I'm experimenting with this new paper called YUPO. Its totally smooth, feels like plastic. Wild. I went in to buy my usual heavy weight cold press strathmore and there it was this bizarre plastic paper with absolutely no absorbent qualities claiming to be perfect for watercolor techniques and four times as expensive as everything else.

When I asked the utrechts helper guy what this crazy paper was he could barely compose himself enough to explain over the excessive gesticulations and sighs of delight. "It like totally blends... its all on the surface but it complements in like.... layers of splash" I believe was the general gist.

That is my first attempt at using it above. It was sort of weird and floaty. Like... driving a prius. So I am going to continue to experiment and see how loose my drawing can get.

I want to be able to work like this....

And not worry about the fact that sometimes they only have one arm. No problem.

That illustration is from Fashion Illustrations by Fashion Designers - amazing book showcasing the outlandish drawings of the big name designers trying to articulate their ideas for their lines.

Sorry this is pretty long winded. I could talk about paper all day.

The unbearable wetness of being

2010-08-18T15:23:00.008-04:00

This has got to be the most rain I've ever seen. Everything is utterly waterlogged and I'm weary of all the gloom. It has me thinking about just how much I really do not like wetness. My whole life I've been much more put off by situations of moisture than any one else I've ever met and do not get me started on wet towels. Dry, clean towels are next to, if not beyond godliness.

But anyway, it also has me thinking about cold weather clothes...

Although, I'm pretty sure that wherever this busy hipster might be storming around in leather thigh high boots and a fedora its not actually cold or rainy. That is one of my favorite things about celebrities/hipsters.... their clothing choices are not governed by weather like it is for the rest of us. The richer they are, the more outerwear they need at all times regardless of temperature. Genius.

She seems pretty rainy day appropriate too. (Sulking despite the enormous bouquet of balloons and the ability to pull off winter white wide leg trousers)

This little grump also can't get her act together despite wearing an amazing lace shift. So I thought I'd add her to the montage. Shes another discarded potential February. Suchhhh a disagreeable month.

Beehive

2010-08-17T12:54:00.004-04:00

Some dramatic hair to spice up your Tuesday. To buy a print of this illustration, click here!

Hat girls

2010-08-12T10:07:00.005-04:00

This illustration was inspired by a vintage photograph I came across on this wonderful blog called Design Love Fest. I loved how the girls looked in their turban/hats, the colors made them look like a little bouquet of flowers. So I had to draw it. We could have all used some chic turbans like these this morning in Washington during the freak monsoon. Where has all the glamor gone... sigh...

Sultry

2010-08-11T10:39:00.002-04:00

To shop for a print of this illustration, click here!

Featured on Beauty and the Feast

2010-08-09T11:37:00.006-04:00

Hi Everyone!

How has August been treating you? I just got back from a wonderful trip to Mexico to find out that I was featured last week on Beauty and the Feast Blog! Be sure to visit it, I know you'll love it. It features the two most important things - good food and good fashion. What more do you really need? Well if you are in Mexico, you'd need to add bottled water to the list... but since I'm back that pretty much covers it.

Here's the link to the feature on me!... http://beautyandthefeastblog.com/2010/08/05/inspiration-of-the-day-sketches-by-inslee/

Happy August!

2010-07-31T18:59:00.001-04:00

Looking ahead... its ok to fall

2010-07-29T09:16:00.007-04:00

Ok admit it, you recognize the catch phrase "its ok to fall" because you also love to hate spending 2 hours of your Monday nights watching the bachelorette. Don't you love how they all talk about falling in love so much that they've abbreviated it to simply "falling"?

But anyway, Fall the season is in full swing in every catalog, magazine, store window etc. Pretty much everywhere but actually outside. The high today will be 94. Yipeeeee makes me want to think about gloves! Not. But that is the reality we live with and so I am thinking about pea coats and boots long before I'll ever want to wear them...

good afternoon

2010-07-27T13:59:00.002-04:00

Just a little red dress on a Tuesday afternoon...

Sally! Bobby! Go watch tv.

2010-07-23T11:32:00.011-04:00

I am SO EXCITED for Sunday. FINALLYYYYY the wait is over and Mad Men season 4 is here at last. I have been marathoning through season 3, it gets better every time.

I was looking at the French Vogue site today and they had a posting about the upcoming season paired with merchandise of today that has been inspired by the madmen era... their selections were priceless...

Really sums it up doesn't it? So... I think I'm going to have to start illustrating Betty's outfits every monday morning after the new episodes!

Shoe pop

2010-07-22T11:40:00.004-04:00

to shop for this illustration please visit my website!

Ohhh february

2010-07-19T15:24:00.005-04:00

Remember how I said I hate February? Well not only do I have to live through it every winter, but I also have to think about it every summer too when I create next year's calendar. I tried drawing this February girl this morning and somehow she turned out to be a bad illustrated cocktail of magician/Dracula/mime. God shes so creepy! The curse of this month lives on...

Out and about

2010-07-15T15:58:00.005-04:00

So today I had a rare adventure out of Georgetown and into the real world during normal business hours. I'm happy to report it is still there. It made me wish I had better excuses to own a fabulous professional wardrobe like this girl. I suppose if I was sitting in a desk wearing a pencil skirt I'd probably wish I was at home in jean shorts... the grass is always greener right?

ps. I'm so excited you all like the birthday girl! I still don't know if I want to do flat or folded... I'm thinking BOTH!

pps. do you like the new header? is it too large? I got a little carried away

Let them eat cake

2010-07-13T16:41:00.004-04:00

This is for all you summer birthday people that suffered through elementary school without getting to have a party at school on your day. Actually, I'm thinking of using this as a Birthday Card for sale on my website. Flat or folded? That is the question.

I'm baaaaaack

2010-07-12T16:58:00.004-04:00

Why hello. Did you miss me? I was at the beach and there is no blogging allowed at the beach. This is a rule I made for myself after I almost killed a sun bather while furiously walking and texting on the beach. Walking and texting (and therefore walking into other people) is something I do nonstop here in DC so I should have known I was at risk for textwalk attacking someone at the beach too.

I had good intentions of relaxing when we arrived at the beach house and headed down for a stroll in the surf (what could be more de-stressing?) but failed to notice that my blackberry was still surgically attached to my hand. So there I was charging along at an Olympic pace replying to texts and BBMs when the offending sun bather appeared out of nowhere in the middle of my information super highway. As I tripped over myself to avoid walking on this woman's neck, I realized I needed a break from blogging, blackberrying and general connectedness. It was time to just enjoy the sunshine.

So yes I successfully scaled back my computer time. This gave me more time to shop. I found myself admiring this Lilly Pulitzer cover up in the surf shop. I usually think of Lilly Pulitzer as a brand that never should have tried to evolve into the 21st century. It may have been the height of style years ago, but now its the uniform of frumps the world over.

However, this long dress was so vintage feeling that I actually really liked it. It would take a very bold nonfrump to successfully rock this acre of floral. I wish Lilly had kept her integrity by selling only strictly vintage, over-the-top pieces like this one.

Happy July!

2010-07-01T17:23:00.001-04:00

Stop and smell the roses

2010-06-30T16:21:00.005-04:00

A friend of mine is sewing this dress for herself, resourceful huh? Doesn't the hot pink zipper just make all the difference?

To shop for this print, please visit my website.

Sweethearts

2010-06-28T10:42:00.004-04:00

Aren't these little waifs cute? These sketches are inspired by the tailored collection of Erin Fetherston.

To shop for this print, please visit my website!

happy friday

2010-06-25T12:40:00.005-04:00

Hi! I feel like its been a long time since I've blogged and I'm sorry, I hope you haven't given up on me! Its been a busy couple of weeks for me. Actually its more than busy, its been a HOT couple of weeks. Being unable to stop sweating does not inspire my creative streak. But anyway, today is divine and I'm back.

The current state of the blog header is a little haphazard isn't it? I'm working on it don't worry. Anyway, I hope you're all too busy leaving work early to head to some wonderful beach front destination to even see this post, but just in case you're stuck in doors, here's a DVF bikini...

summer solstice

2010-06-22T08:22:00.005-04:00

A summery painting for you today now that the solstice has begun. I'm always surprised when it isn't "officially" summer until the end of June even though its been 90 degrees every day for the past six weeks. But better late than never, at least its finally here!

Rawr

2010-06-15T08:15:00.003-04:00

A little bit of leopard to jump start the morning...

Mondayyyyy

2010-06-14T11:40:00.005-04:00

I was in a fog of hating the beginning of the week and how the treadmill of life is so cruel etc etc and then I saw these shoes on 5 inch and up and was immediately distracted from wallowing. This blog is written by a Finnish fashion student in London and she is quite the shoe dare devil. If this doesnt scare you into waking up I don't know what will...

Escape from reality

2010-06-09T17:56:00.009-04:00

Its raining, its Wednesday, and I have a cold. What better time than this to escape reality with the Dior Resort 2011 collection? The retro girlieness cheered me up right away. Don't you think?

Dear Diary

2010-06-07T14:29:00.008-04:00

I've never been a faithful journal keeper or a diary person. I have occasionally gotten all jazzed up about devoting a time in each day to reflection but somehow that always gets derailed after about two days and 40 dollars spent on fancy moleskin notebooks that end up gathering dust. But this year I finally found something that works... a daily drawing journal. I actually look forward to finding something interesting each day on the street, in a magazine, on a blog, in a dream that is worth drawing. And the best part is, unlike a diary, I don't have to keep it hidden in my underwear drawer. See look I'll show it to you now...

golden years of short shorts

2010-06-03T11:43:00.005-04:00

Ok so.... I know I shouldn't base my life choices on "hot 99.5" but I was listening to the radio yesterday and the idiots who are always talking and not playing music were discussing when is the age when wearing daisy duke shorts is no longer acceptable. One caller chimed in to say she felt the cut off age (pun intended) was 30 years old. And this really got me thinking. I only have six good years left to wear denim underpants around in public!

Or less.... I mean if this girl is calling into radio stations to discuss jean shorts, then perhaps her judgment is flawed. No, her judgment is definitely flawed. The end of tiny shorts could be sooner than 30! I must wear them as much as possible!

Also... clogs. Clogs seem to be this year's answer to the crazy bad idea in foot wear. Last year's gladiator contraption is this years clog. But I actually like clogs. If you see me wandering down the street in tights, daisy duke shorts and clogs, you must promise not to laugh until I have passed.

Happy June!

2010-06-01T16:55:00.000-04:00

loooong weekend

2010-05-27T15:19:00.008-04:00

It is a stiffing 92 degrees today in Washington. Too hot for hot yoga but still a full 48 hours before the pools open. And that in my estimation is a lose lose situation. So I am fleeing to the Jersey Shore(!!!) in search of greener pastures, or in this case, the Atlantic ocean.

So, I hope all of you have a lovely long weekend and that you are this toned in your bikini...

And because I am so titillated about the prospect of finding Snookie elbow deep in a 72 oz margarita this weekend, I am going to offer these two prints for the price of oneeeeee!!! They look good together, trust me.

To shop for these prints (and more!) please visit my website

the final frontier

2010-05-26T19:42:00.004-04:00

Ummm...... Stop the presses. Have you SEEN all the blogs out there????? No, you haven’t. That is not possible. I know I haven’t. I mean literally the sheer volume is just too staggering for even my excessive use of adjectives to convey…. And not just "today I made tuna salad" blogs, blogs with beautiful artwork and amazing photographs and legitimate insight into the world of fashion.

Sigh... I am a little behind the times with my silly little sketches. I am going to go out on a limb here and say every thought you could possibly have has already been had and been blogged out somewhere. This is a defeating realization to suddenly have. Also a little bit liberating, the pressure to strive for originality is off now.

But at least there are still personal firsts (and without blogs how would we ever share them so efficiently?) So here is something new for me. I drew without a piece of paper. Without a pen too! Crazy, huh? I know, I know, look at me all fancy with high tech my wacom tablet. This is a pretty rough first go at it (I got so worn out I couldn't give her any legs), but I thought I'd put it up anyway!

Little Black Coat

2010-05-25T11:25:00.005-04:00

Do you ever have one of those days in the middle of summer when you get just a little bit excited about winter coats for no apparent reason?

Who am I?

2010-05-21T15:15:00.005-04:00

I am struggling right now with who I am as a person... I am feeling in tune with the hippieness of the styles this spring (I am wearing jorts!!!) I know deep down that I'll always be a Charlotte, not a Carrie but on a day that is this sunny and fridayish, its hard to know which way is up.

But then I was exploring twitter (I THINK I might be getting the hang of the tweetisphere) and saw that Kate Moss is on the cover of French Vogue wearing red lipstick and a one piece and felt pangs for the classical Charlotte vibe. And also pangs of anger that swimming pools STILL aren't open. Ridiculous. What am I supposed to do all day tomorrow?

Today is the first day of the rest of your life!

2010-05-20T10:47:00.003-04:00

Or at least it is the season of that first day for the class of 2010. Anyone stranded without an idea for a graduation gift for someone about to start the rest of their life?? I'm just saying... nothing says "You did it!" like custom artwork incorporating their Alma mater and them looking positively regal in cap and gown...

Anyway, isn't today perfect? This is what May is supposed to feel like. The last three days have been purgatory and I'm so glad I don't need to wear jeans today!

Girls Best Friend

2010-05-18T14:44:00.004-04:00

I did this illustration for a friend and her puppy, but thought it might appeal to a few more of you! So if you'd like to order, click here!

If you like this concept but have a different breed, email me at inslee@inslee.net for a custom portrait

Perched

2010-05-17T10:55:00.004-04:00

"Oh hello, I didn't see you there. I was just perching on a bar stool pretending to be a chipmunk while I thought about why my hair is so voluminous today..."

I found the photograph of this pose on my favorite blog of the moment Vain and Vapid. It was so precarious I had to draw it.

to buy a print of this illustration, click here!

Posters for Sale

2010-05-13T09:56:00.007-04:00

Goodmorning! Today I have two poster size (2 ft x 3 ft) for sale! These big prints are really dramatic and could seriously spice up your walls. I only have one of each available so act fast!

click here to buy this poster!

click here to buy this poster!

New Shoes

2010-05-11T12:11:00.004-04:00

I just got a pair of new ruffle sandals and am searching for the right pair of jean shorts to go with them so I thought I'd illustrate my quest. Something about the styles this spring remind me of childhood - the rompers, the jean cut offs, the frilly fun shoes and even all the floral prints remind me of Laura Ashley so I thought a candy shop would be the right environment!

to buy a print of this illustration, click here!

go fish

2010-05-07T17:11:00.003-04:00

Ok since I seem to be on a roll this week with some pretty bizarre posts, I figured this would really be a good cherry on top to wrap things up with for Friday afternoon.

This is a rainbow trout I painted as a gift for a friend's father. Am I versatile or what?!

Next week I promise to be back and focused on fashion illustration. Have a delightful weekend!

classical curves

2010-05-06T21:55:00.003-04:00

In case you thought I only draw the "fashion figure"... here are some curves!

One pitcher and.... fourteen glasses, eight with salt

2010-05-05T15:42:00.004-04:00

Happy Cinco de Mayo! Does anyone celebrate this holiday for reasons other than chips, salsa and jumbo margaritas?

From tutus to golf tees

2010-05-04T14:48:00.005-04:00

The last few days have been wild around here. Allow me to recap...

this is my walking team "Tutus & Tatas" crossing the finish line at the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. We have just walked 39 miles, don't we look fabulous despite this Herculean effort? Thanks in part to your purchase of Power of Pink cards, the Tutus raised over $65,000!

And what did I do after this casual marathon and a half? Go to sleep for 3 days? Sit on the couch and eat bonbons? No, I launched a new card! (then I ate bonbons....and Chinese delivery)
Blossom is now available as a flat correspondence card. It looks wonderful personalized and makes a lovely Mother's Day present. I've already had a bunch of orders, thank you so much!

In other news, I just found out that my cards have crossed into a retail frontier I thought formerly off limits to my type of merchandise. The Golf Shop.

As it turns out, golf shops are not just for man gear (and frumpy woman gear) any more. At least thats the case at the ultra trendy local hotspot - the Chevy Chase Club where you can find my line amongst other totally hip gifts pictured above. Maybe next I'll get picked up by ESPN zone....

happy may!

2010-05-03T09:30:00.003-04:00

This reminds me that its almost time to start working on the 2011 calendar! This year is flying by!

Sisterly Love

2010-04-30T09:10:00.004-04:00

Here is a sketch I did for the sisters of Sigma Kappa for their recruitment t-shirts!

I don't understand the Parisians

2010-04-28T22:32:00.009-04:00

Did anyone recognize that song lyric from "Gigi"? Probably not... anyway, I did these for a client hoping to capture the style of paris and its beautiful women!

Fro-yo and Fedoras... a report on San Francisco living

2010-04-27T09:13:00.006-04:00

Good morning! its been a whirlwind of a month for me. From New York to San Francisco, I've seen it all. I just got back from a wonderful trip out west last night and am feeling like I had one too many frozen yogurts, way too many glasses of wine, am sun burnt and exhausted and am not entirely sure what time it is. But it was all worth it to get to live the life of a easy breezy west coaster for a few days.

Really... before this trip I had this stereotype in my head that San Franciscians (and all Californians) were vegan pilates instructors. Not true. They're eating frozen yogurt topped with whole brownies. Huge quantities of it. The east coast still has a very conservative, old school method of dolling out fro-yo. Small, medium or large are our only options as far as I can tell. But out west, they've become much more liberal about their portion sizes. They give you what would probably be considered an extra large cup by east coast standards and let you crank out your own yogurt - as much as you could possibly want and then weigh the cup to decide your fee. It was positively empowering.

But as this is not a blog about fro-y0 (although I probably should think about starting one), I will return to the main issue. The heart of San Francisco style seems to me to be the fedora. I mean yes, fedoras are everywhere right now but no one is owning it quite as legitimately as the San Franites. I must have tried on 60 fedoras over the course of the last five days but none looked quite right. I really looked more like kid rock than a cool hipster no matter what shape or size I tried. I guess you just have to live there to really understand how this lid works. I definitely have not mastered wearing it, so for now I'm working on drawing it.

Man Chic

2010-04-13T10:41:00.005-04:00

Hello. I have just returned from New York and am going through the standard 48 hour withdrawal from the insanity of how much beauty and unpleasant dirtiness are coexisting together in such a confined space. I always have such mixed feelings about returning to DC after visiting NYC. I am at first awash with relief to see the soft colors of the monuments against the much larger bluer sky and the grass and trees and virginia license plates but then I catch a glimpse of the serious men and women of Washington for whom personal style and fashion sense is so very secondary and start to miss New York. One of my favorite things about New York women is their ability to dress like men but still look so fabulous and feminine. (Something that I, as a Washington frump, have not yet conquered).

This sketch was inspired by a photograph on my current favorite blog written by garance dore. I don't know if it was taken in NYC or some other chic city, but it reminded me of all the women I saw over the weekend that I wished I could emulate (but know better than to try to as I would definitely look like Woody Allen in this outfit)

Custom Stationery for Stylist Safina Khimani

2010-04-06T16:43:00.005-04:00

This is a custom illustration I just finished for a Toronto-based Style Coach, Safina Khimani. Safina plans to use this illustration on her thank you stationery to follow up with her clients.

Spring Shopping Ambush

2010-04-05T16:04:00.007-04:00

Hello! I hope everyone enjoyed the summery weekend as much as I did! This sketch reminds me of all the wonderful light weight clothes we are finally unearthing now that the temperature is on the rise. And also for some reason it reminds me how much I need to buy a see-through floral printed blouse immediately. But... sadly I must bide my time this week and not buy anything as I am still recovering from an epic shopping trip which blindsided me on Friday afternoon. I really had no idea it was coming, it completely surprise attacked me and all of the sudden I was walking out of Bloomingdale with "large brown bags" (none of which containing a floral tunic).

But all is not lost, the Friday afternoon ambush did introduce me to my new love interest - the clutch by Rebecca Minkoff. Apparently this bag has been around for a while as it is listed under the "classics" on Rebecca's website, but to me it was so new and miraculous that I almost passed out when I tried it on. Best part - it comes with a detachable seatbelt. (long chain that can be worn across your chest). I wore my new seatbelt purse so much this past weekend that I have a neck bruise from the chain. That is dedication. Please stay tuned for a loving portrait of my new clutch to be posted in the next few days.

In your Easter Bonnet

2010-03-30T15:40:00.005-04:00

I know Easter isn't until Sunday, but the sun is shining and I stumbled across this beautiful dress by designer Ralph Rucci and got carried away and had to start spreading Easter tidings a little early.

If you'd like to buy a print as an Easter basket-stuffer please click here!

Cherry Bomb

2010-03-29T17:35:00.010-04:00

From the Carolina Herrera Fall 2010 Runway... because Monday night needs a little brightening up

If you would like to buy a print of this illustration, click here!

Blazers Galore

2010-03-24T10:44:00.006-04:00

I am sitting here, trapped in the middle of the week. With a head cold that is blurring my ability to see any hope on the horizon... I really don't know where I am going with this, except to say that I wish I could rewind to Saturday night, when I was stampeding through the streets of New York City with a herd of eight girls all wearing matching black blazers, and decide to go to bed 5 hours earlier thus not waking up with this cold.

But as that is not an option, I must at least find some new form of blazer in some new color and become my own person. If i am going to stampede, I might as well look unique while doing it.

denim done right

2010-03-23T16:28:00.005-04:00

Day after day, I don't unsubscribe from Rachel Zoe's daily newsletter. I don't know why as it almost always irritates me. The things she suggests are usually about $2,000 out of my price range and 2,000 notches past my comfort level. And then she throws in a "ps" which suggests a cheaper option that is generally a perfectly hideous version of her pick. Really, I'd rather not see the miserable substitute option at all, it is just depressing. But today I was thoroughly pleased with what the cat dragged in....
It was this Acne/Lanvin denim dress. That was actually classy despite being denim... and one shouldered. One shouldered anything is so divine. I would probably wear a one shouldered trash bag if you made this garment for me. I inspected the acne/lanvin website and discovered that there is a whole slew of lovely denim get ups available. None of them look trailer park ready which I found quite refreshing. Something about the way the fabric is handled without an extreme amount of visible seams. Also, I am in love with the tongue-in-cheek backdrop the models are photographed against.

If you would like to buy a print of this illustration, click here!

Have you been pinched yet?

2010-03-17T15:23:00.005-04:00

In honor of St. Patricks day, I thought I'd draw a ginger. In fact, this is more than likely my first ginger ever. What do you think? Also, I am warming up to the bizarre footwear trends that are popping up everywhere. Even these Proenza Schouler wedges which I would have been terrified of a year ago. Isn't it funny how perspective shifts as things like gladiator sandals eventually wear you down and beat you into submission?

if you would like to buy a print of this illustration, click here!

Tank tops for everyone!

2010-03-16T21:39:00.005-04:00

So... first, I would like to apologize. I got several concerned emails from friends asking me why I am so opposed to tank tops and admitting sheepishly that they had worn them. So I am sorry to have been so bossy! What do I know anyway?

And second, I have been a lazy blogger lately with all these commission posts, but spring has blown in with a frenzy of projects that require my constant devotion. So until I have the time I've been daydreaming about to draw for myself, I thought I'd at least share with you one of my projects I've done for a client. I just did this watercolor for The Magic Wardrobe's spring window display. Charming, yes? Ok, I promise, absolutely promise that the next time I post it will be fashion illustration!... does this post sound like English is my second language? I've been thinking in a foreign accent all day long.

Spring?

2010-03-10T16:03:00.003-05:00

What is the deal? What time of year is it? Should I have on a tank top and floral skirt?... These are the questions that a lot of people I saw today are NOT asking themselves. Come onnnnn women of Washington, put your clothes back on. Just because it is barely sixty degrees does not give you the right to wear tank tops... TANK TOPS... without a sweater, on the streets in early March. Who raised these people? Seriously, today I saw multiple women baring obscene amounts of no good, very pale skin. Idiots. I remember cursing my mother when I was a 7th grader when she wouldn't let me wear shorts to school until May. But now I understand the lifelong restraint and proper etiquette she was instilling within me.

Anyway... why am I here? Oh yes, I thought you all might enjoy seeing another custom project I did for a friend's wedding save-the-date. Please don't crash her wedding just because I posted this on here. That would go in the inappropriate decision column with wearing tank tops in March.

actually, tank tops any time of year. no thank you.

Custom Stationery for Hyla Dewitt Jewelry

2010-03-09T13:01:00.004-05:00

Custom stationery designed for a wonderful jewelry designer and friend of mine, Hyla Dewitt. She plans to use it to write notes related to her jewelry design business. Her stuff is really beautiful, visit her website: http://hyladewitt.com/

All of her creations are so subtle and pretty and I naturally want all of it, but I particularly love these simple "lang layers"

The Power of Pink

2010-03-08T10:11:00.009-05:00

Hello! Happy Monday. So, guess how I am planning to spend this upcoming May 1st & 2nd... walking thirty nine miles wearing a pink tutu. Weird? Yes, but now let me explain. I will be participating in the Avon Foundation's Walk for Breast Cancer with my team the "Tutus for Tatas" hence the tutu. So, not that weird in context.

Anyway, the main goal of being a part of this cause is fundraising to help raise awareness about breast cancer and each participant must raise at least $1,800. We are each designated a personal online fundraising site (mine is http://www.avonwalk.org/goto/insleehaynes) but also a large part of our fundraising will be done through letter writing, and of course we will all be writing thank you notes to our supporters. So, I have designed this new card to suit this purpose!

As you can see, "Power of Pink" is laid out as a 5x7" flat correspondence card and is printed up on 100lb cover stock, comes in a set of ten cards with envelopes and is perfect for this cause. If you or someone you know is planning to take on this challenge, or another similar challenge to support the fight against breast cancer, you should consider a box of these!

And of course, the proceeds earned will be donated to help the fight. I will donate the card sales from "Power of Pink" to our team's fundraising goal for the Avon Walk! So, please help us raise awareness and send the Tutu's one step closer to our big walk!

Petit Fleurs

2010-03-02T20:23:00.004-05:00

Check out these amazingly cute flower girls I'm working on for The Magic Wardrobe children's clothing store. They're in the process of launching their private label flower girl line and it is just beautiful. (I was going to say precious, but that word is not the same for me after the movie) If you need incentive to want babies/or to at least become a baby stylist (does this exist?), I suggest you visit the Magic Wardrobe store. Seriously so cute.

1960's Elegance

2010-02-25T18:50:00.009-05:00

So a new commission has led me on an immersion tour of the glamor and grace of 1960's style. I am now thoroughly depressed that I missed this decade and that today I had no reason to wear fake eyelashes.

Before I started drawing, I decided to check in with the experts - my mother and her friends to tell me what it was really to be young and fashionable in the 1960s. Seventy five emails later, I was armed with so much new information about the '60s look that my head was spinning.

I had never really focused on how amazingly turned-out the glamor girls like Twiggy, Audrey Hepburn and Julie Christie were back then. I was so excited to have rediscovered these beautiful muses and to have found a new one I'd never heard of before - Jean Shrimpton.

Jean Shrimpton is by far my new favorite 1960's icon. Her face is almost too beautiful, her bone structure is almost so flawlessly symmetrical that I can barely look directly at her. But I found myself pouring over montages of black and white photographs taken of her painted with heavy black lashes and bigger hair than I thought humanly possible wishing there were more.

So I decided to do this quick portrait of my new historical model crush, if you'd like to buy a print, please click here!

I wanted to keep it soft because its such a reflective pose shes striking and because I worked from a black and white photograph. I loved discovering the feminine reserve found in Shrimpton that made the early part of the '60s such a beautiful time to be a woman.

But of course, as one of my mom's friend's emails pointed out "the 1960's were a decade in which hem lines went from below the knee to below the bottom!" So, while I'm here, I thought you all might enjoy a glimpse into how one woman transformed with the trends as she came of age in this radical decade. First, behold my mother at 17 as a dead ringer for Mary Tyler Moore...

And now please notice how indeed this decade was a revolution of hem lines for women everywhere, even my mom (now a college student, living life in the fast lane of Southern California)....

Lace

2010-02-22T11:40:00.007-05:00

I just did this print for Fab'rik - a boutique in Raleigh, North Carolina. It was such a fun project for me because I got to come up with the idea for this all on my own. No offense to other more particular clients - I always appreciate specific detail when starting commissioned drawings - but I must say it was fun to let my imagination take the reins this time.

My inspiration for the drawing came from this lace pencil skirt I noticed in the Elle where I found the amazing Stella dress. I thought it was such a nice combination of femininity and structure. And I am also very into anything with a waist band right now.

So once I had decided to work from the skirt, the rest of the illustration just sort of blossomed upward without any other constraints. A sort of psychic automatism for fashion illustration if you will. (woohooo art history!!) This tactic always results in interesting and unexpected quirks for me, and now that I look more closely at this illustration, I am realizing that I may have accidentally done a portrait of Rachel Zoe. Look how angry she is!

to buy a print of this illustration, please click here!

Stop it Stella

2010-02-18T18:44:00.006-05:00

Stella McCartney is trying to kill me. She created this confection of a dress (I usually hate it when people use dessert related terms to describe clothes, so cliche) but.... this is a confection and costs nearly 5,000.00. Stella is daring me to start robbing banks/unsuspecting women who leave their purses on the floor of coffee shops where I lurk while blogging in order to buy this dress for myself. But I will stay strong and just draw it instead. You'll notice I gave my version a waist line because if I were to put on the original dress I would get a lot of questions about when my baby was due and I'd have to answer possibly sometime in about ten to fifteen years.

To buy a print of this illustration please click here!

Legs

2010-02-17T11:39:00.004-05:00

Hello bloggettes, how are you? I have missed you on this long stretch on non-blogging. The blizzard compounded with a trip to Colorado resulted in a casual 8 day weekend for me, so my apologies if you thought I'd abandoned you.

Here is an illustration that I just used for a bridal lingerie shower, what do you all think... would it be a fun new flat card?

Whats Hot, Whats Not

2010-02-09T20:35:00.013-05:00

Lavender

Lavender 2.0

Above you have both Lavender and Lavender 2.0. The first was one of my most popular note cards for the past two years, the second is a fresh new take on the old favorite which arrived (just as the first snowflakes started terrorizing us yet again) this evening, ready to be boxed up and sold as flat and folded cards!

Although Lavender was so popular that we sold out again and again, I decided that instead of reordering it was time to reconsider her outfit. After all, I drew her in 2007 in preparation for the 2008 calendar and so many new subtle little accents to the way we dress have come in to play since then.

While I love the old illustration's flirtatiousness, the more I studied her the more I began to think she looked a little too much like a flasher... I mean, why does she have a lavender mini-trench on with shoes that would really only be appropriate with at least 14 more inches of hemline, or for black tie affair?

What is a mini-trench anyway?

Furthermore, Why does she have an antique hat box? Does not make any sense. Also... bare legs? not just bare legs... THIGH HIGH bare legs? What was I thinking? Slut!

After this assessment I had no choice but to bring Lavender into the new decade with a subtler shade of purple for her cape, driving gloves and some fancy tights. Also, no more barrel curls. And voila - Lavender 2.0.

I kept one touch that still worked - the cupcake box she's carrying (because I predicted the future of what would be hot in 2010). And I'd like to also point out that I predicted the Gossip Girl-fueled headband obsession of last year in my original sketch too.

Anyway, I hope you all won't miss the old option too much and that Lavender 2.0 will soon be flying off the shelf! To order a box of the new Lavender, click here!

SN-OMG!

2010-02-07T23:43:00.003-05:00

This is a major glamorization of the actual situation in Washington tonight....

I doooooooo

2010-02-03T14:43:00.010-05:00

(that title should be read in the voice of Meryl Streep as Julia Child)

Today I have been drawing wedding themed stuff non-stop. Some of my clients have requested bridal illustrations and I have been drawing bouquets and bustiers since day-break. I thought you all might like to see a glimpse of what I've been working on!

click here to buy prints of these illustrations

only 26 more days till march!

2010-02-01T13:04:00.008-05:00

Happy February! I wanted to post the 2010 February Calendar page today as its the beginning of the month. And to remind you that you've only missed one month of my 2010 calendar and its still not too late to jump on the bandwagon if you haven't yet!

That being said, I have never been a fan of February, this miserable little footnote to January during which I am always lured into buying the first batch of tempting spring clothes which I will hate by the time its warm enough to wear them. Aside from a few people whom I am glad to know who could not help but be born in this month, I can't think of any redeeming qualities to having an extra winter month thrown in the mix. I really am so opposed to February that it was actually the last one I drew for the calendar. I couldn't think up anything I like to do enough in this month to glorify by illustration. I was stumped... and getting angry just thinking about the fact that February was looming on the distant horizon of the next year.

But luckily I have a wonderfully creative coterie of friends. And one particularly clever individual named "X"... no really... came up with this idea for my February illustration. She reminded me that even though I plan to spend most of the next 26 days growing steadily more frustrated by my winter wardrobe, Feb is a nice excuse to hibernate with hot chocolate and good reading material. (Ideally magazines filled with clothes I should not buy until it is over 60 degrees out) So thank you to X for making this month seem a little more bearable!

Breakfast in Venice

2010-01-29T13:40:00.006-05:00

So yesterday's big blog announcement was such an exciting whirlwind that I am still spinning. If you've never announced to hundreds of people that you are a blogger via email before, I recommend it, its such a rush. I was going to be reasonable and wait to post again until next week but I cannot resist the temptation to add a new one now...

This is inspired by a black and white photograph shot by camera that used FILM. Yes actual physical film that was hand developed. So this is practically vintage. (We didn't even have smart phones yet either) It was taken of me and a friend when we were visiting Venice two years ago. The sun was shining, we had belinis in front of us and we were wearing Ray-Ban Wayfarers nearly two months before everyone else in America was going to start sporting them. Life was good.

*also I was wearing my mother's Pucci scarf in hopes of looking chic and European... but judging by the way I have it tied I may have been accidentally channeling Sandra Lee of Semi-Homemade. Oh, the faux pas of youth.

I find myself missing this moment more than ever right now as it is 24 degrees in Washington today and there isn't a belini in sight.

Alright, I'm off to find my uggs and turn up the heat. I hope all of you have a wonderful weekend!

buy a print of this illustration

Welcome

2010-01-19T17:34:00.001-05:00

Hello! Welcome to the sketch book!

If you’ve made it this far you probably know that I’m Inslee and Inslee Stationery is my line of fashion illustrated note cards and calendars. I began designing my stationery to give me an excuse to do what I love to do – draw! But I’m still itching to draw even more and to share these illustrations with you, so I’ve decided to create this blog as a way to showcase some of my other work.

Here you’ll see sketches of whatever happens to inspire me. When I have a new illustration to share I’ll post it in the sketch book as a week long sale. If you fall in love with one of these sketches it can be yours within the week of its release as an 8×10 print for $20.00.

Here is today's sketch. It is available on my website for sale right now!

My inspiration for this sketch was sort of unusual - I dreamed it. As someone who spends a lot of my time thinking about clothes, drawing clothes, shopping for clothes, changing clothes... I guess it shouldn't be surprising that I dream about clothes too.

Some people wake up in a cold sweat because they've just dreamed they're naked in public, I wake up with a start disappointed to find out that the dresses in my dreams aren't in my closet. To each their own reverie I suppose!

Anyway, that's the story behind this illustration. Please check back often to see more of my work. I hope you'll enjoy this glimpse into my sketchbook and that some of its pages will brighten your walls soon!