tiny happy bunny

outdoor retailer winter 2010 trend report

2010-02-22T16:55:00.000-08:00

i recently travelled to outdoor retailer. it was kind of amazing to apply online to get a media badge, buy a plane ticket last minute and hop a plane to go take pictures. it was also really fun. along with seeing some friendly faces from the northwest (brooks, eddie bauer, and REI peeps) i met a lot of amazing people at the show.

i decided to put together a small trend report of what i saw, and of course i'm selling the photos from the show as a set for design inspiration.

fall flapper glam on polyvore

2009-08-27T11:46:00.000-07:00

From tiny happy bunny

i stumbled upon polyvore, i think... on someone's blog. having made mood and inspiration boards for years, it was downright life changing to see this online tool for anyone to make one (if you've ever cut yourself mortally with an exacto, or had to take a minute after huffing spray glue, you too will love polyvore). what's especially cool are the people who have amazing talent with pulling shapes, color and trends together on there. i always like finding new places for inspiration... can't wait to explore it more...

on the lookout...

2009-08-27T10:41:00.000-07:00

From tiny happy bunny

i've been keeping my eyes peeled for a great new fall bag. i literally feel like i've looked at everything. if i could make something, it'd look like this, and be a soft, saddle brown, washed leather. could someone make it for me ?

kuler is cool

2009-08-26T21:48:00.001-07:00

From tiny happy bunny

so the last few times i've worked in illustrator and i've been searching for that... one... color... i just can't get right, this is my newest tool. adobe allows you to go to the web, download palettes, make palettes for others to use, and just generally play around with color mixing. i like when work becomes play.

*that one's called 'avoidance'

tweet II

2009-08-04T01:33:00.001-07:00

another background for twitter, just playing around with transparency... my new favourite tool.

From tiny happy bunny

illustration junkie

2009-07-20T11:19:00.000-07:00

i have a fashion illustration addiction. i love that there are some very iconic fashion illustration artists, some, you see daily. you might recognize the illustration style, but have no idea of the artist's name. these are a few i've discovered over the years and have come to love.

nordstrom uses ruben toledo in much of their marketing collateral. does this look familiar ? the latest anniversary book has his black and white illustrations on the cover.

he's done a lot of illustrations over the years for nordstrom, and now they're framed and hung in the hallways of the corporate offices.

or what about these... mats gustafson uses simple watercolor silhouettes to render amazing feminine shapes. the first pale aqua used by tiffany&co. you can find more of mats work here.

italian artist simone legno is inpired by all things japanese, including the name he designs under 'tokidoki' which means 'sometimes'. his illustrations have become so sought after, he's started his own company selling products covered in his whimsical scenes. the toki-doki website carries amazing creations of everything from toys to cell phone covers to baby clothing.

twitter page

2009-07-13T22:27:00.001-07:00

the inspiration came when looking for a new twitter background. i like some of them, but wanted my own colors... good thing i can draw. if you don't, you can find one here...

found - old baby project

2009-07-06T10:32:00.000-07:00

a series i did over six months ago... i love coming across old ideas. what was fun was seeing what this idea evolved into... (click on any of them to make them bigger)

travel pillow for kids II

2009-06-02T11:09:00.001-07:00

another option of the pillow...

travel pillow for kids

2009-06-02T10:36:00.001-07:00

an interesting project... i received direction to cute-up this idea. i love the concept that a stuffed animal has double duty as a travel pillow. the legs snap together under the chin, the nose area would cradle a head. cute !

don't be craby

2009-05-27T20:44:00.001-07:00

in my house, i can usually send an email to my husband and get a faster response than if i go hunt him down (see: not big house, just in opposite corners, both on computers). this was something i sent when i'd been crabby. so crabby apparently, i couldn't spell. i just found it on my desktop and thought it was cute... sweet.

no freakin way !!!!

2009-05-27T20:20:00.000-07:00

a few months ago... probably around 3, i was watching heroes. my husband is a fan, i tend to read or peruse a mag while he watches. at the time i was paying attention. there were a couple of men, in charge of a baby... and they had a baby bag. i went insane. i jumped up. 'look at that bag !'. 'i have to have that bag!'. i got online for a few weeks and looked, searched and googled. nothing. as you might know, i do freelance design projects for kids, and i spend a portion of every day looking at baby stuff (i don't have kids, it might be odd). anyway, i was doing some random search for a diaper bag i came across (i took a picture of it with my phone, and was trying to figure out what it was) and had just found it on this really cool site. it IS a cool diaper bag (if something like that CAN be cool). and then i found this. randomly. serendipitously. FINALLY. i'm so excited i'm going to buy it right now. not even invoking the 3 day rule. you could buy it too... here.

kid's inspiration

2009-05-20T22:55:00.000-07:00

i decided to do a small inspiration color board, i've seen so much bold baby stuff lately, and it's so inspiring ! i'm glad it's not all the usual pink-girl, blue-boy... that stuff is cute, but as a parent i can't imagine carrying around something so... kiddie. fun, sophisticated and gender specific (if you HAVE to have it) can coexist. i'm glad they caught on. my favourites are... jj cole, boden, and anorak

owls !

2009-05-08T11:52:00.000-07:00

colored up a few different ways...only two more to do ! these are quick and fun. instant gratification.

birds !

2009-05-08T10:51:00.001-07:00

this is a continuation on a theme... i've always loved these birds. they're from an opening squence to 'down with love'. i've used the idea several times, this will be part of a series to hang in my house.

little girl legs

2009-04-08T23:40:00.000-07:00

i remember as a little girl loving tights. and dresses. i went through a very girly phase. these would have been right up my alley. actually they probably still would be. i can't wait to see little girls rocking these...

little feet

2009-04-08T23:34:00.000-07:00

i've had the very fun experience of working for a local company dedicated to keeping the legs of babies everywhere cozy. these have been pretty fun to work on (mostly for the creativity), and i learned so many illustrator shortcuts, i'm a whiz. just ask me how to snap that line to grid, move it to the front, group it, ungroup it... oh, you get the point.

holiday mens

2009-04-03T09:29:00.000-07:00

holiday seems like such a blur now. i counted at one point, and we'd created over a 100 styles. that seemed like a lot. especially when other people felt overwhelmed with 30. in one category. i loved working in accessories for the diversity. if you got sick of socks, you could always work on scarves for a day. want to learn about leather ? tackle belt design. it was a fun job.

i'm lucky to have had fun jobs.

i took economics in college. i used to fall asleep.

2009-04-03T09:21:00.000-07:00

it goes without saying that things aren't the best that they've ever been. but i have this persistent optimism, maybe it's the new guy in charge, the onset of spring (somewhere), maybe it's the right things happening along just when i need them... for some reason, i just can't get down. this has been a challenging year for me, both professionally and as a human. i love learning new things, i love meeting new people... and i love new projects that take me new directions. even when it's not necessarily by choice.

plus, who doesn't love a good excuse to buy a book. here's to an '09 on an upswing.

hopefully.

lingering holiday

2009-01-14T10:21:00.000-08:00

ahhh the holidays. nothing says merry chrismas like working 12 hour days, driving in snow in seattle (IMPOSSIBLE) and being homebound for your christmas dinner and eating turkey sandwiches because it's the only food in the house. work was insane this holiday season, but i found time to enjoy what i could. i'll be posting some things i designed (and drew) for hol'09.

here's a better one

2008-11-03T20:18:00.000-08:00

i posted a color site previously, and... it really is no longer functional. this one was sent to me by my friend p. and it is truly awesome. i love the articles they post... especially about color trends on etsy. rad. talk about grass roots inspiration. one could spend hours.

love the color.

many hours of my time recently

2008-11-03T19:43:00.000-08:00

so, i was a part of a big project at work. was asked to do all of the fashion illustrations for a presentation given to... uhm, a local professional sports team. i don't know, i never know if i should talk about what i do or not. this blog is more just a place for the artwork, and my evolution in work. i've been hard at work on lots of stuff... here's some of it. i know you can't really tell, but each person really is wearing something different. the people (and their pants) are repeated, but all the tops are different.

another bag

2008-09-18T17:54:00.000-07:00

been diligently working on fall09. here's a bag that i finished drawing today. the strap kind of worked me over, not super excited about the result, but must move on. more fall to do !

fall'09 handbag

2008-09-03T15:20:00.000-07:00

so the design is NOT mine... but the sketch is... and then i recolored a stripe and stuck it in there. it's a work in progress, i'll update as it goes through changes.

the small things

2008-08-25T17:53:00.000-07:00

today i was drawing a bag. some of my favourite things to draw are the small hardware bits. i don't get uber detailed, but like the outlines. here's one.

the power of drawing

2008-07-30T18:08:00.001-07:00

this isn't the best photo (but it was taken with my completely rad iphone). my point was to give you a picture (already !) of my totally cool wallet that i drew. turnaround was quick... and it'll be in stores sp'09. plus, you get to see my bunny with tentacles !

tara's bag

2008-07-13T23:45:00.000-07:00

so this was a freelance job to make a bag for this girl's custom portfolio that she binded herself. the portfolio is really cool, and very... distinct. it's covered in the fabric that i used on the bottom of the bag, and you can't see it, but the bag is lined in this very bright green fabric. which all matches back to her business cards. hope she likes the bag. she's been so patient !

you love wallets

2008-07-08T13:54:00.000-07:00

another wallet. after yesterday's dissection, and the resulting husband wallet study. i have decided i like this one better. you might see it in a store next summer.

if you were looking for a wallet.

what's in your wallet ?

2008-07-07T17:43:00.000-07:00

i've never really noticed men's wallets before. or what they put in them. every once in a while, i go hunting for my husband's, but it's usually because i need to buy something boring online, and it needs to go on his card.

having had the chance recently to question my male coworkers about their billfolds... i've determined it's as varied as women and their handbags. i'm almost wondering that men aren't MORE picky than women, and concerned about odd non-functioning minutiae.

here's a wallet technical sketch i just did. i'm going to take it home and try out a snazzier drawing style. right after i finish that portfolio bag i'm working on. stay tuned for pics of that.

lovebirds

2008-06-19T22:58:00.000-07:00

i shouldn't paint. but sometimes i do. these little birdies were in the opening credits of down with love. i wanted to turn them into a wedding card. i threw in the rough just to show you how weak i am. also, there's better detail on the blob that is the tree... but ? you get the idea.

the secret garden

2008-05-04T19:13:00.001-07:00

i'm a handy girl to have around. button sewn on ? done. matching khakis ? easy peasy. floral arrangements ? no problem. this was a recent submittal for acceptance into the best friend's wedding florist position. although i don't think either of us want me for the job, it was fun to work with so many ideas, and such a pretty medium. and as you can see... i love color. (and flowers)

my best friend's wedding

2008-05-04T19:09:00.001-07:00

my best friend is getting married. love that. love love. love jewelry. love making it. a small token that i can contribute on her big day.

the small stakes

2008-04-27T10:31:00.001-07:00

jason munn is seriously talented. and i love his simple style. here's an example of his work, he does limited edition concert posters, and now tee screens for patagonia. his ability to make things into hearts, love that ! i think i might have to pick one of his tees up... the idea of wearing his art (after looking at it for probably close to 7 years) excites me !

tee screen in progress

2008-04-27T10:17:00.000-07:00

something i've been working on, it's evolved a bit. i also don't see it as done, i want a couple of flowers in there, and another possible pattern. we'll see where it goes.

if you love color, like i love color

2008-04-21T22:26:00.001-07:00

i came across this today. kind of a cool idea, and there are definitely some palettes worth exploring. daily color

also found some great tutorials for AI, check back, i'll be hard at work....

young men's - saturation point - spring 09

2008-04-07T20:29:00.000-07:00

the second outfit from this project, the idea was a deeply saturated/elements of nature aspect. i was surprised by how many shades of green i found and also how men's is using floral elements on just about any article of clothing.

young men's - graphic distinction - spring 09

2008-04-07T18:21:00.000-07:00

recently i had the opportunity to interview with a great local company. the project they assigned as part of the interview process was so much fun, i'm sometimes still surprised when it constitutes as work. after a day of shopping, a day of pulling tears, and then a day of sketching ideas (i still had my day job), i had it narrowed down to what i wanted to do. the focus was 2 groups, each with a different feel, and an outfit for each. here are technical sketches for the outfits. although i later found out i was overqualified for the position, i'm still glad for the opportunity. you can see from the golf project to this, my AI skill has progressed. each panel of the shorts has a directional plaid, and i placed bias plaid in the pocket welt.

the theme for this group was an expanded black and white take. when i get to it, i'll add in the trend board.

fairways

2008-04-07T16:03:00.000-07:00

this project was completed when contemplating local design opportunities. i decided to test the waters of what i knew in illustrator, and also the idea of working on something in women's. something i hadn't done since school. this is a very basic project, but gave me valuable knowledge with the clipping mask tool.

ballard artwork

2008-04-07T14:49:00.000-07:00

created for the good people at annie's affordable art, it was a small project, but one that gives immense satisfaction when seen emblazoned across the front of fellow ballardians.

welcome

2008-04-07T13:49:00.000-07:00

of course i've meant to do this for ages... and now that i have the time, it's perfect to get it up and going. i know scads of people who use blogspot as a sounding board for the things they're working on, and what a great tool to give to people who want to see your work.

it'll take a bit to get it going, but i'm excited by the prospect of a new medium, and new connections.

thanks for taking a look, and check back. i'm just getting started.