Good Morning Monday Musings... Rest In Peace David Bowie.

I am pretty sure we have all heard the news today (just in case I put off posting)... This is my Good Morning Musing... My husband let me sleep in knowing what I was about to wake up to. As a young girl growing up in the 80's and 90's David Bowie had a huge impact on me. 

The Stars Look Different... Today

I am sure it will come as no surprise but Labyrinth is my all time favorite movie. David Bowie gave all of us the permission to be our weird selves. With heavy heart Rest in Peace David Bowie.

That 70's Lemonade Stand

I am now taking the mid modern thing too far, yup I said it, the 70's. Garish colours, Go Go boots, flared outfits and all.

If I had actually been a teenager instead of a newborn in the summer of 1974 I may have worn an outfit like this... 

Check out my latest Spoonflower entry for the weekly challenge inspired by the iconic summer beverage- Lemonade. Voting starts Thursday!

Go ahead Vote- you know you want to!

The More you use it, the more you have....

"You can't use up creativity,
the more you use it, the more you have"
Maya Angelou

What started out as a single drawing, kinda a doodle in the top right hand corner of my sketchbook as I was researching midcentury modern design motifs is starting to take on a life of it's own.

I asked the question in my last blog post "can you see it evolving?". 

Simple motif goes through a transformation. Work in process

I Didn't post yesterday, one thing led to another, led to another and my day was done... 

I did sneak in some drawing here and there and came up with this simple little tulip motif.

I have been working on it in illustrator today, playing with live trace,

building it with shapes and with the pattern maker.

Process.

original Motif

Adapted from a mid century modern design motif.

live trace

As you can see not very nice.

re-worked with the pen tool and shapes.

But What about a pattern?

Can you imagine? Originally I was thinking about using it a border for an illustration I am working on but as I play and yes by playing I also mean learning I can see how to take it beyond just a simple motif.

Love the 70's garish colours!

I love repeating patterns that start with a simple motif, that gets expanded  and turned into an evolving complex idea.

I keep seeing whale tales, fish scales and  scalloped edges!

Can you see it evolving?

Throw Back Thursday, Summer Inspiration

I am just about always living in the past, I love retro (most things), mid century modern and now some of the more wilder side of groovy 60's and 70's.... Yes I said the 70's what is not to love?  Thick chunky platform shoes, macramé, large psychedelic flowers, large rimmed dramatic sunglasses and lots of beads.  I thought I would do a throw back Thursday that celebrated summer!  This is how I remember (well maybe not, I am one of the two babies in the picture) Family Summer Camping trips. This photo is circa 1975

I think I will leave much of the hair and the not so well fitting shorts, but you got to love those lawn chairs!

And finally some illustrations based on my retro summer inspiration!