Sketchbook (Vintage Post)

In my very first year of blogging I was completely honored as a Guest Mom on one of the coolest, most fabulous & popular blogs, DesignMom, by Gabrielle Blair. I thought it would be fun to share those past posts over the next few days.

As a graphic designer I have sketched and thumbnailed thousands of ideas over the years relating to client projects. Since becoming a parent I find my sketchbooks now overflowing with birthday cake and invitation designs, sketches of my children, ideas for unique products that are sure to make me millions (…lots of those), lists, quotes & scripture that hold special meaning, and many other things that pop into my head on a daily basis. Occasionally I will revisit past sketchbooks to find myself in different chapters of parenthood.

The turning point page is the one with tiny sketches of all the office furniture from my downtown design firm. This page takes me back 13 years ago when I made the decision to leave a corporate life and become a work-at-home mom. It’s a sketch of office furniture that I had in my office with my husband’s handwriting in the measurements. He helped me figure out what would fit in my new home-office in the garage, and what had to go. A bittersweet time then, but a blessing many times over.

I have a preference for large spiral-bound sketchbooks, found at most craft and art supply stores, for business and home. Moleskine blank journals are a favorite for keeping in my purse and car to log my thoughts on the go. Sketchbooks are my form of journaling life, one doodle at a time.

Small speech bubble6 Comments | Posted in Uncategorized |
JSIM Post Divider

1937 Butterflies and Moths

I’ve been watching colorful winged insects fluttering around the craft world lately. It was just a matter of time before one landed on my blog. I went through some of my old books in search of  vintage specimens and found a sweet page of beautiful butterflies and moths. Charming illustrations, old printing and off-register inks. Just lovely.Click on the image above to download the original page, or choose the one with the background removed, below (minus the antennas). Print to paper, cut out each, fold back the wings slightly and add fine wire for antennas. Or a trick I like better- super-glue a small length of colored thread to make stiff, bend in half, curve ends slightly just before dried and attach to the head and trim. Tack winged beauties about your home, workplace, car or studio.

As always, you are welcome to use free downloads from my blog for personal projects and in projects for sale. Just please refrain from selling my free images.

Small speech bubble31 Comments | Posted in Free digital collage sheets, Free digital downloads, Free Jpgs, free vintage art |
JSIM Post Divider

12 South BookBook iPad Case Giveaway

Think you can stand another giveaway? Sometimes I come across the coolest products and just can’t help but share with my crafty, creative friends. If you’re a Mac user, especially if you have an iPad, and have a heart for vintage books like I do, you’re going to LOVE this giveaway!The current giveaway is the twelve south BookBook for your iPad.I’d been shopping for a new case for my MacBook when I happened upon twelve south, a company who states, “We’re not just Mac friendly– We’re Mac only.”

And there it was, the coolest MacBook case I’d ever seen- the BookBook. It looks and feels just like a large vintage leather-bound book. And it actually is made of leather, with the choice of classic black or vibrant red spine. I couldn’t resist, I ordered it. I LOVE everything about it. It’s sitting right here on my lap as I type this.twelve south’s little BookBook iPhone case is simply too cool for school. It’s a case and wallet!

twelve south has so many fabulous Mac gadgets and accessories, you’ll think it’s a candy store! Not just cases, but brilliant tech products that any Mac user will appreciate.

I contacted twelve south and asked if they would sponsor a giveaway of their BookBook iPad case on my blog. They kindly obliged and sent one to me and will send one to a lucky JSIM reader/iPad user! Here’s a short video of all of its coolness factors-

Some BookBook owners have modified and customized their cases. You can see those unique transformations on the twelve south blog.

TO ENTER TO WIN: Please visit twelve south and check out their products. Come back here and leave a nice comment and tell me what you think! I would also appreciate it if you would pop over and friend them on Facebook, because that’s just a nice thing to do.

ENTRY DEADLINE: Thursday, November 3 at noon (PST). I will randomly choose, contact and post the winner here shortly after close of giveaway.

THE WINNER IS #158 – Melissa Sabin

Small speech bubble259 Comments | Posted in Giveaway, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , ,
JSIM Post Divider