Momathon Blog

Cape Crush {Leslie Tessler Designs}

Another hot summer day here in Colorado, and I'm keeping cool dreaming about fall fashions. Classic and chic, the cashmere capes by Leslie Tessler are on my mind—and in my sketches. Today I'm sharing a sketch I did of the Georgia cape by Leslie Tessler. I love everything about her capes because Leslie is one of those designers who cares about all the details that go into her designs. You can even pick out the buttons when you place an order for her one-of-a-kind capes.

And of course, since I sketched her Georgia cape then I had to draw her adorable dog George too. You can find out more about George—and Leslie—on her Facebook page. If you want to see more of my dog illustrations you can find my portfolio here.

Have you checked out Leslie's capes yet? I've got some of my favorites below. I love her buttons, don't you? Leslie is the one in the upper left corner.

Although I have not met Leslie in person, she is one of the many awesome women who I have been honored to meet via my blog and my art. On one of my trips to NYC, I'm hoping we can chat in person. 

 

Image: Illustrations and graphics by me, Chris Olson, featuring Leslie Tessler capes. Feel free to pin image on Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks!

 

Color Combos

Looking at color combos today—neutrals with bolder colors. What colors do you like to pair with orange? Or with blue?

The teal and orange color combo caught my eye as well as the unique combination of elements. Imagine the softness of the washed velvet tunic. Tie-Dye + Velvet = Chic Casual 

This color combo pops with a crisp white blouse. Inside the jacket is another color surprise—a silky, skinny-stripe lining. I'm loving the slightly longer length on this updated schoolboy blazer that gives it a leaner look. And the JCrew designers also added a menswear-inspired ticket pocket at the waist (handy for storing things like lipstick) and four buttons at the cuffs for an extra dash of polish. 

Styles with color combos: 1) Sundance, 2) JCrew, 3 & 4) NINA RICCI

 

Image: color combo graphics by me, Chris Olson, featuring products detailed above in the post. Feel free to pin image on Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks!

 

Royal Nursery Inspiration Board

 

Finding all those cute and cozy things for a nursery is so much fun. Just hop over to Pinterest and you might get lost in all the amazing pins. I put together a Pinterest board with ideas to get you started—including a few things Kate and Will selected for their son. Plus links to some of my favorite mommy bloggers and artists with their ideas too. Have fun!

Here are the ideas from the image above:

Paint colors for the nursery | Sweetest swaddle blanket that was selected by Kate and Will for Prince George | Baby books | Hand knit baby toy | Quilted bib | Georgia Giraffe pillow | Super soft polka dot pastel blanket | Soothing baby balm | The best handmade baby moccasins ever | Changing table

Shoe Sketchbook: Oscar de la Renta Polka Dot Pump

When I saw this polka dot pump by Oscar de la Renta in Vogue, I knew I had to sketch it. And Vogue explains why women everywhere will fall in love with this shoe:

Elegant black and white grosgrain heels murmur sophisticated femininity as gently as Audrey Hepburn's polka dot dress in Breakfast at Tiffany's.

 

You can read more about this shoe in Vogue—with details on the new Oscar de la Renta show at the Pompidou Centre in Paris. If you like 1950s chic and pop artist Roy Lichtenstein this article is for you. And if you obsess over simply stunning fashion websites, then check out Oscar de la Renta website... (The music alone is worth hearing.)

One more thing...

Oscar de la  Renta debuts its fall 2013 campaign on Instagram. You can find the lovely images on the OscarPRGirl Instagram account—the account of senior vice president of global communications Erika Bearman.

 

Image: Shoe sketch above by me, Chris Olson, features my current shoe crush, the lovely polka dot pump by Oscar de la Renta. Second image is the Instagram page of OscarPRgirl. Feel free to pin image on Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks!

 

Think Happy, Be Happy

Do you believe in the power of positive thinking? When I'm really needing a boost, I grab my journal and write down a list of five or more good things happening to me. To really feel the good vibes I like to make one more list—yep, I love a good list—of five great things happening in the lives of my family and friends. With a positive vision in my mind to look back on somehow challenges in reaching specific goals in life become more manageable. Yep, I am a believer in the "think happy, be happy" message.

xo Chris

Think Happy, Be Happy image above by me, Chris Olson.  If you like the roses above, you might like the free printable gift box I created. See image below.

To download the free printable gift box I created that is show above, click on link.

 

Image: All graphics created by me, Chris Olson. Feel free to pin image on Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks!

 

The Great Kate Wait

Are you ready? Today is going to be a very big day! I keep checking Twitter for updates about Kate and Will's baby. According to an official statement from Kensington Palace this morning:

"Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge has been admitted this morning to St. Mary's Hospital, Paddington, London in the early stages of labour. The Duchess traveled by car from Kensington Palace to the Lindo Wing at St. Mary's Hospital with The Duke of Cambridge." 

I'm saying a prayer and thinking good thoughts for Kate and Will today. So excited for the new royal.

 

Image: Instagram photo above by me, Chris Olson. Feel free to pin image on Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks!

Weddings: Toasts and Readings

If you read this blog regularily, then you know I'm a fan of romantic movies, books and tv shows. I cried when the series Sex and the City ended—I even dragged my husband to the movies. So it shouldn't surprise you that when looking for toasts and readings for a wedding I sought the expert advice of one Carrie Bradshaw—see poem above she wrote for a friend in The Chicken Dance" episode. This poem was written by Cindy Chupack, author and one of the Sex and the City screenwriters. 

Here are a few more of my romantic poetry faves... The next poem by Emma Salmon was selected as a winner of a nationwide poetry competition run by Marriott Hotels in March 2011.

And one more, the poem read by Carrie when she was reading the book Love Letters of Great Men to Mr. Big in bed—well, the exact book does not really exist but you can check out one of these books.

 

Note about the wedding gown sketch above: If you read this blog you know I love to sketch the fashions at the Oscars or the Golden Globes. Recently I sat down to sketch out a wedding gown after I saw a photo posted of the lovely Le Spose di Gio dress worn by TODAY show style editor Bobbie Thomas when she married lawyer Michael Marion at Kathie Lee Gifford’s home in Connecticut back in May. 

 

Image: All graphics created by me, Chris Olson, featuring romantic poems and readings credited in the blog. The sketch of a wedding dress by me featuring a dress worn by Bobbie Thomas. Feel free to pin image on Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks!

For Talia

As a mom I believe children keep us grounded and give us a reason to be the best we can be. When a child dies, finding sense in the loss is impossible.

Talia Castellano's very full life was cut much too short yesterday at age 13... She will always be a source of inspiration and not just because she continued to be so positive even in the face of neuroblastoma and leukemia. 

In my heart Talia will always be the bubbly cancer patient with grace and beauty. Because of her I have promised myself never to say I'm having a bad hair day.  She was an aspiring young makeup artist and posted amazing makeup tutorials YouTube videos without a wig. Despite her cancer, she became an honorary CoverGirl with the help of Ellen DeGeneres last year and she told Ellen her secret:

"When people ask me that, I’m [like], what do you want me to do, be depressed? A little fishy told me, 'Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.'" 

Thank you, Talia for all you have done to help girls and women believe in themselves because you offered so much joy and you shared that spark that has the power to make all of us beautiful—inside and out. I drew this sketch of you today. Sending my heart to Talia's family. 

Friday's Find: Inkkas Shoes

Inkkas is a company that owes much to the culture and history of the ancient people of South America. Their shoes are handmade in Peru, using authentic textiles imported from all over Latin America. The designs and textiles that decorate the Inkkas shoes date back hundreds, even thousands of years to the native peoples of South America.

"Our goal is to help preserve the descendants of these ancient people and the land they live in."

~ Inkkas.com

Shop for Good:  A portion of every sale goes to help protect the indigenous communities of the Andes and the Amazon. Inkkas has partnered with Amazon Watch—a non-profit, non-governmental organization that strives to protect the Amazon rainforest and its inhabitants.

Oh yeah, one more thing... I am a dog lover and an adoption counselor at an animal shelter so I was so VERY happy to see that the team at Inkkas rescued a homeless dog in Peru and made her the newest team member! Meet Lima and read more about her on the Inkkas Facebook page.

For the photo they made a bandana for her out of their textiles and her earrings out of textile and sticky tape.

 

Image: Top graphic created by me, Chris Olson, featuring Inkkas.com brand product photography. Lower photo of Limas the puppy by the folks at Inkkas with text by me. Feel free to pin image on Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks!

A Little Mid-Week Inspiration

Hope you're having a great week so far. It's pure summer here—hot with afternoon trips to cool off at the pool. If your house is like ours, summer also means a few house guests. And that means a visit to those favorite local attractions like climbing the red rocks at Garden of the Gods.

 

Image: Graphic created by me, Chris Olson. Feel free to pin image on Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks!

 

George

 

I admit, I have a bit of a crush on George. And now because he's an eligible bachelor once again, I decided to repost the video of the commercial he made for a bank in Norway... Yep, Norwegians really know how to pick cute guys. So sit back and watch this ad that proves one more time that George really is every woman's fantasy husband. Watch it, you can thank me later.

 

Small Things Matter

 

Image: Graphic created by me, Chris Olson, using Instagram and the Over app. Feel free to pin image on Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks!

 

Watermelon Fizz Cocktail

Did you know that gin was originally sold as medicine way back in the early 17th century? The juniper berry—containing many antioxidants—gives the drink its unique flavor. Mix together this easy drink—only 4 ingredients—for a refreshing summer cocktail. If you want to mix this drink up ahead of time, do the first four steps of the recipe, put the "watermelon-gin mixture" in the fridge and then pour it in glasses when ready and top each glass with ginger ale. You can make this recipe without the gin for a non-alcoholic version.  Cheers! 

 

You can find variations of this drink using frozen limeade concentrate and even watermelon flavored vodka here: Sandra Lee Watermelon Fizz, Watermelon Fizz  via Dinners, Dishes, and Desserts, Watermelon Gin Fizz Recipe via Eating Well, and Watermelon Fizz Cocktail via The Blond Cook.

 

Image: Watermelon Fizz Recipe illustration by me, Chris Olson. Feel free to pin image on Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks!

 

 

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Real Style

Ahhhhh July! And this week includes a vacation for many of you. What do you pack for a summer holiday?

I love classic summer styles -- sunnies, a nice scarf to keep my hair in place, and a crisp white blouse.

Real style is all about confidence in your own personal style. Boyer says it best: 

Real style is never right or wrong.

It's a matter of being yourself on purpose.

Nicole Richie's style is both chic and confident, don't you agree? She knows just how to mix and match styles and make it all look beautiful and effortless. Of course you can read more about her in my series all about Fashion Star on NBC right here.

 

Image: Sketch of Nicole Richie by me, Chris Olson. Feel free to pin image on Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks!