New Collection: Cowgirl Tales

While I was in Denver attending the HOW Conference I had the opportunity to do some urban exploring and I couldn’t pass up the chance to stop at the iconic Rockmount Ranchwear, “THE” Western shirt store that created the pearl button snap shirt. I just  had to leave with their book. After arriving home and unpacking all of my goodies I prominently placed the book on my coffee table where I couldn’t resist flipping thru it on a daily basis. I just love all the embroidery details, gem stones and the seemingly unrelated icons that are made to feel western thru embroidery techniques and juxtapositions.

One Saturday as I flipped thru the book I was inspired to break out my pencils and sketchbook. I turned my Pandora station to Johnny Cash & Hank Williams Jr. with a bit of Carrie Underwood & Taylor Swift thrown in and started to get into my drawing grove. From that inspiration came my new Western Inspired Collection that I call Cowgirl Tales.

Here is a little preview and you can see the full collection on my website.

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Sketchy HOW Conf Notes – Denver 2010

Life has been super busy in June, in between projects and family I had the pleasure of attending the HOW Design Conference in Denver. It was an amazing and super inspiring experience!! I would recommend anyone working in the creative field to attend. I’ll definitely be going back next year!

I’m sharing my sketchy notes, miss-spellings and all. Hey, I’m a professional artists not a writer and I remember best when I have a visual :-)

Notes from Stephan Mamaw's workshop Caffeine for the Creative Team: Turning Brainstorming into Brainsqualling

One of my favorite highlights has to be attending Stephan Mamaw’s workshop Caffeine for the Creative Team: Turning Brainstorming into Brainsqualling, where we rolled up our sleeves and had permission to have fun and be silly. He ran thru the 13 Commandments of Brainaqualling and paired it with a series of warm up exercise from his books.

Stephane demonstrating his point. Creativity is a Habit!

My team's caffine infused supplies

Teams of 3 had to create what they thought Big Foot would look like. Our's was Willy Nelson inspired.

Teams of 2 had to construct a amusement park ride for a bug. My partner and I created a Zipline for a Fly. (I put my caffeine to good use by using my coffee cup as a platform area.)

Teams of 2 were instructed to creat the ultimate desk. This is my teams.

Notes from Chaos to Clarity: Creating Your One-Page Business Plan - Judah Kurtz & RaShelle Roberts

Judah Kurtz & RaShelle Roberts- http://www.getinvision.com/

Notes from Andy Stefanovich Opening Keynote on Design Inspiration

Andy Stefanovich- http://www.lookatmorestuff.com/

Notes from Creating Five-Alarm Concepts - Von Glitschka

Von Glitschka- http://www.vonglitschka.com/

Notes from Life Kerning: Where Life and Creativity Meet - Justin Ahrens

Justin Ahrens- http://rule29.com/

Notes from Curiously Curious - Ken Carbone

Ken Carbone- http://www.uppercasegallery.ca/uppercase-journal/2010/4/28/ken-carbones-journals.html

Notes from Visual Storytelling: Resonate and Activate Audiences - Nancy Duarte

Nancy Duarte- http://www.duarte.com/

Notes from How to Sell Your Ideas to Bosses, Clients and Other Decision Makers - Sam Harrison

Sam Harrison – http://www.zingzone.com/?view=about_sam

Notes from Better Ideas Faster: How to Brainstorm More Effectively - David Sherwin and Fitting Your Employer’s Big Hairy Audacious Goals with Your Own - David Delp

David Sherwin – http://www.slideshare.net/changeorder

David Delp – http://designingabalancedlife.com/

Notes from Kevin Carroll Closing Keynoter - Rediscovering Play: Bringing Fun and Passion to Your Work…and Life

Kevin Carroll – http://kevincarrollkatalyst.com/about/

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