Fly

Children's Book Illustrations

This is just a little throwback to the illustration style of my childhood. I love the line quality and the limited color palettes in these drawings.

Fly Girl Paintings

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Tangerine Dreams

Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean we should only stick to grays, navy blues, and good old faithful black. Go tangerine. It’s yummy and of course fun. Not too keen on buying a tangerine coat or spending big bucks on some bright boots? Well, try an accessory like a scarf or some earrings. You’ll be fabulous either way.

Good Hair, Bad Hair

This is a complicated topic. I don't want to get too deep because it can be really deep so I'll try to keep it as brief and light as possible. But basically hair is touchy topic in the black community, especially among black women. There's this whole idea that long straight hair is beautiful, and if you  have it naturally you have "good hair." Short, coarse, "nappy" hair is considered bad and ugly. Because of that idea, many black women, myself included, have used chemicals, and extremely hot utensils to straighten our hair. But on the flip side, ideas are changing (a little bit), so many of us have decided to go natural and let our tight coils be free of lye relaxers and hot straightening combs. Anyway, here is  an illustration I did based on  good hair, bad hair.  These illustrations will give you insight to my experiences of being on both sides, getting perm relaxers and going natural. Click image for a bigger view.

Blog Feature: I Like Her Style

I love checking out this daily blog for the hottest news on fashion and gossip about BAPs (Black American Princesses). Expect to see great pics and to read juicy info on up and coming designers. Be inspired!

Beatriz Milhazes

I was inspired by these color-rich paintings by Brazilian artist Beatriz Milhazes. These images are from an article in Elle Décor magazine, April 2006.

Envelopes

What are these? Painted textures? Charcoal illustrations? No, these are the security patterns inside your envelopes that protect your personal information from nosy mailmen and neighbors. Next time you open your bills pay attention, you might discover a new pattern and be inspired.

Macy's Helps Rwanda

I saw in this month’s issue of Domino Magazine a little blurb about Macy’s Path to Peace Project. This program offers a line of hand woven baskets made in Rwanda that are sold to help benefit the region. Go here to learn more and see the amazing pieces.

Gold Rush

For me, gold is never out of style so when they say “it’s back” I’m like “when was it ever gone?” Here are some images that represent the color well.

Photo Circa 1984

When I was about preschool age my mother was working for a Frenchwoman named Solange Cody, who owned Cody Couture, a sewing studio overlooking M Street in Georgetown. It was where the elite of Washington, D.C. went to have their beautiful clothes made and altered. I was there a lot more than I was in preschool and I loved it. All the rolls of fabric, bins of buttons, colorful spools of thread were everywhere in this small studio always enticing me. At Cody Couture I learned how to thread a needle before I could say my ABCs.

The best part about being in that studio space was my relationship with Ms. Cody. She did not like children but she loved me. She is the reason why I love Georgetown and boutiques today. Whenever I was there she would take me up and down Wisconsin Avenue or M Street dipping in and out of shops, delivering clothes, picking up lunch, or buying me little snacks for out walks. I loved exploring the neighborhood with her. We skipped the whole way laughing and holding hands. We must have been a sight; me, a tiny brown button with little puff balls trying to keep up, and her, this amazon-esque pale blonde woman who looked way too regal to be skipping down any street.

Anyway, I don’t have any pictures with the infamous Solange Cody but here’s one she took of my mother and me in the sewing studio that shaped my love for everything beautiful.

My Weekend Part 2

The Farmer’s Market in Union Square is fantastic, especially in the fall. Whenever I’m there I feel like I’m at a harvest fair somewhere in western Pennsylvania instead of the middle of Manhattan at 14th Street.  My favorite is stopping at the apple stand to buy a dollar cup of hot apple cider.

My Weekend Part 1

I rarely go to NoLita or Soho, mainly because it’s always so crowded with tourists but I ventured down there this weekend and came across this lovely boutique, Sweet Tater. This shop of vintage finds had a fabulous pair of gray boots, but of course they did not fit me (TEARS!!). It’s just not meant to be. Anyway, check out the pics.

Gray Boots

So many tears. i can't afford most of these but damn they are so beautiful!!

Collage of Gray

In honor of a gray day here in New York City and my quest for some fabulous gray leather boots, I am featuring this trendy color that is plastered everywhere in the fashion world. Coming in different shades that remind you of smoke, charcoal, slate, and silver, this neutral not only has enough personality to stand on it's own but also becomes mysteriously gorgeous when paired with a hot pink, bright orange or black.

Anthropologie

Beautiful pieces from Anthropologie. (picture from their site)