Come on Over

I made the switch to TypePad!

I have been wanting to do it for some time and I think now is the perfect time to make it.

I will be able to post the Sketchbook Stickers directly on the blog and you can download them easily.

I'll miss All Dressed in Blue on Blogger but will have lots of links to older projects and posts on the new blog.

You can now reach me at

http://www.alldressedinblue.com/

Come on over!

Sketchbook Stickers

My idea....

Sketchbooks have been on the brain lately. I have kept many sketchbooks over the years. I tend to use lots and chose the one right for the occasion. Small ones that fit in my pocket for quick outings or larger ones for a museum trip but the problem is I don’t keep one cohesive sketchbook that I really pour myself into. Some ideas never develop because I will put that sketchbook down and may not pick it up again for several weeks. My goal for the year is to keep a sketchbook/journal with me at all times so ideas have pages and time to develop. Sketchbook/Journals have also been on the brain because my 10 year old is becoming a wonderful writer full of ideas and creativity. I can see how important it is for me to encourage her to keep a book with her to record experiences and thoughts. And I think if I start with my younger one now it will become a natural part of life.

So I have been trying to come up with ideas that encourage sketchbook use for me and my daughters. My idea is to create

sketchbook stickers.

Stickers full of art reference information, organization tools and ways to inspire. You can stick them into you sketchbook and have information and tools handy at all times.

My initial idea was to create sticker packs and sell on Etsy but during the process I decided I just want to share them with you all here and create a place on the blog where we share sketchbook activities and ideas to help all of us become better artist.

I have lots of stickers already planned and some more ideas in the pipeline. I am going to post stickers periodically on the blog. You can pick up a pack of label sticker sheets, save the stickers from the blog, and print them off. Then you will be all set. You could just print them out on paper and tape them into the books, but I really like stickers. Don’t you?

I have two stickers to share with you today.

A ruler sticker for measuring emergencies (you know, like when a gnome needs to know how tall he is)

and an inspiration sticker to help keep ideas organized and easier to spot (cause some of my ideas get lost in the page never to be seen again). It has 3 spots to fill in one for the idea, materials needed and notes.

Because I want to offer high quality images for you and I cannot post PDF files on the blog I will be sharing them through another website.

You can download the stickers here.

okay so I realized that sometimes when you click the above link the stickers are there and sometimes thery are not. I'm working on a solution. Sorry~

My only request is that you use the stickers for personal uses only. Make some for yourself or send them to you awesome niece who you don’t get to see nearly enough (love you KK).

Oh and I would love for you to share your thoughts with me. I want to learn about lots of subjects with these stickers and hope you join me in the exploration.

Daruma Love

We recentley discovered a wonderful museum The Crow Collection of Asian Art. On a recent visit the awesome docent pointed my oldest girl towards a family scavenger hunt booklet. He told her if she was diligent and found all the art work they had a treasure for her. My girl takes treasures very seriously and got to business. She returned with her goal achieved and the gentleman opened a little white box and pulled out a Daruma Doll.

He told her a the story of Daruma a famous Indian monk who establised Zen Buddhism. The Daruma has two blank eyes. He told her when she sets an important goal to color in one of the Daruma dolls eyes, when she achieves that goal she colors the other eye in.

The little Daruma doll sits on her shelf in her room. She's waiting for the perfect goal to color in his first eye.

I think it is awesome to have a visual reminder of achieveing an important goal.

I made a little daruma sticker design for my sketchbook. Just in case you have an important goal or a small goal and would like a daruma sticker you can download it here on the bottom of the page will be the words download file.

Print the image out on sticker paper then you are all ready go.

In my Daruma search I found this unazukin doll fashioned after the Daruma. The unazukin doll shakes her head yes or no when you ask her a question. I wounder if my shelf has room for a daruma and unazukin dolls. Of course!!

Happy New Year!

I had so much more I wanted to share with you all last year. I got seriously wrapped up with Christmas gift making.

I have been working on a new idea for the last few months and now that the new year has rolled around I am almost ready to share. I am busy setting up a new etsy shop and will have lots to share on the blog.

Hint: