Rummaging in the garage ...

... and, found these boxes ...

They are filled with treasures, for sure, as we shall see.

Where's my camera?

Is Calvin Klein having a design crisis?

It's 9 AM and I have taken a stand with Calvin Klein.

I am sending back his euphoria perfume sample.

Have you ever smelled "euphoria?"
They describe it as 'top notes' of
pomegranate, persimmon, and lush green,
'mid notes' of lotus blossom,
champaca flower and black orchid,
and, then, 'base notes' of
liquid amber, black violet,
cream and mahogany.
That's what they say.
I just know it smells good.

It's empty, of course. Otherwise I wouldn't be sending it back.

I am returning this used sample handed out at Christmas when I was purchasing fragrances as gifts for my girls.

I'm sending it back because of the design of the bottle.  When I saw it, I could not picture it sitting on my dresser alongside Chanel No. 5 and my French lavender oil.

Sorry, Calvin, but's it's ugly. Really.

So much so, in fact, that I did not buy it. And, I wanted to. I went to Macy's at Galleria Mall for that purpose.

I like the fragrance.

I like the way I smell to me.

And, I like the way others respond to my scent.

Please? It's so difficult to find a fragrance that one likes. There are so many factors involved in choosing a personal fragrance, a signature smell. There's an emotional investment in the choice.

Can't you make a Calvin Klein design that's Calvin Klein? Something I can look at, that's beautiful?

Protesting anything is work. There are activities involved in this process, much of it "creative."

Design steps in crafting this process including selection of the note card, writing the note, photographing the note.

Wrapping the sample in bubble wrap to protect it.


And, photographing it.

After all, the little spray bottle is glass. There are a few drops left in it.

I want him to see that I used it.

I want him to realize that he is losing business with  this ugly design.

Truth is, I don't think he designed it at all. I'd really like to know how that whole thing works out. Does he "subcontract" design work out to young designers? Is that why this so doesn't look like anything Calvin Klein would ever do.

I'm sending it to the "corporate office."










Maybe the advertising folks will get it and go, "Hey, we should listen to our fans. They know good stuff when they see it!"

Yeah.

Right.

{Wink.Wink.}

It's 10:10 AM.

I'm done here.

Casual Friday ~ What I wore to work ...

I admit it. I have not been blogging about my creativity like I promised myself I would. My only excuse is that I've been busy being creative!!

Begin again.
After all, it is still January of a New Year!

So, this morning I was browsing my favorite artist blogs and found inspiration by Alisa Burke's entry for today, "fashion friday what I wore."  I love her blog AND her art and photography, so I visit her often and sometimes am inspired to attempt some of the techniques she employs.

That said, I did a pencil drawing in my notebook and painted with my Talens watercolors, which I am slowly beginning to get the hang of using. Controlling the amount of color in the brush seems to be a key component, especially when working on flimsy notebook paper.

So, here's my offering to the art gods for the New Year  ...

Haircut Reminder

I have short hair. Really short hair. Which requires frequent haircuts to keep from looking too shaggy and unkempt. I sometimes forget when was the last time I got a haircut, so I attached the Supercuts' receipt to a page in my notebook so I could look back and see how long it's been. Then, there I was yesterday morning, looking at that silly receipt pasted there and realized I'd never find it again if I didn't do something to make it memorable. With pen, rubber stamp and watercolors, here's what I did. {This may be my first ever self portrait.}

Just Be Happy

Artist Unknown ...

Lisa Bebi Art Blog

Art by Lisa Bebi

I'm just being happy today. Enjoy to art!

Inspiration for a blue Monday in May

Vintage photo saved for the shade of blue in the dress.

Boat photo saved for the shade of blue of the boat, the sea and the sky.

Nature photo saved for the mix of colors (especially the blue) and the dandelions.

Photo or scan? Love the art! And, especially that shade of blue.

Well said.

Happy Creative New Year!

Here we are again! Another new year to be creative!

I visited Michael's Art Supply store here in Fort Lauderdale between Christmas and New Year's and splurged on a "real" set of watercolor paints. Talens Transparent Watercolours! They cost way more than the Crayola water colors I'd been using, but they are so worth it! The colors are wonderful! It also came with a tube of white which I assume is to mix with the colors. I guess it's clear I have a lot to learn! What fun!

I also purchased a sketch book.

It took me a few days to figure out what to do with it. I read some of my favorite art blogs and finally decided I just had to DO IT!

So, I had this old thing from my days as a typesetter. It's a Bill Cosby quote from the 1980s (when typesetters still existed) and it's on Kodak photopaper for typesetting. I had it tacked up on the wall near my desk for the longest time. Then it was relegated to one of my many notebooks where I stumbled upon it once again.

Here's the first page ... It's just stuck to the page with rubber cement.  I'll be adding something to the page, I just don't know yet what that will be. That's the "creative" part, right?