Little Black Book: Fashionary

Part sketchbook, part reference material - all Fashionary. This handy book has two parts - the first being a fashion dictionary and the second being a sketch pad. It's designed for quick brainstorming, fast sketching and easy referencing. I saw this on Love at First Blush's blog and thought to myself - I gotta try this out.

The first part of the book is 38 pages jam packed with tons of info including different types of stitches, care instructions, spec sheets, pattern and flat drawings, fabric dictionary, typography and more. Definitely a great resource on the go.

Some various cuff details

Different types of jackets

The second section of the book is 130 pages and is the sketchbook portion of the book. This is no ordinary sketchbook though! Each page comes with preprinted croquis which are barely visible and outlined in small dots. You can use the outlines as a guide or just draw freehand since the printed figures are barely noticeable.

About a few months ago - I tried drawing clothes for the first time ever! I ended up getting hung up on drawing the proportions of the people vs the clothing and it took a while to finish. Since each page of the Fashionary has croquis' already in place, I was interested in seeing how things would turn out - here's how I made out.

I started with pencil and just traced the body outline just to see the body form. I ended up sketching on top of the outline and kept going. Each page has three forms on it so you get the most out of each page.

I was actually really surprised at how fast and well this works. I drew three bodies in no time and decided to test the thickness of the paper by going over the drawings in ink. Nothing bled through to the other side which was nice.

Since the ink didn't bleed I ended up coloring things in with marker - which bled through a bit onto the other side. So if you're looking for color options, you might want to opt for lighter mediums. Overall I was amazed at how much time was saved by having the templates as a base to work off of. By not focusing on the proportions of the figure, you can focus more on the clothes you are actually drawing!

Definitely a great and handy little book which I will be using a lot! If you're in the fashion industry or just like doodling or drawing (like me), this is a great tool to have. If you're interested in picking one up (they have one for women and one for men) and can be purchased online here.

To Read or To Win: Sometimes I Feel Like a Nut

I’ve been meaning to read more in my personal time for a while and the last fun book that I sort of found myself stuck 3/4 of the way through was the collection of short stories, “I Was Told There Would Be Cake” by Sloane Crosley. Anyways, I since I can’t seem to get through real books these days (aside from the Twilight series and other teenage books…I know it’s sad!), perhaps essays are a better option. At least if I read short stories/essays and don't have a chance to go back to it in a while, I can start fresh without trying to remember what happened in the story. Anyways, I’d heard great things about NYC based author Jill Kargman and when I read her bio stating that she was “deathly afraid of clowns” and how she “worked as a Xerox whore at the bottom of the magazine totem pole”, I was sold on her honest comedic ability and think I’m going to have to check out her newest book, "Sometimes I Feel Like a Nut".

The book is a collection of witty personal essays and observations, that is already a National Bestseller and has received rave reviews for her brilliant comedic timing. JNBY will be hosting an intimate evening with Jill Kargman this Thursday to celebrate her latest success, that will include a book reading by the author and cocktails provided by Xante.

Anyways in honor of the launch JBNY is hosting 2 contests to let you have a shot at not only winning a book but attending party that will include a book reading and a chance to get your book signed by the author herself.

Facebook Contest:
Get the chance to win one of 5 copies of Jill's book, by sharing the time when you most felt like a nut, in 15 words or less. You have until 6pm on Wednesday May 4th to post your submission to http://www.facebook.com/JNBYUSA. They will be picking their fave 5 responses. The winners will be announced Wednesday night and you can claim your prize at our event on Thursday at the JNBY store at 75 Greene Street from 6pm to 8pm and get your book signed by Jill Kargman!

Twitter Contest:
The 15th-20th people to retweet their post about the event will also win a copy of Jill's book. http://twitter.com/#!/JNBYUSA

Younity Exhibition & Book Launch Oct 17th

This Friday, YOUNITY, an international collective of female visual artists, will open its second annual art exhibition Heart & Soul in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. The exhibit features an urban landscape installation piece, including graffiti, photography, urban contemporary art and fine art from 60 international female artists.

In addition, YOUNITY will release a book featuring works from all 60 artists including: Lady Pink, Martha Cooper and Swoon. With so very few art books that explicitly showcase women's urban contemporary art, Heart and Soul will debut as much needed authentic niche material for the ever-expanding art industry. Both the Heart and Soul book and exhibition artwork will be on view and for sale on-site at Alphabeta, as well as online at www.theyounity.com.

YOUNITY's Heart & Soul Exhibition and Book Launch
Opening Reception: Fri Oct 17th, 8pm - 10pm
Exhibit Dates: October 18, 2008 – November 17, 2008
Alphabeta, 70 Greenpoint Avenue, Brooklyn, NY