The Box Clutch

(1. Kotur, 2. Kotur, 3. Bottega Veneta, 4. Givenchy, 5. Diane Von Furstenberg, 6. Nina Ricci, 7. Devi Kroell, 8. Alexander McQueen, 9. Alexander McQueen, 10. Devi Kroell, 11. Leiber, 12. Roberto Cavalli)

Hello Darlings,

It's another beautiful sunny day here in the countryside and I'm finally feeling like myself again. It's amazing what a restful four nights sleep can do for you. Anyways, before I go any further I just wanted to thank you, my beautiful readers, for the incredibly heartfelt comments you left on my last post. I've said this before, and I will say it again, just how truly mind-blowing it is to connect with complete strangers throughout the blogosphere. There is nothing more rewarding than feeling like you are helping others and yourself by being honest; opening up to the world.

Moving on, today's post has been in the works for a few weeks now and I've finally found the time to do it justice. You have no idea just how much working for a trend forecasting company has influenced me. I feel empowered in the sense that I believe in my eye for trend spotting and that my opinion is as informed as the next street-style blogger or editor. After months of walking the streets of the garment district in Manhattan, and scouring through one luxury department store after another, I have concluded that the box clutch is and will be the must-have purse of SS12.

The 12 SS12 box clutches I've collaged above are only a select fraction of what currently exists on style.com right now. I have numerous pictures collecting in my iPhone (from BCBG to Henri Bendel) of gorgeous holiday box clutches, in shimmering metallics and embellished beads, to support this call-out. I for one have not yet settled on my box clutch of choice. How could a girl possibly choose from so many choices? Naturally I just had to paint one instead.

What bag are you lusting to own this Spring?

Much love,

Meag xx

New Year, New Direction?

Merry Merry My Loves,

Can you believe Christmas has already come and gone?! I worked right up until Christmas Eve and have been unwinding ever since from the whirlwind that is my life. It's amazing how disconnected you can become from yourself when you spend months racing against a ticking clock; aka my authorized working status in America. Somewhere in the eye of the storm you lose all sense of perspective, why I even went to New York in the first place, and your life is reduced to getting from one day to the next without a nervous breakdown. Finally now that I'm home, the clouds are beginning to part for the first time since June 2011.

It's been months since I last sat down at my computer and wrote a truly honest confessional on my blog. I realized this yesterday when I was reading one of my favorite blogs, Final Fashion, authored by Danielle Meder (a fellow fashion illustrator from Toronto now living in London). I was drawn to her remarkably raw posts documenting her move to the UK, something that I have and still dream of doing. She talked candidly about the difficulties of moving to one of the most expensive cities in the world, being plagued with loneliness and bouts of poverty, while working in an extremely competitive and volatile profession.

She writes:

"Is it a risk if it is not a choice? It feels like if I were a sensible person, I would not choose to be a fashion person. I am drawn towards the fear, the flux, the fantasy, against better judgement. Everyone I talk to in fashion envies the people with steady jobs and simple pleasures, with a sigh and a sense of fatalism. Because, at this point, what else could we possibly do? We are in too deep to give it up."

Holiday Heroine

Happy Holidays Lovelies!!

I'm blogging from Toronto now, cozy in my parent's new kitchen, and the sun is pouring through the windows. I couldn't be happier being in my family's company and regrouping after an extremely stressful last six months. I'm still working away at the swimwear sketches I've been contracted to do for Fashion Snoops and hoping to get it all wrapped up before Saturday. That said, I've taken a day or two to catch up with myself, friends, and family. Perhaps the best part of all is that I'm back to blonde lol. A four month hair hiatus can make a girl go crazy!!

So today's post is titled Holiday Heroine because the attitude Tomo was exuding this past Sunday just screamed X'mas Diva. Somehow through the twinkling lights, and layers of fur, she managed to model with all her fierceness. I've coined the term Holiday Heroine for all the girls (and boys) out there who are dominating the insanity of the Holiday Season right now with such grace and poise. Sadly, I'm not one of them. I fall somewhere in the category of hot mess, emotionally distressed, and total procrastinator. But I have until early January to work on that ;)

Anyways, I wanted to end this post with a very exciting announcement!!!! I've decided to start a new segment on my blog for 2012 titled TWD Darlings. There are just so many individuals out there who are trailblazing in their careers, and inspiring me everyday, that I want to illustrate and promote them right here on my blog. Could you be the next TWD Darling?!! I guess you will have to wait and see.

Season's Greetings Everyone!!

Much love,

Meag xx

Absolute Altuzarra

Altuzarra SS12

Hello Friends,

How are you all? Once again it's been far too long since I've written on my blog. The sketchwork I've been doing for Fashion Snoops has really taken over my life and suddenly I find that Christmas is only a few days away. This week was truly wonderful though. I had the honor of exhibiting my baby goat piece in the Foolsgold show this past Tuesday evening, and Wednesday I got to celebrate with the whole Fashion Snoops team at their holiday dinner party.

Somewhere in between I managed to squeeze in time to paint this Altuzarra SS12 pointed-toe pump as a gift for the Accessories Editor at work. After all, she was the reason I was contracted to start working for Fashion Snoops and I'm incredibly grateful for that. I did a little research and found that she absolutely adored this pair of shoes so naturally I couldn't help but paint her one. Great news is she loved it. Now if only I could personally get my hands on the real pair ;).

Anyways my loves, I have family in town, a drawing session tomorrow, and a flight to catch Monday afternoon. I will be back blogging soon from my parent's new home in Toronto.

Until then, ciao darlings!

Much love,

Meag xx

Foolsgold Sanctuary NYC Submission

Hello My Loves,

I promised you I would be back on my blog soon and here I am only a few days later yay!! I wanted to share with you my submission for the upcoming Foolsgold Sanctuary NYC show being held next Tuesday Dec 13th from 6-9 at Noe Space in Soho. Foolsgold Arts curates exhibitions to raise funds for various charitable organizations centered around helping the environment and its inhabitants. This particular show is being held to benefit the Catskills Animal Sanctuary in Saugerties, NY.

I was so compelled reading the artist brief for the show, organized by my beautiful mentor and friend Shanan Campanaro, I simply had to contribute. We were asked to create a work inspired by the following quote by John Berger:

Man has always had a complex relationship with animals. They have been at once sacrificed, worshipped, hunted, bred, used as raw materials, metaphors and companions.

Couture Cookies

Moschino and Balenciaga SS12 Couture Gingerbread Cookies

Gaga's Workshop at Barneys New York

Hello My Sweets,

My goodness it has been FAR too long since I've been on my blog. I can't even believe it. I've missed you all so much. Unfortunately, I've been so busy with work that I haven't been able to focus at all on my personal illustrations. Finally I was able to sit down this afternoon and paint for a few hours of peace. I had been thinking for a while now about doing something relating to the impending Christmas Holidays, and having seen Gaga's Workshop last weekend at Barneys, I knew exactly what to paint today. Couture cookies are the new fad you see...

Even though you might not be able to eat my Moschino or Balenciaga Couture Gingerbread Girls, you can definitely devour those crazy Gaga heels and the like here.

Wishing you all a wonderful week ahead and I promise to be back on my blog very soon!!

Much love,

Meag xx