The Creative Cookie

Dream & Create

Earlier in the week I designed this little flyer. The illustration is from the November 1967 issue of American Vogue.

Sewing class details soon:).

Creative Cookie artist talk w/ Don Oehl

I always find fall to be a highly creative, fun, and productive time. Sooo, in the spirit of the season, I'll be presenting and hosting an artist talk with an amazing fashion illustrator, Don Oehl at Clic Gallery & Bookstore in Manhattan this Sunday, October 2nd from 3p to 5pm.
 
Don Oehl's illustrations explore fashion, movement, shapes, and color—all with lots of whimsy. I'd LOVE it if you could join the fun and conversation. We'll have a fun photo booth provided by kamau studios and goodies from 16 Stone Vintage. Of course I'll have some updates to share too!

If you can attend, RSVP so we'll know how many cupcakes to bake:-).

Fun at Fashion Camp

Last week I taught fashion design at Camp Gowanee during Spoke The Hub's Street Art, Dance, and Fashion multi-arts day camp.  In addition to design, I taught them how to strut their stuff on the runway. Camp ended in a fab fashion show where students modeled their creations for parents, siblings and babysitters! Read their run of show (they wrote their own outfit descriptions -- cute!):

Some campers were inspired to sketch outside of class. Here's some of their work:

 They learned to sew by hand and machine. We also explored the lives of designers and even dyed fabric.

photos: Lesley Ware © 2011

I had just as much fun as the campers did. They knocked my socks off with innovative designs and loads of enthusiasm. I'm so looking forward to the next time!!

"w" wedding, pt. 4

This is the end of the wedding chapter and the start of a new chapter as Lesley Ware -- The Creative Cookie. I'm pleased to present the photo album that tells the story of our special Brooklyn DIY wedding! I totally tangled myself in creative projects from making bow ties for the groomsmen to crafting a tent from tulle...I could say more but I'll let the photos speak for me♥♥.

*NOTE: if you are new to issuu there are three ways you can view:

1) click the arrow to the right to view on this site

2) click anywhere on the image above to enlarge 

3) go directly to the issuu site click here

Ta Ta zoom

The Daily Heller is my favorite place to get a graphic design fix. Today's post, The Bra that fit the 20th Century, gives readers a look at Maidenform's 1949 advertising campaign, "I Dreamed I was _______ in My Maidenform Bra." The campaign cultivated an emotional connection with women of all walks of life, resulting in a strapy 21 year span. To read and see more from "I Dreamed" on The Daily Heller blog click here.

images: The Daily Heller

The 2nd issue of Easily inspired is Off Press

I am SO happy to announce that the fashion fiction issue of Easily inspired is officially off the press **insert cheers**! This second issue of Easily inspired features fashionable stories of fiction from 12 writers. Click here to view the first couple of pages & to order your copy of our handmade zine ($9 e-copy/$15 printed copy). 

illustration: Lacee Swan, I Want My MTV

Jump for Joy!

I was super psyched to see a photo that I took of Sonya last August in the current the issue (Jan. 2011) of Essence magazine! Sonya wore a fanciful party dress and shoes from her vintage collection. Check out the spread and a few other photos from our foxy shoot.  

photos: Lesley Williams, 2010

little spark

I've decided to start crafting again! For awhile I had shifted away, spending more time with photography and writing. Lately I've had the urge to start folding and cutting fabric which I'm really enjoying.  My favorite material to use is rescued textiles. There's something special about using scraps to construct a wearable piece.  Here's a preview of items that will be in the Creative Cookie/Little Spark Etsy store launching later this month, mostly made from scraps.

 Felt Square Scarf

FIber Bead Necklace

  Yoyo Necklace
Scrapy Scarf (in pink and beige)

close up of a Scrappy Scarf (in blue)
photos: kamau ware, © 2010 model: Ya Yun Teng set design: Lau z.

handmade zines

Earlier this week we were hard at work in the studio cutting, punching, and binding...be on the lookout for my first handmade zine, Easily inspired!

photos : © kamau ware, 2010

Hall of Femmes : Ruth Ansel

I met Ruth Ansel at a signing for her monograph, Hall of Femmes. If you're not familiar with Ruth's work, she's a superstar art director who has collaborated with notable photographers like Annie Leibovitz and Richard Avedon. When Ruth was 24 years old, she became the co-art director of Harper's Bazaar and the rest is history.  After a long career at Bazaar she moved to The Times, then to Vanity Fair, then to Richard Avedon productions. In 1992 she founded her own design studio, which she currently runs. Ruth's creative direction has resulted in a marvelous career of simple yet spectacular layouts. I'll share more thoughts after studying the lovely pages of Hall of Femmes.

Ruth signing my copy of her book at James Danziger Projects, last Thursday, in Manhattan:)

photo : © Lesley Williams, 2010

  Ruth was the brains behind the artwork in the NYT Magazine for my favorite boxing match, "Rumble in the Jungle"--Foreman vs. Ali ♥♥ (1974 Zaire)

If you'd like to get your hands on a copy of Hall of Femmes, it's available at Dashwood Books.

What da H--- is dis?

This past Friday the 13th, I watched Fears of the Dark and it made me think of Mel Brooks' Oscar winning short, The Critic (1963). Enjoy.