Five weeks ago I launched a free Sew Sketchy coloring page on my instagram for digital downloads and print out’s to my followers thinking only a hand full of people would be interested in participating.

What started out as a line drawing quickly became a creative escape that connected us from all around the globe and unified artists to give them a bit of joy, imagination, and fantasy. The emotional reaction to these coloring pages during a time like this have been incredibly sentimental to those needing a fun distraction.

Ever since Sew Sketchy’s inception on instagram, people have always looked at this aspirational character as someone who provides them with an abundance of fashion focused entertainment. However today, I’ve given them the opportunity to participate in creating her in their own way and adding their own personal visions to her story.

I am incredibly impressed by how many completed coloring pages I’ve been receiving from my fans on a daily basis and ultimately each time they complete one they end up wanting more.

Every week I give other artists, creatives, or people who just do this for fun, a chance to be featured on my instagram. What started out as 20 submissions a week, has now grown to over 50 submissions a week.

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If you’d like to participate in the #sewsketchycoloringchallenge click here for digital download and click here for print outs.

I’m amazed by all of this talent from all corners of the globe and I love staying connected with you all through coloring!

xoxo

Is it just me? Or are these the chicest gallery walls you have ever seen? I LOVE seeing Sew Sketchy artworks in your home and how you incorporated them with your current gallery collection. Gallery walls are the best form of self expression and truly shows your amazing personalities. I’ve been creating my own gallery walls ever since I could hold a paint brush and they’re honestly my favorite part of any one’s home. Ever since sewsketchy.com came to fruition it was a unanimous decision to create a like-minded art community using #mysewsketchy ! I’m so grateful to all of you who have purchased Sew Sketchy artwork and can’t begin to express how much joy you guys bring to my life! I mean, is it too forward of me to ask if I can come over and have a kiki with you in your homes to see these walls for myself?

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Upload your artwork on any social channels tagging @Sew_Sketchy and use #mysewsketchy so we can feature you on our website and on our social platforms! I thank you from the bottom of my heart to include Sew Sketchy in your art collection and for supporting a young artist!

Love you all!

xoxo

What started out as a DM on instagram, turned into one of the most incredible experiences of my life.

A fabulously fierce woman named Jo, slid into my dm’s and was interested in having Sew Sketchy be the artwork for Elle Boutique‘s annual charity fashion show invitation. We immediately clicked and after putting together a project outline, an idea came into my head about doing Live Drawing at the event. I’ve always wanted to give back and get involved in as many charities as I can, and I am so proud to say that Sew Sketchy, raised a total of $10,000 in just three hours! Each drawing was sold at $500 and every single dollar went to the Telethon Speech and Hearing for children charity. I drew 20 gorgeously generous women who were all so fabulous and excited to be transformed into Sew Sketchy.

Little did I know that this idea of mine would actually turn into reality. (There is a lesson here, my Sketchy readers, never be afraid to share your ideas with clients, because the worst thing some one can say is no. And is “no” really that bad?)

Elle boutique flew me out to Perth for 3 nights where I got to stay in the most gorgeous room at the new Westin Perth. Literally felt like the biggest diva. This hotel was the most. The second I checked in, Jo greeted me and we instantly became BFF’s in real life and not just on insta. She’s one of the warmest, funniest, and creative woman I’ve ever met. We went to Elle Boutique, and I wanted to buy the entire store. It was literally like my dream closet. I got to meet the Owner and her fabulous squad and guess what? They dressed me for the event which was SO much fun, I wish I had a camera crew filming this chic montage. I wanted to be dressed in only Australian designers and ended up picking this insanely sequined pink Ellery dress that had sequin tassels and flowed with my every move. It was major.

The next day, it was show time! I had my hair did by Amy at Baseline Hair dressing and my make up done by Jacqui Bradfield. If you live in Perth, these should be your go to girls. I wish I could fly them out everywhere I go because they were hands down the best glam squad I could ever ask for!

I was ready to go and walk into the event which was jaw droppingly gorgeous. They created the most fabulous event I have ever been to in my entire life. The production of it all was spectacular. The guests were dressed to the nines; there were black tie looks, high fashion moments, and gowns galore, this was the place to be in Perth.

I had my own chic little area in the front of the event, which is where all the fabulous action happens because you get to see everyone’s “I have just arrived face” which always gives me so much life. I had a tv connected to my iPad so that all the fabulous guests can watch me draw as they sip their champagne and mingle. So cute right?

I hope I get the chance to go back and experience this all again, it was purely magical. Thank you Jo for finding me on insta!

If you’re interested in having Sew Sketchy do live drawing at one of your charity events please email [email protected] for details!

 

During Paris fashion week, Aimee Song posted a video of her in the back of a car with Eva Chen and Shiona Turini, FLAWLESSY matching one another and just being the most. They were each dripping in hues of Purples, Pink, and Burgundy and it was just a street style fashion moment waiting to happen. And it did happen and it was perfection.

I clicked on Aimee’s video because I wanted to know how she was beating Instagram’s new algorithm. For a moment, my likes and my views on my stories were all of a sudden oddly declining. At this point I was posting once a day, or every other day, maybe 2-3 Insta stories, and was just getting really frustrated why people weren’t seeing my posts.

After watching the video I had this AH HA! Moment.

Eva Chen was right… the more content you put out there on instagram, the better. We have to post more.

She actually said it so much better, like in a Oprah way,  “I have a baby at home. I don’t feed my baby once every two days or once a week because the baby wouldn’t grow and for many people, instagram is their baby so, FEED YOUR BABY!” 

So I said to myself, ok Eva, let’s try and feed my baby (instagram is still the baby in the following scenario btw) five times a day and see what happens.

I started to post my step by step drawing process on my insta-stories, roughly around 8 videos on average, 1 post per day, and was slowly getting back on track.

Then I learned that you also have to be more engaging on instagram as well. So additionally to uploading stories and posts, I had to like and comment on other people’s photos to add to my engagement rate.

However, if I just posted a photo on instagram without any stories, it wouldn’t get as many likes as the others.

I was literally testing every possible instagram scenario and then I finally got my “You get a Like! and You get a Like!” Oprah moment:

So this is how I’m kicking the new Instagram Algorithm in the Tuchas:

I post my entire process on my insta-stories (roughly 8-12), then I post a photo, I also like, comment, and reply to all of my fabulous and gorgeous fans et voila! Insta-GOLD!

I hope my mad scientist approach to this was helpful to you as it is to me!

xo

 

You know what’s really interesting? My mother loves Mothers Day but now hates her birthday. When I wished her “Happy Birthday” literally three weeks before Mothers Day, she let out a deep sigh and an eye roll over the phone. I could hear her ice cubes surrounded by a body of Casa Amigos tequila clinking against each other as I belted out into song.

She told me not to post anything about her birthday, which is rare because she LOVES when I shower her with love, affection and attention. So I waited to take the opportunity to share with her and my fabulous fans a little letter to my mother for Mothers Day.  After she saw my post she was literally like:

and then like:

My mother is the most fabulous woman in the world. But she’s nuts. And amazing. But like, crazy. She’s now going through this really interesting phase where she’s decided to put a cap on her age, yet she’s nagging me for grandchildren…

However she doesn’t want to be called Grandma, granny or anything that sounds remotely ancient. So she’ll probably be pulling a Kris Jenner and call herself “Lovey” or something of that nature.

My mother continues to make me laugh to the point where my abs hurt and my Shaman suggested that I poke fun at the woman who I love the most in this world because it’ll make my third chakra shine. Or something like that.

I want to be like her when I grow up because I too want to light up any room I enter, not just with diamonds but with my poise, elegance, and glamour.

I love you Mom, I meant every word in my letter. Bergdorfs when I’m back?

 

For many years I was shlepping around 300 copic markers wherever I went. I even purchased a carry-on suitcase specifically made to FIT ALL 300 markers. Each box set had 100 markers, and they were put in these acrylic rectangular boxes that perfectly fit in my magical suitcase. However, traveling with this in hand was not fun. I got stopped at every security check, literally everywhere in the world, and would open my suitcase showing them that these are Marrrrrkers and would grunt, eye roll, hair flip and feel totally annoyed.

(Don’t get me started on boarding a plane with this marker filled suitcase)

Since I travel a lot for work and pleasure I was feeling frustrated to shlep around all of my materials. I had no choice, since no matter where I went, I had to take all of my materials with me. I mean I can’t NOT draw, you know?

Then, the iPad pro launched and I was like, what is this thing? I went to the Apple store about ten times, spoke to countless helpful genius bar people, (who were so adorable and cute btw) and was super curious to see if I could use this tablet. I’ve never used a wacom tablet or did digital drawing before so I didn’t really know if this was right for me. I was more curious about the product for travel reasons so that I wouldn’t have to have a horrible experience each time I decided to pick up and go be fabulous somewhere.

Needless to say, as you see on my instagram, the iPad changed my life. You can literally be any kind of artist/creator you want to be on this thing. I use the procreate App on the iPad pro 12’9″ with the Apple Stylus Pen.

It’s been a total game changer for me. I’m able to really push forward my creativity and do things I could never imagine doing with just ordinary markers and pens.

This app has allowed me to broaden my drawing skills in ways I could have NEVER imagined. If you scroll through my instagram you will notice that my techniques have really advanced since I’ve been using procreate on the iPad. Personally I think it’s enabled me to move from just illustrating to actually making more of an art piece due to all of the fabulous brushes and layering I can do. Plus when it comes to making a design brief for clients, my presentations look much for professional and polished.

Plus now I can go through airport security as if I’m walking into a spa!

xoxo