not oscar fashion, just wrong

Every year I look forward to seeing what the stars wear to the Oscars. Because of the wild influence Lady GaGa has had on the fashion world in the past year I was dreaming of seeing at least a few more outlandish choices on the red carpet this year instead of the somewhat safe choices that stylists usually gravitate to.

Saturday morning I had just had a wonderful breakfast with my man at Vic's Cafe (where I have never seen the bottom of my coffee cup, thanks gals!) and we were heading to the gourmet cheese shop down the street when this window display stopped me in my tracks. O. M. G. Here was my outlandish. A bright orangey-pink neon ball gown vibrated in the window of the local bridal shop like a bad '80s dream. I couldn't believe my eyes. Is this the new prom trend? Is this a new punishment for unfortunate bridesmaids? What IS this?

I can understand that a neon cocktail dress, crafted by the right designer's hands, would look completely right on a 20-something with edgy street style. But to dip what I consider a run-of-the-mill prom staple into a vat of fluorescent vomit is, to me, not fashionable, not alluring, but absolutely, and horribly HILARIOUS. Probably not the look any girl is going for.

If this is the new bridesmaid look, the joke is not on the bridesmaid, but on the bridezilla who would choose this. I can't even remember what the white bridal dress looked like that was in the same window!

This dress instantly reminded me of a book cover I illustrated a few years ago. The book is called She's Gone Bridal: A 9-Step Program for Dealing With Your Bride from Hell by Liz Razin. My job was to illustrate the ugliest bridesmaid dress I could imagine and you know what? I think what I came up with still tops this neon nightmare, but maybe only because I added an ugly hat and shoes!!!

©2011, Monika Roe

my favorite coffee cup

©2011, Monika Roe

Today it's rainy, cold and miserable outside but all of that goes away when I get out my favorite coffee cup to enjoy my morning coffee! It's my second handmade mug by Reedley Clayworks. I was so mad at myself when I dropped the first one and the handle came off (now I use that one for cleaning my paint brushes.) The shape of this mug fits into my hand just so and I love the explosion of different colored earthy glazes decorating the outside.

Also shown in this illo is the trivet my friend Jud gave me over 12 years ago! No matter where I have moved, this trivet has always been on my desk. It's a Frigidaire promotional give-away from the '50s and I love it!

This illo was done completely in Illustrator CS5 by layering brushstrokes, playing with transparent layers and good old fashioned drawn vector graphics.

2011 paso robles zin fest commercial

You must see this hilarious Old Spice guy spoof commercial for our 2011 Zin Festival! That's one of the things I love about my town, there's always a wine festival around the corner. Look at that gorgeous scenery, I get to see that everyday!!

candied pomelo peel and interview!

TheyDrawandCook.com launched their new website today and my most recent illustrated recipe for candied pomelo peel is featured on the home page as part of their sweets and treats collection!

Also, on their blog is an interview with yours truly!!! Thanks Nate & Salli!

oreo stuffed chocolate chip cookies

©2011, Monika Roe

Many of you know that I have given up sugar. It was really difficult to deal with the cravings the first week but it did get better. So why am I posting about Oreo-stuffed-chocolate-chip-cookies of all things?

Well, my boyfriend and I weren't able to spend Valentine's Day together because he was in Costa Rica teaching a photography workshop (he's an amazingly talented photographer, if I do say so myself!) I had been looking for an unusual dessert-type recipe to make for him when he got back. When I came across this recipe that has set the web on fire since it was first posted on the Picky Palate blog last month, I knew it would be the perfect belated V-Day treat!

These are not your everyday cookies. They are HUGE! Just a couple bites of one is more than enough to please any sweet tooth. I'm happy to report that while these were fun to make and tasted really good, I'm back on the no-sugar wagon. But don't worry, that doesn't mean that I won't occasionally indulge and post the illustrated results here!

ideal home february

©2011, Monika Roe

This is one of my favorite illos from the group I did for Ideal Home's February issue! It's a spot illo for their feature on sideboards. There are a whole world of patterned sideboards and appliances (even the built-ins) in the UK. Wish we had options like that here!

Edited to add: Today Apartment Therapy posted a source listing of starburst mirrors like the one shown above!

westminster 2011

©2011, Monika Roe

Ladybug doesn't understand why the pugs shown at Westminster on Monday didn't have tongues hanging out of their mouths. Isn't that part of the pug standard?

happy valentine's day!

©2011, Monika Roe

I feel so lucky to have found my Prince Charming almost a year ago! No more frogs!

lindsay lohan's dress of innocence...

©2011, Monika Roe

...by designer Kimberly Ovitz. This "Glavis" design is from Ovitz' pre-fall collection and retails for $575. Good luck getting one, they sold out once Lindsay wore it to her arraignment on Wednesday. Seriously. Lindsay chose this dress to symbolize her innocence and purity. Not kidding!

naomi campbell's diamonds

©2011, Monika Roe

Yesterday I saw yet another story about Naomi Campbell's alleged acceptance of blood diamonds from former Liberian President Charles Taylor and this illo idea popped into my head. 

If you haven't heard of this, it was a big story last year, I'm surprised it's still being talked about in the news. According to testimony during Charles Taylor's trial for crimes against humanity, several men came to Naomi's door in the middle of the night and gave her a bag of blood diamonds from CT. This was following a dinner given by Nelson Mandela in South Africa.

She said she received the stones but didn't know what they were. Other witnesses dispute her claim, saying she bragged to them about receiving the diamonds the following day.

Here I wanted to illustrate the late night event of some anonymous man dropping the bag of stones in her hand and the possibility that she may be a complicit thief. When an idea pops into my head like this I can see it very clearly and when bringing it to life if I have any questions I can refer back to the clear picture I have in my mind. Usually if I don't take the time to put the idea down on paper (or the computer) it will haunt me until I do!

look-a-like cloche

©2011, Monika Roe

What could be better than a cute, cozy hat to ward off winter doldrums? I saw this hat in an Anthropologie catalog awhile ago and decided to take on the challenge of recreating it for myself.

It's made from raspberry colored yarn and edged in fuzzy white. I made the flower embellishments from odds and ends of yarn and each one has sequins, beads or buttons sewn to it. It has a great vintage feel... I still love it! If you're feeling adventurous and have the urge to create your own, check out my pattern after the jump!

inca silver photoshoot

I had a great time over the weekend assisting photographer Loren David at a shoot for the band Inca Silver! They are an electro/indie/pop band from the Bay Area and they're getting ready to launch their new album, and music video. You can get their current album "Electric Summer" on Amazon.

This is a behind the scenes shot of Evan and Chris while Thia was in wardrobe. I can't wait until they launch their new material so I can share the final pix with you! If you ever have a chance to catch one of their live shows I guarantee you will be rocked by their talent! Their sound and showmanship is infectious...

the werewolf upstairs...

©2011, Monika Roe

...by author Ashlyn Chase was released this past Tuesday! If you like werewolves, ghosts, witches and shapeshifters mixed together with a ton of romance, this novel is for you! I also illustrated the cover for the first book in this series called "Strange Neighbors". The art director I worked with did an outstanding job on the type and layout, I love the end result!

©2011, Monika Roe

year of the rabbit

©2011, Monika Roe

Happy Chinese New Year! Don't clean for at least a few days, you don't want to wash away your good luck, fortune and money. Now that's a tradition I can uphold!

february love

©2011, Monika Roe

Don't wait until February 14th to show someone you love them. Make it a part of your daily practice! Practice makes perfect!