Jessica's Little Shop of Illustrations

I am so thankful that no one is here to see me right now!  "Glamour" is not the word that would be used to describe me as I type this up in my ratty pajama bottoms and non-mix-and-match bra.  (Read this to understand! lol)

But when I first saw Jessica's work, it made me feel glamourous again.  I had to shake my head to clear the reverie of dancing early into the morning with my husband, having the onlookers sigh and wish they were as in tune as we were with each other.  Now it's my turn to sigh.  But being a mom has taught me patience, even though there were some who said it couldn't be done. :)  One day, I shall rise up out of this rocking chair, and don my high heels and chiffon once again!  Surely I can find another old black woman to croon out forgotten jazz music on her antique piano at Mario's Italian Restaurant and have her be astounded at us two white folk with a love and a rhythm for the soulful songs of her childhood.

And when that day comes, I hope to be wearing one of Jessica's creations!  But I'll have to find someone to make it for me, because these are just illustrations!

After reviewing her work, her shop, and exchanging some convos with her, here are the questions that came to my mind about her and her work.  Her responses are in blue.

The first question that comes to my mind is do you actually have dresses like the ones you create on paper?

I actually love to dress up, and I worked at Anthropologie for a while and got some killer dresses and skirts with my employee discount. There is something special about how a well cut dress design can make a woman feel when she slips it on. However, I don’t own anything haute couture, which a lot of my illustrations are heavily inspired by. I think haute couture is an art form, and I like to create illustrations that reflect my love for that type of design.

You’ve got to be a classic movie fan, back when women weren’t afraid to embrace their beauty with dresses and elegance. What’s one of your favorites?

Oh, yes! I love the way Grace Kelly is dressed in Rear Window, and it’s an exceptional movie. Other movie favorites include Roman Holiday, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, and Dolce Vita. I have an admiration for the way European woman dress and so I love European films from the 50’s and 60’s. I think that we as woman have such a tool to create confidence in our lives by putting time into looking attractive. Why not? We only have one body, one life and why not embrace your own beauty and put on a pair of heels and red lipstick every now and then?

I’m always looking for great new Indie artists. I stumbled across Kristy Kruger a few years ago and I absolutely love her music. What really spurred my love for her music was getting to hear her interview about her album "Songs from a Dead Man’s Couch". Do you have a favorite music artist that closely resembles your own outlooks on life?

I discovered Cat Power a few years ago on Austin City Limits, and I really loved her music from the second I heard it. Lived in Bars is my favorite song of hers. And although I can’t relate to her years of alcoholism, I can relate to her struggle to share her work, her tendency to feel discouraged and not as confident as she wants to be. Don’t we all have bouts of self-doubt? She is a true gem, and her music is so subtle and beautiful.

What is your favorite piece from your shop?  I personally covet the butterfly dress! After being in my "mom" clothes so much of the day (um, like all of it!), I long for those long, romantic nights that my husband and I used to have. We were always the best looking couple in the room, even if it was just a low-rent pool hall, lol. Just looking at your art makes me feel beautiful again! We used to dance the night away (not no hip-hop bump-and-grind but to real music –Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, Etta James, Ray Charles.) We even installed hardwood floors throughout our home, so we would always have a good place to dance. Do you know where this is going? Now we don’t have any time to dance, lol! Sometimes we get a short song in while I’m cooking supper, but mostly the hardwood floor gets its love from Gigi’s tricycle, lol.

I think Peacock Couture is my favorite. Partly because I think it is my personal best so far. To me, it reminds me of how far I’ve come with my artwork. I love the fusion of nature and fashion in my illustrations, and Peacock perfectly showcases that. (shown at top)  I'm so happy my illustrations make you feel beautiful!

I hope you have enjoyed getting to know Jessica and lust over her work as much as I have!

To find out more about the inspiration behind her work and her in general, check out Jessica's profile. 

Click here to see one of her pieces in the treasury "Nighttime is My Time".

Now go dig out those pumps and get to cleaning house!