Sometimes it's good to just dwell in your own creative meanderings now and then. And taking some time off helps to feel invigorated and inspired. Breathe in... breathe out... and doodle away! I always have skectchbooks aplenty lying around the house, and while looking through magazines or seeing something I'd want to try for myself, it's easier to just quickly scribble something down. Sketches are such a wonderful creative tool; they're pure expression, an attempt to capture the fleeting moment of an idea as it's touched your mind, and the drawing is just a light impression of it. Your mind will recall it in greater detail (hopefully) at a later time, when you revisit the scribble. It becomes like a visual footnote for a thought about to be realized, no?

How do you use sketchbooks for your creative process?

Jaunty Fine Print: illustrations by Denise Sakaki

The Magpie is flying the coop for a bit to spend time with family, so a parting Mood during the temporary hiatus comes from some inspiration via the world at large, beyond strides down a runway or a studied silhouette of fabric. Designers and creatives seem to find their muse within the thoughts and objects that populate the space beyond their familiar reach, and so it's encouraged to always keep one's eyes open to all things. I wanted to share some things I saw this week that made me stop and take a moment of pause. I also wanted to share one of my favorite songs by Sufjan Stevens called Chicago. His soft, modern folksy voice and gentle lyrics always puts me in a hopeful mood when I'm ready to go on a trip or do something new, and I hope it inspires you in a similar way.

(Chicago, written by Sufjan Stevens)
I fell in love again
All things go, all things go
Drove to Chicago
All things know, all things know
We sold our clothes to the state
I don't mind, I don't mind
I made a lot of mistakes
In my mind, in my mind

You came to take us
All things go, all things go
To recreate us
All things grow, all things grow
We had our mindset
All things know, all things know
You had to find it
All things go, all things go

I drove to New York
in a van, with my friend
We slept in parking lots
I don't mind, I don't mind
I was in love with the place
In my mind, in my mind
I made a lot of mistakes
In my mind, in my mind

You came to take us
All things go, all things go
To recreate us
All things grow, all things grow
We had our mindset
All things know, all things know
You had to find it
All things go, all things go

If I was crying
In the van, with my friend
It was for freedom
From myself and from the land
I made a lot of mistakes
I made a lot of mistakes
I made a lot of mistakes
I made a lot of mistakes

You came to take us
All things go, all things go
To recreate us
All things grow, all things grow
We had our mindset
All things know, all things know
You had to find it
All things go, all things go

You came to take us
All things go, all things go
To recreate us
All things grow, all things grow
We had our mindset
(I made a lot of mistakes)
All things know, all things know
(I made a lot of mistakes)
You had to find it
(I made a lot of mistakes)
All things go, all things go
(I made a lot of mistakes)