I have some exciting news to share! But first, a little background. I have always loved dress forms. Whether I see them in magazines, in boutiques, in fashion in general locations, or in books where creativity is focused. And I've always wanted one of my own. (I think they inspire the designer in me.) They've always been on the pricey side so I've always put off the purchase, wondering if it would be worth it...and what would I do with it? 

I recently started taking a fashion design and illustration course with Laura Volpintesta, founder of Fashion Illustration Tribe, and teacher at Parson's School of Design in NYC. Part of what we are learning is drawing fashion flats. So I decided to use some of my own wardrobe pieces to learn how the fashion I am wearing is constructed. That's where the dress form would be useful! 

So I did some shopping around and Joann's was having a half price sale on dress forms! Woot! So I shimmied my way over and got me one, in leopard print, my favorite animal print. Soooo excited! 

But, of course, once I did my flats for my fashion course, I decided I would use my dress form as my very own mannequin and dress it up with my daily wardrobe choices! I've even used it to see how well things would look layered, including the jewelry choices. I've been having a lot of fun dressing up my dress form! (I've called her Angela, just for the fun of it.) 

So I decided, since I'm on Snapchat, to take some OOTD snaps and post them on IG and then I figured I'd share them here at Refresh Daily. Now these are not 8 days in a row choices, but close enough. There were a few days I didn't have time to dress up Angela to show them, so there are a few I left out. But I had fun doing these! 

If you'd like to see my regular OOTDs on social media, you're welcome to follow me on Instagram at @RefreshwithDawnHerring and on Snapchat at @DawnHerring. 

I'm so thrilled that I finally found my dress form after all these years. It makes me smile when I look at it since it's been something I've been drawn to creatively and now I've got it! Sometimes when you follow your creative curiosity, it takes time to fulfill a passion or dream you have. But persist and don't give up. You never know when an opportunity will come along to make it possible.  

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Journaling Prompt:
Is there something that has inspired you creatively from a distance and now you have it in your possession? What was it like to finally have it in hand? What dream does it fulfill in your life? Do you have ideas for its use? What do you hope for the most with it creatively?

Art Journal Prompt:
Using an image of something you desire, create a spread showing why you love it so much and why it would have great meaning for you if you were to acquire it. If you have the item already, share what makes it so special. And have a special enjoyment for it right now as if you just purchased or acquired it! 

Journaling Prompt:
Do you find yourself purchasing items that inspire you in some way due to a feature that draws you and makes you happy even if all the elements of that certain something aren't perfect? Detail you latest find that fits this description and share why you choose to get this item even with its imperfections and how that makes you feel. Would you purchase that item again, knowing what you know about it? 

Art Journal Prompt: 
Use a page or spread in your art journal to showcase a recent purchase of something that truly honors Who You Are in any life dimension and include detail as to how it honors you and why you purchased it. You may want to mention any imperfections it may have. 

Copyright 2015 by Dawn Herring
Copyright 2015 Header Image by Dawn Herring
Copyright 2015 Photos by Dawn Herring
Note: Fabric design is not my own. Special Thanks to the artist who created this design! The brand of socks featured in the post are Photoreal by Xhilaration. 

I also wanted to show how the main featured top has the cut outs by the collar, the red tank I layered with as well as the necklace I chose for the jewelry enhancement (an Avon selection gifted to me by my sister) of this particular outfit.  I love red for its vibrancy so I wanted to accentuate the reds in the top with the tank and the necklace. I'm also wearing earrings that match the necklace not shown in the photo above. 

Now it's YOUR TURN! 

Journaling Prompt:
What kind of colors inspire you? Are they vibrant, bright and fun? Or are they more subdued, interesting and mysterious? Do you have these inspiring colors in YOUR wardrobe? What do these colors speak to you? What kind of action do they inspire in you? What Creative expression can you initiate with these colors? 

Art Journaling Prompt:
Take the same colors that inspire you and feature them especially in your next art journal spread to honor your preferences and show what they speak to you, either in cut out letters, stamped quotes, or a doodle dedication to all colors that you love and why you love them. 

Remember to give yourself permission to try some new combinations in your wardrobe. You never know what will make you feel absolutely fabulous! 

@2015 by Dawn Herring
@2015 Images by Dawn Herring
@2015 Header by Dawn Herring

 I  wanted to share a Fabulous Find of mine that I had been looking for in the last couple of years. Yes, it took that long, considering how picky I am about design, color/fabric and price. For the past few years, I used a tote I purchased at Walmart for $10. You can see it at the left. It has a couple of pockets and a zippered section and the rest is all open. It worked well for me until I added a journal to the mix. Then it felt like chaos reigned in my purse! I seriously needed some organization. 

So I was on the lookout for a new handbag that would help me get organized--you know, a place for everything. I would notice handbags that stood out to me which pretty fabrics and larger sizes when out and about. I noticed the ones I liked the most were Vera Bradley bags. Then a friend recommended I sign up for Zulilly  which hosts fabulous finds for great prices. So I signed up and waited patiently for Vera Bradely to be featured. 

Well, I FINALLY found what I was looking for! Yay! 

Again, I was picky about design, structure and price. I got this bargain for $30; it has sections to keep everything organized with zippered and pocket areas. It's absolutely perfect. 

I wanted to emphasize to you the importance of honoring your preferences (based on whatever budget you follow, of course). I saw many bags with colors and patterns that didn't suit me. 
Here's a list of what I didn't want:
Paisley
Dark backgrounds 
No organizing sections
Totes 
Backpacks
Too small or too large

Here's a list of what I DID want:
Vibrant colors like turquoise, gold, orange, and reds
Organizing sections with pockets
Large florals

It does take patience to find what you want when you're picky like me, but I still found it and now that I have it, it was worth the wait. Honoring your preferences is a way of appreciating yourself for Who You Are and What You Love. And not thinking you should like what everyone else is buying. Sometimes what you love may be hard to find. Keep looking until you hit the jackpot! Then Celebrate!

Journaling Prompt: 
List the qualities of something you really like that you've been looking for. Get as detailed as possible and express why these qualities are important to you. No detail is too silly or minor or dismissed. The more, the better! This is a way to see deeper into who you are and why you like what you like.  

Art Journal Prompt:
Get an image or draw an image of what you are looking for right now and use it as a focal point in a journal spread. Cut out words or doodle the qualities you love about what you want. And when you get it, celebrate with another spread focusing on your happiness and how you feel now that your desire has been met. 

Copyright 2015 Dawn Herring 
Copyright 2015 Images by Dawn Herring 

As you may already know, Refresh Daily is my artistic blog showcasing my artsy point of view in every life dimension that I enjoy sharing. So I've decided to share some of my wardrobe choices, which will, of course, include some of what I call my "Crazy Wear," which pertains to some of the wardrobe pieces I love that have lots of vibrant color and fun fabric choices when put together. 

So this is my first blog post featuring my Fun Fabrics and today's Juxtaposition features four layers. (My idea of juxtaposition is when I put two elements together that seem to contrast each other and yet, at the same time, seem to compliment each other uncannily.) Just a note: There has been a fabric trend going on in the fashion industry for several years now where seemingly contrasting patterns are being put together, so I saw that as permission to try stuff that might not be typical, sort of like an outside-the-box wardrobe choice. And, boy, am I having FUN with this! 

The top layer that's a bit darker so you may not see it clearly is the dark brown jacket I'm wearing to top of the wardrobe choices. (You can also see a smidge of it in the second image on the left side.) Got this jacket at Cynthia Elliot Boutique several years ago.

The next layer is the one with orange as the predominant color. It's a sleeveless tank with several layered frills which you can see more clearly in the image below. I think this is my favorite sleeveless dressy top since it contains many of my favorite colors, orange, yellow, brown and tan and the design element is simply fab. I got this piece at Khol's several years ago. 

But what I love about this piece is how it contrasts in a fun way to the bottom layer of the pants I'm wearing, which features Vera Wang's Princess Collection which I also purchased at Khol's a couple of years ago. I am a huge fan of print pants. I love the possibilities of what I can do with print on print. 

I think the tie-in of design visually for me with the sleeveless top and the print pants is the predominant design with the brown hue. They somehow seem to go together for me. I think this combo is one of my favorites. (You can see this most clearly in the first image.)

The layer between them is a tan tank I purchased at Cynthia Elliot Boutique about a year ago. The tank gives a reprieve of sorts from the juxtaposition of fabric designs between the sleeveless blouse and the pants. Sort of like a tie-in, if you will, that pulls it all together without visual overwhelm. 

I also wanted to share a visual of the necklace I often wear with this top, also a piece I purchased at Kohl's many years ago. I love this necklace since it combines wood, metal and beads in very cool earthy colors. I can wear it long, like I'm doing here, or I can wrap it twice for wearing just on the neck. I think it also ties in the fabrics with the color scheme for one fab look. 

Do you enjoy mixing and matching fabrics for a fun combination? Do you have any Crazy Wear pieces that make you feel fun and fab? 

I think the element I love the most about my wardrobe choices is that I can wear my favorite colors and honor myself as Artist in what I choose to wear. Folks often tell me that I dress like an Artist. I see that as a huge compliment! 

So, don't be afraid to mix things up a bit, try something new that just looks and feels good to you. Honor Who You Are by referring to your preferences. Take a pic to commemorate the occasion. 

(I did want to mention that my 21 Day Refresh Intensive includes a Wardrobe Element that is just plain fun!)

I always find myself inspired when I see other folks dressing in Fun Fabrics and vibrant colors, both women and men! So perhaps what I've shared here will inspire YOU. 

@Copyright 2015 Dawn Herring