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! 

This is my first Periscope broadcast where I share a sneak peek of my current watercolor painting and discuss dry brush technique. (The Periscope broadcast on Periscopetv cuts out some of the footage, but this video was what was saved to my phone and its intact.)

As a watercolor artist, I am always thrilled to find books with watercolor as the focal point, ready to learn, find insightful tips and travels in the wonderful world of this vibrant and fun medium. So when I ran across Watercolor From the Heart by Barbara Nechis, I thought it would be a great read...and it was! 

The title drew me in with a focus on the Heart since I know from personal experience how valuable expressing yourself from the heart can be. (You can view my Refresh Daily Rewind Video on this subject.)

In Watercolor from the Heart, Barbara shares her thoughts on her watercolor journey, including her past teachers, the rules she learned and finding her authentic watercolor path. I really enjoyed diving into her past experiences and into what she thought was valuable experience for her as an artist. 

She also shares about the watercolor techniques she found fascinating that enabled her to find her signature style of sorts: using water to create shapes and edges that are the foundation of her fabulous layered paintings, which often feature soft edges of flowers, landscapes and still lifes. 

Many images she takes for reference are also highlighted as she talks about the importance of observing and taking photos of places and things that fascinate and fill the creative well. 

She touches a bit on using other media with watercolor, such as gouache, crayon and pencil and offers some fascinating design elements as well. 

There are step by step examples of her watercolor techniques and also ways to take advantage of watercolor issues that arise and make the best of challenges. 

I really enjoyed the journey with Barbara and I admire her authentic path as a watercolor artist. 

Copyright 2015 by Dawn Herring
Copyright 2015 Header by Dawn Herring 

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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

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