I've gotten a lot of questions about how my new freelance job at Crate & Barrel is going so I thought I'd share.

The photo above shows my name plate to my office at Crate (that's what they call it there). That's right—I am working on site! I have a phone (although no one calls me yet) and my own Crate email (although I don't get many messages yet) and eat lunch with my fellow coworkers downstairs in the cafeteria. It's a dream to not only love what I do, but to also love the company that I'm working for. The people there are all so talented and welcoming. I drive home with a smile on my face every day. Can't beat that!  

I am still in a state of blissful shock.
Before I moved to Chicago, I was in contact with the creative recruiter for Crate & Barrel. Her and I chatted for several months and once I arrived in Chicago she was gracious enough to meet me in person. The photo above is from the day I visited. Months have gone by since then and I was sure that our meeting was all that was going to come from it. Its a dream of mine to design for home furnishings and interiors.

WELL! Today I got an email that I had to read several times to believe...they want me to start on a freelance design project! Yes. I still can't believe it, I am so incredibly excited! I am in love with this company's design aesthetic and how they enhance their customers' every day lives with their products. I am honored they want me on their team, even if it's just for a little while! Yeah, freelance!

No, you have not died and gone to heaven. This place exists. It's real. It's beautiful. It's the Chicago Botanical Gardens.

I took a Botanical Illustration class taught by my amazing instructor, Heeyoung Kim, and we took a field trip to this magical place to learn more about the anatomy of plants and flowers. I literally gasped (gasped!) when we entered this place. The outdoor (and indoor) garden is open year round for visitors and is a great place to sit down and sketch for a few hours. This Kansas girl has missed out on so much!

 Here is my instructor and a couple of classmates taking a break to enjoy the view.

I start the more advanced version of this class on Monday and cannot WAIT! Below are some photos of the class and some samples of my drawings.

Here are some snapshots of downtown Chicago around the holidays. The window displays, exterior, and interior of Macy's were so well crafted and inspiring I was compelled to take several photos...gorgeous! 

I noticed two trends for the Macy's displays: 

1. Color: Less is more with a simple yet impactful color palette repeated throughout. 

2. Display: The bigger the better.

Also, displays that move or light up in a special way seem popular. The white window display (below) caught several people's attention! You can't see it well, but there is a puppet dancing for its spectators.

If you're ever in Chicago a couple of weeks before Christmas, I definitely recommend you experience the Chicago holiday train! 

My husband and I tracked its schedule tonight and hopped on board for our ride home. The kids on the train of course could not get enough of it as the inside was also decorated with lights, tinsel, and bows! The seats were even upholstered with holiday fabric. While you're listening to Christmas music inside, you see people outside their apartments or looking out their windows to witness this Chicago tradition. You can track the train's route here. See if you can spot Santa waving hello as he whizzes by!

Can you guess one of my favorite colors is black? This style board is what I would wear to a holiday party or a fancy holiday dinner. Orla, J.Crew, Banana, and Target make a great combination! The prices range from $10 to $480. I bet you can guess which one is the most expensive. It starts with "O" and ends with "rla."

1| Orla Kiely Birdwatch Raincoat
2| Banana Republic Faceted Drop Earring
3| J. Crew Invitation Clutch in Suade
4| Essie Steel-ing The Scene Nailcolor
5| Target Women's Sheer Geo Tight
6| Orla Kiely Garden Bird Fairisle Dress
7| Target Merona Chenille Scarf
8| J.Crew Quincy Boots

My heart dies a little (in an oh-my-goodness-it's-so-beautiful-it's-painful sort of way) whenever I see new designs by Marimekko. I would do anything to be able to design for this Finland based design company. Wouldn't you? If you haven't heard of them, you've surely seen something by them with their iconic designs from the 50's, 60's and 70's without even knowing it!

You can get a sneak peek into how they work in their clip "Secret of Marimekko":

And I know you've definitely seen their goods in your local Crate & Barrel (another company I LOVE). How smart was this partnership?! Crate & Barrel and Marimekko joined forces in 1966 and haven't looked back. Oooooh....the color! The pattern! The PERFECTION!! You can check out the Marimekko shop on the Crate & Barrel site here. You're welcome.

*photos via www.marimekko.com and www.crateandbarrel.com