A quick 4 minute sketch while at Starbucks. I like the heaviness and darkness of the line so I left the sketch as is. For a larger image click here.

Labels: business, illustration, journaling, meeting, Starbucks

Today is my birthday; I turn another year older and it occured to me that from now on I want my birthdays to move along at a snail's pace...really slow! Vintage queen of the escargot!

Labels: "children's illustration", birthday, illustration, snails, vintage

I am thrilled to be a participating artist in the " Paper Quilt Project" for the month of July, 2007, organized by Dawbis who is also an artist/environmentalist. I've just completed my "quilt" and will be sending it off in the mail tomorrow. The papers below are most of what I was sent in order to complete the project entitled, "A Day in My Life." The rest of the papers have already been used in the piece above. Whatever I created with these papers was of my own choosing.

I am fascinated by the Japanese and their culture and the stories of the Geisha. The most recent movie, "Memoires of a Geisha" comes to mind. Though I have never wanted to be one, I have tried to capture the essence of "Geisha-A Day in My Life" in my paper collage.

For more artist's works at the Paper Quilt Project and/or if you would like to be a part of the project visit Flickr.

Dawbis, I popped it in the mail today and it's on its way to you!

Labels: "Paper Quilt Project", collage, Geisha, illustration, Japanese, Maggie Summers, paper

Getting back to the basic technical skill of drawing feels so good. The way I like relax is to sketch and my favorite place to sketch people is at Starbucks, sipping a yummy hot latte, mmmmm. This was a quick 5 minute sketch to which I added some color as I loved the red sweatshirt she was wearing from Aeropostale. I love their t-shirts too, especially this Pink Shoulder Script Baby T. They're nice and long and go great with low riding jeans. What do you do to relax?

Labels: Aeropostale, illustration, Maggie Summers, Margaret Albert Summers, sketch, Starbucks, study, university

Finally, the "Springtime" piece finished! It has been on my drawing board for awhile and is it vintage- oh yes! I love "wellies" or wellington boots for gardening and buying the little seed packets of my favorite flowers. You plant them in tiny pots of dirt and watch them grow indoors, then plant them when they're ready in your garden. Click here for a close up.

Labels: flowers, gardening, illustration, Maggie Summers, pansies, poppies, springtime, wellingtons

A time of change. In April, I created new business cards from one of my Marie Antoinette illustrations. I thought long and hard about the new image I wanted to project and this couldn't have represented my most recent work more perfectly. Don't you agree? As ever, my work is constantly changing and evolving and in time I'll be building a new website at designerm dot com reflecting my new style.

Labels: "Margaret Summers", Design, designerm, illustration, Maggie Summers

Laura,

Remember I said I wanted to be a butterfly on a flower at your daughter's wedding? I've found the perfect dress! Incredible isn't it? Dress by Luly Yang Couture in Seattle with the perfect slingbacks, photograph taken by velogirl. Ok, so it might be a bit flashy for the wedding but I'll be in camoflague won't I? :)

Visit Lauralines for all the wedding details.

P.S. I can promise you'll be reluctant to leave her site once you see her beautiful illustrations and watercolors.

Labels: butterfly, illustration, lauralines

Another illustration in my "Marie Antoinette" series. The verse reflects how I feel about my work: "Let the beauty we love be what we do." ~Rumi~

I'll also be adding some 3-dimensional embellishments to the this piece which I will post later when finished.

Labels: cards, illustration, Maggie Summers, Margaret Albert Summers, marie antoinette, vintage

Labels: bunny, cards, Easter, illustration, Maggie Summers, Margaret Albert Summers, vintage

I've been health and nutrition consious all my life. My day is "totally" about starting with a good breakfast - and my favorite cereal. I top it off with fresh blueberries (great antidioxants) and flaxseed (lignin) and cold skim milk. This combination is a must for me and a great way to start the day!

Labels: advertising, illustration, Maggie Summers

Inspired by the movie "Marie Antoinette" (starring Kirsten Dunst), a 14-year old Austrian who married Louis XVI and later became queen at the age of 19. The period costumes and settings are absolutely gorgeous and he story fascinating yet so tragic.

Having grown up in a family who loved the victorian era and anything elegantly antique I too carry the love of all things victorian and french.

What better than a travel dress for the sophisticated woman of royalty with compartments to hide one's most valuable treasures, toiletries or to tote a beloved pet.

Labels: Illustration Friday ~ Hide, vintage illustration

Labels: cards, contemporary victorian, hide, illustration, Maggie Summers, Margaret Albert Summers, marie antoinette, travel dress, vintage