I found my old sketch book from my younger days. At the time, I was living in Brooklyn, and I had to be around 11 or 12, maybe a little younger, but definitely not older, as we moved from Brooklyn when I was around 13.

For the longest time, I wanted to be a fashion designer! I wanted to live in NYC and go to the Fashion Institute of Technology. I loved fashion magazines and remember seeing vendors selling them out on the streets, down in the train stations or in the local grocery stores. My mom never purchased any magazines, so I was very excited when I got my hands on my first copy of Cosmopolitan. Not sure how I got it, maybe an older cousin or my neighbor. I can still remember slowly turning each page with anticipation. I loved the texture of the pages, the smell, and I just remember feeling so fancy. These may have been bridesmaids’ dresses. I had lots of older cousins either having sweet sixteens or getting married. It was a time of festivities. These look like fun party dresses. I remember really liking the one to the right with my chain straps. I might have wanted to be a hairstylist too! I’m loving the wide-leg pants here to the left and my chain straps again!I still can’t believe I drew a cigarette in her hand. It must have been inspired by my father, who always had a cigarette in his hands! She looked cute in her outfit.I went to a lot of weddings as a kid! I had thirty cousins in total, twelve from my mom’s side and eighteen from my dad’s side of the family. 
I can still remember a time in my life when I spent hours drawing and dreaming of a career as a fashion designer. Although I didn’t pursue that path, I still enjoy drawing and creating. I have many sketchbooks that I plan to start filling again. They say that the things you loved doing as a child often come back to you as an adult.