'In the same way that there's a partner for every person, there's a place.' Quoting Swedish poet Bodil Malmsten, Pretoria-born Carla Kreuser reflects on her affinity for the Mother City that she now calls home. A creative director at The Jupiter Drawing Room, Carla fills her sketchbooks by exploring the CBD on foot, absorbing all the city has to offer. 'I get inspired by beautifully crafted and well-thought-out work, and I try my best to do the same for my own projects,' she says – an effort clearly evident in her book illustrations.

Carla’s eclectic, feminine style also reflects her appreciation for Cape Town's creative talent. She turns to local designers for 'clothes that are worn by and flatter women, not girls'. Ideally, this means anything with pockets or that can be paired with her pink veldskoene.   She credits Brandt Botes and Garth Walker as having influenced her work but her study sabbatical to complete her master’s degree in illustration as having been the start of her artistic evolution. 'I'm learning to embrace not knowing exactly how a project will turn out and to trust the messy creative process,' she says.     Instagram @skallakind carlakreuser.co.za Originally published in HL July 2015   READ MORE: Textile elegance Art on a plate Italian battalion