Off Days

I have been experiencing some pretty bad allergies as of late so I have been neglecting the blog. Sleep deprived and exhausted I am truckin' on but it's tough. I was working in our fancy courtroom this week when I noticed the little instruction drawing on the chairs. Through sleep delirium I chuckled like a school girl at a dirty joke when I saw this:
It appeared on the lever that adjust the seat up and down. I took a picture of it with my phone but the image was so horrible I threw it in AI and recreated it. I have been working on some projects but I haven't taken any photos (apologies) maybe this weekend! Happy Friday!

Neat and Nifty

Today, in the lovely cyber world, I discovered mixed-media artist Stephanie Levy. Her work is very light and airy with various layers. I can even sense the multitude of textures used in her work which I'm sure are magnified when viewed in person. On the brink of beginning my Etsy store, Levy's work has inspired me and added fuel to my creative fire (Hooray for cliche Tuesday)! Here are some examples of her work:

BFF

My best friend, Casie Jo, now lives miles away from me. We have been friends since second grade! I miss her dearly and wish I had the time and money to go visit her. She lives with her boyfriend Taylor and I made her this on a whim because I was bored and I wanted her to know I was thinking of her. She loves it!

Breaking Down

Today I broke down and purchased an iPod dock for my studio. It was relatively expensive for my frugal heart but I think it's worth it. I have already hooked it up and I am enjoying it as I type this. Music is so motivating! It also has a remote which is great, while I am working I can put the iPod on shuffle and skip songs that I'm not in the mood for. So exciting, buyers remorse hasn't set in and I figure I'm helping this broken economy. Ha! Oh and in case you were wondering, it's made by Philips and I bought it from Target.

Updates

A little 'sneak peek' into the project I will be trying to spark on Etsy.com: I have been making stencils like crazy. I could really use the Quickutz. stencil cutter to save time, but lacking big money inhibits this. The alternative? Printing my designs onto transparencies and breaking my back cutting them out with an exacto knife. I was conscience enough to stick to 90 degree angles....thank goddesses. Here are some examples of the designs:

Here is what they look like as they turn into actual stencils:

I Heart Classic Cars

I grew up around classic cars. My mom inherited her grandpa's car which was purchased new off of the showroom floor in 1966. It's a 1967 Nova SS (which is odd considering my great-grandfather was in his late 60's when he made the purchase, guess it was a delayed mid-life crisis) and today it only has 80k original miles, it's a Beaut! While I love the nostalgia and history of my mom's car I still claim my dad's 1967 Chevelle SS (396 big block). There is just something about that car, perhaps the big engine and the torque that the Nova lacks, but I love it! Unlike my mom's car, the Chevelle needs a restore but my dad has been to tight to fork out the money. Maybe someday I will make enough money to spot him and then we can really enjoy it. Here's a peak:

Before and After

I have been working on redoing a utility stool. I sort of appropriated it from my mom who got it from her grandfather. I have used the stool for all of my home projects, I must say it's very handy. That being said it deserved a little TLC.

A detail of the cushion.

Update

Picture of the 'New to me' couch. It needs new cushions but it should be fairly simple to replace the foam. Other than that I decided not to reupholster the fabric is in decent shape and the colors are perfect. Also a photo of the new lamp in my studio. Can't wait to start organizing and hanging things on the pegboard.
On a side note I do intend on getting rid of those wretched mini blinds but I haven't decided what would look best. I was thinking about hanging some sort of shade as curtains aren't very practical for a window behind a couch. I would like something that would allow sufficient light during the day but privacy when needed. Ideas welcome. Notice a recurring them in my photos? I have a little four legged friend that is attached to my hip. I love her as much though so it's no bother!

Road Trip

Saturday we (mom and brother's g/f) took a road trip down to IKEA. Fortunately, I got out with only spending a little over $100, YAY! There are so many things I had to resist but I bought a couch last Friday (pictures to come) so that ate up some of the money I had set aside for IKEA. Here are a few things I bought:

The Tertial for my studio (it looks great in there and it's so practical for intricate stuff). 3 Asker containers for the pegboard in my studio. Prefect for pencils, paint brushes etc.The Minde mirror. Can you believe we have lived in our house over a year and didn't have a full length mirror until now? I haven't decided if I want to make a nice frame for the mirror or just use the simple wall mounts. It was a busy Valentine weekend. Hope everyone's was joyful!

Fine Art

My life has been filled with large home decorating projects and small crafty things and it's time I start thinking conceptually. I have began thinking about my next painting adventure and I'm getting pretty excited to pull that easel out of the garage. I want to get my Etsy shop started first but I plan on starting a set of painting in a couple of months. Here is a bit of a teaser (I haven't entirely grasped the execution of the theme so it's still in the "secret stages."):

Transformations

I have been on the prowl for a "new" sofa. One of my friends posted on facebook that she was giving away her porch couches. I contemplated them for awhile because they makeup a decent, mid century sectional which makes them quite versatile and...the best part, they are FREE! I ruled them out for a couple of reasons, mostly because they were outside, and while covered, there is no telling how many feral cats have lived out their dreams on or around these couches. Another reaso being that together, they would be to long to fit into my living room and it would akward to have a sofa that is obviously missing it's other half, right? Right...until I came up with design transformation:


I thought I could build a table on one side and out some short spindle legs to lighten the piece and Voile! I thought some simple/neutral fabric would be nice since so much of my stuff is heavily patterned. I want something that is be tone on tone. I would prefer a nice tweed but I didn't come across any great pieces while I was scowling textile sites today. I think I will do a drive by tomorrow and see how filthy the sofas are (or are not, hopefully) and go from there. The inspiration couch came from ebay. Get a close up of the fabrics from (left-right) Studio Bon Textiles, Elanbach: Fabrics from Wales, and Of the Young & the Restless

Spark

As noted in earlier post, one of my many on going projects is the gallery wall in my living room:

I have been working on pieces for this space and in the process I discovered a theme. I know you are suppose to start with an idea/theme but since this was an informal art project (teetering on the border of 'craft' project) I decided I would just work freely without being overwhelmed by portraying an overall concept. I think it worked well as my subconscious gathered it's own theme...family. Here is one of the pictures that will eventually become part of the gallery wall once I make/find a frame for it.
Forgive the horrible photo but right now it's all I've got. It's a spark plug! I know, I know, How can this represent family? Well my parents own an equipment rental store and have taught me to appreciate the hardworking, classic car driving, "average" American. I have always love classic cars (my favorite being '67 Chevelle SS, in case you were wondering) and grown up around power tools and the spark plug represents this aspect of my family as well as the dichotomy between masculine an feminine. I have other pieces I have been working on and will post soon, I will also try to get a better photo of this piece.

Art School

More 'spring cleaning' I found a folder with some images from my first etching class. I decided that etching was just to time consuming and I needed something more immediate so I began Serigraphy and fell in love (Plus I adore combining technology and art and I became a huge fan of Adobe Illustrator). I love the line quality you can achieve through etching but again, working with acid and toxic hard/soft ground wasn't for me. I did spill hard ground all over my legs and feet one day...the single occasion in which I had a skirt on YAY, go me! Without further ado:
Oh, I found some linoleum prints in the same folder, they were the first project we did in Etching to get us accustom to using/adjusting the press. I think these are fun and graphic but they don't capture the greatness that is lino cutting (they lack the mark making needed to create a successful lino cut).

These are circa 2006.

Vivid Dreams

Last night/early this morning I had some really scary dreams. They involved several bad omens: snakes, gun, loss of loved ones, I hope they stay dreams. It started with a strange dream involving a random guy that I have seen at work (he is not even an acquaintance, just someone I have seen amongst the other law students) he had some scissors and cut a chunk of his hair. It was strange, I have yet to figure out what this means. Perhaps it signifies changes maybe in appearance or maybe it means illness, or mental unrest. There was also the presence of a hand gun in this part of the dream. I don't recall who had the gun or it's significance in the chain of events. I don't remember it being used, just an appearance.

After these occurrences the scene shifted to horror. I remember being outside at a picnic table with my b/f, Joey and his friends. It felt like a birthday party buy the sky was a dark grey, some clouds were even black. I remember feeling very perturbed by the sky and then snakes started falling out of the trees and I ran inside. Zola, my dog, was also there and she chased after me as I ran inside. She didn't make it as a giant constrictor grabbed her. I watched, and oddly, it seemed to be playing with her. I tried to get her to come inside and she wouldn't. I would later coax her in through a window. After this there were snakes everywhere they started coming inside and I remember shouting at Joey to get his BB gun (he doesn't even have a BB gun).

Thankfully, I woke up shortly after the snakes started coming inside but the entire dream (from the weird haircutting to the snakes everywhere) felt very chaotic and I was in a constant panic. Perhaps it regards the life decisions I have been stressing over lately, I am open to interpretations. Here is a quick drawing of the imagery, just picture this intensity and disturbance in reality:

"Hard Days Night"

How is it that I can work a 12 hour day and still have motivation to do this?:

First, all the hard work to decorate my studio has made me want to hang out and do crafts.

Secondly, I really need a design job to fulfill my passion and since I don't have one I have to do it when I get home (even if that is after working a ridiculous 12 hours).

Third and lastly, I plan on starting an Etsy store soon...ideas and pictures to follow.

"Pre-Spring" Cleaning

Today I was cleaning files from my computer and I came across this file:

This was one of the first things I created when I began using Adobe Illustrator. I was working as a student employee at the College of Law and they asked me to create a law related graphic for some project and this one of ideas I came up with (I don't remember what the project was or which design we chose). The green owl is specific to OU Law (there is a long story involved) and signifies their rivalry with the engineering school who continues to paint the Law school owl perched on the facade green (engineering school colors, I believe). The Law school continued to remove the paint until recently, they decided it was all in vein so it remains green today. Either way I found this image and it made me smile. Happy Hump Day!

Peace or Justice?

This is not a fun post. Last fall I decided I wanted to go to law school and after many excruciating hours of studying for the LSAT I was still gung ho. Today, this week, and this year have made me reconsider my choice. Like many with financial responsibility, I have hit a rough patch. I realize that not only will I be committing myself to 3 long, hard years of study but more importantly, many, years of future debt. I just don't want to burden my family with helping me through another degree, they did with a bachelors and they are certainly not obligated to help me pursue an advanced degree.

Beside the finance I have discovered that my heart may not be into it. I thought the hardest part would be the LSAT (which in calculable terms it is) but my personal statement has really been the most difficult fork in this road. As I started to write it I realized that my reasons for wanting to pursue the degree were monetary and unlike my bachelors, I lack some aspect of passion that may be required to make it through. Granted, I didn't have a clue what I would do with a Fine Art Degree (still don't) but it felt right and I was 18. Now (23), considering accumulating 60-90k in debt and possibly not enjoying my career choice just seems to risky.

I have invested a lot of time and money (by my standards) on prep course and electronic data assemble that I feel obligated but is that really a reason to continue this charade? Tomorrow I may wake up really wanting to go to law school (working at the law school and seeing the dedication of the students and dreaming of a life of wealth certainly doesn't help me make the right decision) but today I would like to continue a life of IT and possibly pursue web development and an e-commerce business. I know there are bigger problems in the world, but right now I can't decide on what path to take. Soap box closed! Insight welcomed....

Wish List

Being a serigrapher at heart I will always love the stencil. Since I graduated last May I have no access to a print studio (sad face). To fulfill my fix I have been making "make-shift" stencils and spray paint. Today I came across QuicKutz Silhouette Craft Cutter and I must have it. My mom asked me if I would like to have the Cricut cutter for Christmas but I didn't want to be restricted by there software and images. Apparently, QuicKutz allows one to import their own images which is really exciting. I think this cutter and a wacom tablet would put the finishing touches on my sewing/craft studio. Here are a couple of examples of my spray paint stencil work:

New Hair

I got my hair cut and colored last Saturday. I did take some better pictures with my real camera over the weekend but with all of the festivities of the weekend I didn't get a chance to upload them so I took these at work. The quality of my camera phone (like many) is terrible but I adore the grainy,overexposed look. It reminds me of my parents photo albums from the mid seventies. My hair style didn't really change I guess it was more of a trim but the color is quite a bit darker. I am please even if I do look even more ghostly.

Update:
A better photo.