Just a quick post to get into the swing of things. Here are a few things done over the weekend as Fibers homework. Except the hive piece, that was my first fibers project. A woven project. The last is a caterpillar weaving his cocoon.
So yesterday I finally opened up an Etsy shop to sell some small felted things I like to make, and which are made quickly. Really I only had one item to sell, and so I snapped a few photos, payed 20 cents to post it, and up in my shop it went. After refreshing the page a few times over the next hour, I left for studio to continue working on my finals. Then around 3 I went with my roomie and a couple of her friends to see a movie, a comedy, and eat dinner. By the time I got back that evening the little owl had sold. Unexpected, but I was delighted. I hadn't advertised for my shop, hadn't participated in the forums, and hadn't even told anyone I had signed up for it. From what I can gather it's highly unusual to make the first sale so quickly. Most of the people I had heard from had taken weeks or month, with selling in one week being highly unusual.
So now I have another fuzzy creature up in my shop awaiting to be bought. He's a derivative of my owl. I call him a dust bunny for now. I'm not sure what he is really. Because I was experimenting a bit it took me 30 mins to do, and so I'm charging $6.
I'm also entering a state of limbo on what I want to do major wise. I'm quite unhappy in industrial design right now, but that might just be my particular classes now. Ideally I would like to major in Fibers with a minor in Toy Design. But well, toy design hasn't been fully written yet, and so...Also not sure how high I would have to go in id to take classes in it. But the Conceptart minor has definitely been approved for this fall, and my that is also sorely tempting. Ultimately I don't want to graduate later than spring '11, no matter how tempting the choices are.
I can't stop listening to "Across the Universe OST", the songs almost slip off my tongue. They make me happy, except when they make me sad as in the case of "Let it Be". But, well, I'll let it be for now...
Well now that I have a moment to myself I wanted to add the actual words to this post (I posted quickly so a friend could see the photos before she left).
The alpacas at the top was my first Color Theory project. The guidelines were to create two identically objects, one showing discordant (clashing) colors and the other harmonious colors. It's a fairly interpretive project, but I hope most people can see which is which with mine. (hint: saturated turquoise and yellow do not go well on an alpaca). Part of the guidelines was also to try something new or to branch out in our major or interest. I'm doing a minor in Fibers, so I wanted to do something along those lines. Unfortunately I know nothing about sewing/knitting/crocheting so my options were rather limited. I had previously done little pieces with felt needling (palm sized), but had never approached anything bigger requiring a metal frame. Well, that was my undertaking and while it took many many hours, I feel I still learned and improved my skill on it.
The elephants (I think of them as oilephants) were for my second Color Theory project. Again, two of the same things. This time one had to demonstrate light (tints) colors and the other dark (shades). The selection of fabric is deplorable in this town (as any Fashion major will tell you), so I was challenged just by finding my materials. I didn't want to use black, which caused some difficulty as that's the about the only consistent dark fabric around here. But I'm happy with what I did find and how I incorporated it. The two things I gained was the experience of finding different fabrics, and learning to sew! I've never done it before so it was quite an experience. My roommate showed me how to work the machines down at the Fashion building, so part of the softies were made there and part were sewn by hand. The craftsmanship isn't where I'd like it to be, but I think for a first try it was good. The pattern I used was drawn out myself, but referenced from a book. I think i modified it enough though to be considered my own. Regardless, I'm not selling them that's for sure. The dark one is going to a class mate, and the light one is reserved for my mum.
Wow, that was long.
Toodles
And to the couple of commenters I found:
I am floored! Thank you! I don't know how you found me at all really, this was just something I started to keep in touch with a few friends.
So here is my second attempt at creating a felt owl. First time sewing on buttons though. Total time was around 45 minutes, and that was because I didn't have my foam block and was trying to felt needle on my thigh (a very stupid thing to try btw). Also forgot to sew on the eyes before adding the grey, yes I am brilliant. So I had to felt over the thread I used to sew on the eyes...blahblahblahfelt.
Also pictured are my spoils from the yarn shop today. Wild Fibre. Accidentally went in while an Intro to Fibers class was taking place (they were doing a field trip). So I had to wait 30 minutes while the store owner measured out ounces of wool for twenty-odd people. What was amusing was that I had dragged Jacob along thinking it would only be a few minutes (I knew what I wanted, I just had to get it). So I got to do the whole boyfriend dragged to girly store. LULZ. Anyways there's my foam block (it's dark and hidden) which I am most excited about. <3 It's better than the previous thing I had felted on because it doesn't pull out the fibers so much on the wool, and also it's deeper. Oh I got longer needles too. And the one on the left is a knitting zine that looks neat-o. And the book to the right is this amazing read that profiles various artist and gives knitting patterns that are way too hard for me at the moment. One of the artist does some sort of guerilla-street knitting. Like, knitting around lamposts and such at night. haha.
And lastly is my tea cabinet, with three new mugs I got for Giftmas. Mom just shipped them to me the other day. I couldn't take them on the plane with me, but I'm very glad to have them now.
Oh, and I talked to a girly classmate today. Apparently I'm not the only one who gets tired and sore on the first week back to class because of riding their bike. Woo.
So after much pondering (or very little depending upon how you look at things) I've made my decsion.
I'm going to Germany. And then France.
I've decided to apply for the program in Germany because it's a shorter time (3 weeks as opposed to 9). This saves me money in tuition (Lacoste is SCAD's full tuition price plus various other expenses). And I think it will allow me a little more freedom in the long run. With the time and money I'll save from not going to Lacoste, I can spend going to France on my own terms. So, yes, the plans as they stand, have me going 3 weeks in Germany for the program and then a week or so traveling on my own in France. I'm not sure where I want to go. Paris, for all its fame, I am not too keen on. The French people and the Parisians are a different class all together really. I'm thinking either Nantes or Rennes (close to the northern coast).
Yes and so, and so...my hair is quite curly! I love this humid weather. I don't think the pictures do it justice. You'd have to feel it. Or, at least, that's how I pass the time. You'd think after a lifetime I would be used to it...but no.
And the yarn shop? Something Fabre I think it was called. I found it, hidden though it was. And it was gorgeous. This is what I got. A couple of scraps of fabric to make a softie, a cheap ball of yarn and some knitting needles.
And now it is time for me to figure out how to knit.
And my grey-scale in gouache. Ew.
So Christmas has finally come & gone. Now that I'm back "home" in Auburn I can finally take stock of what I accumilated over the winter break. Well, to be precise I already did the inventory yesterday while unpacking and rearranging things into a semblance of order.
It seems I came away with lots of tea, books, and music; which, in my opinion isn't bad at all. I discovered my favorite tea is Starbuck's "Bangkok", a mild sort of tea and very pleasent. Also received many little bags of a tea from Nepal. It's okay, not terribly exciting to be sure...
The first photo is of my humble collection of wool downing that I've been using to create small felt creatures with. Unfortunately I gave them all away before photographing them...
And those are all the books I either received or bought over the break. I think they will be occupying a nice bit of my free time.
Yes. So. And music? These are the newest tracks added to the iPod:
+"The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou OST" -- Just added, haven't listened to yet, but am looking forward to it.
+"Pan's Labrinyth OST" -- One word: haunting.
+ James Blunt "All the Lost Souls" -- Haven't listened to it enough, but I think these are some of the better pop love songs.
+"Across the Universe OST" -- Interesting listening to Beatle's songs in a new way...
+The Kinks "It's the Kinks" -- I'm surprised with my familiarity to some of the songs despite not having really heard of the band recently. They were part of the 'British Invasion', right?
+The Killers' "Sawdust" -- Some of the songs have a distinct country/western influence, which I liked a lot. I was disappointed by how some of their previous songs were put on the record (to fill up space?). But I know this is just a release to just hold me over until their new material...
+"The Darjelling Limited" -- Simply wonderful. I found a song who's message I aspire to be.
+Edith Piaf's "The Early Years" -- An acquired taste. Loved the way it sounds as if it is being played off of an old phonograph.
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