illustrations
Here are some quick illustrations I did a while ago with Prismacolors. They're pretty much just ideas to be expanded on...I was mostly trying to figure out how to use Prismacolors well (note the overlapping, ahh).
nesting doll project
I started (finally) on my blank nesting dolls that I've had for about a year. I decided to make them floral themed and the first/outside one that I've done is covered in camellia flowers, from the illustration I made last week. It's obviously not done yet...I'm going to add a face, decorations on the scarf, fix parts of the flowers, and lacquer it so it's shiny. I like it so far!
front & back
front & back
springg
I am so excited for spring! Today was 60F and it made me think about how awesome it's going to be in a month (it will be April!). This is the time of year when, instead of bundling up and kind of enjoying it, I get really annoyed that I have to wear so many layers and half of the time I wear inappropriate clothes that make me cold all day, just because I'm wishing it were that warm. Like how I always wear fall clothes that make me sweaty in the last days of summer. I should take this time to wear the things I won't be able to wear pretty soon, but I'm too excited for warm weather...plus, I'll be able to wear tights and hats for a while still. I just bought some spring/summer clothes on eBay and in H&M so I'm in the ~spring fashion~ mood right now. Here is what I want to wear this spring/summer --
1. My new ebay buys
2. My high waisted linen shorts! I wore these practically every day last summer, they're the most flattering thing ever. If I had a good tailor, I'd go get a copy made in denim.
3. Cute sandals (like these that I got a few weeks ago). Mine from last year (these from irregular choice) are totally falling apart.
4. Floral prints! I have always, always hated floral prints. I'm not sure why, but all of a sudden I'm in love with them. Not because they're "trendy" (what year are florals not trendy for spring...?) but maybe because I'm working with flowers so much on a daily basis. Who knows! Here are some of my favorites:
I refuse to buy into the gross 90s revival happening with the horrible school teacher dress prints and faded colors. I think I will forever be mostly in love with the 60s, but I can handle some 70s and 80s influences.
5.
That sweater (thrifted) with cutoffs and suede sandals!
6. Uniqlo colored jeans! I have to meet my goal of losing 15 pounds first, but then I am going to treat myself to one of these colors (no fluorescents/crazy bold colors for me, thank you)
- or - 
7. Summer dresses! I hardly wore these last year -
and I want to get more! Most of my dresses are "fancy" or too warm to wear when it gets super hot here.
8. The color lilac...I've become obsessed with it lately! On a related note, these two nail polishes I bought a while ago from ebay -
9. Sunscreen!
10. New sunglasses...I'm on a mission to find a cool pair. I will probably just hit up St. Mark's or Forever 21 because I can't justify more than $15 on a pair.
11. Super light wash cut-offs. I only have dark denim shorts, I am going to be skinnier (see #6), and I refuse to try to fight the oppressively hot weather by wearing pants and sweating to death.
PS. Soon, my backyard and the park will look like this again:
I can't wait!
1. My new ebay buys
2. My high waisted linen shorts! I wore these practically every day last summer, they're the most flattering thing ever. If I had a good tailor, I'd go get a copy made in denim.
3. Cute sandals (like these that I got a few weeks ago). Mine from last year (these from irregular choice) are totally falling apart.
4. Floral prints! I have always, always hated floral prints. I'm not sure why, but all of a sudden I'm in love with them. Not because they're "trendy" (what year are florals not trendy for spring...?) but maybe because I'm working with flowers so much on a daily basis. Who knows! Here are some of my favorites:
I refuse to buy into the gross 90s revival happening with the horrible school teacher dress prints and faded colors. I think I will forever be mostly in love with the 60s, but I can handle some 70s and 80s influences.
5.
That sweater (thrifted) with cutoffs and suede sandals!
6. Uniqlo colored jeans! I have to meet my goal of losing 15 pounds first, but then I am going to treat myself to one of these colors (no fluorescents/crazy bold colors for me, thank you)
- or - 7. Summer dresses! I hardly wore these last year -
and I want to get more! Most of my dresses are "fancy" or too warm to wear when it gets super hot here.
8. The color lilac...I've become obsessed with it lately! On a related note, these two nail polishes I bought a while ago from ebay -
9. Sunscreen!
10. New sunglasses...I'm on a mission to find a cool pair. I will probably just hit up St. Mark's or Forever 21 because I can't justify more than $15 on a pair.
11. Super light wash cut-offs. I only have dark denim shorts, I am going to be skinnier (see #6), and I refuse to try to fight the oppressively hot weather by wearing pants and sweating to death.
PS. Soon, my backyard and the park will look like this again:
I can't wait!
altered clothes
Last week, I altered some thrift store dresses I had lying around. They were mostly hugely oversized nightgowns or similar things, but now they're pretty cute!
I really need to buy an ironing board...
So I'm slowly learning how to be a better seamstress. I think. My goal is to be good enough to sell my reconstructed clothes on Etsy! Someday...
I really need to buy an ironing board...
So I'm slowly learning how to be a better seamstress. I think. My goal is to be good enough to sell my reconstructed clothes on Etsy! Someday...
print ideas
Yesterday, Matt taught me how to use Illustrator! Well, he taught me how to use the pen tool, which has always eluded me in my Photoshop studies (of the past 8 years or so). We're working on coming up with print ideas for our gocco so i messed around with some ideas and came up with these -
I'm trying to keep them one color because it will be easier for printing on the gocco but we have one with registration plates so it's not like it's impossible to do multiple layers.
Other than that, I have been making lots of healthy food...tonight we had shrimp with whole wheat pasta and cherry tomatoes with cauliflower on the side. And a mixed berry & fat-free yogurt smoothie!
Tomorrow I'm going to greenpoint to be an artist's assistant (sounds important, doesn't it?)...I hope it works out and I meet some cool people!
I'm trying to keep them one color because it will be easier for printing on the gocco but we have one with registration plates so it's not like it's impossible to do multiple layers.
Other than that, I have been making lots of healthy food...tonight we had shrimp with whole wheat pasta and cherry tomatoes with cauliflower on the side. And a mixed berry & fat-free yogurt smoothie!
Tomorrow I'm going to greenpoint to be an artist's assistant (sounds important, doesn't it?)...I hope it works out and I meet some cool people!
New Etsy
I finally took pictures of some of the vintage clothes I've been accumulating and put them up in an etsy store. Ebay is really not my favorite unless it's something I know will make a lot of money, like vintage shoes. Otherwise, it's so hit or miss whether an item will even end up selling and a lot of hassle and they take a pretty big percentage of your money. Etsy is a lot nicer and doesn't have as many problems.
So anyway, if any of this tickles your fancy, add me on there! Actually, just add me anyway so I can see your etsy too :)
So anyway, if any of this tickles your fancy, add me on there! Actually, just add me anyway so I can see your etsy too :)
jobs
After applying to, oh, 200+ jobs, and interviewing for 16 or so, I can safely say I really wish there were a more up-to-date and/or realistic career advice site out there. I don't know who the sites that I find are targeted to, but there are some major problems with them as I see it.
1. It's hard to find any sites that tell you how to address a cover letter when you don't know who you're sending it to. They suggest to search through the company to find the person. Newsflash, but this isn't the late 90s anymore - most people apply for jobs online and many of those jobs are completely blind applications. I almost never know what company I'm applying for until they call me back for an interview. How exactly should I find out who to address it to if I can't even find out what company it is? Not everyone is applying to a huge investment firm or something like that.
2. The suggestions for interview wear are COMPLETELY outdated. College sites say that women should a) wear hose at all times b) wear a matching skirt suit (never a business-style dress and god forbid pants!) c) carry a briefcase. Seriously? If I'm applying for a reception job at an audio production studio in Manhattan, you think I should bring a briefcase and wear hose? Once again, not everyone is trying to be an i-banker. Not many sites seem to realize this. Consider this picture -
I don't think I have seen a person wearing the "most recommended" outfit, ever, in this city. Maybe 15 years ago?
3. Out of all the "most asked questions" listed on these websites, I think I've been asked one once. Most interviews that I've been on are much more casual than the ones talked about by these websites. They usually ask me why I'm interested in the position, tell me to talk about my previous jobs, and ask if I have any questions. No "What is your worst quality?", no "How can you make our company better?", no "Describe a situation where you and your coworker disagreed and how you handled that". Once again...not everyone goes to formulaic interviews given by lawyers or something.
I mean, I guess I could be wrong since I haven't gotten a job (after the first one I applied and interviewed for, thankyouverymuch) so maybe I should look into buying one of those Star Trek-esque interview suits...Or maybe I should just start a career advice website for the "Young and Interesting" instead of the old and boring. If you can't beat them, join them?
1. It's hard to find any sites that tell you how to address a cover letter when you don't know who you're sending it to. They suggest to search through the company to find the person. Newsflash, but this isn't the late 90s anymore - most people apply for jobs online and many of those jobs are completely blind applications. I almost never know what company I'm applying for until they call me back for an interview. How exactly should I find out who to address it to if I can't even find out what company it is? Not everyone is applying to a huge investment firm or something like that.
2. The suggestions for interview wear are COMPLETELY outdated. College sites say that women should a) wear hose at all times b) wear a matching skirt suit (never a business-style dress and god forbid pants!) c) carry a briefcase. Seriously? If I'm applying for a reception job at an audio production studio in Manhattan, you think I should bring a briefcase and wear hose? Once again, not everyone is trying to be an i-banker. Not many sites seem to realize this. Consider this picture -
I don't think I have seen a person wearing the "most recommended" outfit, ever, in this city. Maybe 15 years ago?
3. Out of all the "most asked questions" listed on these websites, I think I've been asked one once. Most interviews that I've been on are much more casual than the ones talked about by these websites. They usually ask me why I'm interested in the position, tell me to talk about my previous jobs, and ask if I have any questions. No "What is your worst quality?", no "How can you make our company better?", no "Describe a situation where you and your coworker disagreed and how you handled that". Once again...not everyone goes to formulaic interviews given by lawyers or something.
I mean, I guess I could be wrong since I haven't gotten a job (after the first one I applied and interviewed for, thankyouverymuch) so maybe I should look into buying one of those Star Trek-esque interview suits...Or maybe I should just start a career advice website for the "Young and Interesting" instead of the old and boring. If you can't beat them, join them?
brown hair again
Today I re-dyed my hair! (my original hair color is light auburn and I've been dying it dark brown for the past 4 years or so.) I really just want to take a moment to appreciate Revlon Color Silk...
In the past four years, I've only gotten my hair professionally dyed twice (once to make it blonde and once to make it brown again after I was bored of blonde). Throughout this time, I've remained loyal to the same brand of hair dye over and over -
(that's the color I use, too!)
Why?
1. It costs $2.97
2. It doesn't have ammonia in it, so it won't totally ruin your hair
3. The conditioner that comes with it makes my hair shinier than it ever is normally, even if (according to my hairstylist) it can "leave deposits". I guess that means I need a clarifying shampoo?
Anyway, I don't think I'll ever stray from that gold box unless I suddenly become very wealthy and then I guess I'll pay someone to do it for me so I don't have to worry about missing spots in the back or getting dye in my eye as I rinse it out (it hurts) or getting spots all over the sink/rug/clothes I'm wearing.
In the past four years, I've only gotten my hair professionally dyed twice (once to make it blonde and once to make it brown again after I was bored of blonde). Throughout this time, I've remained loyal to the same brand of hair dye over and over -
(that's the color I use, too!)
Why?
1. It costs $2.97
2. It doesn't have ammonia in it, so it won't totally ruin your hair
3. The conditioner that comes with it makes my hair shinier than it ever is normally, even if (according to my hairstylist) it can "leave deposits". I guess that means I need a clarifying shampoo?
Anyway, I don't think I'll ever stray from that gold box unless I suddenly become very wealthy and then I guess I'll pay someone to do it for me so I don't have to worry about missing spots in the back or getting dye in my eye as I rinse it out (it hurts) or getting spots all over the sink/rug/clothes I'm wearing.
straying...
I guess I'm straying from the original point of this blog (to motivate me to accomplish things in my daily life) but what is life if not constantly evolving? ...Right? Ha, anyway, I still intend on doing that but hopefully nobody minds if I post other things as well.
Anyway, thanks to eBay, I turned these
(a $4.99 thrift store purchase)
into these -
(melissa & forever21, respectively)
But I am not nearly satisfied with my shoe collection :(. Considering how many clothes I own, I don't really have many pairs of shoes. I mean...I only own three pairs of heels and one of them is for interview purposes only (ugly)! I only have one pair of boots that be worn in snow (none in rain) and I have always lived in the north! I pretty much donated my entire shoe collection last year because they were all old and not at all my style anymore. I guess that's the problem with shoes...they're too expensive for me so by the time I can afford a pair I want, it's been too long and I don't really like them anymore. And even better than having shoes bookmarked that someday I might be able to afford is when I see them on street fashion blogs and have no idea where they came from...
(I seem to have a theme but I kind of need the green ones)
Anyway, thanks to eBay, I turned these
(a $4.99 thrift store purchase)
into these -
(melissa & forever21, respectively)
But I am not nearly satisfied with my shoe collection :(. Considering how many clothes I own, I don't really have many pairs of shoes. I mean...I only own three pairs of heels and one of them is for interview purposes only (ugly)! I only have one pair of boots that be worn in snow (none in rain) and I have always lived in the north! I pretty much donated my entire shoe collection last year because they were all old and not at all my style anymore. I guess that's the problem with shoes...they're too expensive for me so by the time I can afford a pair I want, it's been too long and I don't really like them anymore. And even better than having shoes bookmarked that someday I might be able to afford is when I see them on street fashion blogs and have no idea where they came from...
(I seem to have a theme but I kind of need the green ones)