| A wanderlust portfolio |
[Feb. 11th, 2008|10:46 pm] |
Hello there! First things first, the temperature in Vegas has been oh so delightful this past week. It is such a delight to walk outside the restaurant for a few minutes as I wait the patio tables. So fresh, so crisp, so... NOT humid at all. If Vegas can boast one great thing, is it's weather (for the grand exception of the month July, *shudder*). Once Spring or Fall rolls along, you never feel guilty for staying home on a lovely Saturday afternoon, 'cause you know the next will be just as nice.
That is exactly how I felt this first great weekend of 2008, because I became a hermit as I redesigned, rather extravagantly, my professional portfolio. Gone are the distracting bold colors and patterns. Instead, this new design reflects my current school of sophistication. Besides, my images are obnoxiously bright and colorful enough. They speak a thousands loud songs by themselves.
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So please, I invite you to hop on to my little corner of the world and provide me with any suggestions, glitches, whatevers before I complete the DESIGN section of the 'folio.
Secondly, I'd like to share with y'all this most fantabulous video my good friend Jo sent my way, a friend in need of a sign, of inspiration, of excitement. So many of my friends, including yours truly, are riding this unstable wave of utter confusion. Quarter-life crisis, they call it, those other friends who discuss life's issues around the watercooler or over Grey's Anatomy while sitting in the sofa with their spouse. Those friends who seem to have it all figured out.
We don't have it all figured out because we have so many darn options, and the notion of chilling in bed seems more appealing than thinking, that we don't exactly know where the times will take us next. So we appear to be in limbo. We ain't. We're here. We're just different.
Wouldn't it be marvelous to pack two pairs of jeans, four or five t-shirts, good shoes, deodorant, toothbrush, underwear, a jacket, a journal, a camera, a wallet with ID, passport, some money and whatever other essentials you might need and just...GO. Where? Who knows. But just GO. I'm still fuming about my car having died before embarking on my super road trip from good ol Georgia to exciting Vegas last summer, leaving me no option but to fly out here. Ugh. I wanted to see Graceland!
When 2008 began (and I'm sorry I'm babbling by this point), I said this would be my JUST DO IT year. The emoness and insecurity of 2007 are buried and I learned from them. To my surprise, I've already DONE IT. There are photographic opportunities happening in the next few months, am improving my health and beauty (yay for laser hair removal and learning how to put eyeliner on!), my kindred spirit Sarita from Canada and I are starting an Earth-shattering zine (we're also musing the idea of a road trip. I say, begone with musing! Let's do it!). And who knows... maybe this will be the year of Star Magnolia, who knows.
About 8-ish months ago, my ex-roommate and I moved away from Savannah, Georgia to our respective destinations. We took baby steps. Scary and relieving baby steps. This year, we will run. Hopefully, won't trip along the way, we're kinda clumsy like that. And hopefully there will be lots of cupcakes along the way, too mmmm cupcakes.
But yeah, this is to my Tamara, to my Janice, to my Sarita, to my Jo, to my Rafa, to my Gregory Harold, to my Agmar, to my Siegfried (love how I've mentioned two ex-boyfriends of mine), to my Heather, to my Tuberculosis Brennan... heck, I dunno, who else is lost and confused and so happy to not fall prey to life's monotony? lol Well join me as I raise my... bottle of Arrowhead water (where's my damn whisky at) in honor of our respective quarter-life crisis and all the stories we shall tell to our grandchildren (or nephews for those of us who cringe at the thought of children).
ROCK ON.
WOw I just wasted like an hour or so of my life writing this and watching hilarious Picard YTNMDs.
Thirty minutes after originally writing this entry on my blog, I found a fortune cookie slip from a few days ago (I keep ALL of them). The message written is: You will take a pleasant journey to a place far away". Well look at that, huh. |
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| Sophisticated art and thrifts |
[Feb. 2nd, 2008|11:40 pm] |
For reasons unknown, my art has taken a rather sophisticated but whimsy approach in the past year or so. I'm unsure why, seeing as I've never ever been sophisticated. My mother still yearns for the day when I act like an actual lady. Sorry mami, not gonna happen.
A few weeks ago (or months, can't remember) I began to sketch a series featuring a very sophisticated Victorian bird in her meanderings around the world. This... is The Bird and her Headdress.
I enjoyed drawing these, perhaps I shall illustrate the rest sometime soon before the Bird decides to leave my life.
This quaint little brooch was finished in December and I love it very very much. ^_^
Mirror, sauces and glass jars all thrifted. Camera certainly NOT thrifted. At all.
The little beings that inhabit my life. Thrifted wooden house with figurines I've collected over the years. ^_^
That's enough for today. Must go to bed. |
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| I love textile design |
[Feb. 2nd, 2008|11:22 pm] |
Ohh how much fun I am having designing patterns and the such. I guess maybe I miss school. You know, the whole learning part. Which I didn't do much of.
I kid, I kid.
Anyways, been learning more about textile design. So I decided to give one of my patterns a try on actual fabric. And here it is. I missed block printing so bad.
I'm not a big fan of red, but I couldn't help it this time. The pattern is inspired by my love of heirloom tomatos :D
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| Miss me much??? |
[Jan. 25th, 2008|04:00 pm] |
WHY HELLO THERE Live Journal friends! How are y'all doing today? Happy new year and all that fun stuff.
For some odd reason, Firefox crashes when I try to access LJ, so I hadn't been able to post since Thor knows when. So now I'm using Safari for LJ. You'll be able to read about my fantastically wonderful confusing life even more. I know y'all missed that.
I do have another blog, what I call my "real" blog. It's Star Crafty and it is hot bananas y'all.
Okay that's all. Please tell me what has been going on in y'alls lives! |
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| Beginning 2008 |
[Jan. 25th, 2008|03:45 pm] |
Originally posted on Star Crafty on January 23 2008
Images from a lovely wedding I photographed late November
Psst. Hello there. Miss me much? I've been around. My mother and cousin have been visiting us since December 31st and will be leaving today. That explains my harrowing absence from the net.
I feel like 2008 has not yet started for me and come tomorrow a whole lot of planning and thinking will commence.
And I am scared.
Will I stay in Vegas past June? If not, where will I move? How will I fund this move? Will I finish the textile portfolio in time before The Company begins its hiring process in February? Should I even apply for a 9 to 5 job, even though it would be a fantastic opportunity? Should I even bother to open a small etsy shop these next few months before AND IF I get hired? Should I just follow my dream and forego any scenario that will further delay my Star Magnolia?
I tell ya. These are tough times! Thankfully I had lots of fun (and excessive Puerto Rican food) these past 3 weeks. I will miss my Mom in the kitchen (lol) and my cousin's randomness. :(
From tomorrow on, I will submerge myself in textile books and my serving job. It's going to be EXTREEEEEEEEME.
In the meantime, VOTE RON PAUL 2008!
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| Holiday Cupcakes |
[Jan. 25th, 2008|03:44 pm] |
Originally posted on Star Crafty on December 27 2007
For my third attempt at baking cupcakes, I actually used an electric mixer. Gasp! Yes, the thing was lying around the kitchen for months and I had no idea! So I used it. And this time, the result was MUCH BETTER. Very little mess. Sadly. I like flour messes.
They were quite the hit at my friend's Christmas dinner. Oh and finally own a cake stand! How quaint!
I smell dainty little postcards on the way!!!
Oh and can I just say how FANTASTIC Heidi Klum looks in the new Project Runway?? Like, good lord woman!
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| An end of the year analysis... meme |
[Jan. 25th, 2008|03:42 pm] |
Originally posted on Star Crafty on December 25 2007.
1. What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before?
Moved out of Savannah. I dressed up for Halloween. Moved across country.
2. Did you keep your New Years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Not much of a Resolution person. Planning gives you dandruff. But I attempted to learn French. Didn't quite work out. But I did move out of Savannah.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Nidia and Viviana and Minnie, oh babies galore!... oh wait, Viviana gave birth last year. Oh well, still!
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Thankfully no.
5. What countries did you visit?
Does San Diego and Raleigh count as countries? No? Well then no, I stayed in the good ol' USA.
6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
A more defined view of where my next two years should go. An apartment of my own (oh it would be so lovely decorated). A boyfriend. Knee-high boots.
7. What date from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory?
Saturday, June 9th - moved to Vegas.
Thursday, May 10th - day I met him.
Tuesday, August 6th - day my Savannah crafty article came out! (Click for a condensed version of article)
Saturday, March 17th - Cynthia and JOhnny's wedding!
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
 
Moved away from Savannah, as much as I loved it. Got over the heartache of moving away from Savannah. Photographed two lovely weddings.
9. What was your biggest failure?
What I thought to be a failure (moving to Vegas) as turned out to be quite a blessing.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Just my annual lovely stomach flu. OH I CANT WAIT!!!
11. What was the best thing you bought?
 
BRAND NEW SONATA!!!! Oh and an awesome new lens that hopefully will arrive next week. A wonderful cosmopolitan winter coat for only $9.99 at a thrift store. My knee-high boots. And billions of cupcakes, mmmm.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
I'm gonna be a little selfish and say me. Life right after I moved to Vegas became horrible. But I was wrong and I overcame the emoness. Also, JANICE! Moving away from the comfort zone that is living with her parents. Good luck to you my darling!
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Most of the staff at America Restaurant. Ugh.
14. Where did most of your money go?
 
Cupcakes. By the thousands. mmmm oh and knee-high boots. And gas. And craft supplies.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
I was REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY pumped about driving all the way from Georgia to Vegas. How amazing would it be to see America. But... my rusty ol' '95 Civic died two weeks before moving. So I had to fly in. Not as exciting, I must say. I got excited about him, as well. Oh well.
16. What song/album will always remind you of 2007?
1,2,3,4 - by my darling Feist.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
1. Happier or sadder? WAY happier. LAst year was Senior year at college. Not my best moments.
2. Thinner or fatter? Um, I think I'm the same. I lost weight when I moved here. But then regained the pounds with a healthy diet of lots of walnuts and fruits mmmm
3. Richer or poorer? Ha. Actually I'm a bit richer. But that's cuz I don't have to pay rent. SUCKAZZZ.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Travel, always. Read, always. Learn French.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Crying and shit. Pointless.
20. How will you be spending/did you spend Christmas?
At Karin's!!!! And maybe hang out with other people. Wreak havoc around Vegas, hopefully.
21. Who did you spend the most time on the phone with?
Most definitely my mother, she calls every two minutes.
22. Did you fall in love in 2007?
I fell into something. What that was, I will never know.
23. How many one night stands in this last year?
Does a five night stand qualify?
24. What was your favourite TV programme?
Lost, Heroes, Planet Earth (ohhh the undersea creatures episode, HOW BEAUTIFUL!)
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Nahhhh, hatin' takes too much of my time.
26. What was the best book(s) you read?
-Slightly out of focus - Robert Capa memoirs. I love this man. Also, the book I was reading right when I met him.
-On the Road - Kerouac. Had to read it before my big roadtrip adventure that never happened.
-Star Wars: Legacy of the Force: Inferno - Aaron Allston. Chapter 11 > everything.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Feist! Feist! Feist! I heard Feist for the very first time on Sunday, April 7th, 2007 around 1pm on our (Greg, Ness and Brandon) way to Gelattohs after a night of celebrating my 25th birthday. I couldn't have asked for a better gift. This is probably one of my favorite memories of 2007. Feist made that exhausting Summer a little bit calmer, a little bit happier as I would drive back home at midnight from a yet another horrible day at work. I'd sing 1,2,3,4 at the top of my lungs, and I still do, even though now things are much much much better. But when that song comes on, I feel like a little tear of intense happiness wants to escape my eye and join the air and the clouds and all that is fantastic in this world. Yeah, that's what Feist has meant to me this year.
28. What did you want and get?
Brand new car!!!! Knee-high boots! (It's funny, but last year I filled out this very same survey, and I kept mentioning over and over how ecstatic I was about having bought my cute Seychelle shoes for my graduation. hehe). Awesome Winter coat! A kitchen island! Awesomeness!
29. What did you want and not get?
Well my clone is still, regrettably, on back order for almost a year now.
30. What were your favourite films of this year?
- The Sound of Music - I still have to write my review about this lovely movie. Another thing that kept me sane during my move here.
- Cabaret - I know, I know. Old movies. But I saw them for the first time this year.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Quarter-century, and I believe I already explained my awesome birthday.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Let's see. There's always that whole clone fiasco. A lil bit more money is always good. If Agmar would have come here for Xmas. If Janice had come here in September. If he had returned my feelings. If I would have driven to Vegas. If I hadn't left my AWESOME 50s dining table behind in Savannah. If I could make better cupcakes!
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
OMG this has been my year in fashion. Y'all should see how I dress. As Agmar would describe it, I resemble a Skittles. mmm skittles. But yeah, I've played around with mixing clothes and thrift shopping. Sooooo much fun!
34. What kept you sane?
My mother (though at times she does the opposite. Like when she calls me to tell me some insignificant matter... when it's freakin 5AM here in Vegas. Apparenly she fails to comprehend the concept of a 4 hour difference in time zone). Feist. Agmar. Pedro. My crafts. My camera. My internets. My Sarah. My little Jacie. WHisky.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Still Justin Timberlake. MM MMM MM MMM
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The upcoming elections. I registered as a Republican just for Dr. Ron Paul.
37. Who did you miss?
EVERYTHING AND ANYTHING SAVANNAH.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Him. Oh and Gregory Harold! I met you on New Year's Eve, but that still counts. I met my Gryphonites late December, but became very good friends with them in 2007, so I guess that might count as well.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007.
What seems like heartache now is a blessing later. Electric mixers are NECESSARY for baking.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year?
Sittin' in the mornin' sun
I'll be sittin' when the evenin' come
Watching the ships roll in
And then I watch 'em roll away again, yeah
I'm sittin' on the dock of the bay
Watching the tide roll away
Ooo, I'm just sittin' on the dock of the bay
Wastin' time
I left my home in Georgia
Headed for the 'Frisco bay
'Cause I've had nothing to live for
And look like nothin's gonna come my way
So I'm just gonna sit on the dock of the bay
Watching the tide roll away
Ooo, I'm sittin' on the dock of the bay
Wastin' time
Look like nothing's gonna change
Everything still remains the same
I can't do what ten people tell me to do
So I guess I'll remain the same, yes
Sittin' here resting my bones
And this loneliness won't leave me alone
It's two thousand miles I roamed
Just to make this dock my home
Now, I'm just gonna sit at the dock of the bay
Watching the tide roll away
Oooo-wee, sittin' on the dock of the bay
Wastin' time
I TAG EVERYBODY!!!! |
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| I am AWESOME at baking. |
[Nov. 22nd, 2007|10:54 pm] |
I hope y'all had a wonderful Thanksgiving day, surrounded by family or friends or co-workers or pounds and pounds of rebellious flour.
As was I, on Wednesday (had to work on Thursday). I am happy to report that I successfully cooked my very first turkey, Puerto Rican style, with the neurotic guide of my mother on the phone (wow, phone bill this month will be astronomical). It was DELICIOUS! Like, I'm not kidding you! MMMMMMMMMM
While that fantastic 13 pound was cooking its glorious self, I was baking sweet little cupcakes. This is the second time I've attempted to make them. First time... well, it wasn't quite the success I was hoping. They improved the second time around, and I will not rest until they are as delicious (or close to) as Back in the Day Bakery's out-of-this-world cupcakes. There's just one challenging obstacle in my way...
I suck at baking. I am the ultimate suck. Evidence can be seen in the images below.
Flour is rebellious. It is also hard to take off of your hot pants. But I hear white flour stains are making a comeback in fashion next season.
This is the ground level of the disastrous mess I left in the kitchen.
But in the end, the cupcakes came out allright. Not life-altering, but for the moment, it brought my little soul to happier times.
HELLO THERE PRETTY CUPCAKE!!!! Must say, the frosting is KILLER! mmmmm! I might just eat it by itself like I did the first time. mmmm
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| If you like making love at midnight... |
[Nov. 16th, 2007|10:49 pm] |
Why yes, Rupert Holmes, I do very much like making love at midnight AND also getting caught in the rain. But most of all, yes yes yes I do like pina colada. A whole lot. So much that I've been thinking endlessly about it for days and days and days until my heart couldn't take it any longer and bought me some sweet Bacardi rum, pineapple juice, Coco Lopes and...
I made pina colada!!!!!!! For the first time EVER. I am very proud of myself. VERY. The very dangerous part of this whole ordeal is that a full bottle of Bacardi Rum lies in my kitchen silently calling out to me in the middle of the night. But that's okay.
I'd like to illustrate how big my pina colada glass is. It's very huge.
That's me twirling abouts the giant glass. And that's a deSert rabbit. They're everywhere around here and every time I see one I yell, OH BUNNY WABBIT!!!11one!!! in a VERY high pitched voice.
Yes.
I am tipsy.
I love it.
I am drinking by myself.
I'd give anything to be sipping this pina colada with great friends and the promise of more alcohol.
*sigh*
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| Loot of dreams |
[Nov. 4th, 2007|08:51 pm] |
Finally found a very good fabric store here in Vegas. Actually, it's just outside Vegas on Boulder City (The city that built Hoover Dam). All the cottons were just so lovely! Oh and you could find lots of glass jars full of old buttons arranged by color. Not to mention lace and fantastic rick rack. I was swooned, needless to say. Unto the pictures!!
LOVE!
So lovely and Sunday-like.
Still creating patterns of my own. Tres fun!
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amy_magnolia's journal
chipper