Its Time We "Met"

I always feel guilty when it takes me this long between posts. So, sorry! I've been quite busy and I am coming to accept the notion that I probably won't be sleeping much during the week. Nine classes is a handful but things are going well. Even though school is busy, I have managed to do more around the city than I did last semester, including visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Met is an impressive, eclectic mix of history and art. It is a great reminder that art is something that transcends ages, so it must be important. Below are a couple of pieces from the museum that I found especially beautiful. The first is a collage of a neighborhood in Brooklyn by Romare Bearden. The other is a collection called "Damaged Bones" by Michael Aschenbrenner.  It consists of a collection of glass bones bound in interesting ways, a sculptural metaphor for casualties of war. 

On the way to the museum I was stopped in my tracks when I saw these very tired little puppies. I miss my animals so much.  

Maybe thats why I turned to animals for inspiration for my Lookbook Project for my Collections class. The assignment was to create a mass-market collection for a luxury designer. I chose to present my take on Givenchy for Urban Outfitters. These pages were printed and bound in a book and I am very happy with the outcome. This book, my portfolio and a Valentino-inspired collection will be on display in the FIT AAS Exhibition on April 30-May 4. Please come!

In a New York Minute

Last semester, I felt like a rat in a New York maze. How do I get from point A to point Z in the most efficient manner? It made for a chaotic and sheltered existence. This semester I have vowed to have more of a New York experience and take opportunities as they present themselves. Although my schoolwork could be a full-time job, I must find a balance and take advantage of this great city around me. Luckily for me, one of my classes, called Faces and Places, is dedicated to the opportunities unique to New York. We will have weekly speakers, successful people in the fashion industry giving us tips to help us network and grow. Also, we are required to leave our doorsteps and venture out to museums to find education from the city and not just the classroom. I am especially looking forward to exploring the Met, the MOMA and the Guggenheim in the near future. 

Now fully open to the out-of-the-ordinary opportunities, when I was offered a ticket to a live filming of the Martha Stewart show, I immediately accepted (even though it meant I would have to skip school.) But alas, it was deemed a snow day and I went to the Martha Stewart show today without adding any bad karma. It was an interesting behind-the-scenes look into television production. So many people are needed to take care of so many small details, and Martha is all about the details. Speaking of details, I am loving the layered-tights look and it keeps me warmer.

This semester, my main focus in school is on the Art Specialization classes. Right now, we are in the design phase. Seeking out inspiration and mood images, churning out designs, choosing color schemes and fabric swatches and next will come the figure rendering and layouts. The timeline is going to be treacherous, but I'm looking forward to the final product.

In my search for mood images, I came across some photo collages on flickr that were amazing, click on the link to see for yourself. So, I made my own version. Ciao!

Yoga to the People

Today, I started off the day with a session of Hot Bikram Yoga. The room is generally set to 106 degrees and the class consists of 90 minutes worth of stretching, compression and relaxing poses. The heat helps muscles to loosen, allowing for a deeper stretch and release of tension. It is an intense experience but what I love about it is, no matter what is going on in my life, when I am in that room, I am thinking of nothing but the present.

Since getting back to NYC, it seems the pressure is higher than before and its been taking a toll on me. However, I've been striving for balance, eating healthy, and trying to relax, remotivate and rejuvenate myself. Treating myself to hot yoga once a week gives me something to look forward to, something to take me away from the work that threatens to overtake me. The sun is shining today, and I have a new outlook. Namaste.

Through the Backyards

Through the Backyards of Our Neighbors

Au Revoir Simone

Baby tell me please
Is this a dream
Spending the night with you
Beneath the cherry trees
Just make a wish and everything comes true

Out the windows of my bedroom
Through the backyards of our neighbors
But I didn't leave you waiting
There was endless concentration

Then the moon swept down to greet us
It was warm and made of flowers
Into vines that barely reached us
Climbing higher than forever

Baby help me please
In knowing this
'Cause showing never tells
Was it just a breeze
Was it a kiss
Breathless exquisite chills

The Human Condition

HOME is truly where the heart is, and whether I like it or not, my heart is still in Kansas City. Due to that fact, it will be with a heavy heart that I return to my LIFE in New York at the end of the week. I suppose I should be thankful that I have loving friends and family in Kansas City, other friends strewn across the US, recently-made friends to return to in New York and the prospect for more to come. As my network keeps growing, with it my heart strings keep reaching and I just have to remind myself that it is all part of the human condition.

Capricorn Cabal

Birthdays are infinitely more fun when they are shared with friends. I feel very fortunate that some of my best friends also have January birthdays and we have been celebrating together for the past few years. I feel even more fortuitous that although my friends have been scattered across the country, we all joined together again for this birthday blowout! Taking it back to the old school, we went roller skating! It was the bees knees but the best part was being with good friends.

After roller skating, we all headed over to Craig's house for the after-party. Joey and I decorated with streamers and balloons before we went skating, and it really helped the ambiance. At first the party was quite mellow since everyone was exhausted from skating, but soon the drinks starting flowing and the chaos ensued.

Below I caught Joey (left) and Monica (right) in a candid moment. Monica lives in Portland, OR and her wonderful fiance surprised her with a plane ticket to see us birthday girls. We were all so happy to be united again. I would like to include a thank you to Joey for the use of some of her photos from the night.

Kansas City

I'm going to Kansas City, Kansas City here I come

I'm going to Kansas City, Kansas City here I come

They got a crazy way of loving there

And I'm gonna get me some.

I'll be standing on the corner

On the corner of Twelfth Street and Vine

I'm gonna be standing on the corner

On the corner of Twelfth Street and Vine

With my Kansas City baby

And a bottle of Kansas City wine.

Well I might take a train

I might take a plane, but if I have to walk

I'm gonna get there just the same

I'm going to Kansas City, Kansas City here I come

They got a crazy way of loving there

And I'm gonna get me some.

I'm gonna pack my clothes

Leave at the break of dawn

I'm gonna pack my clothes

Everybody will be sleeping

Nobody will know where I've gone

Cause if I stay in town

I know I'm gonna die.

Gotta find a friendly city

And that's the reason why,

I'm going to Kansas City

Kansas City here I come

They got a crazy way of loving there

And I'm gonna get me some.

Time flies no matter where I am these days. I've been enjoying my white winter vacation in Kansas City. My days have been full of friends, family, food, wine, music and art and I am not quite ready to get back to the fast pace of New York. It has been a near constant snow storm here, keeping this snow bunny indoors most of the time.  

 

While seeking warmth indoors, I have also been experimenting with watercolors. I find them quite difficult because the artwork must be carefully planned yet appear effortless. I've been gathering inspirational images and learning watercolor techniques that have helped my process. Below is a plan for a painting that was done in Photoshop. Hopefully, I will soon have some actual watercolor paintings to show.