Have we Met? I think it’s about time.
May 13th, 2011 § 1 Comment
Today will be spent packing for our big trip to the Big Apple. And yesterday I turned in my final final project, all of which has been preventing me + my projects and, thus, blogging. Let me first say that I just absolutely cannot wait to get to NYC. I have my knitting project (almost) ready to go for the plane ride, as I also need to finish writing the pattern for it, and my sister and I have a boatload of activities to do once we get there, and I make my pilgrimage to Alexander McQueen, all centered around seeing Savage Beauty at the Met.
In all of the hustle and bustle over the great Met Gala on May 2nd, I have also learned that Daphne Guiness’s personal collection of McQueen couture is on display in various Barney’s windows, so we’ll be NEEDING to stop by those, as well. Here is her performance before The Met Gala, dressing in a 2011 Spring Alexander McQueen dress, by Sarah Burton:
BARNEYS NEW YORK Showcases The Genius of DAPHNE GUINNESS from Barneys The Window on Vimeo.
Tickets for The Met have already been purchased, and I have been doing my research about the exhibit. So, it looks like photography isn’t allowed, but sketching is. Well, I turned in my Fashion Sketching final on Wednesday, and because I am a crazy over-achiever—not that anyone would have ever guessed that!—I did two. So, even though I have a four year art degree, I must admit that I have never, ever really liked drawing or sketching. I have always felt like it was a chore, and like I have always been bad at it. Currently, I am helping my mom how to crochet, and while this may seem like a departure from the topic, just bare with me. I am mostly helping her by trying to provide encouragement, telling her that it takes a lot of practice with working with the hook and the yarn, and so for a while it is frustrating. You can’t just be good at something right off the bat. And, that being said, you’re likely not not have a good time doing something, until after you get the hang of it, and the frustration subsides. Only after much practice can you sit down and enjoy the process. Well, looks like I need to listen to my own advice. Even though my teacher is the best, most engaging drawing teacher I have ever had (Suck on that AAU. Woo for community college!), and she is incredibly good at breaking down the steps and making them understandable and doable, it was still a lot of work for me to do the work, even though the workload was very reasonable. I have been working on the sketches and drawings for this class for 5 months, and I did still feel like it was a chore through the entire class, that is, until I started my second final. I actually started really enjoying the process, and getting into it, and—gasp—having fun! I am super excited to have broken through the barrier of just getting it done and feeling bad and and frustrated to feeling like I can actually do it. Granted, I still don’t feel like I am good at it, I do feel like I can get there. I would like to work more on developing my own style a bit more, and practicing with different textures. I’d also like to be more able to just sit down and draw without all of my tools which I still use like crutches, but, I have made it over the first hump! And, whew, in the nick of time. As photography is not allowed in special exhibitions at The Met, I am very excited that I’ll be able to—not just physically, but mentally, with my new, learned abilities—take my sketchbook and pencils and sketch while I am there.
While looking for information about the exhibit, I came across this great album on Flicker, published by The Met: Behind the Scenes – Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty. A few from the album:
Additionally, in doing my research, I have learned that the Catalog of the exhibit
The Catalog:
After that, the only question left to answer is: What will I wear to The Met? think that this provides an even greater dilemma …
For the first time ever, I have found that my dislike of diamonds has left me at a loss. Day 61.
October 29th, 2010 § Leave a Comment
Because I am not a diamond fan, as I have worked in the diamond industry, I don’t own any real ones, except for the one in my nose, or really any fake ones. I have one fake engagement ring, for when I travel alone, and a pair of diamond hoops, fake, of course.
Halloween costume completed, I realize that I am lacking some accessories to make the final look, well, final. The above mentioned diamond hoops I can use for my costume, but folks would get far to excited at the sight of an engagement ring, regardless of how unreal the stone, and how real the feelings.
So, I have a dilemma. I have my sewing class all day tomorrow, and the Halloween party tomorrow night. The class doesn’t get done until 4:30. It’s a 20 minute drive home, 30 minutes MINIMUM to get ready, assuming I do my hair in the morning before the class, and then 30 minutes to drive to the party, which starts at six, which leaves me with not much time to run by the *shudder* mall, to get some fake bling to make my costume BLING (with a capital B) …
My costume, by the way, is fucking fabulous. I wish I could give you a spoiler, but it’s that good that I can’t. Oh fake diamond dilemma, how will you resolve yourself?
I think I’ll work on this problem by having another glass of wine.
And, if you are guessing what my costume is … My Dad got it in the first try. UNBELIEVABLE!
How to make a Pom-Pom. Halloween South Park Stan Hat Completed. Day 61.
October 29th, 2010 § 2 Comments
Yeah, Hooray. I have finished Ramon’s Halloween South Park Stan hat in the nick of time. Now, if only I had my costume finished, as well. Mmm, well, I have a few more hours tonight to plug through it. I did get new Serger needles today, and I had a cup of coffee about an hour ago—yes, at 5 pm—so I should be ready to go.
So, other than absolutely hatting Vanna’s Choice yarn, which is like knitting with sand-paper, I think that Ramon’s Halloween Hat is just about perfect. As I mentioned last night I completely re-did it. I didn’t like the pattern that I used, so in the second hat, I made some modifications, mostly making the “straight” part of the blue longer than 2 inches. I made it 5 inches. I felt like the blue part wasn’t balanced against the red, and was just too short.
I also decided to post my instructions for making a pom-pom. I had never done one before and for whatever reason, found it hard to find these instructions online.
1. Find an able, and active pom-pom-maker helper (this step is optional)
2. Draw two circles on cardboard. I made mine 4 inch in diameter.
2a. Draw two inner circles inside of the first circles. I made these 1 inch in diameter.”
2b. Carefully cut them both out, and cut out the inner circles, making two donuts.
3. Stack the two donuts, one directly on-top of the other
4. Begin wrapping the yarn around and through the donuts. I found that I cutting a few yards of yarn, making a small yarn-ball out of it, and passing it through the hole was the easiest method for getting a lot of yarn through at once, without a lot of unnecessary pulling.
5. Continue wrapping until the entire inner circle is filled. I used one of my new handy crochet hooks to help pull the yarn through as the hole got smaller. I used a tapestry needle to continue when the hole became too small for the crochet hook.
6. Carefully cut around the edge of the circle, between the two pieces of cardboard with very sharp scissors.
7. Pull a piece of yarn between the two pieces of cardboard, and tie tightly in a knot, or four, and then remove the pieces of cardboard.
8. Attach your pom-pom to your garment, only to realize that, while you were trying to make it big and a little cartoony, as it is a Halloween costume, you have made it too big. Let out a sigh, and move onto the next project, as it will take too long to re-make something a half an inch smaller on each side.
If I am really feeling wild and wacky, I’ll crochet Stan’s eyebrows on. Though, lets not get ahead of ourselves.
