up in the clouds

September and October flew by... or are in the midst of flying by.  I couldn't even remember the last time I blogged.  Since my last couple entries I saw the end of summer, joined a flag football team, helped some friends with their amazing ArtPrize piece, celebrated friends in love, went on a family vacation to the sunshine state, and am currently trying to kick a cough since said vaycay.  Lately, its been about trying to stay warm on cold rainy days and enjoying the fall colors outdoors on warm sunny days.

Another reason for my disappearance is because I've been having those infamous #firstworldproblems where I don't see the need for social media.  You know when you just get so ridiculously fed up with Facebook?  Why do I feel like I have to post things online for anyone to see?  I have no idea.  I beleive the answer is just, "that's what people do now".  So, I go back and forth.  Combined with my indecisiveness and procrastination its an uphill battle.  Needless to say, I do enjoy posting things on my blog that I forget are there.  That's a fun little treat when it jogs the memory.  And like I've said before, I really appreciated the fact it sort of stimulated my letter project.

So... at 3:13 in the morning, I am going to decide on a new project to post here.  Just something creative everyday... almost everyday.  I have to make something creative.  Decision made.

I know I'm going to fail many times... unfortunately I just know myself, and I don't blog everyday.  I'm also allowing for a much wider range of possibilities.  No notebook, no specific materials, no theme- just something creative everyday.  I must document it though, and post it here.

Good night for now, better see me back on here tomorrow with something good!  :)

"help me jenny, angelina won't stop dancing around the tv"

That was a hilarious phone call from my grama umpteen years ago about trying to play a DVD for the first time.  It was stuck on the intro screen and I just needed to talk her through the menu options and how to press play.  That story has absolutely nothing to do with this post other than it reminded me of this little spinning animation.

I have been researching the brain for a project I'm working on and stumbled onto posts about this illusion.  Apparently depending on which "way" that dancer is turning tells you which side of your brain you typically use.  Is she moving clockwise or counter-clockwise for you?

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I immediately saw her turning clockwise which apparently means I am more right-brained.  Super pumped, as if this test solidified my place among the creatives, I was determined to see her spin the opposite way.  That was a difficult feat.  Discouraged, I assumed this test doesn't work, who knows if this has anything to do with your brain?!  Stupid test.  BUT then... I saw the switch!  MIND BLOWN  If you focus on her feet & shadow, try to switch which foot you think is in front and imagine it as the back foot.  Once you do it a couple times it becomes more apparent when she "changes direction".  I still don't quite understand how this tells you which side of the brain you use more.  But it's still cool to catch the illusion.  The articles I found are here and here incase you want to read more.  Oh and by the way, I did open the animation in Photoshop and she does not switch direction like some of the comments suggested.  pssh

we made a movie!

Remember when I recapped here, and said my friends and I were helping my sister with one of her films? Yeah, I planned on posting the final product a while ago, and surprise surprise, I'm just now getting around to doing it.  So here's what I originally had to say.

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My sister went into panic mode Sunday.  Things began to fall apart with a final project for one of her film classes.  So my friends and I decided to help out.  We are so glad we did.  It was a great excuse to get creative with something aside from work.  Plus, I have never seen Jessica in her directing role before, and she does a really great job.  Elyse was the star of the film and Collyn and I helped behind the scenes.  The film is a scifi, thus the crazy hair and makeup. It was actually pretty fun to be a part of a little collaborative creative project since school's been out. Plus the long hours of persnickety determination and a night of no sleep was like reliving the good ole days in art school.  :)

Tada! Bravo team!

On the second day of filming we decided my job was to document the process- so naturally I decided to collect shells and completely abandon my task once we got to the pond.  But I'm glad we did get background photos, I wish we did more of that the first day. And Jessica & I did give ourselves movie war paint... wish we got a better picture of that.  haha

3ish hour long hair & makeup

featherhawk // pretty sweet if i do say so myself

nature typography // two love birds

the professionals

shootin'

being artsy

film still

happy

faces

productivity

my shells

colors

favorite picture

shhhh.

It was kind of a hectic week at work.  And now it's finally Friday.  My office is empty.  So I made this.

Don't judge.

today was a good day.

...And so have been the past few days.  The weather has been so gorgeous lately you can't help but smile when you walk outside.  So here are some snapshots of what's been happening the past month.

boxes // empty #217

moo's tummy xray // catching some zzz's

productivity at it's finest while working

celebrating moms, bdays, nice weather, and new adventures

jess leaves for disney

new hair cut // moo moo's love hate relationship with the outdoors

young love // road tripping friends

new office! // notes for my officemates

quarter life crisis.

That's how I've felt lately.  My younger self wouldn't have imagined me going through some of these things, I'm sure.  Looking back,  it seemed I had things so much more pulled together.  I doubt I thought that way then!  Good grades, wonderful friends, sports that I loved, jobs that I didn't mind working at.  College and post grad life gave me a failed class, broken relationships, an unfortunate internship, impulsive purchases, huge responsibilities, financial strain, a crazy sleep schedule, a crappy eating routine, random day jobs just to pay the bills, and messing up... again and again.  And now I'm supposed to know what I want to do with my life?!  It certainly seemed like my younger self had it all planned out.  However, that's a lot to throw at someone upon graduation, or four months after no less.  And I know I'm not alone.  I wouldn't be surprised if every 20-something felt like this for a good portion of this decade.  I'm not trying to be whiney, just honest.  Life has thrown me some sour lemons over the past year I have never experienced before.  But I'm hoping this "crisis" is on it's last breath.  Don't get me wrong, I've also had incredible experiences that I would not change.  I truly have some great memories I hope never get tarnished rolling around with all those sour lemons in my head.  Anyway, things are actually beginning to look up and I'm excited for the fun adventures awaiting this summer.  These are some things that have kept me busy lately.

- Elyse, Collyn, and myself helped my sister make a film for one of her college major classes.
- I moved out of my studio apartment and moved into a historic house in Eastown, GR.
- I now have 4 roommates, and 2 kittymates... and the occasional bat, which I hope I never actually encounter.
- My things are 82.5% unpacked and where they are supposed to be.
- Moo had an expensive little stint in the hospital because he was basically stressed out about the move.
- He's now doing much better and I'm pretty sure is in love with his new kitty roomie, Bean.
- I recently finished the 1st Janet Evanovich book, One for the Money, and am now on Two for the Dough.  It's a great series and a fun read but I'm not sure I can keep this up for 16+ more?!

And... drumroll please... the biggest news so far...
- I was just offered a full time design position at the company I worked for while in school- first big girl job!  Plus, handed to me on a silver platter by the people I loved working with four short months ago.
- Therefore, I have officially put in my 2 weeks at my part time day job and am super pumped for this new opportunity!

So, once again, my excuses for neglecting the social networks lately.  Until next time!

sneeky peek of my new room

hold up.

Look what I stumbled across today!

Artist, Lisa Congdon, made a new years resolution of drawing type every day of 2012! I am envious of her persistance and determination. I mean compared to 26 days... geez. Anyway, just thought I'd share. You can check out her daily project and blog here.

sunshiny saturday

It is a sunshiny Saturday indeed.  Side note: my computer accepted sunshiny as a word, which I for some reason thought I was clever enough to make up.  Warm yet blinding rays are casting striped shadow shapes through the blinds all around the apartment.

Anyway, my friends and I failed at being crafty yesterday and resorted to thrift store shopping, movie watching, ghost story telling, and MacDonalds late night munchies.  We went from Tangled to The Exorcist to The Forth Kind.  Princessess, possessions, and aliens... it was quite the night.  There were definitely tears shed from laughing too hard.  So, on this sunshiny Saturday I am going to be crafty and creative since yesterday's attempt was almost non existant.

Here's a screenshot of a fun little project for my sister that is in the works.  She is great in the art of cooking and baking.  This has saved me years of having to make dinners or bring anything edible to family gatherings.  The kitchen somewhat repels me, but that's another story.  So I am working on an identity design she would like to eventually use for her future dessert business. I'm not sure when it's actually going to come into fruition but, it's fun to play around with different ideas.

Also, I don't think I've really posted any of my designs here... not gunna lie I was kind of hesitant to put anything up.  :]

factoids

In honor of my recent 23rd birthday I thought I'd leave you with 23 random facts you may not know about me.  :]

1.  i prefer lists, fragments, & paraphrasing over paragraphs. (hence... lol)

2.  i was recently given a collection of antique doilies handmade by my great grandmas and great aunts.

3.  i used to figure skate, competing in both freestyle and synchronized competitions.  it's still one of my most favorite things to do.

4.  my favorite freestyle skating routine was to the score from harry potter & the sorcerer's stone.  my coach's boyfriend suggested it and i'm convinced i was the first person in the country to use that music for a routine.  no joke.  i felt pretty cool.  i still get butterflies every time i hear it as well as having the urge to get up and start skating across the hardwood floor.

5.  i had braces from 5th grade to 7th grade.

6.  i am the ultimate procrastinator and i completely blame my mom. haha  okay this also means i work great under pressure/last minute.

7.  i typically write in all lowercase letters, but am forcing myself to write sentence case for this blog... except for lists like this.

8.  i recently found out i have an astigmatism in both of my eyes.

9.  i have never gone to the doctor for a broken bone.

10.  however, i am quite certain i broke my tailbone in a skating accident.  i took a pillow to school for my bum but never went to a doctor for x-rays.  still hurts every now and then.

11.  my favorite drink is milk and my favorite food is ice cream.

12.  my graduation years from high school & college are 2007 & 2011.  i was bound and determined not to go longer than 4 1/2 years in college so i would always be the class of "7/11".

13.  i drive a lime green bug, which has been my favorite car since elementary school.

14.  i didn't know i had curly hair until junior high.

15.  i've always been intrigued by the medical field, and secretly would like to work in a hospital even though i know i never would.

16.  along with figure skating, growing up i participated in: dance, gymnastics, soccer, softball, basketball, golf, and cheerleading.
17.  i like doctor pens.  they are always so much smoother to write with and much more unique looking than the 20-Bic-in-a-bag pens from the office store.
18.  even though i was a figure skater, roller blading has always kind of terrified me.
19.  some of my earliest memories are of crafting with my mom & my sister.
20.  i remember the moment and what the drawing looked like when i realized i could draw well.  i don't remember how old i was and i'd give anything to see what that drawing looks like now!  it was of my stuffed animal puppy that you could un-velcro her stomach and all her baby puppies fell out.  anyone remember those?  hah, no just me?  k.
21.  i have 4 cameras.  little orange point & shoot: fujifilm finepix z, white toy camera: holga 135bc, fancy dslr: canon rebel t2i, and an old 35mm film camera gifted from my uncle: olympus om1-n.  this clearly means i need to experiment more.
22.  when doing self portraits, my middle school drawing teacher told me i looked like a porcelain doll: big eyes, small lips, and pale skin.  i wasn't sure whether to take that as a positive or negative comment.
23.  i don't think i can plan on doing this every year because it took me awhile to come up with 23... i mean 22 random facts.  but then again i am also really really bad at thinking of specific things on the spot. oops see- i snuck one last one in!



I would love to have had photos with many of these but sadly most of "these" kind of reminiscent photos are back at my parents house.  It would have made this post suuuper long anyway.  You'll just have to imagine me with braces wearing figure skating outfits.  haha

... OH my gosh!!  NOW I'm starting to think of more facts!  This is very typical, like when you're talking on the phone and someone asks "Do you have any questions?"  And you're like, "No, I don't think so, not at the moment."  Then the minute you hang up 17 questions immediately come to mind.  And by you I mean me.  And I'm going to end this very long wordy post...... now.

snow day

Michigan finally got some snow that stuck!  Schools were canceled, people got to hit the slopes, and I relaxed at home and watched as Moo swatted the window at his first sightings of snowflakes.

a year in review

Some highlights from 2011.

January
I began my 22nd year of life.

Looking back, it was probably one of the more rocky years I would say- but still good.

February
I don't remember much of you, but B & I did attend President's Ball for our senior year.

March
Spring Break!  I actually went somewhere since high school.  B & his family took all of us to Mammoth Caves in Kentucky and a gorgeous mountain side resort in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.  It was such a great trip, I enjoyed every minute of it.

April
Finished trying to juggle full class load, 2 jobs, and my senior show... needless to say it didn't go as well as expected.  But- began with turning 2 jobs into 1 new job, signed up for last semester of classes, signed lease for new studio apartment, and was ready to start anew.

May
Helped my Mom de-burgufy their house.  (eliminate all traces of burgundy) I did the damage, she did the decorating. Unfortunately, I don't have any great pictures of the final project... you'll just have to take my word for now. It looked beautiful at Christmas!

June
We impulsively adopted our little bundle of Moo!  He has made everyday life so much more hilarious and fuzzy.

July
Too amused with this guy to do anything.

Oh- but did have time to start this!

August
Last semester of undergrad at Grand Valley State University!  Started senior show again, (went a little better this time around).

Also, traveled to NYC for the first time!  Check it out here, here, & here.

September
Renegade Craft Fair with Elyse & Collyn in Chicago!

October
Was able to attend the AIGA National Design Conference as an associate along with a group of classmates.  We were able to explore Phoenix, AZ, learn tons of new things, have some serious bonding nights, and meet even more amazing people!

Downtown Phoenix

GVSU Group

Marian Bantjes & Debbie Millman!

Roomie Love

November

Work + school, work + school, work + school.  Repeat.

Remember when the Grand Rapids sky was pink?

December

Senior show. Specks. Wizard of Oz. Graduation. Christmas. NO SNOW!  Family & friends.

Phew!  What a year.  Here's to another one!