Entry #1 to the Veer Grand Prize Contest
Entry # 2
Entry #1 is my favorite.
Making sweet potato fries for a study snack. I almost burned them in the oven.
Etsy Finds
4. Feather and flower headband
7. Glasses
8. Chair clutch
I’ve started my application process for grad school! I’ve decided to apply to Pratt, RISD, and SCAD. The next two months are going to be very stressful!
Links you should visit today:
1) Design Vagabond.
It’s Fall Study Break here at the University, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. A four-day weekend is just what I need to catch up on all my readings. I have an exam the day we get back from Fall Study Break, and I plan on studying for it tonight or tomorrow.
Reading for class and enjoying some tea. I’m growing to like tea.
I’m staying in Ann Arbor over the break, as I never get anything done when I go home. And when my brother left for college in September, my parents turned off the wireless internet at their house. It makes sense–my parents are the only ones at home right now and can make do without it, but I don’t think I’d be able to survive for four days without wireless internet.
A lot of my housemates went home for the Fall Study Break. There’s about 6 of us in the house right now, and it’s really quiet. I can’t wait to see everyone again, but I’m also appreciating how calm it is around here. Though the calmness feels creepy at night.
Speaking of creepy, some of my housemates saw Paranormal Activity, and it really freaked them out. I get scared way too easily, so I avoid scary movies altogether.
My roomie got me a gift certificate to Hollander’s for my birthday last month, and I used it a couple of weeks ago. I bought art supplies and a map of the world. @sara_bee has the exact same map–I saw it at her house, and she mentioned that she got it at Hollander’s. When I went to Hollander’s and saw it, I wanted to get it too.
Hollander’s is known for its supply of decorative paper and bookbinding materials and classes. They have a really great and beautiful paper inventory.
A small sample of the paper available at Hollander’s. There’s a whole room at Hollander’s devoted just to paper.
One of my housemates and I went to the Salvation Army for a couple of hours on Friday and both left with some good finds. She got a couple of skirts and dress shirts, and I got a belt, some tops, and a skirt. One of the tops and skirt is a tad too big for me, so I think I’ll give them to one of my sisters.
I went to the Michigan Theatre later on Friday with my roomie, @sara_bee, and @jasminezoo to see The September Issue. I really enjoyed it; it was everything I thought it would be.
I shot the University of Michigan vs. Delaware State football game yesterday. The photographer that I was supposed to shoot with woke up feeling sick, so I shot the game all on my own. It was really cold, but I had a good time.
After shooting the game, I went to the yearbook office to upload the photos. I got back to my co-op a little before 6pm, had dinner, and started working on a piece that I’m thinking of including in my portfolio for art school.
Here’s what my piece looked like at 8pm yesterday.
Here’s my completed piece at 2am! I pinned it to my bulletin board, right above “come-visit-our-school-for-more-information” letters from grad schools that I’m thinking of applying to. This will all serve as a daily reminder to get on those applications! How I’m wishing those letters were acceptance letters.
For the past few months, I’ve been looking for a jewelry stand. I came across a few that I liked, but they just weren’t what I was looking for. Last week, I saw that one of my housemates puts her jewelry on a bulletin board, which I thought was genius. I ran out to pick-up a bulletin board as soon as I had some free time.
I’m really happy with my jewelry bulletin board. On a side note, I’ve had that pink flower for a little over two weeks now, since the day of my tea party. It’s starting to wither, but I’m happy that it’s lasted as long as it has.
In my room.
Currently listening to Regina Spektor.
I just found out that Regina Spektor will be in Ann Arbor on September 15th! She’s performing at the Michigan Theatre. My housemate, @bcbodnar, is going to the concert, and I’m still debating whether or not to buy a ticket. I checked online, and the only seats left are pretty crappy.
PostSecret is going to be at the Michigan Theatre on December 4th! I can’t wait. I tried to buy tickets online, but it doesn’t look like they’re available for purchase yet. If I can’t get tickets to this event, I’ll be very upset.
I’m going to New York August 31st-September 7th! I am SUPER PUMPED. I’m taking a train out there. It’ll be my first time on a train, and I think it’s going to be fun.
I’ve scheduled campus visits of Parsons and Pratt. I’m excited for both campus visits, but am really looking forward to visiting Pratt.
I don’t plan on sleeping while I’m in New York. I’m putting together a list of things I want to do and places I want to visit: Central Park, Guggenheim Museum, Museum of Arts and Design, thrifting, Bryant Park, Union Square, NYU…basically, a lot of tour-isty stuff.
The list:
1) Angela Ficorelli. There’s some great stuff on here. She has a wonderful porfolio.
I really want to take a printmaking class in the Fall!
2) Lookbook.nu. @sara_bee and @jasminezoo love this site, and I do too! It’s a great place to get some fashion inspiration. I wish students in Ann Arbor would dress more like the people on this website!
I can't walk in heels. I'd wear this outfit with flats.
In my room.
Currently exploring youtube.com.
It has been very hot and humid in Ann Arbor these past couple of days.
The last issue of the summer Daily was published today! I finished putting together the 2009 New Student Edition last Tuesday, and am very happy with how it turned out. I’ll post a link up to the 2009 NSE as soon as I can.
I mentioned in a previous blog post that I signed up to be a guinea pig at the dental school. I went in last Wednesday to see if I qualify for the research study (something about mouthwash and germs), and I do! And according to the dentist, I have good dentition! I’m going back to the dental school in a couple of days so that they can get a mouth swab. I’m not allowed to eat, drink, or brush my teeth before going in. Fortunately, my appointment is pretty early in the morning–I’ll just hop out of bed and go straight to the dental school.
Speaking about teeth, one of my worst fears is having my teeth fall out. I have dreams nightmares about it. It’s really scary.
On Thursday, @sara_bee, @LaraZade, and @jasminezoo and I went thrifting! We were able to visit Treasure Mart, PTO Thrift Store, and the Salvation Army. We had dinner at Cafe Japon (I’d never been there before), and it was pretty good. We didn’t have time to make it to Value World, but I’m sure we’ll hit it up soon. My thrift store finds include necklaces, scarves, and fabric (maybe I’ll reupholster something!). Pictures to come.
The list:
1) Rodarte for Target! Oh, Target. You’re amazing.
“Kate and Laura Mulleavy, the Pasadena, California based sisters, who took home this year’s CFDA award for womenswear, have designed a 55-piece holiday collection for Target’s GO International. The clothes hit shelves on December 20th and will be priced from $9.99 – $79.99, a major discount considering the girls normally charge up to $21,000 for one of their highly covetable wears.” (from Fashion Indie)
2) On the Street | Endgame. Oh, Bill Cunningham. You’re amazing too.
“Bill Cunningham reports on how far men’s wear has come since the uptight gray flannel suit.” (from NYTimes.com)
3) Mourning the Death of Handwriting (thanks @digvelouria). I still handwrite thank you cards!
“I can’t remember how to write a capital Z in cursive.” (read Claire Suddath’s full story here)
in my room
Currently listening to Snow Patrol.
Early Saturday morning, @BCBodnar walked over to a yard sale at the graduate student art studios on S. State St., right next to the Salvation Army. I bought a ton of art supplies for $2! Some of the supplies I got were used, like the oil paints and paintbrushes, but I just couldn’t pass such a great deal on art supplies. I got all the oil paints (about 10 tubes) for a quarter! The grad student that I bought the oil paints from had some canvas for sale that, looking back, I should have bought.
Returning from the yard sale, I worked on a couple of papers for class. Spring semester ended on Thursday, but I have two papers due Monday. I was able to knock one out today, a 3-5 pager on neoliberalism and the TV show What Not to Wear (I actually enjoyed writing this paper) and got started on my second one, a 10-pager (!) on masculinity, the media, and the TV show Friday Night Lights. So far, I have three pages. Blegh.
After e-mailing my neoliberalism paper to my GSI around 4:30pm, I laid down for a 45-minute catnap that turned into a 5-hour snoozefest. I was planning on waking up at 5:30 to go to a picnic my housemates had planned in the Arb at 6:00pm. That didn’t work out.
You know what else didn’t work out? I was planning on visiting @bridgers in Providence next week with @hruffe, but @hruffe couldn’t go and I waited too long to get my tickets and prices skyrocketed. I was superbummed (I’m still bummed actually). I decided that maybe I could visit another friend in New York instead. But he’s moving out of his place next week and crashing on his brother’s couch. Darn him and his homelessness. Then I thought, “Maybe I can visit Lily in Chicago.” But it turns out that Lily is preparing for a wedding and that next week wouldn’t work. ARGH!
Oh, and I cut my hair. I lost about four inches and really like it.
I mentioned in one of my last posts that @sara_bee and I put up an inspiration board at The Michigan Daily offices. I don’t have a picture of it (yet), but we were inspired by something like this:
@sara_bee and I loved the idea of using clothespins and string as an inspiration board.
I haven’t had time to continue my project of painting the alphabet on newspaper. I still only have an A.
Also, I still haven’t heard back from ffffound.com yet about my invite…
The list:
1) My Life is Average. Pretty cool website. Kind of reminds me of fmylife.com. Actually, now that I look at the websites a little closer, I think it’s created by the same people/person.
2) NEED: Pantone Eyewear.
in my room
Whoa. I haven’t updated my blog in a while.
Currently listening to pink and drinking carrot juice. The carrot juice is kind of gross. It tastes like carrots, but at the same time it doesn’t. I have an almost-full bottle left, and I’m not dumping $4 down the drain. It’s healthy…I’ll just keep telling myself that with each sip. It’s healthy. It’s healthy. It’s healthy.
Today is John F. Kennedy’s birthday! He would have been 92.
As many of you know, this past Monday was Memorial Day, but it was also Spring Holiday in the UK. No idea what Spring Holiday consists of, but I like telling people of random holidays. I look like an idiot when they ask what the holiday is and I don’t have an answer for them, but whatever. It’s fun. I would provide a link here to an article on Spring Holiday, but I Googled it and got weird search results. Maybe you’ll have better luck.
Oh, and yesterday, the Dragon Boat Festival was celebrated in China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.
It’s also Feast of Weeks today and tomorrow. According to Google calendar, Feast of Weeks is a Jewish holiday. That’s all I can tell you. Want to learn more? Google it! Or click here.
I just imported all the possible Holiday Calendars into my Google Calendar, and after quickly glancing at it, there’s practically a holiday every day! I will keep you updated on holidays, mostly on twitter.
Spring term is kicking my butt. Ugh. My drawing class is coming along nicely though. We drew nude models last week with charcoal (I’m not a fan of charcoal; I don’t really know how to use it and always end up leaving class with charcoal marks on my cheeks) and this week we did self-portraits (mine turned out looking like a duck) and started on one-point perspective drawing. Our homework assignment for the weekend is to draw a room in one-point perspective. I tried to draw the tv lounge in my co-op, but after four/five failed attempts, I gave up and decided to draw my room instead. I’m having just as much difficulty with my room as the tv lounge. Blurgh.
My Communication Studies classes are ok. A ton of reading, though. I always complain about how much reading I have for my Comm classes. I need to stop complaining. I need to stop complaining. I need to stop complaining.
A new person started in my office last week. He just graduated and wrote for the Arts section of The Michigan Daily for the four years that he’s been at the University of Michigan. I work for Design. Small world. Oh, and a girl in my drawing class knows my younger sister. Small world.
Today I met up with a friend for dinner at Cafe Habana. I ordered the Cuban sandwich. It was pretty good, and I have leftovers. Woot! I really like the skinny fries that they serve there; they’re amazing.
Remember when I e-mailed ffffound.com asking for an invite, like, 2/3 weeks ago? Well, I haven’t heard back from them. Crap.
Oh, and Washtenaw Dairy is celebrating it’s 75th birthday tomorrow. They’re throwing a block party, and my housemates and I are going to try to go. It should be exciting. Read about my first trip to Washtenaw Dairy here.
The list:
1) NY Times’ The Moment Blog. Why am I just learning about this? Kooky fashions, reasonably-priced finds (most of the time), awesome/absurd quotes. Again, why am I just learning about this?
Image courtesy of the NY Times The Moment Blog.
It’s a puffer dress!!!!!
2) I don’t have a second link to share, but visit ffffound.com! I can’t push this site enough!!!!!!
Now, off to see UP with a couple housemates. YES!
@ the fishbowl (it’s really cold here)
Currently listening to nothing because my headphones pinch my ears. I need to get new ones.
I just finished listening to the latest podcast of Read Between the Leading earlier today and can’t wait until the next one airs. They’ve had some pretty cool guests on the show, like John Boardley from ilovetypography.com and Glenn Garriock from formfiftyfive.com. I viewed the entire archives of formfiftyfive.com over this past week…all 250 pages of them. And I keep going back. I love that site.
I registered for classes this morning, and got all the classes that I wanted, except one, which the University dropped from the Fall 09 semester. Boo. I’m taking two Communication Studies classes, two Psych classes, and one American Culture class.
I don’t want to major in Communication Studies anymore. But I’ll be a senior this fall, and am in way to deep. I need to talk to an advisor asap.
I went to the Hill Dining Center for a quick dinner, and their dishwasher was broken, so they had paper plates, bowls, and cups out. I felt bad about all the paper that was being used.
I’m meeting up with a friend for sushi in a little bit. There’s always room for sushi.
The list:
1) Lizania Cruz. Saw one of her works on formfiftyfive.com. She’s a graphic designer at Anthropologie and has got a great portfolio. I especially like the clutch she made from FexEx mailers.
2) It’s Nice That. Learned about this site through a link on formfiftyfive.com. There’s a ton of posts on this site about design.
3) I ordered this Goorin bag online last week and received it a few days ago. It’s okay, but it doesn’t look like the photo! It’s not very yellow.
@ home
Happy Pi Day! I got home early this morning and it feels nice to be here. I’m currently doing laundry, working on my ASL assignment, and watching re-runs of CSI.
If you have some $ to spare, maybe you can celebrate Pi Day by buying this supercool Assouline bag?
@ the fishbowl
Currently listening to The Bangles.
Skipped my 8:30 class this morning. I just couldn’t get out of bed. That makes it the second class I’ve skipped this week. Daylight Saving Time has thrown me off. But it’s nice that it’s still light out at 7:00pm.
I’m working on an assignment for my American Sign Language class. I need to put together three story cards of fairy tales, folktales, short stories, etc. I’m thinking of The Princess and the Pea, Jack and the Beanstalk, and…not sure about the last one yet.
I am pooped out.
The list:
1) Gap and Old Navy: Gap is a great place to go to for skirts and sweaters at a fairly reasonable price, and Gap’s sister store, Old Navy, has a nice collection of tank tops and blouses. These are usually the first two stores I hit when I’m in need of business clothes. I really like sweater vests, skirts, and layering.
I ordered the suede skirt pictured below from gap.com and wasn’t expecting much. Before it actually arrived in the mail, I had already started thinking that I’d probably have to return it. But once I got it and put it on, I knew it was a keeper! I must admit though, that the skirt does smell kind of weird. It doesn’t stink–it just smells weird.
2) Detroit’s Beautiful, Horrible Decline (Time.com)
in my room
Currently listening to Fleetwood Mac.
I left my umbrella at the CCRB after yoga class on Monday, and I went back to get it, but it was GONE. I checked four offices and the lost and found, but it was no where to be found. I can’t believe someone stole my umbrella. And it was pouring rain today. I was so upset. That’s so mean. And I really liked that umbrella–it was huge and was rainbow-colored.
On a happier note, my signing presentation went well.
Tuesdays are really long days for me, so I got a latte around 2:00pm to help me get through the day. I’ve been jittery for the past 9 hours and don’t think I’ll be going to bed anytime soon. Which is good. I have 31 pages of reading for Communication Studies to get through tonight.
I’m working on getting a comments box up. Don’t count on it being up for a while though.
The list:
1) Cardobserver.com: I learned about this website from a couple of friends, and it’s the absolute best place to go to for “business card design inspiration.” New cards are added a few times a week. I find the color combination on the Rosenthal Photography card below to be very calming.
2) Karmaloop.com: This is one of my favorite places to shop. They have a number of quirky and fun clothing, accessories, furnishings, etc.
I want this coat.
And this shirt.
This is a pretty cute umbrella. But it’s not as cute as the one that was stolen from me.
