Thursday, August 30, 2007
For the Love of Lists
Things To Do This Fall:
- write a first draft of my novel
- collaborate on a children's book with Raye
- create a story with Ryan
- take drawing (life & advanced) classes
- read to complete 22 books read goal
- volunteer at 826LA once a week
- take an online writing course through a university extension
- pick apples from an orchard
- cook many new exciting things
- purge the closet
- make more lists of things to do in LA
- keep a writer's notebook
- make a pledge to Wardrobe Refashion
More lists are to come in September, I'm predicting. I love lists and I love the fall. I'm out on the town this weekend with one of my best friends, Gina, as she visits from the East Coast. Have an amazing and safe Labor Day weekend! Cross your fingers for me that I'll get internet at home soon!Labels: lists
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
A Completely Non Sequitur Entry on Moving, Accountability, and Jim Halpert
I've been completely remiss in providing any insight to creative pursuits of my own lately; mostly because I am guilty of NOT doing anything during the move. Even with the scanner set up and the kitchen/crafting table bought off Craigslist, there's still the little problem of the internet not getting installed until September 11. Do I complain about this enough? I should probably channel the energy into pummeling the cable company with calls. Gees, what did the world do before the internet?
For your visual pleasure, here are a few things I recently bought off of Etsy:
I'll post the shops once I receive the items, so that I feel assured in recommending these amazing shops.
Here's something I've wanted to write about for quite some time: independent crafters/artists accountability. There's an understood but unspoken rule of trust and solidarity among crafters and DIY-ers, especially on the blog circuit. But I was sorely disappointed by one person when I ordered two art pieces last October, and to this day still haven't received anything. I don't anticipate that I'll ever receive anything at this point, but after several, really-awkward-to-write emails from me (why is it so hard to stand up for yourself?) and uncomfortable but unfortunately empty promises from her, this whole experience has left a really sour taste in my mouth for independent designers. Which is really unfortunate, because I know many of you really rely on the internet to sell your wares. It makes me much more cautious to ever buy something from an independent source (the aforementioned blogger/seller had been a girl I've read and known of through friends for at least 5 years); and though Etsy has been a great, other people who want to be completely DIY are also feeling the repercussions of irresponsible "independent designers".
How do you regulate something like that so that other people don't have the same terrible experience with that crafter/artist? And why would it feel terrible to call that person out on it publicly when it was that person's fault in the first place?
To completely digress to a better story, via Craft Magazine's blog, I spied this adorable remixed old shapeless cardigan to a pretty swingy sweater. It's the perfect project for when I get my sewing machine back from my mom and figure out a serger is find a serger/substitute for a serger. (Thank you, glorious resource of the internet).
And happily, finally, tonight I get to see my friend Monica and we're going to see this guy:
 Labels: 826LA, arts+crafts, covet, things i hate
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
I never felt so wicked as when I willed our love to die
Though Rilo Kiley's new album is no More Adventurous, there are still certain signature songs on Under the Blacklight that spark lines and lines of prose in my mind. I've been so inspired to get into my novel again (which has been "resting" since pretty much last summer), and now that I have a writing corner set up in the new apartment and no access to the internet at home for another two weeks, I hope I'll be able to jump on this inspiration wagon.
There are so many exciting creative projects in my line-up for the fall to look forward to, including collaborations with talented friends. Moving out of my first apartment by myself had been much more emotionally exhausting than I had anticipated, as it was a hallmark of all the things I had accomplished for myself as a "grown-up". I still remember being wistful when friends went back to school last fall; but this fall, I'm actually quite excited for the life I'm living and all the plans I get to make.Labels: growing up, musicbox
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Under The Black Light
No one ever expects a move to be smooth, but the unpredictability of all the bumps in the road is the really stressful part. Among the many bumps in the road to our new apartment is spontaneously deciding to move earlier overnight than later in a week, mean notes under windshields from rude neighbors that was because of a confusion propagated by the wretched management company, and the delayed installation date for our internet currently set for September 11. Yuck. So I will be rather disconnected for the next three weeks, which involve more moving, adopting a dog (!), and a much anticipated visit from a best friend across the country.
I will, however, try to stay connected by sharing all the lovely things I'm finding online to feather my new nest with including this singing bird cage:
Completely useless, and utterly irrelevant in about 2 years when the bird trend passes, but still irresistibly charming! Maybe as a present to myself to chirp up my desk at work (bad pun fully intended).
Or perhaps this squirrel tray, since we are leaving behind our squirrelly friends:
Gaudy but cute.
And of course, this sea urchin box set that I have been coveting forever, from the inexplicably adorable Curiosity Shoppe!
Along with hunting for adorable finds online to take a break from work, I'm also obsessed with playing Scrabble with my office mate on Facebook. I used to hate Scrabble, but it's actually not half bad when the computer does the adding up of points for you!
What have you been up to, dear friends?Labels: covet, losangeles
Thursday, August 16, 2007
No One Belongs Here More Than You
I've tried really hard to like Miranda July. Sometimes she makes it really easy, like with her clever website and marketing campaign for No One Belongs Here More Than You. The cinematography in Me and You and Everyone We Know was startling and lovely in some parts, but would have made a better Senior Exit Show than an actual film. She has moments of startling genius, but I find it overbearing most of the time. Why am I not surprised she went to UC Santa Cruz, then dropped out to move to Portland and work as a performance artist?
I know she's the Hollywood Indie World darling, even being so far as accused of being in cahoots with the Scientologists. But her short stories, much like her screenplay, left much to be desired from such a hyped artist. Most of her writing reminds me of a pre-adolescent child who has learned all the salacious topics that make his/her parents uncomfortable, and delights in questioning said parents with a wide-eyed innocent facade. July's stories touch on uncomfortable, inconvenient truths of commonplace people and their commonplace lives. While this might be an attempt to be unapologetically real and witty, it just comes off as completely dull and juvenile -- just like you would expect of commonplace people (and hence why you, Sir/Miss/Madam Commonplace, are reading in the first place).
The voice is the same throughout all the stories - trying too hard to be quirky and thoughtful and observant -- despite the differences in gender and creed in every main character. I understand that this might just be case of different strokes for different folks, so I highly recommend just borrowing the book from the library if you must, or your friendly July fanatic so that they may talk you through why you should believe the hype. And then maybe you can come back and talk me through it.
BTW, feel free to take my book reviews with a grain of salt (as if you didn't already). I'm just working on remembering what I thought about the books as I read them, instead of completely forgetting why I have a burning distaste for Steve Martin's Shopgirl. And it keeps me steady on my reading 22 Books in My 22nd Year goal.
Things to do other than read No One Belongs Here More Than You:
Paint/draw yourself a series of foreign language flash cards that would look so charming displayed on your dining room wall. Or buy yourself the set at Fred Flare.Labels: books
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Meet Ella
Meet Ella.
She's wearing the lovely raspberry top from Anthropologie's summer catalog -- and she does it quite well, what do you think?
 Labels: artsy girl
Works in Progress
Finished this piece last night; I will take a better photograph of it later today. Started another piece, but I set it aside because it's becoming a bigger and bigger mess.
It was based on a sketch done from an old issue of Vogue, but it's changed so much that I'm struggling with making firm decisions about it. Sometimes things come naturally (like the first piece, the shirt and piece were inspired by the summer Anthropologie catalog), but other times it's a struggle.
Here was the work in process a few weeks ago -- I really wrapped it up last Friday night, but finished the edges last night while watching Hot Fuzz and nursing the dregs of my cold. I always find it interesting to look at other people's work coming together, so I thought I'd post some of my own.
Now that the patio door is fixed at the new place, I actually have to pack tonight! Yikes, so much to do before moving!Labels: artsy girl, work in progress
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Stardust
I've come down with a summer cold (one of the not-so-great perks of working in an office), so I spent most of yesterday knocked out on Tylenol Cold and Airborne. By the time I got up, I was feeling groggy and stir-crazy, so Ryan and I went out for a Monday night movie. We saw Stardust, and I really really enjoyed it. Just look at that film still -- the whole movie was beautiful. The costumes! The British actors! The ageless Michelle Pfieffer! The adorable Robert DeNiro! You could chalk it all up to the cold medicine making this film practically effervescent for me; but I'll leave it to fantastic art direction and cinematography paired with a rather good adaptation of Neil Gaiman's graphic novel.
I hope the word-of-mouth hype is getting around enough to undermine the terribly executed marketing campaign. Though there are many comparisons to a modern day Princess Bride (who knew that was out-of-date?), I thought that Stardust stood alone well enough in the wondrous world it created.
Who knew I would grow up to be such a fantasy film geek? Perhaps it wasn't so far-fetched since a lot of my favorite childhood stories were Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach and Charlie & The Chocolate Factory -- all paving the way to my modern day literary interests and style rooted in magical realism. Also, to my credit, I still haven't seen any of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, thankyouverymuch.Labels: films
Monday, August 13, 2007
The Life Pursuit
So much has happened, friends! I apologize for having disappeared for most of the past week; but it's all in good news. We've found a lovely apartment to call home, and we just painted the bedroom this weekend.
I learned that painting is a HUGE pain in the ass. We were so relieved that we decided to paint just the bedroom after all. So worth it though, as it looks like a nice little haven to retreat to after work. It will also definitely be a nice change to have my bed in one room and the living room in the other! Now follows the oh-so-exciting process of packing, sorting and donating.
Ryan started packing last night and discovered his 1998 high school senior yearbook, which was hi-larity to look through. Why did we all dig that sweater look so much? And the bleached streaks? I wonder if our grandchildren's generation will dig the over-moussed, sweaters, flannel and open button up shirts over tank-tops look. For their sake, I hope not!
There is much drawing and painting still happening on my end, which I'll post up in the following days. I promise I won't be gone for as long!Labels: domestic goddess
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
We are the sleepyheads
A quick final piece for Illustrator class; the jpeg and print version turned out darker and more purple, but it still works. A digital rendered version of this drawing below from my moleskine notebook:
I must say that after learning all this, I'm still just a lo-fi, getting-your-hands dirty kind of girl.Labels: artsy girl
Sunday, August 05, 2007
I'm A Cuckoo
August just feels like a Belle & Sebastian month to me, how about you? We spent a great chunk of the weekend apartment-hunting, somewhat unfruitfully. It's so exhausting to keep the faith among so many craphole places and jerky landlords/managers. Renting in Los Angeles is also a stressful war game -- so many good places are rented within a few hours of its posting. I wonder if renting is this hard in cities like, say, Topeka or Salt Lake City.
We also ate out all weekend since the heat plus last week's discovery of flour mites in the pantry has quelched any desire to cook in my tiny apartment kitchen. How quickly eating out becomes a chore, like on vacations or cruise ships. Part of eating out included this day-glo pink Simpsons donut from 7-Eleven! Oh life imitating art makes life that much better. My tooth ached at first sight, and that's how I knew I needed to have it. It's even more sugary than most donuts. It's that good.
The highlight of the weekend was playing with the dogs and cats at the Lange Foundation on a whim. Sadly, I think I'm still slightly allergic to cats and we have to wait til next month to adopt a dog.
More artwork to come this week; apartment hunting has taken a lot of my time along with printing final projects for Illustrator class! Til then, friends!Labels: foodie call, losangeles, things i hate
Friday, August 03, 2007
All The Bicycles in Denmark
All The Bicycles in Denmark, 10" x 10", acrylic on canvas.
I finished this painting last night; it's a birthday present for a friend so don't tell. I struggled with the colors, especially since I first laid down a much richer pumpkin orange first. The bike has been about three different colors before I finally settled on this; and it was all because of a bouquet of carnations sitting on the counter at Starbucks! Pale neon orange, deep magentas and creams are a dreamy combination that remind me of when summer goes into spring.
Also trying out painting the sides of the canvas a deep raw umber so that it's ready to hang without framing.Labels: artsy girl
Thursday, August 02, 2007
Tuberose Palette
I bought this gorgeous bouquet of tuberoses from the farmer's market yesterday. They smell heavenly.
And look at those colors -- soft greens, pinks and creams. Pretty much my favorite colors, so working from life I was inspired for a few drawings in my sketchbook...
I've also been working on a few paintings, but I just seem to be going in circles with those as I'm learning how to work with acrylic. It's never as opaque as I like...maybe I should go back to gouache, which dries faster than oil but has better opaque qualities than acrylics & watercolor.
Anyway, tomorrow I'm taking a personal day and meeting with an Art Center admissions officer (just for an informational interview), and working on a spreadsheet for apartment hunting which officially begins this weekend. Wish me luck!Labels: artsy girl
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Painted Pink Sunsets
Happy August. Enjoy all the sunsets left in the summer.Labels: losangeles, photolog
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