completely smitten

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I am completely smitten by these shots from Love Me Do! For me, this 1940s vintage wedding dress is by far the best gown I’ve seen. Ever. The details in the back and the delicate applique won me over right away, and I love the fact that you can move around freely in this piece. No corsets, waist pinchers, and ruffling attendants needed. {swoon}

The photographers did an awesome job of capturing pictures throughout the day that go along with the ethereal qualities of the gown. via c is for charmed


rainbows and composition paper

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I’ve been playing around with packaging ideas and working on little presents to give our friends when we go to Chicago tomorrow. (!!!) From an economic standpoint (if I were to sell these later on), it doesn’t make sense to spend so much time on the labels because they’re going to get ripped off anyways. But I like personalizing them and it’s been fun to think up a variety of designs that fits each person–e.g., rainbows and composition paper for Mairead, a writer and wearer of bright colors. I hate throwing away scraps and magazines, so I’m glad these materials are getting a second life. If they don’t get used as labels, they can also serve as place cards, although I’m not sure how I feel about making 300+ for our reception. Eek.

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Michael Allan

I woke up early today to help our art supervisor hang up over 200 dog show pieces down at the Reliant Stadium. I heard some school districts refused to enter this year as a sign of protest. Supposedly, the judges were only giving high honors to artwork depicting pure breeds. Ridiculous. They also have a habit of picking super-realistic drawings, like of the Houston Livestock and Rodeo show, so I’m glad there was at least one winner who was a little more expressive. Personally, the younger kids’ drawings are more appealing than the high schoolers, but it’s kind of hard not to like kids’ art in the first place, right? Never been to a dog show but if it’s anything like Best in Show, I’m sure it’ll be a hoot.

a world of thoughts

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Last year, while discussing my final project for the intro to jewelry class, one of the teachers told me to check out Dutch jewelry artist Lucy Sarneel. I was fascinated by the way she combines metals and other materials in a very fragmented way. It was as if each section told a different story. Each had a beginning and an end, and the transitions were clean and distinct.

The more I learn about Dutch artists and design, the more I feel like it fits my aesthetics. There seems to be a tradition of mixing uncommon techniques and materials that give each piece a handmade (searching for the word)… familiar sort of quality?

To me a jewel represents a place in the world in which one can loose oneself like in the sparkling of a diamond or the carefull observation of little plants or moss.

The alienation that results from the competition between ‘the natural’ and the ‘artificial’ is an aspect I try to give form to in my jewels.

Allthough a jewel is a small object it can be a world of thoughts.

woo woo

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Yesterday, Thuy and I picked up B from work and we went on our a mini tour of the print shop where Rice sends a lot of their work. B’s office is on the second floor of the former university president’s home, and he has an amazing view of the campus, especially of the live oak trees.

On the second floor landing, they have a cabinet crowded with owl figurines. I bet their students have fun buying mascot-related products outside of the campus bookstore.

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that feeling of nostalgia

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Gimme! Today, I came across these beautiful posters by artist Eric Tan. Inspired by Disneyland attraction posters from the 60s, he is famous for his “retro-futurist remix posters” of popular films like Indiana Jones and The Incredibles. This one for Up reminds me of the See America project put out by the Works  Progress Administration. The folded creases makes the poster even sweeter. Here is Tan in his own words:

I think retro advertising might work because they’re based in something we’re all used to seeing. There’s a comfort in that. There was a defining look to past decades that immediately brings you back to those days. If our job as artists/communicators is to evoke a feeling and/or emotion out of a piece, it’s a good way to instantly bring the viewer that feeling of nostalgia.

more of his work:

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WPA |Montana

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I’m definitely going to keep these in mind as references for future assignments. Maybe I can have my students revisit their favorite movie or vacation postcards as a catalyst for new designs? Their bookcover redesigns came out wonderfully but I can’t post any due to copyright. Must find a way to do this.

lush colors me be itch

Tonight, we went to the Houston Center for Photography to see Tuey‘s work at the Juried Membership Exhibition. She was one of 26 chosen from around Houston and the United States! Impressive. After seeing the presentation and lush colors I was itchin’ to pick up the camera again! Here’s Tuey’s beautiful photos:

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Iron Board, 2009

Pink Socks and House Slippers. 2009

Pink Socks and House Slippers. 2009

Mom's Fan. 2009

Mom's Fan. 2009


One of our favorites from the show by Julia Cymbularz:

Yellow Curtain. 2008.

Yellow Curtain. 2008.

Afterwards, we headed to another friends house and played Rock Band in preparation for tonight’s karaoke for Roshan’s birthday. We ended the night with some yummy sushi. I heart summer.

chicago

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I fell in love again 
all things go, all things go 
drove to Chicago 
all things know, all things know

*Sufjan Stevens. Chicago

5 more days!

reverie

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I’m slowly trying to archive all my polaroids I’ve accumulated over the years. A couple of them, like the test shots above, weren’t pulled smoothly from the rollers and the result is a partially complete photo. In this case, I think the cloud shaped effect kinda works with the theme. Thanks B for being such a big help in the studio.

One more week until Chicago! We are so excited.

loving stripes

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I love stripes. Sometimes too much, like wearing more than 3 pieces of striped clothing at once. Is that a fashion no no? The outfits aboves from Stella McCartney Resort 2010 collection have really nice silhouettes. Loose and flowy but not shapeless. Plus they look extra comfy. {via A Cup of Jo}  More here.

observations:
+ Lots of people like to pick their nose when they drive. Some people even pick it when they know I’m staring.
+ I think playing the melodica really builds up my lung capacity. I can swim 4 laps back to back!

Guess who spent two hours at the DPS for a license and found out at the end that they have an outstanding ticket in Indiana? And while there, the person behind them let out a huge cough right on the the back of their neck?