Pencil Me In

I thought I should share some progress photos on what I've been working on. I've been so inspired an excited lately; it's so exciting to actually be creating, designing, and having fun all at the same time. I've never found myself choosing to stay in an work when the option to go out and party also presents itself. In fact, I spent all of Halloween knitting my pencil bag...and I loved it.

It's crazy to think that I've never knit before. I definitely consider it to be one of my new favorite passtimes and the class feels  surprisingly unlike a chore. I've always been afraid of attempting knitting because I always feel like I'm inadequate at learning new skills and I lean toward the lazy side. When I was a child I picked up so many random creative skills; I made myself mini carpets. It's surprising that I never really picked up knitting needles or even my mom's weapon of choice,  a crochet hook.

I've also found my new muse during the whole pencil-knitting process: the pencil, what a beautiful woman she is. I've chosen to extend my inspiration into the next knitwear project and create a pencil-inspired dress and possibly even a pair of pants. And not only knitwear, but the inspiration has hijacked my Jewelry I project--I'm making a pencil ring--and my Shape and Form Design class--we were assigned to design a collection for second semester and mine is centered around the good ole' number 2 pencil.

As much as I hate to admit, I feel like I'm following Christian's creative footsteps a little more closely that I'd like. He and I had a lot in common (I mean, we're the same age mentally) and it's pretty silly when I start designing and then look at a dress he made in the 90s and realize that I had unknowingly stolen his idea. Goes to show you how creative my mind is...or his...or both.

It's kind of funny, though, because the same day as this presentation I was wearing a Christian dress, his designs were splattered on my inspiration boards and then I ran into him on the subway after months of no contact. Coincidences are meant to remind us of our place in the world. Dearly noted, Fate.

Making a Pencil Scarf while watching the President get re-elected

October Is For Lovers

What a month!

It's weird to think about how quickly this month has gone by: Midterms, Hurricanes, Halloween, Interning, Projects, Weekly Drunk Brunches, Voting, and cans upon cans of whipped cream (Hot Cocoa-mania). It's definitely been nothing short of hectic but I think it's been one of the best months in my Pratt career. I think that scheduling in two days in a row to leave Brooklyn and spend working in Manhattan has really made a beneficial impact on my life, especially now that I don't have to go out of my way to shop in the garment district (fashion...).

It's rather scary leaving the safety of October and realizing how close November is to our final semester bow. It's especially terrifying for me because I'll be leaving Pratt for the semester and still have so much to plan; Milan is an exciting venture yet is insanely intimidating. Finally when I feel like I own the school do I decide to take a break. But I suppose life is full of exciting new beginnings so it's just practice and an opportunity to improve myself.

Every step toward exchange is becoming more and more sobering: I haven't had to register for classes (a huge stresser to many of my classmates), I've begun to re-pack my belongings, I've been attempting to tie up loose ends with my apartment, and I've admitted to my classmates and professor that I won't be here next semester during a design presentation. Weird. But liberating.