redecorating my life

Back in January I went through a redecorating phase-- trying to spruce up my Brooklyn apartment in time for my birthday party. I bought a few things: new shower curtain, couple pillows, dust ruffle. The place looked awesome, and the party was great and I was really happy everything. But then, a few days later, I found out that over christmas vacation, I picked up bed bugs... ick.

So I had to wash and dry everything on high heat, steam clean some stuff. In the craziness, I accidentally washed a brick-red blanket with a white one, and some black and white pillow shams, which came out an icky shade of salmon. I stripped all my gorgeous bedding and replaced it with just some light grey sheets and my used-to-be-white blanket (so I could spot the bugs better). All my clothing went into giant ziplock bags and my once-chic apartment became an ugly mess. I couldn't sleep, for fear of bedbug bites, and I just hated being at home.

But now, I've gone 28 days without any new bites or any sign of more bugs, so I'm hoping that my week in the laundry room has paid off and they're all dead. Last night, I opened one plastic bag and pulled out a comforter. It's not my big, cozy damask one, just my old hot pink one from college. But still it seemed like such a treat to have some color back in the room and some warmth on my bed. It's going to take a long time to get my place looking chic again, but I want to make it cuter than ever now that this is over. You'd think this experience would make me less materialistic, but it's shown me how important it is to have a calm, pretty place in your life where you can feel good about yourself and relax.

doing it yourself, for yourself

Gahhh! I'm so sick of reading DIY articles where the main reason for doing it yourself is to save money. The main reason for doing anything yourself should be to have fun, get creative, try something new. If DIYing saves so much money, why are there so many successful craft stores? And seriously? "Make your own candles to save money!" If I was trying to save money I wouldn't be buying candles. Much less candle-making supplies. And I wouldn't be spending hours making candles; I'd be working or looking for a job. Ok, maybe if my electricity got shut off or something... but even then, I'd just get the $1 unscented tapers at the corner store.

Can't I just do it myself for the pure enjoyment of doing it myself? Can't I make my own candles for the fun of it? Why does creativity have to equal poverty? I don't make stuff because I'm poor. I make stuff because I like making stuff. If I had infinite money, I'd still make stuff (though I'd use way more silk and cashmere!). I get more out of creating things than I get out of buying things. I like pairing different colors and textures for a knit scarf. I like sewing clothes that fit my unique body and my unique personality. I love that feeling-- when something I only saw in my head is now a real thing. I also love that feeling-- when someone compliments my dress, purse, hat, etc, and I can say, "Thanks, I made it."

So why does it have to be about money?

underwater

I guess I never really post any of my film photography on here. Check out these photos I took just by putting a cheap plastic camera in a ziplock bag.









The first two are from a few a few weeks ago when I went swimming in the lake with my cousin. The last two are from a year ago when I went swimming in the pool with my boyfriend. He broke up with me that day, so it wasn't really a priority to develop them...

making shift?

"there has to be a change, I'm sure
today was just a day fading into another,
and that can't be what a life is for..."
-Counting Crows

For quite a while I've had this idea of starting my own magazine. I always thought it would be about making stuff- especially clothing and accessories, decorating, etc. Kinda a DIY type thing like "Readymade" but it would be geared more toward women. Like "Martha Stewart Magazine," but for a younger, trendy-er woman, I guess. I was going to call it "Makeshift Magazine," and it would be all about making things. Nowadays though, I'm starting to feel like it should be something more. Not just something about making stuff, but something about making life, maybe about making due in life.

I just left the cozy world of college living, and soon I'll be taking off for a new city on my own. It doesn't feel like a new chapter in my book; it feels like a whole new book. I guess I just feel like I have something to say about making a life for myself. When I hear about other students who've just graduated and are now making all kinds of money at their "real jobs," it kinda makes me feel inadequate and incompetent for taking the grad school road, the starving artist road, the student loan road... But when I think about how much I can learn and accomplish through this experience, it all seems worth it. I'm scared to death, but I know that I'm being true to myself. I have nothing of financial value to gain by getting an MFA in musical writing. It's just not a moneymaker like other master's degrees. But I have SO MUCH to gain by way of knowledge, networking, and experience. I can't think of anywhere I'd rather be, "real jobs" included.

I'm also looking forward to spending time with people so similar to me. When I went to Tisch for the interview weekend all the applicants got to meet each other and do workshops and stuff together, and it was wonderful to be around people who have the same love of this craft, as well as the same fears and pressures. It reminded me of senior comp class last fall. Everyone was so supportive of each other because we were all in the same boat as writers trying to find our voices and face our fears, especially with graduation and "real life" just around the corner.

So I guess what I'd do with my imaginary magazine is write about what it's like to be a starving artist, or a fed artist, or just a dreamer. I'd want it to be supportive like the class. I'd want it to make people feel like they're not inadequate or incompetent for choosing a life of artistic expression, but rather, it would showcase the thrill of inspiration and the joy of creation that make our lives truly rich.

(I guess I'll end on that sugary, inspirational, cheesy note there... nighty night.)

purses!

Check out these bags I made! I made the black one out of an old leather coat from goodwill ($6!) and I made the green one out of a pair of cargo pants from there.

music musings: the fratellis

Time to share some of my latest music interests. After a long aesthetic dry-spell, I have finally found a new band to love: The Fratellis. Ok, so they're not new, but they're new to me so just let me love them. And there are so many reasons I love them... the fun 90's rock sound, the hints of ska, the punchy lyrics, varied pacing and winsome accents. Plus their band name reminds me of the Fratelli brothers from The Goonies, so how could I not love them?

Seriously, I have never fallen in love with a band this quickly. The moment I heard Chelsea Dagger I ordered two of their albums. I've been listening to a youtube playlist of their music on repeat until the cd's come in the mail. Some other favorites: Henrietta, For The Girl, Look Out Sunshine, and Everybody Knows You Cried Last Night. This is totally my kind of music! Where have they been all my life?

vintage fabric love

Once upon a time, I was wandering through salvation army, when I came across a frumpy, shapeless, oversized vintage dress. Though the cut was hideous, I couldn't help but fall in love with the charming floral cotton it was made of. I bought the frumpy frock for three bucks, inspired by the print, and sewed it into this trendy little sundress. With pockets, of course.



I still had a few scraps left over afterwards, so I made this little scarf out of them. The floral print makes it girly, but the fringe gives it a bit of an edginess, I feel. I'm thinking I might make some more scarves like this and sell them on etsy. I'm having trouble getting a summer job here in Michigan, so I'm a bit worried. I start grad school at NYU in the fall, so I need to make as much money as I can before I move out there. Trouble is, no one here wants to hire me for just two months or so. Sigh.