last and least

last week i was last to "present" to out guest critics
because the week prior i had been first for review

we went in groups of 4
and they pored over the first 3 projects
making comments and suggestions
questioning content and context

i was last
and they spent about 2 minutes flipping through mine
they made a few helpful comments
and some not so helpful comments
that in retrospect didn't make any sense
because they hadn't actually read what they were responding to

but still.....
in the moment i was excited
and i felt like i was seeing it in a new way
and i felt like i had fresh new ideas about how to approach it
but after my initial excitement waned...

i realized "hey, wait a second"
they didn't even look at the damn thing
they skimmed over it and were out the door
i feel like i got shafted

in spite of my irritation
the past 3 days have been really productive
i have made a lot of revisions
and it continues to get tighter each week
there are still some things that need to be resolved
but i feel pretty good abut where i'm at

i always fear that i will lose my steam
get bored with the project and have nothing left to give
(as has happened in the past)
so i am grateful that i still have some juice left for this

really looking forward to the week off
and then a week of portfolio workshop
which will make the whole eventually being done thing
ever so much more real

travelin' bags

we bought a bigger bag to travel with
which is kind of exciting
(you i know i love my bags)
up until now we have both been traveling with our own
"not too big to carry on" rolling suitcases
which is fine if you are traveling light
and you want to be able to carry on
but lately
more often than not
we just check our bags
usually because we're flying direct
and dog gone it, it's just easier that way
but i am usually sitting on my bag in order to get it to zip
because there really isn't that much room in the darn thing
now maybe that's a good thing because it forces me to edit
but sometimes it would be nice
to be able to throw in that extra sweateror pair of shoes
and not be worried about busting the zipper

so when we go to spain
we will be traveling with one big rolling duffel
and the smaller of our 2 suitcases
it feels exciting to buy a piece of luggage to travel with together
i know that might sound goofy
but it feels like a married thing
instead of 2 small separates
why don't we get one slightly bigger and roomier?
makes good sense

working feverishly

mentally crossing of each day of class with a big red X

i have been working hard
my idea for the cable company identity is something sort of handmade
so i have been cross stitching and making pop up cards and such
which is actually really fun
and gets me away from the computer
which is a pleasant change of pace
i have been pretty crafty in general
josh helped me make a magnetic "mood board"
out of a hunk of metal, and i finished the edges with gaffers tape
















and yesterday i made a handbag out of clear duct tape
which is really quite fabulous
not to mention that i have been learning how to weave
on a little 4x4 handheld loom
i even made myself a scarf

these are the little distractions that i have been using
to help me step away from the computer
which really seems to be helping my design process
i need to step away every once and awhile
so i don't get completely burnt out
it helps to totally take my mind off of it
so that when i come back to it i can actually SEE

tomorrow i have to "present" my degree project to 2 guest critics
i feel pretty comfortable about it
but it does make me a little anxious

after next week it is spring break
a whole lovely week off
which we are planning to kick off by going to jersey and stay in a b&b
and spend the weekend combing the flea market
the mini getaway will be to celebrate josh's birthday

snowy

it snowed all day saturday and part of sunday
it was pretty
big fat poofy flakes
dealing with the aftermath isn't as much fun
but it sure is pretty when it's happening

i didn't go to class today
it just felt like a snow day
i went to yoga so that i wouldn't feel quite so guilty about it

now the long 3 days before friday stretch out in front of me
i actually have a coffee meeting tomorrow
with one of my old instructors
(one of the very few that i actually liked)
he agreed to look at my project and give me feedback
i definitely need someone (other than he who shall remain nameless)
to help me see what i'm doing or not doing or should be doing
it will be nice to have another perspective

the future, so bright & something about shades?

there is a light at the end of the tunnel
it's really all i can see
it's freakin' blinding
so blinding that i can't see what's right in front of me
which is piles upon piles of work
ok it's not piles
i'm exaggerating
it only feels like piles

but the light at the end of the tunnel
is of course gradufreakingation
but more importantly: 12 days in spain!

and the week after that i'm going to the how conference
in viva las vegas to kick off my new life in style

and then there is a mandatory familial event
the week after that in LA
or outside of LA
and i've never been to LA
or outside of LA
and i like going places i've never been before
and wearing pretty dresses

so there's lots to look forward to
but i have to slog through the next 10 or so weeks
without losing my mind first
what's left of it anyway.....