Belated Fashion Friday

One of the coolest (or should I say warmest) sweaters I've come across so far for this approaching Fall/Winter. I also love the fact that this wool sweater is double breasted! Anthropologie rocks my Christmas themed socks!

And one more thing,  . . . many apologies for being absent. I will get better at blogging, I promise! Besides, I soon will have some new jewelry and crochet designs, so be on the look out!

Fashion Friday : Dainty June

Dainty June

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Fashion Friday! "Falling for Fall"

Hey there fashionistas! Fall seems to be bringing a ton of fun trends in the apparel world. Beautiful new coats for winter, shades of red, show those legs, and many many more. One that just seems to stick out to me as a bit odd is the resurfacing of the 1980's. (Don't get me wrong, I think I like it . . .maybe)

Reading up on all the different fashion weeks that have been taking place, I've seen this trend pop up here and there. I'm rather curious about this trend and am wondering if it will fully come alive. I'm sure it might in the big cities: power dressing, neon colors, Mad Max styles, and not to mention the deconstructed method applied to some garments.

Baring all this in mind, this is one of MANY trends this fall. What I'm interested in is to see if the return-to-the-80's look will show it's face in the not so big towns. I'm going to conduct a little research; let's call it "Eye on the Eighties." On my random off days that I get from work that are smack in the middle of the week, I'm going to go to places in Louisiana such as New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Shreveport, and Hammond to see if this one trend (and what other trends) will appear down here in the dirty south. Be on the look out for "Out and About" pictures and updates!!

Well, that's all folks for my first "Fashion Friday". I want to shout out to two of my favorite inspirations, Garance Dore and The Satorialist. Amazing fashion experts in my book!

Redirecting My Directions

So my plan way foiled! A co-worker had to work at her other job, leaving me with her shifts to cover today and tomorrow. Fortunately, it is more hours and money, plus I get Saturday off.

Patience. It is a virtue yes, but a pain in my ass as well. Seriously folks, I'm trying my best to be patient. But the feeling of being so lost weighs heavy on my soul.

Well, to lighten the mood, I want to announce that I'm going to try my hand at a reoccurring "Fashion Friday" blog entry. Maybe I'll get some direction from this. All those years as an apparel design student need to start paying their dues. Plus, I really dig all my favorite blogs that have special day blogs. They make me smile; I'm hoping I can make someone smile too.

Blog Goggles: Mooncakes

This is too fun! Go on over to Blog Goggles and check out the cuteness. The link is below!
Blog Goggles: Mooncakes

(P.S. once you follow the link, scroll all the way up once you get there!)

Game, Set, Match! My Game Plan:

This coming Thursday and Friday, I have off from work. The plan is to just simply PURGE! Purge my room of things I seem to be holding onto that I am not using. I am going to bring keepsakes to storage and the rest to Goodwill.

I want to create a clean and organized haven for my crafty ventures. I've felt so stifled lately and I have come to realize that it's got to be because of my unwillingness to settle into my room. I need to be able to breathe and think. All these disheveled heaps of clothes, fabrics, and piles of miscellaneous craft stuff are making my brain as well as my room a disaster area. I had rolled into the habit of moving and never really unpacking or organizing for fear of just having to jump up and move again (it has happened at least five times in the last two years.)

This time I have to face the music and realize I won't be moving anytime soon. Even if it does happen by some random chance, I still need to do this to bring peace within myself and living quaters. It's time to stop procrastinating and get my life together. Make the change and be the change. Make the change to actually organize for my creative chaos and be the change in my life. I have to make the move. So that's my game, I'm setting it and MATCH!

The Importance of Being

So, what do you do when you have one of those “What does it all mean?” days? What do you do? Especially when one of those days turns into weeks and then months, what can you change? Of course there is no one instantaneous action that will make it all better, and of course there is no one answer. You watch some film or witness something that makes you wonder; you read a random article or finish a good book and in turn it leaves you asking questions about you’re life. Is it true that if you’re not scared, then you’re not really paying attention? What do you do when you start thinking that it might be all gone tomorrow? How do you really make every minute count? How do you fight today’s war when you’re already thinking about tomorrow’s? There’s no time to surrender, no time to wait. You must fight and fight hard. Don’t give up. Life may be fragile and it may be fleeting, but God willing, it’s ain’t over til it’s over. One thing I know, is that it is important to tell the people you love how much you love them while they can still hear you and you can still speak, no matter what the circumstances are. Even if you think that person won’t listen or really hear you. Say it anyway. Say it because you mean it. Love is love. It doesn’t matter that you had a fight or that you’re not suppose to be together or whatever the situation is. Additionally, you can’t possibly know what will happen tomorrow. You can’t. Take “joie de vivre” seriously. Yes, it will be hard sometimes (no one ever said it would be easy and if they did they deserve a swift kick in the pants) and yes, you just might not see any joy some days (like that day your car window got stuck all the way down and it started to rain and you were late to work and you stepped in a puddle that came all the way up to your knee . . .) But on that day, on that day that you are just downright miserable and you feel you are at the lowest of the low, simply notice that you are breathing. Take into account that your heart is still beating. You are alive. That is the importance of being. Be alive. Take a breath. Smile. I love you.

Sincerely,

Katherine Rose Ravencraft

To Sew Again

Halloween seems to be right around the corner and even though I have nothing in particular planned . . . I'm starting my costume! In addition to really getting down on that sewing machine of mine, I've been inspired by a beautiful picture. After taking my first glimpse, I immediately imagined the dress. Mind you, I've recently purchased a dress, fluttery ruffles, thin cotton in cream and pale red flower print chiffon. But a hunt for material that is crisp and clean white is on! I plan on home dying my white fabric to make the bright red blotches resembling the lovely flower in the picture! The picture is from a very awe inspiring blog : http://beautimuse.blogspot.com/

P.S. I think the dress style will be very "Flamenco"- esque.

Oh watermelon, sweet watermelon!

Things have been kinda falling into place these days. Got a nice little 9-5 job, I'm not feeling as lost as I was. I feel good; a kind of peace has fallen over my soul. I mean, things aren't perfect, but who needs perfection when you can have blissful creative chaos!

I've thought about school more. I'll hopefully get back into it for the spring semester: 30 credit hours left, whooohooo, I can do it!

Got to visit a friend and her beautiful kiddos (and her ever awesome hubby too). They are so inspiring; I can only hope to be as lucky to have such a lovely family one day!!

Picked up my cousin Logan (who's a senior this year) from his highschool; I feel so old, haha, and I'm only gonna be 24 come this December!

Once I got home, there was a watermelon fresh from my neighbors vine waiting for me to dig in! It was still warm from being in the sun and so very sweet. Delicious.

Well, I'm hoping to design some new jewelry tonight because I sure feel inspired!!

Fridge magnets and Three Full Pages

What's with today, today? Made some fun fridge magnets (waiting for paint to dry to be able to glaze them). I've been trying everyday to write at least three full pages, not anything in particular, but just to write. One day it's pretty much dribble, then the next it's a conversation between two characters for a screenplay I'm working on. Interesting . . . fun and keeps the mind busy.

Today I Sew

My mother dear has a couple of items that need to be tailored and so today I will finally get to them. Then I figured, since I'll be whippin' out allmy lovely sewing tools, why not continue with the making and the crafting all day to day! Why not?

image from:http://asgaustin.org/

Have You Ever?

Have you ever thought that there was something greater out there for you? Something with more meaning . . . A new beginning just waiting for you to jump on on in . . . What if you do decide to leap? What then?

A path not yet taken, a road less traveled for fear of some great failure? Is it that fear, the fear of making a fool of myself? Well, I can tell you now that I've already done that and several times. I am the fool. So, why can't I jump?

image from:

http://www.techlearning.com/techlearning/archives/2007/pol/jump.jpg

So many networking tools!! Woot.

Handmade, a condition of the heart . . .

Work, Work, Work . . . In a sense.

As usual, I am trying to be productive!

I have been reforming my Artfire site with the help of very nice advice from fellow collegues. This morning I spent several hours editing photos: open, open, image, resize, resolution, save as . . . and then the process starts all over again.

Last night was full of inspiration . . . Plus brownies and great films!

Success!

I made three new successful uploads to my artfire site! Woohoo! Now, I must follow up everyday. Maybe I should just start by adding one new thing each day and not over load myself. I'm still trying to decide where to go, what to do, what my next move is career and life-wise.

I've contacted my previous counselor and professor at LSU to see about finishing up; only 30 credit hours left of Human Ecology classes to get my BA.

I'd still like to get on with one of the films coming down here, . . . I just don't seem to have the right connections . . .

Drove up to St. Francisville today, lovely historic little town. Stopped by where I used to work so long ago, Grandmother's Buttons, to see if they needed any help in their production studio upstairs. It's a maybe!! Still have to talk to the boss lady, the talented Susan Davis. Maybe she'll have something for me to do.

Other than that, the great job hunt has turned up only "Oh, we're not hiring right now" and "We're accepting applications, but not hiring. . ."

And still no word back from any films I have sent my resume to. Very disheartening.

But that's the industry and that's life. What're you gonna do, but keep on keepin' on, right?

As a good friend once told me, "Mind over matter. If it doens't matter (as in not sweating the small stuff), don't mind it!"

If it's not the end of the world, then there will be another day tomorrow to try again!

A creative road block!

So, I said I wanted to try and make blogging and updating my design site with new items an everyday thing . . .

Well, I took pictures of some new designs and went to upload them this morning. But for some odd reason . . . It's not working! I don't know if Artfire.com is having issues or what. I made sure my images are the MB that they need to be.

This does not bode well with me or my creative flow.

my creative mess

Geez, where does the time go

Ok, so I've been stuck in a rut. Time for some decision making. Films are here, but they bring in their own people. I've had to move back home. My inspiration seems to elude me and I'm totally bummed.

So I have some big choices to make. Paths to take. Leaps of faith.

I've always have been curious about joining a military service. If it would do me some good or if it was something I just shouldn't even worry with.

Then there's school. . . I'm paying on a student loan that is fairly hefty, but do I dare to take another one out to finish up and finally get a piece of paper that means I'm done . . . Yes, six years and 200 plus credits later, still no degree. Hey! I wanted to jump into the "real world" so fast . . .be in the industry . . .

Well, anyway, finding a job right now is like looking for a needle in a haystack. It's rough and I know it's rough for everyone right now.

Maybe I can get my behind in gear and start making and creating like I had wanted to. My artfire site is no longer in vacation mode, BUT I really want to get some new items up there.

I want to strive and make blogging and updating with new items to sale an everyday thing.

I must try to stay inspired! I am determined!

We shall see what tomorrow brings . . .

Art is on FIRE!

So it begins . . . again!

Now that I am trying to get the word out there about my jewelry, I thought it best to start a blog as well.

I am currently living in New Orleans. I moved there for film school (hey, it was cheap!) But unfortunately these days, it seems like other states are offering better incentives! So films seem to be flying away from Louisiana!

I'm a costume designer as well as handmade crafter in general. Right now, I am building up a website for my jewelry designs:

http://ravencraft.artfire.com

Check it out!!