Sweet, sweet Dewey

Today was quite possibly the most awesome afternoon ever. Equipped with a stamper, ink pad, and adhesive labels I tagged ALL of my nonfiction. It was glorious. Putting my books in Dewey was everything I could've have hoped for and more.

Things I learned organizing my nf:

1. Stamping ANYTHING is mind-meltingly satisfying.
2. I have many more books about way more topics than I remembered.
3. I have only one book in the 500's and only one in the 900's. This needs to be rectified. Immediately.
4. I have more reference books about graphic design and fashion design than the Richardson Public Library.
5. Defying all laws of physics, I now have a good shelf's worth of extra space WITH THE SAME AMOUNT OF BOOKS. Praise be to the all-powerful Dewey Decimal System!!!

Project Runway

Even since the inception of the show, particularly due to its affiliation with Parsons, I get asked what I think of the show, or worse, why I don't try out for it.

Well, I stumbled across a fabulously vitriolic summary of all the things wrong with the show written by a whipsmart patternmaker that hit every single point with finesse so I advise you to look there.
http://www.fashion-incubator.com/mt/archives/vivisection_project_runway.html

My personal short list, however, goes something like this:
1. Nobody on that show (or any other competitive design show) has gone onto a successful career because of the show. Admittedly, there are several contestants who have respectably small business, but these people ALREADY had those businesses. I have NEVER seen mainstream coverage of any of the former contestants after the show by any reputable fashion publication (and I read almost all of them). Every editor on the planet thinks these people are a joke.
2. The show makes life difficult for people who actually ATTEND Parsons. For example, I couldn't pick up my final project the first week of summer because they were filming. Ex-fucking-scuse me? I PAY MONEY to use that building. Secondly, fashion design is already the most popular major at Parsons with over 50% of freshmen choosing to enter the fashion program their sophomore year. As a result, the classes are overcrowded, there is a shortage of machines and mannequins, and there are few if any sewing rooms or computer rooms available for independent work. Due to the publicity from the show, Parsons now must employ an even more rigorous "weeding out" policy. My senior class ended up being a handful over 100 students, we stated out with 235. Over half the class failed or dropped out. In addition to the unfortunate kids who had unrealistic expectations of the nature of the program and their own abilities, this policy is also detrimental to qualified students who are forced to endure three years of scare tactics rather than real instruction.
3. The challenges on the show are totally unrealistic and the contestants were cast for their television appeal. If you are surprised to learn that the finalists are chosen because of their entertainment value, I don't know what to do with you.
There are many legitimate scholarships and contests in the US that do, in fact, acknowledge independent designers based largely on merit ( and only a little politics).
4. Any kind of show purporting to "make" someone in such a limited amount of time insults the commitment made by real people in the industry. There are very few Cinderella stories in any industry and fashion is included. Even the superstars that rose to fame seemingly quickly worked their asses of for years, even decades, before becoming household names. Furthermore, most of the people who are on top of successful businesses are people of whom you've never heard.

Oh Noes!!!

http://www.boston.com/business/technology/articles/2008/02/08/polaroid_shutting_2_mass_facilities_laying_off_150/

Poloroid has stopped making instant cameras and film!!
I was JUST digging around for my poloroid yesterday thinking how I need some more film.
Woe is me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What's new

Hmm, so what have I been up to these days?
I auditioned cold for Desert Sin and got called back among six other girls which was unbelievable. Didn't get the gig, but given that when ask "So, what are we about to see?" my response was "Uh, whatever I make up right now," I'd say it was a rather impressive outing.
In other dance news, still rehearsing regularly with Suzanne for Diablerie. A performance is in order soon, I swear.
Performances are good because I will soon be in possession of some fierce fire-eating skills and swirly poi spinning abilities.
Other than that it's been bitterly cold. Perhaps it was not the best time to buy all those $1 cacti from Ikea.
I've also been contemplating ways to get more space in my studio. Although the top choice was to ditch my BED, I've elected to stick the couch in the kitchen and put more desk space in the 'living room.' A genius compromise.
Oh and lastly, but not leastly, the reason for the writing surface increase is the full time pursuit of launching my fashion line which is, in some ways a much, much bigger deal than it sounds and in others really rather routine and ordinary. This month is the branding, legal and business phase. Next month is the "nerve-wracking finding competent yet affordable production people" phase. That means full range of samples by May, sales appointments by Sept, and things one may buy in places of retail by this time next year. Notice how the actual "designing of said clothings" does not even constitute a phase.
Le Sigh.
I will be all along the Gulf the first week of March (Dallas, Houston, New Orleans, Alabama) which should do me some good. Too much boy drama and hard work and tiny apartment are making me homesick.

from Sarge

Sylvia

"




out of the ash
I rise with my red hair
And I eat men like air.





"