last first week of school.

As the start of my final semester of college begins, I'm starting to think about what I've learned and what I'll actually use or continue in my life after college. Life with no school, that seems so weird.

So I got married over the winter break. It's really great. Kevin and I have been together since highschool, a little over six years now, and I'm just crazy excited that we're finally married. He's in the navy which is going to continue my life in a military family at least for the time being. At least I'm used to it. I'm actually really excited. Kevin is moving in February to Washington state. I'm going to move when I'm done with school. I've never been to Washington or really anywhere on the west coast for that matter. I think this move will be the best yet. I can't wait.

I just went through some old posts from this blog and really enjoyed looking at all the different posts that were just my thoughts/ideas or research for class projects. I think these last couple years of college have been really great. As much as I can't wait to be done, college is so awesome and I am sad to leave Towson and all the great people I've met. Ok I need to stop. I'm still here now and I still have plenty left to do.

Speaking of which, I've been doing some goal setting for my senior project class. I have no idea what I'm going to do with my life but like Jan said, this goal setting project will force me to think about it. It's weird how excited I am despite being overwhelmed and completely terrified.

This semester I'll be finishing up my honors thesis project and hopefully I'll end up with a crazy awesome show at the end of the semester (keep those fingers crossed...). I'm going to keep updating this blog with my research, thoughts, progress, and freak outs as they come.

My last semester. Go.

more secondlife shots.

I uploaded a picture of my coaster into secondlife last night and placed it on a stretched cube. I put these on shelves in my hydrant room. They have a notecard attched with the price for a set of two coasters.

I can't believe my last fall semester is almost over...

so much to say

I took more snapshots in SL last night. Probably redundant again, but I did switch some stuff around. I now have notecards on the picture of the salt and pepper shakers, the rendering of the cork wine stopper, the picture of the coasters, and the two pictures of my installation and packaging. I also created a new "logo"(above) that has my favorite hydrant on it. I know, I'm weird.

For some reason I was not originally looking forward to this part of the project. But I'm actually really excited about all the stuff I've made. I wish I would have made the logo before making my blurb book, so it could be in there. Speaking of which, I finally recieved an email from blurb apologizing for the delay in my order and they offered me $10 off my next order! Definately will be used. Either way my hydrant book is now shipped. I will probably get it Friday. So excited!

second life.

So last night in second life I learned about attaching notecards to objects. These allow for those viewing the objects/pictures you have uploaded to click on them and recieve a notecard with information about the object. While I think I need to practice doing this more, I hope to put notecards on the images I've put in second life. There's so much to do.

Also, here is a picture of me sitting on a bird.

my own brand? well, since you're asking...

How would you like others to describe your work, website, your image?
I would like my image, website and work to be likeable. I see my work as very graphic, playful, and fun. I think the use of bright colors in my work will carry over to my website, business cards, and overall image. I would like others to be able to see my color combinations and recognize my brand. My use of fire hydrants as a theme will also allow for others to recognize my work and image.

What message will be delivered from your brand?
My brand will encompass the idea of functional objects that are typically ignored. Through the use of bright colors, playful forms, and a new functionality, I will bring about an appreciation for these once forgotten objects. My brand will deliver the message of viewing objects and forms for more than simply their function; realizing the beauty that exists in everyday, seemingly mundane objects.

What is the personality of your entity?
My brand has a distinct personality of its own. Bright orange, bright red, bright yellow, bright green: these colors denote a personality with characteristics including playful, fun-loving, graphic, loud, and eccentric.

Why are you making what you make?
I am attracted to bright colors. I have also found a love for the fire hydrant form and I notice them everywhere I go. Their individuality despite their consistency is apparent through their various colors displayed through paint, rust, weather, and wear. I started making kitchen items with the idea of placing a new found aesthetic in an otherwise plain form. Simply the unlikelihood of finding a fire hydrant form in a kitchen interested me. I would like to move on to make various items that portray the fire hydrant theme including jewelry/wearable forms, screen printed clothing, books, and more house wares.

What do you hope to contribute to the world?
I hope to contribute a little fun to the world. I would like my objects and my brand to make viewers/customers happy. I would like for people to see my work and my entity as something that is full of life and color and a dedication to the happiness that can be found in the small things in life.

How can you communicate these qualities or values?
I think the ideas I have will be conveyed through my use of colors that evoke emotion and forms that spark a curiosity in the viewer. I will create a brand that will be individual to my own aesthetic and include the qualities of my work through the precise, graphic nature of my work, the vibrant and exciting colors I use, and the fun, easy-to-love forms I create.

look.

I found Sarah Kate Burgess through someone's blog. I really liked these lace cups. Reminded me of some of the crocheting I've been trying to do. I love the idea of just the lace or crochet becoming the form. I also really liked her illustrated necklace. I've been doing some screen printing recently and I love the idea of 2d printed or drawn jewelry and objects of adornment.

prints.

So I made some prints of plumb bobs and bow drill handles. Then I cut them out and laid them on some newsprint. I took some pictures and made some adjustments in photoshop. Just for fun. I think they look like Christmas.