influence

lately, a number of my friends have been commenting on my wardrobe and how it its very much without color, or bright colors. It's true, you open my closet and you'll find many neutral tones, a large amount of black, white, grey, navy, and other muted colors. However, you'll also find some lilacs and blues, some yellows and reds. What I wear is very much based on my mood and how the weather's reacting, so naturally, in the winter, I'll be wearing a lot of the dark tones, and I bring out the brighter colors when it's all sun.
It's true though, you won't find anything too bright in there, it's just not my style. I won't be changing it anytime soon, and I still love my closet.

These comments, have provoked me to about how much the views of others affect my everyday doings and how I think though.

Now that I'm living at home and away from peers, I've grown into a new kind of independence (funny though, since I'm back under my parents' roof). I suppose it's all about the mental and psychological aspect. I've realized how much others had influenced me throughout the years, and it's pretty interesting. I'll still ask for others' opinions, no doubt, but I guess I've grown more confident now with my own decisions.

Now that I'm kind of stuck in this state of mind, I've seen that it started when I was really young. Everytime my brother presented his opinion to me, I'd kind of adapt it immediately...but I mean, he's my older brother. He's ridiculously intelligent, and I look up to him. It was also really easy to see with my previous roommate. She was older, more experienced, and I would always go to her for design opinions. I'd actually take whatever her opinion was and go with it.. much to the point where I started losing myself sometimes.
I'm also the type that really easily adapts and adopts certain behaviors or phrases...I guess I submerge myself in environments really quickly. During the summer, I heard so much of the phrase "super cute" and very swiftly added it to my everyday vocabulary. It was kind of ridiculous, and extremely annoying for others I imagine..
Just in the last semester, I acquired 2 pieces of plaid because my other roommate and her abundance and love for plaid...hahaha. I also started speakig like her and behaving somewhat like her..

I'm not saying any of these were terrible things, I mean it is what I am as a person. But now, I'm more aware of it, and I'm loving that I'm kind of out of any type of loop, except for being at home. Family should be one of the biggest influences in life anyway, no? Anywho, being at home does make me more grounded in my own self. It's quieter, easier to focus (sometimes), and it's home.

It's been an interesting change with the start of the new year, and I like it. The fact that there is a change, and what it actually holds. Still feeling good vibes for 2010, definitely. It's just starting (uhh already 3rd month in?), and so many good things have been happening already :)

I'm not sure the point of this entry, but it is nice to write about these realizations and remember it for later. Thanks Carolyn, for talking to me about it too :)

Meanwhile, I think everyone should go watch Formosa Betrayed. I really enjoyed it. passionately.

I get hungry for love and thirsty for life

The title is from Jason Mraz's The Sunshine Song - I was listening to that song yesterday on the commute home, and I just happened to love that phrase in the song.

I need opinions at the bottom of this entry, so you can skip through all this and go to the bottom if you'd like!

I'm thinking that this month is all about practicing compromise, tolerance, and acceptance..to embrace versatility and the possibility of ever-changing schedules and timing obstacles. Punctuality has always been one of the top values for me, and the thought of being late is one of the major stressors of my life, I swear, I get nightmares about it every once and a while. No worries though, so far, they've remained just dreams, because I do overestimate the time I need and I'm usually 20 minutes earlier than I need to be.

Nonetheless, the commute to school is going to force me to be ultimately prepared and to be able to think on the spot and face possible mistakes with makeshift mends with what I do have.

I have to say though, this extra challenge kind of makes life right now more exciting..school is back to being exhilarating and stressful, just with this first week. I'm sure many would agree.
Here's just a mini look into what my classes are about..

For my linebuilding class, which I need your opinions for, I have to create a mini collection of 4 accessories. I'm currently still deciding on what to do, leaning towards one theme of the 50 sketches I had done for homework. All of the students are going to be having a one on one consultation with our professor on Monday, and also getting feedback from the rest of the class. It's a chance to do something I really want to show, and I know I'll have to work terribly hard to make this happen.

I'm also taking an Experimental Screenprinting class which i'm SUPER excited for. My art can start appearing on tshirts, bags, etc. and this whole process is just a foreign medium to me, but it's also something I think will be useful for the future.

Decorative Leather is also another class I'm taking, which I wish I had taken semesters ago. I could have definitely used the techniques and newfound creativity on stuff I could be doing for my collection, but never late than never!

On Wednesdays, I have my Portfolio class, which is holy sh*t hardcore, but I know our very eloquent, professional, and encouraging professor will make me want to be better and push me to do better just based on his words. The minute we stepped into class, he gave us a test to design 4 accessories for Lady Gaga. Talk about on the spot pressure!

My last class is a Mayan Art & Civilization class which also makes me super excited. I really do love my liberal art classes because they make me feel like I'm really going to college for a while. This class is really interesting already, hehe and my professor has a slight british accent? It's pretty intriguing.

The stress sometimes makes me moody and want interns to do some of the work for me. hahaha, one day, one day!

In other news, I really have the urge to make a school bag for myself. A big canvas and leather mix of a large satchel bag so I can just carry one bag to school and put all my stuff in it. I really want to do it, when I have time, so I'll keep you guys updated if that ever happens.

OKAY, this is where you can come in to help me!

This is a preview into one of the possible choices for collection. I'm going on a 'layers of luxe' kind of idea, and where the shapes are mostly inspired by John Galliano for Dior's 2007 Madame Butterfly inspired gold jacquard dress.

I'd like your opinions on what color story you're more attracted to. Both options include a creme cow hide, and elastic. The first one features a taupey grey and a burnt taupey rose suede with cocoa brown elastic, while the second one has a grainy deer lambskin and rusty mauve suede with creme elastic.

Potential Option 1:

I believe the color is more correct in the second image.

Potential Option 2:

I removed my designs for protection, if you're interested, email me!

I'm getting to the point where I'm so torn and starting to not like either combination. AHH. I need my pieces rendered by Monday, and I don't know if I'll be able to do double! While I really like the first choice, I think I can see the second one more on accessories.

I'd appreciate your imput, but I'd like for you to keep in mind that it's always hard to match color leathers, and I can say that no, I don't have the money to have them custom dye my leathers. So, I have to work with what I've got!

many thankss and love.