I initially wanted to post this up on Dec 31, 2010, but my internet connection got in the way of uploading videos (you'll see in a moment). Thankfully there are pubic libraries with free internet for all to use! Like Arthur always says, "having fun isn't hard, when you've got a library card!" So use yours today, and ALWAYS pay your fees so that we can all enjoy free internet!
Enough of the library plug, let's get back to my story:
So this past semester I took 4 classes Bio 151, Econ 101, DS 120, and DS 501. In terms of load, it was not very heavy. In fact, the classes were well balanced, I was able to eat and sleep, and I was able to boost my GPA. Wa-laa, a great semester.
...
The only problem is that I feel like I'm moving at a slug's pace.
Most of this has to do with the fact that I didn't learn any new sewing techniques. DS 120 taught design fundamentals (principles and elements), but our projects were only 2D. DS 501 was a class where we basically enhanced fabrics. Again, 2D (mostly). I'm not saying that I didn't learn anything. In fact, i learned a TON in those classes. The issue has to do with the fact that I still can't just make a dress (well, I can, but it would just be a tube with a couple of darts).
Sad thing is that by the end of next semester I still won't be able to make one of my own creation. I will just be able to make one heck of a gown based on an already existing pattern. Woooo....
I think I'm just going to take a pattern making class this summer in my community. That way I will not have to wait for my school.
On the bright side, my parents and I are on the same page again. Basically the only way this happiness is possible is if I major in something business related. Not to worry, the business thing was my idea. I realized that the Apparel major in my school is a bit to artsy for me. I do see how the art is helpful, but at this time I think I need more backbone in the business side of things. I'm just unsure what that means; there no intermediate to business and apparel. The closest thing is retailing... I'm not really sure what that means, either. My plan was to figure everything by now, especially because we've been on winter break for a good week. However, the websites are not really helping me. I really need to put my foot into it and give it a try. And that's what I'm going to do! This next semester I WILL figure out what I'm going to major in.
So, now to prove what I learned/did this last semester. Frankly there are too many bite-sized projects to just post up as pictures. Fortunately, the final project for my DS 120 class was to make a video of design elements and principles. This video had to include the four other big projects from that class, too. The best way to show you what I did in that class is to simply show you the video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M136tIQMrG4
Just for clarification: we had to take pictures of our surroundings and describe the element/principles in the image. I decided to take a very fun spin on it... landed me an A!
I thought making a video for my DS 501 class would be an easy way to do things, too. So here's another video (less fabulous, though):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_e6x7uWjao
NOTE: Funny story, so the first video uses music that was obviously not mine. Hence, it's been banned from Germany....
Friday, December 31, 2010
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Hmm... Maybe life will be okay
Our DS 151 (now DS 153) class final project was to embellish a plain jacket pattern to make a jacket. At first I was a little upset because the pattern was, well, very plain, and I wanted to make something really cool and over the top. So right after getting the assinment, I went online ato look at jacket patterns. I found some patterns (via Vogue patterns website) that were really cool! Then I asked my professor if it was okay to use those. She said no because it defeated the purpose of altering. In previous years, she had allowed other students to do what I wanted to do, but they all missed the mark because they relied on the original pattern--exactly the opposite point of they assignment. And whe I thought about it, she was totally right! All I was going to do was change fabrics on the sleeve. That's not a lot of altering, despite how hard the fabric is to use (I wanted to use faux fur).
In the end I was really happy with the requirements because I learned a lot of skills that I think I'll use later.
Now, a little side story before I post the pictures. The added bonus of making an awesome jacket was that it would be displayed in the TASA (the school's organization for apparel design students) fashion show. Only 10-ish would be picked. This "prize" totally blinded me. I wanted to do so much so that I would be picked. In the beginning I made sketches for ridiculous designs. I say ridiculous because in the time allotted, the plan was too complex. Then I made these three dimensional shapes to be added. The trick was that they could be zipped off to be made easier to wear That was a issue cause I didn't know how to sew the darn things on (I do now.. tehehe). So finally I was like, I'll just do a zipper thing where I add a piece that can be zipped on and off to lengthen the jackt at will. I even made two pices so that the lengthening pieces could be different. This was a nice idea, however, it totally kicked me in the *ss.
When the judges cam around they really liked my jacket. Correction: they really liked the top half of the jacket. So they decided to have the top on display instead of the bottom (yay!). However (here's where the story starts to get sad), they couldn't take the bottom part off. So they didn't put my piece on display.
Lesson learned: simplicity, simplicity, simplicity. D*mn.
I was so disappointed that I was not going to put the pictures up. But then I realized that would be against the purpose of this blog! I'm here to tell the story of my new journey, and that includes failures. Heck, those failures are where I learn key things. Because of my jacket, I've leared about the importance of keeping things reasonable under time constraints. This helped me so much that I've been able to do even better this semester (you'll see what I mean in the next post... hint, hint). I also learned to no get blinded by the prize. While it is good to dream big, it's also important to make sure that creations happen naturally. All of those extra elements were only added because I thought of what would get me in instead of what would help enhance the jacket (this lesson was one of the key elements of this past week's episode of Project Runway).
So in conclusion, I'm happy with my jacket. The top half is really good, and I learned a whole lot of good stuff from it.... I just wish the judges figured out how to work the zipper :-P
(PS: it took forever to figure out how to post these pictures, and I'm still not happy with the layout! I want to add captions, but I can't figure out how to!)
In the end I was really happy with the requirements because I learned a lot of skills that I think I'll use later.
Now, a little side story before I post the pictures. The added bonus of making an awesome jacket was that it would be displayed in the TASA (the school's organization for apparel design students) fashion show. Only 10-ish would be picked. This "prize" totally blinded me. I wanted to do so much so that I would be picked. In the beginning I made sketches for ridiculous designs. I say ridiculous because in the time allotted, the plan was too complex. Then I made these three dimensional shapes to be added. The trick was that they could be zipped off to be made easier to wear That was a issue cause I didn't know how to sew the darn things on (I do now.. tehehe). So finally I was like, I'll just do a zipper thing where I add a piece that can be zipped on and off to lengthen the jackt at will. I even made two pices so that the lengthening pieces could be different. This was a nice idea, however, it totally kicked me in the *ss.
When the judges cam around they really liked my jacket. Correction: they really liked the top half of the jacket. So they decided to have the top on display instead of the bottom (yay!). However (here's where the story starts to get sad), they couldn't take the bottom part off. So they didn't put my piece on display.
Lesson learned: simplicity, simplicity, simplicity. D*mn.
I was so disappointed that I was not going to put the pictures up. But then I realized that would be against the purpose of this blog! I'm here to tell the story of my new journey, and that includes failures. Heck, those failures are where I learn key things. Because of my jacket, I've leared about the importance of keeping things reasonable under time constraints. This helped me so much that I've been able to do even better this semester (you'll see what I mean in the next post... hint, hint). I also learned to no get blinded by the prize. While it is good to dream big, it's also important to make sure that creations happen naturally. All of those extra elements were only added because I thought of what would get me in instead of what would help enhance the jacket (this lesson was one of the key elements of this past week's episode of Project Runway).
So in conclusion, I'm happy with my jacket. The top half is really good, and I learned a whole lot of good stuff from it.... I just wish the judges figured out how to work the zipper :-P
(PS: it took forever to figure out how to post these pictures, and I'm still not happy with the layout! I want to add captions, but I can't figure out how to!)
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