Take a Class, Keep Learning, Do It Yourself, Cultivate Your Creativity

I was inspired to write this post based on a trip to Lowe's today. Their receipts read "Never Stop Improving"... so that is the message that I want to keep spreading (even though all we bought was Draino and a sink stopper). I have recently been pretty busy. I am in between classes at Mass Art (I start my Summer session in July) and while some would say "take the break", I feel like I need to keep pushing myself to keep learning and really hone my skills in the things that interest me while I have motivation, the means and the time. Last weekend, the man and I hit up the Crompton Collective, an artistan and antique mall in somewhat nearby Worcester, MA. While we were there, the amount of shabby chic furniture that I wanted to take home was more than I could handle, as in I had to Instagram multiple items that I deemed crushworthy. While I loved lots of furniture, there is really no way for us to transport it (we both have small-ish cars) and I started bumming that I couldn't buy anything. The man was the one who noticed the sign that had a list of classes that Crompton hosted right there on site. One such class was a Creative Painting Techniques class, using milk paint. That man, he wanted me to take a class instead of buying things, bless his heart haha... but he was totally on the mark suggesting it.

Pattern Drafting- 3 Classes Left

I feel like I am losing my mind. For the past month, I feel like I have not slowed down one bit what with wedding plans, house buying and of course... duh duh duh, Pattern Drafting. Pattern Drafting, while super helpful in the art of fashion design, is the most time consuming and brain busting class that I have taken since Financial Accounting... and boy, did I hate Financial Accounting.

It's not that I don't understand what I am doing at this point. I had my "A Ha!" moment a few weeks ago. It's that the sheer amount of work that is assigned to us, in a night program, is extremely overwhelming. I understand why we need it, I really do but that doesn't mean that 14 design changes at a time don't make me want to pull my hair out. In class last night, I noted that most people looked haggard. I'm not kidding. I think that everyone is in the same boat as me. We all but threw our design notebooks at the professor when she was collecting them. Take it, I don't ever want to see it again!! Well, until I want to know what my grade is...

I have 3 classes left before the end of the semester. In the next 3 weeks, I will need to design a full scale pattern, complete with design changes and then actually make the garment! Part of me is really concerned about time and my sanity but there is another part of me that is like, bring it on. This is what it's about, right? Challenging myself? I certainly did that as I look at my ever growing "to do" list but I am living my life and at the end of the day isn't this what I want to be doing? Yes... but that doesn't mean I can't whine a little ;-)... speaking of wine, I need a little.

Pattern Drafting... is about Drafting Patterns

I haven't blogged in a week or so. "Why?" you ask. Well, because all I have been literally doing is homework for Pattern Drafting. There are little pattern pieces strewn across, around and on top of my apartment because this first "mini" project was a beast. We had 12 design revisions to a simple skirt but if you have ever taken Pattern Drafting or Pattern related anything, you know that there are literally moving pieces to every design change and these changes can take FOREVER (think Sandlot) because you have to document every step of the change. And guess what? I have to measure everything, in like 16th of inches. It's tedious. I know what you are thinking. You are thinking, "Hey Amanda, why do you wait until the last minute to do a project?" You guys, I didn't! I didn't procrastinate, I didn't wait until the last minute... in my spare time, I worked on design changes for 2 weeks! On Sunday, the day before this project was due, I woke up, made coffee and then continued to work another 9 hours until it was finished around bed time. Needless to say that I have been far too burnt out on learning to express to you all my need for a new pair of wedges or a smoking hot leather jacket, although, now that you mention it, I kind of do want a new smoking hot leather jacket.

I am really enjoying the process and of course learning, but dude, homework, and a lot of it, is starting to wear on my last nerve. On a lighter note, my Pattern Drafting instructor also happens to be my advisor and guess what is up next for Mama? Well, Fashion and Art ( a theory course) and COUTURE! Couture techniques people! This is where I think I will shine! It's these pesky foundation courses that I have to get out of the way ;-)

Summer School, Fashion Illustration Style

So last night was the first night of my condensed Summer class. Fashion Illustration meets every Tuesday and Thursday, from 6pm-10pm for the next 2 months. It seems like a lot, and I am sure it will be, well, because I am also doing a fitness bootcamp on Mondays, Friday and Saturday mornings... needless to say that my schedule is going to be jammed packed for the next couple months. All that being said? I am wicked excited about this Fashion Illustration course. I have taken college level art classes before but this one is geared directly towards something I want to do... which is illustrate my designs. This class is going to do exactly that.

Naomi Louisa Boynton

 While we spent the first portion of class, very thoroughly reviewing the syllabus, which was a little mind numbing, I look forward to future classes because we will basically be learning a new skill and then given the remainder of class as a studio, which means right there I will be able to practice and get critiques to improve as I go. Also, I don't know about you but I am pretty dang excited to learn how to elongate a fashion sketch and also how to sketch fabric textures... I know crazy, right? I am super excited and I most certainly plan to keep you guys updated.

Also, in case you were at all wondering, I got an A- in my Intro to Fashion Design class, so not a shabby start if I do say so myself :-)

Intro to Creative Fashion Design, Complete

So I am so excited to say that I have my first fashion design class under my belt. Last night was the final session of my Intro to Creative Fashion Design class and I am pretty proud so say that I made it through, relatively unscathed. I have to say that this class has left me invigorated but also acutely aware of the commitment that I am making. I work a full time job and took this class thinking that I would be able to complete it, no problem. The class was creatively demanding as well as had a bunch of projects, especially toward the end. I found myself nearing the final class, and realizing that I didn't manage my time well. Rushing is not exactly the way that you want to pull the creativity out; I find it is better to let things grow organically... which I will leave more time for in the future. You may have heard that I was accepted into the Fashion Design Program. I am extremely excited and a little nervous, but mostly excited. Up next? I am taking a Fashion Illustration course this Summer. I am really looking forward to filling my fashion toolbox with all sorts of useful knowledge. For now though? I am appreciating the free time I have for the next couple months.

I Got In!

Let me tell you about the day I had yesterday. I woke up late and in a foul mood. It was a "wet bun" day, something my cousin and I call a day where there was no time to do our hair. After getting into the elevator with a friend from my floor, we got into a verbal altercation with the biggest wench that lives in our building because, well the lady was being a total wench as she was getting onto the elevator. (She actually yelled after us about farting in the elevator because my friend had her egg sandwhich in there... yeah, mature). That mini cat fight had me reeling on my car ride to work. Then of course a rock hit my windshield and I could see that little sparkle that meant it got a good chip in. Fast forward to lunch time, I ventured out to get a much needed Starbucks fix and hey, girl, hey, my car wouldn't move (because apparently a brake shoe fell off) so I had to have my car towed in the afternoon, the man had to get me at work and I missed my design class. It was a banner day let me tell you.... then I got the mail.

Non-Textile Project: COMPLETE

So last night my midterm project was due. This was the non-textile project that you have probably been hearing all about if you follow me on any of my social media outlets. It was a labor of love and at some of the low points, a labor of distaste for coffee filters, tea bags and hot glue... Overall, I rose to the challenge and so did my classmates. There were some truly awesome designs made with some really creative items. 

First Night of Intro to Creative Fashion Design

Last night was my very first fashion design class. I'll come right out and say that it was fantastic... but I didn't think it was going to be. 

On Monday night, I made a "dry run" to campus so that I could find my parking lot, get my student ID and also see exactly where my classroom was going to be, juuuuuust in case I got stuck in traffic and had to sprint to make it to class in time. So surprisingly I made good time, the parking lot was easy to find and it legitimately took me 10 minutes to get my ID, start to finish. It was all rainbows and sausages until I went to find my classroom. The Monday evening class was slated to start and I was horrified with what I saw. The classroom was full to the brim with at least 30-35 people, all of them chattering, giggling and ... YOUNG. I left campus defeated and called the man, complaining that I wasn't going to fit into to my class (even though mine was the Tuesday session). I was going to be the oldest one there, there were going to be so many people that I wouldn't get individual attention, what would 18 year olds think of me being there? Needless to say, I was pretty bummin'. But the man reminded me that this was something that I wanted to do, that we already paid for it haha and that Monday's class may not be Tuesday's class.


Of course, my man is full of wisdom. I attended Tuesday's class with trepidation but left with excitement. My class has 18 people in it. That is quite a few but when I had 40 in my head, 18 is a relief. I am not the oldest person in my class by 30 years. Yep, there are multiple Moms following their dreams and even a Grandma. There were a handful of young women just like me... working in the corporate world where their creativity is stifled, yet "it pays the bills". Overall, I am super excited about the diverse group of women (and one strange little man) who are in my Intro to Creative Fashion Design class.


Highlights from my syllabus that make me squeal with delight?

• 20% of my grade is a Project Runway-esque, unconventional item garment aka Non-Textile. HELLO, now I don't need an excuse to do it! (ideas on Non-Textile items welcomed because my instructor has "seen it all")

• Another 20% of my grade is beading and hand sewing samples. Ummm, really? Amazeballs.

• I am going to learn to drape and make patterns. You are talking to a flat pattern kind of girl, so this is awesome!

•  My final project is a garment inspired by a certain fabric, any fabric and you all know I LOVE TO BUY FABRIC. 

 

Needless to say, I am excited about the opportunity. I can't wait to get my hands dirty so to speak, dig in and get working. This is only my first class but I can already feel the creativity surging to my brain, which I assure you, is an awesome feeling.

So do you guys mind if I update you as I go along?