some encouragement

"There is a lot to be said for taking the time to ensure that the product is dope."

-KR, guerilla artist,
on work ethic

TOTALLY SWEET

girlfriend is wearing NIGHT VISION GOGGLES while sewing. she is doing this to practice for a project where she will be sewing unexposed negatives together, in a dark room.

i dont care what she is doing really, because this photo is awesome in its own right, and because she looks like a robot. a sewing robot. which is what we all feel like sometimes i think. but we dont look nearly as bad-ass.

brought to you by my fave, Craft:zine Blog.
http://www.craftzine.com/blog/archive/2007/08/sewing_with_night_vision_goggl.html

dorky but cool

...well, i think it's cool anyway.

these pictures are from the second issue of Steampunk Magazine, from an article about different steampunk fashions. Steampunk began as a subgenre of science fiction writing:

The term denotes works set in an era or world where steam power is still widely used—usually the 19th century, and often set in Victorian era England—but with prominent elements of either science fiction or fantasy, such as fictional technological inventions like those found in the works of H. G. Wells, or real technological developments like the computer occurring at an earlier date.

-Wikipedia

The literature movement has grown into a lifestyle and aesthetic movement. And while it is totally, totally geeky, I think these illustrations are beautiful and the styles could be really inspiring. For the full text of the article, download the magazine (it doesn't take too long). The article includes wonnnnderful tips for achieving these looks, and there are many more lovely illustrations throughout the issue.



The Tinkerer/The Inventor:


The Street Urchin/The Chimney Sweep:


The Explorer:


The Dandy/The Aesthete:

Free Patterns (not to be used for design projects duh)

Now, I understand that we are all basically too good for this, but if anyone ever wants to throw together something for fun just as a personal project, there is a selection of free (and printable!) patterns at:

http://www.burdastyle.com/

Burda is a pattern company that sells in stores, but screw going to JoAnn's for the millionth time AND paying money. Plus because we are all awesome at patternmaking these could also be used as a starting point and modified as desired.

And I see that there's also a contest at the top? Not like we really have the free time, but still.

This one goes out to Abbi (Abby? Abi?)

I am so sorry that I can't spell your name, Ab**.

This is what girlfriend's dress would have looked like if she had had a little more time I think: totally badass.

Tent dresses by Robin Lasser:
http://www.robinlasser.com/artwork/index.html
(click Dress Tents, the picture at the upper right)

Found on the Craft:zine blog

Soapbox

An interesting little bit of talk from Carole Collet, a course director at Central Saint Martins. It's about sustainability--so hot right now... and so... necessary...

http://www.we-make-money-not-art.com/archives/009505.php

from the AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME blog we make money not art, a sweet design blog about some of the greatest, most avant-garde stuff happening around the world.

Just a little bit of info to get you thinking. I am no enviro-angel or anything, but I think keeping these sorts of issues in mind as we design is a pretty good idea. A friend of mine (Robb Hunter to those of you who know him) told me once that sustainability isn't a tree-huggy thing at all... it isn't about loving the planet. The planet will always be here. It's the PEOPLE who are screwed if it becomes uninhabitable, and I think that is an interesting point to consider for those who are skeptical about this crazy hippie stuff... if caring about humans is hippie stuff, then I think we could all stand to be hippies, right?

And seriously, this stuff is SO hot right now.

Aaaaaaaand back to drawing. I swear it never ends.

Colors!

I know we could have used these back when we were doing forecasting books, but apparently this whole "color forecasting" thing isn't just something Phyllis made up... it has its own blog (so it must be real, just as class of '10 fashion students must be real). This community site is full of user-created palettes, color forecasting articles and lots more color-related information for people in the design industry. I suppose some of you will find this more interesting than others, but I know some of you ladies are into "product development" and that sort of thing.

WARNING: this site features the word "color" being spelled with a u.
http://www.colourlovers.com/blog/

Not Timely, But Still Beautiful

I know we aren't drawing ladies anymore, but the paintings from this gallery show are a great illustration inspiration. I am especially fond of Brandi Milne's paintings... all leggy like the 9 heads figure, but crazier. And the figures in Stella Im Hultberg's works remind me of Liz. I think it's the hair.

http://www.sourharvest.com/thinkspace/smitten/works.php

found on BoingBoing.net, an all-around interesting blog on art news and stuff.
http://www.boingboing.net/2007/05/11/smitten_art_by_hultb.html

There Aren't Elves Inside Sewing Machines I Guess

I am not mechanically minded, so when I saw this I went "oooooooh, so THATS how the machine does the sewing" because i had no idea. And now, you too will know the sultry secrets of how a bobbin does its thing, thanks to a fantastic animation.

CHECK IT OUT

found at the Craft: blog, a great resource for nerdy craft nerds and sewers
http://www.craftzine.com/blog

Ribbon-cutting ceremony

I am not the most stylish girl in the program. However, I might be in the running for the geekiest, who spends the most time on the interwubs. And I just keep running across things I want all my classmate ladies to see, so I thought I'd put together this little compendium of things. Behold, things that might apply to your life based on the fact that you spend all that time in the 6th floor sweatshops of DAAP.

Enjoyyyy!