Break

I have been so busy working on wedding stuff so I decided to take a little break here until it's all over and done with... If you have a moment watch this video and hopefully you will feel the same peace and love I felt when I watched it.
Talk to you soon.

Katy Seals Superstar

I am so happy to share with all of you the thesis exhibition of one of my best friends and bridesmaid Katy Seals.  I feel like a proud big sister right now after looking at all her work and reading her amazingly smart and concise statements for the show.  Katy is destined to continue doing many great things so keep an eye on her.  I asked Katy a few questions and these are her responses...

1.  Where did you go to grad school?  What interested you in the program?  How many years was the program?  

  - I attended The University of Oklahoma, I was drawn to the program because the studios were HUGE, their presses were enormous (at the time I was doing a lot of woodcuts). I made a connection with my professor and his wife and felt close to them which made the experience and the move not so intimidating. The program is three years long.

2.  Tell me about your thesis show... What was the thought process that brought you to the work you created?

     -I've always enjoyed things that are campy, tacky, and humorous, so when I saw Jersey Shore for the first time I saw art within the show and knew I was going to make work based on the absurd characters. I loved how everyone was a cartoon of who they are in real life and they were getting paid to get wasted drunk every night of the week. I was shocked AND jealous at the same time. I was drawn to Snooki the most, her gender role on the show and her cultural identity. Snooki was born in Chile and adopted by Italian-American parents. She proclaims she is a "guidette". Snooki's sexuality was very extreme too, on the show she was sexually aggressive and verbal about her wants and needs. To me, she was simply a (somewhat) sexually liberated woman and I enjoyed her forward nature.

-While making the work many people who say "That Jersey Shore show is so stupid" or "I can't even bare to watch it". Saying the Jersey Shore is stupid is like telling me that WWF wresting is not real. I know the Jersey Shore is "stupid" and "obnoxious", but why not take a closer and more educated look at a pocket of American sub culture that has many rich themes jam pack into it? Obviously the Jersey Shore is not for everyone, and defiantly not for the faint of heart. It was funny how I accidentally became a pop culture ambassador for one of the most ridiculous shows in television history. 

3. What is the media? How did the media work with what you were creating?

       -The media played a huge role in my whole thesis project. Obviously I was doing a lot a research on modern feminism, cultural identity and consumerism within fashion culture so I was constantly going to my university's libraries page and various gossip sites to keep up with Snooki. Throughout my graduate career the Jersey Shore ran all 5 seasons. During the start of my thesis semester they aired their final season and rumors of Snooki being pregnant was all over the tabloids. I enjoyed when people would tell me stories they heard of her online of saw on the new stand. It was interesting making work on a personality that was constantly being blasted in all forms of media. 

  4.  What is next for you?  Any future plans?

     -That's a million dollar question... I'm going to apply to various teaching jobs and roll the academic dice like everyone else. I love teaching and luckily got some experience in while in school but I'd rather just get paid being fabulous. 

 4.  What is next for you?  Any future plans?

     -That's a million dollar question... I'm going to apply to various teaching jobs and roll the academic dice like everyone else. I love teaching and luckily got some experience in while in school but I'd rather just get paid being fabulous.

 
5.  Where can we find you on the internet?

      katyseals.com all the way

6.  Any advice for students looking for grad programs?

     -Yes, I would suggest to look at location. Pick a place where you'd like to be. There are nice people everywhere so chose a place where you know you'll enjoy the environment. Also do research on the institution, it may be a dump or the professors might be ax murderers. Go visit and and the faculty can place a name with a face, also the visit might allow you to fall in love more with the school you're interested in or you may realize it is not what it's cracked up to be. Also look at what places are awarding scholarships, funding and teaching positions. 

Katy also made this incredible video where she created her own Snookie Superstar.  Take a look!

Check out Katy's website for more goodies.  I really can't express enough how proud and excited I am for Katy and her awesome show and talent. Thanks, Katy!

Productivity!

The past couple of days have been productive ones.  I started a new exercise routine, finally did laundry, and did lots of work for abeautifulparty!

For my shop I am trying to work on different types of containers besides jars. I have shown you a preview of these little avon jars but here they are in their natural environment!  They would make sweet gifts and can hold something special inside.  I have been looking around for other alternatives to mason jars. The possibilities are endless!

Blue Horse

Pink Dinosaur

This one is not too alternative but I did coat the inside with a layer of pearlescent pink paint so it really compliments the gold.  It might be one of my favorites!

Pink Horse

 I should have spent the rest of my day working on wedding crafts but I keep procrastinating.  Instead I worked on these new paper banters.  It was nice to sit down at my desk and work on a very clean process. As you can see from all the paint on my desk I am used to working with we media and getting stuff everywhere.  My crafting headquarters are getting pretty cramped so the move will be nice.

I finished this little garland.  It is so long. Maybe too long. It was hard to take a picture of.  I'm pretty excited about it and am looking forward to thinking of new ways to create this.

But maybe first I should finish things for my wedding.... Less than a month!!!

Get ready for tomorrow because I am going to do a thesis show post on one of my very best friends! It is going to be amazing!!

xox

Wedding Details

The wedding is getting closer and closer and closer! I can't believe it's almost here.  

My great friends Adrienne and Brad made the most amazing letterpress invitations for us.  Here is a pic of them being printed.  It is better than I could have ever hoped for!

They are not the only ones getting crafty for our wedding. My friends Hannah and Blake are going above and beyond they're wedding registry attendant job and are making this amazing photo booth style backdrop.  The plan is to take a photo of each person that comes to the wedding.  It's going to be so fun and will get everyone in a festive mood.  

I'm so lucky to have so many amazing and talented friends.  This wedding will be one-of-a-kind!

Friday Re-Run

Since I have been feeling so yucky lately I found a re-run post from a time when I was feeling lucky but started looking towards the positive. It's time to bounce back and this is the post to do it with.

This re-run post is from May 26, 2010:

So far this week has been really great and I know I owe it to positive thinking.  I had been catching myself lately becoming so negative over everything, getting angry over everything. I didn't like that, that's not who I am so as you saw in my post on Monday I decided to change all that and so far so good.

I even had this wonderful siting yesterday when I was "lazily reading all morning."  I heard some chirping and I looked over from my third floor balcony and saw this Momma bird feeding her babies.  I'm sure I've seen this before but not this close.  Luckily I had my camera nearby so I could snap a few photos.  Click on the picture to see it larger.  Again, I take this as a sign of good luck.

I've been working in the studio and having fun.  I did this print a couple of weeks ago for a print exchange but have a few left over so I'm trying to think of something to do for my etsy shop.  I love screenprinting ghost girls with blue hair!

Have a great Wednesday and think plenty of positive thoughts!

Have a wonderful weekend!!

So Many Things

Hi. Sometimes I come here and I have all these things I want to say and feelings I want to express but I don't know how.  It's been stressful around here lately.  I had rough dreams last night.  I have definitely been doing a lot of soul searching and trying so hard to figure out some of the things I can control. I have thought a lot about this business and what more I can do.  There is always more I can do.  I need to make lists and figure that out and start trying harder and harder and harder.  Thank you so much to the readers who have been with me for so long.  

Okay okay anyway.  

Here are some things that are going on.

I am trying to make my animal jars more than just jars.  I made some using these vintage Avon lotion jars.  This is an in-progress shot before I re-shoot them and put them in my shop.  I think it will be neat to find more containers for this project.  

 A friend of mine commissioned me to make some jars for her Murray State Racer fan mom.  These will be filled with office supplies and given to her for Mother's Day.  It was fun to make personal jars.

 I have been trying to fill my shop up with new artwork.  Yesterday I listed these pieces.  I am working on more and more and more.  Click on the images to view details.