I miss art class!

Back in July, Zach and I attended a craft fair at the Seattle Center and I purchased a sketchbook. It wasn't an ordinary sketchbook, as it is made partially out of an old book. The woman who creates these sketchbooks gets old books, from libraries and antique stores, and makes them into sketchbooks and notebooks. She uses the book cover as the sketchbook cover, and re-binds them with fresh, blank pages. She also keeps a few pages of the books and binds them in with the pages. I chose one that was formerly a sewing, knitting, and needlecraft instruction book.

This is what the front looks like.

See? The instruction section is still in my notebook, to the right is a page I wrote on.

Anyway, I've been carrying this book around with me a lot. I use it to write down ideas, prose, poetry, and sketches. I haven't done anything like this before, and honestly it is so refreshing. It's like art and creativity is back in my life again. I even set aside time to work in my book; drawing, writing, or whatever comes to mind. 

Here are a few things I've doodled over the past few weeks.

I told y'all I'm studying japanese, right? The kanji and hiragana numbers are on the upper left.

Cubone is sad.

Inspired by the fact that Zach and I have played A LOT of Mario games lately.

Studying japanese inspired this one.

Japanese will be a challenge for me. I might take a class next year.

I used to be so good at Calligraphy when I learned it in middle school art!

Emotions inspire art. What can I say.

Working on my thigh tattoo design.

I get really frustrated that my work isn't good and incomplete, and honestly my sketchbook has many more doodles, but they're just plain bad. But that's why I'm practicing, right?

I miss the days of middle school and high school art class! They were always my favorite classes. I was in Art Club too. I loved having access to unlimited mediums and art supplies. When I get some extra cash I want to buy some watercolor pencils to add color to some of my doodles. I recently bought some oil pastels, but I can't seem to really make anything great with them, yet.

It's unfortunate that as soon as classes start up, there is a good chance I'll be ignoring my sketchbook until next summer. Maybe I'll schedule some creative time to my Sundays and force myself to sit down with some paper and let the creativity flow. Regardless, I've been enjoying my freedom from the undergrad-ball-and-chain and using free time to draw, explore Seattle, and get in some quality Zach time. As soon as classes start though, I'll have to say "adiós, life!"

Yesterday I had such a fantastic time hiking in Discovery Park with some international students from SSCC. We spent almost 4 hours hiking around the park; we got to see the lighthouse at the point, picnic on the beach, and explore some gorgeous viewpoints. As soon as I returned home I told Zach I HAVE to take him there sometime. What a wonderful, outdoorsy getaway so close to the city!

Today wrapped up the end of my second week at the ISC. Boy, I am going to miss these Fukuoka University students when they leave! One of them added me on Facebook yesterday, and I'm delighted that they want to stay in touch. My goal is to also stay in touch with their Director and see if they'll need an intern someday. Who knows, maybe I'll have an internship in Japan within the next two years! In other ISC news, I'm helping plan and run their ambassador training next week. The ambassadors will be the ones who will help us out at New Student Orientation in September. Things are picking up and I'm getting more work; which is a good thing!

Which reminds me; TGIF! I can finally appreciate weekends again, now that I'm busier. Tomorrow I'm going to the Washington Department of Licensure to get my WA license. I wish I didn't have to forfeit my MN one, but apparently I have no choice. For the rest of the weekend I'll be catching up with Zach, catching up on sleep, and spending the last of my precious free time relaxed.

じゃまた。- Ja mata! - See you later!

Catie does DIY!

I was Stumbling my life away this beautiful Sunday morning instead of being outside on this day of perfect weather when I came across a Do-It-Yourself blog post to make a braided top similar to this one offered at Banana Republic.

Whenever Catie comes across a cute and easy DIY project, she usually can't resist. I don't know if anyone has noticed, but every few months this will happen to me where I suddenly go from surfing the Internet to cutting up t-shirts and usually the project ends up looking sloppy because I'm just so excited to finish and wear it.

One time I cut up a t-shirt I bought in Perú and made myself wear it for at least a day. I never wore the shirt before because it fit me so awkwardly, and I told myself that if I cut it up and made myself wear it once, it's better than sitting in my closet for the rest of forever...

May 13th, 2011. The last time I cut up a t-shirt, not including the one I cut the sleeves off of to wear to the gym.

So anyway, I've held onto a few of Zach's t-shirts that he was going to get rid of over the past few years, and today I decided to cut one up and make it look just as perfect as the braided shirt picture above.

I started by cutting off some of the neck. Looking back I wish I had made it lower, or maybe into more of a v-neck shape (I live in hipster-city these days, why shouldn't I have some v-necks?).

cool shirt, right?!

Then, following the instructions from the original blog post I stumbled upon, I cut some slits near the collar.

Maybe I should have washed it first.

Then it was time to do the "braiding." The braiding was more like looping you did when you were younger to make other DIY things I can't remember right now.

close up of the braided collar

it changed the shape of the shirt, that's for sure. I had to use some safety pins to secure both ends of the braid, later I'm going to purchase some black thread so I can sew it and it doesn't look like I'm a desperate 12 year old goth with safety pins in my clothing to make me look tough.

I hate t-shirt sleeves. They're at an awkward length for my arms. I had to figure out something to do to these sleeves. I started by cutting off the hem.

Then I followed a different t-shirt modification tutorial and cut a slit down the sleeve following the seam from the shoulders, then tied the end.

Now it looks like this:

I really hate those safety pins. I need some thread asap.

So later I asked this anonymous girl to model the shirt for me. This is how it looks on someone:

VOILA!

Since I didn't modify how the shirt fit around the chest and stomach, it's a little baggy/frumpy, but I will save that project for another day.

It was kinda fun. I've always wanted to modify my t-shirts. I wish I didn't have to get rid of so many before we moved to Seattle, because I would have SO MANY to chose from now if I didn't! I'm thinking when I have a steady income I'll start picking up some t-shirts from thrift stores, where I primarily do my clothes shopping in the first place.

I know!

I'm going to put out an ad on Craigslist to see if anyone has lots of t-shirts to get rid of. It's perfect! I can help someone else get rid of stuff they don't need, and I won't be upset if I mess up modifying a shirt because it wasn't one I paid for or care much about! I hope I get some responses.

Today Zach and I are going to stop by the farmer's market they have in Capitol Hill. I'm excited to see what they'll have. Then we're going to check out the Urban Craft Uprising event going on at the Seattle Center's Exhibition center. We've been so grateful the weather has been beautiful; even spent most of yesterday outside, exploring! Seattle summers are jus too perfect: no humidity, no scorching heat, just beauty.