No War just Outfit of the day!

Today is normally the day I would talk about Craft Wars on TLC and it's new prime time at 8pm eastern but I will do that tomorrow, maybe........ I've watched both last week and this week but I can't even collect my thoughts very well because I have been so busy. I also need to pack for NYC and sort out some more of my plans.

Instead I celebrate the completion of our kitchen with an Outfit of the Day post. Nothing particular exciting except for wearing some snazzy Alexander Wang T shorts I picked up in Chicago months ago.

 Amidst the the new kitchen where we still have days of organizing and putting away of utensils.

I am wearing

RCVA shirt from Milk Bar

Vintage Gnome Necklace from the Upperdeck of Substance

Alexander T Wang Shorts from Chicago

BCBGeneration platform heels

Hello Kitty Glasses from tobi.com (I also saw them all over Santee Alley in LA)

Pale legs courtesy of not enough sun.

This pictures shows the shoes off a bit better and I look kind of mean. I'm ok with looking a little mean. If you noticed the blonde hair it is just temporary till my hair cut and then once I have the bangs I'll know exactly where to put the color in to give myself maximum awesome. Since the show I realized I say the word "awesome" a heck of a lot, I can't help it, I tried, and I failed. I also realize I still need to write my incredible blog post on the things I learned from being on TV.

Just one more day till I am in NYC but my head already feels like it has gone on Vacay!
Do you have any travel plans this weekend? Andy cute digs that make you want to do an Outfit of the Day post for your blog?

Cheers!

Birthday Plunders!

Finally took a little time to capture pictures of majority of my spoils from my Birthday!

To start out my friend an artist John Mallet gave me this snazzy print. I always love his work!

A collection of books my Hubby got me and a Japanese paper craft book from my crafty friend Mary Moon.  I'm super excited about the pastry book and the Alexander McQueen Savage Beauty book since I went to that exhibit in New York.

A small cache of jewelry that I treated myself the week leading up to my birthday.

Gold Bracelet is from Mary Catherine's

Owl Earrings from Thread on Grandview

Turquoise earrings from Spring Flea seller is Rubyblu

Gold Gnome necklace from Substance

The colorful bed bracelets are my own soon to be sold on my etsy

Close up of the Gnome.

My friend Beth got me this super awesome Alice print that is the words to Alice in wonderland making up the background. I'm trying to think of  a super special place I can put this so everyone can marvel at it when they come too the house.

Lastly this wonderful mint scarf from my friend Claire! She knows my trends too well.

The texture on this is divine! I only wish it was a little more spring like with cooler winds for me to flaunt the beauty about town. She got it from Scarf Shop.

 Last night my friend Angel gave me this sweet little bracelet that is mint, coral and gold. Perfect colors for the coming summer.

Tonight I meet my parent's for a birthday dinner of Korean BBQ and relaxing at home.  I have a huge stack of books to go through for inspiration from both the Birthday and Library. My spark is lit again and I'm getting back on track. You know it's good when you have a problems sleeping because your head is full of ideas and designs.

Pondering Validity

After today I just once again have to ponder my worth as a designer out here in the midwest.  I find it so much more difficult then Chicago or NYC not at all because of competition but more the lack of.  At least when I lived in those other cities it was a struggle in the fashion competitions that was worthwhile.  Here in the OH it feels more and more like a crap shoot.  Of all the contests I've entered I feel there is less then half the people who actually design on the same level as me.  Perhaps all my work is just too Avant -garde for this town.

I feel like I do the best when I submit things for the Gallery shows then I do for anything else.  At least there I don't feel like I need to dumb down anything or worry about the resale is.  I do well at the Craft shows but that is a lot of trickle down from what I really love to do design wise.  Also my underwear does pretty decently at Undone but once again not my main forte'.

It seriously breaks my heart a little to think that my love of fashion is one-sided with the public here.  I'm not alternative, not goth, not trendy, what in the world am I?   Somedays I feel like giving up and retreating to nothing more then my "PINK" sweat pant suits and calling it a day for getting dress.  I've less and less reasons to bother with my makeup.  Lately I'm just happy to cover up blemishes as opposed to how I used to make sure my face was the purest matte porcelain looking mask with impeccable liquid eyeliner cat eyes.

In better news I hope that my new position as the Fashion Editor for the "The Artists Interview" Newspaper will help shape and open up the eyes for this town I call home.  There is a lot of good fashion here it just needs to be strained away from the OSU Buckeye Scarlet and Grey.   I have high hopes for turning this into an ultimate creative outlet for myself and reinventing some local lives.

Listing it all

These are the events that I currently have going on from now till Christmas pretty much. Keep in mind this is all while still teaching and working a part time retail job.

-Craftin' Outlaws October 17th

- 4 outfits for Halloween Highball on October 31st

- Photo shoot after Halloween Highball with Adam Leigh- Manuell

- 12-13 Looks for the Shoe Designer's Photo shoot (possibly also the weekend of October 31st but that is up in the air as of now)

- Tiny Canary November 14th & 15th pending that Lexie and I get in with our shared booth

- Final 4 garments/looks for the Substance Aspiring Designer Award by December 3rd

It seems relatively short but when I break it down further it is a huge mess!

Craftin outlaws

- need to make at least 3 more crocheted cuffs with pearls

- more bubble scarves at least 20 for the show

- sew together 4-6 new garments (patterns already done)

- needle felt some items to sell (sweets and sea creatures)

- re-print Lingerie look book to have on table with Undone Cards

- label and price everything

Halloween Highball

- finish lining leather jacket and closures

- start Costume, drape, pattern, cut, sew

- Get money for costume materials

- Make one large elizabeth collar and one smaller one

- Cast one more model and reconfirm with all the others

- figure out other 3 outfits as a combination of several things

- Make at least one dress over again from Photo shoot dresses

- Finishing knitting anemone sweater or is it skirt?

Photo Shoot with Adam

- Get all models organized and make TIME to do

- Also need to get assistant for Shoot

Shoe Designer Photo Shoot

- need to complete men's Dress shirt

- Make another men's dress shirt with contrast collars

- leather vest men's and women's

- 1 more pair of pants for women's

- 3 skirts of varying lengths and types

- Finish embellishments on one sweater

- Finish knitting sweater dress

- Make at least one HUGE show stopper dress

Tiny Canary (pending that I get in)

- replenish so that I have at least 20 bubble scarves again

- Needle felt more creatures and sweets

- Replenish any clothes that were sold

- Replenish any jewelry that was sold

Substance Aspiring Designer

- Pick up materials September 29th

- start from scratch and make 4 new looks

- draping, sewing, patterns (maybe)

- presentation and contest!

Don't forget I teach and work a part time job. Which may have to turn into No part time because I just can NOT handle the hours it looks like they are putting me on.

I'm also looking into teaching knitting and crochet Locally in Grandview. Perhaps knitting machine lessons as well.

Catching up and on

This is how I wake up everyday. Why can't I just be paid to stay like this?

My cat is not really Huge. She is actually small only 8lbs but I am equally a small being of only 4'10" proportions weighing in around 105 lbs so I make her look big and ferocious.

Anyways onto reality! I've been accepted as one of the 3 finalists in the Substance Aspiring Designer contest that I applied for several weeks ago! Below is the acceptance Letter!

"Dear Esther,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been selected as one of the three finalists in our 2nd annual Aspiring Designer Contest."............... and it goes on from there with the myriad of details.

Along with that I also got a piece accepted into the OAL (Ohio Art League) 100 leagues under the C exhibit going on right now at the Metropolitan Library Downtown. We were to submit work based on the number 100. I choose to work with what I know best, knitwear and did 10 swatches of 100x100 stitches each and draped them and hand sew them together to make this top.

I was pretty please with how it turned out and am going to continue to try this method using larger swatches for one of my pieces in the upcoming High Ball. I think the way it all curls upon itself is very much the feeling I have looking at anemones. They are so fluid looking yet introvert to rest and protect themselves. I feel like that personally but I introvert to Video games and fantasy fiction books

To make matters all the more difficult to Blog my Camera is pretty much KAPOOT! It won't hold and charge and I have no extra bones to buy a new one. I am in this very bad in-between place right now.

All I want to do is teach. It makes me happy and I feel accomplished as an artist too because I am still working in my craft. I thought I would fake it and do this retail thing but honestly I hate it and it tears my soul up. I am going to look hardcore for new employment this week and talk to several yarn stores about setting up a class or two for them. I want to teach advanced knitting into pattern and Crochet. Things I also want to teach for CCAD and start up a fiber department/program as a part of Fashion.

In all Honesty

I've been depressed.

To try and combat this I have been extremely busy running errands applying to contests and gearing up for Teaching and finding a job. I did in fact find a job..... Part time at an Express. I know it's not really me but basics are always good there and I can't complain about the discount. It is only part time so it's not like I am selling my soul to the retail industry. It does put a huge kink in my project that I have been wanting to launch so I might have to hold off another year or so. We shall see how I can wriggle my opinionated clothing options into their guidelines.

As for contests I submitted this week for the "Aspiring Designer Contest" at Substance. Substance is this cute store with a large space in the Short North that is eco-conscious. They have high quality cottons and basics which in store they alter with embellishments to match whatever you desire. The have samples up so you can see the endless possibilities and a wide selection of trims and notions to play with or to give their in-staff seamstress to make. It is an extremely unique Idea and I hope them all the best.

I've also been slowing still working on my 100 C's project on my knitting machine for the OAL. And the Tiny Canary Craft Application is now up!

Also I made a bunch of new Cat's Bane yarn guards and 4 new shirts to put out this weekend at Undone for Gallery Hop. I'm hoping at the craft fairs my Cat's bane will do well otherwise it's all bubble scarves and fingerless gloves and arm-warmers again........ I think I might borrow my brother's credit card Machine to use as well. I for sure don't have the funds to invest in getting my own.

I'm all stewing up my designs for the Halloween Highball. I have my theme and inspirations it's just me getting to work on them now.

It's in the bag

Just a little different today. Let me show you what I tote around in my ginormous bag. And yes I was wearing suspenders! I love suspenders as my new accessory.


This Lacoste Bag is probably the size of my entire torso. My Leather wallet from Substance in the Short North


My Monotone Panda choin Purse and the Only shark I have ever liked (I usually like to keep a small stuffed toy in my bag at all times). My Muiji aluminum planner with a little toki Doki style added. You can see my DSI peeking out from the corner.


My collection of DS games games and my Samsung Glyde phone.


Always prepared with a Tide to Go pen and a good looking pen from my friend in LA. A nice loooking pen is always impressive no matter what you are writing.


Finally my cards. It may seem a little excessive but I have my Moo cards making a mini pocket portfolio. My leather card case with my actual business cards and a plastic card case where I keep all my contact cards that are important. Just behind my owl is my digital camera case

Day One!

Off to a little bit of a rocky start as I am still trying to figure out the best way to take my photos. I think I have found just the place using a tripod in this empty corner. This was taken with the help of a mirror in the kitchen that is actually too tall for me.

Today I was only wearing jewelry that I had made and stretch jeans that I altered.


I am wearing Michael Kors Gold tone wooden platform slides from Filene's basement over 6 years ago.
- Cheap Monday high waisted stretch jeans bought at Urban Outfitters for $5 and altered in the waist by 4"
- Black Cami from Guess outlet
- Grey open mesh sweater with tab sleeves from H&M in Santa Monica
- Je táime enamel plate necklace made by me
- Adina small diamond square necklace from my boyfriend on valentines day 2 years ago.
- Toki Doki "


Things I am currently working on is my dress to wear to my 10 year high school reunion this friday. I have nearly finished my purse to take also. I will probably get that done tomorrow and maybe the dress.

I am meeting on Monday with the owner of this one boutique that I am in LOVE with called Collier West. They are mostly home goods but every time I walk into there I feel at home because it is exactly how I would want to decorate the house if I had boundless amounts of money. But I finally got the guts to go over and ask if they were interested in seeing my jewelry.

Before I went there today since they had a "back in five" sign I stopped into Substance. Very cute store that I also like their clothes but find it almost too plain and simple for me. They always have shoes that I am keen on and big leather purses. Today they had a lot of things that I liked but with this "Clothes Diet" as I refer it to other people I couldn't buy a thing. Except for these super comfy and cute navy ballerina slippers that she had been trying to sell because they don't fit anyone. It says size 6 but actually it was a size 5 PERFECT for me! And since Shoes are something I can't make it's ok! Anyways we got to talking and she sounded interested in buying so I just need to get my self together once again to present and work on my pricing. I think I will only present a couple things to start. I'm not entirely sure if that is the spot for me plus they might refuse my price point.

Also on my list of places to visit I stopped by Undone to discuss the Trunk Show in August a little more and was informed that there is a sidewalk sale that they invited me to be a part of. Wonderful! Today was a great day lot's of connections and possible opportunities.