The Shadow Box

For one of my architecture classes we have a semester long project called the Shadowbox. This project is infamous in the program and utilizes everything we know about construction thus far. We are asked to use certain materials and to show our knowledge of connections in designing a piece. It's called a shadow box because the idea for the project came from an artist who made actual shadowboxes, but we depart very far from it. We begin by researching an artist and architect, have a preliminary design meeting, a review, and now tomorrow the final product is due and will basically be on display in the building.

My project took departure from looking at Banksy, the graffiti artist, and using his element of imagery. My basic design was composed out of the process of screen printing. I took an image and broke it down into 3 colors (shades of grey). Each layer was then rastered into acrylic, then connected together through rods with a rockite (concrete) base.

I failed many times at the base.

This one had incredibly crooked rods, so my acrylic couldn't fit on it.

I got smarter and added support to my rods so that they weren't crooked....

But they were still off enough that my rockite shattered when squeezing on my acrylic.

My said layers of acrylic. I decided finally to put them all together first, then pour the rockite.

The success of knowing it all was together.

And my final product!

Spring Needs

So since Spring is starting to be sprung there's a large list of items I desire. Alas, I have no money (broke college girl problems). But a girl can dream. Some of the big items on my list are:

This dress from  J. Crew Factory. I own a knock-off version in navy, but when I saw this in the store I wanted it so bad. The scallops are precious and dainty and the color screams spring to me.

This peplum top, also from J. Crew Factory. I don't own much peplum, but I like a good tank that can be dressed up for down.

These shorts from Red Dress Boutique. I really want some less structured shorts for this summer. The colors is so cute and the details make them a little fancier.

I also want a maxi skirt in a bright color, some new sandals, and some wedges. I love spring for bright colors but still hints of layers and winter.

On Giving Up

Since this is my first post regarding school, I'll disclose that I'm currently a junior in an architecture program in North Carolina. Architecture in general is an extremely difficult major. It involves a lot of late nights, heartache, hard work, and is really considered a lifestyle. For some background information, I'm working on my Bachelor of Arts in Architecture, with the hopes of being accepted into the 5th year of our program so I can actually graduate with a Bachelor of Architecture (which is the professional degree). I do probably around 20-30 hours of work a week for studio alone, so needless to say this major is not for the lazy or faint of heart.

WITH THAT BEING SAID

We found out the other day that one of our fellow students in our year was deciding to withdraw. Now most people quietly leave because they either weren't cut out for the program or decided architecture wasn't for them. This young man decided to leave us a Facebook post about feeling behind and needing to focus on his other class (as in singular other class, but I won't get to mean about it. It really is none of my business what he decides to do). Now we all work very hard, but we were all confused because he never seemed to put effort into his work, but then tried to come across as a casualty to the difficulty of the program. But in the end he just gave up.

Personally, I've wanted to give up. Multiple times. Nothing will wear you mentally down like working on a project for hours on end, sacrificing sleep and social opportunities, to either not get good feedback or have a bad grade. I got to a point last year where I started to doubt myself and my abilities. But I didn't stop. Like everyone else in the program, I want my career to be in design. I want to love my career and love going to work every day, so I'm not going to settle for something else. What bothered most of us about our fellow student deciding to just give up and try again next year was that he was settling. He isn't in it. We all try to surround ourselves with people who are working hard and bettering their craft, and he came in half done. 

At the end of the day we respect his decisions, and we will never know what really influenced them. Like I said, it's a hard program and a lot of people quit. No one wants to waste their college years on something they don't love. 

What I'm getting at is that when you do love it, never let it go. Argue with that professor, read that suggested book, go to that study session. We're all capable of doing exactly what we want to do, and we shouldn't let little things stop us. 

Now that it's Spring

I can finally wear my new pair of Jack Rogers. I'm obsessed with the brand and got my first pair the summer after my freshman year of college. Most people are fanatics over the Navajos, which is what I own in silver and a fake pair in gold. They're really popular down here in the south, especially among us sorority girls. I mean they go with anything when you have them in a neutral, and they have fun colors to match any outfit. I would say their only down side is they're a little pricey, the Navajos running around $105....

But I love a deal. I got my Navajos on eBay for $60. Some colors and styles can be found on there for even cheaper. The fake pairs, though I heard they will be discontinued because of some lawsuit action, can be found for $15-20. But Jacks come on sale in other places, my recent venture was on Rue La La. Rue La La is a great flash sale website that sells all kinds of things from clothing to shoes to home goods. One cold day I saw that one of the featured items on the sale for that day were Jack Rogers. Now usually I just skim through because I'm a poor college student and even sale items I can't afford sometimes. But I came upon these beauties:

and I had to have them. They're the Lauren sandal and retail on their website for $128, but I got them for $75. Now that's still pretty steep for some sandals, I know. But Jacks are all leather and amazing quality. They last for ages. On the website currently the only colors offered in the Lauren are neutrals, so I jumped at the chance for this lovely shade of blue. I begged my mom for the cash to buy them before they ran out of my size. Now, ironically they arrived and the next day it snowed. But tomorrow it will be 74 degrees and I will happily show these babies off.

So as I sit here at 1:15 a.m.......

I find myself deciding I need an outlet. A real one. I read an article earlier today while eating dinner about how Carly at The College Prepster started her blog out of needing a distraction from school and stress. Now I've tried journaling multiple times in my life (really I liked buying journals but only filled maybe 3 pages) and I don't consider myself much of a writer. But sometimes I need a spot where I can blabber on about things that catch my eye when I don't really have anyone who will sit and listen to me. Because I can blabber. The correlation to blabber and how much I like something is very direct. I also have a lot of thoughts and think very fast, therefore I can type faster than I write. Shout out to my middle school computer teacher for all those typing classes.

I also want to connect with people. I can see the friendships people foster in online communities and what they can lead toward. And I'm just a junior in college, I have a whole life to live and I could really use some people to lead me toward things. 

So here I am, jumping into a blog. It'll probably be a big modge podge of things. Food, fashion, my sorority (yes I'm one of them), my personal life, school, cats.... anything. Probably heavy on the food. Let's be real for a moment. But I hope to find people to read and follow a journey with me. Because if anything I can have this to look at through the years and see where I was and where I am. Which will either be rather satisfying or incredibly terrifying.