Hey the internet, what’s up? I’m just watching a little Finland vs Belarus hockey action and I thought maybe I’d show you all some pictures of the projects we did recently for my surface design class.
The assignment was to make a metaphorical container. I ended up making a giant mitochondrion to represent the family name, because I am pretty sure mine is made up and also I got it from my mom. Mitochondria have their own DNA that is usually passed down through the mom and also I just saw the most horrifying mustache on my tv. Who was that guy? I want to say Oli Jokinen. Let me double check.
So probably I should have stuffed it more but I stupidly only bought one bag of stuffing and then I didn’t actually stuff it until the night before it was due. The outside is blue velvet for my mom, who was born in September.
It was sort of like a clam shell suitcase thing. I made some ties so it could be closed securely and then it opened up to have pictures of my mom’s side of the family and some embroidered and beaded DNA.
I used a sheet from Value Village on the inside because it is an intimate thing but who knows where the balls it came from, and I feel that way about my name. Doing some research into my last name, I sort of hit a dead end at my grandfather’s parents. I am pretty sure the name was different before them, and it seems likely it should have been Luchansky, or some variation of that. Oh well.
And now, some of my classmate’s projects!
As you can see, some people made things that were really super awesome and I was jealous of their mad skills.
We are starting on our embroidery samplers after we get back from the Olympic break, and one lady I wanted to show you all is Tilleke Schwarz. You should look at her. She is awesome.
Oh I also wanted to talk quickly about Gala Darling. She is also awesome. Go look at her blog.
A lot of things have gone on since I last updated so I am not even so sure where to start but we may as well start with the obvious, and that is hello the Olympics are here!
Chhhaaaaa-ching! Ok so I know some people are not happy about it and they have a right to be, but we’re not gonna talk about that because my perspective is, yes housing and health care would have been nice, but we do not have a time machine and the party is here so why not join the party?
Yesterday we went downtown for a little FREE DaVinci at the Art Gallery action. We had to wait about an hour and a half to get in, and then another 40 minutes to get up to the British Columbia pavilion thing at the top. It was ok. We got to look at history and marvel at how rad DaVinci was at basically everything and then we also saw this other weird body themed exhibit and there was felt and when we got to the shopping part I noticed some t-shirts and slips that looked very familiar.
They were made by Wendy from Dahlia Drive, who, P.S. is a graduate of the same program I am taking. So awesome!
The pavilion thing was pretty ok but I wanted MORE.
This was made from pine beetle wood. I guess if you can’t beat the pine beetle you may as well find uses for the wood.
There was a multi-media section that was pretty awesome also.
Oh and also we saw Vikings!
We also saw some Czech alpine ski guys but I did not successfully creep on them enough to get a picture. Sad times.
So right now I am working on a project for my surface design class. It is supposed to be a metaphorical container. Conceptual. Whatever. You know, one of those words.
So anyways I am doing the family name as a container, because basically mine is made up and yet I am still really attached to it. And I am representing it by making a mitochondrion because my name is inheirited from my mom and you know ramble ramble.
Part of it has to be image transfer so here’s a quick how-to in case any of you are interested.
1. First you get yourself some images to transfer. In this case, I’m using photos my mom emailed me of old-timey people I am related to.
2. Photocopy them, making sure to use a dry toner dinosaur variety copier.
3. Coat them with acrylic medium. Use quite a bit. Like really layer it on. Then stick them onto your fabric and press them down, being careful not to get any air bubbles. You want to make sure they are on there real good. Then let them sit for a day or so.
4. Now you’re going to take the fabric and soak it in lukewarm water. Make sure it’s not too hot because I am pretty sure that would be bad.
5. Once the paper is nice and wet, start gently rubbing it off. DO NOT RUB WITH TOO MUCH VIGOR.
6. Prosper.
You can apply more acrylic medium once you’re done if you want to seal it in. Just be aware that it will make your fabric all rubbery. I am not adding more because these are going to be for the innards of my mitochondrion so I want them to bend a bit.
Oh yeah one other thing: If you are using text make sure you flip it in a photo editing thinger first, otherwise you will have backwards text. Unless that is what you are going for. Then. Yes. Go for it.
Check it out. They made me.
Oh! Also I am looking for ideas for my Design project and we have to do either a self portrait or the meaning of life. I’m using a Stephen Hawking quote, “What do you want a meaning for? Life is a desire, not a meaning.”
THE INTERNET LIED TO ME. IT IS CHARLIE CHAPLIN WHO SAID THAT. Oh well!
How pissed do you think my design instructor would be if I included this picture?
Sometimes it is really hard for me to not push it, haha.
