hello summer, hello indecision?

AAS graduation and another academic year has gone and passed, yet I am still bustling around, looking for work experience to add to my resume, looking for (paid) jobs that might support said experience. The beauty of my new internship and a new hostessing job is that this summer is a fresh start. For better or for worse, instead of having me work the full 6 days available to the 2 commitments, both have selected 2 instead of 3, so I am left with an awkward schedule of tuesday, friday, and sunday all free. Never have I had so many days off, and quite frankly I don't know whether to be overjoyed or annoyed.

Just one day-long marathon of Sex and the City and pigging out on jalapeno chips and made-to-order chinese is enough, but what of the other 2 days? My mother emailed me to say that I should do something that I've always wanted to do, and I am sitting here sifting through my mind for the nearly untouched file marked "for free time". It's hard to remember a time so carefree, yet now I am feeling oddly restless. It has always been out the door and never look back, rush around and reunions for lunch, then scuttle on home as the date inevitably moves forward on my phone.

The fact of the matter is that I have become a workaholic, partly to support the few days that I actually do go out--and the shoes that must complement them--partly to keep industry pace with NYC. Now that I am free to relax and think (oh did i mention I have a cold...in the summer?!), it's a feeling of unfamiliar leisure. Ergo here is a working list of what I hope to accomplish this summer:

go SWIMMING as often as I possibly can.
go to the BEACH and get TAN at least once a weekend.
organize my five MILLION hoarded fabric swatches.
go to a bookstore and just READ all day.
read at least TEN books, with at least three being in the canon.
watch MAD MEN.
have as many PICNICS in as many PARKS in nyc.
save money to buy a FROYO machine.
try MORE cuisine from EVERYWHERE.

ponderings

well, it's a new year, and i figured time for a new direction. i completed an internship at pesavento couture, a wonderful eveningwear company sold in many boutiques throughout the country, including the lovely Kleinfeld's bridal, and a beading/embroidery internship with rehka international, with such revered clients as vlad knitwear, jlm, monique lhuillier, and vera wang.

this semester is my 4th and seemingly final-- associates is so big at this school! time stops and we are worked to the bones with deadlines and demands for tireless creativity and quality. all the same, i am enjoying my life more than ever. i have my 2 steady jobs at rickshaw and the writing studio. i am particularly excited for the writing studio this semester, because i will be presenting again at the National Conference on Peer Tutoring and Writing (NCPTW) this time held in Baltimore, MD. I and the other 2 sole art&design major tutors will be writing and presenting a proposal on the art of tutoring the "non-writer" on such applications like the artist's statement or a designer's philosophy statement. I am super psyched!!! in addition, for our spring break, i and 3 other tutors will be trekking to the university of vermont to observe and partake in the tutoring program there! last year they did a wonderful presentation at NCPTW and we are very excited!

as for other new endeavors, I have begun volunteering at the FIT Museum as a greeter of Friday afternoons, and I always enjoy the wide range of people that stream in to the quality of our museum, which is only 1 out of 7 in the world that has the capability to preserve clothing the way it does! i have also squeezed in 2 free hours on monday and friday to do a mini-internship with karma international, a textiles company based in europe. i would definitely appreciate a deeper look at the textiles industry, and today was my first day. i was sorting sample swatches of different lightweight wools and novelty linings.

this is my current life. in the summer i hope to obtain a large design internship, either at a large ready-to-wear company such as zac posen, or a specialized intimate apparel company, Natori. I have chosen intimate apparel to be my specialization come 6th semester. It utilizes all my favorite fabrics, I can apply my ultra-feminine aesthetic, and learn to properly shape and contour a woman's body. I have joined the club and cannot wait for the next couple of hard working years ahead of me!


-la vie en rose

Progress!!!

Yesterday was eventful and wonderful!

As far as activities, I had to subway my way to 2nd and 50th to pick up the dresses from the photoshoots, then I went sourcing for a lavender tulle, but alas was unsuccessful! Then I went to C&J to pick up an order and some swatches, where I met G, a woman whose account was our company, and we got to talking about beaches.. which somehow led to a possible internship?!? I dropped off 2 dresses at Kleinfelds for Kelly, who was there to meet appointments. I hadn't seen our section of the store yet, and it was so cool to behold! Then I went to Rehka to ask for an estimate on a new beading sample, and she was also asking for interns! Of course, Rehka is pretty much the most beautiful place because of all the beading samples and their new atelier is gorgeous!! I quickly obliged to a Friday internship with her and I am so excited!! I get to see the dress side on thursdays and the beading side on fridays. Her company is international and sources out to China and India. I can't wait to observe these exchanges!!! Lastly I went to Excel to pick up horsehair, grograin ribbon, and a zipper. I am off for a student ambassador meeting, work at rickshaw, and a housewarming party. Wish me luck in the future and I love you daddy! Hope you are proud! :)

-la vie en rose

after a long absence...

so i have been quite busy this summer! new friends, new places, new activities, busy busy busy!! as summer is winding down, i feel busier than ever! Still, i should not have neglected my poor blog...

Last thursday, kelly's first words to me were, "oh thank god you're here i must put you in a cab immediately!" I was confused cuz I NEVER take the taxi anywhere for internship, but turns out I had 4 dresses to deliver to 2nd ave and 50th st. for a photoshoot of the designer's new collection!! i buzzed the door and wandered to the 4th floor, where I found a studio cramped inside a tiny apartment, full of makeup mirrors, cameras, and dresses!!

After having dropped off the new samples, I returned to a newly relocated rehka. Their new place was GORGEOUS!! Top floor, skylights, open white walls and tonnns of beading samples, even a nice waiting room! I dropped off some tulle and beads, and then ran over to lining club to buy 4 yards of lining.

I finally stopped at the dollar store for some office inventory (garbage bags and a new broom), dropped off a check for the designer, and then ran over to Super to pick up some newly ordered fabric.

The company is not open on Fridays now for summer hours, but tomorrow (or i should say, today) I will be off for another adventure, so stay tuned!! My thoughts are with my father, and I hope that he is doing well!

-la vie en rose

Day 19

Seeing as 4th of July is just around the corner, the company decided to take Friday off so Thursday was my only day for interning! Thae thing is, they didnt have much for me to do. Just find navy acetate 5 yds at Lining Club, and a 24" navy zipper at Mood and a 22" fuchsia zipper at Excel. When I arrived back, all I did was continue organizing the shelves, send out a bunch of packages, and spent an hour brainstorming with the designer and manager for the new line of bridal gowns they were going to try to expand. Every good name we came up with had already been used, so I hope we find a good one soon! Lastly I had to go to Rehka beading and wait wait wait till it arrived from China today. The dress was already behind schedule and Kelly and Jamie had been really stressed out about it, because the reason we were behind was because the people at the retail store had not paid yet for the dress to go into production. Anyways, I waited till it arrived, dropped it off at the office, and blundered through the rain to go meet up with an old friend before tumbling into Rickshaw for my evening job. Have a great 4th of July!!!!

-la vie en rose

Day 17 & 18

This week I only worked on Friday because Thursday I got to see Leighton Meester at a live taping of It's On with Alexa Chung!! (thanks irving...)

Therefore, when I went in on Friday at 10am, Kelly informed me that she was physically unable to move around much, and so unfortunately accumulated a lot of errands for me. I first ran over to Lining Club where I searched in vain for an aqua-color acetate lining. I finally settled on poly lining because I thought color match was more important, but Jamie still wanted acetate. Then I went to Excel to pick up 3 different zippers, and then to Mood to get a 24" zipper, since Excel only had 22" zippers. The Mood zipper was requested by a customer who returned her dress twice since the 22" zipper would not fit the customer x.x!! I also picked up mink balls that Kelly had to reserve (I had to ask for Johnathon). At C&J I picked up a roll of chiffon and taffeta, and paid by check. Finally I went to Rehka to pick up the beading that Jamie and I had set up last week. I also went to B&Q to pick up 2 yds of single row and 1 yd of double row rhinestones

Then it was time for drop-offs! I went to 35th and 9th ave to go to Eagle, a dye company in a run-down building. I had to drop off some tulle to be dyed a certain color.

I picked up some subway for lunch, and then went to the dollar store to pick up plastic bags, paper towels, and floor cleaner wanna-be's, then to Steinlauf for a box of pins. I also had to run to Kleinfelds (one of the bridal stores that carry Pesavento), on 20th and 6th, to drop off a swatch sample book from one of the fabric companies (Super) because a client was requesting one of our dresses in another color. When I got to Kleinfelds I was again amazed, absolutely taken aback by the gorgeous building and sculpturally trimmed bushes, and then finally the endless rows of beautifully arranged gowns. So unfathomable. Once I came out of my stupor I asked for Ingrid, and was instructed down the stairs to meet her and hand her the sample card.

Upon returning I sorted the last of our taffeta fabric and organized everything in the fabric roll racks. Finally, done for the day!! Till next time!

-la vie en rose

Day 15 & 16

These past 2 days have been both long and progressive! Thursday I had to finish sorting and organizing the remaining (aka. most disastrous) fabric shelves. I rubberbanded my way through chiffon and pinned my fingers through layers of scrunched tulle. I was then delighted to be asked to do something i havnt done yet: beading layouts with Jamie! Together we found the original beading samples from 2 dresses. The first was a long vine and flower pattern I had to cut out, but the sample was a gold. So, Jamie asked me to pin it to the back of pattern paper. Then, he proceeded to point to the various beads and write directions on what color changes he wanted to appear. He had me go over to the beading shelf and pull out the gold and silver bead boxes to find the right 2-cut, round, bugles beads, and sequins in the right colors. Then we taped a few samples of each by the directions, so that when we sent it to Rehka beading, they would know exactly what color and size each bead should be. It gets sent to China, so we have to make sure everything is perfect and correct, or else major problems occur! After making copies of the invoices we wrapped up each beading package with a corresponding tulle on which to do the beading work. I was sent to Rehka to drop off the bundles and Super to pick up 2 yards of chiffon. I also stopped at C&J to pick up an iridescent taffeta swatch, which I used to find tulle to match (at Mood) and to find beads.

Friday I first went to Fun 2 Bead in search of a sequin, round bead, and 2 cut to match the taffeta. Unfortunately my first attempt was unsatisfactory, and I had to run back to 38th and 6th in search of better luck. I was really discouraged and winded up with 5 vials at the next store, NY Bead (because they wanted me to go to Toho Shoji but it was under construction) but I kept second guessing myself. Since the taffeta was iridescent, I didnt know which color to match, or whether to go lighter or darker so that the beading would contrast the fabric. Finally, I decided to go with my gut and chose one vial that stood out particularly well with the taffeta. Thank god I did, because Jamie loved it and we used it as the reference color for the rest of the beading. After, I went to lining club and picked up 4 yards royal blue and 5 yards bright red acetate lining. While I was there I engaged in a confusing debate about everyone in America cheating each other out of money, and it eventually screwing the bank. Thoughts, anyone? I then ran over to Mood to find matching tulle for those colors. Finally, I went to the Bank of America to drop off a check for the bank from Jamie. Kelly and I packed up the last bundle for Rehka, and I went to the Post Office to buy a new booklet of stamps and send out a 2-Day first class package for Jamie.