Light Fixture

Usually, I don't like to put up my work on my blog/facebook/whatever because I feel like it's real real annoying. BUT! I spent a buttload of time on the lamp (my 3D final) and I'm super happy with the way it turned out. So, I figured I'd break my own rule and show pictures of the process of making the lamp.

Ok. Step 1. After googling about 30 videos of how to make crocheted flowers, I finally found one that made any sort of sense to me from this lady with ridiculously painted finger nails and a British accent. Each flower took about 6 or 7 minutes to make (depending on how focused I was).

After crocheting ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY FLOWERS (and wanting to kill myself), I began to individually tie each flower together with thread to make rows. Eventually, it equalled out to be four rows. And then it would fell apart. So I did it again. Ok. It worked.

Then, I made a hoop with aluminum armature wire (a 3D design staple) and wrapped it with yarn. After that was done, I tied the sheet of flowers to the hoop to make the lamp shade.

Finally, I attached a light chord that I bought at Home Depot and hung it up. Umm... did I mention that earlier this weekend, I put the light socket together wrong and accidentally blew a fuse out that resulted in the whole floor's power going out? Because I did. Oops.

So, I plugged that bad boy in and here it is! In all it's thready glory.

I'm going to try and hang it up in my new house. We'll see how that one goes. Hopefully I don't blow out Savannah's power. Finger's crossed.

Baby Roommates

I found this last night in the hollows of my computer and it made Claire and I laugh for a good 20 minutes. I think it was an outtake from when I did all of those "Getting to Know You" videos. Funny how much we've learned about each other since then. We've replayed this about 100 times since.

I think finals is making everything hilarious right now.

I'm leaving in about 2 minutes to take my art history final. Eeek. I hate tests.

After that, I still have to finish my self-portrait, but I'm done with everything scary!!!

Yay!

Listen up, you goons.

The official finals soundtrack of Julia Patton. Scientifically formulated and tested to keep me energized for the next 4 days.

No judgy music snobs allowed.

One Week.

I think I can. I think I can. I think I can.

Blank.

(click to enlarge)

These three questions are all that stand between me and the end of survey II.

I know the answers. Honestly. I do.

But turning those answers int0 sentences?

And then turning those sentences into paragraphs?

Jujie tired of thinking.

Finals

Ahh, yes. The last finals post of the 2011. This chart is actually alarmingly accurate in regards to the rest of the year, but during finals week there is no time for lazy nonsense. ...I will cop to the binge eating though. Ben and Jerry have got me on lock. Finals make me hungry. Sue me.

Today I find myself in the midst of a to-do list tizzy tossed around and mixed with an end of the year panic. I finally finished my crochet light fixture this morning (pictures soon) and I am so so so thrilled to check that and my 3D Artist's Statement of Intent (a fancy art school way of saying 'essay') off my list. One class down. But there is no rest for the weary! I just got back from Boundary hall (where I was working on my light fixture) and it's right back to work on my Art History homework. The plan for the rest of the day is to 1. finish all of my ARTH homework by 5 o'clock 2. take a quick victory nap 3. grab a sub from the sub shop 4. and finally get a good chunk started on my drawing final before I hit zee hay.

Part of me hates finals, but then the hyper organized list maker (that I didn't know I was before this year) absolutely lives for this sort of controlled chaos.

VIVA FINALS!

Before and After

So, although NONE of you commented and guessed on my last post (except mom who doesn't count because she knew the answer), I am going to reveal that I did, in fact, get a haircut yesterday afternoon. And not only did I trim my ends a bit, but I took the plunge and got straight across bangs for the first time ever! So far, I really like them, but I haven't had to style myself yet, so if you ask me again tomorrow, I'll probably be singing a different tune.

Here are some before and after pics. What do you think?! If you like the before better, keep it to yourself. If you like the after, tell me now because I'm highly insecure. Typically, I don't like to make it a habit of taking pictures alone on photobooth (Narcissistic Party...table for 1), but due to the fact that I am far, far away, I'll do what I have to for my loyal blog readers (Nicole Riha).

Speaking of loyal blog readers, big ups go out to Tracy and Taryn Patton for being THE MOST CONSISTENT COMMENTERS. EVER! You guys (and really anyone who comments) make my day and keep this simple little blog going. I would've quit a loooong time ago if it weren't for your thoughts on whatever nonsense I may have written about that day.

HAPPY THURSDAY!

Oops! I Did It Again.

So there's one of two things that I do every 10 weeks: Cut my hair and change my major. Can you guess which one it was this time?

HELP!

So, sometimes in the middle of the night (and only at night) I get these very specific bug bites. They usually itch so bad that it wakes me up. What makes them weird is how much they hurt when I get bitten. Like last night, sometimes I'll get up and go into the bathroom to turn on the light and see that they are this weird misshapen, flat, white bite. And in spite of all of my google researching, I can never figure out where they're coming from! And then in the morning, the white misshapen-ness of them are gone and just a very small, very subtle redness is left. They definitely aren't mosquito bites. And I know their not chiggers because I've gotten them in Newport too. They're probably some sort of spider, but if anyone knows, fill me in because I literally get them once every year and the curiosity is killing me!

Thoughts: Part II

I really liked my "thoughts" post this weekend. And I still like it today. Probably because I'm in the same mind set now that I was on Friday. Or Saturday. When did I post it again?

My current mood: Scattered. Stressed. Antsy. A bit spazzy (I have no idea where all of this energy is coming from). And inspired.

Because of all these conflicting prioritization's in my head, I have been so torn on what to blog about. I have about 83 things I want to fill you guys in on and I just can't decide which one. So here I am at 1:25AM avoiding the fact that I need to sit down and write my artists statement about these flowers that I am surrounded by and this yarn that has tangled itself into a terribly confusing knot. It's due at 8:00AM.

Let's chat.

1. I found this wedding dress today online. I literally laughed out loud. It's a vintage Yves Saint Laurent Haute Couture Crocheted Wedding Gown. This goes to show that sometimes now amount of money can make something pretty. Case and point: Kate Gosselin. That was mean.

2. You may have noticed the new addition the blog: a large black box on the top right of the page that shows my innermost and private thoughts. It's because I am back on the tweet. I mean I'm a tweeterer. What I'm trying to say is that I'm a tweaker. A twatter? I'm so confused. All I know is that somehow after a picnic dinner last night with the ladies, I pledged to tweet more often this summer. Follow me if you want to. But I wouldn't blame you if you didn't. I'm still not convinced of the validity of this nonsense. (@juliagulia924)

3. This weekend, I had the immense pleasure of seeing my gorgeous roomie, Spencer, model in the SCAD Senior Fashion Show. She has been working her butt off since January and I didn't think I was going to be able to go to the show after it sold out in 30 minutes a few weeks ago, but I knew a gal who knew a gal who knew a gal (actually, I only know Spencer) and she was able to get us some awesome tickets! The clothes looked great, but we all know what everyone was talking about Sunday morning-- the fierce model who closed the show with such pinache and style: Spencer Malinski. Unfortunately Spencerless (their loss), the senior collection Lookbook can be found online here.

4. I took a break from the crocheting today and decided it'd be a good idea to start packing up the room while I had some time. Craziness is lurking the shadows and today and tomorrow feel like the calm before the storm. It was odd timing, this packing, due to the fact that all the way on the west cost, dear Don and Linda were saying goodbye to 307 Pirate Road for the last time and heading North (only about 10 streets) to *$& (it'd be stupid to put my address online for all the sex offenders to find) Santa Ana Avenue. So I packed. They moved. It was like moving telepathy. I could go on about how this made me feel, but that is another post for another day. We're keeping this sucker light today.

5. I watched the season premiere of the Bachelorette tonight. I am so happy it's back. What am I supposed to do on my Monday evenings with no cheesy dates and gimmicky bachelors to make fun of? Can we talk about Ryan P? He's from CDM. And he got the first impression rose!!! My money's on him....until next week when we find out why he's a successful businessman living in the OC and still single. Lives at home? Sloppy kisser? Has 889 cats? Puts way too much product in his hair? Only time will tell.

6. Crocheted Flower Update: I literally worked for at least 6 hours a day for the last 4 days on these damn things and I am about halfway from where I need to be. As tired of double crocheting as I am, I am very pleased with the way it's turning out. Stay tuned.

That's all you get from me for now. I really must go. But I will say goodbye with this amazing new-ish video from a band I really like called Peter, Bjorn and John. 75% of the people who read this blog won't like this song. My blog demographics are not very well rounded.

Thoughts:

This morning is going to be painfully productive. It has come to my absolute favorite time of the quarter when, about two weeks until the end, I know what all of my work is. Every project has been assigned, every test date has been set and there are no more surprises. It's a wonderful time because I can literally sit down and just finish the work in one whole class. Life Drawing: check. 3D Design: done. Art History: adios!

Today I decided not to go to my 3D class at 8AM and just stay home and work. I am making a whole chandelier out of crocheted flowers (it's going to be cooler than it sounds) and I have to make about 200 crocheted flowers in the next two weeks. I've made 5. So, there is no time to waste. I got up. Put on a bra (which means hard work is ahead), brushed my teef, and because I'm feeling a little frisky today, I put my iPod on shuffle. VIVA CROCHET FLOWERS!

Before I leave you, here are a few more of my golden thoughts on this beautiful morning:

1. I found this dress on Modcloth.com. Love it. They're charging $400. Don't love that so much. So, I'm going to make it for $75. Summer challenge.

2. Arnold ruined his whole marriage and family for her? Really?!

3. I'm about to say something I never thought I'd hear come out of my own mouth. Ready? Ok: I am excited to go to the beach this summer. Yep.

4. I want to make these so bad. Who wants to come over and eat them all with me?

5. Remember that time I posted this? I can't believe it has already been a year. Here is this weeks forecast. For the record: it is not nearly as bad as people made it out to be. Man up, Californians.

That's it. Cheers to productivity!

Inspiration Pieces

Yesterday I became the proud owner of these two beautiful chairs, the first of many great antique finds in Savannah for our house next year. Claire and I were on our way to Target when she spotted them outside of Habersham Antiques and she yelled at me to "TURN AROUND! TURN AROUND! ORANGE CHAIRS! GO BACK!" We were thrilled to find that they were within our price range and we immediately surmised that they would go wonderfully in the sun room.

After sending a pic of them to the other roomies on my phone, I made them come see them in person. Approved. Sold.

When I called Eliza, one of the current tenants of our house, to see if we could drop them off, I mentioned that they were ridiculously large, but according to the look on her face when she opened to the door, I don't think she would've imagined that I meant ridiculously large, bright poppy colored, wicker chairs that stand just about as tall as Claire and I do.

They are such a statement and now that they're in my head, they are acting as a starting point to so many new decor ideas. I am as happy as can be with my purchase and I can't wait to cozily drink some tea and read a good book as the morning sun beams upon my face.

The MEX factor

For all the good things Savannah offers, good Mexican food is not one of them. The pull to choose between local fave, Carlito's (disgusting), or to go with the big, bad chain in the neighborhood, Cilantro's (boring), is not very great. Finding a place where I can engorge my craving of a salsa that burns so good and then smother that in a cheesy-tortilla-something only to ultimately feel the sweet pain of the sodium bloat the next day is harder than you'd think. I'd all but given up on finding a good Mexican restaurant in Savannah until Frances heard about a little gem out in Hilton Head called Mi Tierra.

Skeptical at first, I checked the online reviews only to find that they were surprisingly solid. (But then, you do have to take into consideration that the reviews are from people who live in the Coastal Georgia/South Carolina area-- far from Mexico and far from being any sort of Mexican food experts) So Frances, Claire, Wren, Tyler, Rob and I all piled into the car and made the 45 minute trek north in order to go south. When we finally pulled up to the restaurant, I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was right off the highway in a unsuspecting and very unnoticeable building. This is a good sign. I have found that the uglier the restaurant, the better the food. I also noticed that the parking lot was full on a Friday night. Another good sign. Could this be what I've been searching for? An answer to all problems Mexi?

We walked into the brightly colored and over decorated restaurant and were greeted by a preciously plump woman with an accent. All good things.

After we were seated at our table, I decided that in order to really document this experience, I would need some sort of rating system. So I grabbed the paper napkin to jot down some criteria for my rating system on a scale of 1 (Carlito's) - 10 (Anything in Orange County) throughout the meal.

Atmosphere: 7

Friendliness: 8.9

Chips and Salsa: 9

Mex-Factor: 9.8

Entree: 7

Clientel: 4

Distance: 5

Average Total: 7.2

I got two shrimp enchiladas. Mediocre at best to California standards, but still its the best Mexican I've had here.

Goodbye, Mi Tierra. We'll see you again soon.

My mouth is watering.

It's a quarter after one; I'm all alone and I need you now.

Snails.

Alright, all you party people, if you are/were planning on sending me mail here in the next few weeks, you better get on that! Because after June 1st, I can no longer check my mailbox. They will forward my mail to my new address for 30 days, but I won't get any of that mail until September.

So get all of you care packages, love letters and interesting articles together and send them fast!

HAPPY SATURDAY!

The Humble Abode

AY YAI YAI!!! Today marks the 3-week countdown.

3 weeks until we can move into our beautiful new home.

3 weeks until classes are over.

3 weeks until SUMMER!

I cannot wait.

Today, we got to go over to the house and jot down a few measurements of the rooms and windows and such so we can prepare for all the shtuff we will need to have next year. It got me even more pumped on how awesome next year is going to be. Every time I get stressed in the next three weeks I'm just going to close my eyes and repeat "My own room. A kitchen. A car. My own room. A kitchen. A car. My own room..." and all my problems will go away.

As creepy as I felt walking around the house snapping pictures while everyone who is currently living there were all home, it needed to be done. I'm a shameless blogger, after all! Like I said to my friends, it’s like the first day of school: You hate your mom for making you stand in front of the school with your new shoes and sack lunch, but now you’re glad she did. Same thing.

Highlights:

Here is the lovely living room.

Frances and Claire measuring the windows in the sun room.

Kitchen nook in the sun room.

Two thumbs up for living off campus!

We just can't contain our excitement.

MY ROOOMMMMM!!!! Technically, it's the dining room, and technically, it doesn't really have a closet, but it's MINE ALL MINE!!!

The kitchen where hundreds of delicious meals will be lovingly prepared and the dishes will always be clean and put away.

Suzy Homemaker.

This is when they all were so sick of me making them take pictures. But they did it anyway. Because they luf me.

YES!

Oy, do I have a lot to tell you.

So! Exciting things have been happening and I have to go back a week ago today to give you the full picture.

Last Tuesday I had a mediocre day followed by a mediocre afternoon and in the early evening, I picked up my phone to give my dear mother a call. After talking for a few minutes she sprang some very exciting news on me; Through a friend of a friend, there was an opening this summer for an internship at Marc Jacobs in New York! This opportunity is something that literally anyone at SCAD (in the fashion department or otherwise) would absolutely kill for and would work hard all year to even be considered for. She explained that essentially all I had to do was turn in my resume and I would be seriously considered for the internship. In my head, I knew that I was so insanely blessed to be given this chance and that if I were to pass it up, I'd be the most foolish fashion student in the history of the world. But the more she talked about it, the larger the lump grew in my throat and before I knew it, I was forcing out loud gasps into the phone and there were tears running down my face. I was so so so excited to come home this summer and spend time with my family and friends, but how in the world was I supposed to pass up this great of a learning experience and such resume gold? And in any other time or situation, I knew that I would probably be crying tears of joy. This was so not the plan. The plan was for me to work this summer and intern next summer. I was so caught off guard by the fact that in seconds my whole summer had taken such a drastic turn. If offered the position, I knew there would be no way in the world that I would turn it down, but that meant giving up the summer I've been day dreaming of for months.

So over the next few days, I prayed about what to do. I prayed that if this were the right timing, that God would open my heart to this new plan and reveal to me that this is where I was supposed to be this summer. If it wasn't, I prayed that He would close doors and give me another purpose for the summer. By Thursday, I had decided that I would definitely pursue the internship and see where it ended up. Slowly over the weekend, the idea of spending another summer in New York started to sound more and more appealing and the newness of the idea began to ware off. Real Julia came back to life and hit Fake Julia over the head and screamed "This is Marc Jacobs, you idiot! AND a summer in New York! Marc Jacobs + New York = A No Brainer! Why are you being such a stupid head!?"

Weeellllll, after e-mailing back and forth with both my contact at Marc Jacobs and my academic advisor at SCAD, I found out officially yesterday that I would not be able to do the internship until my sophomore year due to credits transferring.

Frankly, I was a bit relieved because I really did not feel settled about the timing of it all, but to be honest, it hit me suddenly that I really had nothing planned for the summer and that maybe that internship was something that may never come up again. That was last night. Then today, right after waking up from a glorious afternoon nap, I checked my e-mail and received the most amazing message!

This winter break, I worked for a few weeks at Studio Suzan Jewelry and had an amazing time. Well, lucky me-- they have a job opening for the summer!!! Still half asleep, I read the e-mail from Suzan explaining what I'd be doing and I had to re-read it a few times for it to actually sink in. This job is more than perfect for what I want to be doing and learning this summer and I could not be more excited. I get to have my Newport Beach cake and eat it too! I am so grateful that God blessed me with not one, but two great opportunities for the summer and then made it so easy for me to see which was the better choice for me this year. And hopefully (fingers crossed), Marc Jacobs can be on the agenda for next summer!

Gee whiz, guys... three weeks left of Freshman year and then I'm a'comin home! Absolutely cannot wait.

********

Urg. I just re-read that and this is why I hate posting stuff on here about whats going on in my day to day life because it's so daggum boring. I feel like I'm forcing you all to endorse the fact that my life is awesome. Fact: If I were to read this post on someone else's blog, I would probably-- no definitely make fun of them. Or roll my eyes at how annoying they were. Or make fun of them and then roll my eyes at how annoying they were.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Mommy, I love you. You are honestly the best mom in the world. And for all you people out there doubting me, I can prove it:

1. You're always happy in the morning. And you woke up every morning with us for 15 years even though you didn't have to go to school.
2. You never cut the crust off of my sandwiches because apparently, that's he healthiest part (which I still don't totally buy because it's made out of the same stuff as the rest of the loaf)
3. You always know what the weather is going to be for the next day. It's like you can read Dallas Raines mind or something.
4. You hug me when I'm crying. Even though at first I never want to be hugged, you know I secretly do.
5. You never say no to desserts. Except most of the time at restaurants because they are such a rip off. So we usually get ice-cream or something instead.
6. You have the best advice. With my friends, with my family, with my money, with my fears, you know the answer to just about everything. And you're always right-- which sometimes breeds conflict because I'm always right too.
7. You get frustrated ("I'm not mad, I'm just frustrated") with me. When I'm being a spaz and you say things like "You don't have to make everything into a joke. Sometimes it's ok not to be funny." you've stopped me from being an annoyingly-never-serious-person.
8. With that being said, a lot of the times I get out of being in trouble when I can make you laugh. Maybe Kaitlin doesn't think that makes you the world's best mom, but I appreciate it.
9. You're a real person. Something that I realized for the first time this year (that may sound silly or obvious) is that you are just a girl like me. A bit older and with a few more life lessons learned, but you have emotions and goals and fears just like me. This has so much to do with why you are such a great mom.
10. Everyone loves you. Even when I feel like I've met every single person in the world who says "Oh, I absolutely love Linda Patton," more and more seem to pop out of the woodwork.

They love you and I love you because you are an amazing woman who is not only smart and beautiful but a delight to be around. You are someone who I can learn so much from everyday and I am so so so glad that I am your daughter.

I love you! I love you! I love you!!!!!!!!

(For the record: there are way more than 10 reasons why you're a great mom.)

A Mother's Prayer:

Sunday is Mother's Day and for some reason odd reason, it feels like a really big deal this year despite the fact that this is the farthest I've ever been from dear Mummy in my whole life. It seems that I've been hearing a lot of motherhood lately. Their love, their fears, their goals, their courage, their celebrations and their darkest moments are all in the selfless midst of their commitment to take care of everyone else around them and consequently putting themselves in last place.

Even 2,429 miles from home (but who's counting), my mom is the only one who truly knows how to deal with my shenanigans through and through. Although most of our conversations take place over the phone these days, I can hear the all too familiar traits of a mom by simply hearing her voice: Genuine excitement when something goes my way, concern when her maternal radars start beeping, frustration when I'm being a SassyMcSassMaster and care when she can tell that all I really want to do is curl up on the couch in the red blanket that I miss so much and snuggle.

Recently, I've been hearing a ton of great things about Tina Fey's new book, Bossypants. I haven't had a chance to read it yet, but today I stumbled upon an excerpt from the book called "A Mother's Prayer" and it cracked me up and I thought you all would like it too.

"First, Lord: No tattoos. May neither Chinese symbol for truth nor Winnie-the-Pooh holding the FSU logo stain her tender haunches.

May she be Beautiful but not Damaged, for it’s the Damage that draws the creepy soccer coach’s eye, not the Beauty.

When the Crystal Meth is offered, May she remember the parents who cut her grapes in half And stick with Beer.

Guide her, protect her:

When crossing the street, stepping onto boats, swimming in the ocean, swimming in pools, walking near pools, standing on the subway platform, crossing 86th Street, stepping off of boats, using mall restrooms, getting on and off escalators, driving on country roads while arguing, leaning on large windows, walking in parking lots, riding Ferris wheels, roller-coasters, log flumes, or anything called “Hell Drop,” “Tower of Torture,” or “The Death Spiral Rock ‘N Zero G Roll featuring Aerosmith,” and standing on any kind of balcony ever, anywhere, at any age.

Lead her away from Acting but not all the way to Finance. Something where she can make her own hours but still feel intellectually fulfilled and get outside sometimes And not have to wear high heels.

What would that be, Lord? Architecture? Midwifery? Golf course design? I’m asking You, because if I knew, I’d be doing it, Youdammit.

May she play the Drums to the fiery rhythm of her Own Heart with the sinewy strength of her Own Arms, so she need Not Lie With Drummers.

Grant her a Rough Patch from twelve to seventeen. Let her draw horses and be interested in Barbies for much too long, For childhood is short – a Tiger Flower blooming Magenta for one day – And adulthood is long and dry-humping in cars will wait.

O Lord, break the Internet forever, That she may be spared the misspelled invective of her peers And the online marketing campaign for Rape Hostel V: Girls Just Wanna Get Stabbed.

And when she one day turns on me and calls me a Bitch in front of Hollister, Give me the strength, Lord, to yank her directly into a cab in front of her friends, For I will not have that Shit. I will not have it.

And should she choose to be a Mother one day, be my eyes, Lord, that I may see her, lying on a blanket on the floor at 4:50 A.M., all-at-once exhausted, bored, and in love with the little creature whose poop is leaking up its back.

“My mother did this for me once,” she will realize as she cleans feces off her baby’s neck. “My mother did this for me.” And the delayed gratitude will wash over her as it does each generation and she will make a Mental Note to call me. And she will forget. But I’ll know, because I peeped it with Your God eyes."

Tina Fey

Isn't that great? Judging by that, I'm a pretty OK kid!

I'm off to go work on some sort of Mother's Day post for little Lindy-poop. I don't know how in the world I am going to top myself from last year. It made her cry. Great.

AWWWWWW YEEEEEAAAAHHHHHHHHHH....

I registered. It rocked. I'm a happy little clam.

Cold Sweat

Registration is tomorrow morning and I already feel a panic attack coming. Do you remember last time? Do you remember what a disaster it was? Because I do. Oh, I remember...

I have a plan of what classes I want (actually, need), but I'm trying not to become too attached to them because of how things usually change last minute on registration day. Like a puma, I wait in the wings ready to pounce on my classes at 10:30 tomorrow morning. Attack. Attack. Attack. Registered.

SO Torn.

or

Vote now.