moved (miesby.wordpress.com)

Howdy everyone,

I haven't posted on this blog in months, for a very good reason. That reason being that instead of separating my posts into two blogs, one for art/travel and the other for food/craftiness, I decided to go ahead and combine them.

I will no longer be updating this blog. Instead, you can find all these old posts plus a constant stream of new ones, relating to life, art, travel, food, and craftiness, at "From Here to (There)" at miesby.wordpress.com.

Cheers!

cutting up glossies

At work, I'm organizing files to be archived. In the file cabinets there were some magazines, but only certain articles were relevant for the archives, meaning ... I had to cut up an Artforum. ACK!


I am one of those people who does not write in books. I don't highlight. I don't even fold pages. I just do not mess with publications. It seems so blasphemous. And then to CUT UP a magazine, especially one like Artforum? Sadness. Pure sadness in my mind. Especially because according to the archiving procedures, I had to cut out the relevant articles AND the cover ... and the rest of the mutilated glossy could go into recycling.

Sigh. I have a stack of Better Homes and Gardens and I don't even tear those apart. I might place a post-it note on an article to get back to, but I don't think I could bring myself to destroy it. Oy. Yes, I'm a bit neurotic about these things, but it truly pained me to cut up those magazines!

internship sm-internship

I have never been one for real work. Working around 30 hours a week at an architecture firm (as a part-time position that was only supposed to be 20 hours a week, I might add) just about killed me. I worked there about four months before throwing in the towel. I used to think that I hated it because the pay was so crappy, but it's more a question of value. Right now I have an internship that's unpaid. But I like it. Getting paid would be nice, but I'm okay with this slave labor.

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Sure, it could be that I like it because it's only about 20 hours a week (and I don't have school or other work commitments like I did while at the architecture firm) or it could be that it's because everyone speaks English at my internship and I'm not such an outsider. It also could be that my current work actually seems useful and helpful whereas my work at the architecture firm seemed largely about getting the clients to pay us. But mostly I think it's because at my internship, no one's an architect. Yep, I gotta say that's it.

There's a reason why a lot of people (id est, architecture students) refer to 'architecture' as 'architorture'. And scarily enough, it's said with almost a sad fondness, because really ... all architects are masochists to some degree. I guess that's why it's refreshing to go to work at the internship, rifle through boxes of old exhibition installation photos, take a trip to the archives, compile a list of publications, watch a YouTube clip of an interesting piece of performance art, and actually eat lunch in the break room instead of my desk. Almost doesn't feel like work.

I like architects. Most of my friends are architects, studied architecture, or are in some way connected with architecture. And I can't really fault architects for their neurotic quirks, obsession with details, egosim, or constant dissatisfaction ... because I'm often guilty of the same. I'm still an architect at heart and still relate best to other architects, but that doesn't necessarily make it easy to work with them. The art world, however, IS A LOT MORE CHILL. Sure they have their own brand of crazy, but (from what I can tell) it's a lot less ulcer-prone.

happy st. paddy's

Well ... that was a bit of an unintended hiatus. Whups. I got bored this evening, so I baked cookies. Yummy yummy chocolate chip cookies. And since today (yes, since it is past midnight, it is 'today') is St. Patrick's Day, I tried to make a clover-shaped chocolate chip cookie. It was marginally successful.


It's spring break for me right now, so I'm trying to catch up on reading and papers. And eventually I will finish the bag that I've been working FOREVER on. But yeah, schoolwork comes first!

2012 - happy new year!

Woot! This is my first post of 2012 ... yay! Yet another year has passed, oh wow.


I graduated college two years ago and it's amazing how much stuff I still have from my college days. I really should get rid of a lot of it, because when am I ever going to pick up charcoal again? Well, considering how I hated using that incredibly messy stuff, I'd say NEVER. That leaves me the problem of what to do with lightly-used art supplies. Most have been barely touched but they've been opened, so who knows. If I don't get rid of them during what's left of my break, I'll probably just leave them at my parents' house for yet another year.

I wish everyone a happy new year. Time to get started on those resolutions!

beginning to look a lot like xmas ...

As much as I would like to get all Christmas-y and go to town on decorating this apartment, it just ain't really worth it since most of us are going home for the holidays. Also, it's finals time so I need to be focusing on school stuff. But ... I did manage to hang my stocking on my door. Yay!


For scale, the stocking's only about six inches tall. And those weird shadows are due to the weird configuration of lighting fixtures in my room. There's a little Christmas tree in our living room, so I guess that counts. Oh well, it ain't much but it's in the right spirit.

happy thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving! Yum yum, turkey time! I'm actually at a friend's house in Connecticut, and I'm going to experience my first ever truly American Thanksgiving. Excitingness. Sure I've had the turkey and the mashed potatoes before, but in a Chinese household ... Thanksgiving isn't very traditional ... and sometimes includes duck instead of turkey. Heh.


I hope everyone has a good holiday! Don't eat too too much! And try not to get trampled tomorrow, okay?

line squiggles

I've been procrastinating again ... just a bit. I still need to do readings for class, I still need to go through and print photos from last year, and I still need to do laundry. On the other hand, I've gotten back into line drawing and short story writing. Yeah ... it's productive in a not-very-productive sort of way.


I did some shopping for craft supplies today, so I have a few things in the works for Halloween coming up which will be quite fun. I've also been working with my bread machine and it's making some yummy stuff, which is also good. Now if only I could get to be as excited about reading architectural theory, I'd be set.

getting back into the swing

So ... I'm pretty much settled in by now. I moved in about one month ago and my room is pretty much set up, but I might buy a few more things in the upcoming weeks. Graduate school is really quite time consuming, not with busy work assignments like in undergraduate, but there are so many readings to do for each class that it takes a lot of effort to keep on top of them all. Two weeks in and I'm already not doing too well at that.

I'm not too fond of how my room looks decoration-wise, but it'll slowly get there. I like to keep myself busy with little crafts and tasks to give myself something to do when I need a break from all the reading. I'm currently working on a short story for a challenge swap, and the other day I bought two canvases (really cheaply from Michaels) and I want to do some kind of ink drawing on them. We'll see. I need to get some photos printed out ... which I've been saying for the last month.


Back in Austin I had a shelf that was devoted to clear glass bottles, and I've started doing the same to my windowsill here. I hate throwing away bottles, and I like the look of them when they're all different sizes and the light hits them. When there get to be too many I'll recycle them, but for now they're creating a little family on the sill.

Ugh ... alrighty then, I guess I should get back to reading now. From now on, if you see a post from me, you can go ahead and assume I'm procrastinating, so feel free to chide me back into being a responsible student.

i'm back! (sort of)

My last real post on this blog was over a year ago. Whups. Anyway, I’m back from my adventure in China and I’m settling into college life again, only this time it’s graduate school and it’s New York now. What a change, eh? Unfortunately I couldn’t bring much stuff, so my crafting stuff is rather minimal at the moment. And by minimal, I mean bare minimum. Yikes. I’m going to have to seriously restrain myself from going on a shopping spree at Michaels to replenish my craft stash.

on hiatus

Well, you haven't heard from me in about half a year. So I'm guessing you've figured out by now that this blog is on hiatus while I'm off adventuring in China. Can't do much crafting in Shanghai. If you really miss me, you can read my blog at miesby.wordpress.com. I switched over to WordPress for my China blog because the firewall here is pretty extreme and it took me this long (six months!) to figure out how to access Blogger.

Anyway ... Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, everyone!

a little pouch

Nope, I'm not dead and I haven't fallen off the face of the earth. Wow it's been a while since I posted anything. Busy with finals and such. Graduation is coming up, tonight is my last final, and then I have a whole host of things to do.

By the way, does anyone need a place to live during the summer in Austin? If you're in the market for an apartment, let me know!

I haven't done anything crafty in a while. A week or two ago I made this little pouch when I was particularly bored. Nothing too impressive.


After tonight things should be better ... I hope. Probably not though. I still have to pack, sell things, find someone to sublet. And then I have a list of Austin restaurants I have to go to before I leave and friends I need to see before we all depart. That's okay though. I think I'd rather have too many things to do than nothing. I'd be too bored with boredom.

in love with purples

While blue is still my favorite color, purple is closing in ranks. I've always liked purple, but lately, it's gained some additional significance over here.


I have no idea what kind of flowers these are, but they're blooming ALL OVER THE PLACE. It's so pretty, there are petals all over the ground and it smells wonderful. Yep, it's definitely spring here. Spring is probably my favorite season. I can finally break out the tank tops and flouncy skirts.


Tassels! No, I haven't graduated yet, but I'm well on my way. I finally plunked down the cash to buy my gown, so now I get to stare at it for the next two months. Excited, nervous, also a little in denial. Does this mean I have to grow up and act like an adult? Sheesh.

I hurt my arm and I'm sort of sick ... again. So hopefully staying home, acting like a bum, and catching up on little errands (organizing that stack of papers, mending that hole, et cetera) will do me good. My chocolate stash will surely aid in that.

Happy Easter!

springtime: a musing

There's something about sitting outside on a worn wooden bench and rolling a fallen flower petal between your fingers that truly embodies spring.


Enclosed in a limestone courtyard, the sky is a quiet blue gently sponged with soft whites. The tree branches overhead sway with tame wind gusts and drop petals around. I wore my hair down to feel the wind rustle through the strands, not minding when they get tangled up by my pearl earrings.

Today was such a fantastic day. I'm so glad it's spring already. To me, this season epitomizes simple happiness. Days like this, I think I'll never leave Austin.

happy (fill-in-the-blank)

This weekend was just chock full of holidays, wasn't it? To everyone out there: Happy Valentine's Day, Happy Chinese New Year, Happy Flag Day (to the Canadians), and Happy President's Day (to the Americans)! Oh ... and an early Happy Mardi Gras!


There wasn't much celebrating on my part because evidently my professors didn't get the memo. I had a break between my classes this morning, so I went home and took a little nap. When I woke, this is the sight that greeted me and I realized: Wow, I am kinda girly. I also realized that naps during the day are amazing!

It's a bit chilly here (by which I mean it's in the 30s), but my bed is right next to a window that gets southern sunlight, so I was all warm and snuggly. These are the things that make me happy.

day of recovery

I have been sick for the past few days, but today, Sunday, I can finally take some time to rest. I woke up about an hour ago and I feel all-over achy (not to mention the sneezing and coughing). Oh, and I have a giant two-inch bruise on my arm from carrying groceries. Yucks. Times like these I really wish I had something stronger than Tylenol at home.


My lunch today reflects my current state. Orange juice for the Vitamin C ... does that even help? Then leftover pizza and a cupcake for a pick-me-up. As a whole, it looks pretty discordant, but I'm sick, so blah.

Things to do: homework, laundry, cleaning, check mail, organize finances, and sleep. I have a sneaking suspicion that I'm only going to be doing the last item. And I'll probably have to skip work tomorrow, which would be the FIRST time I haven't come in to work. Darn.

apt xmas

An apartment next to a college campus is not an ideal place for Christmas. Thankfully I will be spending Christmas at home with my family, but I'll only be able to spend a few days at home. The rest of the time will be at my fabulously over-priced, run-down apartment. Therefore, while procrastinating one fine evening, I decided to decorate. Here, ladies and gentlemen, is how a college student decorates her apartment for Christmas (on a very limited budget).

1. White Lights


I dug up some white Christmas lights that I bought two years ago for studio. I actually bought them because when you can't find an extension cord, Christmas lights will work just as well. I had originally strung them around my desk to keep people from walking by my work area where I had models on the floor. Last year I was in the middle of a large studio space, so the Christmas lights were strung from the wall to my desk in the middle of the room, and the guy sitting next to me had Christmas lights strung from the other wall to his desk. All in all it was fabulous. Here in our lowly apartment, however, I just grabbed some drafting tape and taped these much loved white lights around our front doorway. The texture of the wall is kind of weird though.

2. Silver and Red Bow


I've always been a big fan of bows. Snowflakes are pretty. Christmas trees and stockings are too obvious. Bows are universal. And I happen to really like ribbon. So I grabbed some thick silver wired ribbon and created a big bow on our cheap Wal-Mart shelving unit. I thought it looked a bit drab so I grabbed some red satin ribbon and incorporated another bow into the mix. I think it's rather nice ... really classes up that cheap white plastic, eh?

3. Santa Hat


I've had this Santa hat for years ... can't even remember where/when I got it. Anyway, though I like the color green, I've never been a big fan of the red-green color combination because I just find it too cliché. It screams "Christmas!" in that overly commercial way. Therefore, our apartment's just going to stick with red and white/silver, which the Santa hat fits into perfectly. How is the hat standing so erect on our counter? Because it's hiding our very college-student bottle of tequila next to an empty bottle of wine. Yeah ... don't judge me. Oh, and the wallpaper was there when we moved in.

Christmas is my favorite holiday. I love giving gifts, wrapping gifts, decorating gifts, hanging out with friends, having that hot mocha latté at Spider House while exchanging gifts ... you get the idea. Though decorating was rather light this year, I think in conjunction with the nippy weather and the scarves around my neck, it's winter enough. Happy holidays.

hello again (sort of)

Whoops. It's been quite a while since I last posted. Felt like I needed to write though ... for fun, not essay-writing for class (because that's not fun). For anyone reading, I feel like I should warn you that this post is pretty much just going to be me complaining. Because that's what I do when I feel like this.

Work is work. Wow. Revelation. I feel so rundown and exhausted. Kids need to learn that it is NOT OKAY to cough in people's faces. I haven't been feeling too great for the past few days and I am completely blaming the kids. I give them tissues, I tell them to aim for their elbows, but nope. I get paid decently and my job isn't bad at all, so I shouldn't complain, but COME ON!

Usually when I go grocery shopping I go in with a short list of the things I absolutely need and then just buy whatever else sounds good at the moment. Since I haven't been feeling well, I haven't been feeling hungry, and therefore didn't buy much when I went to the store. For dinner I ate a corn dog (yay microwave!) because that's all I could really find. My lunch for tomorrow will be yet another turkey sandwich. I have eaten so many turkey sandwiches since the beginning of the semester, it's disgusting. But if I'm buying a loaf of bread, a head of lettuce, and a container of turkey, I pretty much have to eat turkey sandwiches all week or everything goes bad/stale/icky.

I want to take NyQuil and sleep a good sleep, but then I probably wouldn't be able to make it to my 8 AM class. That's kind of a catch-22. If I want to be alert for class, I need a good sleep (which only NyQuil will give - darn coughing). But if I want to make it to class on time, I cannot take NyQuil (which would knock me out for at least 10 hours). Ugh.

Then there's school. Need I say more? I cannot wait until Thanksgiving. I am going to relish that break so much. Oh, and my wallet currently has $2. It's just past 11 PM and this college student is off to take a long hot shower, crawl into bed, and hope that the world magically turns into cotton candy in the morning.

weirdo fan pulls

This morning I was lying on my floor (as I am apt to do) and looking up at my ceiling. Then I realized that I am a very weird person. The pulls to my ceiling fan were too short when I moved in, so I attached string for length as a quick fix. Bit by bit I've been adding things to them.


First were three plastic sun-catchers shaped like insects. I had painted them with my friends before going off to college, so I wanted to display them. Okay. Then came Bob, my mini-mannequin. He's been a fixture in every studio I've had, so I put him up there too. The string was too long, which was annoying, but instead of cutting it like a normal person, I let it hang there. Eventually I added a binder clip, which I had just taken it off some papers. I found an uneaten granola bar in my bag one day, so I attached it to that clip. Now I have all of that hanging in the middle of my room. Currently there are three granola bars up there at about eye level, which means that I am bound to walk into them at least once a day. I don't mind.

Weird, right? I LOVE the idea of having food hanging from my ceiling fan. It's so useful since it saves me those five steps to the kitchen when I want a snack. Yeah, I'm a total weirdo. Who would've thought a fan pull would/could evolve into this?

remembering mrs. reinhart

Today is September 11th. I was planning on helping with an event this morning, but at the last minute decided against it. This evening I was planning on attending a memorial event, but I'm not going to go. In previous years when I was still active in my organization, I participated in their 9/11 events, but it just makes me too mad and too sad.

It's been eight years since, but I still remember that day so clearly. Today while getting ready to go plant flags in the south mall of the campus, I remembered Mrs. Reinhart, my language arts teacher. I remember exactly where I was sitting in her class when the announcement came over the PA system, instructing the teachers to check their e-mail. It was in her class that the television was turned on, and we watched the towers fall. Mrs. Reinhart was never my favorite teacher and it took me a while to think of her name, but I will probably always remember her simply because of that day.

So even though I was awake at 4:30 this morning, I decided not to go. I don't think I would have been able to take it. I was still planning to go to the event tonight, but due to rain, they've moved it inside to an auditorium. Indoors, I'd feel suffocated and would probably end up running out crying like I did a few years ago. Then they'd all look at me with their sad eyes. And then I'd get mad that they didn't seem sad. September 11, 2001, changed everyone and everything, but you would never guess it walking around campus - is that hopeful or depressing? As I passed by the display of flags that I was supposed to help with, I heard someone ask about their significance.

In short: I'm better left alone today, because otherwise I might either cry or yell at you.