Sunlight through Fog

Today Seattle is covered in fog.  The air hints of the fall crispness yet to come.  Weather like this makes me reflect on life, not really sure why, but it does.  This September will be the last time I go to college.  It will be my last orientation, my last few classes, the last time I get grades.  I don't know quite how to feel about it.  Certainly there is the feeling of elation, I'm finally going to get that pretty piece of paper with some calligraphy on it that tells the world I have spend over $90,000 and am now a completely qualified human being.  Then there is the apprehension.  How am I going to make a living?  How am I going to afford anything after this?  I need a car, and insurance for that.  I need a heart monitor, and insurance for that.  The list is endless.  I know I will make it all work out, I always do.  I just have to sit a worry for a spell first.
When one is a child, we spend all our time wishing we were older, bigger, stronger, faster.  Wishing ourselves into adulthood.  When one is an adult, you wish life were slower, simpler, quieter.  Wishing ourselves back to the peaceful simplicity that is most childhoods.  You don't worry about repaying your college debt, or buying a house.  These things simply are there for you.  It is the beautiful, dreadful thing of being responsible.  Or worrying over where the money is going to come from to pay for this or that.  You can sit around wishing your whole life away.
I'm not wishing I was a child any more, nor am I wishing away being an adult.  Today I do wish I knew what the future held.  I wish I could peer into it's depths and know where I'm going next or what I am doing after this chapter.  But then, what fun would life be if we knew everything to come?  Yeah, we might be able to be more prepared or something, but still.  You'd end up dreading things rather than being elated to have them.

So I sit at my desk and watch the crows quibbling on the rooftops and I reflect on where  I have come from and where I want to go.  I consider all of the ways to make the future my reality.  

Mother's Tea 2011

Mother's Tea was amazing!  Just as butterfly-inducing as any onstage performance, only I got to spend the day with classmates and friends.  For all the design changes that my outfit underwent, I'm very happy with the final product and presentation.  We're already thinking up ideas for next year!

Mother's Tea #1

For Mother's Tea I'm making a corset (fingers tightly crossed) out of yummy red silk with a black lace overlay.  This is the first mock-up of the corset pattern.  I've got the second one drafted up and it's patiently waiting for me to snip it out of muslin.  Alas I have other finals to attend to.

Under the corset is going a draped-front bustle business made out of a red velvet suit my Mum thrifted for me aeons ago (2004?) and it's finally finding a happy life in this outfit.  Nothing's been cut, mostly because I can't bear to ruin that delicious (and difficult to match) fabric, so if it becomes something else later it's ready to go.  I'm using crinoline (REALLY stiff tulle) to pouf out the back bustle part and make everything else fluffy.  There will be SO much fluffy going on it's kind of crazy.

More pictures forthcoming, so stay tuned!

Cornish - Update 1 - WARNING: picture heavy post! ;)

It's high time I wrote a little about being at Cornish along with some pictures! I keep promising them, and not yet posted any here.  Cornish is amazing, it's kicking my butt in old ways, teaching me new things, and I'm finding muscles I haven't used in four years or so.  I have friends, I know my locker combinations, and I think I am doing fairly well here.  Midterms start tomorrow which is why I have a tiny lull to write anything at all not school mandated.  Below are a series of photos from within the first few weeks of classes.  We're not quite so silly now that we're nose to the grindstone, but we're doing well.  First up, my locker.  I share this with two other people, and if you can imagine two of me stuffed in there, we would be very comfortable. In short, it's HUGE!

I take a drawing class once a week, and it's been good to get my hand worked up again.  We're covering the basics; perspective, still life, using strong light and shadow, working from live models, so it has been fun.  It's one of the most relaxing classes because we can just draw for an hour or so.

This is my drafting class or Theatre Graphics.  We affectionately refer to it as "Advanced Kindergarten" because we're drawing lines and circles, working on our letters, and using lots and lots of numbers! Whew!  This class is really interesting because it's teaching me to look at things from many different perspectives and manipulate objects in my head, then transfer them onto paper.  We build models, make tiny staircases, and construct our own fireplaces (miniature) at the end of the semester.

This, my friends, is Dennis.  He's my adopted little brother and a cohort in crime as we're both class clowns.  Don't worry, I get my work done on time, and try not to cause too much trouble for my instructors.  He's hilarious and I love him to pieces.

My darling Allegra, doing a charcoal drawing at The Center for Wooden Boats where we looked at Atmospheric Perspective.  She is a sweet girl who has adopted me as her "mommy".  Each class we're in, each morning she comes over to give me a hug and I am greeted with "Momma Anna!"  Because that is what I am.  Momma Anna.

Welding in Shop.  I have only welded once to date (don't tell Greg!) and I fervently hope I don't have to weld much again.  Spending too much time with the fumes apparently makes my body angry and I start coughing and hacking.  I quite prefer soldering, thanks, it doesn't make me cough.  The very patient man in the green shirt (holding, I might add a welding mask, he is NOT staring at the light!) is Greg.  One half of the compliment that makes up our Shop instructors.  He works with Peter and together I have decided need to start their own show.  They are our adorable odd couple and make Shop so very, very much fun.  They kick our butts when we need it, and make us laugh when we mess up, and encourage us when we deserve it.

This is my Sonya, and I love her to death.  She is also a non-traditional student, an amazing mama to two kids, and general all round great gal.  She keeps us cheerful because I'm pretty sure there's not a lot in this 'verse that could make her unhappy.  I have adopted her as my big sister.

Costume Shop, with "other Anna" and Allegra.  At Cornish, you have to take Fundamentals classes that we refer to affectionately as "Fundies".  Half of it is in Scene Shop and half is in Costume shop.  In addition to that you are assigned to a show that you get to hang lights for.  You also help with Load In and Strike.  Cornish WILL keep you busy, and I love it.  Costume shop is run by Carl and his assistant, Diane.  They're lovely people, and I already adore Carl. He's a commanding cranky man who will mess with you just as much as you mess with him.  He's fabulous!

Sonya and I are often the extra teachers when it comes to sewing, because we've both sewn for ages.  So we patiently help to thread machines, wind bobbins, and assist you when Carl or Diane are busy.  That'll be 5 cents, please.

And that's it for now. I have taken more pictures of the Lighting I'm working on now, but those are for next time.  Maybe even video if I can make it work.  I love scissor lifts!  Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed your little view into Cornish.