Guilty Pleasures and Inspirations
Published On: 11-25-2011 10:20pm
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Category: The Nitty Gritty
For a number of years after my divorce, I didn't have a TV. My ex and I had watched A LOT of TV and movies together and I was just kind of sick of it. I also didn't want to pay for cable TV anymore. Though I date myself by saying so - I remember when cable TV first started and I felt that the cost vs what you get now and what you got then wasn't justified. I finally got a small TV with a built in VCR & a used DVD player so I could watch the belly dance videos I had and movies I owned. Sometimes I would hear about a show from friends and watch it on-line or wait for it to come out on DVD (I hate commercials - about 80% of which seemed to be geared towards telling women they are not good enough in some way). Sometimes I would have TV watching nights with friends. It worked for me at the time. Now I have roommates who wanted cable TV along with the internet and they have a big TV & a Wii so I have access to shows and to Netflix on the Wii, etc.
Yes there's a point here somewhere - I promise. I got a very much less than an ideal amount of sleep last night so bear with me.
One of the shows I've seen bits and pieces of over the years is Project Runway. Now that I have cable TV I'm all over this season's show along with Austin and Santino (which I wasn't sure about at first but they crack me up so much I've grown to love it!) I'm not sure why I get teased about that show more then my usual suspects: Criminal Minds, NCIS, and CSI (the original - though I'm thinking I'm getting very close to done with that one). Frankly, that's a bit too much dark crime drama in my life so I'm balancing one extreme with the other. I know a lot of what goes on with these reality shows is editing so I'm able to watch them with a grain of salt and enjoy my popcorn while watching drama I don't have to care about.
What's inspiring to me about these shows is seeing the process of designers trying to do the design challenges while not losing their voice. I listen to what the judges have to say though they sometimes contradict themselves. I try to figure out what the difference is when they contradict themselves - what made them find that outfit acceptable this time or whatever. I find it interesting that the number of challenges one wins on Project Runway does not necessarily have anything to do with who will be in the final and who will win - much less who will be successful down the road.
With my new Netflix account I've been watching Season 1 of Project Runway because I'd never seen it before and was very curious since Austin was in it. I was greatly surprised to find out that he was not in the final 3. It never occurred to me for a second that they would choose Wendy over him (I know this is ancient news to the rest of you - just keep bearing with me) because she was so inconsistent and so doudy much of the time (kind of like Cassanova this season). The thing that sticks out is that he was asked at that event to make the Oscar outfit for one of the judges and, five years later, I rented the season 1 DVD's because HE has a TV show I've seen. So when I'm watching this episode and he's doing his exit interview bit and he says "Stay true to yourself" - it actually has a lot more impact on me than it might have had I been watching that show when it aired. He is, quite frankly, one of the few from the "reality tv" shows to move on in a way I'm aware of. I'm sure there are others - but we're talking about my experiences and inspiration here.
On one hand that show is about fashion design, not jewelry design, but on the other hand much of what they tell and teach to the designers there applies to anything that one is doing in the fashion design world. Think about it - how many times have you had other people tell you (often without being asked for advice) what you should do with your craft/art and how they think you should proceed? Like any other critique you have to sort through it, figure out what's useful and discard the rest because, in the end, it's your vision - your art.
A number of times during that season (what I've seen of it so far) Jay, who won the finale, went through these challenges and was not sure he liked what he was doing but was open to trying new things and keeping at it and half the time seemed surprised by his own success. From season 1, I think he is the designer I can relate to the most.
I've been making beaded jewelry for a long time - mostly necklaces. I made a lot of double and triple strand necklaces and have done some work with gemstone beads but a year ago I just started feeling really stale - like everything I did was a variation of the same theme. I didn't feel inspired any more and I was starting to question myself for continuing. I was also unemployed and needed distractions from the soul eating drugery of job hunting in the current economy. I started taking jewelry making classes (I'm mostly self taught). I found I was having a hard time trying to learn from books so it seemed like classes were a good idea. I used some tax return money. I took classes on wire work, basic soldering, various bead weaving stitches, and then Ice Resin. Suddenly I found my Muse again and that bitch is a slave driver! I'm glad of it but some days I'm frustrated at the limits of time and energy in comparison to the ideas I have. I just try to take it one piece at a time and not force it. I've learned over the years that things happen in their own time.
I had mostly dropped out of selling at arts and crafts fairs of any kind (not that I did a lot to begin with) and had even been feeling discouraged about displaying my jewelry at the art shows of local sci-fi conventions. I hadn't really felt it was up to par and felt my sales reflected that. So now, armed with my new skills & designs, I have plans to do some serious re-work (and MUCH better wire work) on one of my past pieces (and probably more) and I am excited about my newer work - much of which is Steampunk at the moment with a fair bit of Goth. I got into the Art Show of a local sci-fi convention last minute. I had been thinking I was going to miss the convention entirely due to being unemployed but ended up getting a membership transferred to me by a friend who was going to be out of the country. The convention (Norwescon) started on Thursday and on Friday I got the call that there was a cancellation so I could put my stuff in the Art Show if I wanted. So I hurried to get my stuff together and documented (isn't it always the way that these things happen when you're most unprepared?). I decided to stick with just the pieces that looked Steampunk since most of my newer and better work was in that theme so far. I packed my jewelry & displays in a rolling suitcase, I bussed & took the new Light Rail down to the airport, and then caught a shuttle to the hotel. Since I got in last minute, none of my stuff was in their computers so that had to be done before I could set up. I literally just finished setting up and checking in right as the Art Show was closing for the day.
On Saturday they do the judging and tally up the people's choice votes and the awards ribbons are put out before the show opens on Sunday (by then everything that has more than 3 bids has gone to auction and the rest are available for sale - usually at the "quick sale" price (if there is one). I wasn't able to attend the convention on Saturday but had friends there who reported to me that there were bids on 3 items shortly before closing. Art shows don't get as much traffic as dealers rooms and jewelry has always been kind of a hard sell in there so I was feeling pretty good about that given how little time my stuff was displayed.
Sunday I arrived, full costume, and visited with friends briefly before checking on how I was doing in the Art Show. I'm sure I had a completely dumbfounded look on my face when I walked up to the table to find that not only had 6 (six!) items sold, but that I'd won the award for "Best Jewelry" in the art show. I think I just stood there with my jaw hanging open, blinking for a few min. At that moment it was, for me, like winning Project Runway - or at least a challenge. As the day went on one more item sold before it was time to pack up. It was my best convention art show result ever!
A week later I was forwarded a link for a call for submissions by a friend for a Steampunk themed book that will hopefully be published next spring. Within 2 hours of submitting examples of my work I was invited to do a full submission and sent the submission guidelines. Clearly I'm doing something right! That project has had some delays and I'm still waiting to hear the final result but it's encouraging no matter what the end result ends up being. Then a few weeks later I'm sharing a space at the Shoreline Arts Festival booth with a friend and, though things started off slow and I was a bit worried, the 2nd day sales were outstanding and I got a lot of really positive feedback about my items from people who go to and/or participate in a LOT of these shows and who aren't necessarily into Steampunk (which, at the time, was still the greater portion of my inventory) but just liked what I was doing in general.
These were the highs of the year. There have been a fair share of lows to go with them. I'm in a constant state of near neurosis about my jewelry and other crafts. I suppose that's the way it is with most artists. More than once I have tried something new that I haven't done before, declared it crap immediately upon finishing it (or was otherwise uncertain of it) only to have that be the very first thing to sell, the only thing that sold, or be the thing that got the most compliments and remarks even if it didn't sell. I try to remind myself of these things and to keep trusting in myself and my muse and continue on the course I'm on right now. I may not have a lot of sales on Artfire yet and I have a long way to go before being any kind of Master Level Bead Weaver but they were once just learning too.
So, I watch these Project Runway shows to see what I can learn from them about the design world and about myself. I also use them as inspiration and a reminder that it *does* take time and takes a lot of work even when one has managed to get their stuff onto national TV show. They also remind me that one is going to fail now and then - maybe multiple times but you have to keep picking yourself up and trying again. Another thing I've taken from it is that I don't have to be all things to all people. I should continue doing the kind of bead work & jewelry making that I really like - along with enough stuff that is more accessible (budget wise) to pay the bills.
The final thing I've taken from season 1 of Project Runway so far is that I, introvert that I am, need to make the effort to learn to promote myself better. While it may be a good thing to be humble, there are also times when I need to toot my own horn. If I don't do it, who will?
Yes there's a point here somewhere - I promise. I got a very much less than an ideal amount of sleep last night so bear with me.
One of the shows I've seen bits and pieces of over the years is Project Runway. Now that I have cable TV I'm all over this season's show along with Austin and Santino (which I wasn't sure about at first but they crack me up so much I've grown to love it!) I'm not sure why I get teased about that show more then my usual suspects: Criminal Minds, NCIS, and CSI (the original - though I'm thinking I'm getting very close to done with that one). Frankly, that's a bit too much dark crime drama in my life so I'm balancing one extreme with the other. I know a lot of what goes on with these reality shows is editing so I'm able to watch them with a grain of salt and enjoy my popcorn while watching drama I don't have to care about.
What's inspiring to me about these shows is seeing the process of designers trying to do the design challenges while not losing their voice. I listen to what the judges have to say though they sometimes contradict themselves. I try to figure out what the difference is when they contradict themselves - what made them find that outfit acceptable this time or whatever. I find it interesting that the number of challenges one wins on Project Runway does not necessarily have anything to do with who will be in the final and who will win - much less who will be successful down the road.
With my new Netflix account I've been watching Season 1 of Project Runway because I'd never seen it before and was very curious since Austin was in it. I was greatly surprised to find out that he was not in the final 3. It never occurred to me for a second that they would choose Wendy over him (I know this is ancient news to the rest of you - just keep bearing with me) because she was so inconsistent and so doudy much of the time (kind of like Cassanova this season). The thing that sticks out is that he was asked at that event to make the Oscar outfit for one of the judges and, five years later, I rented the season 1 DVD's because HE has a TV show I've seen. So when I'm watching this episode and he's doing his exit interview bit and he says "Stay true to yourself" - it actually has a lot more impact on me than it might have had I been watching that show when it aired. He is, quite frankly, one of the few from the "reality tv" shows to move on in a way I'm aware of. I'm sure there are others - but we're talking about my experiences and inspiration here.
On one hand that show is about fashion design, not jewelry design, but on the other hand much of what they tell and teach to the designers there applies to anything that one is doing in the fashion design world. Think about it - how many times have you had other people tell you (often without being asked for advice) what you should do with your craft/art and how they think you should proceed? Like any other critique you have to sort through it, figure out what's useful and discard the rest because, in the end, it's your vision - your art.
A number of times during that season (what I've seen of it so far) Jay, who won the finale, went through these challenges and was not sure he liked what he was doing but was open to trying new things and keeping at it and half the time seemed surprised by his own success. From season 1, I think he is the designer I can relate to the most.
I've been making beaded jewelry for a long time - mostly necklaces. I made a lot of double and triple strand necklaces and have done some work with gemstone beads but a year ago I just started feeling really stale - like everything I did was a variation of the same theme. I didn't feel inspired any more and I was starting to question myself for continuing. I was also unemployed and needed distractions from the soul eating drugery of job hunting in the current economy. I started taking jewelry making classes (I'm mostly self taught). I found I was having a hard time trying to learn from books so it seemed like classes were a good idea. I used some tax return money. I took classes on wire work, basic soldering, various bead weaving stitches, and then Ice Resin. Suddenly I found my Muse again and that bitch is a slave driver! I'm glad of it but some days I'm frustrated at the limits of time and energy in comparison to the ideas I have. I just try to take it one piece at a time and not force it. I've learned over the years that things happen in their own time.
I had mostly dropped out of selling at arts and crafts fairs of any kind (not that I did a lot to begin with) and had even been feeling discouraged about displaying my jewelry at the art shows of local sci-fi conventions. I hadn't really felt it was up to par and felt my sales reflected that. So now, armed with my new skills & designs, I have plans to do some serious re-work (and MUCH better wire work) on one of my past pieces (and probably more) and I am excited about my newer work - much of which is Steampunk at the moment with a fair bit of Goth. I got into the Art Show of a local sci-fi convention last minute. I had been thinking I was going to miss the convention entirely due to being unemployed but ended up getting a membership transferred to me by a friend who was going to be out of the country. The convention (Norwescon) started on Thursday and on Friday I got the call that there was a cancellation so I could put my stuff in the Art Show if I wanted. So I hurried to get my stuff together and documented (isn't it always the way that these things happen when you're most unprepared?). I decided to stick with just the pieces that looked Steampunk since most of my newer and better work was in that theme so far. I packed my jewelry & displays in a rolling suitcase, I bussed & took the new Light Rail down to the airport, and then caught a shuttle to the hotel. Since I got in last minute, none of my stuff was in their computers so that had to be done before I could set up. I literally just finished setting up and checking in right as the Art Show was closing for the day.
On Saturday they do the judging and tally up the people's choice votes and the awards ribbons are put out before the show opens on Sunday (by then everything that has more than 3 bids has gone to auction and the rest are available for sale - usually at the "quick sale" price (if there is one). I wasn't able to attend the convention on Saturday but had friends there who reported to me that there were bids on 3 items shortly before closing. Art shows don't get as much traffic as dealers rooms and jewelry has always been kind of a hard sell in there so I was feeling pretty good about that given how little time my stuff was displayed.
Sunday I arrived, full costume, and visited with friends briefly before checking on how I was doing in the Art Show. I'm sure I had a completely dumbfounded look on my face when I walked up to the table to find that not only had 6 (six!) items sold, but that I'd won the award for "Best Jewelry" in the art show. I think I just stood there with my jaw hanging open, blinking for a few min. At that moment it was, for me, like winning Project Runway - or at least a challenge. As the day went on one more item sold before it was time to pack up. It was my best convention art show result ever!
A week later I was forwarded a link for a call for submissions by a friend for a Steampunk themed book that will hopefully be published next spring. Within 2 hours of submitting examples of my work I was invited to do a full submission and sent the submission guidelines. Clearly I'm doing something right! That project has had some delays and I'm still waiting to hear the final result but it's encouraging no matter what the end result ends up being. Then a few weeks later I'm sharing a space at the Shoreline Arts Festival booth with a friend and, though things started off slow and I was a bit worried, the 2nd day sales were outstanding and I got a lot of really positive feedback about my items from people who go to and/or participate in a LOT of these shows and who aren't necessarily into Steampunk (which, at the time, was still the greater portion of my inventory) but just liked what I was doing in general.
These were the highs of the year. There have been a fair share of lows to go with them. I'm in a constant state of near neurosis about my jewelry and other crafts. I suppose that's the way it is with most artists. More than once I have tried something new that I haven't done before, declared it crap immediately upon finishing it (or was otherwise uncertain of it) only to have that be the very first thing to sell, the only thing that sold, or be the thing that got the most compliments and remarks even if it didn't sell. I try to remind myself of these things and to keep trusting in myself and my muse and continue on the course I'm on right now. I may not have a lot of sales on Artfire yet and I have a long way to go before being any kind of Master Level Bead Weaver but they were once just learning too.
So, I watch these Project Runway shows to see what I can learn from them about the design world and about myself. I also use them as inspiration and a reminder that it *does* take time and takes a lot of work even when one has managed to get their stuff onto national TV show. They also remind me that one is going to fail now and then - maybe multiple times but you have to keep picking yourself up and trying again. Another thing I've taken from it is that I don't have to be all things to all people. I should continue doing the kind of bead work & jewelry making that I really like - along with enough stuff that is more accessible (budget wise) to pay the bills.
The final thing I've taken from season 1 of Project Runway so far is that I, introvert that I am, need to make the effort to learn to promote myself better. While it may be a good thing to be humble, there are also times when I need to toot my own horn. If I don't do it, who will?
