[cousin louie k]

Happy Birthday, Cousin Louie K!

In celebration of Louie's 25th birthday, I would like to post a super cute photo of him with our grandmother which I've changed to black and white for love of all things vintage and in the past.




















Cheers, Lou!


Love, Kristen

[milwaukee buzz clip]

In honor of :

The MilChic Summer Gig

I think it's time for more photographic memories...

(Note:More photos including Nugget and Cousin Louie K to follow. Since my adventures with them in Milwaukee were back before my digital days...I'll either try to digitally photograph the stills OR scan them at work next week. We'll see how that goes!)














Sampling the beers...










]



Beer tasting is a serious endeavor.














Beer makes people happy.













Foolish drinkers at Harp on the canal.













Rainbow margaritas en la manana!















The buzz.

Countdown: 13 days
until...

The MilChic Summer Gig
(spoken as: voice of god)

We are so psyched.

[creative ramblings from a friday lunch]

Today, since my usual lunch partner was unavailable for the hour, I sat myself on the ceramic studio terrace where I enjoyed a fresh ceramic cup o' coffee with cream and sugar (courtesy of the pharmacology department) while discussing all things creative and curious with Geelite. It's truly amazing how inspiring simple conversation can be when you're with the right people. We discussed a hippie village in PA, installation art by a woman named Stout, barn renovation and my clay cafe dream.

How, with ideas so grand and motives so strong - can one return to an office box? The answer is painfully, but at the same time, with a renewed freshness and sense of purpose. The truth is, that hopefully I will not be contained for too much longer. I will hopefully no longer be a caged beast. And beast, my friends, is most certainly, the appropriate word. Even if things do not go as planned, from my experience this summer session working in a graduate level mosaics class, I have gained such a fresh perspective on life and art and the magic that is everyday when you are inspired and capable of creating such creations and you can enjoy the spring air and the sound of trees and classic rock and the smell of coffee and the beautiful energy that circles you when joined by friends to discuss things - the things that matter. Art. Imagination. Travel. The World. Friendship. Boys. Beer. Food. Stories. The Unknown. Your Life.

I have really enjoyed this past month in the studio with Geelite. I have enjoyed that every minute of our conversations is dripping with creative promise, droplets of ideas and collaborations and installations and performance art. They simply ooze out of our heads and fingertips, envelop us as we sit and ponder the ifs and the ohs free of the whens and the hows. That is the magic of summertime apon us creative beings. Speak to any artist you know and they will likely recall the days of sitting amongst friends over a frothy beer, twirling cigarette or (gasp!) a twisted herb of their select choice discussing with growing enthusiasm and near hysteria, raised voices, interruption - the creative process...the brainstorming...the shockwave of ideas that explode into the warm afternoon studio air and linger like a foggy mist - you don't want to leave. You never want to leave. Logic whispers to write them all down. Record the ramblings. But you don't and never do - you know that there will always be new ones interrupting the old, gathering in the air. And sometimes you will just sit for a minute and sigh because all things are possible and they breathe back into you and you absorb them.

And then you walk back to your office box. Smile on face. Prepared for change.

[three words...]

it. went. awesome.

[insert: sigh of relief]!!

Thank you to everyone for sending me such good positive energy (thanks for those pump-me-up emails, Running Guru Fred and the take-my-mind-off-it computerized hair-do session, tracie!)

I was there for about an hour and fifteen minutes. I met with a really nice, kinda Brad Pitt lookin' late 20-something guy and the conversation was smooth, casual and productive. I just had to call my high school (yikes!) to request my transcripts be sent and now all The Corcoran is waiting on are my three letters of recommendation (which are on the way)! Brad Pitt Guy said I should know in about 2 weeks. 2 WEEKS!

Brad Pitt Guy praised my ceramic work for being tight, showing good craftmanship and a nice sense of discipline. That made me happy.

I am SO excited. Thoughts of building my own website, studying art history and learning typography are dancing through my head.

Thanks also be to The Boyfriend (for being so supportive and text-a-licious) and to Geelite (for the mock interview and reminder of all the things that inspire K).

Sigh.

Now it's back to the studio to focus on the mosaics at hand.

Happy Friday!!!

[the pep talk]

Preparing.

I am preparing for The Interview.

I have 'fake' interviewed with Geelite at the studio.

I have written out thoughts on influences, meaning, focus, future.

I am feeling more and more prepared.

I am excited.

I am so into this.

I want this.

[a list and a lesson]

NOTE: My apologies in advanced as I know tracie is going to be offended. And perhaps - downright pissed. No offense.

A LIST:

Things to be excited about today

___________________________

1. Visiting mosaicist in class.
2. Leaving work early.
   
3. Possibility of wine and cheese at class.
   
4. Corcoran interview tomorrow.
5. My hair has looked pretty good the last two days. No mohawk after all?
   
6. Made a bit of money last night at Cosi. At long last.
7. Happy 14th, baby!
8. Tomorrow is Thursday, which means class two whole days in a row!
9. I'm wearing a wifebeater under my shirt today.
10. 10 miles with Running Guru Fred on Sunday.

And last but absolutely NOT least:

Countdown: 16 days

until

The MilChic Summer Gig

(Spoken as: voice of god)

A LESSON:

Wifebeater (shirt)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Wifebeater (slang))

Wife beater, also wifebeater, and sometimes abbreviated as simply beater, is a slang term used in North America, Scotland, Australia, New Zealand and various other places to refer to an A-shirt, tank top, singlet, or 'muscle shirt' when worn as a sole, outer layer as opposed to being worn as an undershirt. This term is often seen as demeaning and is often associated with the similarly derogatory phrase "white trash".

Nice.

This is a wifebeater.

This is a wifebeater on Snoop.

(disclaimer: this post is not intended to insult viewers NOR does it support wife beating or intend to trivialize domestic abuse. The purpose of this post is to highlight an American fashion icon. The wife beater. The artist's best friend. Kristen's best friend.)

(Photos courtesy of: This Link and This Link)

[summa time...and the livin's e-z]

It is once again that time of year when summer adventures are upon us. Now we begin to daydream of the moment our bouncy and ready-to-travel toes are edging their way onto a giant aircraft bound for glorious destinations across the country.

Folks - it is time we begin our Milwaukee/Chicago countdown.

The Boyfriend and I will soon be traveling across this great vast east coast of country towards the greatest brewing city of all times - Milwaukee, Wisconsin. While there, we will meet up with Nugget and Cousin Louie K (my cousin, her boyfriend - yes, it's that 90210) and the infamous Mahoney to party our asses off at Summerfest and experience Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and Pearl Jam at the Marcus Amphitheater, drink a wide variety of beers at the local watering holes and play, fingers crossed, some electronic darts. Praise be to those electronic darts. Sigh.

After two days in Milwaukee, Mahoney, the Boyfriend and I will drive on out to Chicago (Mahoney's a resident - see archived entry 'growin' pains') where we will be touristy tourists and drinking drunkards - all in moderation, of course. Can't wait to see what Mahoney has planned - no pressure, girl!

Countdown: 17 days
until...

The MilChic Summer Gig
(spoken as: voice of god)

To commence this countdown, I will post the first of several nostalgia-filled photographic experiences of the past several years, involving Miltown and Mahoney. For today, here are some of my favorite shots of the beautiful old brick factory buildings and the most amazing clouds you've ever seen. These are from me and the Boyfriend's trip out there Summer 2005. We rocked that sh*t.

























































More to come as we continue with...

The MilChic Summer Gig
(spoken as: voice of god)

moi haaa haaaa haaaaa.

[still crazy after all these weeks]

site:marotica,

As of yesterday, you are officially one month old. Yes, folks, it was exactly one month ago that Kristen posted her first blog entry about the leg warmer and all its benefits. Exactly one month ago that Kristen's time in the office had a glimpse of hope, meaning. It was on that day, one month ago, that Kristen's every waking moment became consumed with thoughts of oooh, this is something I can write about and damn, I need to start carrying around a mini blogger's notebook. Kristen is, in fact, a changed woman. She now understands the full effect of the internet's lure, the intoxicating scent of free expression, the glory of a pleasant font. When not around a computer, she now ponders, are my viewers waiting for the sweet poetry of a response? Are they crying for attention? Are my pages simply weeping in the absence of my key strokes? Will there ever be an end to my blog site madness? Or will it become smoothed into my pores like grout into a smooth wood panel, aching for some fresh cut smalti or handformed tesserae? The incessant urge to post one's life, pleasures, annoyances, lists, food cravings and kitty addiction...will it ever end?

So, on this day, I hope you readers out there are able to put on a cone shaped paper hat, throw on some Jethro Tull 'Too Old To Rock 'n Roll, Too Young To Die', close that god damn spreadsheet and cram some celebratory cake into your month. Ok, or maybe just those frozen Amy's raviolis you brought for lunch. Either way, let's celebrate.

Happy 1st month anniversary, dear sweet blog. You are my juiciest creative outlet.

[a productive weekend, summarized]

Reasons Why This Weekend Was Great:

• 8 mile run @ 7 a.m. on Sunday with Running Guru Fred.
• Eggs Florentine @ Lauriol Plaza with Geelite.
• Completing my digital portfolio for Thursday's Corcoran interview.
• Actually having some customers at Cosi on Saturday night.
• Watching the rest of Look Who's Talking.
  
• Sleeping in this a.m. (until 10 a.m.) finally!
• Cuddling with Charlie this a.m.
• The Boyfriend going grocery shopping so I could start my day (sooo lucky).

A Sampling of My Portfolio:

Red Mosaic Bottle.
Ardor.



















Black and White Photograph.
Self Portrait.















Watercolor.
Study of a Lantern.



















Silkscreen Print.
Self Portrait.



















Smalti Wall Panel.
Work in Progress.
Study of a Lantern.