This semester I am taking a class to create my portfolio and here is the logo I have made and chosen for myself! My personal website coming soon!

The Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market - January 2014

Topic of my next tradeshow presentation!

We are the Internet

While watching Michael Welch talk during The Machine is Changing Us I found him to be making many claims that pertained closely to my peers and I. As with many things said about the Internet generation, I could have been offended, but I mostly found myself just agreeing with him and wanting to prove him right. Generations evolving with their own “I don’t care attitude” have been created, with narcissism and a focus on viral popularity.

I feel like that is me to a “T.” I admit I am always trying to portray an attitude of “I think I’m hot” even on days when I’m wearing sweats and have my hair thrown in a ponytail. As far as Internet popularity goes, I (figuratively) cry myself to sleep every night because my little sister has over 2,000 followers on her Tumblr blog while I have 176 followers. I mean she is not flashy about it, she even promotes my blog every once in a while. All though, my self-esteem has been so heavily imbedded in this blog that when she receives messages subsequently following my promotion saying that “that was a dumb hipster blog” I literally cannot blog for days after. I am one of those teenagers that wants Internet popularity and it sucks!

Welch went on to discuss how MTV was a major player in the generation gap and that “whatever” and “meh” have been coined to label our careless nature. Okay, I understand. Can I make a shirt now that say “meh” with the MTV “M?” seriously though, between my boyfriend and I, we probably use “meh” in our texts 100 times a day! Before watching the lecture I had no idea where “meh” came from, I just know that it is a staple of my vocabulary.

It is not just that Welch was describing how younger people act, but it is how I aspire to act. I want to be “meh” and Internet famous all at the same time. I obviously cannot speak for all teens and college students, but I along with some of my closer friends are the epitome of Michael Welch’s words. My roommate was vlogging the other night talking about “how I don’t know how to vlog” for goodness sake. We live in front of cameras and we demand your views. I am not ashamed to be this way, maybe I will be embarrassed about this way of life someday, but for now I am soaking it up all I can. 

NWT Bring Me the Horizon contour skirt

https://www.vinted.com/women/skirts/2093753-bmth-contour-skirt

Social Networking Controversies

So here is the deal. I was the 2013 Queen of my town's pageant. I recently crowned the 2014 Queen after the wise deliberation by the judges. To compete in the competition you need to have a sponsor, a resume, write an essay, and have your picture taken. While in the pageant you must do a personal interview, public question and answer, and present a speech which the topic is given to you prior to the pageant. 

The speech topic this year was what you would like to change about the community. The five girls entertained the small crowd with their many ideas, in more ways than one. All the girls began their speech with charm and pizazz. Each continued on their own path, having many ideas and answers, but one girl really got the audience shaken. 

One contestant took the community change topic and turned it into bashing the area school district. A high school senior, Kari, bashed teachers and students alike in her speech about bullying as she filled the room with reasons why teens have it so hard. One observer said "she was just talking out of her [butt]" and the smoke she blew could have stopped then and there...if it were not for the town blogger being present. 

The student's words caused an uproar as a full (slightly quite) recording of her speech hit the Internet. The girl offended many teachers and received backlash from her peers for attempting to speak hastily for the collective whole. It is no question that what you do/post on the internet has the potential to bite you in the butt later on, but now everyone needs to stop and check their actions irl (in real life) because everything we do has the potential to end up on the Internet and, consequently, biting us in the butt furthermore.

This event will additionally provide evidence in my next English 120 essay on social networking controversies. While this girl did not record this speech herself or ask for the speech to be posted on the Internet, the publicity she captivated made her a prime blogging target. Social networking runs much of our lives, being the constant from computers and tablets to the cell phones many people carry around. Which lead to the question, are any of us safe from social networking? Just because my dad does not have a Facebook does that mean I will not include him in my family photos for friends and relatives to see? Heck no (my family has a personal Facebook page for goodness sake)! Social networking has taken over our lives and nobody is being left out.

I have to Blog for a grade...

                Generally, blogging is my favorite thing to do. Micro-blogging to be more specific. I have a Facebook account and two Tumblr accounts to spread my thoughts and interests into the world. In fact, I have three blogs on Tumblr. I have been known to spend multiple hours reblogging pictures, text posts, quotes, and videos, so I should be relieved to have a homework assignment on blogging, yes? No. I loathe the thought of learning about blogging, it takes the recreational value out of my favorite pastime.

                In fact, after reading the article Blogging as Participation I am questioning my own motives for blogging in the first place. The article explains that there are two mindsets related to the ‘new technologies.’ Mindset one thrives on the individual and describes everything in physical industrial terms. On the other hand, mindset two is branded by the collective group and tools of meditation and relaxation. Why does everything have to be complicated and analyzed?

                The second mindset just made me think of the counter culture; “meditation,” “relaxation?” Just describing the ideals as a “collective” makes communes pop into my head. None-the-less, I still think my ideals lean toward the second mindset, it has a youthful, radical presence about it. That being said, I follow multiple “hippy” blogs anyway, so why deny that I identify with the thought that the world cannot be interpreted in physical-industrial terms alone?

                Furthermore, am I denying my spot in this world that is constantly moving forward? Before I was born great lengths were ensued to get your voice heard, it wasn’t until my little sister was born (five years after me) that blogs were even made available to the average Joe! Basically I feel that denying mindset two, I would be selfishly taking advantage of these rights I participate in every day.  

                The world has indeed changed, look at the past 20 years! Anyone amongst the more developed countries can log on to a multitude of sites and post whatever the heck they want. IT doesn’t even stop there. While posting your own thoughts and interest, you are attracting people with similar tastes, and they are doing the same!  Love blogging and I have to be grateful for it no matter what because it makes my voice so much louder and so readily heard.

Finishing up my homework assignment for apparel studio! We have five stitches we had to complete for now; Straight, Base, Slotted, Flat Felt, and French. So far I have the Straight and French seams 100 percent finished, the Base stitch still needs to be presses, I have not started on the Slotted seam, and we are learning the Flat Felt seam tomorrow. Here is my work thus far:

Straight Seam: or plain seam on the sewing machine is a basic stitch where the top and bottom threads cross.

French Seam: a french seam is characterized by closing the raw edges and is used primarily for delicate fabrics.

I know they both basically look the same from here, but perhaps I will elaborate next time. This is my school work, more to come!