Starting a Business

Some of you know that I'm starting a business. That's what we do in my entrepreneur class. What better way to learn after all. : ) I've posted this video on facebook so you may have seen it already, but these are the bamboo sunglasses we're selling.  I think they're great!  Here is your sneak peak at Exquis Eyewear.  We're going to officially launch later this week!  I'm so excited!

My Love Affair with Wool

Today I bought this scrumptious wool for a jacket I'm making in my tailoring class.  I am in love with it.  My little sister will surely attest to my obsession with it.  I think she heard me rave about this wool to one too many people this evening.  It is just so soft and not fuzzy and scratchy like the wool from JoAnn.  I love JoAnn for their coupons, but their quality of fabric is definitely lacking.  So tonight I ventured to this Yellow Bird Fabrics that I've been hearing about for the past year.

It's located in this cute blue house.  Perhaps the house itself isn't that cute (although I do love that color blue).  Inside is adorable and filled with fine fabrics.  The owner was there and she was delightful to talk to.

Anyway, I'm starting to sound like an advertisement for Yellow Bird.  I was just delighted to find somewhere that actually sold beautiful wool and not just nasty fuzzy stuff.  I'm sure I'll be back.

Here is what I'm going to make out of the wool:

http://voguepatterns.mccall.com/v8333-products-5652.php?page_id=262 

I love the shape of this.  The body is going to be out of the red and then the collar will be out of the black.  I'm also adding double welt pockets (see example below) and they will be piped in black as well.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sewing_engineer/2155244029/
This except without the little loop.

It's going to have the look of a riding jacket, comme ça.

http://www.zazzle.com/vintage_horse_girl_red_coat_equestrian_sugar_cube_postcard-239640401112569925
I've been fancying a riding jacket for years now.

Perhaps I'll have to get a jaunty hat with a feather to go with it ; )

I'm so energized and excited about this project and really this whole school year.  It's going to be busy and a little crazy, but I have some great opportunities coming up!  I just love what I do!

Learning Does NOT Equal Perfection

Sometimes I forget that little tiny detail.  I love learning and for some silly reason often believe after one try (or simply on the first try) I should be perfect at what I do.  What a silly thing to think!

Today one of my professors/mentor shared a story that I loved.  She said that when she was in her grad program she was taking a pattern making class and trying to do something she'd never done before.  She was having a hard time figuring it out and ended up in tears in the hallway.  Her professor came out to talk to her and said, "Where you born knowing how to do it?  That's why you are in school, so you can learn how to do it."

So true.  We weren't born knowing all about venture capital or starting a business or tailoring a coat.  Sure, some have more of a natural inclination than others, but all in all we know so little.  I'm realizing this more and more.  It seems the more I learn, the more I realize how very little I know.

Today I forgot all this for a little while and wanted to be perfect in my classes - especially my entrepreneur class.  I was feeling hugely inadequate for the discussion we were having.  It is so different than the costuming classes I'm used to and I've only taken two other business classes.  Oh and there are MBA's in my class and a good chunk of our grade is based on how much we contribute to the class discussion.  I felt I had very little to offer as an undergrad Costume Design student... I started worrying about being perfect.

Now I can see how silly that is.  Do I go to class to be perfect and mingle with perfect people?  No, I don't think so.  I go to class so I can learn.  So it doesn't matter if I get an A, B or C in that class.  I'm in college to learn, so that is what I shall do.  I won't be perfect at that either, but I can do my best and that is enough.  Luckily, perfection isn't needed to learn.

Life in Provo

 So I'm back in Provo as you may have gathered from my last post and life is great!  I was worried about going to school during the summer and feeling burnt out, but so far I can't complain.  I suppose it helps that I am only going to school right and not working right now.  I've gotten used to going to school and working 20 hours a week, plus an hour commute each way and so life right now seems like a piece of cake!  Though it would have been nice if my job didn't fall through.  Oh well, this is a welcome reprieve.  And I will be teaching sewing lessons again and hopefully doing some babysitting soon to keep some money coming in.

But right now, life is a breeze.  I forgot what it's like to have large chunks of time to study and to be able to really delve into a subject.  I can actually get all my homework done, get enough sleep, and still have time to be social more than once a week.  Who'd have thought going to school could feel so much like a break?  It also helps that I'm only taking three classes (though since it's condensed it's fast and furious).  They are certainly challenging - especially accounting, but I'm enjoying them.  I also have found myself falling in love with acting and singing all over again in my acting and voice lesson classes.  (I probably will write a whole post about acting because I feel like I'm learning so much about life and myself in it.)

This weekend has been great.  Friday, my sister picked me up from school and we met our roommate, Kelsey, at the mall.  We tried on sunglasses and my sister almost convinced me to buy these crazy Edith Head (who Edna Mode from the Incredibles is based on) looking sunglasses.

 

The sunglasses looked a lot like this.  Don't worry, I didn't get them after all.

Then we went to the "red lipstick event" at Sephora and got our red lips on.  Oh how I love red lipstick!  (But that may be obvious to those of you who are around me much.) 

Saturday morning Jen and Kelsey and I went for a bike ride over to the Farmer's Market.  That may not sound like that big of a deal, but for me it was.  You see, I haven't ridden a bike in years.  The last bike I got was in third grade.  I think I actually last rode in junior high, but still, it's been a while.  It took me a bit, and it turned out to be a confidence issue more than anything else, but I did it! It's about time I conquered that fear. 

The Farmer's Market itself was wonderful.  More of a craft fair than fruits and vegetables, but it was still wonderful.  I love seeing the fruit of people's hard work and creativity.  I love talking to people at Farmer's Markets.  We met so many friendly, wonderful people. 

Just arrived at the Farmer's Market

The three of us after our lunch of El Salvadorian pupusas.  

And yes, we all wore hats.  Kels and I are always looking for occasions for wearing hats.  I think riding bikes over to the Farmer's Market on a Saturday morning is the perfect occasion for wearing a hat.

Summer Adventures

I've got less than a week left in northern Utah.  On Saturday, my summer adventures begin. I am ready for summer, but it is certainly going to be one of the busiest ones I've had.  Here's about how it will go:

On Saturday, my family is driving to Arizona where my sister served her mission.  We'll spend half a day there and then drive down to Mexico with a family she knows.  We'll spend a couple lovely days on the beach before we head north again.  The rest of my family will stay in Arizona for a few more days, but I'm flying home(ish) early.

 Don't worry, I'm just going here in Mexico.  It's just going to be a tiny bit beautiful : )

I say home(ish) because I won't go home between there and Cedar City.  Yes, for those who haven't heard, I'm going back to work at the Utah Shakespeare Festival and am delighted to have this opportunity again.  I'm excited to use what I've learned and learn more sewing techniques, meet more people, renew friendships and enjoy beautiful southern Utah while I'm there.

But don't worry, my adventures don't end there.  I'm leaving before everyone else so I can go do a term at BYU.  Am I transferring back to BYU?  No, not permanently, but I missed it so much (and it's cheaper) that I decided why not go back for a term?  Plus it will help me graduate in a year and a half.  Hurray!
I'm a little nervous to go back because the courses are more rigorous than the U's and as I've learned you really do rise (or lower) to people's expectations.  And while I still work very hard in my classes at the U, there is less work required to succeed (although that depends on your definition of succeed).  In some of my classes I have learned a lot, but I do feel I need to supplement what we do in class to really learn as in depth as I'd like.  I'm also starting a week late (which is like 2 weeks since it's Summer term) so that makes me a little nervous, but I'll make it work!  


Then a wedding in August (that I'm making a veil for) and two weeks of real free time, before it's back to the U for Fall semester.


But before all the fun, I need to take four finals, pack, and clean.  I'm really wishing I was Mary Poppins right now - I'd just snap my fingers and everything would be put away.  Oh and I'd be "practically perfect in every way." : )

So, my dear friends from Northern Utah, I will miss you lots and lots (though a few of you are coming to visit me). I feel like I'm finally getting established, and then I leave.  But the good thing is that I will be back come August.  But this blog will soon return to its original purpose, to record my adventures when I'm away from my friends and family.

C's Get Degrees!

Today was the first day of finals. 

Already I feel done. 

 And I haven't even taken one. 

I've a lot to do this weekend, studying, wedding showers, and receptions, a social life, and so forth.  Hmm... how am I going to pattern a dress and study for a test with everything else?  

I've just got to keep the right perspective.  I suppose I'm getting too caught up with getting straight A's.  It's like a friend and I always tell each other, "C's get degrees!"  Which is code for, put God and people before doing perfect in school.  Will it really matter if I don't get an A on my finance final?  Will I be kicked out of the Celestial kingdom for not having a 4.0?  Pretty sure the answer is no.  

People and relationships do matter. I don't want to be a world renowned costumer, yet not have true relationships with God, my family, and friends.  They matter, even during finals week.  Luckily, most of my professors understand this. 

 My costume design professor asked me the other day, "So did you get a lot of studying done last night?"

"Not as much as I hoped," I replied, "I went out to get ice cream with a friend and wasn't as productive as I hoped."

And she said, "Good, I'm glad you did that."

So yay for professors who want me to have a balanced life!

P.S. I have no plans of actually getting C's.  I'm sure everything will be fine.  Right now I'm just lacking motivation.  I'm going to blame it on Spring fever.  Any suggestions for staying motivated?

Take Time to Eat and Breathe

Today on the bus ride home I started feeling horrible.  My head was pounding and my stomach didn't feel so great either.  I normally do homework on the bus, but reading just made it worse.  By the time I got home, I just wanted to curl up in a ball and sleep it off, but of course I have homework so I couldn't do that.  So instead I did some yoga, hoping it would help.

All the sudden it dawned on me.  I hadn't eaten for 5 hours.  Perhaps that had something to do with the misery I was in.  Food sounded less than appetizing at the moment, but I slowly ate an orange anyway.  I started to feel a little better.  So I ate a piece of toast.  And then another.  And then a bowl of some casserole my mom made the night before.  And then some brussel sprouts (yes, I like those things).  And then some crackers.  And drank two glasses of water.  And guess what?  I felt better!

Moral of the story.  Take time to eat and relax.  I forget to do that sometimes.  I'm pretty sure I gave myself a migraine from stressing over school and lack of food.  I had food in my backpack and I should have just eaten it, but I was too busy doing other things.  Bad idea.  Probably my lack of sleep hasn't helped either.  So here are some goals for me as finals approach: eat, breathe, sleep.

Wish me luck on accomplishing those and doing well on finals ; )

A week and a half left

That's how much time left until classes end.  And I'm so excited.

This week was crazy busy with a research paper to write, a show to design, and banquets to attend.  This research paper was assigned to us a week and a half before it was due - just because the professor forgot to assign it over a month ago.  So I had to scramble to write it.  I can't say it's the best thing I've ever written, but I gave it all I could with everything I had going on.

Then I inherited a play to design costumes for on Monday... and dress rehearsal is today.  No big deal, I can whip up some costumes.  ; )  It was a little crazy, but the good thing for me was that since I came in so late and helping them out last minute I gave them a lot of stipulations.  For instance, I felt uncomfortable with some of the things in the play, so I told the director I wouldn't go to any of the rehearsals or performances.  So I just drop off clothes and they let me know if there are any problems.  It's great!  And a lot of people are using their own clothes, so really it's not too horrible. 

Then I had two banquets to attend, one was to accept a scholarship and the other was to induct new members to Phi Eta Sigma (an honor society I'm an officer in).  On Tuesday I went to a banquet with members of the University of Utah Alumni Board to accept a scholarship for next year.  It was very posh up in the Rice Eccles Stadium.  I meant to take a picture of the beautiful view, but didn't.  They served us black Thai rice as part of our meal and I loved it!  I need to figure out where I can buy that stuff.  It was a lovely evening and though it cut into my homework time, I was grateful for the opportunity to thank the board for giving me a scholarship.  It will be such a blessing to me.  It has lifted such a burden off of my shoulders.  And it has opened up money so I can buy a car.  I'm so looking forward to having the independence of a car again.  Now if only I can find a car...


And although I spent a good chunk of my time doing homework this weekend, tomorrow I'm going to wish I did more.  But you've got to stay well rounded.  So I did play.  Last night I went to a bachelorette party for an old roommate and friend and all but one of the girls we lived with were there.  It was so delightful to have us all together again.  How I'd missed those girls! 

Anyway, I'm going to regret it if I stay up any more.  I'm going to start my day early tomorrow.  There's of course much to be done.  Plays to read, dresses to make, applications to fill out, etc. 

I was going to say something spiritual with it being Sunday and all, but I'm out of time.  So just watch this instead:

Focus on what you know

I've been working on a research paper for my theatre history class for the past month or so... although you could say I've been working on avoiding it for the past month. No, not completely, but doing research has been a lot more challenging than I expected, thus I've stalled the actual writing.

I just feel so inept writing about a subject I know imperfectly (sometimes this perfectionism can really get in the way!). But today I had this epiphany as I walked to one of my classes yesterday.  The thought came to me:

"Focus on what you know"

It was one of those moments that make you say, "Of course!  Why didn't I think of that before?"  It's just like the gospel where you can get caught up on all the things you don't know or are too complex for our little human minds.  We can get stuck and frustrated trying to understand how we came to be when there is no beginning of time OR we can focus on what we know.  From my experience, focusing on what we know brings so much more peace, calm, and eventually more enlightenment.

I was pleased when I realized that the same idea applies to studying and writing.  And guess what?  As soon as I started focusing on what I know about the decline of Roman theatre the task didn't seem so daunting.  I realized I knew more than I thought I did and I actually did have something to write about.  

I've got an outline and I'm ready to go.  There's still much to learn, but I've got a place to start.

And all these books and more to learn from:

Now lets see if I can crank out 10 coherent pages for Monday. Thank goodness it's only a first draft!

Sometimes I think I'm a little crazy...

So it's only the second week of the semester and I already feel slightly crazy. Actually, I thought I was doing just fine, until my eye started twitching and I noticed the eczema developing on my hands. Yep, definitely signs of stress.

Pretty sure I need to learn to handle my life better.

Then, once again I am taking 15 credits and working a whole slew of jobs. Yes, a whole slew. Not only am I a sewing TA, I work in Pioneer Theatre's costume shop sewing, I teach two girls voice lessons, and one girl sewing lessons. Oh and I because it was too fun to pass up, I took on some free-lance sewing jobs - one making a prom dress for my cousin and the other is making costumes for a girl in a high school production of Oklahoma. Wow. All my jobs take up about a paragraph. That's kind of frightening. It's a good thing I love my jobs!

Now I just need to figure out how to balance work, school, and a social life...

One last note: Thank you for reading my vent. Sorry to complain. I do love life and am grateful that I do have a way to pay for school, and I get to work in things I love. I am very blessed.

1 Nephi 2:1 is my favorite. Sometimes the Lord says, "You are blessed. Oh and by the way some people want to kill you," all in one breath. But really we are blessed. I believe the Lord when He says "you're blessed" even when it may seem crazy at the time. He knows what He's talking about. Righteousness leads to blessings beyond compare. I'm counting on those.

One very last note: I just realized I'm complaining about my crazy schedule and I'm blogging. Perhaps I need to be a little more careful of using my time effectively...