Senior Collection Part 1

This past week was spring break. Spring break for junior year, which obviously means one thing: it's time to start on my senior collection. Thinking about senior year in such concrete terms rather than the usual abstract is a little disconcerting, but I'm trying to deal.
I've been thinking about what I wanted to do for a long time and there were a few buzz words that came to mind. Wool, of course, my favorite fabric. Abandoned buildings. Decay. Nature. I brainstormed to think how these things could all be related in a collection. Considering I'm going to spend the better part of next year on this, it's going to have to be something I care about pretty strongly. I had a chance to give life to some of my ideas in Florence last semester, with the sustainability, Appalachian themed project.
The idea I came up with relates to my growing up in NE Ohio, along the rust belt, the loss of the auto and steel industries a constant reminder. When industry left, it was as though the entire area had its feet ripped out from under it and is still to this day trying to regain its footing. There are still scars visible, in the form of huge abandoned factories. I was inspired by the decline of the man-made and the reclaiming of it by nature, but also by the working spirit that still prevails in the area, so essentially the concept that nothing made by man will last forever, but long after industries decline or move on, that spirit will remain.
A lot of silhouettes that I chose are inspired by classic workwear, a lot being lifted from the clothes women wore in the factories during WWII. There are also a lot of sheers present, in cut outs and overlays, to go along with the idea of decay and the inner workings of the buildings being exposed. I'm also planning to use pleating in a few dresses because I think it gives them a very natural look, tying into the reclamation element.
Here's a preview of what I'm working on now.

Drawing Forever

I feel like I have been drawing every second of every day these past few weeks. Finally got back my first drawing project today and my second project, my menswear project, is due Thursday, so hopefully I can post it soon. Here's the first, though. I was inspired by the Irish film Ondine and the mythical Scottish Selkie.

End of Italy

Discovered the last of my pictures from Italy on my camera. They are, not surprisingly, mostly pictures of food. The last night we went to Palazzo Borghese for a fancy dinner, and had some of the best food the entire trip. Here's some of the pictures.

Appalachia Drawing Project

Finally got back my final project from Italy. I was selected for the first round of CFDA judging but didn't make it on the the second round. Still, I'm very much in love with this project. It may not be the most perfect work I've ever done, but it's probably my proudest because it's the project I've been most passionate about. I think it's going to be kind of a jumping off point for my senior collection. Anyway, here's some pictures from it.

 

P.S.

If away from the Owl Girl, I can also be reached at my secondary residence, http://theowlry.tumblr.com/ . My weird little home away from home. I hope to have a post soon about some of the random tumblr blogs I've found. They are deeply entertaining.

New Beginnings

I realize it's been a while since I've been able to post anything on the Owl Girl, but I am committed to change that. A little over a year ago, I started this blog with the intent of chronicling my adventures abroad. Well, that adventure has come and gone. A lot has changed for me in the last year. I've had the time of my life, but I've also really been hurt by people that I thought I could trust, that I thought had my back. I'm determined to let experience shape me for the better. That includes, however indirectly, keeping the Owl Girl up and running, more for my benefit than anyone else's.
So 2012 is probably not going to be the year of grand overseas adventures. Or maybe it will be. Who's to say what the year will bring? I still have the rest of my junior year, an internship and the start of my senior collection to look forward to this year. I don't know where this journey's going to lead, but I will do my best to keep the blog updated, with projects and photos and inspirations and television and movies and all the other random things that pop into my head. And I also promise to cut back on my free use of the word "awesome." Unless something is pretty genuinely awesome.