Design Projects

A Day in the Life...

Here are a couple of photos to document this mostly uneventful, rainy day. My best friend's mom made us delicious chocolate chip cookies. I had a presentation in my Marxist literature class on Zizek. Although the material was difficult and mind blowing, I really enjoyed the reading. Unfortunately, the presentation aspect of the assignment made me realize how badly my social anxiety has been taking over my life. I'm trying to stay on the positive side of things, as difficult as they may be. My new boots, from American Eagle, finally arrived and getting a package made today a bit more manageable. 

Weekstagram: November 24th - December 1st

1. Pretty roses.

2. Beginning of the etching process for my printmaking final
3. Molly's comments about the celebrities that inspire her... We will never stop hating Kristen Stewart's acting.

4. Sushi!

5. Hedgehog print in my doctor's office.

Photo Booth + Gummy Bears

Why would I be doing homework in the library when there are funny pictures to take and gummy bears to eat? Clearly, my friends and I have too much fun with Photo Booth to care about our papers... except Alex....

It's weird but I'm...

We are often our own worst critics and I am no exception to that. Usually, no matter what I do I feel as though it's not good enough or that I could have done more, spent more time and thought on a project. However, right now I'm feeling good. 

I just got a paper back today which I got an A on. It's for an upper level literature class and my professor is a notoriously tough grader. Last week, I gave a presentation for another upper level English class which was described as "excellent." All of my art projects, except one, have received A's. It's out of character for me to brag about my accomplishments, at all, but I feel as though I deserve a small pat on the back for doing this well. Sometimes I wonder if my double major in Graphic Design and Communication/Media Studies is worth all the work and stress I put myself through. Today I feel like it is and it's nice to feel like I'm good at it.

Hopefully you're feeling a sense of accomplishment in your own life. Share it with me in the comments!




(stock image source)

How School Took Over My Life

I'm being dramatic (big shock,right?), school isn't actually taking over my life but it sure feels that way. Junior year is crazy. My classes are crazy. The amount of work I've already done this week and the amount of work I need to do this week is crazy and slightly overwhelming. 

I know this sounds like I'm complaining. I am, sort of. I do love what I'm doing though. My work is for either an art or English class, both of which I love and are my majors. It's just so much work. There's always photos to take and sketches to do. Or chapters of literary theory and papers to write. It's a lot of work but I love every second of it. I'm not sure what I want to be when I grow up but right now I know I do love what I'm doing. 

Life lesson time. When you're working on something (or somethings) that takes a lot of work, know why you're doing it. Do what makes you happy. If I didn't love my classes I would be a lot more bitter about staying up until 3am doing monotypes. I don't have any kind of long term plans, but I do love this period in time where I can be creative and analytical. It's overwhelming sometimes but worth it. 

[image credit]
[paragraph from Lacan's "Topic of the imaginary"]
 

College Confusion

I, like many other college students, have no idea what I'm doing with my degree after graduation. I'm only a junior so I have another year and two internships to hopefully give me insight, but it's still scary. I'm almost an actual grownup. I'll no longer be a teenager in two months.

I may not have mentioned it before but I'm a double major in graphic design and communication and media studies. I feel as though I'm either going to be a designer or work in advertising because those are my favorite options for my gd and comm degrees, respectively. However, I'm not sure I'll be able to integrate my creative and analytical sides into one career.

It would be nice to have a job where I can do both but I'm not sure how to get there. It seems like people expect me to be an "art person" or an "English person" and I want to be both. And more importantly I want to be good at both. While both my passions (and majors) are entwined, it seems like I'm not going to be able to have the best of both worlds for much longer and I'm going to have to decide which person I want to be.

I'm not looking for answers or anything like that. I'm just trying to get out my anxiety over being an adult and having to make "major life choices" and such. Is anyone else going through a similar struggle or dealt with this while they were in college? Can you find me a dream job and make my life easier? If you answer yes to any of those questions (or just want to say hi) leave a comment.

Photos from my Weekend

This weekend was a fun one. I got a tattoo with my roomie and best friend, Molly. We both got bears with puns. Mine says "[bear] with me" and her's says that's unbearable. Also, I only refer to it as a "sweet bear tat." We'd been planning on doing it for a while but spontaneously decided that this weekend would be a good time so we did it. It was a lot of fun and makes me want to start saving my money so I can get a big tattoo that I've been planning for a while.

Other than the tattoo, my weekend has been pretty routine. Lots of studying. I did paint my nails though and I used these adorable tokidoki Cactus Dog decals. 

What did you do this weekend?
 

Back to School!

I'm going back to school next weekend and I can't wait. I'm so excited to get back to Boston and put this stressful summer behind me. I can't wait to begin my classes (graphic design, photography, print making, Gothic literature and Critical Theory) and see my friends. With a week to go I'm still packing and buying school supplies (which I love!) and saying my good byes to friends and family. 



original photo via

Life Lately.

My summer break has become anything but. Between the class I’m taking, my jobs and my internship, I’m busy just about every second of the day. Being this busy is good but a little overwhelming. I wanted to spend more time with my family and friends and draw and journal and blog and…. The list could go on and on. I know I took on a lot this summer; things did not go as I expected and to be frank I’m disappointed. This is not a space for me to complain about my lack of a summer vacation so I’m moving on. In my absence from Living Bittersweetly, here’s what I’ve been up to.

Studying has been my life. I’m trying to do as well in this class as possible and so cat insides have been my life. I can’t wait until I can get rid of this book with photos of cat guts inside and my lab manual and lecture notes. I may burn them.

I’m trying to make little things here and there when I get the time so I’ve been playing with the adorable stamp set I bought from the Plaid Barn and will probably post a how to for this vintage inspired stamping technique I’ve been stamping on everything. One of the things I’ve been making a lot is shortbread cookies. My entire family (including Penny!) loves them and they’ve been a hit at all the gatherings my mom and I have gone to this summer.

What have you been up to this summer?

xo, Kristen