Whew, I thought I'd have some more time to blog these holidays but I've been busy with my internship. I'm working at a clothing manufacturer and it's a great experience. It's so rewarding to see the clothing develop out of everyone's different specialties. I made a pattern for them after being shown a photo of a draped dress then I cut out the fabric and I saw the first sample today. The people I work for are really giving me great exposure to everything. I enjoy talking to the seamstress and collaborating on what the finished product will be. I altered the pattern and should see the second sample tomorrow. The internship is really showing me how to apply my knowledge in a practical, business sense. I honestly never thought I would enjoy it so much, I was envisioning having to make coffee and doing grunt work somewhere and I'm so happy to rather be in the thick of making clothes so I can really learn. There's just something enchanting and humble about the work. I've always really respected manual fields because they're such useful old world professions and the people (who make and do amazing things with their hands) are so modest when really, they're very talented.
While I've been away from my blog, I've been using Tumblr as a quick and easy way to keep the inspiration going; its feed is linked at the top of the blog as the Inspiration Archive. I enjoyed making the June playlist so I'm lining up another one for July. I downloaded a Mandarin Chinese learning application on my phone so I've been listening to the first few lessons. It's so interesting how different languages work; in Chinese something is turned into a question with the use of a syllable. Ni hao (phonetically spelled as I've only heard the words) which literally translates to "You good" would be akin to "Hello" but Ni hao ma? would ask how the person is: "You good?" I watched Factory Girl for the 1st time, the clothes and make up are amazing, I want all of those coats! It wasn't as formulaic as all the movies I'm seeing lately, things are getting a bit predictable. So on Saturday I did Edie-inspired make up, including faux beauty spot and hit the town. I'm feeling so much more content and even though it's not exactly a holiday...
So every day this week, we've made a new kind of knitwear, tank top Monday, V-neck Tuesday, raglan Wednesday then it's hoodie Thursday and finish everything Friday because I still have to top stitch on all of the hems and necklines. Whew! I don't know how cut out I am for manual work, I am not fast enough. I've gotten faster and I almost finished the Raglan today but I think I'm a better thinker than a seamstress. There's a pro to every con, so by 1 o-clock I'm making mistakes but by 6pm I'm researching and brainstorming and loving what I'm making. It's not about speed, it's about passion and determination.
Completing tasks is all about doing, doing ,doing and getting tangible results which is satisfying; instant gratification. Thinking about what you really want and who you are and facing those thoughts, that requires alone time and analyzing, it's not as easy and quick to produce a result from that. That's why people can throw themselves into work when they're feeling bad about something, action is a perfect distraction.
I know I can style an outfit that will make girls drool. I'm just a doubter, I've always doubted that I was good at anything so I held myself back with that fear. I remember when I used to play violin, I was always nervous to play passionately because I didn't want to make an error. It's the same at college, I'm always unpicking and questioning and carefully sewing everything. I just never associated that with my nature because it doesn't parallel my personality, I'm not cautious socially at all. So I'm trying to let go of the fear a little bit. My V neck was beautiful and then today, the sleeve didn't meet the side seam as I would have wanted but you know what? The other one did so I'm letting it be.
"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubt."
x
Completing tasks is all about doing, doing ,doing and getting tangible results which is satisfying; instant gratification. Thinking about what you really want and who you are and facing those thoughts, that requires alone time and analyzing, it's not as easy and quick to produce a result from that. That's why people can throw themselves into work when they're feeling bad about something, action is a perfect distraction.
I know I can style an outfit that will make girls drool. I'm just a doubter, I've always doubted that I was good at anything so I held myself back with that fear. I remember when I used to play violin, I was always nervous to play passionately because I didn't want to make an error. It's the same at college, I'm always unpicking and questioning and carefully sewing everything. I just never associated that with my nature because it doesn't parallel my personality, I'm not cautious socially at all. So I'm trying to let go of the fear a little bit. My V neck was beautiful and then today, the sleeve didn't meet the side seam as I would have wanted but you know what? The other one did so I'm letting it be.
"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubt."
x


