Russian/Icelandic Architecture Inspired Designs

Last semester (freshman spring) I took a class called Intro to Apparel Presentation. One of our assignments was to create a line for a 'Missy Customer,' a woman in the 25-55 age group: 'Clothes For The Working Woman'.

One of my life career goals is to find a job where I can go to work wearing patchwork jeans and an oversized off-white t-shirt, or a strappy dress with no cardigan, no matter my age. I was, however, completely discouraged from going in this casual-age appropriate direction, and instead had to focus on tailored pieces, and more standard, boring things like suit jackets. I tried my best, however, to make it fun and original with unique silhouettes.

The season for this 'collection' is fall/winter.

I designed with a lot of wool, velvet, corduroy, and knit fabrics.

Board number 1: Customer Board.

I found these images on various blogs/in magazines (<3 Princess Diana in the top left corner).

This is my visionary missy customer. She is a middle aged woman who loves color, statement clothes, and works in an office. This woman is successful and doesn't hold back when it comes to blazers and good quality fabric :) 

Board 2: Inspiration board.

Since I had to make this tailored I chose architecture inspiration. Saint Basil's Cathedral in Moscow and arial views of Islandic houses turned out to be the perfect choice. I liked how in both locations bright colors alternated with beiges and grays.  Also, the insane patterns of the Cathedral domes are a dream to design from.

Board 3: Illustration board.

After many sketches and variations in my croquis book, these were my five final looks.

Dome shaped openings, velvet/corduroy striped knees, high necks, dome hoods, godets, & seams galore.

Board 4: Flats

We learn how to do computer flats this coming year, so these are all hand done..which might explain any slight unevenness.

I love you knits.

A lil bit more inspiration (with better color).

Love Bird Pillow

This week I made a quilted love bird pillow.

I just noticed how dirty my carpet is...I swear i'm vacuuming right now......no worries.

Tadaaaaa.

Front.

Back.

Happiness.

5 Little Things

This week I actually sorta took my camera with me everywhere I went. I thought it would be neat to capture a few of Monday-Fridays highlights, since pretty much all I do anymore is go to work. So here are 5 little things.

1. Waking up and seeing the reflection of all my bottles/window sill goods reflected on my wall.

2. Going downtown Charleston, and seeing this fish-art hanging between light posts. I thought this was a cleaver display idea/I also thought the fish were really cute!

3. Birch's face, while rolling on my floor :)

4. Being home alone and getting to eat dinner on my bed, while watching hulu. Its a simple pleasure I know; however so relaxing!

(P.S. avocado salad, apricot salmon, Orzo pasta with peppers, parsley, & tomatoes, 5 bean salad, & white wine. HEAVEN.)

5. I went hiking 4 days this week in Kanawha State Forest, but only brought my camera with me once.

Took these last two shots (which happen to be my favorite of the week) while driving :)

Rainbow Light at the New River Gorge

Last weekend my sister, Sophia, and I went camping and zip-lining at the New River Gorge. After zip-lining all day we hiked to the bottom of the gorge and went for swim. I took a few pictures with my  underwater camera, and ended up liking the above water photos better than the underwater ones!! For some reason the camera made the light/water look all rainbow and mystical :)

Brooklyn, Brooklyn, Take Me In

Wow. What a year its been. I took over a month off from blogging because I just felt tired from school. However, now I'm back, and I'm really excited about my new blog title/layout! Ahh it needed to change. It was getting so annoying seeing my drag-esq make-up every time I wanted to blog.

The idea behind (An) Abstract Noun is that this blog has turned into more of a 'What Caroline's Up To' blog, and my life is comprised of nouns and abstract things.
Nouns: people, places, and things.
Abstract Nouns: ideas, perspective, education, thrill, and creativity.

This year was wild. I spent my freshman year of college at art school in Brooklyn. Pratt had its highs and lows. I felt like I was giving up my 'college' experience; however, I also felt like the luckiest person in the world because I was studying what I loved. Art school is actually much more intense than people imagine. My curriculum was made up of 8 college classes, and I quickly became accustom to watching the sky turn from blue to black, and then black to yellow. I spent many Saturday mornings on adventures exploring flea markets, eating at the best little hole-in-the-walls, and people watching my ass off. To me it's the people and their diverse style that makes Brooklyn so exciting.

I thought these Brooklyn Bridge photos, taken in April on a spontaneous adventure with Erfu at 3 AM, would be a good tribute to my year.

This view of the bridge reminds me of vertebrae.

Now I'm home in West Virginia, in the midst of lush mountains and fireflies that swarm my yard at dusk. I've never been happier to be surrounded by nature; however I'm excited to see what the big city has in store for me in the fall.

P.S. You can click the little drawings on the side of the blog. I divided all my posts into categories.