Tumblr Takeover

I have completely neglected this blog.

As a college student, and an art major it is too difficult to keep up multiple blogs. Tumblr is also much more convenient for someone who focuses on the visual and not on the literal.

So here is my tumblr: The Cottage in The Woods
That's where I'll be most of the time (at least until my darling Jo is back with me and I can take outfit pictures once again)

-Brenna Kathleen

 My dearest roommate is such a blessing.
She supports my artwork and even allows me to spread my creativity (and mess) all over our room. We also have the best of Disney days together.
Today took a crappy turn for me around 4:15 ( and this was even AFTER math class). I came back to my room angry, bitter, and annoyed at how my art work was treated after I had spent so long and so much on it. And sitting there on my dresser was a box with a giant pink satin bow on it with a letter from my dearest roommate.
Inside the box was this:

I had been dreaming of this dress ever since I saw it on Modcloth, but have never been able to spend the money on it (since the cost of this dress is the same amount I spent on the project was was so rudely dealt with).
Needless to say I cried. With such a stressful day (that is not even over) and to have this amazing gift thrust in the midst of all that. It reminded me that God is good and even provides even when the provision isn't a necessity to life.
There is a much greater purpose out there, and we are not alone in fulfilling that promise.
So Thank You, my wonderful sister. I am so blessed by the magic and enchantment that you  bring into my life and I love you dearly.

-Brenna Kathleen

2011

WOW! It's 2011!

What has happened in my life?!

I survived my first semester of junior year! I made so many amazing friends.
Seriously, this semester I think I've had so many friendships grow than all the others. Part of that is branching out in the art department. I was able to make friends in the graphic design area because of my illustration class. And friends in the film department from animation. Jojo introduced me to the lovely staff of The Point magazine, and I will continue to grow in those friendships because I'm a staff designer for next semester!!
 I also said a physical good bye to my beloved Jojo for 8 months, as she is off to D.C. to become the best journalist the world has ever known. But her departure just means that I will be even more inclined to facebook, text, call, skype, and pretty much attempt to get in contact with her any way possible. You hear that Jo?! Your snail-mail box is going to be packed, because there is no escaping me. ;] 

I'm taking a bookmaking class next semester! I am so excited to see what that's all about. My interest in books has been growing since I started using them in my art and it has led me to look not only at paper art careers, but also being a librarian or a book restorer. But we'll see, I still have so much more of life to go through before I settle on something like a career.

I have also been greatly influenced by Disney's 50th animated feature film, Tangled.
I swear they based the character of Rapunzel on me. Just in the very first song of the movie she does:
-chores, sweeps, polishes, waxes, laundry, mops, shines, and sweeps again
.......okay maybe that part doesn't sound exactly like me.
But then she:
-reads a book (or maybe two or three), paints, plays guitar, knits, cooks, solves puzzles, plays darts, bakes, makes paper mache, practices ballet, plays chess, does pottery, practices ventriloquy, makes candles, stretches, sketches, climbs, sews a dress, rereads the books, paints some more, and then brushes and brushes and brushes and brushes her hair.
Fwew! That's a lot to do in one day, but if you were locked in a tower for 18 years, you would probably be looking for things to do too.
I know that I don't have much hair to brush and brush and brush, but I will! Like many other girls out there, I have been inspired to grow out my hair.
All because of Claire Keane, who did the concept art for the film:

See what I mean? Scissors aren't coming near my hair for a loooooooong time.

But seriously, the art from this movie is almost more beautiful than the film itself. And this, folks, is a beautiful film.

But what of my fashion shenanigans? Well, that's all still going. I've been hit pretty hard by the poor-college-student and the all-nighter-grab-something-cheap-and-24-hours-oh-wait-that's-fast-food slices of life, so personal fashion has not really taken a back burner. But it's not as fabulous as it could be. 

That hasn't stopped me from continuing to keep my eye out though! Like this beauty...

Sweet Visionary Dress

I adore this dress with every fashionable cell in my body. If only I had the $159.99 of pocket change to actually own something this beautiful. My mom saw it and said that it would make a good "going away" dress for a wedding. But there isn't room for anything remotely close to wedding talk on this blog or in this year...

So here's to a 2011 filled with unknowns and undiscovered adventures!

-Brenna Kathleen

Stripes, Straps, Swirly Lace, and Curly Locks

Only one more week of classes left and then it's finals!! And you all should know what that means... procrastination! So I have not one, but two outfits to post today!

The first one is from a couple weeks ago...

 

I've wanted to wear these suspenders fro the longest time, but they're the button kind and the only thing that I had to go with them were a pair of old jean knickers that were my dad's when he was in college. The problem was that when I wear them I look like Tom Sawyer. So I ended up sewing buttons into this skirt the morning these were taken!

 

Also, the suspenders happen to be a perfect match with my great grandma's old Sunday hat!

striped shirt: thrifted

skirt: thrifted from Savers

suspenders: thrifted from DAV

hat: great grandma's

bag: thrifted from DAV

shoes: Urban Outfitters

scarf: taken from mom's closet

The next outfit marks a new chapter in my life known as "Animal Crackers In My Soup" or "Brenna Curls Her Hair And Everyone Calls Her Shirley Temple." 

I decided that my hair was getting to that awkward middle of the neck length stage, so I am currently on day 5 of curling my hair every day. This outfit is what I wore last Thursday...

 and then of course, I found a pine cone on the walk back to my room

blouse: Urban Outfitters "urban renewal"

skirt: thrifted from Savers

belt: no idea

shoes: Urban Outfitters

There you go!!! fashion! I have actually been wearing very cute outfits on a regular basis, but life is busy, and by the time my photographer and I have time it's late and natural light is gone. drat. 

Speaking of my lovely and wonderful photographer, I only have two more weeks with Jojo until she's gone for Christmas and then to study abroad in DC next semester. I don't know what that will do to my fashion posting. Half a year of bad macbook camera pictures? 

Maybe I can squeeze another fashion post in  before Jo leaves :]

-Brenna Kathleen

She & Him Paper Art

I know I haven't updated in a while, mostly because I've been working on school things like this:

I made this gig poster for She & Him in my illustration class. I've been getting closer and closer to getting the paper art things right, and developing my own style. I'm also trying to work paper into my next project for sculpture class, a kinetic sculpture.
That's it for now, more will be updated when these next two weeks are over and I have Christmas break.
toodles!
-Brenna Kathleen

Life, it will get the better of you

I haven't updated in quite a while. I also haven't finished my "Geek Chic" series, but I have drafts saved, so more will come in due time.

I've gotten caught up in school and life. It's exciting in some parts, not so in others.
I did turn 21 in October! It was my golden birthday, and lived up to that title.

I've been thinking about how your life opens up after college. You can go anywhere and do anything. My ideas so far were to go straight into work, or grad school. But I've grown tired of where I am. The new and shiny aspect of California. Everything is up to date, and the here-and-now. I want old and worn. A place with a history that goes back far longer than my own.

I think that's why I loved Germany so much. All those enchanting forests have been there for hundreds of years, and civilization has sprung up around it, but the aged feeling still lingers.

I've joked about with plans of moving to England and taking week or weekend trips to Paris, Amsterdam, and Berlin. Of visiting not only museums, but all the old libraries and bookshops as well as cafés.

And it doesn't help that my dearest roommate, Jojo, directed me to this website.
Now I want nothing more than to relocate my living quarters to a cramped room filled to the brim with books, and I also long to go to Paris for the sole purpose of visiting Shakespeare & Co. A little independent bookstore located on Paris' left bank that has quite an interesting history to it.

I wonder if such a life will ever be possible. Another option I've been thinking over is owning my own little bookshop someday. I could make art on the side, and build up my own land of literary whimsy. I doubt it will be able to happen, starting your own business sounds like it takes a lot of money. But it's my dream.

Until I once again feel compelled to write and/or complete what I have already started, I hope your lives are filled with enchantment and whimsy
-Brenna Kathleen

Still out on The Seas

Let me tell you, a new blade on an exacto makes ALL the difference. It was cutting through paper like it was fresh butter you bought just so you can have it on freshly baked bread...mmmmmmmmmmmm.

I wanted to make a better detailed ship on my first project, but it was too small and I thought that my exacto wasn't up to the challenge (but with this new blade, it might be). So I made this guy

The pages are from Shakespeare's "As You Like It" and it's about 3 3/4 x 5 in.

There's a book sale at our library today. I'm hoping it will be old books and not newer ones. I'm also making an office appointment with the head of our Art Department so I can talk to him about where my art is going and what I should do to further push myself and if I should get a studio space on campus.
For the pushing myself, this project was a bit of a beginning for that. I've been making my designs and drawings more detailed and intricate, so it takes more skill and precision to cut out.

In other news, it's been rainy and cloudy here!!! (she says as the sun's rays start to break through the clouds.. stupid sun.) I wore a sweater yesterday, and today I'm wearing two! I only hope it will stay cool enough. I still have an entire drawer full of sweaters that have been waiting for cold weather (and the sun just went away again! YAY!).

I've been thinking that I need to start getting more into photography. I will need it to be able to document my work as an artist. The first thing would be to get a good camera. The one I have now is pretty bad, even cheap newer point and shoot digital cameras are better. We'll see, right now I've been getting help from my photographer friends, but I can't rely on them forever....

I think I'll play my ukulele now. It sounds like a wonderful thing to do.
-Brenna Kathleen

Sailing Away

This year I wanted to start focusing on my own personal art and figure out what exactly it is that I want to do with all the stuff I've been learning. I know that I love paper. The ways that it can be made into something amazing, delicate, simple, and whimsical all at the same time. I get genuinely excited when I see really cool paper art.
So I've been trying to incorporate that into my school projects now that I've done all the basics. So far my illustration class is the one that I've been able to do the most paper art in, but I'm also looking forward to the things I'm learning in my sculpture class and how I can incorporate that into my work (can you say bandsaw?).

This is the first project I've made just for kicks, with no class requirement. It started with appreciating one of the best noses and profiles I have ever come across in my Contemporary Art Trends class on Friday. That led to some sketches, and some ideas, and more sketches, and soon it became art.

It's all black paper and an exacto knife.
I still don't know how I'm going to finalize it yet. Should I mount it on nice white paper and frame it? Does the paper 'frame' I made need to be re-done? Should I just ditch the paper frame and get a nice oval black frame for it?
I know it's not the best, but I'm learning, so I'll get better.

I also need to figure out a way to transfer my sketches to the black paper to cut out.
So far I make a black copy of the sketch, go over it with a white charcoal pencil, and then burnish the image onto black paper. But I loose a lot of details that way that I had in my original sketch. Perhaps I could find a way to print with white ink onto my black paper?

Now I just need to find out what the best exacto knife is for really detailed work. Even after replacing the blade it still isn't the best. 

This isn't the last of this, more will be coming in the future. I love it too much to not make more.
-Brenna Kathleen

Fairy Princess

             
                       I haven't done an outfit post in a while, mostly because over the summer I wasn't with my photographer. And now that I'm back in school, it's hard to coordinate schedules and homework time for photo shoots.
However, today after church we finally had time for pictures! And It's a good thing too, I absolutely love this dress. I picked it up at a thrift store for about $9 this summer, and had it with me as my banquet dress in Germany.
I've been longing for a pretty white dress, and this one is gorgeous. It reminds me of a modern take on a Jane Austen dress.

I also had fun taking silly indie shots. The lamp just happened to be the perfect monochromatic prop.
I also had the perfect outfit to wear my paper crown with. I made it last week out of some pages from my Complete Works of Shakespeare book that I bought for a project I'm making for my illustration class. I took out the entire Midsummer Night's Dream to save for latter so that I can make another one.

excuse the odd expression, this was the only close up I had of it :]

Needless to say, the moment I put on the crown with this dress I felt like a fairy princess who had leaped straight from the pages of a book.  Now I'm going to be flitting around my room, creating a tiny magical land from my fairy world.
I'll take pictures and show you all my little world when I finish it.
-Brenna Kathleen

Geek Chic Part 2

SHOES!
A must have for every Chick Geek is a great pair (or pairs) of shoes. So here's my top picks

First off, Converse. A must have for any geek, and any human being for that matter. 

I have a pair of these  from Urban in the brown color, I love them

Deena and Ozzy Ludlow Oxfords from Urban

Get to the Point Spectators from Modcloth

Just because you're a geek, doesn't mean that you can't still be pretty and feminine!  Here are some cute heels I dug up...

About the Benjamins Heel

Shoeful of Sugar Heel

BDG Wingtip Pump

That's it for shoes... stay tuned for more!
-Brenna Kathleen

Geek Chic Part 1

I love Geeks. I am a Geek. 
One of the most important characteristics of a Geek is their style, or lack thereof. But with this super chic style guide to Geeks, I'll have your average Hobbit lookin' like a classy elf.... er.... at least like a classy Hobbit.
 
Sweaters
Every geek should know, you need a good stash of sweaters for all that time you spend indoors in a dark place making art, geeking out on the computer, playing video games, reading, whatever it is that any geek does. 
So here is my selection of sweater must-haves:

The Keep It Simple Cardigan truly lives up to it's name, perfect basic sweater

You're Welcome Cardigan

Recipe Card-igan

You should know how much I love this style sweater, while it's not the gray/black one I've been searching for, I still love the Haute Chocolate Cardigan

Say it With Stripes Cardigan

THIS is my dream sweater. I'm in love.

Vests
One thing that I've learned is difficult to find are cardigan sweater vests for women. Does anyone else have this problem? I've gone through so many internet searches... all I want is a cardigan wiht the sleeves lopped off, doesn't seem too hard to do. Luckily I found one at Buffalo Exchange this past Labor Day that, once I sew the sides up to make it fit me better, will be a staple in my fall wadrobe.
But here are some cute ones from Modcloth!

Dramaturge Vest

All Vest Up With Someplace To Go

I swear I look at places other than Modcloth, but I couldn't find any vests that I liked, not even any sweater vests! (And if they did, then they were old matronly ugly) I guess they're not in this Fall, or people haven't really switched over yet. 

 Glasses
I'm not saying that all Geeks wear them, I don't. But it's a stereotype, and one that I like.

woodgrain reader

vintage risky reader

wayfarer reader

Geek Tees
Of course, even the most fashionable of Geeks is going to sport a clever tee now and then. 

Super Trooper

You Never Forget Your First Doctor

I [Atom] Science

Evil League of Evil

  Sorry for the long post, but us Geeks gotta' know how to be super chic and not just like we emerged from our parent's basement for the first time in 4 months.

More parts to come!
-Brenna Kathleen
 

Me and my Mac

So if you know me you know that I love Apple. They're ridiculous in their ways of overpricing, and coming out with a newer model 6 months after the last one was released. But all their products are just so dang good looking. And the ultimate look of cool tech savvy nerd.
I love my MacBook, and I love the amazing Disney nerdiness that I can combine with my lovely laptop.
One of my most favorite gifts I have ever been given is the computer decal my brother gave me or Christmas last year.

This summer I had to take my mac into the Apple store to get the charger fixed, and my computer drew a mini crowd of apple employees. One guy took pictures and a video of it because he thought it was so cool.

Well, today I was browsing Etsy, a fabulous handmade web site that has amazing sellers and beautiful items for sale, and found this:

You can find it here on apjam's etsy

 

 

Oh man.... I've always wanted an iphone. I still can't wait for the day when I have a steady job and enough money to afford one, what a dream come true that will be. And if I got a cool sticker like this. I could have matching Macs!!!

On another note... I an in love with my under the bed area. I never want to leave it. 

It has been named "The Bohemian Fairyland"

I can't really get a good picture of it, but I have my comfy chair, Jane, with art on the wall, flamingo lights, a billowy blue sky above, and little golden stars hanging down above my head. I can't wait for Christmas when they put out lights. I've been waiting to get a small strand of just plain white lights to put them up and have distant stars shine through my sky.
I'm also excited to gather more art for my wall, it's something that I do every year. I love the gradual collecting of inspiring images.
Well, I have a meeting with my Theology small group to go to.
Tah-Tah for now!
-Brenna Kathleen