Friday, October 30, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Batrider
This weekend I had a fair amount of time working at the Gap.
Sunday I worked from 6pm to 3am helping move maternity down a floor and expanding kids. Yesterday I helped with Kid's visuals because the CEO of Gap will be visiting on Friday and we must have everything perfect for his arrival.
Today I am taking time to catch up on my art projects. Which pring me to my Batrider mock-up. I am really excited for this piece. It will be a four color screenprint with an edition of fourty. The ugly brown color in the digital piece will be metallic gold in the final.
I'm thinking the halo might be larger as well to better balance out the top, oh and "at the" is missing from next to "3rd" but like I said, this is just a mock-up.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Expert
Lots of work, both at the Gap and Hammerpress. Finally printing again at Hammerpress, which is a relief, I was close to tearing my eyes out putting together orders.
At Gap there is the possability for moving up. A part-time manager job has opened - Brand Logistic Expert. The work encludes mostly dressing mannequins and heading up brand standards. If I do this, I would be trained to open and close the store, as well as work primarily, if not all, visuals.
Totally going to interview, and at very least ask for a move up in the column, since if I don't get it, someone else will and I can take their job.
Yesterday was also Zack's, from Lovely Press downstairs, birthday. The ship opened up and he had a few bands play. It was a good time. I had my hair did and dress up real nice. Joe took some pictures that I'll post when he gets back from St. Louis.
At Gap there is the possability for moving up. A part-time manager job has opened - Brand Logistic Expert. The work encludes mostly dressing mannequins and heading up brand standards. If I do this, I would be trained to open and close the store, as well as work primarily, if not all, visuals.
Totally going to interview, and at very least ask for a move up in the column, since if I don't get it, someone else will and I can take their job.
Yesterday was also Zack's, from Lovely Press downstairs, birthday. The ship opened up and he had a few bands play. It was a good time. I had my hair did and dress up real nice. Joe took some pictures that I'll post when he gets back from St. Louis.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Wednesday-off
new boots, plus paper source and a five dollar cardigan. good day, especially for the boots.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Out of the dork closet.
Long time no blog. A sad habit, but I just can't bring myself to write everyday. Late nights, early mornings, a lack of initiative, it all adds up to sporadic updates, so no long will I pretend that this will be updated daily, but instead everyone will be surprised when out of no where I post random and extra long going ons of my days.
Recently, I've been coming out of a funk. The last few weeks I've been pretty low. Maybe it has to do with restarting at the Gap, or the weather (probably both), but I can't waste time sitting in my bed watching hulu. I've got to get up and make the most of my time here, because it keeps seeming like it isn't nearly long enough.
So what have I done since I last posted....
- Started at the Gap. The Wednesday after the anniversary show was my first day. I've been getting a whole bunch of hours and due to chatty co-workers have found that my work situation it pretty nice. I have a higher pay than most of them and I work Visuals (dressing mannequins, setting up product) rather regularly which many people want to do, but haven't been able.
On that note, being part of the visuals team has been great. Very fulfilling, well as much as retail can be. There is much potential to be moving up the visuals ladder and so far have been getting progressively complicated tasks and left to work somewhat independently.
Oh, the Gap I work in is three stories and has all departments including a Baby Home. I feel like if I work at a different Gap, I want to manager/key holder position. I've found I know a ton about the brand and I feel like it is about time.
- First Friday. hung out at Hammerpress.
- American Royal Barbecue (First weekend of October). The world series of barbecue, no joking. five hundred plus people come from around the country to compete in cooking. There are four meat divisions, two side dish and one dessert. There really isn't anything for the wider public to do at this event except wander around and look at RV set ups and oil drum grills, well unless you play it right.
A friend had some wristbands, so Joe and I didn't have to pay the eleven dollar cover. We wandered in real casual like both on Friday and Saturday (Sunday I was BBQ'ed out). If a person is real friendly, preferably with a girl, and talkative it is very likely you'll find yourself swimming in free meat and beer. Since the judging only calls for six pieces, almost everyone has meat to spare. The only question is if they are nice enough to share it with your poor-ass self wandering around like a homeless puppy staring at their platters of pulled pork.
There are two types of people at the American Royal. Those who are serious competitors, and have been invited - they are in the front parking lot, and those who love to drink and cook - they are in the back parking lot, or the "darkside".
In the front parking lot I found: "The Party of the Year", one plate of pulled pork sandwich, frat boys, grumpy wives of bbq cooks who didn't want to share their meat bounty.
In the "darkside" I found: free margaritas, an oven mitt, beer, homemade potato chips, crazy delious grits side dish, more beer, brisket, ribs, makers mark, local and organic bbq, a dj laying down sweet beats, pulled pork, more potatoes, mexican bbq, more beer.
I think it is obvious where the fun was.
- Zombie fashion show. Saturday night (of American Royal) I joined Halliday's crew, donned some of her sexy fashions and drove to Lawrence, Kansas for a zombie themed fashion show. Lawrence has been described to be as the only place in Kansas worth visiting. It's a college town, and although I only saw part of it, at night, it seemed pretty interesting. I plan on going back before I leave and look around. There seems to be some shops worth a look, and somehow, Lawrence has all of the good-looking guys in the general area of Kansas City, or at least an unfair population.
The fashion show went well and the MC's outright said that Halliday had the best models. (We all had zombie make-up and walked like we were dead). The only thing was that night was the first night of the ultra cold weather we have been experiencing.
- Basement letterpress. The Hobbs building, a warehouse on the other side of the tracks, has been turned into artist studios. For sometime is has been growing in reputation along side hosting an insane amount of weddings on the first floor.
A while ago Joe showed me the basement where there is a letterpress studio - Kansas City Center for Book and Paper Arts. I finally took it upon myself to hound the guy who runs it and find out what he is about.
Turns out that KCCBP is a co-op. I can come in, pay an hourly fee and use whatever I please, which includes two Vandercooks, six cases of type (one that is all wood and cowboy fonts, yes I fainted) paper cutters, and soon a working platen press. The only catch is there were was no ink except red to begin with.
So for two dollars an hour, or the purchasing of letterpress ink, I am free to work there whenever I choose. Calvert, the guy who runs it, and I have even come up with a system where he leaves the keys and I can work in the middle of the night if I so choose.
I know, this sounds like a dream right? A letterpress, literally three minutes away. There is even a guy who is working as a tech, Greg, who bought ink and I am free to use it in exchange for showing him a thing or two about vandercooks. He's even going to take me shopping for huge linoblocks at an artstore in Westport, oh and help me dehaze my screens. Nice.
- Zombie Prom. dressed up in a blue wig and the swing dress my mom fixed and sent to me(thanks mom!). Was disappointingly like real prom. All couples, bad music. Some indie film trailers were screened, but I feel unimpressed. Just a bunch of guys just out of college, riding the coat tails of Quentin Tarentino. I had great skin that night though, I don't know how that happened so well.
- Bike riding - all the time, everywhere. Except the Gap.
- Picture taking with Joe - Joe is back into photography and I am officially his assistant.
- Dollar taco Tuesdays in KCK - best Tacos anywhere, period.
- Jared moved in - awesome mix. He's been an incredibly welcome addition to the Pistol. He's helping me refurbish my bike (which I've still yet to name), bought me potatoes, and took care of me when I got sick. We plan on having craft nights, but we've yet to start them. Tioo much bike polo for him and too many late nights at the Gap for me.
- Got sick
- Tuna and greenbean diet has turned into baked potato and greenbean diet with a side of queso fresco and yogurt.
- KCK library. who would have thought the best library would be in Kansas?
- Pistol shows. You and Yourn
- Hobbs open studios. I've never seen so much free food and beer, well, not since three weeks ago at American Royal anyway.
So that is my last three weeks in a nutshell...
More to come, I've got to go to target for some boots.
Joe just broke it to me that I am not a secret dork, apparently I'm rather blatant about it.
Recently, I've been coming out of a funk. The last few weeks I've been pretty low. Maybe it has to do with restarting at the Gap, or the weather (probably both), but I can't waste time sitting in my bed watching hulu. I've got to get up and make the most of my time here, because it keeps seeming like it isn't nearly long enough.
So what have I done since I last posted....
- Started at the Gap. The Wednesday after the anniversary show was my first day. I've been getting a whole bunch of hours and due to chatty co-workers have found that my work situation it pretty nice. I have a higher pay than most of them and I work Visuals (dressing mannequins, setting up product) rather regularly which many people want to do, but haven't been able.
On that note, being part of the visuals team has been great. Very fulfilling, well as much as retail can be. There is much potential to be moving up the visuals ladder and so far have been getting progressively complicated tasks and left to work somewhat independently.
Oh, the Gap I work in is three stories and has all departments including a Baby Home. I feel like if I work at a different Gap, I want to manager/key holder position. I've found I know a ton about the brand and I feel like it is about time.
- First Friday. hung out at Hammerpress.
- American Royal Barbecue (First weekend of October). The world series of barbecue, no joking. five hundred plus people come from around the country to compete in cooking. There are four meat divisions, two side dish and one dessert. There really isn't anything for the wider public to do at this event except wander around and look at RV set ups and oil drum grills, well unless you play it right.
A friend had some wristbands, so Joe and I didn't have to pay the eleven dollar cover. We wandered in real casual like both on Friday and Saturday (Sunday I was BBQ'ed out). If a person is real friendly, preferably with a girl, and talkative it is very likely you'll find yourself swimming in free meat and beer. Since the judging only calls for six pieces, almost everyone has meat to spare. The only question is if they are nice enough to share it with your poor-ass self wandering around like a homeless puppy staring at their platters of pulled pork.
There are two types of people at the American Royal. Those who are serious competitors, and have been invited - they are in the front parking lot, and those who love to drink and cook - they are in the back parking lot, or the "darkside".
In the front parking lot I found: "The Party of the Year", one plate of pulled pork sandwich, frat boys, grumpy wives of bbq cooks who didn't want to share their meat bounty.
In the "darkside" I found: free margaritas, an oven mitt, beer, homemade potato chips, crazy delious grits side dish, more beer, brisket, ribs, makers mark, local and organic bbq, a dj laying down sweet beats, pulled pork, more potatoes, mexican bbq, more beer.
I think it is obvious where the fun was.
- Zombie fashion show. Saturday night (of American Royal) I joined Halliday's crew, donned some of her sexy fashions and drove to Lawrence, Kansas for a zombie themed fashion show. Lawrence has been described to be as the only place in Kansas worth visiting. It's a college town, and although I only saw part of it, at night, it seemed pretty interesting. I plan on going back before I leave and look around. There seems to be some shops worth a look, and somehow, Lawrence has all of the good-looking guys in the general area of Kansas City, or at least an unfair population.
The fashion show went well and the MC's outright said that Halliday had the best models. (We all had zombie make-up and walked like we were dead). The only thing was that night was the first night of the ultra cold weather we have been experiencing.
- Basement letterpress. The Hobbs building, a warehouse on the other side of the tracks, has been turned into artist studios. For sometime is has been growing in reputation along side hosting an insane amount of weddings on the first floor.
A while ago Joe showed me the basement where there is a letterpress studio - Kansas City Center for Book and Paper Arts. I finally took it upon myself to hound the guy who runs it and find out what he is about.
Turns out that KCCBP is a co-op. I can come in, pay an hourly fee and use whatever I please, which includes two Vandercooks, six cases of type (one that is all wood and cowboy fonts, yes I fainted) paper cutters, and soon a working platen press. The only catch is there were was no ink except red to begin with.
So for two dollars an hour, or the purchasing of letterpress ink, I am free to work there whenever I choose. Calvert, the guy who runs it, and I have even come up with a system where he leaves the keys and I can work in the middle of the night if I so choose.
I know, this sounds like a dream right? A letterpress, literally three minutes away. There is even a guy who is working as a tech, Greg, who bought ink and I am free to use it in exchange for showing him a thing or two about vandercooks. He's even going to take me shopping for huge linoblocks at an artstore in Westport, oh and help me dehaze my screens. Nice.
- Zombie Prom. dressed up in a blue wig and the swing dress my mom fixed and sent to me(thanks mom!). Was disappointingly like real prom. All couples, bad music. Some indie film trailers were screened, but I feel unimpressed. Just a bunch of guys just out of college, riding the coat tails of Quentin Tarentino. I had great skin that night though, I don't know how that happened so well.
- Bike riding - all the time, everywhere. Except the Gap.
- Picture taking with Joe - Joe is back into photography and I am officially his assistant.
- Dollar taco Tuesdays in KCK - best Tacos anywhere, period.
- Jared moved in - awesome mix. He's been an incredibly welcome addition to the Pistol. He's helping me refurbish my bike (which I've still yet to name), bought me potatoes, and took care of me when I got sick. We plan on having craft nights, but we've yet to start them. Tioo much bike polo for him and too many late nights at the Gap for me.
- Got sick
- Tuna and greenbean diet has turned into baked potato and greenbean diet with a side of queso fresco and yogurt.
- KCK library. who would have thought the best library would be in Kansas?
- Pistol shows. You and Yourn
- Hobbs open studios. I've never seen so much free food and beer, well, not since three weeks ago at American Royal anyway.
So that is my last three weeks in a nutshell...
More to come, I've got to go to target for some boots.
Joe just broke it to me that I am not a secret dork, apparently I'm rather blatant about it.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Monday, October 5, 2009
Videos?
While I update what I should have written before (maybe this is a horrible trend?) Here are some videos to watch. I don't understand them, but I love them none the less...
More to come? Probably.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Lounging and Cleaning
Sunday I spent the entire day with Eric. In the morning we went to breakfast with Joe and then left to hang at his place where I promptly feel asleep. When I awoke I looked at his vintage type catalouge and "porched it" until dinner. We went to Indian food, which was bought with some of the poster money I made at the show.
Monday I cleaned. For nine hours. I cleaned the Pistol. I cleaned the apartment. I cleaned the stairs. I cleaned the bathroom. I did the dishes, the windows, and everything I set my eyes on. needless to say byt the end of the day, I was very tired.
Tuesday included more printing. This time a bee calender. Amazingly I finished them completely, from yellow to silver to black. Now they're ready to sell at First Friday. After work I went to Barnes and Noble, picked up some books and came home to read.
Monday I cleaned. For nine hours. I cleaned the Pistol. I cleaned the apartment. I cleaned the stairs. I cleaned the bathroom. I did the dishes, the windows, and everything I set my eyes on. needless to say byt the end of the day, I was very tired.
Tuesday included more printing. This time a bee calender. Amazingly I finished them completely, from yellow to silver to black. Now they're ready to sell at First Friday. After work I went to Barnes and Noble, picked up some books and came home to read.
Happy Anniversary Pistol!
Saturday was the Pistol Social Club's Fourth Anniversary.
I spent the morning (after Adam left) going between the farmer's market and Sunfresh purchasing ingredients for dinner. Eric was planning on coming as well as Joe's friend Maria. I'd decided to try my hand at bacon wrapped stuffed peppers and tamales. I just want to say I can make both just fine, but I'll get into that later...
At the farmer's market, I picked up some spices for the tamales as well as the jalapenos for the stuffed peppers. I also found a 14" mum plants for five dollars that made its way back with me.
At Sunfresh, I surprisingly found everything needed for tamales and the special cheese - queso fresco - for the peppers. I wonder if Fred Meyers has these ingredients. I know they have corn husks so I can only imagine they have everything else, well maybe not the queso fresco, there seem to be more Mexicans here in Kansas City.
I was tempted to buy a pumpkin, but I can annoy my roommates with my absurd love of squash at a later time.
Post grocery shopping I drove to the arts INKubator and screenprinted forty-two anniversary show posters. I was impressed with how well they turned out. I need to scan one or figure out this photo situation because they've gone over smashingly. To my astonishment, I finished three layers in four hours, screen drying time included. Either I'm getting better at printing or my design was very simple - maybe both.
On the way home, I grabbed some cases of soda to sell at the show - trying to make all that I can. I advertised the posters for ten dollars, although I probably should have done five, turns out hipsters are broke.
When the posters were set up and the soda in a cooler, I began the tamales and gutting the peppers.
The show started at ten (by which time the tamales were steaming in my ingenious little aluminum tent contraption) and featured Ill Ease as the opening act.
In between her act and the next, I found out that I can make a mildly mean tamale. Honestly, I was impressed. I didn't think my tamale dough would set up, but it did and the chicken meat inside was rather tasty. Granted, they were no Manny's tamales, but for my first time, they were alright. It must be the spirits of the hundreds I've eaten in my life that helped. It was bound to happen that I start making them myself sooner or later.
The second (and last) main act was Hearts of Darkness. I had to miss a few of their songs to pick up Eric, but we made it back in time to hear the last few of their two and a half hour set.
When the show wound up, we ajourned to the Ship for a night of carousing and partying until the wee hours of the morn. Overall, it was an excellent way for the Pistol to celebrate its day.
I spent the morning (after Adam left) going between the farmer's market and Sunfresh purchasing ingredients for dinner. Eric was planning on coming as well as Joe's friend Maria. I'd decided to try my hand at bacon wrapped stuffed peppers and tamales. I just want to say I can make both just fine, but I'll get into that later...
At the farmer's market, I picked up some spices for the tamales as well as the jalapenos for the stuffed peppers. I also found a 14" mum plants for five dollars that made its way back with me.
At Sunfresh, I surprisingly found everything needed for tamales and the special cheese - queso fresco - for the peppers. I wonder if Fred Meyers has these ingredients. I know they have corn husks so I can only imagine they have everything else, well maybe not the queso fresco, there seem to be more Mexicans here in Kansas City.
I was tempted to buy a pumpkin, but I can annoy my roommates with my absurd love of squash at a later time.
Post grocery shopping I drove to the arts INKubator and screenprinted forty-two anniversary show posters. I was impressed with how well they turned out. I need to scan one or figure out this photo situation because they've gone over smashingly. To my astonishment, I finished three layers in four hours, screen drying time included. Either I'm getting better at printing or my design was very simple - maybe both.
On the way home, I grabbed some cases of soda to sell at the show - trying to make all that I can. I advertised the posters for ten dollars, although I probably should have done five, turns out hipsters are broke.
When the posters were set up and the soda in a cooler, I began the tamales and gutting the peppers.
The show started at ten (by which time the tamales were steaming in my ingenious little aluminum tent contraption) and featured Ill Ease as the opening act.
In between her act and the next, I found out that I can make a mildly mean tamale. Honestly, I was impressed. I didn't think my tamale dough would set up, but it did and the chicken meat inside was rather tasty. Granted, they were no Manny's tamales, but for my first time, they were alright. It must be the spirits of the hundreds I've eaten in my life that helped. It was bound to happen that I start making them myself sooner or later.
The second (and last) main act was Hearts of Darkness. I had to miss a few of their songs to pick up Eric, but we made it back in time to hear the last few of their two and a half hour set.
When the show wound up, we ajourned to the Ship for a night of carousing and partying until the wee hours of the morn. Overall, it was an excellent way for the Pistol to celebrate its day.
A very magical Friday
Okay, so this time I have a legit reason for being behind. Just as I catch up, something else happens and I forget to blog, but I promise the reason is good.
Thursday - Spent the day printing calenders and learning about layering inks. The calender I've been working on has 5 thick layers of ink and when there are large expanses (verses a small business card) of many layers of ink it is difficult to make sure they lay down smoothly.
While I was printing Brady was working on the Wilco poster and we had a good talk. We discussed printing, how he started Hammerpress, among other things. I don't think I asked too many questions and the ones I asked, he seemed to like to answer. I feel like I'm back in my niche at Hammerpress. We also talked about projects that are coming up and how the Heidelberg is making such a vast difference in his production abilities.
After work, I finished my illustration(still not happy with it) and waited for..... Adam!!! (Who was supposed to show up Wednesday, but delayed in Chicago) He didn't arrive until 10 or 11 at night, a little later that he'd originally planned, even after revising his schedule since Wednesday. He was very impressed with my living situation right from the start.
Friday I took off from work and showed Adam around town. I introduced him to the folks at Hammerpress, ate at Manny's, and gave him a short driving tour. We mostly hung around the West Bottoms though. It was a bit like a dream.
Adam loved the warehouses, I knew he would. He said I should write more about the West Bottoms in my blog, however I feel as though it is hard to write about. It is incredibly surreal, like out of a movie. Although, we foreign this it remains somehow familiar. Maybe I belong in this sort of scenario (my successes would provide proof to that effect), but it seems like walking around here has a sense of deja vous.
Anyway, the two of us stayed up until 4 in the morning or later. We wandered the West Bottoms both by bike and foot. We explored a warehouse and found some rotting stairs. Adam made some tuna on toast and he and I discussed how to best make tamales. It was an incredibly lovely evening that even held a midwest thunderstorm in store for us...
Adam only stayed until Saturday morning. He bid me farewell and I left for the farmer's market to prepare for the evening's events.
Thursday - Spent the day printing calenders and learning about layering inks. The calender I've been working on has 5 thick layers of ink and when there are large expanses (verses a small business card) of many layers of ink it is difficult to make sure they lay down smoothly.
While I was printing Brady was working on the Wilco poster and we had a good talk. We discussed printing, how he started Hammerpress, among other things. I don't think I asked too many questions and the ones I asked, he seemed to like to answer. I feel like I'm back in my niche at Hammerpress. We also talked about projects that are coming up and how the Heidelberg is making such a vast difference in his production abilities.
After work, I finished my illustration(still not happy with it) and waited for..... Adam!!! (Who was supposed to show up Wednesday, but delayed in Chicago) He didn't arrive until 10 or 11 at night, a little later that he'd originally planned, even after revising his schedule since Wednesday. He was very impressed with my living situation right from the start.
Friday I took off from work and showed Adam around town. I introduced him to the folks at Hammerpress, ate at Manny's, and gave him a short driving tour. We mostly hung around the West Bottoms though. It was a bit like a dream.
Adam loved the warehouses, I knew he would. He said I should write more about the West Bottoms in my blog, however I feel as though it is hard to write about. It is incredibly surreal, like out of a movie. Although, we foreign this it remains somehow familiar. Maybe I belong in this sort of scenario (my successes would provide proof to that effect), but it seems like walking around here has a sense of deja vous.
Anyway, the two of us stayed up until 4 in the morning or later. We wandered the West Bottoms both by bike and foot. We explored a warehouse and found some rotting stairs. Adam made some tuna on toast and he and I discussed how to best make tamales. It was an incredibly lovely evening that even held a midwest thunderstorm in store for us...
Adam only stayed until Saturday morning. He bid me farewell and I left for the farmer's market to prepare for the evening's events.
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