Bonjour

Classes began last week, I'm taking French, Humanities I, Humanities II and Contemporary Marketing. Thrilling selection, I'm aware. I'm enjoying the French thus far, mostly because I'm compelled by an interest in language, art, croissants and indie movies, but honestly, taking two Humanities classes that I don't need feels just as pointless as it actually is. I'm not buying the stupid books. I'm trying to have a "positive mental attitude" but its not really working, obviously. Marketing can be interesting, if I'm in the right mood. . .

I started my design course on Saturday and it was really incredible, so that makes up for the lame Humanities courses. The school is well hidden within the confines of a smelly old building devoid of adequate signage and quite possibly the most disgusting restroom in existence, with all the quality of the finest five star redneck truck stop; however, once the class started it didn't really matter. The teacher went to the London College of Fashion, and teaches part time at Central Saint Martins(which is where the class is that I'm taking). Anyway, she's a really good designer and has worked for people like John Galliano and now designs for one of the up market brands for Urban Outfitters. She's also really nice and encouraging so thats good. 

In order to research for our line, we went to the school's fashion library, which is definitely my favorite type of library. An area full of all the fashion and design related books a person could want, every issue of Vogue, ever printed, in every country that it exists. then the there are sections on subjects like theory, photography, biography, and construction. Its going to be hard to concentrate on my other classes now, when my homework for the design course includes things like checking out boutiques in London, reading about designers and picking out vintage clothes for inspiration. I'm already distracted. . .

Whell

My shirt designing course is going well, Saturday was spent focusing on draping and sketching most of the day. Then, I went along and stopped at some amazing fabric stores around Berwick Street, looking for my color palette and settling on a grey green viscose jersey to kick things off. It drapes like a dream, but fabric prices are more of a nightmare. There are art stores, vinyl shops and a few little vintage clothing boutiques around that area too so those were fun to check out. Unfortunately my digital camera decided to turn on in my purse and by the time I noticed, it had succumbed to battery drain and was too late to salvage. Fortunately I had my film camera with me and managed to take a few shots. 

Thomas and I went Extreme Ironing over the weekend and were given many strange looks by people, most of them staring, questioning our motives, or just laughing. However there was one naysayer, with a vicious, oversized, and smelly-looking dog. I dubbed the owner Mr. Grumpy Pants. He wasn't very smiley. However, Thomas did a fabulous job of ironing except for the face that the shirt was still wrinkled. As far as my video camera skills, I'm not so confident. 

I am currently having a psychotically busy week. I thought that I forgot to turn a paper in, but it turns out I didn't because its not due until next week. So thats good news, although I went through the whole "pandemonium/stress filled" phase for no reason.

Updates

Just a quick note, if anyone has attempted to email me, the message probably hasn't gone through. A brilliant learning institution I'm involved with, called "college", decided to shut down the entire computer network and change all personal email addresses without letting students know ahead of time, just for kicks and giggles. I'm sure all the other students are as equally excited as I about the incident and squealing with excitement over the minute change in address that sufficiently manages to mess everything up; just one of the many pleasures that complete the community college experience. At least its free. My new, improved(?) email address is sarah_chorley@mail.tulsacc.edu as opposed to sarah.chorley@tulsacc.edu.

Sticks and Stones

Okay! So I've neglected to post on here for a while, but I have been busy writing papers over "Feminism in 20th Century Art" and "Bioethics Concerning The Human Genome Project". Go figure.  I've also been knitting; unfortunately the cat, Poppy, likes to "help" and randomly attacks while I try to knit, so its become more of a sport. I try to guard the knitting while Poppy creeps up, ready to pounce at any moment like a blood thirsty saber-tooth tiger hunting wild boar during famine to feed its jungle kin. Alright, so maybe its not quite that dramatic, but work with me here. 

Aunt Liz and Uncle Les came down to Basingstoke to visit and we went to lots of interesting places like Stonehenge, Winchester and Jane Austen's House. 

Jane Austen briefly lived there

 

Miss Austen's actual house was there

This rooftop reminded me of the scary bird scene in Mary Poppins 

The Round Table(or so they say)

Though I may have a blog, I am no techy nerd and have no idea how to get this photo to turn... this is Jane Austen's grave in Winchester Cathedral

I lightened the exposure on this so one can see the intricate detailing inside the cathedral. 

The CRYPT...

Look! A bunch of old rocks!

 I'd always wanted to go to Stonehenge and definitely listened to the entire audio tour. It was really cold outside though!

Blueberries, Anyone?

This weekend I went with Aunt Liz and Uncle Les to the Cotswold's. The area we went was very picturesque and had a lot of sheep and pheasants.

Lower Slaughter... Apparently there used to be more sheep in the area, but sadly, they probably weren't destined for long life in a town with a name like that. I'm guessing Upper Slaughter isn't much better. Poor little sheep.

Part of a river that runs through the town.

Thomas took the next pictures at a German fair we we went to in Birmingham

Myself and Aunt Liz

 

We went to a birthday party at The Pretty Bricks; if Shades of Brown and Kilkenny's had a child, this would be it. There was definitely a pirate there.

On the way back I crammed myself into one of the weirdest train rides I've ever experienced. The entire train was so packed that people had to stand in the aisles and entryway's, and there still wasn't enough room however, there was quite a bit of angry yelling. I squeezed on, but stood up the whole ride smushed between a crazy lady who announced that she was a Biologist and started handing out blueberries to strangers, and several students with their Ipods so loud they were probably deaf by the end of the journey. But hey, I got where I needed to go. 

Pyrotechnics

Well this Saturday was firework night; Wednesday was the 5th of November which is Guy Fawkes Day here. So, there was a guy burnt at the stake(a scarecrow like figure, not a real person, as I was led to believe in my younger days) and lots of fireworks at the festival in town. It was pretty enjoyable, and really what's not to love? Celebratory burning of terrorists is always brings a good laugh and it teaches the kids responsibility... 

Eh

I have five bottles of water sitting on my desk. That means I either recycle or am a pack rat.

I'm going to an ABBA dress up/sing along pantomime soon and my eyes are hurting from sewing sequins and psychedelic prints. I can't believe I just admitted that. The costumes are going to be crazy fun. 

Though halloween is well over, I'm still reaping the benefits of the free candy aspect of the situation, though I didn't actually collect any. 

I went into London Saturday and tried to go shopping, didn't get a single thing. I think its because I get so overwhelmed by choice and shear abundance. 

I had my hair done about two weeks ago so it would all be one overall tone, instead of the variations it seems to turn so randomly. Unfortunately after only a few washes, its lighter than it was before and looks like I need to have it done again because apparently I have an albino streak and my hair rejects dark color. This leaves me only one choice, back to blue.