Remember (like eighteen years ago) how I said I was doing an independent study on window display designs? Well, I finally set up my first installation last week. It’s not exactly how I wanted it, so I’ll tweak it a bit when I head out this week to set up window two, but it came out fairly decent, I’d say.

Here I am halfway done. What I expected to take only an hour or two turned out to be a much longer job. All the windows in the store had hooks for hanging things, except the first one which I was working with. After two trips to Lowes, lunch at Panera, and a stop at Michaels, I was finally getting to it. Can’t say that I’ve ever been on a fifteen-foot ladder before installing drywall toggles and hooks from an eighteen-foot ceiling before…but I liked it for some reason. The best part was everyone outside (and inside the store) watching and saying, “ohhh look at that!” Thanks for raising my self-esteem, Promenade shoppers.

I’m pretty sure Sage stole my iTunes library. While working my butt off, I heard a ton of Imogen Heap, Frou Frou, The Postal Service, Jem, Eisley, and Regina Spektor. Unfortunately a Fall Out Boy song came on every once in a while (which stuck out sorely in the playlist). I lived, though.

I painstakingly cut the letters out of foamcore and built them up with little chunks for filler to give them some depth (I think an inch and a half or so). Super77′ed the heck out of them, and then go to wrapping. “Spring” is made of a grey, white, tan, green, and chartreuse yarn, spanish moss, and twigs. “Forward” is straight up yarn.

I drew my inspiration from birdnests and the good little stuff they find that they decorate with. I remember as a kid always seeing birdnests in the backyard that had fabric, strings, or a ribbons in them and thinking, “I wonder where they found that…”

Ugh, it was so hard getting a decent shot. By the time I got done, it was dark and the lighting was terrible—glares galore. I borrowed Beth’s XT but it had a fixed-length lens on it and it made things even harder. That stenciled on patterns are (or will be soon) gone hopefully.

Okay, that’s about all I feel like saying. Long story short: I love designing window installations, but just for fun. It’s tiring. Oh yeah, and the store I’m working with is amazing. It’s sort of like an urban outfitters or something trendy, but also for a more mature audience. I saw a ton of older women come in and check out designer stuff, as well as a bunch of teenagers.

PS: I’m a bit behind on prepping things for this week’s window with all this portfolio work. I’ll get it done. Eventually.

OH GOD. My computer must be screaming for help (and some vicodin)! I’ve been beating the heck out if it more than ever lately.

Why? My finished portfolio is due a week from today! And you know what? I’ve waited til the last minute to finish getting things ready. Surprised? Don’t be. That explains the lack of updates latelty, and I’m apologizing in advance for the next week or two. I’ll try to whip up a little bit of stuff every now and then if I can.

Anywho, here is a few little snippets of some things that are going into the portfolio. @_@

Okay. Time for bed soon, I think. Tomorrow will be another long day of working.

MEG & DIA. A long-time favorite band of mine makes another comeback with their second mainstream album.

What If — you can’t help what’s changed, i’ve become so much of you, i won’t ever be the same — With Meg & Dia, usually I’m confused over obscure lyrics and strange pronunciations. But not this time. I think What If is a little more “mainstream” sounding than some of their previous tracks, and that might have something to do with it. If you start listening and decide you’re not really feeling it, at least skip to 2:02 and give the bridge a chance—I love the epicness of it.

Black Wedding —  you, were unaware that diamonds came with debt— I’m not sure what I think about Black Wedding. Its off-beat sound screams Meg & Dia but doesn’t pull me in like I wish it did. It’s beautiful sounding—don’t get me wrong, it’s just not really my type, I guess.

HEY MONDAY. My current obsession. They’re not the most unique group, their lyrics aren’t the best, and I think it’s safe to say they’re a bunch of scene kids, but I haven’t heard a group of songs as catchy and addictive as some of these. I’m not sure if this is a good thing, but here’s my description: The Veronicas meet Avril Lavigne meets Paramore. That being said, I can still say I’m proud that it’s a part of my iTunes library. I’m seriously in love—every track except one (Josey) tickles my fancy.

How You Love Me Now — tell me, how can you sleep? how can you breathe? — Usually I get most attached with the first song I hear by a band, but it wasn’t the the case here. I listened to the whole album through once, and this song screamed my name louder than the others. It’s an incredibly catchy piece of bubblegum rock.

Run, Don’t Walk — everyone watch me as i descend into a feeling that’s overwhelming me — The little synth pattern in the intro is what grabbed my attention. That’s typically the case with me though; give me a cool sounding beep or something and I’m hooked. It’s always hard to order tracks by favorites, but Run, Don’t Walk definitely comes in second place.

Homecoming — i want to know, if when all the leaves begin to fall, if i’m fallin, fallin apart for you — A great pop-rock song that I see having the potential to hit mainstream media. Choosing this as the lead single from their album was probably a good idea. Not particularly my absolute favorite track, but it’s a nice balance between pop and rock. Some of their other songs are a little more candy-coated, while some are a little more the opposite.

Candles — the powerlines went out and i am all alone — I’m not going to lie… Candles sounds like a cheesy junior-high slow-dance song, but I still find it infectious. It’s one of the two slow ballads on Hold On Tight, the other being 6 Months.

Nerd alert: here come the video game screenshots. Now, don’t go judging—I think things even as geeky as video game visuals can be appreciated from a design point. Take a look at how beautiful and rich these graphics are with their realistic environments and lighting.

Supposedly, the first Uncharted game (which had a beautiful tropical jungle / ancient temple setting) only used 30% of the Playstation 3’s processing power. The sequel, however, will use much more of its abilities, meaning only a more gorgeous playing environment. And here I had thought, it couldn’t get much better.