Growing up has, for me, become this life-long experiment in discovering every facet of who I am and who I can be.
When I was 8 I wanted to be a painter; because that's what my parents were.
When I was 11 I wanted to be an actor. Because I had fallen in love with movies and it ticked every emotional box there was in my book.
I rode that dream through into college, getting myself a nice Theatre Performance degree, and began to find other little bits and pieces to myself that I perhaps...loved??
Post-college I did whatever I could, creatively, to earn a dollar. In addition to acting, I dipped into illustration, writing, and editing resumes. That's when I began to feel that acting alone just wouldn't cut it. So I spent two years getting my MFA in Arts Leadership; a conveniently vague title that ought to open a variety of doors right? Sort of.
I took my MFA and somehow the only field I could find consistent work in was Marketing, (which is where I am today). I focused on non-profits, and even within that field, the only doors that opened to me were marketing doors. While I've truly discovered my strengths and weaknesses in this latest career field, and I've had some changes to direct theatre, write copy, edit, and do a tiny bit of amateur graphic design...it still is not enough. Or rather, it's plenty, but it's not all the right bits yet...
...so now I find myself, once more daydreaming of what I truly, truly want to be when I grow up. And here's where I'd like to be:
I want to work from home. I want to set my own schedule. I want to write, produce, and work collaboratively on various projects. I want some of my free time to be spent sharpening my people/creative skills by volunteering on boards I am proud to be on, and I want the rest of my free time to be spent with the people I love, doing whatever they want to do!
And here is where I am so far:
I live in close enough proximity to spend any available free time with the people I love. I am on several creative boards I am proud to be a part of. I have 80% of a plan for writing/producing my own work, and I have people I want to collaborate with.
So what's holding me back from diving in head-first? Fear. Always. And a need for financial stability. What I plan to do; I know it can be financially stable, but I also know that it will take time. And I dread that time.
But what else am I supposed to do?
-Gin
Monday, September 16, 2019
Monday, January 7, 2019
Logolicious!
I recently sat down with the person who will be creating my very first logo for Fabulist Fables! She is known throughout the virtual realms as Spare Room Studio, and she is local to Jackson, Mississippi.
Getting to share Fabulist Fables with her was exhilarating and easier than it has ever been thus far. We seem to have kindred-creative-spirits, which is always a plus when collaborating, and she went on to rave about Fabulist Fables in her instagram the next day!
It is a truly magical thing to have someone believe in your work.
Getting to share Fabulist Fables with her was exhilarating and easier than it has ever been thus far. We seem to have kindred-creative-spirits, which is always a plus when collaborating, and she went on to rave about Fabulist Fables in her instagram the next day!
It is a truly magical thing to have someone believe in your work.
Thursday, July 26, 2018
Fabulist Fables begins...
I've begun the process of building a website. Fabulist Fables. It's my dream in virtual form. Taking the process of storytelling and making it both tool and product in the quest for context and collaboration in this world of ours.
The hardest part is siphoning the thousand of thoughts I have down into a singular mission. I went deep into debt studying the concept of mission and vision, as it pertains to an organization, so I'll be damned if the only thing keeping me from my dream is my own thought process.
Fables: a fictitious narrative or statement.
Fabulist: a creator or writer of fables...or a liar.
Fabulist Fables. It's redundant. It's alliterative. It's cheeky. At least it is to me! Okay, first of all, the idea that "telling a story" is "telling a lie", strikes me as overly literal and abundantly hyperbolic. With that in mind, the idea of celebrating the telling of a fables and the fabulist themselves is a necessary way to remind ourselves that stories are meant to compel; NOT repel.
Fabulist Fables. I want it to be a welcoming, inspirational space for storytellers and story-obtainers alike. A place where words, visuals, and thoughts all coalesce. A place to grow and a place to rest. A place for telling stories, discovering stories, and creating brand new ideas that will one day become unique stories.
It's a workshop; a playhouse; a storytellers' club.
For now it's a website. I'd LOVE to have a physical space one day, but hey, let's start here.
fabulistfables.org
The hardest part is siphoning the thousand of thoughts I have down into a singular mission. I went deep into debt studying the concept of mission and vision, as it pertains to an organization, so I'll be damned if the only thing keeping me from my dream is my own thought process.
Fables: a fictitious narrative or statement.
Fabulist: a creator or writer of fables...or a liar.
Fabulist Fables. It's redundant. It's alliterative. It's cheeky. At least it is to me! Okay, first of all, the idea that "telling a story" is "telling a lie", strikes me as overly literal and abundantly hyperbolic. With that in mind, the idea of celebrating the telling of a fables and the fabulist themselves is a necessary way to remind ourselves that stories are meant to compel; NOT repel.
Fabulist Fables. I want it to be a welcoming, inspirational space for storytellers and story-obtainers alike. A place where words, visuals, and thoughts all coalesce. A place to grow and a place to rest. A place for telling stories, discovering stories, and creating brand new ideas that will one day become unique stories.
It's a workshop; a playhouse; a storytellers' club.
For now it's a website. I'd LOVE to have a physical space one day, but hey, let's start here.
fabulistfables.org
Wednesday, June 6, 2018
My List
At some point, a friend told me to write a list. Some time after that I began a list. Now I don't remember who that friend was or why I was in need of advice that elicited this list suggestion. Now a days I make lists on anything that I can use a pen or pencil on. Gone are the days when I had one singular journal that housed all of my thoughts, (I have a stack of 9 or 10 from those days on shelf), now I have small notebooks, stacks of loose papers of all colors and sizes, and accompanying doodles that would probably fill a thick sketch pad at this point.
But back to making a list. Here's what's on my list:
-Work on one of the many novels I've started
-Collaborate with my sister to create a Graphic Novel
-Start a business with my sisters.
-Write and produce my own music
-Finish those portraits of my roommates from four years ago
-Read books again, because somehow I don't anymore??
-Open up my Etsy business
-Write/Collaborate a comic that features an autobiographical superhero
-DM a campaign!
-Write and publish an RPG on Kickstarter
-Live much closer to all of my family
-Finish and send out my full length Play
-Write One acts and receive royalties on them
It's a lot and I've made peace with the fact that there are several careers packed into that list. I've also made a deal with myself that I will be okay as long as I am always trying for at least two of these items at any given time.
What's on your list?
But back to making a list. Here's what's on my list:
-Work on one of the many novels I've started
-Collaborate with my sister to create a Graphic Novel
-Start a business with my sisters.
-Write and produce my own music
-Finish those portraits of my roommates from four years ago
-Read books again, because somehow I don't anymore??
-Open up my Etsy business
-Write/Collaborate a comic that features an autobiographical superhero
-DM a campaign!
-Write and publish an RPG on Kickstarter
-Live much closer to all of my family
-Finish and send out my full length Play
-Write One acts and receive royalties on them
It's a lot and I've made peace with the fact that there are several careers packed into that list. I've also made a deal with myself that I will be okay as long as I am always trying for at least two of these items at any given time.
What's on your list?
Wednesday, March 1, 2017
I am struggling with something that I don't feel knowledgable enough to name. Depression? Anxiety? A mixture of both? I've finally started counseling for the first time ever, (something I have wanted for a while but, for various reasons, never attained) and I look forward to being able to name whatever it is.
Regardless, I seem to be high-functioning enough that it doesn't actually hijack the rest of my life...not directly at least. Instead I am undercutting myself. I lack motivation at odd times. Not at all times. I lack energy, but not always. I feel victimized by everyone around me...but not every hour of every day.
I am lonely, almost always. Alone time isn't what it used to be.
Here's the thing. I am in grad school. I am MONTHS away from my MFA. I am so close. I also have built up several things, (mostly because of grad school), where I am accountable to others and they are, to some extent, counting on the work I do. In the state that I am in, this is a terrible time for others to be counting on me. I don't feel reliable, I don't feel trustworthy, and yet here I am begging everyone to see me as such.
Okay now here it goes: SHIFT!
I could keep going on and on about my inner turmoil. Maybe at the end of such a rant would come enlightenment. But here's the the thing...I haven't stopped self-examining towards negativity in a long time. It's all I do. So I'm going to focus on positive things. Hopeful things. The good things that are happening and could happen.
1. My boyfriend. I could keep pretending to the rest of the world that it's not a big deal, but this man is a huge deal to me. He makes me immensely happy and safe and valued.
2. My sisters. every time, without fail, when we hang out I am refreshed and loved and feel grounded. They are the bridge to my past and the anchor to my present.
3. My parents. They are an extreme source of inspiration. They are living their actual life-dream, they love each other in an unbelievable and yet achievable way, and us kids are still at the center of their thoughts every day.
4. My apartment. I have a great roommate. I have a lovely little room. It is close to campus and jobs and it has been a sanctuary for the past year and a half.
5. MY JOBS. I don't take enough time to remind myself of how fortunate I am in my jobs. To be in grad school and yet to have found several sources of income that "work" with my schedule. Two part time, and a several every-once-in-a-while gigs.
6. My health. I want to be healthier and I want to know more about the state of my body and mind, HOWEVER, I can say confidently that I am able-bodied, able-minded, and capable of reaching greater heights in health and wellness. That's awesome.
There's more. There's so much more. But I want to be able to focus on these extremely important things. I need to.
That's all.
-Gin
Regardless, I seem to be high-functioning enough that it doesn't actually hijack the rest of my life...not directly at least. Instead I am undercutting myself. I lack motivation at odd times. Not at all times. I lack energy, but not always. I feel victimized by everyone around me...but not every hour of every day.
I am lonely, almost always. Alone time isn't what it used to be.
Here's the thing. I am in grad school. I am MONTHS away from my MFA. I am so close. I also have built up several things, (mostly because of grad school), where I am accountable to others and they are, to some extent, counting on the work I do. In the state that I am in, this is a terrible time for others to be counting on me. I don't feel reliable, I don't feel trustworthy, and yet here I am begging everyone to see me as such.
Okay now here it goes: SHIFT!
I could keep going on and on about my inner turmoil. Maybe at the end of such a rant would come enlightenment. But here's the the thing...I haven't stopped self-examining towards negativity in a long time. It's all I do. So I'm going to focus on positive things. Hopeful things. The good things that are happening and could happen.
1. My boyfriend. I could keep pretending to the rest of the world that it's not a big deal, but this man is a huge deal to me. He makes me immensely happy and safe and valued.
2. My sisters. every time, without fail, when we hang out I am refreshed and loved and feel grounded. They are the bridge to my past and the anchor to my present.
3. My parents. They are an extreme source of inspiration. They are living their actual life-dream, they love each other in an unbelievable and yet achievable way, and us kids are still at the center of their thoughts every day.
4. My apartment. I have a great roommate. I have a lovely little room. It is close to campus and jobs and it has been a sanctuary for the past year and a half.
5. MY JOBS. I don't take enough time to remind myself of how fortunate I am in my jobs. To be in grad school and yet to have found several sources of income that "work" with my schedule. Two part time, and a several every-once-in-a-while gigs.
6. My health. I want to be healthier and I want to know more about the state of my body and mind, HOWEVER, I can say confidently that I am able-bodied, able-minded, and capable of reaching greater heights in health and wellness. That's awesome.
There's more. There's so much more. But I want to be able to focus on these extremely important things. I need to.
That's all.
-Gin
Tuesday, February 14, 2017
There is a man I know well. Let's call him Fred.
Fred is a writer and a professor and also a full-time doodler.
Let's start with his doodles. Whenever Fred finds himself sitting still, listening to others, he will, invariably, find himself a scrap of paper, one of his fine felt-tipped markers, and begin winding and twisting his way through one of his whimsical doodles.
He times himself in his head. Tries to finish these little playing-card-sized pieces of art before the end of a presentation, or a lecture, or a sermon. Sometimes he has enough time to add a second color to the mix. Often times he colors them in later when he finds another spare moment.
What do these doodles amount to? Not much in the waking world. They sit in his briefcase, on his office desk, scattered around his home computer. He doesn't like to show them and only rarely likes to talk about them. I think he's secretly proud of his little artworks and publicly ashamed of his pride.
Fred is a thousand things and more and capable of endless potential.
Sometimes I feel unsure as a creative person...then I think of Fred and his doodles and how they are just a tidbit of who and what he is. That's when I keep going.
Fred is a writer and a professor and also a full-time doodler.
Let's start with his doodles. Whenever Fred finds himself sitting still, listening to others, he will, invariably, find himself a scrap of paper, one of his fine felt-tipped markers, and begin winding and twisting his way through one of his whimsical doodles.
He times himself in his head. Tries to finish these little playing-card-sized pieces of art before the end of a presentation, or a lecture, or a sermon. Sometimes he has enough time to add a second color to the mix. Often times he colors them in later when he finds another spare moment.
What do these doodles amount to? Not much in the waking world. They sit in his briefcase, on his office desk, scattered around his home computer. He doesn't like to show them and only rarely likes to talk about them. I think he's secretly proud of his little artworks and publicly ashamed of his pride.
Fred is a thousand things and more and capable of endless potential.
Sometimes I feel unsure as a creative person...then I think of Fred and his doodles and how they are just a tidbit of who and what he is. That's when I keep going.
Wednesday, August 24, 2016
Let's start in the Mid...
About a month ago I started writing a musical. I've done this once before, and what came of it was my very first theatrical creation "Out of the Sandbox" Which you can find on my Directing Page....you can also listen to a sampling of the sound design I created via my SoundCloud.
Creating "Sandbox" was exhilarating. In retrospect I envy my younger self for not being afraid to tell a story in the way I thought it would best be told. My younger self made mistakes and missed opportunities and didn't exactly put together a perfect piece...and thank God for that. Because it was a success, despite all the stupid reasons we don't follow through with something creative.
Okay - so - back to writing a new musical. The idea was, "hey, I have a bunch of songs I've written over the years...I wonder if I could fit some of them into a story!" So I did.
So far it is title "Mid", and it's on its second-ish draft. It is the story of three women who are pulled, against their wills, into Mid, the land where people go when they die with unfinished business. We follow the women as they try and discover why they are there and how to get back to the land of the living.
It has been wonderful to tell a story about women who are strong, weak, dynamic etc. The story is very fairytale-esque, (the only genre I seem able to explore as a writer!), and the music is, so far, singer-songwriter to the max.
I have had the honor of receiving feedback from many talented storytellers who are also friends. I am also enlisting the help of a few fellow musicians to help me tell the music side of the story. I would like to always collaborate when I storytell; this process feels like the perfect opportunity to really stretch myself as far as getting feedback, communicating my creative intentions, and again, following through no matter what. My goal is to have a public reading/singing of this story.
That's all folks - for now!
-Gin
Gin, Jane and Jasper
I'm putting together a schedule/list of activities for my very special upcoming birthday. I'm turning 25 and wanted to make it memorable, social and a sort of milestone as 25 feels like an important one to me.
The plan has, for a while now, been to have an all-day crawl starting with Coffee, moving on to Books, and ending in Pubs :)
So far lots of people are interested, and regardless of how many people can make it, I know it will make a good day.
Reflecting on some of the things I love most is one of my favorite things to do. Favorite books, movies, authors, drinks, etc...for one I love making lists, and for two I love recalling the memories attached to each "favorite".
Here are a few of my favorite things and the memories attached:
"Gin and Tonic"
Currently my favorite cocktail
*When I first tasted Gin, I hated it. But - I reasoned - it's basically my namesake drink...I immediately resolved to learn to love it...and for once that worked! Now I love the fresh taste. Plus, it always reminds me of a particularly involved evening of laughter, tears, drinking and revelry with my two roommates a few years back. You two know who you are.
"Jane Eyre"
Favorite Book
*this should come as no surprise to anyone who knows me. I read this book once a year, I practically revere Jane, and I find new and beautiful things in every read....oh yeah and I collect copies of the book :)
"Jasper Fforde"
Favorite Author
*Fforde has become my favorite author over the past few years and has stayed there. He is from Wales, he never attended university, he worked in film and he writes stories that are humorous, heartfelt, fantastical, and believable in the most wacky sense. Also his subject matter has included Jane Eyre, alternate realities, literary love, JMW Turner, and dodos. I'm a huge fan and I still retain a spot of misery for not being able to attend a booksigning when he was here in Seattle. Hopefully next time...
I have more - who doesn't? - but let's leave it at that.
-Gin
The plan has, for a while now, been to have an all-day crawl starting with Coffee, moving on to Books, and ending in Pubs :)
So far lots of people are interested, and regardless of how many people can make it, I know it will make a good day.
Reflecting on some of the things I love most is one of my favorite things to do. Favorite books, movies, authors, drinks, etc...for one I love making lists, and for two I love recalling the memories attached to each "favorite".
Here are a few of my favorite things and the memories attached:
Currently my favorite cocktail
*When I first tasted Gin, I hated it. But - I reasoned - it's basically my namesake drink...I immediately resolved to learn to love it...and for once that worked! Now I love the fresh taste. Plus, it always reminds me of a particularly involved evening of laughter, tears, drinking and revelry with my two roommates a few years back. You two know who you are.
Favorite Book
*this should come as no surprise to anyone who knows me. I read this book once a year, I practically revere Jane, and I find new and beautiful things in every read....oh yeah and I collect copies of the book :)
Favorite Author
*Fforde has become my favorite author over the past few years and has stayed there. He is from Wales, he never attended university, he worked in film and he writes stories that are humorous, heartfelt, fantastical, and believable in the most wacky sense. Also his subject matter has included Jane Eyre, alternate realities, literary love, JMW Turner, and dodos. I'm a huge fan and I still retain a spot of misery for not being able to attend a booksigning when he was here in Seattle. Hopefully next time...
I have more - who doesn't? - but let's leave it at that.
-Gin
Thursday, August 18, 2016
For here and for now...
I am going to post again...because I am embarking on my next adventure, which is Grad School.
Also, writing regularly is objectively a good thing.
Also, I want to write my memoirs one day and have been lately very inspired to get things started in that department.
My current state of residence is as follows: Seattle, WA, specifically on a sketchy street on Capitol Hill -
I don't exactly know when the above was written but it had to have been in the last year! I am still living on said-sketchy street on Capitol Hill, I am halfway through my Grad program, and I am in a consistent state of panic and numbness.
A friend once got me onto the idea of what we will all title our autobiographies one day. Besides the initial fun of coming up with the title, the concept has stuck with me over the past couple of years.
In case you are wondering, it will be called "Lasagna Girl", potentially with an added qualifier, because I am the queen of self-qualifying :) The story of this title will have to wait for another post...
...over time I've added chapter titles to this autobiography. Again, I'll have to write posts later on detailing the stories behind each, but here are the chapters so far:
-What we Learned from Helens and Ces
-I Had a Twin but She Quit
-My Concern over Book Series and how they Forever Altered my Reading Experience
-You Try hand Try and Try; then you mess up once and THAT is when you would have succeeded...if you had tried.
-I love you Scar Face
-Is that MY Dragon?
-Unintential Punchlines
Today I'd like to share the latest chapter title, and some thoughts on the content:
"My Six-Week Summer"
The six weeks are the ones I am currently inhabiting. You see my grad program has us in school all year-long, so our one break comes in the very middle, for the next six weeks of a particularly beautiful Seattle summer.
Of course, when I say "beautiful", I am speaking strictly of the weather. Not to sound as depressed as I am, but seriously, this is a rough break so far.
I am currently working for a staffing company where the "flexible" schedule means my paycheck is equally "flexible" in content.
I've been unsuccessfully on the job hunt ever since leaving my last Quarter-Time Job several months back. Now that I am on "break", I can devote myself to the task whole-heartedly.
Now allow me to put a lid on the negativity for of moment. Because in all of the aweful that is job-hunt, roommate-hunt (this one ended successfully!), and happiness-hunt...I recently learned three very important very encouraging things about myself.
1. I love routine
2. I love working hard
3. I love financial independence
4. I do not like living alone (this one could change I suppose, depending on where I am in life)
These are things I am willing to bet a LOT of people love/don't like. These are things I should have already KNOWN about myself. Somehow these facts were rather knew to me. They are specifically things of which I have always assumed the opposite.
I thought I hated routine. I thought I was lazy. I thought I liked being taken care of in a lot of ways. And I definitely thought I just wanted to be left alone when it came to home-life.
So I hope there are others who are learning that they're previous self-identifiers are crap. Especially if they are things that you know, deep down, are negative for you.
Sending out all my love and hope. Will be happy to receive in return :)
-Gin
A friend once got me onto the idea of what we will all title our autobiographies one day. Besides the initial fun of coming up with the title, the concept has stuck with me over the past couple of years.
In case you are wondering, it will be called "Lasagna Girl", potentially with an added qualifier, because I am the queen of self-qualifying :) The story of this title will have to wait for another post...
...over time I've added chapter titles to this autobiography. Again, I'll have to write posts later on detailing the stories behind each, but here are the chapters so far:
-What we Learned from Helens and Ces
-I Had a Twin but She Quit
-My Concern over Book Series and how they Forever Altered my Reading Experience
-You Try hand Try and Try; then you mess up once and THAT is when you would have succeeded...if you had tried.
-I love you Scar Face
-Is that MY Dragon?
-Unintential Punchlines
Today I'd like to share the latest chapter title, and some thoughts on the content:
"My Six-Week Summer"
The six weeks are the ones I am currently inhabiting. You see my grad program has us in school all year-long, so our one break comes in the very middle, for the next six weeks of a particularly beautiful Seattle summer.
Of course, when I say "beautiful", I am speaking strictly of the weather. Not to sound as depressed as I am, but seriously, this is a rough break so far.
I am currently working for a staffing company where the "flexible" schedule means my paycheck is equally "flexible" in content.
I've been unsuccessfully on the job hunt ever since leaving my last Quarter-Time Job several months back. Now that I am on "break", I can devote myself to the task whole-heartedly.
Now allow me to put a lid on the negativity for of moment. Because in all of the aweful that is job-hunt, roommate-hunt (this one ended successfully!), and happiness-hunt...I recently learned three very important very encouraging things about myself.
1. I love routine
2. I love working hard
3. I love financial independence
4. I do not like living alone (this one could change I suppose, depending on where I am in life)
These are things I am willing to bet a LOT of people love/don't like. These are things I should have already KNOWN about myself. Somehow these facts were rather knew to me. They are specifically things of which I have always assumed the opposite.
I thought I hated routine. I thought I was lazy. I thought I liked being taken care of in a lot of ways. And I definitely thought I just wanted to be left alone when it came to home-life.
So I hope there are others who are learning that they're previous self-identifiers are crap. Especially if they are things that you know, deep down, are negative for you.
Sending out all my love and hope. Will be happy to receive in return :)
-Gin
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Play is the THING!
I was very fortunate to jump on this bandwagon by way of being the assistant director; the director then asked if I would like to play the maid....I remember very clearly I was still cleaning houses at the time for my daily income...I looked at the sponge in my hand; I looked at the toilet I was about to clean; I almost cried while telling her I would love to be a part of the show.
It gives the entire cast a chance to meet on equal terms.
Allows artistic leadership at the theatre to greet the cast and talk about their work.
Everyone sees things like costume renderings, set drawings, props etc...
In short everyone really gets a good feel for the show upon which they are about to embark.
Also we read the play. And that is usually the most exciting, most funny, most delightful version of the play you will ever experience....and sometimes they provide scrumptious snacks :)
Part-way through the rehearsal process I was so excited to say hello to one of my dear friends from college who also moved up to Seattle this year.
She has been an exemplary Assistant Stage Manager...but I already knew that about her! I've served under her Stage Management before and felt in very safe hands.
It's especially nice to have a familiar face mixing in with new friends in my first professional foray into acting.
This is what happens when we get into dress rehearsals.
I lug out make up kits....scrounge around for spare tweezers....clean, scrub, reorganize, etc, etc, etc....
....in the end I have one highly efficient, very organized make-up kit that I can take with me proudly to the theatre!
I opened a show with this lovely lady and it was a wonderful feeling
:)
Performances themselves feel like an entirely different show from rehearsals.
You're getting to know your fellow actors in new ways; you're playing with them onstage every night; you are getting to know yourself every night in a new way; you are wearing a freaking costume (I love mine to death...think downtown abbey) and you are doing something for a living that gives you life...
....at least it does me :)
If you're lucky, you have the best people at your side who agree to switch hats with you and take pictures of the event.
This amazing woman inspires me to be a well-rounded human being in addition to honing my craft. She has done so much and continues to live life with gusto and determination.
I love her.
the wig comes off
the braids come out
the two pin curls on the top of my head come unspun
the costume is hung up
and this is something of what i look like>>
At the end of the day I can look back and say: "I've done a thing today. I've done a thing I love. I've done a thing I've chased after since freshman year of college. I've done a thing."
Because it's important to me to say that to myself. It's also important that I understand the good things that have happened.
One of the most special things I experienced with this show had nothing to do with my acting...nothing to do with the stage...with the makeup or costumes or writing of the play....
...it was having my siblings in the audience on a wednesday night. This was the first time for any of them to really see me act onstage.
After that play, we went out for drinks and I just couldn't believe how blessed I am to have them. They are my favorites. And I love them dearly.
It's wonderful to have outside anchors reminding me throughout the drama of theatre of who I am, what I want, where I've been, where I could go....
-Gin
Friday, February 21, 2014
Highlights
It's been a while but I have no regrets about not posting. My mind gets too full sometimes...all the times. And when that happens it really is best for me to temporarily cut things out of my brain and make room.
So here I am and I'll be giving some updates! I think there may be too many for one post, so I'll share it over the next couple of days.
First off HAPPY NEW YEAR. This instagram photo showcases my first few hours of 2014. Enjoying a sangria at my sister's work place, and reading my first book of the year. The Orphan Master's Son is wonderful. I highly recommend it. PLUS, this is a good time to mention I am doing a 52 books in 52 weeks alongside my bestie from Jackson: Tonic over at TessaCotton.
Also, as you may have guessed, I finally have an iPhone. This one shows the lovely case I custom "designed" online. I'm in love. It's true love. The truest kind.
I am over the moon about the time I get to spend with my siblings now that we live in the same city. Sometimes weeks go by without my seeing any of them; but there's something about being ABLE to get to them should I want or need to that gives me a constant calm.
Thankfully I found one way to make some balance :)
My absolute favorite drink: Chocolati's dirty chai. Mostly I love the banter that goes on behind the counter after I announce my order. It usually involves a lot of debate about just how dirty does she want her dirty chai??
<3
My newest part time job has been a daily joy for me, as well as an intense struggle. Learn more when I post on working at this delightful paper/crafting store!
I've been in the loveliest of little plays and have ADORED EVERY SECOND OF IT! (more on that in a later post!)
My second book of the year was the gem from the mind of Allie Bosch. I loved every second of it, and I loved that I can keep going back for more any time I want.
Naturally I made a new lock screen when I found this illustration >>
So here I am and I'll be giving some updates! I think there may be too many for one post, so I'll share it over the next couple of days.
First off HAPPY NEW YEAR. This instagram photo showcases my first few hours of 2014. Enjoying a sangria at my sister's work place, and reading my first book of the year. The Orphan Master's Son is wonderful. I highly recommend it. PLUS, this is a good time to mention I am doing a 52 books in 52 weeks alongside my bestie from Jackson: Tonic over at TessaCotton.
Also, as you may have guessed, I finally have an iPhone. This one shows the lovely case I custom "designed" online. I'm in love. It's true love. The truest kind.
I am over the moon about the time I get to spend with my siblings now that we live in the same city. Sometimes weeks go by without my seeing any of them; but there's something about being ABLE to get to them should I want or need to that gives me a constant calm.
Oh yeah, this happened :D
This is my state of mind a lot. Not completely depressed or overwhelmed....but constantly on the edge. I definitely need to see about getting my life more balanced.
Thankfully I found one way to make some balance :)
My absolute favorite drink: Chocolati's dirty chai. Mostly I love the banter that goes on behind the counter after I announce my order. It usually involves a lot of debate about just how dirty does she want her dirty chai??
<3
My newest part time job has been a daily joy for me, as well as an intense struggle. Learn more when I post on working at this delightful paper/crafting store!
I've been in the loveliest of little plays and have ADORED EVERY SECOND OF IT! (more on that in a later post!)
My second book of the year was the gem from the mind of Allie Bosch. I loved every second of it, and I loved that I can keep going back for more any time I want.
Naturally I made a new lock screen when I found this illustration >>
These are the highlites folks. I'm gonna do some separate posts on certain things over the next couple of days or weeks :)
-Gin
Friday, December 20, 2013
Paper Moose Tutorial!!
Today I'll be showing you how to make a moose out of a paper bag!
You Will Need:
<<<1 Paper Bag
(any size depending on how big you want your moose to be! I chose a medium size shopping bag.)
1 Pair of Scissors
Step 1>>>
-Open the bottom of the bag.
It's nearly impossible to do without making some rips but don't worry, this will not do any harm to your moose :)
<<<Step 2
<Starting at the original top of the bag, cut the side of the bag to about the halfway point.
<Repeat on opposite side.
<<<Cut the same length on the front and back of the bag.
<<<You should end up with your bag looking like this :)
(We are viewing the original bottom of the bag in this picture)
Step 3 >>>
-Gather one of the four "legs" and twist being careful not to tear it from the rest of the bag.
<<<When you repeat for all four "legs" this is what you will end up with!
Next, turn the bag around to the original bottom of the bag.
<<<Step 4
Cut along the broad side of the bag to just past halfway.
Step 5
Crumple one end of the bag inward to form the Moose Butt :)
Don't smash it down TOO much...Nobody likes flat-assed Moose.
Step 6
Gather the center of the moose and scrunch it in a bit to give the moose waist some shape.
(shown below)
At any given point feel free to go back and re-twist previously twisted areas to make sure they hold their form! Always being careful not to tear.
Step 7
Holding both sides together, cut along the middle as shown below.
<<<Step 8
Gather the "neck" area tightly but do not twist. I left a little fluff in the front "chest" area because Moose are majestic creatures and they deserve puffy chests.
<<<Step 9
Crumple front end inward to form snout. A majestic snout, of course; full and not too smashed. Much like the Moose Butt.
<<<Step 10
You have two pieces left on the head. Pull them apart to the either side. Pull one flat and cut as shown below.
Step 11
Twist the antlers (like the legs) as seen below.
Repeat on both antlers and they should look something like this:
And voila!!! You now have your very own majestic Moose!
Love him/her well and place in a prominent spot so his/her majesty can bless your home.
Hope you enjoyed this tutorial!
-Gin
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