Studio Apartment

As I still have no internet at my apartment, posting has been a bother. I currently sit inside the Rocket Cat Cafe, not yet enjoying my much-too-hot yet incredibly-fresh coffee, and croissant which is destined to make me thirsty enough to attempt the coffee. Better things to to, like post to my blog! But, ya'll should check out the Rocket Cat because the above photograph is actually the recently done side of the Rocket Cat, a fantastic work of art by Shepard Fairey, who of course is best known for the following images

http://www.designlessbetter.com/blogless/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/shepard-fairey_barack-hopethumbnail.jpg

http://www.graffiti.org/faq/kataras/kataras_fig3Fairey.jpg

and of course you may recognize the people in that photo as well, since Amelia, Kayla and Kevin came to visit last weekend for the awesome Gogol Bordello show at the Electric Factory! We enjoyed a lot of things including bubble tea, and a trip to the Archaelogy and Anthropology museum and also harassing classical sculptures just outside it.



The Studio is going really well! I have been using it daily, and have even begun a topsy-turvy doll which will of course have one side regular-doll, and the other side medusa-doll. Who knew I can sculpt?! I just need to learn how to sew.

I am headed out now, since Nick from the Mutter is moving to North Carolina today, to attend a pre-med program. He happens to be driving through Baltimore, and is giving me a ride, how awesome! I will be there to see awesome people, eat awesome food, and of course see awesome art, since Artwalk is Thursday night!

Becca the Incredible!

I have quite a few photos to post, and quite a few events to report, mostly including that I have officially moved into my studio with the help of one Celia Caust-Ellenbogen! I have a lot of stuff, and am going to purchase some light bulbs and extension cords and coffee!

The internet is down at the apartment temporarily because Ian has moved out, and Lizzie and her roommate M.E. haven't moved in yet. Turns out, same M.E. as the M.E. I worked with at Eastern State for a week before replacing her! Amazing!

Almost as amazing as Becca Stadtlander, former roommate, and lifetime buddy. She has been featured on Design Sponge, and I couldn't be more proud. Although, it should come as no surprise since she had a some pieces accepted into the Society of Illustrators back in January.

I am going to Baltimore next week to see the commencement show, and I couldn't be happier to see all these beautiful smiling faces and magical souls again. What a great month to move into my studio at the Berks Warehouse!

Domestic Transformer

So, Small Cool didn't pick my apartment, but it was fun to apply to something. (Seriously, what on earth would I do with a $2000 design shopping spree!?)

But, I've been really inspired by all the small, cool spaces, and I just saw this, and just had to share it with you guys. I guess I'll give up my dream of being the land lady of a 4 story row house full of artists...

Gary Chang's 330 square foot apartment. 24 rooms. Genius.

Done with Doubts and Dithering

It's been rainy and cold, so I haven't gone to buy my herbs yet. But, I did make dinner with Celia last week, so I saved the unused scallions and parsley: the scallions (above) are growing quite nicely in one of the two extra bed-risers I got from Ikea last year (since my bed uses 6). The parsley (below) is sprouting well in water.
My grandmother's violets are doing really well, just in time for their return in a week or so! She'll be thrilled with all the pretty white flowers!
Guys, I've got to admit something. The universe has been sort of handing things to me lately. I haven't had enough hands to accept it all, and I am really grateful, but I am beginning to wonder what it will want in return... Are you curious yet?

Mostly in terms of income. I was unemployed for a whole month, and it got to be a bit scary but mostly boring and unproductive. But since then I've been working at the Mutter, and still volunteering at Basho, while continuing to apply to anything that catches my eye. I am doing really well on my ghost tour training, and should be giving tours in just over a month! The Census called me last week, and I have my paid training next week. Urban Outfitters called me for a group interview that I accepted, but have been postponing on account of all the other things going on: I have to call and ask them to put my on the back burner for a few months, if they can. The Mutter might be needing me a little more often soon, when Nick leaves for his Pre-Med post-bac program in North Carolina, but I still haven't been told anything officially yet.

Most recently, today, my phone rang and it was Gert, downstairs. She asked if I wanted a job as a hostess at a Cafe, and if I wanted to make some money this week doing face painting at the UPenn Children's Festival. Of course I reluctantly said no the first, and yes to the second! We went to meet her friend Simone, who owns Hinge Cafe in Port Richmond, which is about a half hour walk, or a short bus ride. She needs a hostess for the weekends and helpers for face painting this week only. I am helping her out tomorrow and Thursday, but am busy other than that! Maybe later in the summer she'll be in need of some help, and then I might be more available, but maybe not. When we got back, I thanked Gert for the gig and the ride, and she casually mentioned that Simone has artists show work there from time to time. Gert is my favorite person today, if only she would get her act together building our tumbling composter!

I don't know how I'm going to have time to do all these things AND use my studio. All I know is, I get a lot more done when I am running on adrenaline, coffee, and chocolate, than a good night's sleep.

Mom is coming for dinner tonight, although she couldn't get her hands on a promised used Air Conditioning unit. Good thing I really won't need it for a few more weeks. I guess she'll just have to come visit again. Too bad, I really hate free dinner and mom's company!

Fantastic Planet

Maybe this Jade plant is good luck already! Or maybe I made my own luck by adopting him, because some pretty rad stuff has been dropping by to say hey for a few months now.

Yesterday as I was painting in Ian's apartment (lucky, I was being productive!), I got a call from the Census, offering me the job as an enumerator, beginning in May with 4 days of paid training! (Lucky, I scored a 95% and then assumed they didn't call for a month because I only speak English, but they were just being lazy I guess).

And best of all, some friends from Baltimore are into putting on plays as an art form, and so they are doing a rendition of Fantastic Planet. I thought I wouldn't be able to see it, since they were performing it in Baltimore, but they are on tour for a few days and played at the OX, which is really close to my house. I brought Andrew and Andre, and I think they liked it. And then my friend John and some other guys came back to my place ...ok, Ian's place to crash for the night. It was so awesome to see Mike and John and even the faces I barely recognized. It was a pretty good night.

And I noticed a few days ago, one of my (too many) avocado seeds is sprouting beautifully. And I bought some parsley for dinner with Celia, and threw the extra in water: they are beginning to root! And in celebration of Earth Day, I finally planted some seeds in some peat pots. I planted mustard and pole beans and some sweet pea. This really is one fantastic planet!

Jade

I had almost forgotten about these two photos.

Ian packing and Adam cleaning. It took exactly one week for Ian to quit his job and move to Pittsburgh. Fast!He gave me this jade plant. He's not doing so well. But I think Ian could learn a thing or two about succulents, because this guy was drowning. So, he's in new dryer soil, and I took all his dead and dying limbs away.He looks better already!
And in the process of cleaning him up, some little guys fell off. Let's see if they grow!

Small Spaces, Wide World

This morning, I helped Ian bring the rest of his stuff out to his car. He moved to Pittsburgh today. He'll be back in May to get one more carload, and he officially pays rent until July. But its strange to have been here less than a year and to have met Noel and Ian, watched Noel leave and be replaced by Ally, watched Ally leave, and finally say goodbye to Ian. Gert and I have decided to personally advertise and choose who gets to live here. The apartment beneath Ian's will be opening up over the summer as well. So, anyone looking for an awesome place to reside, here it is!

Speaking of residences, Apartment Therapy is hosting their 6th annual Small, Cool Spaces contest. Obviously I qualify because I live in a small space (well under the 400 square foot mark, their smallest category: Teeny Tiny), but I also live in an awesome space. I took some new photos and had to pick the best 5, and I am hoping they post my entry, but since they might not, here were my entries (I even cleaned up a bit for the photo shoot!):



Pretty damn cool, if you ask me.

Cool enough to work at Urban Outfitters? I had applied back in November, and received a call for a group interview this week. Talk about prompt. I decided to postpone the interview on account of I don't know what will be happening at the Mütter, since I have heard some rumors of a coworker quitting soon. But its a nice thought, to work 7 days a week and have a sweet discount on awesome clothes... Too bad I just paid my deposit on a studio space, since I can use Ian's for a few months yet. But I need to devote time to making art, and I am still convinced that I'll do better making art around other art-makers.

Although I have been writing a lot lately.

And here's something just a little controversial, to start the week off right.