Confusion

refers to the state I am in.

I finished my internship/work experience a week ago and I was so gung-ho going back to school after what I've learned in that two months of working with L and S. And I did learn a lot. I learned that I would never be a patternmaker nor a dressmaker since my skills on those really suck. I already knew that before hand but it got confirmed when I did my internship. At L's, I got relegated to quality control which wasn't bad. I learned to spot the mistakes and things that needed mending. At S', I learned how to control my grip when using the plain sewer and the overlocker/babylocker. I even got to use the electric cutter in cutting fabric. Now thaat was cool.

Then when I finally got around to looking at the briefs for this year, I started having panic attacks. I couldn't sleep. I didn't want to leave the house. I literally wanted to just shut myself from the world. I have 4 subjects this year. One is for the signature collection, which would take 2 days a week. Another subject which would take two days a week is Fashion Business, where I'm assuming we'd be learning all about how to establish and run a business) and the remaining day would be taken up by Millinery (half day) and Design and Product Development (half day). In short, it'll be another 5 days a week of 10 am to 5 pm (officially) which unofficially meant 9 am to possibly 7 pm.

The schedule and the fact that I'd be seeing and dealing with the same group of people have been causing me to stress out. It's not that I don't like these people but there are some who I am not happy to see. Last year, there was too much drama. And I hated it. Some of my classmates who are my friends share the sentiment. We've actually decided on a solution which was to fill our mp3 players with songs, focus on work and tune out the class.

But I don't think that's enough for me. I'm thinking of deferring some of my classes not only for said reason but also because I want to make sure I have enough time to learn what I want to learn. I just don't understand cramming everything at once and thinking that that's the way to learn. I'm also thinking of going on futher internship or work experience (whatever they'd call it) and for that I need available days. So I'll be talking to the person in charge of the deferment in school next week and hopefully they'd approve.

@ Work

Aside from interning at L's, I have decided to do work experience at S. So now, I work two days a week at S and two days a week at L's. S' is more of a factory setting. He has a small shop out front where he sells fabrics (he used to sell pjs and other sleepwear) and he has a factory out back. With S, I do various stuff, such as doing pattern, cutting fabric, selling fabric, attending to customer enquiries and sewing. It's not a design house so there are no mood boards or range plans but he does the manufacturing of garments of some of the labels sold in Australia or exported to other countries.

At L's, I did two toiles (one was sewn very badly due to the fact that I have no love lost with overlockers particularly overlocking knits), gave my opinion on and even modeled his designs, did quality control, and assisted in packing his garments for delivery.

For some reason, I find it more exciting working there. It's more laidback for some reason even though I do more compared to what I do at L's. Then again, it's probably because of the time. With L's I work from afternoon to evening where my energy level is on the wane whereas I work from morning to afternoon at S.

Anyway, I'm just grateful that I'm given these opportunities to work and to learn from these people.

Internship

Yey! I got myself an internship with a designer.

He's Lui Hon, a former Australia's Project Runway contestant. I had to google him to find out who he was before I went in for interview and saw his amazing drapey looks. I liked drapes not that I'm a good draper but I like the way the clothes he made just looks so comfortable.

I went in today and just started working. Just like that. A, my former classmate, who posted the intern wanted post in facebook gave me a mini tour of the studio and told me what to do. Then Lui came in and just went through some things and already asked me to do stuff. Not stuff like making him coffee but real things for me to do. I did quality control on some garments (which I will be continuing on Wednesday) then learned how to fold a soft merino wool top properly (use white tissue paper and a board - like the boards they put on shirts so it'll hold its shape), how to pack it and how to update the list (haven't done it yet). Then he asked me to cut the fabric for the toile.

I even got to chat with him and he wasn't stingy at all with his advices and while he is honest, he also looks at the positive side of things. I'm fortunate to have arrived when he's starting his next season's clothes so I get to see how things work from start to finish (hopefully I get to see the end).

I heard he can also be a bit of a yeller but I suppose that's to be expected when things get tense and deadlines are looming.

Here are some of his clothes from his collection "Little Heroes". Photos taken by Christopher Tovo.

See more images on his website

Oakley Event Dressing

It was a disaster from the point of view of the production manager but it was a success for me. =)

I was hoping not to get any of the tricky fast changes. Guess what? I got assigned to said model. Waaaah! But afterwards it was actually a great break because the guy was such a pro. He knew what to do and even gave me tips on how to do stuff to make it easier for both of us. Later on (after I googled him), I found out that he's been modeling internationally so he really knows his stuff. Thanks, D!

***

The show started on a shaky note when the song change didn't happen but the show went well as it progressed. However, towards the end, the order of the models wasn't followed. At the finale, when the models were supposed to stay on stage, half of the models left the stage leaving just 3 of the first group looking around in surprise.

The audience clapped enthusiastically but R, the production manager, wasn't very happy.

I don't blame her. They did rehearse it before the show and for it to turn out that way was a bit disappointing.

Anyway, I guess that's one thing to keep in mind when organising things such as fashion shows.

Here are some of the photos from Oakley's website.

I must say, they really have cool stuff. It made me want to go skiing.

I don't know if this is the same ski coat but the ski wear kinda looked liked the one above and below. The models said they were really nice and warm. They really looked cute, too.

I really like this SI Assault Boot 6. They really look cool.

Fitting

I had a job today. No, really. A paid job...assisting other people. Waaay back beginning of last year, I applied for a job for a production company. It was a contractual job where I get called for a specific task and just bill them for it afterwards. I wasn't able to do any work with them last year since school already started and the works were always during the day. Since I was studying 5 days a week and I wasn't the type to skip class, I just let them go always hoping to be able to work with them someday.

Well, someday arrived. I initially signed up to be a dresser for tomorrow's fashion show but when they asked for more people to help out in the fitting, I said I'd do it.

This morning, after some two hours sleep due to the fact that I couldn't sleep, was tossing and turning until 2 in the morning, and felt hungry and woke up before my alarm went off, I went to Crown Casino with what seemed like the start of a nasty headache. When I got off the tram, I started walking around outside of the complex a bit confused as to how to get to the conference centre. I went in, asked the cleaning guy where the conference centre - promenade room was. I followed his direction then checked the instruction on my mobile. Hmm...there were no walkways to the right. Saw a crown security staff who told me the promenade room was in the Crown Promenade Hotel and even walked me to the entrance of the casino. I thanked him, made my way through the gambling tables (and smiled at the woman, not without a tinge of envy, whose poker machine screamed announcing that she won. It was about 700,000K I think). I realised I was at the bottom of the escalator which led to the Palladium. I figured the promenade room might be there since the function rooms were in that area. Checked the signs, didn't find the room. Saw a couple of cleaning ladies, asked them again where the promenade room was, was told once again that it was at the promenade hotel. This time, they told me I had to go out of the complex, cross the street and I would be at the promenade hotel. By this time, I had decided to send an sms to the production person in charge. I saw another crown security who was very kind enough again to accompany me this time all the way to the hotel lobby where I remained seated waiting for C to call me.

When she did, I realised I had to go back inside the complex (those who have been inside Crown Entertainment Complex know how confusing the inside is) and go back the way I came. And then I saw again the first guy who helped me out. This time, he walked me all the way to the walkway where I saw C. Turns out the direction I received was on the assumption that I would be arriving by car and thereby entering via the car park.

Ah well. At least I found out how nice Crown people were.

The entire day went whizzing by. We arranged the clothes, waited for the models to arrive and dressed them. Shoes were matched. Outfits got changed around (either because they didn't fit or the client had other ideas on how the garments were to be worn. One jacket we all thought was for a girl turned out to be a guy's jacket. heheheheh). Models outfits were photographed. Mini rehearsals were made by the models. Then they all went "thank you, bye-bye." After they left, garments got moved around again and there will be a final fitting tomorrow just before the show. Not sure how it'll turn out but I think it'll be okay.

I would have wanted to photograph them, unfortunately photo taking wasn't allowed.

Getting my Groove Back

is hard.

My brain is still in holiday mode and my body just wants to sleep. But I've signed up for work tomorrow and for the next day so that should force my body to adapt to work mode. I really need to be in the zone, so to speak, especially since I have to think of what to make for my graduation collection. My brain's sort of working but I'm still wishy-washy as to the style and theme.

I was hoping to get inspired by my latest travel but it seemed the only inspiration I had was to travel more. Teheheheheheee.

Snow

Lovely, lovely snow.

Small flakes falling slowly.

Small balls falling rapidly.

Flakes in my mouth, my nose and my eyes.

I love it!!!

Except when it turns to sludge.=(