Of course I don't have a problem with singers with unique voices.
I just don't like Joanna Newsom's voice. It's annoying.
And yeah, I know that you can retort with "Like Corin Tucker's voice isn't..."
But I don't care.
I still don't like Joanna Newsom's voice.
Nor do I like her music.
Speaking of Sleater-Kinney...
I keep (KEEP) listening to this song.
But I guess it'd give you an example of how Corin Tucker's voice can turn people off.
But Sleater-Kinney are totally hardcore.
I bet that was a fun band to be in.
Cuz they're pretty awesome.
In other news, I ran out of my special pills.
And I've got a big obese headache.
Here are some shirts I've made in the past couple days:
The rabbits aren't ever gonna go anywhere, I don't think.
The same goes with the ribcageivyLITTLEHEARTS! design.
They're just things that I'll always get a personal kick out of sewing onto clothing. They're so interesting to me for some reason.
And yeah, I know that they're just rabbits and hearts. Nothing too complicated.
But I really like simple ideas/designs.
I admire more complex designs and such.
But that's just not me.
I'm more into simplicity.
It's like comparing apples and oranges.
Last night I was waiting on Desira to meet me at our favorite Mexican restaurant, but she was taking awhile, so I was finished with my margarita by the time she got there.
Anyway, there was this group of three sitting near me. And you know how you can tell when people are and aren't talking about you? Well, the tone of their conversation changed---and I knew they were talking about me.
So, I was like whatever. I'll live.
Then the lady at the table gets up and comes and sits at my table.
And she says, "Hi. You don't know me. But I know who you are. You're on Etsy, right? You're Cubist Literature."
So, last night I was recognized.
Holler.
Yeah, it's not a big deal. But it's kinda funny/cool.
(And what do I expect? I've got my dumb face plastered all over the internet.)
What else?
Oh.
I had my friend Chanel of Junkprints to model for me.
She is my first ever model!
Do you know how hard it was for her to make a straight face in those first photos?
Haha. She kept wanting to do that face I do. She calls it the "Craig face". She thinks I look pissed/mad/sad/overitall in my photos.
Which I probably do.
But let me tell you... I'm all smiles in person. =)
Wanna see my new desk and table?
Yes, you do.
All right... well, I'm gonna jam.
Hope all of you are well! =)
xo
c
SELF PORTRAIT THURSDAY!
3.27.08
It's been dark outside today.
When I woke up this morning at Ben's, I looked out of the living room window because he's got an excellent view of Manhattan. But there was a sort of brown haze underneath the grey sky.
It looked disgusting.
Why can't it be sunny like yesterday was?
Yesterday was beautiful.
Do you ever suddenly realize what your name is?
(I mean, like REALLY realize.)
Today I (really) realized that my name is Craig.
And when it dawned on me, I thought it was so odd.
In other news, I guess my body was exhausted from the past while because I slept through my 915AM alarm and didn't wake up until 1230PM.
I didn't get to the studio til almost 3 cuz I needed to eat and shower.
I also wanted to be alone to screenprint (I'm shy when it comes to that) a few prints from this new screen I made the other day.
Would you like to see the patches/appliqués I made?
Of course you would.
The Juki (that sewing machine that almost made me cry yesterday) and I also made up this afternoon.
I realized that I was expecting too much from a machine that really just wants to go/be straight. It's not interested in the many turns involved in sewing an octopus appliqué.
With that said, I used the Juki to sew up this shirt because it's more straight-friendly:
Even IF I slept in disgustingly late.
xo
xo
xo
I'll be spending the night in Queens again.
It takes a fuckin' hour and a half to get out there.
So, I tried to use an industrial sewing machine today to do an appliqué.
And I don't think I've been so frustrated in the past six months.
Tara, one of the girls who works in the studio, showed me the basics of the machine. And when she came back a little bit later to see how things were going, I was beet red with frustration. (I even had to take off my hoodie and top shirt because I was getting so flustered and hot. And we barely have heat here.)
I'm not used to the industrial sewing machine. It's hardcore. And it's not meant for appliquéing. I don't know why I thought it was.
I kept sewing the octopus all fucked up. And then I'd have to rip the seams.
Resew.
Rip.
Resew.
Rip.
The only reason I didn't scream out "FUUUUUCK!" was because I didn't want my studiomates to think I'm off my rocker.
So, eventually I decided to chuck the idea of using the Juki (that's the sewing machine brand) to appliqué a sweater.
And then I handsewed it.
ME TOO.
Jeez.
Sorry I haven't posted in awhile. Vox tells me it's been four days.
I don't think I've had anything to say, really.
But then I was thinking this morning...
Why do computer people (you know, people who can fix your computer and such) act like such assholes/jerks when they're on your computer or working on your computer?
They're always like "OMG you use this program?!" or "OMG you're working on THAT system!?"
Or something computer-related.
I guess computers are another way for guys to prove how big their dicks are.
I'm not comfortable discussing things with people who have expertise in a certain field.
Like... if I wanted to discuss guitars with somebody that works at a guitar store.
They always make you feel inadequate.
The guitar is one of the worst things that could've happened to men.
I play guitar, though.
I did it to myself.
Here's a shirt I made this weekend:
Here's a crossword I did on the subway early this morning:
(I stayed at Ben's in Queens last night. Had to wake up at 7:15AM cuz he has school.)
I always have stupid mistakes/answers in these photos I take.
If I did these in pencil, it'd be a different story.
You wouldn't be able to tell how stupid/smart I am.
P.S.
The other night one of my friends told me that they have a crush on me.
Meep!
So, like I mentioned already today, Rob told me that Caterina Fake, co-founder of Flickr, was going to be stopping by the studio today.
And so I thought about it---and I decided that I wanted to take a photo of me with Caterina so that I could then post the photo on Flickr.
I thought it'd be funny.
And so that's what I did.
I had Chanel take the photos:
That's the second one.
The FIRST one I'd forgotten to turn off the flash:
She didn't even mind me running around like crazy trying to get my camera and stuff together.
She stood patiently, smiling, and even asked if I wanted to use her iPhone to take the photo.
I did not want to use the iPhone, though.
I wanted to use my camera. =)
SELF PORTRAIT THURSDAY!
3.20.08
I AM a bit tired, too.
I didn't get home til late last night.
This girl Emily that I sorta know through mutual Texan friends---well, every Wednesday she hosts this thing called Lecture Series. So, every Wednesday one of her friends does a lecture on various subjects.
Last night's was about how we perceive language, the various theories surrounding the subject, semiotics, Is it nature or nurture that determines how we perceive language, etc. (I was late, but I'm pretty sure it was a nature/nurture discussion.)
I wasn't expecting it to be so philosophically intense. My brain was totally used to that in college, but now I think way different.
"Now I use my grand IQ to see which eyeshadow to use and how to hit up three keggers before curfew."
(I really butchered that "Heathers" quote.)
No, but seriously, now I think about what appliqué to put on a t-shirt and where that appliqué should be located on the shirt. And what color thread to use. And how to photograph the item.
Maybe I've gotten stupid.
Last week's lecture was way different:
Lillian G. did a slide show/art performance/lecture about pom poms.
It was called "Pom Pom Vacation". And it was funny and interesting.
(Ugh, I'm SO sure I've already mentioned that lecture of hers already on this blog. I'm not going to look to see if I have.)
(I already told you how bad I am about repeating myself.)
I hope I get to lecture about something sometime soon.
I'm a good public speaker. =)
Also, I'm going to start taking photos everyday of the crossword puzzles I do in the New York Post.
I probably won't post the photos on my blog everyday, though. But if you're REALLY interested, you can go to my Flickr and check it out.
But here are yesterday and today's puzzles.
(Yesterday's I tried doing on the subway. It was more difficult than the day before.)
Maybe you can start helping me. =)
xo
c
P.S.
Oh, speaking of Flickr, the girl who started the site is going to drop by the studio today.
I'm excited to meet her since I like Flickr a lot.
Holler.
I was interviewed twice today: one was filmed---gosh, I've been all stopped up lately, so I'm probably gonna sound all nasal---and the other was for some German newspaper (the German equivalent of the NY Times, I think).
Actually it wasn't just me---my pal Chanel (aka owner of the awesome shop Junk Prints) was interviewed, too, but separately.
And then the former president (I THINK that was his position---it was either that or CEO or owner or something) of BMG music stopped by the studio space. I'm not really sure why, but I think because Matt Stinchcomb, head of Etsy's marketing team, knows him. (Matt used to be in that band the French Kicks. I never listened to them, but other people I know did.)
I didn't meet that BMG guy, though. I was knitting.
Besides, I'm sure he and Rob had certain things to discuss.
Who knows.
It's all so random.
Today's been weird.
I think it's because I've been in the studio all day long.
But this is going to be my life from now on.
If I want Cubist Literature to work---if I want to work for MYSELF and not some job I hate---then it's going to take some long hours, some sacrifices, some serious dedication, some babies, some beer (I hope!), some felt, some recycled/vintage/thriftstore clothes, some...
I'll stop.
But I've been busy all day long.
I went home for about an hour and a half so that I can eat some Chef Boyardee and do a crossword puzzle.
I fuckin' love crossword puzzles, even if I can't ever finish them.
I REALLY love doing those puzzles with a friend.
(Lillian G. (aka Lazy Susan) and I did a couple on the subways when she was here. We finished them both. Holler.)
Okay, here's a photo list of the things I made today:
And I'd already listed this cuff in the shop, but I had more of the yarn left over, so I decided to knit a couple more.
I REALLY love that yarn so much. It's handspun, but I'm not sure by whom.
I unraveled the yarn from a hat that I got---not for me to wear, but the hat was just donated/given to me because the owner didn't want it anymore. I guess.
I'm really excited about these next six months.
I hope that I have what it takes to run some sort of legit/substantial/consistent business.
I'm really nervous about the sacrifices, though, of course.
I'm not looking forward to $1/day budgets for food.
I'm getting the impression that I'll need a partner.
So, I think I'm currently looking for one. I'd prefer another guy to work with. And who's good at sewing and knitting and being awesome and original.
I'm just thinking out loud.
I'll stop RIIIIIIGHT now.
