I hate to leave you, please don't be sad.

Yes, its true. I'm leaving you blogspot.

I'm sorry, it's not you its me. I need more attractive templates, sleeker designs, more socially appropriate blogger interactions.

But the rest of you, please follow me to my NEW blog:

http://rachelceleste.tumblr.com/

It'll be fun, you'll see.

Thanks for reading, I always forget that you do... but I'm glad that you do. Very glad.

experimenting sometimes leads to failing

Of all my classes this semester, most of which I enjoy, Web Design has decided to be the mean little voice in the back of my mind. Which is unfortunate because I really wanted to like it, hmm...pity.

Seriously though, great stuff, its just a super long and for me complicated process to figure out web design. This week we had to make 4 mock layouts based upon a clients {students} company and had to cater it to them. Here are two of my better, but still not so awesome ones.

So, I'll keep playing with it 'till I figure it out or at least understand it a little more. But, its a process nonetheless.

In other news, our first Eddy {concert of local bands put on monthly at Biola, which I am now a part of planning} is tomorrow night and I'm super excited to see how it plays out.

Oh, Andy Warhol...

One of my favorite classes this semester, Contemporary Art Trends, is a discussion about artists from the 1950s up until the present day art scene including their work, their influences, thought processes and cultural impact. Its only a once a week class, and even though it is a 4 hour friday morning lecture... I'm like a kid on santa's lap every week.

We explored the life and work of Andy Warhol this past week, and being among one of my favorite contemporary artists I was excited to see what he had in store.. but he is SO much more interesting than I thought!

He was a silly little genius. The basis of his work being the repitition of iconic and even controversial images to the point of insignificance in order to drone out the meaning all together and leave it as a lifeless void. He even carried this out through his false persona as a cocky and insecure parrot like consumer mindset to the public in order to further reinforce his work. Genius, genius, crazy little genius.

...and not to mention he really does make captivating contemporary art {paintings, photos, reproductions, films, and screen prints} as well as being unabashadly eccentric and oddly fascinating. And was apparantly a practicing Byzantine Catholic who worked at homeless shelters and lived with his aged devout Catholic mother, as well as being a sexually mysterious and living in his studio affectionately named "The Factory" with walls lined with tin foil and full of partying hippy posse.

Which makes me want to hang out with him even more, figure him out and hear his inspirations. I hope he's in heaven... I'd love to meet this silly creative legend and talk about Jesus.

I realize that sounded like a book report, but I just can't get over how weirdly fascinating he is...

Things I'm learning.

I feel like everyday since I've been back at school I learn something about myself that I had forgotten about or newly discovered.

I've learned that I am a purely visual learner. If I can't see it, possibly feel it or visualize it somehow, it will go in one ear and out the other. Guaranteed.

I've learned that I don't talk as much as I thought. Those who know me well are howling with laughter at this moment I'm sure, but really, I've met some crazy crazy talkers these past few weeks. I'm put in my place next to them, man.. I didn't think it was possible.

I've learned I giggle when I don't have any clue what I'm doing. Trying to pass off my inablity as cuteness? Uncomfortable nervousness? Gut instinct? I dunno, its funny, and in turn makes me giggle more, duh.

I've learned that I get very emotionally invested in almost every situation in which I am involved. Lunch with friends, a piece of literature, song lyrics, my nephews every movement it seems, time with those i love, a circumstance I may hear in passing regarding someone I don't know and will never meet, the ridiculous story lines of teen soap operas, you name it, I'm sucked in like that.

I've learned that I am very selfish with my time. I am way too social for my own good and college is just a reciepe for every single class failure if I was allowed to play as much as my heart desires. So supressing my social butterfly within me is very hard to do and I've realized that because of this I am a time whore, reserving far more play time than work time in my schedule. Which is almost always impossible {sigh}.

I've learned how much I love to sing. Since being back at Mosaic Whittier, my lovely church, I've sang every week and never get tired of it. Never get bored of it. Never get self conscious about it. Weird, can't explain it, just love it.

I've learned that I should pursue what I want, even if I am self conscious if I will succeed. Which means I want to probably switch my emphasis from Design to Interdisciplinary which means I would study both Design and Photography, which is what I love and wanted to do from the start. I just got nervous, and am feeling affirmation that I should pursue it and design together, not just singularly. So, that's real exciting.

I've learned today that I have mono. Which is maybe God's way of telling me to slow down, take things one day at a time and take better care of myself. All of which I have no time to do, but since He brought me into this He will bring me out better than when I entered. Because that's His specialty.

I'm off to go learn some more.

In the mean time, here is my homework from last week, hehe. Enjoy.

And in case you need an explanation: {we had to take 100 images and put them in some sort of grid. I took 100 people doing finger mustaches and put them on someone doing a finger mustache. what else?}

Workin on it.

"Let love be genuine.
Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.
Love one another with brotherly affection.
Outdo one another in showing honor.
Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.
Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.
Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.
Live in harmony with one another.
Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly.
Never be wise in your own sight...
Do not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good."
{Romans 12:9-16, 21}

I've been on my own mind a lot lately. In the midst of the ever intensifying whirlwind that seems to be my life, I go inward, get very introspective and often closed off from what's really happening. Plug my ears, sing la la la and wait for it to blow over. I've been thinking, and am obviously realizing I can't go on like this forever.

So here I go.
Time for a Rachel's insides makeover.