MCAD Art Sale Enteries

The following pieces are entered into the MCAD Art Sale! This is the first time I've actually participated, so I'm going to be optimistic about it. I hope you can go and check it out!

Minneapolis College of Art and Design 2501 Stevens Ave South Minneapolis, MN Friday, November 19 · 6:00pm - 9:00pm

Now in its 13th year, the MCAD Art Sale is a Minnesota tradition annually held the weekend before Thanksgiving. Eye-catching, one-of-a-kind art created by MCAD students and recent graduates at unbeatable prices. Thousands of pieces. Every piece less than $1000. Average price less than $100. Since its inception the sale has generated more than $1,000,000 for emerging artists. All Art Sale proceeds go to support individual artists or the MCAD Art Sale Scholarship Fund. Tickets $35 in advance or $40 at the door. Buy tickets here: http://bit.ly/9Pxizv Valet parking $5.

3 Day Weekend!

I had the pleasure of enjoying a 3 day weekend (Thur-Sat)!!! It was packed full of fun and exciting things!!! Thursday: I had a freelance interview and ran into some MCAD friends, Tim and Ash (!). I met up with Brent for a bite at Lions Tap, before going to see COHEED & CAMBRIA!!! I think I orgasmed when they came to play an encore! My high school friends Marisa and her BF, Matt was there too, it was nice running into them. Friday: Early walk with Christina to get groceries that we needed for making cupcakes for Anna's 1st Solo Art Show (during Art-A-Whirl). We made Vegan Chocolate Cupcakes AND Champagne Cupcakes, I'll put both recipes on my baking blog, hbDesigns Cupcakes. Both were a huge hit, I got the Vegan thumbs up from Raighne, one of the owners of 2D Cloud Studio, where Anna's show was being held. After the show's reception, a handful of us grabbed some Japanese food at Kikugawa, near the river. And last, but not least, Christina and I finished off our Friday night by doing some dirty/cheap screen printing. I'll make a tutorial for this in my next blog posting. It was a lot of fun and very worth it for the price of materials. I'm happy to take requests for a reasonable price. Thanks to Christina for putting up with me for over 24 hours!!! And thanks to everyone else for the awesome weekend. Photos, photos, photos to share with you all the fun!!!

Coheed & Cambria Concert!

Anna Bongiovanni's 1st SOLO Art Show

Kikugawa with Mako, Chritina, Alison and Sean.

Dirty/Cheap Screen Printing with Christina!

Now, I know what you're thinking, "Heather, what about Saturday?" I used Saturday for sleeping in, relaxing and enjoying some time to myself. ^_^.

Moved, Stressed & Scared

As many of you may or may not know, I recently moved back home with my mother. It's been stressful, scary and kind of annoying. I was happy renting in the burbs being near friends and much closer to the cities and the job possibilities I was aiming for. But here, in Owatonna, I feel like I'm going to get in a rut being so far away from all the things, places and people I love. Don't get me wrong, I love my mom and family, they are awesome, but I'm just use to living on my own with my own schedule and doing things my own way. I guess stubborn runs in the family.

I've been trying to get back into the advertising/ marketing/ design field for some time now and it's just not working out for me. I feel I was caught in this middle zone between the times of Advertising Silos and this New Age of Advertising. I've been trained in the old ways and not being immersed in the biz I feel that I am missing out on catching up with what is going on. I still fall within the 'entry level' category when job looking, but in this limbo of a world I'm not prepared for needed jobs like web designer or interactive specialist, but I don't have the years experience to get art director or creative lead, things that I know how to do.

It's stressful and I feel that my 4 year degree is being wasted away. You know, "Use it or lose it." I'm still a good illustrator/ artist, but I feel like I am falling out of touch with my advertising degree and it's only been 2 years since I graduated. Now, I'm wondering if it was all worth it. Yes! On one hand, I had a great 4 years, learned many things that I use every day, plus friends and experiences that I wouldn't trade for the world. But, at the same time no, the 100+ thousands of dollars and stress from all of the aftermath is getting to me. I feel though that I lack focus and passion, which inevitably makes this all no ones fault, but my own.

So I got good grades, graduated on time and then had a full time job (Salary + Benefits) just months after graduating. Pretty successful right? Sadly, the economy wasn't something that I factored in when I made my 5 year plan for "After MCAD." Now I feel like I have to reinvent the wheel again and possibly go back to school. For what? I'm not to sure yet. One idea is just branching off and learning more web things, another idea is baking and cooking (which I do love), but I still love advertising too. There is no 10, 5 or even 1 year plan right now... The plan is to "Just be," for now.

I'm #Lame, but these people ROCK!

Image above: Copyright Anna Bongiovanni

I was poking around my new friend Anna's blog - Soft And Fleshy. And she is an amazing artist! Seriously, I feel lame for not drawing as much as I should be! I have a ton of great friends who are great designers and artists. I am inspired to start some new work! Every year the Owatonna Art Center hosts the Festival of the Arts and I figure if I can't get in this year then I can save up and put some work in the MCAD Art Sale this coming fall/winter. Some other awesome people can be found below:

Alison Stump
Casey Cubulski
Evan Palmer
Jared A May
Joel Vollmer
Ricci Gertz
Steve Robbins

3-2-1 PUNCH!

The MCADers had such a great time together again! We celebrated an early St. Patrick's Day! Green foods, beer and green drinks! This lemon/lime punch was a BIG HIT! I recommend it for any time of the year.

St. Patrick's Day Party Punch (alcoholic)
2 (12 oz) cans frozen limeade concentrate
2 (12 oz) cans frozen lemonade concentrate
2 (2 liter) bottles lemon-lime flavored carbonated soda (7up or Sprite)
1 (750 milliliter) bottle rum (I used 1 L of Bacardi Superior)
2 quarts lime sherbet (I used 2 Pts)
ice

In a large pot, combine limeade, lemonade and lemon-lime soda. Stir in rum. Mix in the lime sherbet. (Cut's in 1/2 very easily.)

Enjoy!