Thursday, October 17, 2024

Tell Us About Challenge: School Days

 I'm joining 9 other international bloggers opining on the subject of School Days.

In August, I wrote a post about my "school life" from toddler (1957) to teacher (2017).

What else is there to say?
I'm currently teaching again, and I've boarded the struggle bus!

Photo by Santiago Gomez on Unsplash

I'm teaching two classes in Digital Design for BFA Fashion Students at Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles. The classes are held weekly on Zoom, which is fine by me.

My sophomore class meets on Thursday from 4-7pm (originally they wanted to have it 7-10pm and I said no way!) They are learning techniques in Photoshop that they can use on their fashion illustrations. Their demos for homework are all prerecorded (I watch them as well and make notes) and they mostly work on their own.
I briefly meet with the whole class and then I do 1:1 critiques on their homework. (Yes, I now know how to make two Zoom rooms!) I believe last week was the first week that I got through all the 1:1s before 7. Phew!

I like to meet with them in the order they submit their work.
Here's our instructors' example of half of the above assignment (they had to realistically bend plaids on the provided figure):

All the efforts from last week's midterm test.
Can you guess the "A"s?

My junior class is meeting asynchronously. That means we don't have a regular class meeting, they just have to turn in their homework by noon, Saturdays. I then record my 1:1 critiques on Zoom and upload it to the course system. It takes me a long time!
They are learning advanced techniques in Photoshop and Illustrator and applying them to their design coursework.
They just had their Midterm test, which was drawing a flat (like a garment blueprint) from this garment photo:
excellent student work

All in all, I'm working on getting a good rhythm going and it's getting incrementally better. By the end of the semester I'll have it figured out! And then it will be too late! Meanwhile, I cross off getting anything accomplished on Thursdays and Saturdays.

Here are more thoughts on School Days/Schooldays

Debbie shares memories of her schooldays in Australia, and sending her daughters to school in Cheddar (UK) where (by coincidence) she’s currently staying! 

Gail from Is This Mutton serves up some amusing memories from school, including the missing gerbil and her mum's ride home in a hearse.

Jill gives us her take on this one is a smattering of memories from her long ago schooldays.

Leslie at Once Upon a Time & Happily Ever After reflects on a long but beloved career as a school librarian. Find her at onceuponatimehappilyeverafter.com/

Marsha spent the majority of her life in school, either as a student or as a teacher, and sometimes both! She writes about her earliest teaching memories.

Mary Katherine ponders her Schooldays, and what she learned that she actually used in later life, at mksadventure.com/

Penny goes a bit off-piste with this theme. She does look at her schooldays, which were sooo long ago! But she also looks at the British class based system of schooling; as in private v state schooling. This is because it not only impacted her life but also it has huge consequences for British society as a whole.

Rosie is talking about her village primary school and a very special 'School Girl' rose!

Suzy reflects on her varied and memorable schooldays, from culture shocks and cherished friendships to inspiring teachers and unexpected changes. Find her at www.suzyturner.com

Thursday, October 10, 2024

10 on the 10th: Birthdays

10 on the 10th is a fun monthly thing instigated by Marsha In the Middle.
For August, Marsha asked us to list ten things we like about birthdays.

1. Birthday cake!
2024
Severo always gets me Ube Roll with Macapuno (baby coconut) filling.
2. Birthday cake the next morning for breakfast
3. Silly birthday cards
4. Birthday parties
1958
5. Unwrapping presents
1959
6. Celebrating with friends
1960
7. The Facebook Happy Birthday posts

8. Giving gifts
Severo's birthday present this year: some rolls of gaffer tape.
He really loved it!
9. Did I say birthday cake? Haha
2013, back when there was ube cake
10. Celebrating another year alive!




Friday, August 16, 2024

Everything I Have Is Blue

That time I coordinated with the stools. HAHAHA

This is what I wore to an International Pop Overthrow concert in a dive bar in downtown LA earlier this month. 
The shirt is from 2000! I usually don't wear it outside the house. 
A good friend gave me the Carlos Falchi purse years ago. 
Aqua blue elements: 
Fabletics leggings, 
Cole stripe socks, 
Fluevog Aimee shoes. 
(For someone who doesn't like aqua, well... as long as it's far away from my face, it's OK).

afternoon pix in the back always make me laugh...
that religious "rays from the sun" effect

I'm including a silly video that Severo and I made at the Jarritos "Experience Nook" in Grand Central Market before going to the gig.
It was right across the aisle from where we were eating our dinner.


Far out, man!

I submitted this to The Good Buy/Good-Bye Book, a monthly series hosted by Shelbee and Nancy.
September's theme will be Wide Legged Pants.

Linking with: