Looking Forward - 2010

Looking back on 2009, disappointment and frustration mostly consumes me even though there were many accomplishments and good memories made. I started the year off with this blog mainly to chronicle my journey of pursuing fashion design/marketing. Today is the anniversary of this blog, and I'm sitting in the exact same spot when I embarked on my journey - under the covers in my bed in Sedona, Arizona.

Though I was accepted to FIDM, a definite accomplishment, I haven't moved an inch forward. The economy was the biggest factor being that jobs were pretty much non existent in California. So, I'm still here in Arizona, and I don't know if FIDM will even be possible 2010. The unemployment rate is slowly diminishing, but we won't see a correction for awhile. So, feeling stuck and trapped, I feel this desire to just stop trying, but after reading my first blog post and going back to the purpose of why I'm pursuing this dream - God - I am pressing forward with a different strategy.

I'm considering Parson's online fashion marketing program. It just depends on whether we can afford tuition. It would be a great solution to furthering my education, but being able to continue gaining experience in the communications and public relations realm. Of course, I'll be keeping my eyes open for other opportunities where I can head straight into the industry and bypass school, which would save us a ton of money.

Meanwhile, in 2010, I'm going to continue to sew, although I need to work more with my sewing machine, sketch, blog and try my very best to win the IIDA Couture Competition this February! Until God takes this passion and conviction away from my heart I will continue pursue this industry. God's timing is confusing in the midst of all of this, but He knows what is best. So, I'll cling tightly to Him, as He does to me, and serve Him the best that I can.

FIDM Update

Welp, yesterday was a sad disappointing day for a lot of reasons, but one of them was FIDM. I got a bill for tuition in the mail for fall semester, which led me to email my adviser saying that there was no way that we were going to start paying tuition w/o having jobs secured in California. So, she officially unrolled me from FIDM for Fall 2009. I have up to one year to reinstate until I have to re-apply to the design program. We knew that this was probably going to be the case earlier this summer and decided to book a trip to San Fran in October to get a better feel of the FIDM SF campus and city, but nonetheless, it just really sucks to see an email from your adviser saying, "Keep in touch." Don't know if school will ever happen for me at this point. The reality of Ryan finding a job that pays enough for me to work only part-time at the most and paying tuition of $27,000 a year is pretty out there.

So, my action plan now is taking sewing lessons with a local lady from Joy Studio and applying to marketing, communications, and public relations jobs fashion and beauty companies across the United States. So, if you see or hear of anything, let me know.

Click here for Alex's resume.

Project Runway All-Stars

This morning I woke up from a blissful sleep because last night I watched three full hours of Project Runway!!! My sister-in-law, Nicky and I are die-hard fans of the show. (We're currently in the process of converting our soon-to-be sister-in-law Yasmine too...we initiated her last night. haha.) However as much as I adore the show and it's new location (FIDM), it always makes me angry that my favorites end up as runner ups... Last night was yet another example of frustration...Daniel won the all-star challenge (blah) and Korto was the runner up...grrrr! Granted, Daniel's clothes were innovative and displayed great attention to detail, but Korto's designs are wearable, chic and well-made. Not to mention, her restaurant look (made of only materials found in a restaurant) was SO creative. Here are the looks below...Who do you think should have won?

FIDM Update

This past weekend I had the privilege of taking a mini vacation with Ryan to sunny Los Angeles/Santa Clarita where our dear friends the Merrell's live. We left early Friday morning so that we were able to catch a tour of FIDM L.A. Can I just say that the initial feeling of walking onto the campus was SO peaceful, satisfying and exciting! Everywhere I turned there were guys and gals with incredible fashion sense and creativity. Granted, I was probably one of the oldest people there because most of the students are directly out of high school, but what does that matter...I'm coming into this with a great background and experience of business, marketing and communications...right? haha...won't lie..it intimidates me a tad.

After chowing down some tasty Quiznos, we started on a tour that has lead me to a big decision (I'll get to that later). We passed by classrooms with industry standard sewing machines, pattern tables and dress forms. It was incredible! Then we headed into what I can only some up as library bliss...Just imagine every fashion magazine past to current kept for inspiration. I'm talking from the very first issue of Vogue and Harper's Bazaar until now! They even have a historic preservation room where you can read these old issues...It's the largest fashion library on the west coast.

Every floor had window displays of sketches, furniture, dresses, etc. that students have created. They even had a famous Dior "New Look" dress recreated from the original pattern kept by one of the original dress makers sent by the fashion house of Dior! I think I was so in awe I forgot to take a picture, but it was incredible!

We moved on up to the fifth floor where we got to see more of product development and their creations...Here is where everything turned around for me...All of the designs were computer generated. Not super surprising, but when the student tour guide continued explaining more of what the major entailed my heart sank. I thought to myself, "There is hardly any creativity within this major." Basically, the curriculum focuses finding price points, textiles and what it takes to get a garment to sell.

After talking with the tour guide, my adivsor and some other students, Ryan and I both thought it was very clear that Product Development isn't what I'm really seeking. It's ultimately design. I think what has detoured me from pursuing it originally is my lack of sewing experience. The students explained, however, that no one in the classrooms has ever used a industry standard sewing machine, and therefore, everyone starts at sewing 101.

So, for the next five days (two have already passed), I'm praying about this decision to make sure this is really the right one. Now, you're probably wondering why I didn't realize this sooner...I'm not sure if it's because product development is the newest major at FIDM or because they simply haven't sat in the classes, but I feel like my adivsor simplified product development down to the thought that it's what people that have a business sense should do and fashion design is for someone that wants to be behind a sewing machine forever, but talking with students one on one brings everything into a new light.

I'll keep you posted as to what I finally decide, but please pray for clarity for Ryan and I. Also, Ryan and I have already booked a plane ticket to San Francisco to go visit that campus in order to figure out where we should concentrate our efforts on finding employment.

Status Update

For those that I see on a regular basis, this may not be new. However, for all of the rest of you...here's an Evjen update. Ryan had his last day at Arizona State University on Tuesday. He recently accepted a job at meltmedia as a junior project manager. This is going to be a great place for him to grow professionally within the tech industry. We feel so blessed that God has given Ryan a job in a huge recession, and I'm so excited for the relationships that he'll create in his new workplace. Ryan will also continue his work with Visdom, LLC.

This obviously begs the question as to whether or not I still plan on attending FIDM...Abso -freakin'-lutely! Ryan took this new job with the company being aware that I had applied to this school. Due to the fact that we were unsure of when we'd be able to go, he accepted this job. While in limbo, this will give him a great skill set! Ryan and I are still on the hunt for employment in California, but because Cali has the highest rate of unemployment in the nation we're not going to hold our breath. So, this means that I may have to defer my acceptance to a later date unless we find something within the next two months (fingers crossed). There is a possibility that Ryan may be able to move to San Francisco with meltmedia, but that's a very small chance.

So, how am I feeling with all of this? It's a mixture of emotions...As a wife, I couldn't be happier! I have a husband that's over the moon happy! When he's happy, I'm happy. As a professional, I feel frustrated, hopeless, envious and impatient. I want to be able to go to school and work at my dream job right now too. (Oh, this intricacies of marriage! Wouldn't trade it for a second though.) In the end, I'm just thankful that God is alive and knows me better than I know myself. That's just a hard truth to swallow when I've finally taken a huge leap of faith in myself and abilities, applied to FIDM and got accepted. Ya know? On the bright side, I'm extremely thankful I have a great job when so many don't in these hard times. I'm also glad to have a fantastic husband that is VERY supportive of my endeavors and wants to see me succeed too.

Well, please continue to pray for us, and I'll keep you all posted!