"Hallelujah"

The song, hallelujah has so much meaning to me.  I use to love it so much, I almost walked into my wedding to the bag pipe version.  I am glad I didn't because it now has a different meaning to me.  It is much more deeper and spiritual.

When my Uncle Bad (John Reed Hill) passed away last quarter, it was sang (so beautifully mind you) by the Sorrel brothers.  He had told Dr. Sorrel that his favorite song was when they sang that a few weeks before his passing.  Naturally, this song brings emotion to me. 

Everytime I hear it, it seems to make me stop and think:

While at John Reed's (uncle bads son) birthday party at "Pump it up" over Christmas Break, we are all running and playing to kid friendly/ fun music. Randomly, hallelujah came on. Now seriously, what makes that song come on at a place like that? It brought many to tears, and to me it was just the Holy Spirit and John letting us know it's ok, and that he is in a better place.

Last week, after pulling many all nighters and having high emotions from lack of sleep, I was sitting in the computer lab, with my friends,  and feeling frustrated with all the work I had ahead of me.  We were working on more homework and to keep us awake, my friend started playing Disney music off of Pandora.  After hearing bibbity bobbity boo, Pocahontas, and many other silly songs, hallelujah came on.  I for some reason could not hold back the tears like I had at John Reed's birthday party.  Excusing myself from the computer lab, it hit me.  It was Uncle Bad's birthday- this made me cry harder.  I mean, if you don't believe in the Holy spirit, I wish you could have felt what I felt at that point in time. It was possibly one of the coolest feelings I have ever had.  I had really wanted to call my family that day to see how everyone was- knowing it was his birthday.  Being "so overwhelmed" with school work I had not taken the time to do so.  This made me.  This happening just put things in perspective.  I was being shown how petty the things I was working on and so frustrated with.

I wish I could give everyone the overwhelming yet amazing feeling I felt at that moment in time.  It is one time in my life where I just want to hold forever. Praise God for moments like these in life. 



"And remember when I moved in you
The holy dove was moving too
And every breath we drew was Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

And even though it all went wrong
I'll stand before the Lord of Song
With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah"

The best emails are the ones from....

My sweet daddy...


It's the little things in life that make me smile.
-I got to skype with my mom for over an hour today:) It was better than good. I can't even think of the perfect word to describe it. I love her pretty blue eyes and long brown hairs. She is simply the best.
-My pone boy also brought me some beautiful flowers today- for valentines day.
-Lastly, I got this email from my dad. This just one small reason I love my dad- his emails always make me laugh out loud... I had to put this on cyber world where it would be here for ever and ever (Also: my SCAD email is getting full too and I will have to delete it.) He is such a funny man, but still has so much love and seriousness to him- all balled in one.


I am one blessed lady. God you are so good to me- Words aren't even enough to tell you of my love.

Here is the email: Might I add from Gus the yellow lab & my dad.

Hey there your daddy and I miss you.

We hear you had a hard week,  4 all nighters,  could be worse you could be
sleeping with Timone and Pumba in a cave and one of them still smells like a
skunk and the other one won't talk to me.

Did Kendra show you the picture of the Witch, B* brat, Monster, Princes
looking thru the window waiting for her to get out of bed.   She is such a
suck up,  I just want to head but her to the ground.

Well I just wanted to say Hi and Hope you feel better and Daddy say's you
are a sweet girl and we love you !!!!!!!


By the way I still live at ___ Bethlehem Road and I love Bacon !!!!

The maple flavor kind !!!!!!

Love

Gus

and Daddy

Finals, Finals- read all about it!!!

Although there are many dreaded weeks at SCAD- the most dreaded is finals. The reason is possibly because everything is due at once. It is just crazy.  Luckily I have been great at managing my time at SCAD, and up until Spring quarter, I had pulled no all nighters. Yes I stayed up late, but no all nighters.  This quarter, I managed to pull 2 all nighters.  (I got a two hour nap for one.) One was for the David Yurman workshop (with a two hour nap), and the other was for finals.  I have been told I will pull them frequently next quarter for the Limited class. That is one thing I am not excited about, but I can do it. Any way, I was up from 6:30 Am on Wednesday until 6:00ish pm. Thursday.  It's the weirdest thing. I know I worked on things all night, but can hardly remember it.  Anyways, I went to bed at 6 last night and woke up around 8 this morning. AH, how nice... NO ALARM:)

My brother was sick a few weeks ago,  Sloan was sick this week, and three of my close friends have been sick as well.  I am normally very good at not getting sick and avoiding it. Of course Sloan said the other night, "I don't even know if you have really been sick the whole time we have dated/ been married." It's true I don't get sick much.  He jinxed me.  I have the worst sore throat,  runny/ stuffy nose, head cold thing. I can't complain though. It doesn't happen much...

Now I will share with you some finals stuff...



For studio three our concept and requirements were to make two pieces.  We had to use electroforming.  We had to have a piece that showed “Big and Light” and “Small and Heavy.”  This was up to us.  We had three rounds of sketches (or more for some of us) where we had to really grasp what we were making. He did not want us to be literal, like make a heavy feather.  We had to think deeper and be creative.  After a few ideas I decided to go with my concept about beauty, body image, and vanity.

I based it of off these three verses:

1 Peter 3:3-4

Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious.

1 Samuel 16:7  

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

2 Corinthians 4:16

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 

Tarnish. (My big and light piece.)

            To me, the obsession with beauty is a big issue in our society. I think it should be taken lighter. It is so big that it is estimated that 8 million Americans have an eating disorder.  We have this need to feel perfect. Magazines, television, and movies make it worse.  We look to Hollywood, and we see these “iconic” people and aim to look as pretty as they seem.  It’s so big that not only adults struggle with body image, but kids do as well.  Statistics are showing that:

95% of those who have eating disorders are between the ages of 12 and 25.

50% of girls between the ages of 11 and 13 see themselves as overweight.

80% of 13-year-olds have attempted to lose weight. 

           

            Sadly, it is a problem.  It’s not just weight issues either.  It is the hair, make up, and clothes- the whole imagine of self. The more we worry about ourselves and dwell on how we look, the more vain we become as a society.  

Tarnish is a piece designed with much thought to touch base on this issue.

           

            I chose circles because we try to be well-rounded people, and the fact it is a vicious cycle. Naturally, the circle is a annular shape. Not every circle is perfect in my piece, but that is the point of this topic. It is impossible to be perfect. The obsession of body issue leaves marks and is hard to get over.  For many people with an eating disorder it is hard to get treatment. In many cases they can’t afford to stay in the time they need and fall back into their habits.  Vanity is a painful thing that hurts you as well as others.  To show this, I purposefully left file and sanding marks on the bezels. I wanted them to appear hurt and tarnished.

            The chain I chose is representative of the chains or shackles a prisoner might wear.  The mechanism is also a lock (I chose I knock off Louis Vuitton to push concept more.)  The lock is an indication that once you are obsessed, like any habit, it is hard to kick.  I also weaved fake pearls, and pearl perfection make-up balls in the chain(the make up balls are covered in resin where they don't leave make up on you.) I wanted you to see the chain, but wanted to hide it a little.  I did this because if you have an issue weighing you down, you want to cover it and not allow others to see your problem.

            To cover the eating disorder part, I electroformed four Barbie boobs.  For me, this was the best way to show that. Let's be honest, boobs push the "aim for perfection" concept. I don't think this needs much explanation. I also chose to use flesh colored make up to talk about skin and indicate the eating disorders as well.

            Lastly, I broke the mirror and made the make up broken or rough to show how easily beauty fades and how much maintenance it can be.  Beauty will tarnish and fade away, butut inner beauty is eternal.

Here is my final piece.

 Above: Electroformed Barbie boob with makeup below it.

Renewal (My small and heavy piece.)

Since we have such a problem with obsessing over self, and being beautiful is a big deal, I think that it should be taken lighter.  I flipped the table and thought of our insides.  When we focus on self, this makes our insides rot and worthless.  When you are vain, you are envious, jealous, lustful, superlative, comparative, and many more bad qualities. It causes gossip, and so much more.  It is so heavy that we make our inner self small and less important. At first it was hard for me to show the opposite of vanity. So I looked at my three Bible verses to get inspired for this piece.

 

What I took from the verses was that we should focus on our heart and have a gentle and quiet spirit. What is it about our heart we should really work on? We should be more loving and compassionate to others, which in turn makes us think less about the self.  

For this piece, I chose pods because to me that shows safety and security. All of my pods are a handmade wire-construction which I basically wove thin wire around. It was treated like basket weaving/ crochet. A gently and quiet spirit focuses less on self and more on others.  When I picture a gentle and quiet spirit, I see a safe and warm spot. Something "warm and fuzzy." My pods remind me of abstract hearts, which pushed it beyond just a pod.  They are heart pods, that hold fur, that looks like a sheep. Sheep fur is symbolic of pureness.  The pods also were to show that once you have these good qualities, you want to keep them safe and hold them.

Since I wanted them to be kept safe and held, I chose to use no mechanism.  I wanted it to feel delicate and light, almost like a scarf.  I wanted the wearer to have the need to feel that they should hold the pods when they walked or moved. 

The chain is a simple design.  They are “D”or “C” shapes that play off of the form of the backside of my pods. Some of them are thread wrapped to tie the fur with the links.

 The holding of the pods is also to protect the key that’s found in one of the pods.  This key is the one that unlocks the lock on the other necklace.  This is to show that in order to feel free, we must gain a pure heart as well as a gentle and quiet spirit.  That is how we will be renewed.  

Here is my final piece:

 Another way to wear it.

Lastly, in Rendering we had to render a set (Earring, necklace, ring) that showed "us." After a round of sketches I decided to focus on "us" by looking at my family, DNA, as well as Sloan and me as a family.  I surprisingly really loved this class. When I start rendering, I become  addicted, and I could literally never stop.  The more you render the more realistic it becomes. Of course, I look at this and see more things I could do, but I had to stop and go to class... Here is the final rendering:

Sorry for the length. I hope you enjoyed.

I can't believe I have a six week break. It hasn't hit me yet! Yay for me being normal again and family time:)

xoxo Lilly

Not your typical 21 year old.

I just realized I never spoke a word about my 21st birthday. I suppose it is because I was not the typical 21 year old. On October 7, my date of birth, I had a lazy day. I had a long week in the studio because of this bone necklace:

Since it was a long week, I did no homework thw day of my birthday. I answered the sweet phone calls, loved my texts, and facebook messages. Everyone was very kind!!! It was nice, but I had to play catch up later. My dearest mother came into town and surprised Pony and me with Ellie May and Rascal (two of our dogs.) It was disco heaven having them here for a week. (Mom and the dogs.) I am so lucky to have a mom that I love so much!

After my lazy day, we went out to eat bonefish, came back in and had coffee (my addiction and drink of choice), and pigged out on peanut butter, chocolate, pumpkin cake my AMAZING mother handMADE, as well as a pumpkin cobbler Julia Childs Chloe Lewis made herself. I had not had sweets in a while so this was a splurge. My sweet Emily Anne taught me that birthday calories don't count;) Miss you Em!!

Puppy Pictures:

(They are so attached. It is so sweet. I loved on Rascal as much as I could. He has bad heart murmurs and I am just scared about something happening. LOVE!)

It was such a good day, and I celebrated my birthday for the first time as a married woman! I am lucky to have the family and friends that love me so. I feel blessed to have been here for 21, healthy years. Thankful to God for all I have.


Ps. here is a small child burrito that my husband ate. Ya'll he ate the WHOLE thing. What a special boy. Unlike me, he can eat that and stay tiny.

Happy Days
xoxo
Lilly

David Yurman Workshop

My school is so great with connections! I am lucky to go to SCAD, and truly feel blessed after weekends like this past one. Let me tell you about it-

This past weekend I did a workshop with the Senior Designer, Jane Hong, from David Yurman! Let me tell you, I am thrilled I had this opportunity and decided to do this.  Only 15 slots were open. It was so nice to have a break from the usual teachers (not that I don't love them.)  It was just a different pace and face. 

We had to create a mood board before the class and had to choice to design eye wear or watches based off of our mood boards...  Since I have never done watches nor eye wear, I decided to stick with watches. In my head, it is similar to jewelry sketches. We sketched 9am-5pm Friday and Saturday with critiques and "one on ones" with Jane in between. Then Sunday, we were to have rendered sketches of a collection. Talk about FUN!

My mood was creating layers and tantalizing textures.  The ideal woman would be a quirky, trend setter, who loves to layer, mix patterns, juxtapose textures, and pile her jewelry on.
See mood board below: 

Final designs and board below:  (Sorry for horrible iphone pictures.)

(There are million more sketches. I had another collection I would love to render out sometime. I just did not have enough time to do two for critique. I decided two hours of sleep was better! Smart?! Yes.)

Jane was seriously such a sweet woman.  It made me really question if I want to do more fabrication, or design... I still don't know for sure yet, but I do know that becuase of my hard work (and two hours of sleep the night before our collection was due) I am able to be in a Sponsored Class for Limited next quarter!!!!!!!  You hear that!? :) EKKK!!!! I am smiling ear to ear... I'm not suppose to talk about it much, so just know it's exciting and great news! :)

See Jane (the pretty one in front of me) and the rest of my classmates below:

Maybe I am in love with what I do... Even if I just have a job in the creative business one day. I will be happy.

Ps. I go to NYC SO SO SO SOOOON! :)

xoxo
Lilly Grace

This has gotta be the good life!!!

I CAN'T CONTAIN MY EXCITEMENT!!!  :):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)

First things first, I wish a very happy seven month anniversary to my better half, Jeffrey Sloan Dokken. I can't believe that we have been MARRIED 7 months?! Time flies!!!! It is still blissful, and I can't imagine my life any differently!:) You are my sunshine, my pumpkin pie, and the creamer/ caffeine in my coffee (thank pinterest for this last quote!)

Secondly, this weather.
T h i s   w e a t h e r.
There are almost no words for my joy.
I was outside talking to the Chloe Lewis today, (aka Julia Childs), and I was COLD!!!! The high tomorrow is 68. I'm not getting my hopes up because Savannah likes to be hot, but I will enjoy it while it is here, and hope it decides to stay:)

Thirdly, I have some great friends... Chloe and Eny came over today... Yes, I had time for friends in my busy schedule.  I made today a "me" day and squeezed in homework! Yay! We watched the proposal. Made me miss and think of my sister. (Love you Lynds!)
I am just so blessed to have SUCH Godly girls and boys in my life... Sloan and I learn from our friends, and we are growing with God because of them. I can't explain it since you don't know them, but all I can explain is that God has really, really blessed us with some true, good people here in Savannah... And they are married couples, engaged, or most likely soon to be engaged. So, we are not this "weird" married couple!!!! I feel so thankful and lucky, and plain happy!

Lastly, my brother and his PRECIOUS girlfriend were in town for a few days. Love that silly boy!!! And Kristen too!!! She is so sweet and makes me laugh a lot! Her humor is just great. I loved seeing how the are with one another! It seems like a nice match and I am thankful for that:)

God is great. Coffee is good. People are loverly.

xoxo
Lilly

Magical

The month of October is magical, I tell you!

It was glorious weather today. You know the kind that makes you want to slap you grandma?! LOVE IT! But it will be in the 80's later this week, of course. That is how Savannah rolls. It's ok. It's October, and the weather was magical today.

I magically finished the necklace I was commisioned tonight! Yipppee!

My Sloany Pony also got the car he was wanting today. That was magical- (Like this video. This is why I am in magical mode. Watch it and try not to smile, or laugh really loud like I do.) The man decided to go down on his price and wa-la! Magic. We have a cute green Subaru Outback in our driveway! 

Sloans Car:

Chloe says it looks like a loafer shoe Sloan wears. I won't lie, it totally does. It is so Sloan. So "dad like" and practical. He is gonna look so handsome in it! I really do adore and love that man:) I also can't wait to drive it some too!

The message at our church today was magical- as usual. God really speaks through our pastor Bill here. I learn so much and feel moved every single time!  God is just so good.  He is too good. I don't deserve everything He has given me...

Sloan and I both said today, we are starting to grow fond of this here Savannah. It is amazing how a few changes (aka marriage) made our lives so different. In a great way, of course. We are both just giddy kids because of good friends and great weather.

I can't believe tomorrow, at 8am week 4 of fall quarter starts?!?!!! Week 4!? Geez, where does times go. These days, I can't seem to slow it down. There are so many precious moments lately. I often wish I could just freeze time, step back and take it all in.


Off to do some more homework.
I have this feeling of little sleep this upcoming week. It's a good thing I love my major;) 

xoLilly Grace