Dear, Sweet Boy

This post is mostly for me, but maybe it can help anyone else who reads it...

Just recently, May 22, 2010; I lost someone very dear to me. Gregory Lankford was my friend and love for the last 6 years of my life and being recently 22 years old, that means so much. Although we were both incredibly stubborn and silly for the last few months I still love him with all of my being and could never forget the wonderful memories that we shared; there was always the hope that our future plans would fall together once more...




For those of you who have ever lost someone so close to you, I am so sorry. I have had many people die in my life but never anyone that I was this close to, no one that made it hurt this badly. This might be because this is the only person who left this life WAY before his time and the fact that his death was a tragic accident that could have been avoided makes it much worse.

Greg was a wonderful constant in my life for so long and we had so many dreams together, we were even engaged. The thought of him no longer being here to randomly call or text KILLS ME and I have been having such a hard time just being alone because the thoughts of him enter my mind every second it is open. The fact is, that Gregory died from improperly handling a gun whilst drinking, something that he used to do alot; but should have been told more how stupid this could be (though, if anyone knows him, they know he wouldn't listen). I saw him, saw his room; I just still can not bring myself to believe that the world is a little emptier, a little less beautiful because he is not in it.





























Greg was the biggest dreamer I knew, he saw beauty in the most common objects and in the most fascinating people. Greg had the heart of an artist. Greg had the most loving personality of anyone I have ever known and the most beautiful blue eyes you couldn't even believe were real. I will miss his "baby blues" as I so fondly called them when asking him to show them to me, and his wonderful smile that was so contagious; everyday of my life.

We went as Designers, Left as Coyotes

Tennessee... what will I do without you? Besides be happy forever?! What ever happened to 'southern hospitality'?? HUH? HUH?

So after the Red Carpet Green Dress adventure that I had (which was so wonderful and I am so not complaining about that in any way!!!) my class was invited to do a fashion show in Nashville. Suzy was so impressed by the submissions from MSU that we were invited to be the opening for Profetik's fashion show at the end of April.
We left MSU at 4am, were on a bus for 10 whole hours and finally arrived and were so excited! Only to be soon disappointed by the whole thing. We soon found out that we were basically there as free help and felt like such a joke.

Us unloading all of our dresses and mannequins into the
venue Note: most of these pics are taken by the wonderful Melissa Viloria Vongpunsawad

So we get there, have to set everything up, and are given absolutely no direction as to what we were supposed to be doing, where our models were(when we only had half the amount of models we needed) and then were treated quite rudely after all of this because it was apparently our fault they weren't telling us anything.

We had a silent auction before the show and that was really fun, the auction was to raise money for Suzy's school Muse (that the RCGD Competition was for as well) Suzy and Jim were there so I got to see them again and that was so wonderful when Suzy saw me and called me from across the room I just felt so cool!!!

Here is them and myself with my dress at the silent auction


Well whatever, we did the show (after no food or drink for 13 hours-they were supposed to supply it for us and did not.)
Our portion of the show went so beautifully and we were so proud of ourselves, especially after seeing the absolute failure that their show was... LETS JUST SAY, A HORSE POO-ED ON THE RUNWAY. THAT BASICALLY SUMS UP THE TRIP.

Here are a few images taken of my model on the runway she was only 16 and I loved her!:



And, Because its HILARIOUS that I had to model because they didn't supply us with enough (for your viewing pleasure):
Modeling for Melissa Viloria Vongpunsawad



My friend Katie Woods and myself, happy to be home, sad that its cold, rainy Michigan.

All in all, a great experience and the girls and I had a wonderful time the next night we were there... although-I wont be posting pictures as they might be a bit incriminating ;) (hugs and winks!)

xxo Jillian!

Alice, All Grown Up

I recently did a photoshoot with the talented Mason Robinson, who is a fellow MSU student. In the ATD (apparel and textile design) program we try and get with photography students so that they can get fashion photos for their portfolios and we can use the images in ours as well.

My model was my beautiful friend Leann who was also a model in the SADA show (pictures to come soon, HOPEFULLY -UGH-)

This dress was inspired by Alice in Wonderland and was used in a Sustainable Design Fashion Show that my class did in Nashville, TN back in April. (I'll post about that later, hopefully).

Here are a few images from the shoot, I also photo-shopped some images in order to suit my theme.





This is the image that I created, everything is a separate piece that was individually modified by me and then put into the image.

I hope you like it!! And maybe I will post more later!!!

xxo, Jillian

The Beginning of a New Era

It's official, after an extremely busy, hectic and otherwise psychologically damaging last semester, I have graduated. I am an official alum of Michigan State University. The ceremony was wonderful and my family came out to support.

I just can't believe that after four wonderful years of sewing, staying up all night, having fun and making wonderful memories with all of my friends it is coming to an end.

Currently, I am working on my online portfolio and sewing some projects to help broaden my skills. I have some great posts coming soon for you guys and will be updating on projects I am doing and showing some select images of garments that I have made and other projects that I am working super hard on!!

I am so excited for the next chapter of my life, as scary and it is!!! (super scared face!!!)

By the way, the photos above are of my family that came to see me graduate!! Note the awesome tape measure around my neck, all of the Apparel and Textile students wore these as a last little joke to the ceremony, it was sooooo cute! Also, you could tell who we were by just looking at all of our shoes! Clearly the best footwear in the room belonged to us!!!