Back in the U.K.

So I'm back in the UK and just finished my first term being back at Chelsea. Work is hard and I did have some catching up to do, but this term has been excellent. I have new blog, more professional showing all aspects of my work which is updated regularly http://emmaoneil.tumblr.com/
At Chelsea I finally feel I'm really in the right place now, I've settled back well and my work is showing that. I've had to defend the New York exchange quite a lot with people seeing it as a "holiday" but I think for me, I really needed the experience. I learnt an incredible amount in such a short space of time and my design skill and knowledge base is wider than ever. F.I.T gave me a great technical understanding of design, something which I never really had and going back to Chelsea with it and with fresh eyes has made me more confident and eager.
New York was incredible, there are no words to describe how much I love that place. The entire experience was nothing I ever imagined. I literally went knowing no one (I knew Jed and Katie a little) and nothing and looking back at how much I achieved and how many amazing friends I made makes me so happy. It was a turning point in my life, and undoubtedly the best experience I've ever had, I know it will be hard to top, but I'm going to try damn hard.

Week 15, 16 & 17

I'm back in the U.K now, back at Chelsea and I thought it was about time to finally finish off telling the story of my journey...

Week 15
The finish line was in sight and week 15 was spent finishing up work, here's some advertising work, the first image is of a poster for National Portfolio day, a poster encouraging high school student across North America to visit art schools.






















This next image is a mock up of an invitation for the final showcase of FIT Graduates, entitled "Meet the Glitterati"















I finished off Screen Printing, by far my most favourable subject in New York,
this project was a brief set by myself, the only restraints being I had to come up with a product at the end of it. i developed a code named "Circabet" 26 identical circles each one to represent a letter of the alphabet. The below image spells out New York.





















I then developed my idea into products, t shirts and tote bags, with a key to Circabet and labels all screen printed. Screen Printing was incredibly hard, I must of got through about 10 T shirts to get one perfect. Overall Circabet is one my most successful projects to date, they also really like it back at Chelsea in London and I am now developing and expanding the idea.





























Week 15 got me really into the Christmas spirit and another wild tale happened, with s managing to get almost to the front of the Rockafeller tree lighting ceremony which is broadcast on American TV. We got to see lots of acts play like Aretha Franklin and Barry Manilow, but the highlight of the night was definitely seeing Alicia Keys play her version of "Empire State of Mind" such a major good song and I know everyone loves it, but it will forever remind me of when I visited New York.






















There was an obligatory trip to Chito's that week too, again in theme with Christmas Spirit, we bribed the Christmas tree man outside the liquor store to give us some free trees. Nigel actually bought one though, a 6 footer, and watching him trying to get into his dorm room past security is possibly one of the funniest things I have ever seen. Here's mine and Holly's mini Tree...























Friday me and Katie went to Webster Hall again to see Ladytron and the guy from New Order perform a DJ set. Another incredible night, wild some might say! We had a wicked night and they played so much British music it was awesome, they even played Le Tigre - decaptacon!

Sunday I helped Katie with a Photo shoot for her FIT invite, and Americanised version of the Abbey Road cover, the photos came out brilliant however the irony was totally wasted on our American classmates!


















Week 16
This week was mainly spent in my room, working and trying to figure out how I ended up with so much stuff in New York and how the hell I was going to get it home!

I also finished off Color Workshop, by far the most pointless and annoying subject I have ever taken. I ended up with piles and piles of geometric patterns painted in gouache that I had no use for what so ever, however I can now tell you all you need to know about the colour wheel. It was probably the most frustrating subject as well because it got me into the terrible habit of spelling it "color" "NO IT'S COLOUR", is what I wrote on my final piece of work!


















Another trip to Chito's and another astronomical bill, but another hilarious night none the less, we ended up playing surades of funny events that had happened in the semester. So fun yet so sad at the same time, I really didn't want to leave :(

Week 17
Was possibly one of the most stressful weeks I've ever had, British Airways were planning a strike and snow was on its way both in the US and the UK so flight plans were a mess! My flight ended up being pushed forward for Thursday, so the week was a rush of lists, last minute trips I wanted to do and many many teary goodbyes! Also a ridiculous amount of packing and sorting, Look what I found in my closet, "FIT is a dry campus"...yeah right...





















The famous 1007, the Nags 10 Head quarters ( my room)






















Wednesday was my last official night on American soil so obviously I was going to go out in style. We began in Chito's (obviously) and things spiralled quickly....

















We ended up hailing a cab downtown to a bar that appeared to be closed, however that didn't stop us, we managed to get in there and some members of the group played bar tender! After very quick exit we ended up in a bar across the street, which by complete coincidence is the very bar I had my first American drink in! Me an Katie sat in the exact seats we had sat 4 months previous and ordered the same cosmopolitan and took the exact same picture! It was an incredible night after that including models, greygoose vodka and not much memory the next morning! It was the perfect last night, it felt like the trip was complete going back to that bar, I had completed the cycle.



The next day, I ran a few errands and ended up being able to see the Rockafeller tree for one last time, so beautiful...






















My last day was so sad it was unreal, a surprise gift from Holly and Chloe left me in absolute tears, they gave me a small necklace with pieces of vintage watches inside a little pendant, the note attached read "no matter how far away you are, no matter what time, you'll always be in our hearts" sounds incredibly over emotional and smushy but it meant so much to me. They aredefinitely friends for life and I could not thank them enough.
I visited every ones dorms on campus, including my BFF Ian who almost cried, which made me cry but he manned it up "Come off it, you're the Brit, you'll be back" and I knew I would be!
Everyone walked me out and helped me with my bags to hail a cab from the sidewalk, I got handed lots of letters, which I read in the cab, and I can honestly say I have never cried so much in a public place, the cab driver didn't know what to do!
This is the last look I had of the skyline from the cab...


















I flew to Heathrow from Newark, with Gordon Ramsay on flight, (who I might add gave me a cheeky wink in the line for the plane.) We flew right over and circled Manhattan and I got to see it in all its glory for one last time, all the lights and sights, truly beautiful.

Week 13 & 14

Week 13
A lot of work happened this week,
knuckling down after my week of fun...
Although Thursday night came around and I was
probably the most excited Ive ever been in my
entire life as New Moon was out! (twilight sequel)
Me and some of the Nags bought tickets for the
midnight showing, It was incredible, the moviea
theatre was totally packed out and everyone was
chanting and screaming, it was so much fun!


















At the weekend me and my nag girls
went shopping on 5th avenue, we had a really
nice day, we even picked out our engagement ring
in Tiffany's! We had a great dinner at a little
Italian Place and then I had a very strange experience...
I bumped into a girl who turned out was from
Wavertree (Liverpool) and went to the same college as me!
I think it really is a small world after all!

On Sunday I went to the MOMA where they are
having a Tim Burton exhibition and also showing
one of films every day, we went to see nightmare
before Christmas, a Burton Classic!

week 14
The week began slow as a lot of people where
leaving for home early as thanksgiving was on
Thursday. The amount of Americans that asked me
how I normally celebrate Thanksgiving in England
was incredible, and the sheer shock on their faces
when i told them we didn't was ridiculous, by
Wednesday I just started answering
"my family dresses as Pilgrims and Indians"
Thursday came and we headed to the Macy's day Parade
in the morning, it really is just like it is on TV!














































































Later we where invited to Katie's family friends
house in Brooklyn to have a traditional
Thanksgiving meal. It was lovely for them to
invite us over, there was a big mix of people there,
from all over the world in fact, a fantastic
experience and a delicious meal, although
Pumpkin Pie is NOT NICE!
















Later we headed to a small party in Brooklyn
for thanksgiving drinks, but an early night as it
was an early start the next day
to catch a train out the city to Connecticut.
My friend Christine had offered for us to come
stay over the weekend at her family home,
a very nice gesture.


Me and Katie arrived gobsmacked, it couldn't
of been more American! It seriously looked like
something from a film, I was expecting
Macaulay Culkin to run into the street at any moment!
She took us shopping to Westport, a beautiful
little town,where I fell in love with Pottery Barn,
it is the mecca of dining room decoration.






























Later we had a family dinner at Christine's
which was amazing,so good to have some
home cooking! A trip to the liquor store continued
which resulted in me pretending
to be American, and living in Connecticut!!!





























The weekend ended with us taking a stroll into
nature, somethingI had completely forgotten after
being in the city for so long! We had a trip to
"The Mall" and went to the infamous "TARGET"
a store that holds everything you could possibly
think of for under $10. The evening ended with us
helping out with Christmas decorating,
well not really helping....










































We then played some American board games,
and raided Christine's cupboards of American Food
we had never tried before! A word of warning,
sweet potato with marshmallows is NOT GOOD.

Sunday was back to the City, I felt like a real
New Yorker arriving at Grand Central and hailing
a cab back to school. I had another fantastic
American experience, but it felt really good coming back,
I later went for a run on the Hudson at sunset,
which was beyond words, I couldn't love this city
any more if I tried.

Week 11 & 12




Week 11 beagn with a very anticapated arrival of my friends
from England, Ashley, Claire, Paul, Ste & Daniel.
I was exstatic upon their arrival and broke a few US laws
running to meet them at the airport, but I was just so happy
to see familiar faces.
The fun began the minute they landed with a limo coming
to pick us up to take us into Manhattan as a treat for Paul on
his 21st! The night was a haze of jet lag, laughs, and reminiscing!
I took them for chinese food, to see Times Square and of course
a trip to the infamous Chito's where all my friends, old and new
chatted and laughed over $4 margaritas, I couldnt of been
happier!

















The next day was operation sight seeing, we began with a hearty
american breakfast at the Empire Diner, followed with a trip
on the Staten Island Ferry (not a good idea on a hangover!)
a walk down Wall Street, discount designer shopping in
Century 21, & some snap shots in Central Park!
Later we headed to St.marks for Sake and beer and partied the night away!



























































Thursday was a trip to The museum of sex, a legitimate
museum, (not a seedy adult video store as some presume)
which was errrr.....interesting? Very graphic but educational
none the less!
That night I managed to get us into the Empire hotel
rooftop party where comedy Central where having an after
party, a very good night!!!


















Friday was designated girls day, full of cupcakes, homemade
lemondae, Marc Jacobs, and lots of shopping.....




































We also went for a psychic reading.
I must admit I was rather apprehensive to the visit, but it
actually turned out rather well, some of her insights
were general but a lot was legitimate, somethings she just
couldnt of known! But Im not sure how I feel about what
she told me, I almost feel like im playing with fate if I
take it too seriously, but none the less it gave me
something to think about thats for sure!
Friday night we headed to webster hall, with me landing
$1 tickets to see DJ jazzy Jeff and Carlton from the
Fresh Prince of Bel Air performing a set, which was
incredible! Some classics where played downstairs, taking us
back home, like the Smiths and Oasis, we threw some shapes
thats for sure!

The next morning was perfect weather so we had a rooftop
breakfast on 5th ave. Later we walked over Brooklyn Bridge
and ate ice cream and watched the sunset over the city.
I was so glad to show them how beautiful New York is,
hopefully they love it as much as I do!






















Londons finest Basement Jaxx where playing in town,
so we headed down to Santos Party house to pay them a visit,
possibly one of the best live sets Ive seen in a long time,
definatley the best Ive seen in New York. The crowd where
going insane for them!
Im under the impression the music scene
isnt up to standard with London, a lot of electro and indie is
still big here, with Drum and Bass and Dub step nonexistent
in New York. I think thats the first negative thing Ive said
about NY to be honest!

Sunday was designated shopping, however a chill in the park
was in order, which soon led to Ice skating in central park!
It was truly magical, I felt like a child again, we had so much
fun it was unreal, it felt like a real NY moment,
and I wouldnt of wanted to spend it with anyone else!

















Sunday night was the last supper with Claire and Ash leaving
early the next morning, but we celebrated in style with a slap
up meal in little Italy!


Week 12
The week began with showing the boys some NY shopping and
a final big night out to send them off in style!
Tuesday was another sad farewell, back to reality and back to
work! I think after my mum being here and then my friends,
it really hit me how far away I am from home, and homesickness
creeped up on me a little bit!
But I had one of the best weeks in NY with them, I miss them
already...
















Thursday was a very exciting american experience, it was the FIT
homecoming basketball game! Homecoming (for all you Brits) is
a big game thats played to invite alumni of the school to come watch
and support the team. Me and Katie ended up being courtside seats for
the game, to be honest Ive never watched a full basketball game
and dont really understand it, but it was VERY american complete
with cheerleaders and all! Later they had the FIT homecoming dance
at school, which again was very american, and quite a weird experience,
some funny stories told be told about that night!!!






















Friday I had a date with Katie, we went to the MOMA
(museum of modern Art) and spent the afternoon there...






















They had an exhibition on the relationship between design
and music in particular in the 70s and how the era was
in NYC, a topic I am very keen on...

















And they had Monet....























later we went for dinner and a movie,
we saw New York I Love You at a HUGE movie theatre in Times Square,
where they even had a roof terrace...

























The weekend was spent making more American friends
with nags having friends over and showing them around town!
Sunday I hung out with my Brits, Katie and Jed and went
to Hells Kitchen a flea market, where they had some really cheap
stuff, some $5 or less!!! Then topped it off with a curry :)