An Atypical Day (AKA The Only Kind)

I honestly didn’t know what to expect when I first entered the Frenzy workshop a little over a year ago. After a few weeks, I realized that expecting unexpectedness was the best course of action. This suited me well. I’m a bit obsessive (possibly an understatement), and it is wonderfully refreshing to have at least one job in which most of the control isn’t in my immediate hands. Don’t get me wrong, though. K and M generously allow me to contribute my ideas to a variety of projects. I can often be found hovering over M’s shoulder whilst she researches fashion ideas on her laptop, eagerly giving my comments like an enthusiastic puppy.

Did I mention that I usually receive candy at work? I feel that this is an important detail.

I’m stalling, because I initially believed that this particular blog would be much easier to write than it has proven thus far. I think the biggest challenge is in attempting any form of summarization of my tasks at Frenzy. I’m not exaggerating when I say that every day is different. There are more serious days for updating inventory, writing product descriptions, taking measurements and cutting pattern pieces. There are also days for animatedly describing costumes and colours, leafing through Gothic Lolita magazines and the latest issue of Vogue, perhaps with a website on historical fashion illuminating the background. There are times when the three of us sit on footstools and creatively brainstorm. I cherish that because it is a priceless process.

The following is a year at Frenzy Universe, compiled into an inconveniently cluttered paragraph, because somehow the lack of format captures a certain facet of my job’s charm. Making medals, burning ribbon, burning other things, catching things on fire (just kidding”¦ I think), tracing patterns, cutting out patterns, sewing, ripping things apart to make patterns, failing at bending copper ribbon into cookie cutters, precisely measuring notches in copper ribbon, writing descriptions, taking measurements, staring at all of the clothing in the stock room, laughing, eating candy, drinking wine, more of the above, watching M sew while I was supposed to design fabric flowers, complaining about people not wearing proper pants, making Victorian beaded ornament covers, modelling, painting, distressing and studding giant fabric tarps, watching awesome movies, dyeing clothing (and my fingers), washing gloves, trying on clothing, purchasing clothing I’ve tried on and fell in love with, dyeing Maureen’s hair purple”¦ and somehow I feel as though I’ve left out about a thousand other things.

It sounds fun because it truly is, but if there is one thing I would say to anyone reading this piece, it is that I have the easy job. I get to enjoy the fruits of K and M’s labour. Owning a business is extraordinarily hard work. It is stressful and sometimes disheartening. It relies upon a great many factors, some of which are difficult or impossible to control. It requires courage, and a great deal of it. There are ups and downs, sometimes over the course of a year, and often just in the course of a week. Perseverance is essential, and I know that it isn’t always easy. Here’s to K and M!

Cheers,

Kara

Review: Reel Steal

From the moment I saw the first preview of this movie, I knew I would go see it. I have loved robots since I was a small child and have only gotten more interested in them as I have grown. I was surprised I hadn’t heard anything about it until they released the previews because usually someone clues me in on all things robot, if my innate spidey senses don’t urge me to seek the information on my own.

Well, the preview looked potentially craptastic but, as the movie featured robots AND Hugh Jackman, I opted to “splurge” (by using a gift certificate I received last Christmas) and pay full ticket price to see it in the theatre.

It was kind of small goings at the very beginning of the movie and I didn’t much care for the main character, Charlie Kenton, despite him looking exactly like Hugh Jackman. I must admit I didn’t like the robot fight with the bull and my animal loving-side was pleased when the bull tore that robot in half. Besides, I hate when male characters are so cocky and stupid and don’t pay attention to the task at hand because they are too busy trying to “look cool.”

The addition of the predictable burdens of unwilling fatherhood made me groan inwardly and I had started to resign myself to disappointment… then Midas showed up. How can you not love a robot with a mohawk?!? (I do know it wasn’t technically a mohawk and was, in fact, a galea. But I like mohawks and so prefer to think of a robots-mohawk hybridization.)

It got even better even faster with the introduction of Atom, the true star of the show, and the humanlike characteristics they gave him. The “Little” Robot That Could and the man-boy team behind him that refuse to give up was apparently what my cold, unfeeling heart needed to melt and beat in anticipation and agony with every punch (both the literal and figurative kind) levied against him/them.

“The junkyard dog” versus the undefeated champion with all the backing and endorsements got me in Atom’s corner completely. I also adored the dancing robot sequences. What can I say, I’m a sucker for cute robots.

I won’t tell you the end, except to say that is was predictable, with a slight twist that I totally appreciated. I will recommend it with a 4 out of 5 stars, but will also recommend you wait until after the theatre run unless you are more pecunious than I.

An Assistant’s Introduction

Guest Blog by our assistant Kara

Let me begin, just this once, by stating the obvious. I have an awesome job. In fact, I think I have several, so I feel very fortunate. I am a firm believer in doing what you love first and then finding a way to make it profitable, even if it means living on bags of steamed broccoli every now and then in order to pay for an incredible experience (yes, I have done this, and yes, it was worth it). So, enter Frenzy. I met K and M entirely by chance in the summer of 2010 when, fed up with the lack of respectable, “non-shady” modeling opportunities in Ohio, I replied to an ad on Craigslist for what sounded like an amazing job. In all honesty, it seemed too good to be true. I was hired to be a promotional model for Nick Valentino, author of the steampunk adventure novel Thomas Riley. He sounded professional and generous, not at all like your typical Craigslist employer, and he mentioned that I would be able to borrow a steampunk costume from his friends at Frenzy Universe. He sent me a link to the Frenzy website, and I immediately bookmarked it. I couldn’t wait to meet the owners of the shop! I remember being very nervous when I arrived at Origins Gaming Convention on the first day of my “gig” . I was afraid that the Frenzygals wouldn’t like me. I was worried that I wouldn’t be steampunk enough. I didn’t know a lot about the genre other than what a lifetime of interest in historical fashion and science fiction (plus a few years working at the Renaissance Festival) had taught me. What I did know was that I loved Frenzy’s designs, and I felt right at home amidst the polite Origins crowd.

I came to be an employee of Frenzy Universe on a whim, one rainy day several months after the convention ended. For my day job, I’m a professional musician (I can practically hear all of you artists and musicians laughing at that statement!) and a writer. Needless to say, I have many part-time ventures, as some months can be rather slow. In the autumn of 2010, I was starting to stock up on the bags of broccoli in anticipation of a “sparse” financial season. Deciding that I had nothing to lose, I sent K and M an e-mail asking whether or not they might ever need some extra help in any area of their business. I tried to make myself sound useful by explaining my background as a columnist and a copy writer, but I mostly ended up writing a plea for them to help me channel my love of fashion and history. I fully expected them to decline, actually. I was shocked when I received a prompt response saying that they were very interested and would like to discuss details with me. I started daydreaming about having enough money to buy proper meals and historically accurate Georgian panniers!

Being succinct has never been one of my strong points, so I’ll skip ahead. Anyway, here I am today, with my Georgian panniers, celebrating a year of working for the lovely Frenzy ladies.  It’s a bit strange to think that I’ve known K and M for such a short period of time, as they seem like lifelong friends! They aren’t paying me to say any of this, by the way, although they do occasionally tempt me with candy and delicious wine (not to mention the incredible clothing and accessories). One of the most important things about my job with Frenzy is the inspiration I receive to be creative. K and M inspire me to create rather than just consume. They encourage me to try new things without worrying about failure, often when I have no idea what I’m doing (making medals, bending copper, handling very hot tools, dyeing clothing, distressing fabric panels, the list goes on and on). When I leave each day to return to Columbus, I spend the hour-long drive entirely occupied by the ideas swimming around in my brain, antsy to get home so I can start working on them.  In the span of my life, I haven’t made as many things by hand as I have in just the past year of working at Frenzy Universe. My late grandmother, a fabulous seamstress with boundless creativity, would hopefully be proud to know that I received my first sewing machine as an early birthday gift this past summer, and along with it, inherited her favourite sewing scissors. I have Frenzy to thank for encouraging that interest.

Coming up next”¦ my typical day at the Frenzy studio! I’ll give you a hint”¦ there is never a “typical” day!

NOTE FROM THE FRENZYGALS: Check out Kara’s band LONE RAVEN… they are great! (And we weren’t paid to say that… really.)