The Fun of Free Online Collaging
Yesterday, when I was convalescing, I fell down the rabbit hole known as Polyvore while watching The Bachelorette (seriously, Justin–for real, or not?). I’ve known about Polyvore for years from the cool collages of stylish girls that show up on fashion blogs. As much as I love making a collage, I never used the site since I wasn’t nuts about the branding on the application.
And then! I realized that, duh, you can take a screenshot of your collage, rather than posting the embed code. The pics won’t be handily clickable, but oh well. The point is, I now have a way to collage my heart out, without wondering what to do with the giant finished product.
Last night I designed my evolving look, dubbed “Nerdy Lady,” worked on an outfit for Sebastian’s movie premiere, and then moved on to plotting a California-cool, semi-professional look for my friend. And now, I can’t be stopped!
What I love most about collaging is how through selecting images you love––a beautiful tart, an antique locket, a mod, streamlined couch––you begin to see patterns. It’s like being a magazine editor of your own life, with your most authentic self revealing herself through images. And that’s my current goal: to listen to my authentic self. It’s the voice beyond the chatter that says you’re not good enough or smart enough or beautiful enough or that a pint of ice cream really will make you feel better. That voice is a menace. But your authentic voice? She is a soothsayer and truth-teller.
Sara Rose: I am on Polyvore too and honestly, it’s one of my “relaxers”. It’s what I like to call “productive brain trash”. Better befriend me on there! I like playing with things I may NEVER wear in real life as well as outfits that I would definitely wear. I also don’t mind doing some interior design or art on there occasionally and yes, I just totally agree. You start to see the real patterns to what you are drawn to and it’s totally amazing after awhile!1 year ago
Diane @ InMyOwnStyle: Hi Sarah -
Loved your collage,especially the shirt in the middle row on the right. I also enjoyed what you had to say about that menace voice. Finding your own voice – the authentic one and letting it play out is what makes us find not only our true self, but a happy contentment. I have learned over the years to always listen to the authentic voice, its intuitve. That menace voice is what we grow up thinking we have to be – not who we are.
Hope you are feeling better.1 year ago
lindsey clare: ahhh Polyvore. i’ve blogged about my love for Polyvore a couple of times, although it’s been a while. i actually just logged in then so i could add you to my contacts
love your nerdy lady look – i’d pretty much wear any of those items. especially the bags, yum!1 year ago
Sara Rose, It’s a perfect relaxer! It’s productive, it’s not boozing or eating or smoking or something else that will kill me, and it’s FUN!
Diane, I am learning more and more to tune out the menace and tune in to the authentic voice. In fact, I’m taking this class with Julia Cameron, the author of The Artist’s Way, right now where she had us do this exercise we imagine a wiser, more knowing version of our voice/ourselves and listen to what it has to tell us about what’s important and what we need to do. I feel like that was a really great way to think about the authentic voice––in some ways, we already know everything we need to know.
Lindsey Clare, Isn’t it great, and I know, I’m mega late to the Polyvore party. Love the bags, too, and now I must have some tortoiseshell glasses like Marilyn Monroe in How to Marry a Millionaire.1 year ago
megan: ooh! ooh! do one for me! california-cool semi-professional, but nor-cal and…gayer?1 year ago
Megan, Yes! I would love to do a gayer, northern Cali version for you! One look, coming up! (There must be better ways for me to be using my time?)1 year ago
Meredith from Penelope Loves Lists: I love Polyvore! It gives me a creative outlet, which is great, as I’m not “artistic” in any classical sense.
And I’m right with you in trying to listen to my authentic self. It’s not always easy, is it?1 year ago