Two Skills I wish I had but Won’t Work For.

Sewing is amazing. There are so many reasons I wish I could sew. It would be incredible to be able to make little additions to bags, make my own clothing, and incorporate sewing into art projects. The thing about sewing is that it takes so much work. It is so difficult to do that even people who sew wish they knew how to sew better. I’m not sure if I’ll even be able to sew the most minor of things, let alone the grand visions I have in my delusions of grandeur. When I think of sewing mastery, I think of Alexander McQueen, who talks about how pivotal his experience as a tailor was for his fashion. I don’t know much about sewing, but when I think about sewing, I think about Alexander McQueen. I am putting an image of one of my favorite books.

I also think about Nicole McLaughlin, an artist I really love. Her early work on Instagram is really creative, and her more recent collaborations with big established brands showcase her incredible talent. There are many projects similar to the ones she does that I would love to be able to create, but I am unwilling to put in the time to learn how to sew. Here is some of her work below, with her instagram linked if you click the image.

The next thing is a little different. Skateboarding. I wish I could skateboard. Skateboarding tricks are absolutely incredible. Watching people do amazing tricks looks like witchcraft. The way they jump up and control a board with their feet is mesmerizing. The number of attempts required to master a skateboarding trick is all the more impressive when you think about how much pain has to be endured. There is a lot of perseverance required. Skateboarding is just cool. While I don't have enough passion for it to dedicate the required effort, I still wish I could skateboard. I once was talking to a high school friend about this great skateboarder I’d discovered on YouTube. He was a skateboarder and knew a lot about the culture/sport, whereas I did not, though I had great admiration for it. “Yo, Rodney Mullen is really good,” I said, shocked at how he did tricks utilizing both the bottom and the top of the skateboard. “Yeah,” he laughed, “He invented the kickflip.” You don’t have to know much about skateboarding to know the inventor of the kickflip is a big deal. Here’s a clip of his that made me lose my mind. I’ll never be able to do any skateboarding trick, and I’ll never not be in awe of how impressive they are. Here’s a highlight video from youtube. I’m sure it’s not the best one. I had to find it quickly, it’s been a while since I’ve watched him. Oh yeah and people who are really into skateboarding, they’re jaded to Rodney Mullen, they like other stuff that is incredible but doesn’t hit me the same way as when I watch this guy. Enjoy.