Calendars and inspiration…

For christmas last year my mum bought me a calendar that had inspirational messages on each month…..some of them tbh are a bit questionable BUT there is on that has stuck with me so, I thought I’d share it with you….

“You are bright, talented, and creative. You have a sprit of adventure and intense desire to make the world better. You are sensitive to the needs of others and passionate about helping people. You are driven to reach dreams that will make your future so much brighter. You have an inner spark that kindles a light in everyone your life touches.

You are a precious gift to the present and the future, and you must never forget this. Keep on flying with your highest dreams, and believe they will carry you where you want to go. Say “yes” to challenges, and dare to make those big, bold, dreams come true.

Tend the fires of your passions, and use this energy to do good in life. Stand up for what you is right. Protest the negative things in this world that damage the gifts of the heart. When you see a wrong, be strong in speaking out. Be committed in your friendships with those who need a friend the most. Be a volunteer and a positive leader.

Keep your good character, high ideals, and deepest passions alive and active. Fly on the wings of your talents and you mightiest dreams. Strive to change the world on day at a time. And make your greatest dreams come true.”

- Jacqueline Schiff

xx

A happy marriage is a long conversation which always seems too short…..

Somethings recently have made me think about marriage. Its one of those things in my life that I can never truly see happening.I’m 25 (not that old but…..) I have 2 children, have had long-term relationships, but no proposals :( …. not even close! I always pretend that it doesn’t really matter to me. Give the ‘its only a piece of paper’ speech, but deep down I know that isn’t true, I KNOW i want to get married…..The issue is though (you see I’m not easily pleased) is that I don’t want to force someone into it. I want them to want me as much as I want them. To want to grow old with me and to watch our children grow up together, to want to never let me go.

I’m a big fan of romance wooing, dates etc. It seems in the U.K we’ve forgotten old-fashioned romance. Working in school I’ve really noticed the difference.Its so sexual. I know it was a little like that when I was there but now its just silly!They’re all at it….anyway diverting a bit there. Point is it’s all about the sex. Seems everyone’s a lot more passionate (good) but less loving (bad) these days.

I wonder if I will get married? I don’t know.I do know thought hat it’s not about the wedding for me.I dont want a  big affair.Just friends, family and good food, oh and lots of wine :) I think the idea of marriage for me is finally finding that one person you can truly say “you are all I’ll ever need to” to be so content with someone nothing else matters……..aaaaahhhhhh well I can dream……..one day maybe…….

Pregnant women and OCD

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I have spent the entire day at home drinking tea and talking about pregnancy. About six months ago even the thought of doing this terrified me. I was in denial of my pregnancy and avoided the subject as best I could. Today however this would have been impossible. My friend G is 4 days over due and as she is so small (in height)she looks as though she may topple over!My other friend N is expecting twins and although not due until mid March is already as big as G. My belly felt very inadequate in comparison!! The pictures we took of our meeting were brilliant though and it also set a lot of my anxieties about birth being a mum again to rest.Phew!

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Another thing I have been thinking about reasantly is people’s habits or ‘OCD’s’.For example

  • I have to fill and empty my glass 6 times for a perfect glass of tap water
  • I have to switch my bathroom light on then off then on again each time I enter the room
  • Even though I’m generally pretty unorganized and messy in my normal day to day life.When I go grocery shopping and I reach the check out I turn into some sort of Psychotic maniac and I HAVE to put my shopping onto the conveyor belt in a particular way.Fruit & Veg together,all BOGOF’s together etc

I could go on. Am I really odd or is this a common occurrence in our overly obsessive,paranoid world?? What do you obsess over?

Here come the girls…..

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So I finally found out the sex of my baby……dun dun daaaaaaaaaaa …………it’s a girl.A house full of women.God help the teenage years I say.Anyway all is well with the baby and I have decided on a home birth.eeeeek!

Sorry for the lack of ‘blogage’ but i’m sooo busy at the moment.I am trying my best to keep to the list even though I am a little behind, I’m powering through regardless!Here’s the next ten:

 

21. Hang upside down for five minutes.

22. Hang found objects from tree branches.

23. Make a puppet.

24. Create an outdoor room from things you find in nature.

25. Read a book in one day.

26. Illustrate your grocery list.

27. Read a story out loud to a friend.

28. Write a letter to someone you admire.

29. Study the face of someone you do not like.

30. Make a meal based on a color theme. (i.e. all white).

Drawing in November

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I love this time of year…….the smell of winter, when you begin to see your hot breath in the air and the time when I can begin to wear my extensive hat collection again (I think I may have some sort of hat fetish), without getting an itchy head. I had a lovely surprise in the post today my first copy of The Beany from Micheal Nobbs. Its brill, well worth the £6 (even though I got mine free!! ). Its really brought back my love for drawing something that I have totally lost sight of in the last couple of years. I’d forgotten how you can get lost in the drawing……..forget everything that’s going on around you and immerse your self in that object. Drawing is the reason after all why I started studying art. As a child my mum would give me some pens and a roll of paper and I would spend hours on end drawing whatever was in front of me, something that I see being repeated with my own daughter.A quote that Michael brought to my attention 

“when you draw you will not feel lonely”

From Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte

This couldn’t be more true. At a time of my life which is particularly lonely I shall make drawing my companion :)

 

 

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I am also continuing with the list (Its so much fun!!)  my next 10 are ;

 

11. Make a list of everything you buy in the next week.

12. Make a map of everywhere you went in one day.

13. Draw a map of the creases on your hand, (knuckles, palm)

14. Trace your footsteps with chalk.

15. Record an overheard conversation.

16. Trace the path of the moon in relation to where you live.

17. Go to a paint store. Collect ‘chips’ of all your favorite colors.

18. Draw your favorite tree.

19. Take 15 minutes to eat an orange.

20. Write a haiku.

Half Asleep

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Making a Start

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So today I wrote a letter to myself in the future…….and drew my bike…….. (see above) well ok I dont have a bike and dont think I’ve even been on one since i was 12…..so I drew my car!!I also bought a pen, a lovely new shiny one to draw with.

 

3 down 7 to go….

A Challenge for Moi???

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Considering I’m in the final year of my degree you would think I have enough on my plate to keep me occupied, which I do……..but…..Its all things I HAVE to do. I love it when I do things just because I want to. For no other reason other than to keep my brain entertained. I think my brain has been lacking entertainment of late and has been bogged down by to much heavy thinking rather than any fun ‘doing’ of any kind.

Anyway yesterday a fellow tweeter brought to my attention a blog written by Keri Smith a brilliant author/illustrator turned guerilla artist. Whilst browsing through her profile I came across this page….. ………….

I got VERY excited by this (which takes a lot it seems these days) and decided to set myself a challenge. I am going to try and complete the list by the time the baby is born (due Jan 21st). It looks fun, interesting and above all a mental escape.

I have 10 weeks to do it, that’s 10 a week………doesn’t sound too impossible……….does it??

 

The first 10 things on the list……….

 

1. Go for a walk. Draw or list things you find on the the sidewalk.

2. Write a letter to yourself in the future.

3. Buy something inexpensive as a symbol for your need to create, (new pen, a tea cup, journal). Use it everyday.

4. Draw your dinner.

5. Find a piece of poetry you respond to. Rewrite it and glue it into your journal.

 6. Glue an envelope into your journal. For one week collect items you find on the street.

7. Expose yourself to a new artist, (go to a gallery, or in a book.) Write about what moves you about it.

8. Find a photo of a person you do not know. Write a brief bio about them.

9. Spend a day drawing only red things.

10. Draw your bike

 

Wish me luck!!

xx

New York,New York

After spending the weekend watching (too much) Sex and the City and reading (to many) tweets from my friend in New York I have decided i HAVE to go.Things to do whilst there……….

  • Eat at Nobu
  • Have a picnic at Central Park (if its winter…..ice skate)
  • Visit the Met and Guggenheim
  • Take the Staten island Ferry
  • Shop
  • See The Empire state building,Statue of Liberty and ground Zero
  • Shop
  • See a Broadway show
  • Take a train from Grand Central
  • Have a Long Island Iced tea in Long Island
  • Shop!!!
  • Drink dirty martini’s all night…….

There is so much more. As you can see I have been thinking about this for sometime!I’ve always had a romantic view of this city but i am worried that if i go it might not live up to my dream…….i guess i’ll just have to risk it.

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Flu and Obama

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Have spent the last 6 days held up in my flat like a hostage of the flu……..i hate being ill.Actually no, what I hate is being ill and SINGLE.I like to think I’m pretty independent, I can put up shelves, change a light bulb etc but Jesus when i get ill I turn into a blubbering wreck! What i miss most though is being looked after, being held when your shivering.I’ve taken to hugging my laptop….not totally the sensation I was looking for.For proof of how poorly sick I have really been LOOK at the god awful picture below (um why am i even putting that on???)

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Also followed the election.Now for those who know me would know that I am not really politically minded (well until I’ve had a few shandy’s and i think i could out debate Maggie Thatcher), but I felt it only proper to follow the US election as the impending result maybe one that I never thought i would see in my lifetime. Which I guess as you already know did in fact happen.GO OBAMA!!!!Am actually very chuffed, a friend of mine who is in New York at the moment (he claims on business but I’m not so sure) says he’s going to bring me back a ‘GO OBAMA’ t-shirt! Am excited!!! Woo i hope it fits over this ginormous belly that I’m happily growing.For now I will leave, as I have promised myself a night of SATC. Yey!……….Over and out xx

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