Drawing while watching sunshine!
I had a really great night last night! Delicious kebabs for tea then curled up on the bed, spread out my stuff and drew two more little cuties while watching Little Miss Sunshine. I just adore that movie. I had to stop drawing to wipe away the tears of laughter when I got to the part with the horn... hilarious! Anyway here are the results...
A couple more little cuties...
I finished a couple more little drawings yesterday. I'm quite pleased with them and they are turning into a cute little series...
New Banner
A new project calls for a new banner for the blog, just to keep everything cohesive and together.
MAIL!!
My 'Calypso" print from Scarlettcat arrived today, it was so quick, I only ordered it last Sunday. It was wrapped so pretty, with a gorgeous ribbon and sticker. Plus she had included a cute wee postcard as well!
Happy 2nd Anniversary!
Today is mine and Shane's second anniversary. Two years has seemed to fly by. And in honor of that, a little green bird drawing, completed this afternoon.
A pretty good find!
I was busy looking for something this morning, tearing the house apart, and in the process I found not one, but two, sets of coloured pencils I had hidden away. Score.
I have so many, in so many different places I decided it was time to put them all together in one place. So I made up a little non-coloured pencil case to keep them all in. I even managed two (pretty pathetic) button holes!
I have so many, in so many different places I decided it was time to put them all together in one place. So I made up a little non-coloured pencil case to keep them all in. I even managed two (pretty pathetic) button holes!
A new Ideas Notebook
I needed a little notebook for Ideas for a new project I've been working on and I really loved the previous Rainbow book so I made a smaller version (A6), this one has a woodgrained paper on the front and back covers. Its pretty cool and is starting to fill up already.
New Drawings
A couple more new drawings I've been working on over the last few days. I love the little bluebird. I've been thinking a lot about a tatoo with a little bluebird and this has only further increased my interest. The girl is like a punky interpretation of how I would like to feel. Confident, spunky, sexy and don't care about anyone's opinion.
A new drawing for Trina
This is Treensy. The photo isn't that great (I had to use the flash) but it turned out pretty cute. Its a little scary for me drawing people I know (more chance of disappointment!) Trina is my best friend so I hope she likes it, although being a good friend she would never say if she didn't!
Drawing Sunday
After being inspired by a fantastic artist I discovered on etsy, ScarlettCat, I decided to rework this drawing...
...into something a little more exaggerated and colourful on a coloured stock I had bought the other day. It turned out pretty good (maybe even a little bit of a self-portrait)...
And then I had to do a little portrait of Miss Melly, of course. This is her "I'm very cute so give me kitty treats' pose. It melts me every time.
...into something a little more exaggerated and colourful on a coloured stock I had bought the other day. It turned out pretty good (maybe even a little bit of a self-portrait)...
And then I had to do a little portrait of Miss Melly, of course. This is her "I'm very cute so give me kitty treats' pose. It melts me every time.
What a night, what a storm (in my mind)
Last night we had the worst weather we have had for months! We turned on the electric blanket (have forgotten what cold feels like) and snuggled in to watch a DVD. We got about halfway and heard this drip, drip, drip. Yep, thats right the hallway had sprung a leak.
It was pretty much the last straw for me. I've been sick of this place for a while and noticing more and more the things that needed fixing. Even Shane had had enough. Right, we said, we are outta here. And spent the next few hours trawling the net looking for somewhere else to rent. We finally went to bed about 1.30AM but of course my brain was then on overdrive and I didn't get to sleep till about 3.30AM. My Miss Melly, of course, cares not for when you went to sleep, shes wants to get up at 6 either way. So I am exhausted.
And to make things worse, instead of spending the day like I had planned (arty, crafty and fun) we spent the day driving round looking at dumps, in really crappy neighbourhoods, for way more money then we can afford. So in the end we talked to the landlord about getting some basic maintenance done and the plan is to stay here. If they get it done. Which I am yet to see, they aren't exactly quick with this sort of thing, it took them nine months to come round to fix the garage doors (which we fixed ourselves about 3 days after telling them).
Enough moaning from me though, I just had to get it out. But I am cooking a delicious Roast Chicken Dinner for tea, I really need some comfort. Promise I'll be better tomorrow.
It was pretty much the last straw for me. I've been sick of this place for a while and noticing more and more the things that needed fixing. Even Shane had had enough. Right, we said, we are outta here. And spent the next few hours trawling the net looking for somewhere else to rent. We finally went to bed about 1.30AM but of course my brain was then on overdrive and I didn't get to sleep till about 3.30AM. My Miss Melly, of course, cares not for when you went to sleep, shes wants to get up at 6 either way. So I am exhausted.And to make things worse, instead of spending the day like I had planned (arty, crafty and fun) we spent the day driving round looking at dumps, in really crappy neighbourhoods, for way more money then we can afford. So in the end we talked to the landlord about getting some basic maintenance done and the plan is to stay here. If they get it done. Which I am yet to see, they aren't exactly quick with this sort of thing, it took them nine months to come round to fix the garage doors (which we fixed ourselves about 3 days after telling them).
Enough moaning from me though, I just had to get it out. But I am cooking a delicious Roast Chicken Dinner for tea, I really need some comfort. Promise I'll be better tomorrow.
Some More Coptic Bound Books
A few more books that I've been working away on and haven't taken photos of, the photos aren't that great as I took them last night with the flash but I thought it was now or never as I was giving one away today. Above is an adorable book I found for $1. I decided I couldn't leave once I saw the title, How the Story Ended, so I removed the insides and stitched up some blank pages to put in it. Now it makes a really cute little journal.
A rainbow book I made with scraps of paper from work. The cover is just simple black but I have debossed a design on the front. You only catch it in certain light but I love it. I think it might be a new quote journal for me. It looks grat on the shelf too.
This was the book I gave to my very good friend Trina this morning for Valentines Day. Sometimes we you know you aren't getting anything its nice to give something to someone else who isn't getting anything just to say "I love you, thanks for being my friend!".
And this was a tiny little book I made with some left over signatures and a really great fabric I bought a while ago for another project but it couldn't be any more perfect for a book.
Curiosity Killed The Cat
Miss Melly looked very interested in the seagulls hanging out on the road, but once they flew off we realized our little Melly alley cat was much more interested in the garbage they were eating!
Some sneeky bunnies...
A little before and after.
A little bit of the above (plans, screws, hammering, lifting, arranging) turned this...
...into this. A bit of an improvement, if I do say so myself. Shane's area/corner/dumping ground looks slightly better now it is a little more organized. Its easier for me to get to the computer too! (Still hate the carpet, don't you love renting)
Let them eat cake!
A grateful client (of Daves) bought us in some delicious cakes right before lunch. If only more clients were this grateful.
AAArrrggghhh!
I am so gutted with work at the moment. We have just had our request for more ergonomic chairs denied. The excuse? That even though they have had many other similar requests, the approved chairs provided by the Council are ergonomically tested and therefore are fine.
I'm sorry? There have been many similar complaints? Does that not say something? That maybe the approved ergonomic chairs (Translation: the cheapest chairs we could get) aren't that great.
What a caring work environment we have. The three of us here have had a work and safety assessment which said the desks and chairs we have here are causing (but not limited to): headaches, back strain, neck strain, eye strain, shoulder and elbow problems (not to mention some serious grumpiness).
I really do hate it here. They have a really special way of making everyone who works here feel undervalued, underpaid and used. And then they wonder why there is such low moral here and why they have such a high staff turn-around.
There must be more then this?
I'm sorry? There have been many similar complaints? Does that not say something? That maybe the approved ergonomic chairs (Translation: the cheapest chairs we could get) aren't that great.
What a caring work environment we have. The three of us here have had a work and safety assessment which said the desks and chairs we have here are causing (but not limited to): headaches, back strain, neck strain, eye strain, shoulder and elbow problems (not to mention some serious grumpiness).
I really do hate it here. They have a really special way of making everyone who works here feel undervalued, underpaid and used. And then they wonder why there is such low moral here and why they have such a high staff turn-around.
There must be more then this?
It finally came!!!
It finally came, my brand new Misery wallet. I love it so much. I have already "moved in" all my stuff! It was such a bargin too.
Love Day is coming...
I used some animal designs from another project and made up these cute little valentine cards. There is one other but I don't want to ruin the surprise for someone. I love any occasion which requires the making of cards.
Black and white makes everything better.
I had some fun yesterday playing with my camera, in preparation for todays photo shoot (children, hmmm, that should be... interesting), and I love how everything looks classy/moody/sophisticated when its in black and white. Its only my bedroom really.
Someone else loves softies too!
Miss Melly loves the softies in the spare room. I caught her napping in amongst them yesterday afternoon in the sunshine. I hardly noticed her tucked in there!
Thanks Mum!!
My mum sent me a necklace, she found in a 75% off sale, which wasn't my style but had some really beautiful beads in it. So I promptly pulled it to pieces and, even though I feel like death and probably should be in bed, I had to make a little sun catcher for the spare bedroom. It looks beautiful when the sun shines through it. And I just found out yesterday that Dunedin, yes little Dunedin, was not only the wettest city (to be expected really) but also the SUNNIEST city in New Zealand for January! It really has been lovely, I adore Dunedin in the sun. In the cloud and rain, not so much.
Another week over...
Another working week down. The more time I spend doing my creative endeavors the less satisfied I am with my work life. I wish it was a more freely creative environment, the jobs we have could be so good, but working for local government means every job gets lost/bogged down or hidden behind a whole bunch of bureaucratic bulls**t. I'm getting really tired of design by committee. The design you work on with one client, tailored to their expectations then has to go through 19 other people with there own wants. Plus everyones a designer and they know best, of course.