So I made note in my previous entry, that I had removed everything from my flickr account? Just thought I would come and update you on what is actually there for your viewing pleasure! There will be more over the next week ♥
Archive for February, 2010
Goodbye Summer
Saturday, February 27th, 2010
Dear Summer,
For once, I’m almost sad to see you go. I have no doubt that I will create many more wonderful memories with my friends through the other seasons, but summer seems to be the time I get to see them more. Lazy summer days lounging around on the sand at our favourite beach, and attempts at climbing onto an inflatable swan (fondly known as Ostrich) out in the ocean.
Looking forward to more fun times when you return in 9 months – until then? Bring on the months where I am much more creatively inspired!
Thank-you,
Lola
Also, recently, Liss of Daydream Lily tweeted about a pretty blog, and I have to say it is a bit of a new blog crush for me: Petticoats and High Heels. You should visit it ♥
Please Note:
You have my apologies – any posts with my photography in them (sans those of the last few days), no longer have the photographs available – I cleaned out my flickr as I was desperately dissatisfied with it. So, sorry! My flickr has new photos on it though, and I’m rebuilding what I had there so that it is (hopefully) neater and better tagged etc. Of course, new posts with my work will follow ^-^
Just a Minute in February
Saturday, February 27th, 2010
Just a Minute in February
Reading
Still reading Through the Looking Glass. To be honest, I haven’t done a great deal of reading lately, which is disappointing. I really need to make more time for it. Especially as that is one of my 200 goals for 10 years.
Listening
I have some friends who recommended a lot of music to me, and I certainly intend on listening to as much of it as I can. To start with, I have been listening to a lot more Opeth, and Dream Theater. I’ve also been listening to Béla Fleck and the Flecktones, Frank Zappa, Alice in Chains, Björk, Breaking Benjamin, Butterfly Boucher, Fleetwood Mac, and the usuals: Nightwish, Within Temptation, Apocalyptica, Evanescence, Lisa Mitchell, and Kate Miller-Heidke.
Wanting
Aside from some sleep, at the moment I would really appreciate more time to blog, and to read the blogs of others. Also to just work on other creative projects I have. I feel that at the moment, I just have no time whatsoever to be myself and have me time. Working full time sucks – but it’s good to be getting some money! I also want to be more thorough when I update my blog – I know that if items of mine were to be posted elsewhere, I would want sufficient credit. I’ve been thinking about it, and typing “click for source” really isn’t sufficient enough – these people deserve more credit and for their name to be given a fair mention. Please remind me of this, if I do it again.
Making
Actually, I’m going to be making a few sensory items for work soon. I work at a school for children who have autism, and one of the students in my class is very much so into the sensory work. I’ll be making her a sensory board to walk on, and a sensory alphabet so we can start working on that.
Outside of this, I’m knitting myself two scarves ready for winter. They are both fluffy, and one is brown, the other is pink.
Loving
My friends, good music, jasmine tea, chai tea, pretty blogs, and the cooler weather that is steadily starting to roll in. Hopefully there aren’t too many hot days left – they are the reason I don’t like Summer. At least it’s almost Autumn now.
Promising
To update more frequently with better content, that is credited properly. Also promising to make March awesome.
Drinking
Lots of vanilla chai tea, and lots of jasmine tea. I’m also drinking a lot of water, and too much coke. I need to cut the last one out, it isn’t helping weightloss at all!
Hope you have all had a fabulous February!
Some new photos by yours truly
Saturday, February 27th, 2010
I uploaded some photos I’d been hiding in a secret stash on my computer! There are 10 of them up at my Flickr and there will be more to come!
Here is to today
Sunday, February 21st, 2010
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It’s steadily approaching that time of day where I need to start considering what I want to wear to church today: I want it to be pretty – whatever I choose – it’s difficult though as it’s going to be a warm Australian summer day, and I simply still haven’t managed to pull off enough weightloss to be truly comfortable wearing any summer attire. It’s superficial, yes, but truly – what is a girl to do?
The heart of everything
Saturday, February 20th, 2010
Click for source.
When I first got into art – I was young and had dreams and aspirations. I guess some would say I still am that, but I don’t feel young anymore, and my journey has been (like so many others) a rocky one.
During the years of my mid-teens, I was a) heavily involved in art programs and really starting to make progress, and b) starting to fall into the trap of depression. It was art, music and literature, that helped to prop me up for a while there, but anger and resentment continued to grow and bubble beneath the surface, until things blew right up and an enormous rift was torn between myself and my best friend. That was by far one of my lowest points – I got angry at him and blamed him for everything in an attempt to make myself feel better, because inside I was blaming me – looking back now though, it was probably equal blame, if blame were to be placed (I hope that it isn’t though, it seems too petty).
Fighting with him sent me further down that horrible hole I was falling into – there were no random tea-cups, and I was not chasing a rabbit – I was definitely falling down what seemed to be a never-ending hole though.
A few months later, I ended up landing myself my first (and only so far) boyfriend. We were together for almost 2 years, and for most of that time, it was an abusive relationship. I don’t want to talk about this too much – it’s far too personal. It also didn’t do a great deal to help me though.
It’s been a slow climb back to where I am today, and I know I still have a while to go. In the time where I was down though, I had the most enormous creative block, it felt as though it was physically blocking my head all the time – perpetual headache sucks.
Now though, I’ve dealt with a lot of my personal issues, discovered that my spirituality is more important than I realised, re-established and created new friendships, and while things can still be awkward, my best friend and I are making efforts to be friends again and I appreciate that. I’m generic and easily replaced, but he is one of the most eccentric people I know (and a great source of inspiration), so while he no longer classes me as his best friend – he is still my best friend. I’m okay with this though, we’re talking again and I’ve missed him. I’m also so much more inspired these days, for both my writing, art and music. It’s nice not having a block that is always there.
I need this. Blogging, I need it, to share and improve what I’m doing. I value your feedback – you’re helping me to overcome these obstacles that have fallen in my way over time.
This post is quite personal and I’m a little frightened of publishing it, but here goes nothing.
xx
Lillyan Lilac
Saturday, February 20th, 2010
Click for source.
I have to tell you, it was truly delightful to come home from a hard day of work, and browse through Lillyan’s photostream ♥ I suggest you all do it!
These storms keep coming
Thursday, February 18th, 2010
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What can I say? I do love this city I live in. I also love the storms we’ve been having of late. I wish there were some happening here now!
The time you make
Wednesday, February 17th, 2010
As some of you may be aware, I take part in an online writers group. Every Wednesday night we come together to chat and discuss where we are all up to with our writing. Initially, the founder of the group started it up to discuss and work on short stories, but the weekly tasks are now more general – still involves writing short stories, but as an example: when we started up again for the year two weeks ago, we were discussing heroes and villains. Our task for the first week was to write two short stories; one where a hero from one of our pre-existing novels does something bad, and another where a villain does something good – while still keeping them in character. It was a much more difficult task than I anticipated, so I’ve still not finished it, but I am working on it still because it is fun!
The task from last weeks meeting arose from our discussions about what time we allocate to our writing. Most (if not all) good writers will say that around work and everything else, they had to schedule their writing time in, and they had to be strict with it – even if they didn’t feel like writing at the time, or had a creative block, they still had to keep soldiering on, and treating it like it was their source of work for income and needed it to provide for themselves. At the moment, my times are all up in the air as I am working full time again for the first time in years, and even if my car was on the road, I still travel a fair distance to get to and from work. Catching the train at the moment is a nightmare though. Often on the way home, I find myself still standing by the time I’m only two stations away from where I have to get off, so writing on the train in the afternoons is highly unlikely.
By the time I get home, I often have time to eat dinner and get ready for work the next day, before I really need to think about going to bed. It’s exceedingly frustrating, but I need a job, and I’m very lucky to have the job that I do (I have to tell myself this). Matt, the founder of our Wednesday Writers group, suggested that I start writing on the train in the morning. I was a little apprehensive initially. The idea of bringing my laptop out on the train, well, it made me feel a little pretentious, and I didn’t like that.
When I was younger and was always catching the train, I would always carry a folder with me, and I would plot and scheme so that when I got home, I could just write. I’ve now been trying to write while on the train, and I’m finally over the issues I have with using my laptop on the train, but I still feel uncomfortable actually writing my novel. If I have my favourite metal music playing in my ears though, I’m happy to plot, and I’m going to force myself to continue trying to write. I think most of it is just a fear that someone will read over my shoulder, and laugh at the raw and rough material I’m presenting on my screen as I type frantically.
Although, this morning I’m not even plotting, because I’m instead writing this up so that I can post it when I get home tonight.
That being said, I’ve still got about fifteen minutes left of my journey on this train, so I might go and attempt to do some more outlining for my From the Ashes series (which I condensed from a six book series, to a four book series the other day).
Reminds me of the past
Tuesday, February 16th, 2010
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Those who know me may have a little giggle amongst themselves when I say: “This reminds me a lot of where I was perhaps a year or two ago”. These days I tend to dress to match my mood rather than to try and achieve a certain image or appearance – not always as practicality does have to enter in at some point, but I do still have all my old clothes and have contemplated dying my hair blue-black again (and I still use newspaper in some of my art)! When I stumbled across this on flickr though, it did bring a small smile to my face.
Generally lolita fashion is made for those who are small and petite – which I am neither and it always upset me! I’m tall, broad and awkward instead!
As an additional note, I’ll be doing some maintenance on my blog tomorrow night. I doubt it will affect access to my posts/comments etc, but in case things start showing up strangely – I thought I should warn you xx
