Jamie T - Spider's Web

Marilyn is the only famous woman I have ever truly admired. It seems cliche, as she is an icon to so many; her image is world famous and often over-used, but for me she represents something deeper and more meaningful than just a pretty face.

I believe she was so much more than the woman she portrayed herself to be. An incredibly talented, funny, intelligent woman who underneath it all, tragically, lacked confidence and seemed to be constantly searching for love and acceptance. After reading about her life, her journal entries and poetry, I cannot help but feel a little sad every time I look at her image.

Despite decades separating us, there is something about her that I truly identify with, and today I felt like writing about it to show my appreciation for a woman I will always adore. There is no other quite like Marilyn and I don't think there ever will be. So I hope she will never be forgotten or cast aside as just a ditsy blonde, as she is the true testament to "never judge a book by its cover".

xxx

Nothing quite gets me like Studio Ghibli does.

Historial fact of the day

"Elijah McCoy, son of former slaves who had escaped to Canada, studied mechanical engineering
in Scotland. After the Civil War, he moved to the United States and worked for the Michigan
Central Railroad. Because the railroad company could not imagine an African American engineer,
he was hired to run the boiler and lubricate moving parts of the train.
In 1872 Elijah patented his first invention, a self-regulating lubricator.
His device was so successful that buyers of steam engines would ask if the lubrication systems were the "Real McCoy"."

... hence the phrase.

Alane Jordan Starko

I think this is what we shall do...

As unfortunately it seems so damn expensive to buy a house now a days, I thought this article about a lady, Sandra Foster was completely inspiring. With little money and living in a trailer, she made a beautiful, tiny house in the middle of a forest in New York. Converting an old hunting cabin with only $3000.

Truly showing you can make any house, no matter how small, a home. So cute!

(for the full article, www.nytimes.com)

"And above all,
watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you
because the greatest secrets
are always hidden in the most unlikely places.
Those who don't believe in magic will never find it."

Roald Dahl (all time favourite)

Edinburgh 2009/10
<3

silent and still

Bruce Mozertom (first underwater photography)

Chanel are suggesting it is now ok for me to dress up like Chewbacca / a Polar bear this winter - yey!

This super cute banner outside our local college is created by The Hidden Dingbat Collective which consists of my wonderful boyfriend Phil Howell and his business partner Lauren Baker. This is a big step into the freelance world of graphic design for them and I'm so proud :)

Punk rock has the power to change the world,
It lies in every punk rock boy and girl.
So don't let anyone tell you you're not worth the earth,
These streets are your streets,
This turf is your turf!

Don't let anyone tell you that you've got to give in,
'Cos you can make a difference,
You can change everything!
Just let your dreams be your pilot,
Your imagination your fuel,
Tear up the book and write your own damn rules.

Use all the heart, hope and soul that you've got,
And the love and the rage that you feel in your gut,
And realize that the other world that you're always looking for,
Lies right here in front of us,
Just outside this door.
And it's up to you to go out there and paint the canvas,
After all, you were put on the earth to do this.

So shine your light so bright that all can see,
Take pride in being whoever the fuck you want to be!
Throw your fist in the air in solidarity,
And shout - VIVA LA PUNK, JUST ONE LIFE, ANARCHY!

From 'What if punk never happened' by The King Blues

Toxic Nudibranch OR real life pokemon?

from National Geographic

So while searching through the vast amount of cupboards in my house I found a rather extensive feather collection. Upon which I found this perfectly preserved Golden Pheasant.

At the risk of seeming quite morbid, I thought it was beautiful and therefore a note worthy find :)

My favourite place in the world

I have been to Canada a couple of times now and it is officially my favourite country I have ever been to. Hopefully one day I will stay there forever :)

I drew this a little while back and kept forgetting to put it on here, but here it is - inspired from the film Memoirs of a Geisha :)

Good day Mr Shark.

This is a little picture that was drawn for me by Lauren Baker who does wonderful illustrations and is a super nice person (blog = in my links).

This picture depicts me having dinner with a shark which I often do and sometimes can be a tense situation, but ultimately we have a lovely time. Thank you Lauren!

Takashi Murakami is so awesome!

These are just a few reasons why I love Takashi Murakami. I saw some of his work at the Pop Life exhibition in Ottawa, Canada and absolutely fell in love with it. I was always attracted to Japanese illustration and animation but I think this is so unique and inspiring.

It is refreshing to walk into a gallery and not have to read too much into the work you are looking at but just enjoy the sight and think "That is awesome!"

The Runaways is one of the best independent movies I have seen this year! Not many films making a lasting impression on me but this one really did. Even though not many have had similar experiences to the characters in this film, I think every girl can watch this movie and be reminded of what it was like to be 15 and find a little bit of themselves in it to relate to. Plus both Dakota and Kristen are amazing!

Go see it! :)

I saw this today and I had to buy it, everything is so much better with a happy face on it. Now coconut and chili noodles are even more fun!

Second Munny. Completely different from the first, but I think I like this one better :)

Davy Jones is one of my favourite fantasy characters so I drew this little figurehead in tribute to the unconventional hopeless romantic.

Munnys are the best present

New Beginnings

I finally started a blog after meaning to for quite some time.
My hope is to post up any thoughts, photos and creative outbursts that I have as I go along. Being extremely forgetful it's good for me to note things down so I can look back and not lose awesome memories of the past.

I already have loads of things to post up from the past couple of months, but that's for another day...
For now, over and out.