Insomnia

Are you ever hounded by Insomnia? I am, on a regular basis, and last night proved to be no exception. Not for nothing was i stood in my under crackers doing the ironing at 4:30am.

Insomnia is a cruel thing, i hope that one day i will be able to discover what it is to turn your brain off and sink into glorious sleep without effort or horse tranquilisers.

Anyway, it got me thinking about soothing/ medatative text as i will often sit and read when sleep does not want to court me.

Here are some of my favourite passages for you to enjoy, who knows they might provide you with some comfort in the early hours.

Title: Moby Dick
Author: Herman Melville

"But here is an artist. He desires to paint you the dreamiest, shadiest, quietest, most enchanting bit of romantic landscape in all the valley of Saco. What is the chief element he employs? There stand his trees, each with a hollow trunk, as if a hermit and a crucifix were within; and here sleeps his meadow, and there sleep his cattle; and up from yonder cottage goes a sleep smoke. Deep into distant woodlands winds a mazy way, reaching to overlapping spurs of mountains bathed in their hill-side blue. But though the picture lies thus tranced, and though his pine-tree shakes down its sighs like leaves upon this shepherd's head, yet all were in vain, unless the shepherd's eye were fixed upon the magic stream before him. Go visit the Prairies in June, when for scores on scores of miles you wade knee-deep among Tiger-lilies - what is the one charm wanting? - Water there is not a drop of water there! Were Niagra but a cataract of sand, would you travel your thousand miles to see it? Why did the poor poet of Tennessee, upon suddenly receiving two handfuls of silver, deliberate whether to buy him a coat, which he sadly needed, or invest his money in a pedestrian trip to Rockaway Beach? Why is almost every robust healthy boy with a robust healthy soul in him, at some time or another crazy to go to see? Why upon your first voyage as a passenger, did you yourself feel such a mystical vibration, when first told that you and your ship were now out of sight of land? Why did the old Persians hold the sea holy? Why did the Greeks give it a separate deity, and own brother of Jove? Surely all this is not without meaning. And still deeper the meaning of that story of Narcissus, who because he could not grasp the tormenting, mild image he saw in the fountain, plunged into it and was drowned. But the same image, we ourselves see in all rivers and oceans. It is the image of the ungraspable phantom of life; and this is the key to it all."

Title: Narziss and Goldmund
Author: Hermann Hesse

"Yes, there was one such magic. This loveliness must re-shape itself in his soul, his hands inform it, and preserve. With delight and fear he perceived how full his mind had grown of images, how many shapes this long, dread journey had left inscribed upon his heart. Forms thronged and jostled within him, till he longed for quiet, to see them all, and release them into living permeance. More eager, more alert, more curious, he went on, with searching eyes, and passionate senses, but restless now, for clay and wood, for paper, charcoal, and a workshop."

"But as, today, after long experience, he came back to them, his soul scarred by the world, full of the urgent need for quiet and thought, their old, stern forms suddenly moved him, with a force and power he had never known. Piously he stood before their reverence, in which still beat the heart of a perished day, the fears and raptures of many dead, held in strong lines above the centuries, defying the brittleness of time. A feeling of deep awe and love of them stole into his heart as he gazed, and he shuddered at his wasted, burnt-out life. "

A different kind of painting

For the first time in over a year i had the sudden urge to paint my fingernails.  Out came the Chanel, how i love their cosmetics.

This got me thinking about nail art so i had a look around and here are some of the wacky and wonderful finds... (All Images are courtesy of LoveToKnow).

http://skincare.lovetoknow.com/Long_Nail_Pictures

Thank you

I just wanted to say a quick thank you to everyone that takes the time to comment on my posts. You're feedback is much appreciated xx

New Painting - As it evolves

New Paintings

I have wanted some Bull Horns above my bed for as long as i can remember. Not being able to get my hands on the real thing i decided to paint some. The photos not the best (i can't eliminate glare at the moment when photographing inside) but you'll get the idea. I wanted the background plain to start off with but changed my mind after painting the horns. Instead i've tried to capture the dust and dirt of the PBR.

 

This second piece i started today (you can see it's still wet). Eventually the blue will go, being replaced by a darker colour. I'm pleased with the way its going so hopefully i'll keep it on track!

Interesting Looks from nymag.com

Slideshow: The 20 Most Stylish People of Fashion Week, Day 3

I don't agree with the rest of their most stylish but i do think they are right with this one. How beautiful and stylish is freelance writer Hope Adele Pastzor.

If only i could pull off a look like this.

The Style Edit (2)

Thank you to everyone that gave me feedback on the last style edit. Here's my take on some other looks.

1) Dressed Down Chic (because it reminds me of Paris)

What to do with stripes? I adore stripes as many of you will know and i have a wardrobe littered with them.  I tend to incorporate stripes through t-shirts as they tend to be more forgiving placed away from legs (thighs in particular). Here's an example of how i would pull together a laid back outfit

Step 1: If i'm going to wear flats i would stick to a skinny or straight leg jean/ trouser. It also helps to keep everything looking in proportion (basically your torso will only look as wide as the dark jeans not as wide as the t-shirt).

Step 2: Layering. I make my own t-shirts at home because i struggle to find ones that are long enough on the high street. You can pick up a simple pattern for around £5 or make your own.

It doesn't look much at this stage but you have to remember that you will only see a certain part of it once the outfit has been finished. Often tops that i use for layering look awful on their own, you have to remember to see past it.

Step 3: Add the stripes. This is a really soft cotton t-shirt with great tailoring detail. The stripes are also a charcoal so not as harsh as black on white. You can adjust the layering t-shirt until you're happy with it.

Of course if you're not a fan of the layering look you can do without the long t-shirt

Step 4: Shoes. Ahhhhh the shoes. I love ballet pumps as much as i love my sky scraper heels. If you have muted colours you can avoid the obvious and give the outfit an extra twist. These are rose gold pumps (so again soft in tone) which i think look great against the dark colours.

Step 5: Jewellery. If you can pick up on one of the accent colours. With the stripes being so busy I always opt for something simple but bold. This yellow glass necklace picks up the gold on the shoes and works well with the charcoal, adding just enough interest.

If you wanted to add extra detail you could go for a wrap belt......

Step 6: Extra Layers. I try to avoid covering up with layers that are too long when i have a short t-shirt on as it gets a bit messy.

Short layers tend to work better (especially as i'm so short!)

2) Easy Beach

I'm not great with the whole beach thing. I hate feeling like a trip to the seaside needs a whole spare bag of clothes so last year i decided to try and wear something that would work on and off the beach when on holiday.

1) Swimwear: I now wear bikini tops and bottoms with small shorts when i'm on holiday. It means i can swim or paddle whenever and wherever the mood takes me without having that awful 'change in a towel tent' nightmare because they double as under garments during the day.

2) The Dress: Maxi dresses are a god send, they suit every body type and are normally quite cheap which means I don't feel guilty when they get covered in sand and suntan lotion. I try to find ones with an empire line as they sit over the bikini top, making it look structured and part of the outfit.

3) The Cover-Up: I burn quite easily so i always have a wrap handy to cover-up when i feel the sun is getting too much. This is one time when long layers work really well because they work with the length of the dress rather than against it.

It also means i have a top for when the evening comes. Long jersey tops double as excellent wraps by just tying them around the waist. Best of all the layering of the material will hide a swollen stomach (in my case usually down to too much ice-cream)!

If there are any particular styles or looks you want to see let me know, hopefully i've hit the mark for some of you!

The Budhisattva

The Budhisattva, my eternal confidante.

Many years ago I happened across a wooden sculpture of a Budhisattva. When she came into sight everything else dropped away and a feeling of calm came over me such as I had never experienced before. 

I thought she was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen, I still do. 

She still sits serene and silent in the museum that houses her, slightly hidden away in shadow. I am glad I do not need to fight through people to gain an audience with her.

Today I went to see her, my soul was calling to her and I had to obey. It's an odd thing when you get a calling to something, I doubt I shall ever be able to explain it.

The Budhisattva has a vow, of which there are a number of variations. The vow will perhaps explain in part why she has come to such great meaning in my life. When I look at her gentle face I can almost feel her breath the words, her eyes knowing the writing in my heart.  My palm would like to press into hers to feel the warmth of her being; her blessing. This will not happen so I sit as close to her as I am permitted and smile back.

Budhisattva Vow:

May I be a guard for those who are protector less,

A guide for those who journey on the road;

For those who wish to go across the water,

May I be a boat, a raft, a bridge.

May I be an isle for those who yearn for landfall,

And a lamp for those who long for light;

For those who need a resting place, a bed,

For all who need a servant, may I be a slave.

May I be the wishing jewel, the vase of plenty,

A word of power, and the supreme remedy.

May I be the trees off miracles,

And for every being, the abundant cow.

Like the great earth and the other elements,

Enduring as the sky itself endures,

For the boundless multitude of living beings,

May I be the ground and vessel of their life.

Thus, for every single thing that lives,

In number like the boundless reaches of the sky,

May I be their sustenance and nourishment

Until they pass beyond the bounds of suffering.

A bright day

I have seen a few people post about their pets and the wildlife in their garden recently and it inspired me to do the same here.

I don't have a garden but every morning i sit on my front door step and wait patiently for my friends, Mrs Brown Bird and Mr Black Bird. They like to nest and feed around the bush that grows directly opposite my front door.

Sure enough there they were this morning. They've become used to my presence so if i sit quietly they are happy to hop around and continue on their business.

I also had a new visitor today, this beautiful tiny Robin

It was hard to get a good photo of the Robin but i love this one. It shows her (or him) trying to sneak in behind Mrs Brown Bird. The expression is so funny

And here's Mr Black Bird, he's the most timid of the bunch.

After spending time with these beautiful creatures i felt inspired to create some new cards, bringing in all the colour and hope of Spring. A couple are from previous sketches with the colours re-worked. I have a serious love of yellow at the moment!

Some new sketches

You can tell summer is on my mind with this first one! 

I've discovered that mastering dimensions in charcoal is quite difficult (like one leg being too big as above) but i will keep trying until i get it right!

'The Colour Yellow'

'The Colour Yellow' by TwigArtUK

The colour yellow always evokes wonderful images of spring in my mind. As i wait for that wonderful season to come around i wanted to surround myself with the colour yellow hence this treasury. These finds have made me smile, chuckle and have brought back the sounds and smells of summers spent playing as a child. I hope they brighten up your day too.

Caravan of Love - Handmade L... HouseofChintz $65.00	ON SALE Two Girls 8x12 Fine ... TheLightFantas... $18.00	Baby Chick Handspun Yarn Thi... Autumnrose $11.00
Baby snuggler "burrtio ... Georgewithears $30.00	Set of Three Bright Colorful... InAGlaze $85.00	flat round terracotta BUTTON... karoart $12.50
Chicken Monkey MrsHerb $25.00	bezel set engagement ring an... aboutjewelry $99.00	Love Bird's Bowl with s... DarriellesClay... $28.00
12 Inch Yellow Cloth Wreath Rhody $25.00	French Press Coffee Cosy/Coz... Britgaldesigns $12.00	Clutch purse with birds on c... jenniferladd $65.00
Explosion 2 - 36 x 30 - Acry... CharlensAbstra... $225.00	Nicole - Canary wool felt fl... PetitCalla $9.99	Silk wrapped Anklets -Yello... Zazuta $3.00

Treasury tool is sponsored by Lazzia.com.