Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Day #25

I remember when I was last in a relationship I noticed I hardly dreamed in the night. The scribbles dried up, my precision blade rusted away — I didn't even bring it with me. Yet, I didn't seem to mind that I was barren and didn't create.

Now that I'm alone again — my natural state I'd think — and working with my hands again (albeit less frequently than I'd like) and reading for pleasure more, the sehnsucht is greater than ever.

I wish it were possible to have the best of both situations — perhaps to be constantly inspired by someone I love, but, for now, I'd settle for being more disciplined and devoted to making time for all the things that make me feel fulfilled.

Monday, April 28, 2014

Day #24

Oh ... forgot about this again last night although I wrote another blog post in the private blog.

I think Emily's cutting is coming along okay, but since I stuck at handwriting, the quote I selected ("your reality is just different from mine" from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland) and wrote looks barely legible and quite horrid. Ah well ... hopefully it's the thought that counts.

Man, can't wait for the Thursday public holiday. So. Tired.

Saturday, April 26, 2014

Day #23

I know you're supposed to make time, not find time, but sometimes it feels like trying get blood out of a stone. Sigh.

Brought 20 Ways to Draw a Tree and 44 Other Nifty Things from Nature, 20 Ways to Draw a Cat and 44 Other Awesome Animals, and Typography Sketchbooks home this weekend. Hopefully, I'd be able to doodle more this weekend. Managed a few bird shapes this morning before having to do other stuff (setting up an investment, lunch, Yin yoga, and shopping for workout clothes and groceries — in that order), and a bit of cutting on the piece for Emily after coming home.

Looking forward to another long weekend ... Please let it come soon.

Friday, April 25, 2014

Day #22

Tgif, indeed.

I was so crossed today because Spotify told me it was unable to steam tracks due to my network. Fuck the school's network, and fuck CIS and ISS. I'm sure those two departments have their hands in this. The stupid institution wants me to be less productive? They got it.

On a more positive side, I got to know Gemma Correll's works (It's A Punderful Life was one of my selected new arrivals) and fun with her Monday Punday.

Oh weekend! Oh sleep!

Thursday, April 24, 2014

Day #21

Woot! Thursday already!

Crazy ass day with teaching a two-hour workshop (quite enjoyed that one actually — the kids were lively enough without being obnoxiously rowdy), going through a fire drill (student: "Saving my work is more important than saving my life."), then giving a library tour to new (non-library) staff — back to back, in the span of four hours.

Having a hard time deciding the next book to read. I brought Gillian Flynn's Sharp Objects home with me and so far have only read the first couple of pages ... which failed to get my attention. Didn't want to start on Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman because I don't want to get into a certain mood that Murakami's tales always bring — not that it's unpleasant (I like it actually, but only when I'm in the mood for it), I just don't want to feel that way for now.

So. Sleepy. -_-zzz

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Day #20

Gave Stretch & Core a miss today cuz the bus was late. LATE. Yeah ... I'd rather miss the whole class than part of the class — wonder what that says about me. The whole cake or nothing at all.

Book read for the month of April: The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared.

So far so good when it comes to my resolution of trying to read at least a (new) book a month — although I did binge on the Thursday Next series earlier in the year. Can't wait to read The Woman Who Died A Lot and can't wait for the next book in the Shades of Gray series to come out!

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Day #19

It wasn't that I forgot an entry last night — I remembered but decided against a posting.

Note to self: First day of school is a FUCKING MADHOUSE. Tertiary students move so sluggishly and are always fucking distracted, either by their friends, their crushes, their phones, or somethinganything.

Finally made it to Yin last night cuz I figured I needed to unwind after a crazy day at work: best choice I made all day ...

Sunday, April 20, 2014

Day #18

Yesterday's doodles — still practising (copying) bird shapes and playing around with the idea of the geometric pattern with a word or words:

It's prolly not obvious, but the word in the box is amaze.

Today, testing out the alternative idea for Emily's cutting. Drew on a marbled A3 sheet and started cutting. I'm thinking of keeping keeping the fan/shell-like shapes uncut. Haven't figured out a quote yet — maybe something from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (just saw Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland on Friday and yesterday; cable repeats). I love love love the idea of an Alice-at-Wonderland-Night-Circus theme. LOVE.

Day #17

Ah ha! Didn't forget the entry before bed tonight!

So, I've been thinking of the new cutting for Emily (I already have one idea; this is an alternative): I'm thinking of doing a cutting of a geometric pattern like one of those I did yesterday (and today too, for that matter; pics to be posted tomorrow) with words. I'll draw directly on an A3 paper tomorrow to see whether it'll be cut-able for me or not ... if I've the time after cooking my week's lunches.

In other news, I've an embarrassing crush on Sue Perkins (embarrassing only because of my low self-esteem). Oh my, she's utterly scrumptious ...

Friday, April 18, 2014

Day #16

Got to spend a bit of time today doodling — which is excellent because Emily dropped by and lent me three lovely books last night. My favorite is Naive (going to grab a copy of my own). Also, I borrowed Typography Sketchbooks yesterday; should've brought it home (it was too heavy and unwieldy and I didn't go straight home after work).

Anyway — doodling. I practised on bird shapes from Naive and a lovely geometric pattern I saw on YouTube. Totally love how easy the geometric shapes ones are (I tried triangles, quadrilaterals, and five-/six-/eight-sided shapes) and how great they look! I'm redoing Emily's papercutting so I might just try a cutting of that pattern.

Yeah, my birds suck. Gonna practise more, try harder.

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Day #15

Not that the day's been fantastic, but it was still a pretty decent — albeit busy — one. On reflection, it was decent because:
  • my manager is on leave (therefore no emails/requests/tasks from her);
  • I got to do different things (did video recordings for an online class I'm suppose to tutor, sat in a meeting for a vanity book project — or, as I call it: the Circle Jerk, worked on a new webpage for another section), but unfortunately didn't have time to finish my web banner or start on the other design-related tasks sitting in my inbox or set up my book display;
  • it's the last day of work before a long weekend — FUCK YEAH!
(But I think it's mainly because my manager wasn't in the office.)

Boy, I hope I can sleep the hell out of this long weekend ...

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Day #14

Yeah, is come to the point where merely two weeks into this 30 Days of Words I'd already forgotten a daily post like three times (or more). My excuse? The usual one: completely knackered. And the thing is, I'd totally remember the post while I was, say, showering; yet, after stretching, it'd've completely slipped my mind.

Anyway. Yesterday, I got into one of my irrational anger thing at work which brought on the usual impulse to tender my resignation. But I reminded myself that it's only work so fuck it, whatever. It's totally not worth the spike in blood pressure.

Boy, it is time to move on.

Monday, April 14, 2014

Day #13

So ... it's finally happened today. For so long I'd thought I needed a new gauge but apparently not. Walking towards the library this morning, I suddenly thought about the 'bridge' between the library building and the design school collapsing — and how I would not have to go to work if I'd been walking on that 'bridge'.

Yup. It's the get-me-into-an-accident-so-I-don't-have-to-be-at-work gauge and it still works!

And especially this afternoon, when I was told to compare the stats from Google Analytics and Webtrends, I really really really wished for something to happen to take me away from having to do shit like that.

But how do I walk away with the different projects on my plate?

Sunday, April 13, 2014

Day #12

Bought a new (small) sketchbook yesterday after yoga (yes, I went after all — and it was great! The instructor was awesome) as well as two new pens (one purple and one green).

The small sketchbook I plan to carry around with me — not exactly for doodling, but for jotting down the words from Word Porn that somehow resonate with me.

Ugh. I completely suck at doodling and handwriting, but whatever.

So tired lately. I need to start trying harder at sticking to my resolution about sleeping before midnight. I have 18 days of annual leave I have to clear this year. So tempted to take a few to just sleep.

Saturday, April 12, 2014

Day #11

It's been ... a struggle to remember do to these posts. I did remind myself to do one last night as I was showering but after stretching (and not a long session either) and feeling just completely knackered, I just popped off to bed. Sans post. I feel like I should head off to Yin yoga this afternoon. But I'm feeling a little sleepy ... and reluctant. Going through it will stop raining* on a Saturday is what makes it a proper lazy Saturday for me. Sigh. I should prolly get ready for Yin soon ... =(

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Day #10

Shouldn't have had that cup of instant coffee a mere two hours after my breakfast green tea. Completely manic for four hours after that, fueled a little too (I think) by the inspiring artworks I saw on my feed.

Anyway. Wish I had done a bit of doodling today ... Sigh.

I've been trying to visualize the cutting. I think it'll prolly be Hazel on the silks in Rebecca splits. And a quote in the negative space below. I miss cutting ... =(

Wednesday, April 09, 2014

Day #9

Thought I best have this down before class in case I get too tired and forget the daily entry.

Book read for the month of April: Shades of Gray by Jasper Fforde.

Also, it occurred to me this morning that I'd like to do another silhouette cutting with a quote or something. A professionally shot picture would be good. Might have to trawl Facebook albums of the aerials girls for suitable poses.

Day #8

Bloody hell. I can't believe I'd forgotten a post again. Felt I did poorly in class last night — seemed unable to control what little core muscles I have and strained my left side trying to do a proper advanced birdy — and was completely knackered after it.

So, the Hari and Deepti papercut dioramas are sort of like a collage in a shadow box, right? I'd been thinking of maybe a collage without the shadow box with layers of different textures, but I haven't a clue as to how that project might be like.

The aerial girls are such an inspiration — so talented the lot of them: musically, artistically, culinarily (yes, this is a proper word), and everything else — I can only hope a wee bit of their combined and individual gifts and flair rub off on me.

Monday, April 07, 2014

Day #7

Bored at work today, so back to thinking/planning/researching résumé design. Which means I've still yet to apply to any job ad.

Thing is, friends and even colleagues have been forwarding job ads to me, like: "You should apply for this!"; or: "I think you'll like this!" There are a couple or so that caught my eyes (to which my education and skills/experience even qualify or fit), but the fact that those jobs are at organizations I don't particularly care for or think of joining is holding me back.

Maybe I should just apply. I mean, chances are I won't even be shortlisted for an interview so why not, right?

Right?

Sunday, April 06, 2014

Day #6

So finally got around to mounting the cutting of a Marimekko print (forgot to mirror it when printing so the finished cutting ended up mirrored).

I had such high hopes for this one, but the execution (including the sorta floating mount) didn't turn out as I expected. For one thing, I went with the best possible choice of background paper from what I currently have on hand — which isn't a lot; for another, because I'd chosen my usual textured black, the shadows I'd hoped for can't really be seen. =( Ah well. It was supposed to be a gift for Emily, but I guess it's up to her whether or not she'll want it ...

Now, thisthis is fucking gorgeous.

Saturday, April 05, 2014

Day #5

Hurray for sleeping in in the weekend! I've been having rather vivid and 'active' dreams lately. 'Active' in that I'm always in motion, doing things, in my dreams. I can only remember vaguely that the dreams are action-filled, but not really what they really were.

Broke in my new sketchbook! I read that the first (blank) page is the most intimidating and should be just scribbled and doodled the hell out of, just to get it out of the way. So, I've gone and done just that while watching Monk season 1.

Friday, April 04, 2014

Day #4

Today, I pulled Charley Harper: An Illustrated Life off the shelves, along with Petite Pattern Book: Scandinavian Style. Such pretty visuals! Wish there were books on David Stoupakis, Tara McPherson, Audrey Kawasaki, Amy Sol, or James Jean I could find at this library; however, I could find Mark Ryden, Camille Rose Garcia, and Marion Peck — which I believe I'd ordered ... Must slip more such books into my book recommendations soon. Fuck. Can't wait for the weekend ...!

Thursday, April 03, 2014

Day #3

Whenever I check my Facebook feed (which unfortunately is more frequently than I ought to), I wonder if I might not be missing out on something by not religiously documenting my everyday life in photos. After all, my memory is both a sponge and sieve; pretty sure I'm retaining daydreams and imaginings as memories while 'true' memories fade more with every passing second. But it's just so hard to remember to pull out my phone to snap pics while wonderful and amazing things are happening ...

Day #2

Fuck. Only the second day and I already failed — I totally forgot to do a quickie post after my nightly plank and stretch ritual.

So, yesterday: again inspired by Lisa Congdon's illustrations, I thought I should buy a sketchbook (don't know where my old ones are — if they haven't already disintegrated) and learn/start to sketch shit. Like, I've been thinking for my next papercutting project I want to do one of my own scribbles (prolly 'Hope') with something (flourish? shapes?) to hold the letters together.

Get motivated, Self!

Tuesday, April 01, 2014

Day #1

Saw this article from the fb feed and decided the advice from Lisa Congdon is rather doable. So here I am, back on the saddle — so to speak — attempting to get back into forming sentences that AREN'T mind-numbing, stupefying drivel about "the Library" is all rainbow-vomiting-unicorns Awesome™ and deserves a mention in the annual report, or how an e-resource is so pants-wettingly blow-your-mind Awesome™ and will save your crummy assignment. For the next 30 days at least, sentences will be formed, with or without coherence, intelligence, or sense.